Archive
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A scythe of the times
AS if I didn't have enough to do. The message, passed on by a colleague at work, was scribbled on a note and left on my desk: "Please ring the Grim Reaper at home - URGENT." At first, I wondered if it was a sign that I was about to die. Maybe this was
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Plea for future unity after rival marches through the city
A ROYAL British Legion branch, which decided to break with tradition and boycott a major Remembrance service by holding one at a war memorial, has sparked division. But holding rival services at Ripon has brought calls for a united poppy day front next
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Victims get their say
RESIDENTS of a flood-ravaged village will be given their say on plans for £100,000 prevention measures. Families in the East Cleveland community of Skinningrove, where water levels rose to four feet at the height of the recent floods, will be asked their
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Hospital scheme a step nearer reality
PLANS for Sedgefield's new community hospital have reached an important stage. South Durham Health Care NHS Trust has announced its preferred contractor for the £8m scheme, which is due to start early next year. The Clugston Group has been given the go
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Terrier ends game for Neil
SUNDAY soccer player Neil Harvey ended up in hospital after a biting tackle. But it wasn't the opposition putting the boot in - it was a spectator's Jack Russell. Winger Neil, 25, was just ten minutes into the match for the Bull and Dog pub in Hartlepool
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Man drove boat above speed limit on Tyne
REVELLER Glen Thirlwell began the New Year by unwittingly taking part in a speedboat chase, straight out of a James Bond movie. Thirlwell, 35, decided to take a trip along the River Tyne in his 20 horsepower boat and take pictures of Millennium Eve fireworks
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Prices at the markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 1,973 sheep. Store lambs to £30.50; Mule gimmer lambs to £31.50. Lambs std to 96.4p av 76.4p; med to 90.4p av 82p; heavy to 83.4p av 75p. Cast ewes: Mule to £21.50; Cont to £26.50; Swale ewes to £13; Suff to £33.50; Leics ewes
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Durham - Trust pins its hopes on badges
A CHARITY dedicated to saving abandoned exotic pets is launching a fundraising drive this weekend. The Reptile Trust, based at Burnopfield, near Stanley, hopes to raise thousands of pounds by selling pin badges. The money will help to pay for the cost
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Returns must rise, insists Wool Board
THE Wool Board has outlined its plans to adapt to the continuingly difficult market, recognising that returns to producers must improve, either through cost savings or increased sales value. Speaking at the annual conference for regional representatives
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Rupert will light up the fireworks fun
LAST-minute changes to the Orange Darlington Festival Lantern Parade have been confirmed. Rupert the Bear will make a special guest appearance at tonight's parade, which will end up in the Market Square. In a change to the previously notified schedule
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Aria for generous pupils
THOUGHTFUL youngsters were rewarded for their charity work by an aria from an opera star. The recital came about after the children, from Hartlepool's St Bega's RC Primary School on Teesside, filled 93 shoe boxes bound for Romania. When their headteacher
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Traffic calming measures for Skeeby blackspot
ONE of the most extensive traffic calming schemes in rural North Yorkshire could be introduced in a village near Richmond which has seen a spate of accidents in recent years. The county council highways committee has already agreed to reduce the speed
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Happy finale in sight for farming family
A PLANNING saga which heaped controversy on the Yorkshire Dales national park policy looks set to have a happy ending for a farming family. An application for a farm worker's home at Hemplands farm, near the Wharfedale village of Conistone, was supported
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The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League
The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League Only four games out of the scheduled 14 games were played. The two Darlington Motor Factors Second Division Cup semi-finals produced two cracking encounters. Leaders Nestfield Club played second-placed
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Think green and save trees through card recycling scheme
THE Tees Forest is urging youngsters in the North-East to turn their festive greetings into living trees with a Christmas recycling scheme. Schools in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland are being asked to collect old
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All-weather pitches coming to village
SEDGEFIELD village will soon have a new all-weather playing area, tennis courts and a clubhouse, thanks to a £290,000 national lottery grant through Sport England. The facilities will be sited in the community college grounds and the application was made
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Flooding fear raised in new homes plan
A SCHEME for new houses in East Cleveland has failed partly because of fears that the development could lead to flooding. This concern was raised when an outline application for 30 homes on agricultural land at Carlin How came before Redcar and Cleveland
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Birdwatch: Free birds can cloud the issue
OCTOBER can be one of the best months for birdwatchers as migrating birds from both the east and west get caught in adverse weather conditions and end up in the comparative safety of our islands. One such arrival this October on the Suffolk coast was
