Archive
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Concern grows as river walk pensioner vanishes
EMERGENCY services were sweeping the banks of the River Swale in North Yorkshire last night in their search for an elderly man who may have fallen into the fast-flowing water. It is thought 79-year-old James Kinchen was walking in the Richmond Falls area
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WEAR RUN ENDS
LEEDS UNITED 2, SUNDERLAND 0 Sunderland's four-game winning run ncame to an end at Elland Road, where the Wearsiders had not finished in front for 39 years. Leeds United's leading scorer, Mark Viduka, brought his tally to 13 goals with the decisive second
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Care home group urges action to stop bureaucracy blocking hospital beds
A GROUP representing hundreds of care homes throughout the region has warned elderly people in hospital that they may be waiting until February for a residential bed. Care North East urged social services to cut red tape and help avoid a bed-blocking
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Charge over rape claim
A WOMAN who claimed she had been raped in her home is to appear in court accused of wasting police time. More than 300 hours of police time were spent on the case after the 36-year-old claimed a bogus workman forced his way into her home, in Hartlepool
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Car crash victim remains critical
A MAN who suffered head and internal injuries after his car left the road and hit a tree remained in a critical condition in hospital last night. The 59-year-old man, from the Newcastle area, who has not been named by police, was hurt following an accident
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Falcons skipper back for clash with Ryan's men
SKIPPER Doddie Weir is back but fellow Scot George Graham remains on the bench as Newcastle Falcons begin a hectic period with a trip to Bristol tomorrow. The return Premiership fixture at Kingston Park has been put back from Boxing Day to Wednesday,
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Couple are cleared of murdering drug man
A COUPLE accused of murdering a drug dealer for his money as he made his way home from a party walked free from court yesterday. Martin Cavanagh, 30, and Nicola Wilde, 22, were accused of shooting John Hall just yards from his home in the early hours
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Drugs link to body in the bushes execution
A MURDERED man whose skeleton was found on North-East farmland may have been the victim of an underworld execution, it was revealed last night. The remains, believed to be those of Mark Anthony Corley, were discovered at the edge of a field near Bolam
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Quakers hope to return bearing gifts from Orient
Darlington face their toughest away game of the season so far when they go to fourth-placed Leyton Orient today but manager Gary Bennett is relishing the challenge. The Londoners have dropped only four points in ten league games at Brisbane Road this
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Homeless mongrel hailed as life-saver
EVEN in deepest James Herriot country, the tale of an unwanted dog which took part in an emergency blood transfusion to save the life of a dying family pet is quite remarkable. Homeless German shepherd cross Tasha was called into action after a private
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Smarty success sure to cheer up unlucky Pitman
IT has been a bad week so far for Lambourn trainer Mark Pitman, forced on Thursday to put ambitious plans for his stable star Monsignor on the back burner as a result of a minor leg injury. But all is not lost because at Ascot this afternoon he has a
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Riverside win could bring lift-off, claims Venables
TERRY VENABLES today aims to mark his first-ever visit to the Riverside Stadium by inspiring the victory he believes can spark a Middlesbrough revival. Boro's new head coach faces Chelsea, the club he starred with in the Sixties, as he takes charge of
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Mother of tragic fall boy dies
THE mother-of-two who collapsed when she saw her son killed in a garden accident died in hospital yesterday. Christine Veitch, 28, swallowed her tongue in a panic attack on Tuesday when she saw nine-year-old Robert slip and fatally hit his head on their
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Pensioner in running for jackpot
A pensioner stands to win a small fortune today with £120,000 riding on the outcome of a horse race. The lucky punter from Ferryhill thought all his Christmases had come at once when he backed six winning horses and won £26,000. He was one of only two
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Care worker cleared of attacks
A MANAGER of a North-East home for child offenders was cleared yesterday of indecently assaulting three women staff. Christopher Winstanley Smith, 41, who works at Aycliffe Children's Centre, County Durham, fought back tears as he thanked the jury when
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Final addition to the gospels
AN Anglo-Saxon family will set up home in Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery as part of the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition. The final illuminated double page of St John's Gospel will be unveiled today. The pages feature a design made up of multi-coloured birds
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Splash out with a dip in the pool
ONE of the images of the Olympics that will go down in the annals of sporting history is of Eric "the Eel" Moussambani. The lad from Equatorial Guinea splashed his way down the pool, competing against himself as he struggled to complete his heat. During
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Pay fishermen not to fish
BRITAIN'S fishing industry is indeed in crisis. Fishermen are right when they say many of them will be driven out of business by the quotas announced yesterday by the European Union. But Michael Portillo, opening a shoe shop in Stockton yesterday, is
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It's lean, mean and sexy. It's a new PC
A PERSONAL computer may be just the job for spreadsheets, community letters and games, but it could hardly be called an attractive piece of furniture. A boring collection of grey or biege boxes, the PC was something to be hidden away, not shown off to
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Dalglish earns Celtic payout
Celtic have finally closed the chapter on the calamitous Kenny Dalglish era at the club with the award of more than £600,000 to the former director of football operations. The former Parkhead hero and Newcastle boss re-joined the club along with head
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Bomb mailed to animal tag firm
A RECEPTIONIST at an animal tag manufacturer narrowly escaped being blown up by a mail bomb yesterday. The woman, who works at Ritchey Tagg in Masham, North Yorkshire, had partially opened the package when she realised what was inside. The bomb failed
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Cajun evening
A Cajun supper dance is being held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall next Saturday, at 8pm. The Cajun Aces will provide the music, and a Cajun supper will be served. Tickets costing £15 are available from the town hall box office on (01388) 602610.
