Archive
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Contract win can boost the region
INDUSTRY experts are predicting a jobs bonanza will hit Tyneside with the knock-on effects of the MoD contract won by shipbuilder Swan Hunter. The £150m deal for two landing vessels at Swans' Wallsend yard will create around 2,000 jobs but politicians
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Temple's holy book survives blaze
A HOLY document that is central to a religion narrowly escaped destruction in a devastating temple fire. The blaze started at about 8.45pm on Thursday, at the Sikh temple on Lorne Street, Newport, Middlesbrough. It quickly took hold, spreading easily
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Students offered a place in class
TEACHERS on Teesside are among those being offered helping hands in a £1m project. Under and post graduate students will be offered placements as teacher associates in ten Education Action zones identified by the Government, including east Middlesbrough
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Couple reflect on life for Shahnaj
A CARING couple who have witnessed first-hand the appalling conditions experienced by people in a developing country, will share their experiences with Teessiders. The acclaimed authors and speakers Adrian and Bridget Plass are due to arrive in the region
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safety idea sets a shining example
Elderly people and children will have a glow about them this winter, thanks to a bright idea by Durham Police. Off-cuts of high-tech reflective strips normally used on police patrol cars will be stuck on shopping trolleys, wheelchairs, bags and coats
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Council planning car parks charter
DARLINGTON Borough Council is about to adopt a new customer charter for its town centre car parks. The authority operates several car parks in the town centre with spaces for 2,200 vehicles, which produce income of about £1.2m a year. It aims to obtain
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Top councillor backs car use in rural areas
A BRIEFING on green transport initiatives has been given a lukewarm reception in rural Richmondshire. North Yorkshire County Council expert Geoff Gardner was at the district authority's headquarters, this week, to outline policies aimed at encouraging
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Elvis wig taunts led to gun threats
What was it about Ronald Walton that made neighbours mock him to the point that he eventually flipped his lid? The 60-year-old proudly sports an "Elvis style" hairpiece whenever he goes out in public, attracting gasps of astonishment rather than admiration
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Byers faces anger over ships order
THE Government was last night facing a backlash from Teesside after failing to throw local shipworkers a lifeline. About 1,000 new jobs are set to be created on the Tyne after Swan Hunter this week won a contract to build two Royal Navy landing ships.
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Judge to rule in fight for green
A CAMPAIGN to save an open space by having it declared a village green was taken to London's High Court yesterday. Pamela Beresford, of Limetree, Fatfield, is fighting the refusal of Sunderland City Council to register a grassed area in Washington village
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Hundreds support petition for pension rise
HUNDREDS of Durham people have backed a call for pensioners to be given a better deal. Liberal Democrats in the city collected 472 names on a petition, calling on the Government to increase state pensions. The move follows the outcry when the Government
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Reid offers no hope of return for Summerbee
UNWANTED winger Nicky Summerbee finds himself frozen out as Sunderland prepare to face Coventry City without the suspended Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane at the Stadium of Light this afternoon. The 29-year-old right-sided midfielder was
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Am I entitled to more income support?
Q I am a 78-year-old pensioner and applied for my retirement pension (RP) of £67.50 a week to be topped up by Income Support. In response to my claim I was given 35p a week. I have savings of £6,000. Is this right? A Under the Minimum Income Guarantee
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Chairman's friendship won't save Boro boss
Bryan Robson revealed yesterday that he expects to get the sack if he fails, even though Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson is a close friend. The Boro boss, under pressure from a section of unhappy fans, denied that their six-year partnership means
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Village communities link up for millennium snapshot
VILLAGERS of Coundon Gate and Canney Hill, near Bishop Auckland, have gathered to mark the year 2000 with a commemorative photograph. Included in the group was Vera Bradford, the oldest villager at the age of 87, who is pictured holding the youngest resident
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Chinese learn from NE revival
A DELEGATION from China has been seeking tips on economic development during a four-day fact-finding mission. The party, from the Chinese Embassy in London, aims to build on the knowledge it gained throughout its stay in east Durham. The visit was jointly
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University fees 'putting off poor'
NORTH-EAST students from working class families are being put off going to university by tuition fees. Liberal Democrat Youth Affairs spokesman Lembit Opik, a former Newcastle city councillor, claimed yesterday that youngsters in the Labour heartland
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Marske ring the changes
