Archive
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The sweethearts who took 60 years to marry
WHEN Gerald Boldon was just seven, he swore to marry his five-year-old childhood sweetheart, Audrey Tiffen. Now the pair have tied the knot after a chance meeting in a supermarket - 60 years after they first pledged their undying love. The couple's romance
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Parents still hope killer will be caught
THE parents of a young man who was murdered seven years ago today, have said they will never give up hope that police will catch his killers. And Northumbria Police have also vowed that the hunt will never end for the men who beat father-of-two Paul Logan
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United boss slaps pay freeze on Domi
Angry Bobby Robson has slapped a pay freeze on Didier Domi and suspended his Newcastle full back for going AWOL. Robson showed little Christmas goodwill yesterday when he rapped "no play, no pay" just 24 hours after hitting his French rebel with a £30,000
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Time for excuses is over as Bennett reads the riot act
Darlington manager Gary Bennett has warned his players that there'll be no excuses when Lincoln City visit Feethams today. Quakers go into the game on level points with Lincoln and needing victory to halt a slide in the league which has seen them collect
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Trust work bridges gap for students
TWO students have won places to work with the charity Project Trust during their "gap year" from education. Laura Gregory and Sarah Bell, both 17, and students at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form, Darlington, were selected to work for the charity, which carries
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Teenage girls found hanged in their homes
TWO schoolgirls have been found hanged in their homes only days before Christmas. News of the tragedy involving Stacey Wilshaw, 12, from Rugeley, Staffordshire, came less than 24 hours after it was learned that 13-year-old Kayleigh Davies had been found
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No move for Fowler as Wenger sticks to guns
Arsene Wenger will not attempt to sign Robbie Fowler despite his ''love'' of the striker's abilities as he is perfectly happy with the four forwards already at Arsenal. Speculation has continued to surround Fowler's future over the past few weeks as he
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Christmas Cracker
SUNDERLAND 1 Manchester City 0 Slick Sunderland got back to winning ways after two defeats in a cracking game at the Stadium of Light. Scottish international Don Hutchison, back after injury and deputising for England striker Kevin Phillips, put the Wearsiders
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Why Santa snubbed the Boro
'TIS the season to be jolly. Tinsel-decorated Christmas trees gaily wink through thousands of festive windows across the region and barely a child can sleep for eager anticipation of Santa's arrival. So let's put aside all cynical thoughts for the next
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Reid pinning his hopes on Don
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid bears no grudges against Manchester City, the club which sacked him only four games into a new season, and he believes the Maine Road outfit can battle their way to Premiership safety. But he goes into today's clash looking
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Weaver forgets his error
Nicky Weaver faces Sunderland today believing he has turned his costly mistake against Ipswich into a positive, writes DAVID ANDERSON. The Manchester City goalkeeper spilled a shot to gift Ipswich their equaliser in Tuesday's Worthington Cup quarter-final
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Chance to sing out from scratch
People who want to learn how to sing are being invited to join a ten-week "singing from scratch" course. It will be held at the Chester-le-Street Community Association, Newcastle Bank, on Tuesdays, 7pm to 9pm, from January 16. Course fees are £17.50,
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Give me the chance to step into breach, says Hutchinson
SCOTTISH international Don Hutchison is ready to step into the breach and deputise for suspended goal-ace Kevin Phillips in this afternoon's home game against Manchester City. The 29-year-old striker, who has missed the last four games with a torn hamstring
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Shift of policy on policing
POLICE are promising to give better coverage to two market towns. There will be officers on duty round-the-clock across Ryedale, thanks to a new shift system being introduced in the New Year. At present, Kirkbymoorside and Pickering have no cover at nights
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Basketball project gets a £750 helping hand
A SPORTS scheme that has attracted praise from Tony Blair and Mo Mowlam has been boosted by a Teesside firm. The Reach for Success programme, which is based at Eston Sports Academy, uses basketball in schools to promote teamwork and a healthy lifestyle
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Gadgetman goes Windows shopping
CHRISTMAS is a great time of the year. But how do you avoid yet another round of socks and hankie sets? Or even worse, a novelty tie that plays Jingle Bells. Why not settle back for a moment and have a look at some of Gadgetman's Christmas 2000 recommendations
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College art show inspired by archaeology
