Archive
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Pony dates
Bedale and West of Yore PC. - Games practices start now, telephone 01765 689719 for details. Subs are due by Jan 31. British Eventing (former BHTA). - Jan 27/28, Feb 17/18 and Mar 4: Cross country clinics, Helen Bell, Manor House, Newsham, Thirsk. Tel
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Timo the goldfish has a lucky break
We've been lumbered with the goldfish. I knew we would be. Senior Son brought it home from university at the end of last term, along with all his dirty washing and a car full of lager cans and takeaway wrappers. And, to be fair, some generous and thoughtful
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Athletics: Teacher's international bid
GUISBOROUGH schoolteacher Rob Holladay is all set to run the London Marathon in a bid to gain a full senior international vest. Holladay, who teaches at Laurence Jackson school, is stepping up his training in a bid to finish among the top ten British
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Reaching high to achieve success
YOUNGSTERS from Chester-le-Street's four comprehensive schools have battled it out in a mini rugby competition. Under-13 boys from The Hermitage, Pelton Roseberry School, Fyndoune College and Park View Community College took part in a one-off ten-a-side
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Timo the goldfish has a lucky break
We've been lumbered with the goldfish. I knew we would be. Senior Son brought it home from university at the end of last term, along with all his dirty washing and a car full of lager cans and takeaway wrappers. And, to be fair, some generous and thoughtful
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Shooting: On target for top spot at world championships
A MASHAM man is gearing up to represent Great Britain in Olympic skeet shooting at the world championships in Cairo in May. Mr John Robinson, aged 42, is sales manager at Masham-based agricultural supplies firm Ritchey Tagg, and he started skeet shooting
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Voters approve cabinet system
GATESHEAD people have expressed their preference for a cabinet system to run their council, a survey has found. Gateshead East and Washington West Labour Party secretary John McElroy said: "We are pleased that the majority of people in Gateshead have
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Hooper in line to take over West Indies reins
England A's Busta Cup match against Guyana is set to be overshadowed by rumours that opposition captain Carl Hooper is poised to take the reins for the West Indies from Jimmy Adams for the forthcoming South Africa tour. A West Indies Cricket Board spokesman
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North-East Christian Fellowship League
North-East Christian Fellowship League In the League Cup a second half hat-trick from Paul Proud at Lanchester Chapel secured Airport Church a place in the second round. Barry James and Kevin Parish set Airport on their way to victory in the first half
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Survey reveals slow recovery in manufacturing
THE recovery among manufacturers made slow progress last quarter, with exporters continuing to be hit by the strong pound and tough competition according to the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC). The quarterly economic survey from the BCC showed manufacturing
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Motorsport: Hall impresses in fine return to action
PART-TIME rally driver Ken Hall and his debutante co-driver Phil Veitch turned in an impressive performance to land second place overall in the Jack Frost Stages Rally, organised by Darlington and District Motor Club at Croft Circuit last weekend. The
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Consett & Stanley - Rottweilers cleared of attacking postman
THE owner of two rottweilers wept in court when magistrates cleared the animals of savaging a postman. The dogs' owner Dawn Knight had compiled a mountain of evidence to prove rottweilers Storm and Shadow were innocent. Consett magistrates decided the
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Train bosses vow to end timetables nightmare
TRAIN operator GNER last night promised passengers "robust and reliable" timetables as Railtrack handed over its final repair plans for the country's railways. Railtrack was asked by rail regulator Tom Winsor to produce plans for the train operators on
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Going for glory
Darlington student Andrew Oliver has struck a sponsorship deal just in time for a major cycle-cross event in Bristol on Sunday. The 20-year-old Oliver, in his second year studying leisure management at Teesside University, is now backed by Action Bikes
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New National Trust boss aims to make history a people thing
WHEN Fiona Reynolds went into an 1820s workhouse recently, shivers ran down her spine. The evocation of suffering and deprivation was so powerful it could almost be touched. She was profoundly affected by thoughts of what the poor endured all those years
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Soap that yields skin care secret
SKIN-DISEASE experts have given a cautious welcome to a new soap which, its inventors claim, offers the first "cure" for psoriasis. More than 25,000 people have contacted brothers Eric and Albert Rutter after they unveiled their skin care soap less than
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Farmers gather to hear about best practice in food retailing
THE growing trend for farmers to become retailers prompted a meeting at the Jersey Farm hotel, Barnard Castle, to promote best practice within the farm food-retailing sector. Mr Alistair Booth of the Food Standards Agency, a qualified vet who worked for