New Marske are forced into making a number of changes for their visit to Stokesley this afternoon. Goalkeeper Andrew Bensley is away and last season's regular goalkeeper Lee Payne will deputise. In addition, Kevin Wood and Darren Mitchell are sidelined
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Stanley survive a Denny Cup scare
SURPRISES were absent from the opening round of the Canada Life Denny Cup National Inter-Club Championship, when all of the region's fancied clubs made progress. But the powerful Stanley club had some anxious moments before overcoming the three-rink Hebburn
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BAT puffs up profits
The City will be kept busy next week as a host of blue chips give updates on their performances. British American Tobacco's nine-month profits on Tuesday are expected to be puffed up to £1.69bn, against £1.33bn last time. Merging drugs giants Glaxo Wellcome
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Football club shows support for charity
A FOOTBALL crazy weekend is being held in Hartlepool in support of a national children's charity. Hartlepool United has supported the NSPCC campaign to end cruelty to children throughout the year and this weekend a special event is planned at the club
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Rural farms conversion plan rejected
Plans to convert redundant farm buildings on the North Yorkshire coast into business workspace and living accommodation have been rejected, following an appeal. The Rural Buildings Trust and Rural Workspace and Housing Association had wanted to carry
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The right start for enterprise
BUDDING entrepreneurs in North Durham will get advice on making their ideas come to fruition today. A seminar on launching into business is being held at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street at 9.30am. It is one of a series
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Group to defend precious green area
AN environment group is launching a campaign for a green belt in the Tees Valley. The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, which has groups in Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar, says there are enormous tracts of unsightly industrial land and
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Rural farms conversion plan rejected
Plans to convert redundant farm buildings on the North Yorkshire coast into business workspace and living accommodation have been rejected, following an appeal. The Rural Buildings Trust and Rural Workspace and Housing Association had wanted to carry
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Alliance scheme plans home repairs bonus
A NEW organisation bringing two neighbouring Durham communities closer together plans to offer its members low-cost house repairs. The Belmont and Gilesgate Community Alliance is being launched to generate closer links between the two areas. It is seeking
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Brass band pledges championship return
FERRYHILL Town Band were brassed off by the result of the national championships. But although they finished out of the prizes, members were pleased with their performance at the National British Brass Band Championships. Two coach loads of band members
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Still fighting after all these years
IT seemed as though someone was playing a cruel trick on Richard Attenborough in the week that the British film industry veteran made headlines over remarks about the "pornography of violence" in modern movies. The screening of his new film Grey Owl was
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Centenarian celebrates
FIVE generations of a family gathered to celebrate the birthday milestone of a great-great grandmother. Evelyn Hodgson celebrated her 100th birthday this week at Portland House Nursing Home, Crook, where she is a resident. In her lifetime, Mrs Hodgson
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Scary treat of a night lined up
TRICKS and treats are on offer at Sunderland's National Glass Centre this Halloween. A Ghoulish Night for young and old will take place at the Wearside centre on Tuesday, from 7pm. Magician Paul Lytton will perform magical tricks and illusions at guests
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Fuel tax protestors in 'Jarrow Crusade'
FUEL tax protestors are planning a massive convoy from Jarrow to London in a bid to turn up the pressure on Chancellor Gordon Brown, The Northern Echo can reveal. Trucks, tractors, taxis and coaches are expected to take part in the slow-moving cavalcade
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Course draws ethnic interest
A CAMPAIGN to attract teachers from ethnic minorities into the classroom is beginning to pay dividends. The University of Northumbria, in Newcastle, launched a programme last year aimed at undergraduates, graduates and people from ethnic minorities who
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Our racing member falls at the first
JOHN McWilliam may be MP for Blaydon but he certainly wasn't at the races for this week's great Commons Speaker contest. Poor old John fell at the first on Monday night when a mere 29 fellow MPs backed him. And that included just four from the North-East
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Irene's leap of a lifetime
A MOTHER of two has realised a lifelong ambition by jumping out of a plane for charity. Irene Robson, of Yarm, Teesside, raised £900 when she jumped from 12,000ft in support of the Cancer Research Campaign for breast cancer. Ms Robson's family paid for
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The computer bug
SO you've bought the kids a computer for Christmas. But how to make certain it's going to be used for more than just playing games? Intel, best known for its Pentium processors, may just has come up with the gadget for hard-pressed parents everywhere.