COLLEGE art and design students are staging an exhibition on the theme of archaeology. The students, from New College Durham, have produced two and three-dimensional exhibits after carrying out extensive research. This included visiting archaeological
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Bus services win reprieve
BUS services between a deprived estate and Darlington town centre have been reprieved for at least three months. The early morning, late night and Sunday services operating to and from Skerne Park faced the axe from January 7, after Arriva realised they
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Armed raiders escape with £3,000 haul
MASKED robbers escaped with thousands of pounds after threatening staff at a wholesaler with a shotgun. Three men wearing ski masks burst into Hancock Cash and Carry, on Chester-le-Street's Drum Industrial Estate, at 7.20pm, on Thursday. They were armed
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Dixons is on target
ELECTRICAL retailer Dixons has said its performance over the last six months had been in line with City expectations. The high street chain believed figures for the 28 weeks to November 11, due to be announced next month, will contain few surprises. It
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Hilton sells Ladbroke casinos
HOTELS and betting chain Hilton has sealed a £235m deal to sell its Ladbrokes Casino business to the bingo operator Gala. The sale will see Gala take control of 29 casinos, including six in London. Hilton said the proceeds would be used to reduce its
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Sainsbury's sells Homebase DIY chain in £969m deal
SUPERMARKET chain Sainsbury's has sold its Homebase DIY chain to venture capitalist Schroder Ventures in a deal worth £969m. The agreement sees Schroder pick up the existing Homebase business for £750m, while Sainsbury's will sell 28 sites that are not
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Decision due in fight for boathouse
CAMPAIGNERS will learn in the new year whether their efforts to save a Durham City landmark have been successful. A decision is expected soon on plans to demolish Brown's Boathouse, near Elvet Bridge, and replace it with a glass-fronted pub that could
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Branson's East Coast line hopes hit buffers
THE multi-million pound battle for the East Coast Mainline last night appeared to take a decisive turn, with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Rail set to be the loser. Both Virgin and current operator GNER have been fighting it out to win the 20-year franchise
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What help can I claim with my rent?
Q I am 78 with a Retirement Pension of £71.59 a week and my late husband's annuity of £33.15 a month. What help can I get with my rent of £46.29 a week and my Council Tax of £500 a year? A According to the Governments rules, you do not have enough to
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Gadgetman goes Windows shopping
CHRISTMAS is a great time of the year. But how do you avoid yet another round of socks and hankie sets? Or even worse, a novelty tie that plays Jingle Bells. Why not settle back for a moment and have a look at some of Gadgetman's Christmas 2000 recommendations
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Street cleaning given Italian style
A TOUCH of Italian style is making the job of keeping Durham's streets clean easier. The city council has taken delivery of Italian-made Piaggio three-wheeled cleaning vehicles. With its hilly and narrow streets, the city can be difficult for larger cleaning
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Pensioners rally round to ensure happy christmas for stray dogs
STRAY dogs are enjoying some extra creature comforts this Christmas thanks to a home for elderly people. Holy Cross Farm Boarding Kennels and Cattery, in Haswell, east Durham, has taken delivery of a hamper of cat and dog food, plus a range of pet treats
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We can't forgive crash driver
THE family of a North-East woman killed when a reckless driver forced her off a motorway say they will never forgive him. Probation officer David Firbank, who has been jailed for 30 months, pulled on to the A1M without looking, causing Nichola Payne to
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Three hurt in crash
A CAR driven by a disqualified driver crashed into a house after swerving to avoid a pedestrian. The vehicle crashed into the side of the house in Crowther Place, Kirk Merrington, on Thursday night, when trying to avoid a man who had come out of a nearby
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Life in the fast lane for options
EVENT staffing company Options has won a prestigious contract to supply hospitality staff for the 2001 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Darlington-based business provides high quality staff for a wide range of clients, for conferences, exhibitions
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'You're being watched' town centre thieves are warned
NO HIDING place: that is a security chief's warning to crooks considering raiding a town or its car parks over the holiday. Billingham town centre and its 900 car parking spaces are now covered by closed circuit television cameras, working 24 hours a
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Travel misery as railways shunned
Frustrated motorists and rail passengers faced mounting problems last night as busy roads and packed trains made for a miserable Christmas getaway. Hold-ups had built up on major roads across the country late yesterday while many people found trains completely
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A white Christmas - it's snow joke