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Financial advisor died when car hit tree
A FINANCIAL advisor late for an appointment died when his car came off a country road and hit a tree. David Cook, 37, who worked for the Co-operative Bank, was due to meet a client at his Durham office but was delayed by a doctor's appointment. An inquest
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Chester le Street - Trust pins its hopes on badges
A CHARITY dedicated to saving abandoned exotic pets is launching a fundraising drive this weekend. The Reptile Trust, based at Burnopfield, near Stanley, hopes to raise thousands of pounds by selling pin badges. The money will help to pay for the cost
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Business potential developed
DO you have a new product or process requirement but don't know which step to take next? Integra is a project which might be able to help. It stands for Innovation and Technology Growth Alliance and is a partnership project which provides practical support
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Hunt stepped up for missing man
POLICE are stepping up their search for a man who went missing while out on his bike. Terence Stratton, 55, disappeared after setting off from his Middlesbrough home towards Ingleby Greenhow on Tuesday lunchtime. His wife raised the alarm when he failed
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Nursery nurses' protest march over pay levels
NURSERY nurses in Darlington are planning a protest march and rally to highlight their dispute with the council over low pay and job grades. Around 150 nursery nurses are expected to march from Stanhope Park at 11am on Saturday, December 2, before gathering
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Firefighters charged over fireworks
THREE men have been charged following a police investigation into the alleged removal of illegal fireworks from a fire station. The men, all firefighters at Hebburn Fire Station, in South Tyneside, were charged when they answered bail at Sunderland's
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Market place in spotlight
IMAGES of Friday night revellers created by a doctor has gone on show at the Discovery Centre in Bishop Auckland. Friday Night and Saturday morning is the latest exhibition by Dr John Clarke, from Crook. He took the monochrome photographs of people who
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£100,000-plus for Bowes sends it on-line and funky
GRANTS in excess of £100,000 have been awarded to the Bowes museum for the development of an interactive web site and the support of a temporary exhibition programme. Resource, formerly the Museums and Galleries Commission, has approved an £80,000 plan
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Village reunion highlights on show
A REUNION for people of the "village that wouldn't die" proved such a worldwide hit that the best bits will be repeated later this month. The Gathering at Witton Park in July brought together former residents of the pit village from all corners of the
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Now count on business to boost schools
AN important item on a primary school timetable has become a priority of the North-East business agenda. Numeracy Hour, one of the Government's education priorities, is being supported by One NorthEast. Count on Us is an innovative business support scheme
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Spectator's Notes: Natural diplomat may be inspired choice
THE Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority may just have made an inspired choice in its decision to promote from within to fill the top job of chief executive. As our profile of Mr David Butterworth, the park's new chief executive, suggests, the new
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Basketball News
Durham League NORTON inflicted a first defeat of the season on neighbours Teesside Huskies A in a pool game of the Division One Cup. Norton came away with a 98-78 triumph. Steve Butler produced his own version of a firework spectacular as time after time
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Rallying: Italian adventure is just the job for Mini maestros
RALLY driver Mr Steve Poad could hardly believe his eyes when a fully laden hearse sped past him at 90mph. But the undertaker, who was chatting into his mobile phone, still managed to toot and wave at Mr Poad and co-driver Mr Shaun Wilson. The bizarre
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A name to be proud of - and that's official
JOSHUA Luc Dixon became the first baby in the country to be officially named at a non-religious ceremony yesterday. The register office service was held in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in the wake of a government report highlighting ways in which parents
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Darts News
Cleveland Men's Super League Middlesbrough South entertained Thirsk at Eston Labour Club and gained a 5-2 win. The home side took a early lead when, Paul Gaffney (25.10) beat Neil Flynn (22.51) 3-2, Peter Searle (20.04) beat Mick Garthwaite 3-0 and man
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Past Lives: A stake and fire on the cobbles
THESE are prosaic times. We asked new friends where they lived at Richmond. "In Newbiggin ... you know, the cobbled street with the fish and chip shop." Chip shop, be darned. Admittedly, they didn't say anything about the delicious smell of vinegared
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Tony Booth to talk to pensioners
THE Prime Minister's father-in-law is planning to take a trip to Teesside to talk to a newly formed pensioners group. The first meeting of the National Pensioners Convention branch covering the Redcar, Saltburn, Marske and East Cleveland areas was held
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Size doesn't always matter
Are you a movie star whose new movies don't even run as long as the American Presidential count at your local multiplex? Are you having more misses than hits in the top film chart? Is your big screen popularity, not to beat around the bush, on the slide