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Disappointment as £1m pub development is scrapped
Plans to build a £1m pub in Chester-le-Street, have been shelved. JD Wetherspoon, a Watford firm, pulled out of plans to build the pub on the site of a derelict car showroom at the southern end of the town's Front Street, for commercial reasons. The development
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At a glance: Saturday's results for North-East football
F.A Carling Premiership Ipswich Town 2: Middlesbrough 1 West Ham United 1: Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 1: Coventry City 0 Nationwide Division 3 Darlington 1: Brighton 2 Hartlepool United 2: Leyton Orient 1
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Shifting opinion on double jeopardy
THERE are clear signs that the message on the double jeopardy law is starting to hit home. The Northern Echo is campaigning for a change in the law, which was enacted in the 13th Century, on the grounds that it is helping people to get away with murder
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The Sky's the limit at last for Andy
SKY Sports will be bringing their cavalcade of vans and crew buses with them to Easington for this afternoon's match and, as midfielder Andy Davies says, the eyes of the nation will be on the club. He said: "It's different for me, but for some of the
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Barry's TV role to get Special Olympics' ball rolling
DOWNS Syndrome sufferer Barry Cairns is to star in a national TV commercial to plug the Special Olympics. Barry, 35, of Carrville, Durham City, fought off competition from other hopefuls to win the role. The advert is part of a public awareness campaign
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New web service set to reduce injury claim waiting time
A NEW Internet service is set to revolutionise the way injury claims are processed, reducing the waiting time for thousands of people every year. eWitness has been established by a group of doctors, lawyers and healthcare professionals to speed up the
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Mystery of museum 'ghost train'
A SINISTER spectre is giving staff and visitors at a North-East museum a real chill. For the past few weeks a series of spooky happenings has left staff and visitors to the Darlington Railway Centre and Museum scared out of their wits. And the ghostly
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Pianist to give recital at church
TOP young musician Damian Girvin will provide Sowerby Music's annual piano recital, at St Oswald's Church, Sowerby, near Thirsk, on November 11. His most recent major success was first prize in the 1997 European Beethoven Competition. He has made solo
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Allotments in line for big facelift
ALLOTMENT holders are plotting a revamp to keep their gardens blooming well into the next century. Members of the Rosedale and Victoria Allotment Association, Willington, have been drawing up plans for an improvement programme to smarten up the site and
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Coaching the kids in search of fame
WHEN you think of a stage school, images of precocious children and pushy parents spring to mind. The idea of encouraging youngsters to draw attention to themselves, then showering them with praise for doing so, is one which sits uncomfortably with the
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An inside look at a year for the force
people are being offered an insight into the life and history of a police force. A detailed look into how the Cleveland force operates, and its activities over the past year, is provided by the Chief Constable's annual report. The 28-page document, which
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European trips on offer to youngsters
COUNTY Durham youngsters are being offered the chance to sample life in Europe. Durham County Council's international office is organising exchange visits to France and Germany for 14 to 18-year-olds next year. In April, youngsters from Tubingen, southern
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Julie's mum goes back to the top
THE mother of murdered pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg has demanded a personal hearing with the country's top legal brains to urge them to change the double jeopardy law. Ann Ming has written to the Law Commission and Home Secretary Jack Straw expressing
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'Gipsy gang' in cashpoint swoops
A BAND of Romanian gipsies is thought to have stolen hundreds of thousands of pounds from cashpoints across Britain. Detectives last night appealed for people to take care withdrawing money after two young men were arrested following a theft in Durham
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Fraudster jailed over £2m home
FRAUDSTER Keith Skelton's riches vanished when he was arrested by detectives, a court was told yesterday. Skelton, 55, had conned finance companies to buy a £2m London house and a £133,808 motorhome, after terrifying his accountant to produce bogus company
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Fraudster jailed over £2m home
FRAUDSTER Keith Skelton's riches vanished when he was arrested by detectives, a court was told yesterday. Skelton, 55, had conned finance companies to buy a £2m London house and a £133,808 motorhome, after terrifying his accountant to produce bogus company
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Banned man in bar shovel attack
A man who was banned from a social club for swearing returned with a shovel and demolished the bar in front of petrified staff, a court heard yesterday. James Toal, 46, smashed 23 spirit optics and destroyed four beer pump heads as he swung the shovel
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University fees 'putting off poor'
NORTH-EAST students from working class families are being put off going to university by tuition fees. Liberal Democrat Youth Affairs spokesman Lembit Opik, a former Newcastle city councillor, claimed yesterday that youngsters in the Labour heartland
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Forget the chasing pack, urges Watford boss
Graham Taylor has told his table-topping Watford to forget about Fulham as they seek to extend their Division One lead at one of his former clubs today. Taylor admits he knew little about Fulham's midweek home defeat to Preston - and claims it might even
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Reid offers no hope of return for Summerbee
