Archive
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Two injured in head-on crash
TWO people were injured when a sports car and another car collided head on yesterday. The accident, on the A690 on Gilesgate Bank, Durham City, near the Prince Bishop roundabout, caused traffic chaos in the city as police cleared the scene. A police spokesman
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Verily, a tale of taxes
AND it came to pass in those days there went out a decree from Nice that all the world should be taxed. This was when Tony was Governor of the land, Gordon sat at the seat of tribute and Robin (him that is called "Fuzzy Face") journeyed in divers countries
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Christmas boost for the needy
DARLINGTON Lions Club has arranged for food parcels to be sent to needy people in the town. The public donated food and money, while the club approached Morrison's and Safeway supermarkets to ask if they would add items to supplement those already given
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MP marks volunteers fundraising effort
A MILLENNIUM project reached a new high with the help of Health Secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn. Mr Milburn presented £221 to the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB), on behalf of the Millennium Volunteers, who are based at the Darlington
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Boro fans support appeal
A FOOTBALL club has praised supporters who rallied to help sick children at Christmas. Middlesbrough Football Club thanked all those who have already contributed to this year's appeal for small toys and selection boxes - and reminded those who have not
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Call for answers after floods nightmare
IT is Brompton's turn tonight to thrash out the impact of the floods last month with the agencies involved. About 30 villagers attended a meeting of the parish council a fortnight ago, demanding to know why their properties had been hit so badly. As a
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Burning Questions
A: I LIVE near Redcar but occasionally work in Seaham where, to my surprise, they seem to call streams becks. Around Redcar, streams are called becks, but I always thought that the word in Durham was burn. Where is the cut off area for becks and burns
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Dream home is saved from axe
A WOMAN has won her fight to save a four-year-old dream home from council bulldozers, thanks to Human Rights legislation. Plans for the £190,000 home, on four acres of land on the outskirts of Shildon, were given the go-ahead by Sedgefield Borough Council
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Getting a result from Lancet
THE Operation Lancet inquiry has become the policing equivalent of The Mousetrap - a seemingly never-ending Whodunnit but without any of the laughs. It has left many issues unanswered and one of the most central has been the question of how investigations
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Bookies' staff cheer on jackpot racehorse
REGULARS at a North-East bookmakers' could not believe their eyes as staff cheered on a horse which, if it had won, would have seen them pay out £120,000. A popular pensioner, who regularly backs horses at Ladbrokes Ferryhill shop, in County Durham, was
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Plans revealed for Emerson House
PLANNING applications have been submitted to redevelop the Emerson House site in Washington, Tyne and Wear. The planning applications seek consent to build approximately 150 new homes, a new 74 bed Express by Holiday Inn Hotel and a Toby Restaurant on
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Cement giant is upbeat
CEMENT group Blue Circle Industries, which fought off a hostile bid from France's Lafarge earlier this year, has posted an upbeat trading statement and said planned cost savings would come in above expectations. Chief executive Rick Haythornthwaite said
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Mo Mowlam's wish granted as female successor selected
THE Labour Party has selected a leading woman barrister as its candidate to succeed Cabinet minister Mo Mowlam. Vera Baird, a criminal and civil liberties barrister in the chambers of Michael Mansfield QC, was chosen to succeed the former Northern Ireland
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Minister rules out boxing ban
Health Secretary Alan Milburn yesterday rejected calls to ban boxing as fighter Paul Ingle remained in a coma following his ill-fated world title bout. Mr Milburn said the sport should continue as safely as possible after the 28-year-old featherweight
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Liverpool clash big incentive for Reid
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid goes into tonight's Worthington Cup fifth round tie at Crystal Palace determined to earn a "mouth-watering" semi-final clash against Merseyside giants Liverpool. "Obviously Liverpool is in the back of our minds. But first
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Marriage was a moving experience
A RETIRED chemical worker won a divorce yesterday - because his wife shifted the furniture in the family home every day of their 38-year marriage. John Turner, 62, said he hoped the constant moving would stop when they swapped their Teesside house for
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Salisbury out as England turn to Croft and Brown
Four months after he closed the door on his international career, Robert Croft yesterday found himself ushered back into the England squad. Croft's fearsome attack on England's selection policy which followed his omission from the winter tour squads could
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Johnson takes a Direct Route
Direct Route will be among tomorrow's confirmations for the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. However, trainer Howard Johnson has warned that his stable star will not travel south from his Crook base unless the ground is ''genuinely
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Council's railings schemes aim to tackle fear of crime
COUNCILLORS have approved three schemes to try to tackle the fear of crime in Hartlepool. The central neighbourhood forum of Hartlepool Borough Council has agreed to spend more than £4,400 from its minor works budget, in Staindrop Street, James Street