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Contented Kevin halts rumours of Leeds move
LETHAL striker Kevin Phillips finally killed off speculation linking him with this afternoon's opponents, Leeds United, when he said last night: "I would be mad to leave Sunderland." The 27-year-old hit-man, whose 30 goals last season won him the prestigious
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Turner is wishing for an early Christmas present
POSITIVE Hartlepool United boss Chris Turner is looking for a festive repeat as he leads his side into their busy Christmas programme. Turner takes his side to Halifax this afternoon, the first of six games in a three-week period. Last year's programme
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Critics
The Sleeping Beauty, Harrogate Theatre This doesn't have the most star-studded cast and isn't the most lavish show around, but oes the most important thing a pantomime can do, connect with the young audience. The Friday morning spectators, almost exclusively
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Pure heaven, no booze, no bath and
A NEW kitchen or the holiday of a lifetime - this was the proposition offered by my husband after an unexpected windfall. For a couple who have spent five years renovating a house with only a week in Corfu as consolation, our resolve to complete this
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Strongmen battle for title
SOME of the brawniest men in the region will be pitted against each other in the North-East Strongman of the Year competition today. The contest, which has attracted 11 competitors, will be held at the Stanley Youth Centre, in Wear Road, Stanley, County
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It's lean, mean and sexy. It's a new PC
A PERSONAL computer may be just the job for spreadsheets, community letters and games, but it could hardly be called an attractive piece of furniture. A boring collection of grey or biege boxes, the PC was something to be hidden away, not shown off to
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Leaving a bad taste in the mouth
SWEATY palms this week for Alan Milburn. Slick and cool he may normally be, but on Wednesday the Health Secretary was making his first-ever appearance as guest of honour at the Press Gallery lunch at Westminster. The Darlington MP was nervous. It showed
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New shops offering aids for the disabled
A STRING of shops that sell a range of innovative equipment designed to make life easier for people with a disability has opened in County Durham. The Home Independence Shops, launched by Durham County Council, are located in County Durham Care's award-winning
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New chapter in village's history is a celebration of its past
AN East Durham former pit village celebrating its centenary is the subject of a new book. Memories of Horden has more than 45 photographs, many from local people's own albums. They range from pitmen with ponies to sports teams, stage shows, pigeons, leeks
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Youth arrested over man's car park death
A 17-YEAR-OLD youth has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man found in a North-East pub car park. Cliff Maidment, 67, died from serious head injuries on Wednesday night in Newcastle General Hospital. He had spent six days fighting
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Homeless mongrel hailed as life-saver
EVEN in deepest James Herriot country, the tale of an unwanted dog which took part in an emergency blood transfusion to save the life of a dying family pet is quite remarkable. Homeless German shepherd cross Tasha was called into action after a private
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Care home group urges action to stop bureaucracy blocking hospital beds
A GROUP representing hundreds of care homes throughout the region has warned elderly people in hospital that they may be waiting until February for a residential bed. Care North East urged social services to cut red tape and help avoid a bed-blocking
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Open day
A FOOTBALL signed by the Newcastle United team is on offer at an open day at the community house, 6 and 7 Esk Gardens, Crook, today. The open day is being used to launch a regeneration project for Watergate Green. There will also be a Christmas fair,
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Disabled to benefit from shops launch
A STRING of shops that sell a range of equipment designed to make life easier for people with a disability has opened in County Durham. The Home Independence Shops, launched by Durham County Council, are located in County Durham Care's award-winning day
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On Byker road to TV stardom
TWIN boys taking the well-trodden Byker Grove route to TV stardom are being compared to cheeky duo Ant and Dec. Alexander and Dominic Beebe, both 13, are identical and already have an army of teeny female admirers. Talent spotters now reckon the pair
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£1,000 adventure boost for nursery
West Cornforth Primary School's nursery unit has received £1,000 towards building an adventure trail from construction materials company Lafarge Redland Aggregates, which has a unit at nearby Thrislington. The money was allocated from landfill tax credits
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Pensioner in running for jackpot
A pensioner stands to win a small fortune today with £120,000 riding on the outcome of a horse race. The lucky punter from Ferryhill thought all his Christmases had come at once when he backed six winning horses and won £26,000. He was one of only two