UNWANTED winger Nicky Summerbee finds himself frozen out as Sunderland prepare to face Coventry City without the suspended Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane at the Stadium of Light this afternoon. The 29-year-old right-sided midfielder was
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Spree of car thefts ended
A JUDGE jailed John Wheatley, 21, yesterday after telling him he had the worst record for car crime he had ever seen. Wheatley admitted stealing three cars, taking three more without consent, and asked for six similar offences to he taken into consideration
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Mental health shake-up expected
HEALTH minister John Hutton has given the go-ahead to a mental health shake-up in the North-East which is expected to save £500,000 a year. The new trust - The Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust - will come into being
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Whistle-blow media chief quits force
THE whistle-blower who claimed a chief constable was behind the leak of a damning report on Detective Superintendent Ray Mallon has resigned. Joanne Malone has given up her job as Cleveland Police's head of media after 13 years because her situation at
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Airline profits set to soar
IRISH low-fares airline Ryanair said it expected half-year profits to come in ahead of market expectations as more people took to the skies and booked tickets over the internet. The group, which operates a service from Teesside to Dublin also said the
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Your turn soon, Quinn tells Dichio
REPUBLIC of Ireland international Niall Quinn, fit to play in this afternoon's home game against Coventry City, had consoling words last night for understudy striker Danny Dichio: "Don't worry, your chance will come." Quinn, a Premiership ever-present
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Your turn soon, Quinn tells Dichio
REPUBLIC of Ireland international Niall Quinn, fit to play in this afternoon's home game against Coventry City, had consoling words last night for understudy striker Danny Dichio: "Don't worry, your chance will come." Quinn, a Premiership ever-present
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We need an Englishman in charge says Bobby
Bobby Robson still believes the job of managing England should go to an Englishman. But he confessed: "It's not easy for the FA. Put yourself in their shoes. "They have to get the right man and if the right Englishman is not around they might have to
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Coming to a Christmas
POKEMON fever may well have swept Britain, but Pikachu and his friends may be overtaken by a new craze this Christmas. The names Kabuterimon, Togemon and Greymon could soon be tripping off the tongues of children desperate to get hold of anything to do
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Constantine to enjoy Easington's big day
EASINGTON manager Wilf Constantine yesterday warned Conference high fliers Chester City: "Underestimate us at your peril." Constantine sends his team out against the former Football League side for the biggest FA Cup tie the club has had since it took
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Work resumes on troubled building site
DALES families waiting for new homes should see work restarting on a troubled building site in the next few weeks. Since August, the Three Rivers Housing Association has been looking for a company to finish off an estate of 12 houses and four bungalows
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Litigation hits price of shares in Birse
SHARES in construction group Birse hit an 18-month low yesterday as it warned it would incur yet more one-off charges from taking legal action over contracts. The company, which has just begun work to build a £1.3m millennium footbridge across the River
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Tanni's fourth gold helps Britain finish second
Tanni Grey-Thompson wrote another chapter into the history books yesterday, then waved goodbye to the Paralympics for good. The Redcar-based Welsh woman won an amazing fourth gold medal as Britain finished a clear second in the medal table at the Games
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Officers criticised as battle to stop drive-through is lost
residents have lost a battle to stop a fast food drive-through restaurant being built on their doorstep. Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council reluctantly granted planning permission to McDonald's to build its latest restaurant at Hanson Street
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Minister rules out town independence
A FISHING port's hopes of declaring independence from its larger neighbour have been dashed. Local Government minister Hilary Armstrong said it was "highly unlikely" that Whitby could go it alone and leave Scarborough Borough Council. The move follows
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Chester hoping for boost
CHESTER-LE-STREET are hoping for another boost when they take on Peterlee for the second time inside four days today. Chester defeated Peterlee 3-1 in the Durham Challenge Cup in midweek, and another win today will lift some of the gloom after their disappointing
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Advice for Internet shoppers
A LEAFLET has been produced by Darlington Borough Council to make shopping on the Internet safer for consumers. The leaflet, produced by the council's trading standards department, advises shoppers to seek the best deals, as with any other type of purchase
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Local store boosts flood-hit area's return to normal life
AFTER nearly six months of hardship, a community hit by flooding is beginning to recover. The reopening of Ali's Store, in South Church, yesterday, was a clear sign of normality returning to the area. The property was among hundreds in South Church and
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Local store boosts flood-hit area's return to normal life
AFTER nearly six months of hardship, a community hit by flooding is beginning to recover. The reopening of Ali's Store, in South Church, yesterday, was a clear sign of normality returning to the area. The property was among hundreds in South Church and
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The computer bug
SO you've bought the kids a computer for Christmas. But how to make certain it's going to be used for more than just playing games? Intel, best known for its Pentium processors, may just has come up with the gadget for hard-pressed parents everywhere.