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Feeding the birds
FEATHERED friends came top of the pecking order at a woodland workshop. Visitors to Guisborough Forest and Walkway at Pinchinthorp were shown how to make bird feeders on Sunday. The session was aimed at giving hungry birds a helping hand in the winter
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Armed robbers escape with cash
TWO armed robbers wearing stocking masks held up a newsagents in Newcastle and escaped with cash and goods. The men, one armed with a handgun, burst into AM Forster in Hexham Road, Throckley, at 7.30pm, on Thursday. They threatened staff who police said
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Pair rescued from pub as arsonists strike three times
A LANDLORD and his daughter have been moved to a place of safety following three arson attacks on their pub. Publican David Fitzpatrick and his 17-year-old daughter, Laura, had to be rescued by firefighters using a ladder after finding themselves trapped
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School rewards star pupils
PUPILS at a Bishop Auckland school have been honoured for their hard work, progress and achievements. Bishop Barrington School's presentation evening saw youngsters from years eight to 11 awarded certificates and trophies for their work last year. A trophy
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New competition up and running
BRITISH Riding Clubs is to introduce a new team dressage competition this year. It will run alongside the existing team and individual classes and will include three preliminary and one novice test. Twenty-three area qualifiers will take place, with the
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Town leads the way as new estate manager beats Whitehall move
DARLINGTON is leading the country in a new government initiative to employ neighbourhood managers. This week the government announced an extra £45m would be available to fund 30 neighbourhood management schemes in some of the country's most deprived communities
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Campaigners stand firm in quest to save gorse bushes
REAL-LIFE mirrored fiction in a North Yorkshire village yesterday when neighbours stood firm to defy council workmen. A Christmas story line saw the residents of Coronation Street spend the festive season manning the barricades to save the famous cobbles
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Sheep finds a resting place
A MILLENNIUM stone seat featuring a carving of a sheep has been created in a school's secret garden with the help of a well-known sculptor. Before carving the seat, Mr Keith Alexander took juniors from Bowes school on a visit to the Bowes museum in Barnard
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A fading snapshot of the man who scored the equaliser
JUST four minutes remained when George Mullen hit Bishop Auckland's equaliser in the 1922 Amateur Cup final. Benny Potts saved a South Bank penalty two minutes later; the Bishops won 5-2 in extra time. It was their second successive victory and the fifth
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A fading snapshot of the man who scored the equaliser
JUST four minutes remained when George Mullen hit Bishop Auckland's equaliser in the 1922 Amateur Cup final. Benny Potts saved a South Bank penalty two minutes later; the Bishops won 5-2 in extra time. It was their second successive victory and the fifth
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Knitwear firm wins $22,000 US order
A SMALL knitwear business founded almost 20 years ago by two young mothers is celebrating its biggest ever order. The $22,000 order for women's handmade jackets and cardigans for the US-based Marmaxx Corporation, has been completed by Buttercup Knitwear
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Arts News: Please sir, what's coal?
A FORMER pitman is showing paintings which chronicle his life underground. Work by Tom Lamb at the Mall gallery in Crook's civic centre depicts life at Craghead colliery and Busty pit where he worked for 27 years from the age of 14. He was such a keen
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Friarage chief's departure 'not to do with Mr Neale'
A HOSPITAL trust at the centre of the Richard Neale affair has denied another director is moving on because of the controversy. Mr Steve Spoerry, director of operations at the Friarage Hospital is to take up a new post with Tees health authority. Mr Spoerry
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Paralympian medallist earns bravery accolade
A NORTH-EAST Paralympian this week picked up yet another accolade to add to her collection. Wheelchair athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson, who lives in Redcar, was voted as one of Britain's bravest women by Best magazine on Tuesday. Tanni, 31, who has spina
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Reeth action on old Barclays' building
REJUVENATION of an empty bank building at Reeth, in Swaledale, is the subject of a public meeting next week. Residents and business people are invited to find out more about initial proposals for the former Barclay's premises in the centre of the village
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Doctor suspended for public safety
A GYNAECOLOGIST from the North-East has been suspended by the General Medical Council - just days after a former colleague was struck off. Dr Peter Silverstone of Elmfield Park, Newcastle, who used to work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead
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Minister to see refugees' housing
THE Home Office minister with responsibility for immigration and asylum is making a tour today of North-East areas where asylum seekers are rehoused. Barbara Roche has been invited to Newcastle by the North-East Consortium for Asylum Support Services.