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Homeless mongrel hailed as life-saver
EVEN in deepest James Herriot country, the tale of an unwanted dog which took part in an emergency blood transfusion to save the life of a dying family pet is quite remarkable. Homeless German shepherd cross Tasha was called into action after a private
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Christmas raffle helps brave boy
MORE than 500 raffle tickets have been sold to ensure a fantastic Christmas for Cameron Murray, of High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, who has fought back from meningitis. The 16-month-old had his left foot and hand, the fingers on his right hand, and
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Alarming increase in drug shootings
THE North-East has seen an alarming increase in drugs-related shootings in recent years: l Cocaine dealer Bryan Scott, 26, was shot twice in the back with a sawn-off shotgun at Kirkleatham Showground, near Redcar, in March this year. Martial arts instructor
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Police are criticised over bail decisions
A judge said yesterday that Durham Police appeared to encourage a man to run up no fewer than 65 offences. Heroin addict Lee Tasker, 28, admitted 52 burglaries, two attempted burglaries and 11 thefts. Judge David Bryant told Teesside Crown Court: "What
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Backlog crisis for football minnows
WHILE Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger moan about their pampered players playing too many matches, non-league teams in the North-East are just desperate to play. Waterlogged pitches have become the scourge of amateur football teams all over the region,
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Put a note in your diaries for Hannah
THE Northern Echo is to stage a "Ring In For Hannah Day" next week to help a little girl face up to the future. Donations continued to flood in yesterday following our story about Hannah Maxwell-Jones who has been left disfigured by a severe birthmark
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A poignant message to drink-drivers
A POSTER drawn by a young boy whose father was killed by a drunken driver will appear all over County Durham and Tyne and Wear over Christmas and the New Year. The emotional image is part of a drink-driving campaign launched by four of the area's councils
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Bishops wary of old boys
Bishop Auckland manager Tony Lee is expecting another tough away game for his side at Barrow today. Bishops are unbeaten in their last 12 league and cup matches as they have climbed into the top four, but Lee expects no favours from some of his former
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Turner wants early Christmas present from Pool players
POSITIVE Hartlepool United boss Chris Turner is looking for a festive repeat as he leads his side into their busy Christmas programme. Turner takes his side to Halifax this afternoon, the first of six games in a three-week period. Last year's programme
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Riverside win could bring lift-off, claims Venables
TERRY VENABLES today aims to mark his first-ever visit to the Riverside Stadium by inspiring the victory he believes can spark a Middlesbrough revival. Boro's new head coach faces Chelsea, the club he starred with in the Sixties, as he takes charge of
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Quota cuts -will sink fishing firms and raise shop prices'
FISHING communities are facing the prospect of being driven out of business after drastic cuts in the amount of fish they are allowed to catch. And the restriction could see an increase of up to 20 per cent in the price of fish and chips, forcing it up
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Two brothers jailed for part in street punch-up
TWO brothers will be spending Christmas behind bars after each was jailed for nine months for street violence yesterday. York Crown Court was told Lee and Jonathan Best became involved in a punch-up in Scarborough's Newborough, during which victim Victor
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Building on the Bob factor
CAN he fix it? Yes he can. It seems there is no end to the talents of Bob the Builder. He may be small, he may be plastic, he may be a children's television character, but Robert T Builder is a force to be reckoned with. Digging tunnels, removing storm
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Big rush for Christmas rail tickets
SEATS on East Coast Main Line trains are selling out fast for passengers wanting to travel over the Christmas period. GNER said yesterday that almost a third of the seats available from December 21 to January 3 were already sold, just days after the company
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Care worker cleared of attacks
A MANAGER of a North-East home for child offenders was cleared yesterday of indecently assaulting three women staff. Christopher Winstanley Smith, 41, who works at Aycliffe Children's Centre, County Durham, fought back tears as he thanked the jury when
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Sunderland fired up for 'derby', says Reid
UP-BEAT Sunderland manager Peter Reid is looking forward to another "derby" - against old rivals Leeds United at Elland Road today. Reid does not appreciate the extent of the hostility which existed between the clubs from the 60s, culminating in the memorable
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Sunderland fired up for -derby', says Reid
UP-BEAT Sunderland manager Peter Reid is looking forward to another "derby" - against old rivals Leeds United at Elland Road today. Reid does not appreciate the extent of the hostility which existed between the clubs from the 60s, culminating in the memorable