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'Town to miss out on city status'
THE battle to create a new city in the North-East is almost certain to end in failure today. The Home Office is expected to unveil the long-awaited result of the Millennium City competition to mark the year 2000. But as forecast by The Northern Echo months
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Tributes paid to council 'father'
COLLEAGUES have been paying tribute to the "father'' of Richmondshire District Council, who died in hospital after falling ill during one of the authority's meetings last week. William James Corps, 85, served on the former Richmond Rural District Council
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Racehorse owner Herbert is first past the post in cake-baking stakes
FARMER and racehorse owner Herbert Hutchinson reckoned he was a bit of a long shot when he entered the decorated chocolate cake competition at his local pub. However, he confounded regulars at the Christmas bash of the Sunday Club, at the Cross Keys,
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Famous grouse over the scotch at Scotch Corner
ONE of the region's best-known hotels was in the dock yesterday after a spot check revealed the scotch at Scotch Corner had been watered down. And it wasn't just the Jack Daniels, Strathfillan and Famous Grouse which put Friendly Hotels - the chain which
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Aid for Chernobyl kids
FATHER Christmas will be helping to spread some festive cheer and raise money for victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the former Soviet Union this week. Santa will be in his grotto at the Civic Centre in Crook, County Durham, tomorrow and Wednesday
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Bid for anti-social order on tearaway
POLICE have applied for an anti-social behaviour order to control a wayward 16-year-old. The boy, who cannot be named, is the first person in Prime Minister Tony Blair's County Durham constituency of Sedgefield to be the subject of such an application
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A sport for gentlemen?
ALMOST from the first moment he laced up his gloves, there was something special about Paul Ingle the boxer. It wasn't just his willingness to give as good as he got, even when he was sparring with a bigger opponent, nor his technique, which was rough
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Under-age drinking talks
COMMUNITY leaders in Weardale have organised an awareness night to try to tackle the problem of under-age drinking. Parents, teachers, licensees and the police have been invited to attend the meeting, being held at the Stanhope Community Centre tonight
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Group in peak form for hospital
A TEAM of intrepid teenagers has given a £1,000 boost to a hospital's special care baby unit. The money was raised by four friends from Durham Johnston School, who completed the Three Peaks Challenge during the summer holidays. Team leader Laura Frost
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Raising the spirits of residents
A RANGE of projects aimed at improving the quality of life of people living in a former rundown council estate is proving a success, according to a survey. The survey of Durham City's Sherburn Road Estate was commissioned when a community health project
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Education standards make grade
FOUR primary schools in Hartlepool have earned a seal of approval from a Government agency for providing high standards in education. Brougham, Grange, Holy Trinity and St Bega's received the Quality Mark from the Basic Skills Agency during a ceremony
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Mixed reaction over plan to use building as youth centre
A SMALL community has been split over planning permission for a youth centre. Planning officers from Derwentside District Council have recommended refusing permission for the centre at Front Street in Langley Park after receiving complaints from nearby
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Woman injured in attack by bag snatchers
DETECTIVES are hunting three youths who attacked a woman from behind and stole her handbag. The trio approached the woman while she was walking in a lane between Branksome Terrace and Salisbury Terrace, in Darlington. The incident happened at 6pm on Thursday
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Housing boost for town is welcomed
A COUNCILLOR has welcomed housing plans for a former railway town and believes more developments should follow to help its regeneration. Sedgefield Borough Council has granted outline planning permission for six semi-detached houses and eight detached
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Letters
CIGARETTES IT has to be said that the MP for Darlington is displaying the same arrogance of which he and Tony Blair accused the previous administration. In my travels, there is a sense of betrayal felt by the people of Darlington where their interests
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Sledge hockey officials go in search of new talent
TALENT-SPOTTERS from the British Sledge Hockey Association arrived in the region at the weekend to find new blood for their next winter paralympic team. Players and organisers took to the ice in Victoria Gardens, Middlesbrough, Teesside, to give a display
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Youngsters' designs promote road safety
PUPILS have put their creative skills to the test to design a logo for a road safety campaign in Hartlepool. Highway officers asked for ideas to promote the Dyke House Comprehensive School casualty reduction initiative. Now, elements of the best suggestions
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Green scheme starts
WORK to redevelop a green area on a Crook estate is expected to start in the New Year, after a year of planning. The site on the Watergate Estate was chosen to be revamped as part of a big redevelopment of the area. The scheme has been led by the Helmington
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Fiona chosen as face of Cambridge University
ONE of the country's top universities has chosen a former City of Sunderland College student to spearhead its 2001 recruitment campaign. The move comes in stark contrast to the case of Laura Spence, the pupil who was rejected by Oxford college Magdalen
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Life's a drag for muscle men in bid for strongman title