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Police seeking driver after road accident
POLICE in Darlington are appealing for a man involved in a car accident, in which a pensioner suffered a broken hip and leg, to contact them. The accident happened almost a month ago, in Corporation Road, but it has only just emerged that the woman was
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Awards to honour community-minded
THE hunt is on to find people, young and old, who have made the most telling contribution to life in Chester-le-Street. To celebrate the millennium, the town's district council is repeating its Young Achievers Award and introducing a new category of Civic
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Indulge yourself
THE royal county of Berkshire may seem a long way to travel for a weekend break, but on arrival its charm and hospitality brings its own rewards. After a disastrous start to the day, which involved the breaking down and hiring of a car, my husband Peter
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Bennett aiming for inspiration against high-flying Brighton
DARLINGTON manager Gary Bennett will today demand his players show their true colours. Inconsistent Quakers go into the toughest game of the season so far against promotion-chasing Brighton without a recognised left back because of injuries to Gary Himsworth
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Mixing it with Mrs Malaprop
Wendy Craig was doing her holiday washing when I rang. The Sacriston-born actress, who's returning to her native North-East with the Royal Shakespeare Company, has just returned from a week in Crete. Far from a having a nice time wish-you-were-here sort
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Chris tackles 50-mile race
AMBULANCEMAN Chris Myers is preparing for a two-day mountain marathon for charity. For months, the 25-year-old, from Scarborough, has been focussing on the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon. Tomorrow, he sets off on the orienteering race, starting
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Health secretary's fireworks message
HEALTH secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn was in his constituency yesterday to speak to children about firework safety. He visited the town as Darlington Borough Council continued preparing for its Fireworks 2000 event, in South Park. The Health
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Garage couple win 'fair fuel' ally
SMALL rural filling stations, struggling to survive a battle with bigger rivals, have won an ally in a North Yorkshire local authority. With the fuel crisis still fresh in the memory, drivers have become increasingly sensitive to the cost of a litre of
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Our racing member falls at the first
JOHN McWilliam may be MP for Blaydon but he certainly wasn't at the races for this week's great Commons Speaker contest. Poor old John fell at the first on Monday night when a mere 29 fellow MPs backed him. And that included just four from the North-East
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Time to look at your lilies
WE are getting to the end of the bulb planting season as far as spring flowering bulbs are concerned, but it is the beginning of lily planting time. Local garden centres are now displaying a wide range of top quality lily bulbs. While most of these are
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Butcher's bangers are best in world
A COUNTY Durham butcher's bangers have been voted world beaters in an international exhibition. Harry Coates, of Coxhoe, near Durham City, has already won several awards in regional and national competitions for products including cooked meals. But now
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THOME FIRST WINS POINTS
BRAZILIAN defender Emerson Thome's first goal for Sunderland secured the points in a dour game at the Stadium of Light. Coventry looked the better side in a lack-lustre first half but skipper Mustapha Hadji missed a couple of decent chances. Sunderland
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Tributes paid to town's 'first lady'
TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to one of North Yorkshire's best-known and best-loved residents, Lady Serena James. Lady Serena, who was in her 100th year, died peacefully at her home in Richmond, the town where she had lived and worked tirelessly for nearly
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Mum mandy plans hair-razing stunt for charity
GRATEFUL mother Mandy Conder is saying a big thank-you to the charity that helped her daughter cope with cancer - by sacrificing all her hair. Her daughter Ellis is now four, but was only 19 months old when doctors found a tumour in her kidney. The little
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Pool halt Orient Express
TWO second-half goals were enough to give Hartlepool United a 2-1 home win over Leyton Orient. After a lifeless first half, Tommy Miller netted his fifth of the season with a close range effort after substitute Craig Midgley saw his effort blocked. Skipper