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Pair pledge support for charity
A REDCAR couple have pledged their support to a Teesside animal charity for helping them to find a new home for their pet dog. For health reasons, Ron and Agnes Wilson had to let their much-loved three-year-old Terrier-cross Jake be rehomed. Mr Wilson
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Consett & Stanley - Care staff urged to roll up sleeves
DURHAM County Council is urging its social services staff to get flu jabs to ensure that illness does not hamper its work. The council is encouraging 1,200 frontline workers to get immunised and is offering to pay any medical bills from a specially set
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Pony dies after tragic sequence of events
A 15-YEAR-old girl is mourning her beloved pony after a bizarre series of mishaps which have prompted a warning to drivers. Last week's torrential rain closed Rachel Dunn's school so her mother - Mrs Wendy Dunn - allowed her out for a ride on the lanes
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Mobility in the spotlight at centre
A SERIES of visitor days will take place in Sunderland to highlight disabled facilities at a recently-extended shopping centre. Sunderland's Shopmobility unit provides equipment to help disabled people around The Bridges shopping centre, which has undergone
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Proud village puts trophy on display
PROUD villagers have unveiled the trophy they won in a tidy village competition. Residents in Fishburn have been celebrating for weeks since winning the award in the County Durham Tidy Village Competition. The shield which forms the Northern Echo Trophy
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Regional livestock committee: NFU heirarchy under attack
THE NFU heirarchy came under strong criticism for its radical plans for reorganisation, with redundancies for some staff and the specialist policy advisers taking on a more general role. Advisers would become jacks of all trades, working from home with
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MP urges compensation for flood-hit families
AN MP has called on the Government to compensate flood-hit families even if they were not insured. The Government last week told Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh that it was giving farmers across North Yorkshire and elsewhere another chance to get EU subsidies
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Boro Chat
AFTER two battling displays against teams with genuine title aspirations - Arsenal and Manchester United - Boro need points from two successive home games if they are to escape the bottom three and relieve building pressure. Curtis Fleming, confident
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Karate: Colburn teenager strikes karate gold in Rome
A TEENAGER from Colburn has returned from Rome with an individual European gold medal for karate. Amanda Ilsley, aged 16, represented England at the European Wado Kai Karate Championships a year after competing for her country in Sweden. She won her gold
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Camerons Teeside League
Camerons Teesside League Bedale Athletic gained victory over Fishburn Park - at the third attempt - having lost in the Senior Cup the previous week, the game switched to Bedale, and 6-2 in the league, back in September. Bedale won 2-1 The game was switched
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Wear Valley - Railwayman turned author dies, aged 93
A LONGSERVING railwayman who discovered a talent for writing in his Seventies has died at the age of 93. Tom Bellis lived in Shildon all of his life until he moved to Teesside six weeks before his death to live closer to his family. He worked at the town's
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Regional livestock committee: Increase in levy needed 'just to stand still' as TV advertising costs
THE Meat and Livestock Commission is consulting farmers about a possible increase in promotional levies which, if accepted, would become 45p a head for cattle and 4.5p a head for sheep. Mr Len Chamberlain, MLC industry relations manager, explained the
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Taking the sawmill to the trees pays off
"WORTHLESS" timber growing on Mr Alec Thompson's farm has been transformed into a valuable asset. Two small blocks of larch trees are now providing timber for fence rails and posts, farm gates and even beams in a barn conversion. The 200-year-old trees
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Reward scheme reduces truancy
A SCHEME to reward good attendance at school has helped to keep youngsters focused on their education at a County Durham comprehensive. Pupils stand to gain financially if they consistently attend their classes at Sunnydale Comprehensive School, in Shildon
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Primary school in £26,500 IT appeal
GOVERNORS at Bedale CE primary school have launched a £26,500 fund to help build and equip an information technology suite which will also be available to the wider community. Children at the 335-pupil school in Firby Road will be encouraged to take an
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Mayor sends her sympathy
ONE of the region's mayors has shown neighbourly spirit by writing to the mayor of the flood-hit borough next door. Mayor of Scarborough Coun Dorothy Clegg said in a letter to Redcar and Cleveland's mayor, Coun Arthur Dobson: "I want to express my deepest
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Junior Football
Darlington 21st Allstars The Under-16s kept their unbeaten league record with a 3-2 victory at previously-unbeaten South Bank Juniors. Allstars scored in the first minute of each half but allowed the home side to get back into the game by easing up after
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Leading article: The country gap
A REPORT produced this week by North Yorkshire's health chiefs highlights a recurring problem for any organisation seeking to provide services in the county. On average, North Yorkshire is wealthier, healthier and brighter than most areas of Britain.