SANTA Claus is coming to town - and he looks set bring a white Christmas with him, according to the latest weather forecasts. Meteorologists yesterday promised snow flurries across the North-East and North Yorkshire on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,
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Kind hearts help Cameron
MORE than £400 has been raised to give a brave youngster a fantastic Christmas. Staff at Hays Travel in Bishop Auckland launched an appeal to raise funds for 16-month-old Cameron Murray after hearing of his battle against meningitis. They arranged for
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Christmas boost for crime victims
POLICE brought Christmas cheer to elderly victims of crime in the form of festive hampers. Officers from Hartlepool made the deliveries, containing everything from Christmas cakes and puddings, to sherry and tins of ham, after accruing points for the
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Man's body is found near shops
A MAN found dead yesterday at a city shopping centre has been named as Terrence Appleton. Mr Appleton, a married man in his 50s, lived in Elm Street, South Stanley. Police believe that his body, which was found by cleaners at Durham City's Millburngate
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Learn from your gardening mistakes
AS the gardening year fades away we look forward to what the New Year brings. It is also a good time to review the past season and to learn from our mistakes and successes. These should quite naturally lead us into our New Year resolutions for the lessons
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Pubs collect £1,000 for kids in hospital
YOUNGSTERS at Dryburn Hospital, Durham, will have plenty of cuddly toys to play with this Christmas. Staff and drinkers at six city pubs have raised £1,000 for the children's wards, £400 of which was spent on toys. The other £600 will be spent on equipment
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Pubs collect £1,000 for kids in hospital
YOUNGSTERS at Dryburn Hospital, Durham, will have plenty of cuddly toys to play with this Christmas. Staff and drinkers at six city pubs have raised £1,000 for the children's wards, £400 of which was spent on toys. The other £600 will be spent on equipment
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Boro, not Spurs, provide all motivation Venables needs
Terry Venables yesterday dismissed the sentiment surrounding his return to former club Tottenham and pointed to the massive, four-game test facing Middlesbrough in the next eight days. Venables will be at White Hart Lane today for only the second time
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Zara escapes as car turns over
Zara Phillips, the teenage daughter of the Princess Royal, escaped serious injury yesterday when her Land Rover overturned on a country road. It is understood the vehicle clipped a wall and overturned on an unclassified road between Bourton-on-the-Water
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United boss slaps pay freeze on Domi
Angry Bobby Robson has slapped a pay freeze on Didier Domi and suspended his Newcastle full back for going AWOL. Robson showed little Christmas goodwill yesterday when he rapped "no play, no pay" just 24 hours after hitting his French rebel with a £30,000
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McSting all ready for Madonna's knees-up
Pop queen Madonna had the world guessing about her marriage to movie director Guy Ritchie last night. Hundreds of journalists from all over the globe have been camped outside the gates of the exclusive Skibo Castle in the secluded Scottish highlands since
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Same old story makes happy reading for Miller
HARTLEPOOL United's season is following a familiar path - and hot-shot Tommy Miller has no complaints. Pool are enjoying another pre-Christmas purple patch as they make another push for the play-offs and Miller, who has netted ten goals from midfield
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Fans welcome soccer stands suggestion
SUGGESTIONS by Sports Minister Kate Hoey that terracing could return to Premiership football grounds have received a warm welcome in the North-East. However, the minister's views have been denounced by families of victims killed in the Hillsborough disaster
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Roof tile thief caught out
A North Yorkshire landowner caught a thief who stripped rare Cumbrian blue tiles from his property, a court was told yesterday. Sir Richard Wombwell, of Newburgh Priory, in Coxwold, near Thirsk, spotted a suspect vehicle at late evening in the grounds
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Time for excuses is over as Bennett reads the riot act
Darlington manager Gary Bennett has warned his players that there'll be no excuses when Lincoln City visit Feethams today. Quakers go into the game on level points with Lincoln and needing victory to halt a slide in the league which has seen them collect
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Spurs boss keen to guage owners' desires
George Graham will be pleasantly surprised if Tottenham's new owners throw him a bundle of cash to bring in the players he feels are badly needed at White Hart Lane. But the Spurs manager, who some believe is on borrowed time now that Sir Alan Sugar is
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£800,000 for ex-workers
MORE than 160 former shipyard workers have won £800,000 compensation from shipbuilder Cammell Laird, the GMB union said last night. The former employees battled for the compensation for 21 months after being laid off following the closure of the company's