DOZENS of spectators enjoyed the spectacle of some of the strongest men in the region pitting their might against each other at the weekend. The clear winner of the North-East Strongman of the Year competition, held in Stanley, County Durham, was Scarborough
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Brother tells of 'sympathy' as killer's parole date nears
THE family of three cyclists who were killed by a drink-driver has been told that the man responsible could be released from prison after serving less than half his sentence. The news comes as the Government prepares to announce proposals to give prison
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Surgeon's victims to air grievances
VICTIMS of disgraced North-East surgeon Richard Neale will tell their stories to radio listeners today as the heat is turned up on the General Medical Council (GMC). The consumer programme, You And Yours, is planning to broadcast an hour-long documentary
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Family protests at state of graves
A COUNCIL has been attacked for the "disgraceful" state of graves at a Darlington cemetery. Julie Peak's daughter, Alison Walker, is buried in North Road Cemetery. She died at the age of 13, after contracting meningitis. New Year's Day will be the tenth
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Youngsters draw on their everyday experiences of life
LIFE through the eyes of County Durham's youngsters has gone on display. Our Time, Our Place, Our Lives, is an exhibition of art by young people from more than 100 of the county's schools. The show opened at Durham Art Gallery, Aykley Heads, Durham City
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Sanctuary answers sos
AN animal sanctuary has eased the pressure on a fellow rescue centre by taking in some of its animals. Farplace Animal Rescue, in Westgate, Weardale, has residents ranging from Lulu, a large white pig, to stick insects, chinchillas, turkeys, pigeons and
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Police appeal after vandals damage cars
POLICE have made an appeal for information after two cars were damaged by vandals at the weekend. Paint stripper was poured over a Vauxhall Astra, in Willow Avenue, Crook, County Durham, causing extensive damage to the paintwork on the bonnet, roof and
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'Billy' swearing clean-up angers film bosses
BBC bosses have decided to scrub clean the hit film Billy Elliot - by asking that 35 instances of the F-word be removed for a new version. The move, aimed at allowing the film to be watched by a younger audience, has triggered a debate over censorship
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British Polythene escapes McFarlane takeover bid
POLYTHENE film maker British Polythene Industries has escaped a £114m hostile bid by packaging group Macfarlane after a battle lasting three months. Macfarlane said it had secured 35.1 per cent of acceptances for its offer and, accordingly, its bid had
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Bobby hits the buffers in striker bid
Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson yesterday revealed a £5m obstacle to his bid to land Benfica's Pierre Van Hooijdonk. Robson opened talks with the Portuguese club, who are willing to give the former Nottingham Forest striker a free transfer. But
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Gray calls on Quakers to make the most of Hatters' misery
Darlington skipper Martin Gray last night called on his teammates to take advantage of Luton's home misery. Gray leads Quakers into action at Kenilworth Road tonight for their second round replay hoping to upset the Second Division side and earn a home
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Pay boost for nurses
Nurses and doctors were handed above inflation pay awards yesterday - but unions warned the increases would do little to resolve the NHS recruitment crisis. All nurses will receive a basic 3.7 per cent salary increase from April 2001, above the 3.2 per
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Award marks positive view
A TEENAGER is celebrating after winning an award for her outstanding contribution to her school and community. Claire Bennett, a year 11 pupil at Thornaby Community School, was chosen for the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award not only because of
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ALL clear given for pharmaceutical merger
PHARMACEUTICAL giants Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham have passed a crucial hurdle in their merger plans after gaining the green light from US authorities. The pair said the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had approved the terms of their merger
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Christmas trees recycling scheme
A COUNCIL is offering to recycle natural Christmas trees after the Christmas period. Trees can be taken to one of Gateshead Borough Council's three recycling centres, from Tuesday, December 26 to Saturday, January 13. The centres are at Central Nursery
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Doctor defies odds to become a father
A DOCTOR diagnosed with cancer has beaten the odds to become a father. Andrew O'Shaughnessy, 29, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease in his first year at medical school nine years ago, and was told treatment would leave him sterile. But after being persuaded
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Proposal to end show's decline
PROPOSALS to rename one of Hartlepool's events and provide a new venue to help it to thrive in the future look likely to be given the go-ahead this week. Hartlepool Borough Council's community services and safety board will meet tomorrow to discuss proposals
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Internet test adds to skills
THE winners of an Internet mathematics competition for primary schools in Hartlepool have received their prizes at a ceremony. Director of education Jeremy Fitt paid tribute to the efforts of those who got all of the questions right, by inviting them
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Viz does the biz for advice book
Cartoonists from the adult comic The Viz have been called on by The Samaritans to assist with a new book that helps men cope with Christmas. Illustrators from the Tyneside magazine were approached to create cartoons for The Bloke's Own Paper. The pocket