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Jailed parrot breeder appeals
JAILED parrot breeder Harry Sissen is to appear before judges in London today to appeal against his conviction for smuggling rare birds into this country. Sissen, of East Cowton, North Yorkshire, was given a two-and-a-half year sentence after being found
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Missing girl kept quiet about sacking
POLICE searching for a teenage girl have revealed she failed to tell her parents that she had been sacked from her job before she vanished. The parents of 17-year-old County Durham girl Lisa-Marie Perry have said they fear she may be pregnant. Lisa-Marie
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Close encounter shock for farmer
A FARMER from the Easingwold area of North Yorkshire got a fright while on his combine harvester in September. He spotted movement in the field he was cutting, got out of his vehicle and disturbed two snakes in the corn. One escaped and the other, which
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Horse snaps are a big hit
THE BHS Cleveland committee held a very successful evening at the Rainbow Centre, Coulby Newham, when the winners of the fun photography competition received their rosettes, certificates and prizes. It raised more than £50 towards funds, which are mainly
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Sex abuser's jail sentence is trebled
A DURHAM father who sexually abused his two young daughters over a four-year period has had his 12-month prison sentence trebled. The 52-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was jailed in July this year after he was convicted at Durham
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More cash to raise standards
LOCAL education authorities in the region are set to share in £82m to raise standards for 11-14 year olds. The investment will ensure that secondary schools build on the success of primary schools in literacy and numeracy. It will also be used to target
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Letters: Taking disability seriously
Sir, - I refer to the report titled "Coming face to face with everyday life for the disabled" (D&S Sept 29). It does concern me when a ride in a wheelchair is the only way to get any councillor to listen on any disability issue. It is almost as if
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Man touched student's knee on bus home
A MAN was spared jail yesterday after he touched a teenager's knee on a bus. John Halligan, 35, approached the girl as she was travelling home from college. Seeing she was upset, he took the opportunity to stroke her knee, which left her terrified. Newcastle
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Residents set to leave village
THE heart of an East Cleveland community devastated by floods could be ripped out because a number of residents want to leave. Skinningrove has been hit by severe flooding for the third time in three months, and some residents have said enough is enough
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Lee fear if Gullit stayed
Robert Lee claims Newcastle would be playing in the first division if Ruud Gullit had won the biggest gamble of his controversial managerial career. Gullit, who had dispatched Newcastle ace Lee to the soccer wilderness, stunned football by axing Alan
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Charity links with telecom firm to offer drugs teaching
DRUGS charity DrugScope is today joining forces with BT to teach school governors and senior managers in the North-East about dangerous substances. In the fifth of a series of training events, the school managers will discover how to develop more effective
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Boxers are knockout in Denmark
NORTH-EAST boxers have brought back a haul of gold and silver medals from an international tournament in Denmark. Students from the International Boxing Academy, at East Durham and Houghall Community College in Peterlee, won gold in five events and a
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Hockey News
Durham University suffered their second defeat of the season - their first at home - when they were beaten 3-1 by Southport in the North Men's Hockey League, Premier Division. John Crewe, University coach, said: "We were unlucky not to have got
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50,000 crowd of red and whites
IT will be a red and white Christmas in the football-crazy city of Sunderland. Fifty thousand light bulbs in the colours of Peter Reid's Premiership team were switched-on last night as the festive shopping season officially got under way. The switch-on
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Headteachers thank Blair for extra cash
HEADTEACHERS from the North-East have written to Prime Minister Tony Blair to congratulate him on investing money in the area's school buildings. In May, the Durham Association of Secondary Headteachers wrote to Mr Blair raising concerns about the condition
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Great gifts for Pudsey's 21st
PUDSEY Bear is 21 this year and the Children in Need Appeal is hoping a cash bonanza will mark his coming of age. As ever, the BBC is committed to marathon broadcasts on TV and radio from 6.30pm this evening. A galaxy of stars have promised to be part
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Looking Back: news from 100, 50 & 25 years ago
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - In Ripon and District, on Tuesday morning, a distinct shock of earthquake was noticed at twenty minutes to nine. In most cases it appeared if some heavy load was passing, or as if some heavy wagon had just been suddenly
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Durham - Church wins land sale plea
ONE of County Durham's most historic teaching institutions is set for a dramatic overhaul. The Catholic priests training centre, Ushaw College, located on the outskirts of Durham City, has been struggling to survive for a while, due to falling numbers
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Taekwondo: Harbisher sets sights on world title
BLACK belt martial arts expert Steven Harbisher is definitely in the frame as one of the world's top Taekwondo fighters. The teenager, who has just started work for Cleveland police, is heading to Ireland later this month to take part in the junior world