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Keane can be another Shearer, claims O'Leary
Robbie Keane yesterday joined the growing Leeds revolution as boss David O'Leary unveiled a player he believes is ''out of the Alan Shearer mould''. Keane will make his debut in day's Elland Road clash with Aston Villa as Leeds received international
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Lewis hands Culloty chance to prove worth
Jim Culloty is out to prove himself number one when he continues his partnership with Edredon Bleu on his first ride in the £125,000 Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Tony McCoy has been teaming up with the champion two-miler when
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At a glance: Saturday's results for North-East football
F.A Carling Premiership Spurs 0: Middlesbrough 0 Derby 2: Newcastle United 0 Sunderland 1: Man City 0 Nationwide Division 3 Darlington 3: Lincoln City 0 Hartlepool United 6: Barnet 1
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-Evil pervert' jailed for ten years
A "wicked, evil pervert" was jailed for ten years yesterday for raping and assaulting children over three decades. William McFarlane, 58, admitted 13 charges of rape, sexual assault, and other serious sex offences on the second day of his trial in November
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Reid pinning his hopes on Don
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid bears no grudges against Manchester City, the club which sacked him only four games into a new season, and he believes the Maine Road outfit can battle their way to Premiership safety. But he goes into today's clash looking
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Moors to put Leek in soup
Spennymoor are hoping their fortunes will change in their important game at Leek Town this afternoon. Leek are just one place above the relegation zone and a Moors victory will mean they will be just two points behind. Manager Peter Mulcaster, who includes
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Pupils run out safe quiz winners
PUPILS from a Teesside school are in pole position after competing in a road safety quiz. Children from Fairfield Junior, Hartburn Primary and Ingleby Mill Primary Schools battled it out to gain the most points in the final of the inter-school quiz. Run
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Give me the chance to step in the breach
SCOTTISH international Don Hutchison is ready to step into the breach and deputise for suspended goal-ace Kevin Phillips in this afternoon's home game against Manchester City. The 29-year-old striker, who has missed the last four games with a torn hamstring
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Families get say on proposed parking restrictions scheme
DURHAM residents are to be given a say on the third and final phase of parking restrictions. Durham County Council highways chiefs have drawn up plans to control parking in an area that includes Western Hill, Framwellgate Peth, Milburngate, South Street
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When it's Christmas Day in the jailhouse
IF Christmas dinner with the in-laws seems like a daunting prospect, spare a thought for the inmates of the region's jails - their turkey and stuffing will be served up with a side order of loneliness. While law-abiding citizens don silly hats and tuck
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£2,000 marks year 2000
A HOSPICE has received a £2,000 Christmas gift just before the year 2000 ends. Bad taste evenings and recycling helped to raise the cash for Bishop Auckland's Butterwick Hospice. It was given by the Wheatsheaf Inn, at St Helen Auckland, and Foreman Recycling
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Parade of angelic hosts
IN A pleasant North Yorkshire village on Sunday afternoon we celebrated the great miracle of the age, that is to say the correct use of the subjunctive. The open air tableau was called If Christ were born in Cowton. There are three Cowtons at least -
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Parade of angelic hosts
IN A pleasant North Yorkshire village on Sunday afternoon we celebrated the great miracle of the age, that is to say the correct use of the subjunctive. The open air tableau was called If Christ were born in Cowton. There are three Cowtons at least -
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Police workers have stars in their eyes
THE Terminator rubbed shoulders with Cruella de Ville, while the Martini girl skated rings around the Playboy Bunny at a star-studded festive event. Although the real-life stars could not make it, staff from the police's criminal records office did their
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Weir sells Darchem in £28m deal
SPECIALIST engineering business Darchem has been sold to Royal Bank Private Equity (RBPE) for £28m. Darchem, based at Stillington on Teesside, was formerly owned by the Scottish-based Weir Group, and provides heat and fire protection systems and services
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Benefits service 'will improve'
PEOPLE in east Durham are being promised "significant improvements'' in their council tax and housing benefit service. Easington District Council made the pledge after an inspection rated it "fair''. The Audit Commission's Best Value inspection service
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Why Santa snubbed the Boro
'TIS the season to be jolly. Tinsel-decorated Christmas trees gaily wink through thousands of festive windows across the region and barely a child can sleep for eager anticipation of Santa's arrival. So let's put aside all cynical thoughts for the next