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Jailed child rapist 'already punished by nature'
A MAN aged 64 was jailed for seven years yesterday for child rape - and his lawyer said that he had already been punished by nature. Paedophile Cameron McIvor, of Darlington, suffered a stroke after his three girl victims exposed him to the police. He
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Girl, 17, raped by knife attacker
DETECTIVES last night ruled out a link between two rapes which happened less than a mile apart on Wearside. A 17-year-old girl was the victim of a knife-point attack as she walked home in Albany, Washington, shortly before 10pm, on Thursday. The girl
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Buses order safeguards jobs
Buses order safeguards jobs AROUND 1,000 engineering jobs were safeguarded yesterday after transport giant Stagecoach placed an order for 330 new buses. The £35m deal with Falkirk-based bus maker Alexander will provide double and single-decker vehicles
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Reg Vardy suffers as customers stall on new car purchases
CAR dealership Reg Vardy warned its full-year profits were likely to be dented by continuing uncertainty surrounding car prices. The Sunderland-based company believed customers were still waiting for the full effect of a Competition Commission inquiry
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Tasty gifts for building society's customers
DARLINGTON Building Society's marketing team had a complete change from their usual office duties this week, when they helped to wrap the society's millennium corporate Christmas gifts. Almost 2,000 Christmas Puddings had to be wrapped in cellophane,
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Final addition to the gospels
AN Anglo-Saxon family will set up home in Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery as part of the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition. The final illuminated double page of St John's Gospel will be unveiled today. The pages feature a design made up of multi-coloured birds
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On Byker road to TV stardom
TWIN boys taking the well-trodden Byker Grove route to TV stardom are being compared to cheeky duo Ant and Dec. Alexander and Dominic Beebe, both 13, are identical and already have an army of teeny female admirers. Talent spotters now reckon the pair
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Marcelino aims to prove he's no money-grabber
SPANISH defender Marcelino steps back into the Newcastle side against Bradford today, insisting: "I'm no mercenary.'' The injury-prone centre-back, who has started only 11 League games in 18 months at St James' Park since his £5m-plus arrival from Real
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Christmas schedule for bin collections
A SCHEDULE for bin collections in Redcar and Cleveland over the Christmas period has been announced by the local council. With three Bank Holidays, on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council says it hopes to
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Art puts editor back in spotlight
ONE of The Northern Echo's most-famous editors was put in the spotlight again last night. Artist Simon James, 26, recently returned from a trip to New York, where he filmed a monument to W T Stead. Last night, armed with a small projector, Mr James shone
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Contented Kevin halts rumours of Leeds move
LETHAL striker Kevin Phillips finally killed off speculation linking him with this afternoon's opponents, Leeds United, when he said last night: "I would be mad to leave Sunderland." The 27-year-old hit-man, whose 30 goals last season won him the prestigious
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Bishops wary of old boys
Bishop Auckland manager Tony Lee is expecting another tough away game for his side at Barrow today. Bishops are unbeaten in their last 12 league and cup matches as they have climbed into the top four, but Lee expects no favours from some of his former
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Bennett hoping to return bearing gifts from the Orient
Darlington face their toughest away game of the season so far when they go to fourth-placed Leyton Orient today but manager Gary Bennett is relishing the challenge. The Londoners have dropped only four points in ten league games at Brisbane Road this
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Protestors launch action plan to safeguard future of beck
PROPOSALS to enhance and develop a park rescued from the threat of bulldozers are up for discussion. The area near Chapel Beck, in Guisborough, was spared from development last month when Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council acquired the former Blackett
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Jobs safe at Laporte following £1.36bn German takeover deal
CHEMICALS giant Laporte could be set for expansion on Teesside after agreeing a £1.36bn takeover deal with German group Degussa-Huls. The German company is set to take over Laporte's Fine Organics site at Seal Sands on Teesside, which employs 350 staff
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Leaving a bad taste in the mouth
SWEATY palms this week for Alan Milburn. Slick and cool he may normally be, but on Wednesday the Health Secretary was making his first-ever appearance as guest of honour at the Press Gallery lunch at Westminster. The Darlington MP was nervous. It showed
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Accident victim's condition 'grave'
A 31-YEAR-OLD man from was fighting for his life in hospital last night after an accident on Thursday. Graham Macey, of Frances Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, was walking back to a car which had broken down on the road to Brompton-on-Swale when he was