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Meet your councillors
REDCAR and Cleveland councillors are holding the following ward surgeries: Today: Thelma Bennett, Coatham, 9 o'clock Club, 42 West Dyke Road, Redcar, 6-7pm; Keith Pudney, Guisborough, Maltby Court Community Centre, 6-7pm; Anne Franklin, Bill Clarke, Guisborough
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Arts News: Time to think of warmer climes
AMID the damp and gloom, which will make November 2000 a month for the annals, especially in flooded York, two Wensleydale artists are about to cast a warmer glow culled from trips to Greece and the Mediterranean. Ken Jones and his wife, Lesley Coates
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Scaife's success
FORMER North-East half marathon champion Martin Scaife finished over a minute clear of the rest of the field in a "dress rehearsal" for next month's North-East Cross Country Championships at Hartlepool last Sunday. The Chester-le-Street AC runner again
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Invitation to athletes
ATHLETES are invited to take part in a Christmas Poultry Run. The event, which takes place in Loftus on Sunday, December 17, is sponsored by New Balance. The run is presented by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and Loftus Athletics Club. Entry costs
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Refuse collectors to strike
REFUSE workers are planning a series of one-day strikes in protest at changes to their contracts. The first strike involving refuse workers in Redcar and Cleveland will begin on Monday, starting at 6am and lasting for 24 hours. This will be accompanied
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Swimming gala night to be held
SALTBURN and Marske Amateur Swimming Club is holding its annual Gala and Christmas presentation at the Spa Hotel, Saltburn, tomorrow. The evening is for all club members, past and present, and their families. Tickets cost £5 per person or £20 for a family
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Suffering caused when the honeymoon was over
NEWLY-weds Lee and Jeannette Ripley from York went on honeymoon leaving a menagerie of exotic pets behind. A trantula died and a Mexican red knee spider and Chilean rose spider were discovered in containers with no controlled heating or humidity levels
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Countryman's Diary: Esk bridge is the stuff of legend
THE ancient and graceful stone arch of Beggar's Bridge, which spans the River Esk at Glaisdale some ten miles upriver from Whitby, is well known to historians and tourists alike. This beautiful bridge is the focus of a highly romantic love story set around
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Getting by with a little help from his friends
IT WAS just a bit of whiplash, they said, when they sent the 16-year-old home from hospital on the same night as the car crash. It was just shock, they said, when his legs kept giving way beneath him and he had to be taken to his father's car in a wheelchair
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Don't wait for second alert, warns flood chief
PEOPLE should act immediately if a flood warning was issued in their area, the Environment Agency told Richmondshire councillors this week. Mr Ron Johnson, one of four flood warning officers for the dales, said many people did not realise they might have
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Consett & Stanley - Police warn of increase in purse thefts
POLICE are warning shoppers to be vigilant after a number of purses have been stolen from people in broad daylight. Thieves have snatched at least four purses in separate incidents both in the street and in shops during the past two weeks. All the victims
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Planners set to give ICI site new lease of life
AROUND 500 jobs could be created in the region if councillors back a scheme to breathe new life into a former ICI complex. The plans by Hornbeam Park Developments would turn the site in Harrogate, North Yorkshire into a complex of industrial and warehouse
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Poor maize crop will hit feed costs
FARMERS feeding a 50/50 mix of maize and grass silage face an extra feed cost of £34 a cow this winter. Nutrition specialists Frank Wright said the wet weather has scuppered the feed value of this year's maize crop. Tests on the first 400 samples of mainly
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Letters: Having no say make us 'subjects'
Sir, - David Butterworth, the new chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales national park, may dispute Spectator's description of residents in the park as "subjects", (D&S letters, Nov 3) but the facts suggest otherwise. Recently BT put in a planning
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Darlington - Fan given two-year match ban
POLICE have succeeded in getting a Darlington football hooligan banned from every match in the country for the next two years. Michael Hawdon has been made the subject of a football banning order under new legislation introduced after the Euro 2000 championships
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The Albany Northern League
Hebburn almost caused a major shock in the Durham Challenge Cup at Darlington on Monday night. They lost 4-3, but they were leading 3-2 with two minutes left, after being two gaols down at one stage. Hebburn were forced to use defender Stuart Pattison
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Swimming: Bowden retains national title with personal best
A DARLINGTON student produced a personal best performance recently to retain a national swimming title. Matthew Bowden, a student at Queen Elizabeth sixth form college, successfully defended his 100m breaststroke title at the National Schools Swimming
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When police come under investigation
Cleveland Police Authority meets today to discuss a letter of complaint against senior officers sent by lawyers acting for suspended detective Ray Mallon. The police force has been the subject of several investigations in recent years. This is a brief