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We can't forgive crash driver
THE family of a North-East woman killed when a reckless driver forced her off a motorway say they will never forgive him. Probation officer David Firbank, who has been jailed for 30 months, pulled on to the A1M without looking, causing Nichola Payne to
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Train scene carries a grim message
THE decision to use a painting featuring battered and bloodied whales lying in snow on a Christmas card sent out by a mayor has been explained as "an environmental message". Councillor Dot Long, mayor of Darlington, chose the painting 'Train - Snow' by
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Books help lift patients' spirits
CHILDREN facing the prospect of Christmas in hospital have been given a little light relief in the form of Harry Potter and Roald Dahl. Staff from Hambleton District Council delivered books worth more than £175 to the children's ward at Northallerton's
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Flats proposal for Medieval site sparks conservation anger
CONSERVATIONISTS have expressed anger at plans for a block of flats to be built on the site of a town's Medieval defences. An application submitted to Hambleton District Council for the development in Chapel Street, Thirsk, has sparked controversy in
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Young carol singers 'put off the bus'
A bus company is under investigation amid claims one of its drivers kicked a group of schoolchildren off his coach for singing Christmas carols on their way home. Pupils from Richmond's St Francis Xavier School, North Yorkshire, were in high spirits on
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Party marks end of era for school
POLICE officers helped children to mark the end of an era at their final party in a school building. Middlesbrough's Holmwood School for special needs pupils hosted a celebration day before it closed to make way for a new site, at Tollesby. As regular
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Walkers' help for Hannah
A GROUP of sponsored walkers have donated £150 of their hard earned fundraising money to the Help Hannah Face the Future Appeal. The five colleagues from the PRC Desoto factory, in Shildon, raised a total of £450 by walking 36 miles across the North Yorkshire
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Boro stars join in the fun
FOOTBALL fans were in for a Christmas treat when their heroes arrived at their party. Middlesbrough stars Gianluca Festa and Christian Karembeu were surprise guests at the party at Middlesbrough Football Community Centre, in Eston. They handed out gifts
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Life in the fast lane for options
EVENT staffing company Options has won a prestigious contract to supply hospitality staff for the 2001 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The Darlington-based business provides high quality staff for a wide range of clients, for conferences, exhibitions
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Firms build on Christmas spirit
BUILDERS working on Bishop Auckland's £67m new hospital had a Christmas tonic for young patients. Staff from Shepherd Construction got together with their two main sub-contractors Drake Scull and Horbury to buy a pile of presents for the children's ward
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Website gives advice on hygiene
A WEBSITE has been launched to help people beat the bugs and enjoy festive food. Middlesbrough Borough Council's food safety officers have teamed up with Newbould's the butchers to develop a food hygiene website. Based on a course that was developed last
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Woman and granddaughter victims of head-on crash
THE two people killed in a head on crash, near Whitby on Wednesday night, have been identified. Marion Finula Little, 52, of Birch Grove, Sleights, and her six-year-old grandaughter, Hannah Natalie Buck, of White Leys Road, Whitby, died when the Micra
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Finding Bethlehem at your back door
CHRISTMAS has been cancelled at Bethlehem. Normally a place for pilgrims, stooping to enter the Church of The Nativity, built on the site of Jesus' birth, Bethlehem is too dangerous a place to be. It has become a no-go area and many of its citizens are
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Christmas boost for crime victims
POLICE brought Christmas cheer to elderly victims of crime in the form of festive hampers. Officers from Hartlepool made the deliveries, containing everything from Christmas cakes and puddings, to sherry and tins of ham, after accruing points for the
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TTE trainees learn valuable lesson
IT'S been all hands to the pumps at TTE's Wilton International Training Centre, where trainees and TTE staff have been contracted to fabricate stainless steel vessels for the company's new £500,000 process engineering training plant. The project is a
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The view from the safe end
THERE are a number of football fans who would like standing terraces to return to all-seater Premiership grounds and, having listened to those fans, Sports Minister Kate Hoey has suggested a pilot scheme might be possible to see if spectators can stand
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Easing stress for 999 staff
A COUNSELLING centre has been appointed by the region's ambulance service to help staff deal with their problems. The Breakthrough Centre, in Darlington, provides confidential counselling for ambulance personnel and has set up a support system for control