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Looking Back: news from 100, 50 & 25 years ago
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - A somewhat singular explosion was reported to the Durham City Police on Tuesday evening, from the yard of the Durham Gas Company. It is usual to convey quantities of tar and oil from the gas works to the goods station
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Shedding light on depression
ARE you irritable on these endless, dark winter mornings? Do you find it hard to wake up and go to work when the sun hardly rises above the horizon all day? And crucially, is it difficult to pass a sweet shop without popping in for a Mars bar? If the
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Salvation Army in hunt for new camp
A SALVATION Army corps which thrived despite vehement initial opposition is searching for a new home after 114 years in its Darlington Citadel. The hall in Northgate was built by the church eight years after the borough's corps was formed by a trio of
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Cash boost for gifted children
TOWN councillors at Whitby are to give an annual bursary to a gifted child in the town to mark the millennium. Councillor Maurice Hatton said there was already £4,000 in the fund and it was planned to give an annual £1,000 bursary. Councillor Dorothy
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Angling
Temperatures plummeted to -5 for the fourth round of the River Wear Winter League fished on a low, clear river. Sport was difficult to find but Matty Prudhoe of Team Reel Sport proved the exception, blowing the opposition away, hauling out a super bag
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You have to be tough to watch TV
ANOTHER day, another new reality TV show. I was prepared - determined even - not to like Channel 5's The Mole in which ten contestants have to perform tasks and unmask the traitor in their midst to stay in the game. The original Belgium version was a
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Countryman's Diary: Learning at the master's knee
THIS week's diary marks the completion of 25 years' work on this column. I wrote my first piece for use on Saturday, January 10, 1976, (coincidentally my wedding anniversary), as the paper was then published each Saturday. In addition to an appreciation
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Gas call-out fee earns fine
A GAS engineer who charged a housewife £52.88 to examine her faulty boiler now faces a court bill of more than £1,600. Alan Forrest, who trades as First Call Plumbing and Gas Services, was yesterday prosecuted by Sunderland City Council's trading standards
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Village fights to keep its character
THE fight is on to preserve the character of Egglescliffe. Egglescliffe Parish Council says planning issues could change the face of the whole area - and not for the better. They are backed by Stockton South MP Mrs Dari Taylor who says: "The character
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Street squad to stay on patrol
A COUNCIL squad, which has been targeting the streets of Stockton, has had its life-span extended for the second time. The Cleansing and Ground Maintenance Services Best Value Squad was introduced in July last year to improve levels of street cleanliness
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Volunteers 'being driven away by hostility'
HOSTILITY and personal attacks could be driving Saltburn volunteers away from community work. This was the warning from a long-term volunteer in the wake of a nightmare week for the Saltburn improvement company. Directors are being urged to face questions
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Teenager's sex attacker was armed with a gun
A TEENAGE girl has told police how a man held a gun to her head and said he was going to shoot before attempting to rape her. The man forced the 17-year-old into a nearby back alley in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, hurled her to the ground and kicked
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Body found in River Tees
A body has been found floating in the River Tees at Stockton this afternoon. Divers from Northumbria Police underwater unit have helped officers from Cleveland Police recover the body from the water near the Princess Bridge on the Thornaby side of the
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Swimming
The Jackson sisters, Nicola, 16, and Joanne, 14, from Richmond, have both been called up for top level training camps, writes ERIC WILKINSON. Nicola, a British team member at the Sydney Olympic Games, is one of Britain's six most promising girls selected
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D-day for Northallerton depot
WORKERS at a Northallerton depot threatened with closure will find out today whether they have won their fight to keep their jobs. Union bosses representing 180 employees from British Telecom's Northallerton depot meet the company in Swindon today to
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Wear Valley - Jockey gets life for the killing of ex-footballer
A JOCKEY was given a life sentence this week for the murder of a former Newcastle United reserve striker. Gary Walton's badly disfigured body was discovered behind the Miners Arms pub in Coundon, on July 17, last year. Christopher Martin McGrath, 23,
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Fight against bail hostel hots up again