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Santa to light up festivities
FATHER Christmas is making a guest appearance in Hartlepool tonight to switch on the festive lights. The town's mayor, Councillor Frank Rogers, will welcome Santa when he arrives on a specially-constructed stage in the corner of Victory Square, outside
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North Yorkshire - Joan retires after career that lasted a lifetime
AN era has come to an end in Northallerton with the retirement of one of the best-known people in the town. Joan Stenson is stepping down after 34 years as the registrar of births, deaths and marriages. Joan first joined the service in 1967 as a part-time
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Special livestock sales
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 457 suckled calves & store cattle. Champion: C&JM Kearton, Char X steer, £615; res: JJ&JE Walton, BAX steer £520. Prizes. - Lim steers 1 RE Williamson; 2&3 JW Dent & Sons. Lim hfr: 1 C&JM
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The scrumptious Seventies
BLACK Forest gateau - the favourite dessert of the Seventies - is back on the menu for thousands of diners following public outrage at its relegation from the sweet trolley. With the outrageous clothes and disco music having been revived already, Seventies
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Wear Valley - Council tries to combat flu
DURHAM County Council is urging its social services staff to get flu jabs to ensure that illness does not hamper its work. The council is encouraging 1,200 frontline workers to get immunised and is offering to pay any medical bills from a specially set
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Jewel of a site could be crowned with 2,000 jobs
A HIGH quality business park and hotel on the outskirts of Darlington could create as many as 2,000 jobs. The forecast has been made by development agency One North-East, which has plans to make it a "jewel in the crown" for the whole of the Tees Valley
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Chester le Street - Church wins land sale plea
ONE of County Durham's most historic teaching institutions is set for a dramatic overhaul. The Catholic priests training centre, Ushaw College, located on the outskirts of Durham City, has been struggling to survive for a while, due to falling numbers
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Angling News
Yorkshire river fixtures suffered another weekend wipe-out as floods continued to create havoc, writes JEFF HERBERT. But the Tees was again fishable as the mighty Tees Barrage played its part. Sunday's Yarm AA Championships was never in doubt. With the
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Methodists move back into new-look chapel
A DARLINGTON congregation will see the fruits of a four-year campaign when its church opens its doors on Sunday for the first time in months. Worshippers at Cockerton Methodist church raised over £100,000 towards a complete renovation. The builders moved
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New group seeks organic growers
A NEWLY-formed organic producers' group is appealing for members from across the North of England. On Wednesday Northumbria Organic Producers is holding a launch day at Houghall college, near Durham City, to promote its activities and aims. The event,
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Where the main players stand
Ray Mallon: The pioneer of zero tolerance in the region, remains suspended after three years, despite being cleared of any criminal wrongdoing. Barry Shaw: The Cleveland Chief Constable is under investigation following claims he leaked a confidential
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Top craftswoman shows she can spin more than a yarn
WORLD records come in all shapes and sizes. In Sue Macniven's case it is 943.49 metres long and very, very thin. But it is enough to have secured her a place in the record books. And it is with pride that she is set to return home to Cleveland to share
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Library treat is just the ticket for Doris
REDCAR Library's oldest borrower celebrated her 100th birthday with a party at her favourite haunt. Great-grandmother Doris Sleightholm, who celebrated her centenary on Saturday, was given a special treat at Redcar Library. Mrs Sleightholm is the oldest
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Market vans clash leads to pledge to give and take
A ROW over market traders parking their vans in the high street at Guisborough is on course for a compromise. A meeting has been held to find a way of settling the issue, attended by town councillors, police, market officials and Lord Gisborough's agent
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Racing Week, by Jo Scott: Murphy's double with novice stars
FERDY Murphy and Adrian Maguire look unstoppable and on Friday the pair had a Newcastle double with two of the West Witton stable's up-and-coming stars, Astro Lines in the novice chase and Supreme Breeze in the novice hurdle. Astro Lines had been off
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College wins praise from inspectors
SEDGEFIELD Community College has been praised in a report by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education. The report notes the rapid changes the school has made under new headteacher Lynne Ackland. Inspectors found teaching was good in many
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Green space fights ends in victory
JUBILANT campaigners have won their battle to protect a Guisborough green space from being turned into a car park. They have scrapped a mass rally planned for tomorrow when they intended to tie yellow ribbons around the trees they wanted to protect. To
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Exotic animals craze 'puts people and pets in danger'
WHEN Cleo stretched her full 19 feet of scaly skin to soak up the sun's warm rays on the roof of her County Durham home she caused a stir among the neighbours. The 13-year-old Burmese python, weighing in at a hefty 11 stones, had smashed her way out of
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Athletics News