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MP's fury over tax rise for police
NEWS of a police demand for more taxpayers' cash has provoked a challenge from an MP. Dr Ashok Kumar, the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, reacted in response to Cleveland Police Authority's decision to increase its council tax precept by six
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MPs 'delighted' with new hospital
A PREVIEW of a £90m replacement hospital impressed MPs yesterday. Hilary Armstrong, Giles Radice and Gerry Steinberg, the three MPs whose constituents will use the Durham hospital when it replaces Dryburn Hospital next year, were shown everything from
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Two North-East schools top of class
TWO North-East schools were celebrating yesterday after being named the best schools in the country at the national Investors in People Awards. Norham Community Technology College, in North Shields, clinched the best school award. Bishop Barrington Comprehensive
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Christmas raffle helps brave boy
MORE than 500 tickets have been sold in a raffle to ensure a fantastic Christmas for Cameron Murray, of High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, who has fought back from meningitis. The 16-month-old had his left foot and hand, the fingers on his right hand
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Drugs link to body in the bushes execution
A MURDERED man whose skeleton was found on North-East farmland may have been the victim of an underworld execution, it was revealed last night. The remains, believed to be those of Mark Anthony Corley, were discovered at the edge of a field near Bolam
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Put a note in your diaries for Hannah
THE Northern Echo is to stage a "Ring In For Hannah Day" next week to help a little girl face up to the future. Donations continued to flood in yesterday following our story about Hannah Maxwell-Jones who has been left disfigured by a severe birthmark
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Hunt for masked raiders
POLICE are appealing for information after two masked raiders tried to rob a high street bank as it closed. The bungled raid happened just after 5pm, on Thursday, as staff were closing the HSBC bank in Market Place, Barnard Castle, County Durham. The
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Badges spell out safety
SCHOOL crossing patrols are driving home the road safety message by giving out badges. Crossing staff in Middlesbrough, Teesside, are issuing badges wishing children a merry Christmas and inviting them to "Be A Star...Watch That Car" during the last days
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Three awards for council
COUNCIL chiefs are celebrating an early Christmas present after scooping three awards in the Government's annual presentation for excellence. Three Sunderland City Council services - public health, refuse collection and the city library and arts centre
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Town chosen for anti-drugs conference
A TEESSIDE town has been chosen to host a national anti- drugs event. Mo Mowlam, the Cabinet Office Minister responsible for the Government's drugs policy, will speak at the conference, being staged in Middlesbrough by Cleveland Police Authority. With
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Bomb mailed to animal tag firm
A RECEPTIONIST at an animal tag manufacturer narrowly escaped being blown up by a mail bomb yesterday. The woman, who works at Ritchey Tagg in Masham, North Yorkshire, had partially opened the package when she realised what was inside. The bomb failed
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Gareth to be 'the Geri Halliwell of biowaste'
A NORTH-EAST expert on biological waste now has a leading role in an energy organisation. Dr Gareth Evans has been elected vice-president of the EuroSolar UK branch, and will act as an ambassador for the organisation, which promotes the use of environmentally
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Search for dumpers of chemical waste tanks
THE Environment Agency is appealing for witnesses in a bid to track down fly-tippers responsible for two chemical spills less than a quarter of a mile from each other. The tippers dumped chemical tanks containing what was believed to be waste oil in lay-bys
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At a glance: Saturday's results for North-East football
F.A Carling Premiership Middlesbrough 1: Chelsea 0 Newcastle United 2: Bradford City 1 Leeds United 2: Sunderland 0 Nationwide Division 3 Leyton Orient 1: Darlington 0 Halifax Town 0: Hartlepool United 1
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Glittering angels, every one
REID Street primary school in Darlington has 172 children, all of whom had a role of some sort in Tuesday night's Christingle. Multiply that by two for parents, give or take the odd back shift or otherwise engagement, by four for grandparents, maiden
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POOL ENJOY AWAY DAY JOY
CRAIG Midgley's second goal of the season ensured a single-goal triumph for Hartlepool United at Halifax Town. The diminutive front man struck the only goal of the game on 70 minutes. Paul Arnison's long ball from deep was spilled by home keeper Lee Butler
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Prison chief opens facility
NATIONAL prisons' chief Martin Narey returned to the North-East yesterday to open a new facility at his former workplace. The director general of the Prisons Service came back to Frankland Jail, near Durham City, to launch its listener support room. Mr