People opposed to town centre bail hostel plans are demanding a public inquiry. Thousands of families in Chester-le-Street are planning a new offensive after probation service chiefs announced they planned to appeal against refusal of planning permission
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Darlington - Police praised as crime figures fall
HOME Secretary Jack Straw has praised Durham Police for recording a fall in crime. According to Home Office figures between October 1999 and September 2000, crime in the county dropped by 4.6 per cent, down 2,265 recorded crimes. Durham was one of 26
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Employees will share in consultants' profits leap
AN INTERNATIONAL consultancy group with offices in Northallerton has seen pre-tax profits grow by 47pc in the 12 months which ended on July 31 last year. Mouchel established a base in Northallerton almost two years ago, when the consultancy in the environmental
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Special needs youth club scheme proves a good buddy
A PIONEERING scheme encouraging children with special needs to join youth clubs in Stockton has been hailed a success. The Buddy Scheme, run by Stockton Borough Council's youth service and children with disabilities section, is designed to break down
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North Yorkshire - Social care cash crisis
COUNCIL chiefs are demanding a re-think on spending plans to prevent social services in North Yorkshire descending into crisis. A scrutiny committee set up to assess social care in the county is calling for an extra £1.5m to be made available, amid warnings
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Standards improved
TEACHING standards are rising in classrooms across Redcar and Cleveland, according to Government inspectors. The high levels of satisfactory, good, very good and excellent teaching from ten Ofsted reports conducted on primary and secondary schools during
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Businesses backing Interprise
TWO of the North-East's most imaginative businesses have announced their backing for a major event celebrating innovation. Millenniumpore Limited and Complement Genomics Ltd, both based at the Business Innovation Centre on the Sunderland Enterprise Park
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New pub and wine bar plan for sorting office
NEW plans have been submitted to turn the former Richmond sorting office into a pub and restaurant. Watford-based pub chain J D Wetherspoon, which has 370 non-music pubs across England, Scotland and Wales, hopes to convert the empty Queens Road building
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Bid to keep elderly warm
AN information day has been arranged to help old people keep warm this winter. Age Concern County Durham and a number of other agencies have arranged the free information and taster day at The Derwent Suite at Stanley Civic Hall next Thursday. Programme
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Water worry at old dump
EXPERTS are being called in to defuse a potential time-bomb on the edge of Loftus. A build-up of groundwater has been detected on the site of an old tip and, with it, the possibility that pockets of methane gas generated by decomposing waste could now
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Academic seeks a diamond solution
AN academic could help find an answer to the problem of diamonds being illegally traded for weapons. Dr Graham Pearson, of Durham University's geological sciences department, was among a group of experts invited to discuss the problem at the White House
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Curtain up on pantomime
YOUNGSTERS from Saltburn 53 drama group are pictured putting the finishing touches to this year's panto, which was due to open last night. The junior amateur dramatics group presents Pinocchio tonight, tomorrow and next Thursday, Friday and Saturday,
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Children for sale
HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn last night pledged to investigate after The Northern Echo was offered a baby over the Internet. It took only minutes for our reporters, posing as prospective parents, to register their interest in a child from the former
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Wallace and Gromit will help take cheese abroad
WALLACE and Gromit, not content with visiting the moon, are now exploring America, Canada and Europe, thanks to an export initiative by the Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes. Its export activity has increased markedly over the last few years with staff attending
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Catering firm's wage challenge
A CATERING company which is challenging a claim that it owes hostesses and stewards £69,000 under the new minimum wages rule, wielded powers equivalent to that of an employer over the workers, an industrial tribunal was told yesterday. The National Minimum
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Striker Quinn to launch pool chairlift for disabled
SUNDERLAND footballer Niall Quinn is to launch a poolside chair lift for people will disabilities in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. The striker will be at the Pioneering Care Centre in Cobblers Hall, off Burn Lane, next Tuesday at 3.30pm. The launch
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Wilson Lib Dem choice