Quakers Running Club A number of the senior members of the Darlington-based club competed in the two-day Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon, this year held over the fells at Great Langdale, Cumbria. In the Carrock Fell class, the partnership of Helen
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Swimming News
The North-Eastern Counties short course (25m pool) age group championships are again being held at the Darlington Dolphin Centre tomorrow and Sunday (9.30am and 2.30pm) with races for boys and girls aged 11 to 14 years, writes ERIC WILKINSON. Among the
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Heroes' big night
THE judging has taken place for what promises to be a memorable night for grass roots sport in the North-East. The search for the Local Heroes of 2000 reaches an exciting climax next Friday night at Darlington Football Club. The Northern Echo - in association
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Bridge is on its way at last
GATESHEAD Millennium Bridge will be lowered into place this Sunday, council officials said last night. Attempts earlier this month to move the blinking eye bridge up the River Tyne to Gateshead Quays were abandoned due to storms. Weather forecasts show
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Grant helps growth
AN award-winning chemical company is saying thanks to a unique funding programme established by Business Link County Durham. During the past three years the Trigger Fund has provided Durham Organics, based in Durham City, with £23,000 to take on an additional
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Double sausage triumph for Masham butcher
A MASHAM butcher swept the board at this year's Northallerton and District Butchers' Association annual sausage competition. Mr Richard Welford, of Beaver's Butchers and the Masham Sausage Shop, won first prize in both the pork and beef sausage categories
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Couple consider legal action after hunt incursion
A GREAT Smeaton couple said this week that they were considering legal action after an incident on their property involving hounds of the Bedale Hunt. Mrs Sorina Hunter-Cohen claimed she was worried for the safety of her five-month-old daughter, Jemima
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Villagers angry over clock sale
SEDGEFIELD villagers are angry that a clock at the former Winterton Hospital site might have been sold to a foreign buyer. The psychiatric hospital has been demolished to make way for a housing development. Several people made requests for the clock,
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Children complete challenge
YOUNGSTERS received their just rewards for wallowing in mud as part of a charity run. The children, from Kirkleatham School in Redcar, completed the seventh annual 10k Green Tree Run, promoted by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and The Tees Forest
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Bridging a Yorkshire dale's generation gap
TWO natives of Arkengarthdale born 85 years apart help launch the dale's millennium project tomorrow. Mr Enoch Atkinson, aged 87, and his two-year-old granddaughter, Samantha, are guests of honour at the unveiling of a book which pieces together the history
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North Yorkshire - Health gap widens
IMPROVEMENTS in health are not being enjoyed equally across North Yorkshire, according to an official report. The county's director of public health says tackling inequalities in health remains the most difficult challenge facing the region. In his annual
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McCrone misses out
BRAVE Stuart McCrone missed out on a place in the England squad after losing to Stephen Birch in the top-of-the-bill fight at Spennymoor Boxing Academy's Annual Dinner. Facing a national call-up in the 75kg category McCrone matched his Liverpool-based
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Thunder Spark takes jump-off victory
HALF the field from the original 48 starters over Brian Chandler's well-built track went through to an excellent jump-off for the Equiline Horseboxes Discovery qualifier at Stainsby Grange. The first ticket for Solihull went to Stephanie Roundsmith, 17
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Darlington - New era for health care
HEALTH chiefs have unveiled plans for Sedgefield's new £8m community hospital. The scheme has reached an important milestone, with South Durham Health Care NHS Trust announcing its preferred contractor. The Clugston Group has been given the go ahead to
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Footbridge is a danger, says parish council
GREAT Ayton councillors were incensed when they heard a reply to their concerns about the footbridge at Low Green. The county highways department had judged it was not dangerous and said repairs did not have a high priority. Councillors took the view
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Grain prices
Thursday's prices Kenneth Wilson, Thorpe Arch. - Wheat: Nov £61; Dec £62; Jan £63. Barley: Nov £65; Dec £66; Jan £67. Oilseed rape: Nov £125; Dec £126; Jan £127. GrainCo, Tyne Dock. - Wheat: Nov £61; Dec £62; Jan £63. Barley: Nov £65; Dec £65.50; Jan
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Pony dates
Braes of Derwent South PC. - Nov 18: Team showjumping, Holmside Park Arena, triers, novice and open classes. Dec 9: Indoor hunter trial, Holmside Park, novice, intermediate and open classes. Sae for schedules, Sue Forster, Derwent Dene House, East Law
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Vet launches drive to cut down road deaths
A VETERINARY practice has launched a campaign to prevent animals being killed on the region's roads. The campaign has received the backing of Jim Wight, son of the real-life James Herriot, Alf Wight, who recently stopped by at the Stanhope Park Veterinary
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Inspectors give school a glowing report
INSPECTORS from the Office for Standards in Education have given a County Durham school a glowing report. Toft Hill Primary School was found to be an effective school where pupils reach high standards in national tests for 11- year-olds. The report said
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New boss takes charge of £5m budget and a national asset