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Inspirational tribute
AN exhibition of work by American artist David Everett Blythe, dedicated to one of the artists who gave him inspiration, goes on show in the North-East today. Having studied John Ruskin's techniques, Mr Blythe is marking the Lake District artist's centenary
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Angler dies after plunge from cliffs
A MAN died when he fell 60ft from a clifftop at a popular fishing spot at the weekend. The 34-year-old, from South Tyneside, who has not been named, was fishing with a friend from cliffs south of Souter Point Lighthouse, known as the Wary, in Whitburn
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Bride travels from US
A YOUNG woman who has been married in Texas is to have a blessing at the Bedale church where she was baptised 23 years ago. The Reverend David Paton-Williams, rector of Bedale, will officiate at the ceremony at St Gregory's for Sarah Bowland, formerly
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Jailbreakers nearly end up in police cell
A SPONSORED jailbreak almost led to two pub regulars spending a night in the cells - when they were mistaken for protestors about to chain themselves to the railings of Buckingham Palace. Lesley Mattimoe and Jadwiga Imeila were handcuffed together for
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Strap caught in door of holiday jet
A HOLIDAY jet was forced to make an emergency landing after a strap got caught in the cabin door. Passengers on the Airtours flight from Newcastle to Tenerife alerted cabin crew shortly after take-off that wind was whistling in through the door. Worried
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Hospice gets cash boost
GENEROUS customers from a Northallerton supermarket have raised cash for a local charity. The town's Mayor, Councillor Jack Dobson, visited Somerfield to be presented with a cheque for £200 for Hospice Homecare. The charity has been adopted as the mayor's
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Venues line up for extended dance licences
PUBS and clubs in Darlington are hoping the council will give them dispensation to extend dances on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Both days fall on a Sunday this year, and most premises licensed for public entertainment have a condition attached to
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'Take more care and beat car crime'
DURHAM Police believe a little more thought from motorists will help them cut car crime. Detectives in Durham and Chester-le-Street are urging drivers to take more care following a spate of opportunist thefts. A number of cars and vans have been stolen
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On road to recovery as workers move in
A SMALL east Durham community has got some welcome Christmas relief following improvements to its only link to the outside world. Residents of the 16 homes in the hamlet of Heath View, near Station Town, had deliveries to their homes stopped and taxi
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'Friend' Kate pays visit to college
A GOVERNMENT Minister is fast becoming "a friend" of a County Durham college which has become a pioneering sporting centre-of-excellence. Sports Minister Kate Hoey has paid her second visit in just over a year to East Durham and Houghall Community College's
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Mayor takes delivery of hope symbol
A SYMBOL of hope for the future is to be presented to the Mayor of Middlesbrough later this week, when she receives the Millennium Flame. The flame, which has been on tour throughout the UK this year, will be handed over to Councillor Kath Bevington,
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Knifeman tries to kidnap child
A man tried to snatch a four-year-old girl at knifepoint outside her school, police revealed last night. And officers have praised the bravery of the girl's elder sister, who foiled the kidnap attempt. The 11-year-old was walking her younger sister to
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Police hunt man with sack
DETECTIVES are appealing for information about a man carrying a large sack through the streets of Tow Law at night. The person they are looking for is not Father Christmas, but a thief who left his victims with a decidedly chilly feeling after raiding
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Villagers reject drugs unit scheme
VILLAGERS are demanding that plans to set up a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre at a farm are scrapped. About 200 people packed the Old School, at Gilling, for a meeting called to debate the project, outlined by Alpha Development and Management.
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Pantomime entertains shoppers
SHOPPERS trawling the malls of the MetroCentre for presents are being put in the festive spirit with free pantomime performances. The centre's cuddly characters, the MetroGnomes, comprising Herbert, Sherbet, Maggot and Rusty, are appearing daily, entertaining
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Village pupils are a class act
CHILDREN at a tiny County Durham village are proving themselves to be the tops. For the first time, pupils at Hamsteels Primary School, Esh Winning, have achieved 100 per cent in English, maths and science in the primary school league tables. Twelve pupils
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Newcastle tops asylum league
NEWCASTLE has the highest number of asylum seekers in the region, figures reveal. There are 9,168 people living in the city, waiting to see if they can stay in this country. Sunderland has 1,747 asylum seekers, followed by Redcar and Cleveland with 1,503
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Geordie building site heroes were inspired - by Teessiders
BUILDING workers Stewart Keeble and Mick McGlade are taking a more than passing interest in the revival of 1980s hit TV series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. The two likely lads from Stockton were the real-life inspiration behind the hit series about British labourers
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Missing pensioner's body found
THE body of a pensioner who was reported missing last week has been found in a North Yorkshire river. Fears were growing for 79-year-old James Kinchen on Friday night after he failed to return to his Richmond home. A search was launched along the banks