THE biggest economic asset in the Yorkshire dales is how the national park is described by the new chief executive of its managing authority. Mr David Butterworth, who had been acting in the role since the departure of Mrs Heather Hancock in June, believes
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Wired for sound
THEY have upset the establishment but delighted millions of consumers and now no one knows quite what to do with them. But the music website is definitely here to stay despite some high-profile heavy-arm legal cases and dire threats about musicians' livelihoods
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Ladies Hockey
Roseberry Sunday Invitation League Roseberry were determined to make amends for the previous week's unlucky defeat against Thirsk - their first of the season - when they faced Norton. Home side Roseberry took command of the game from the start and never
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Talks called to avoid bins strike
CONCESSIONS have been made to angry refuse workers in a last-ditch effort to avoid a strike. The compromise has been suggested by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which has informed trade unions of proposed changes to the new contracts it had planned
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Letters: Delay pylon line for health findings
Sir, - I would like to take this opportunity to alert shareholders of the National Grid Company (NGC) of a potential danger to their company. Many shareholders may be aware that NGC is proposing to construct a high voltage power line from Lackenby in
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Potato prices
Yorkshire and North-East. - Thurs. Ex-farm in bags: Cara and similar £70-£100 a tonne; Estima, Nadine, Marfona and other whites, main range £70-£90, best quality £90-£110. Maris Piper mostly £90-£105, up to £140 in south of region. Bulk: Cara and similar
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Soldiers on parade for hospice
SOLDIERS completed the final leg of a 130km sponsored run in the grounds of a Darlington hospice. St Teresa's Hospice, in Woodland Road, has been adopted by soldiers from the 1st Battalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment for their fundraising efforts
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Burglars hook rich pickings
A "fishing-rod gang" - thieves who use bamboo canes and fishing lines to hook keys through people's letterboxes - is targeting homes across the region, police warned last night. Organised teams have stolen tens-of-thousands of pounds worth of expensive
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Gap bridged in woodland walk
A PATH through ancient woodland was completed yesterday when a 14metre-long bridge was moved into place over a stream. Conservation volunteers helped to ease the footbridge into position over the brook in the Congburn Wood Nature Reserve near Chester-le-Street
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Parking restrictions to tighten up in city
A second phase of restrictions aimed at reducing parking problems and traffic congestion in Durham, is to be introduced in the New Year. Durham County Council hopes to introduce new controls in Claypath, Gilesgate, Framwellgate Waterside, The Sands, and
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Rail firm's £500,000-a-day bill
FLOOD devastation and timetable delays are costing Great North-Eastern Railway up to £500,000 a day, The Northern Echo can reveal. The East Coast mainline train operator said the magnitude of speed restrictions in the wake of the Hatfield crash is having
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The Cyber Space
WITH just 38 days to go until Christmas Day, I can no longer pretend it isn't happening. Even the worldwide web has its fair share of tinsel as online shoppers go into purchasing frenzy. So, to get in the festive mood, have a quick look at these seasonal
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How going for green could be a blueprint
A North-East environmental project designed to combat social problems in deprived areas could become a blueprint for similar schemes all over the country. Environments through Communities (EtC) was launched in Shiney Row, near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside
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Boro and Magpies in tug-of-war for Finn
Finnish goal ace Jari Litmanen is being eyed up by both Newcastle and Middlesbrough. Bobby Robson and Boro No 2 Viv Anderson saw the Barcelona star produce moments of brilliance in the Republic of Ireland's 3-0 win at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday night
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Pensioner sues
A pensioner is suing a council for damages after slipping and falling on a wet pavement. Robert Towns, 66, of Kirkham, Biddick, Washington, Wearside, fell on to his back after losing his footing on a street in Easington, County Durham. He is claiming
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Space tale takes off
WHEN a budding writer dashed off a few lines for a national writing competition she promptly forgot all about it. So when the letter dropped on the mat at her Chester-le-Street home saying she had beaten off competition from 5,000 other entrants to win
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Take 24 pebbles and a chandelier
AS if we don't have enough to do at this time of the year, the December issues of the glossy magazines are full of suggestions on how to waste hours, days and weeks preparing for Christmas. With so many more rival mags determined to outdo each other,
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Margaret's therapy is key to real talent
WITH her hearing impaired and her hands crippled through multiple sclerosis, Margaret Neil was persuaded to try keyboard playing in an atempt to ease her disability. But just ten months after striking her first note, the 52-year-old grandmother from County
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Triathlon: Joseph lights up London
A YOUNG Thirsk athlete has confirmed his potential as a possible Olympic star of the future by winning the London Triathlon sprint title. Joseph Rafferty returned from competing at the European age group championships in Bucharest to be one of