A FORMER councillor, Stan Wilson, has been chosen by the Liberal Democrats as their prospective parliamentary candidate for Redcar Born in Middlesbrough, Mr Wilson grew up in Redcar. Before retirement in 1989, he worked as a teacher and youth leader in
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Durham - Kidney mix-up leaves family 'devastated'
THE family of a 24-year-old man who died in Greece have told of their horror after receiving another man's kidney three months after his body was flown home to them. Christopher Rochester's parents are set to take legal action after DNA tests revealed
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Call to put brake on high-speed motorbikes
HIGH speed middle-aged motorcyclists are bringing danger to narrow country roads by racing around a North Yorkshire beauty spot, say local residents. People living in a 400 square mile stretch of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have
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Special livestock sales
KIRKBY STEPHEN. - Fri, Jan 5. New Year show & sale. Fwd: 442 bullocks, hfrs & feeding bulls. Feeding bulls av £425.31 (up £17.81); bullocks & hfrs av £374.7 (up £2.13). Judges: Smith, Westhouse. Overall champion: W Richardson & Son, Ghyll
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Cancer compensation fight goes on
LAWYERS representing former steelworkers with throat cancer say they will continue the fight for compensation, despite the leading campaigner pulling out. Cancer sufferer Jack Atherton and wife Dot this week pulled out of the campaign to prove that Consett
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Leading article: Time wasting
THE irony of government minister Hilary Armstrong's words last Friday will not be lost on the region's huntsmen and women this weekend. The minister spoke of the need for a "living, working, protected and vibrant countryside" - exactly the sort of countryside
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Letters: Our county will be first target
Sir, - William Hague's latest attempt to capture a vote-winning headline by saying that Britain must give immediate unqualified backing for America's planned National Missile Defence (NMD) System is astonishing in its naivet and lack of judgment. Not
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Conservation site needs more friends
PEOPLE are being invited to support one of Hartlepool's fastest growing conservation and leisure sites. The Friends of Summerhill work with Hartlepool Borough Council to organise events at Summerhill Park, and would welcome new members. Gordon James,
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Tel's luck under threat from an ex-Boro target Litmanen
TERRY VENABLES' so-called luck could run out today if Finnish ace Jari Litmanen produces the form which made him a Middlesbrough target before he joined boyhood heroes Liverpool. Boro head coach Venables yesterday labelled Litmanen "maybe the signing
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Chester le Street - Cheers to tenth beer festival
MORE than 1,400 pints of some of the country's finest beer will be on tap this weekend at The Beamish Mary Inn, at No Place, near Stanley. The pub will be serving 20 barrels of brews such as Radgie Gadgie, Love Muscle and Yellow Belly. For years the pub
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Opinion
NO one denies the menacing problems caused by the so-called yob culture. Decent law-abiding people are boycotting town and city centres at night because of the hooligan and drunken element within young people. And even at home, many decent law-abiding
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Toon hero dodges fans on holiday return leg
NEWCASTLE United superstar Alan Shearer had to fly back from holiday in the cockpit of a holiday jet after being mobbed by fans. His opening gambit of conversation to the stunned pilot and his colleague was: "Anybody here interested in football?" The
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Decade of complaints about doctor
HEALTH chiefs were aware of complaints against a disgraced gynaecologist for a decade before he was struck off. Polish-born hospital doctor Janusz Wszeborowski continued to work until colleagues finally reported him. He was struck off last week, for serious
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Well cheers officers, I'm the burglar
A thief came unstuck when he decided to pour himself a Yuletide tipple and ended being caught by the police. Officers who swooped on the North Yorkshire farmhouse found 55-year-old James Monaghan waiting for them - sipping from a bottle of sherry. Dawn
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Robson hopes lessons are learned from bung wrangle
Bobby Robson believes the Bruce Grobbelaar scandal should serve as a warning to the rest of football. The former Liverpool goalkeeper's reputation is in tatters after three Court of Appeal judges ruled he was guilty of accepting corrupt payments. The
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Supporter escapes grounds ban after Burton riots
A NORTH-East football fan appeared in court yesterday in connection with riots which erupted before a non-league FA Trophy game. Anthony Jaques, 21, of Farm Court, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, escaped a nationwide ban from football grounds after he
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Carry on cabbie
Taxi driver Shirley Garbutt scooped nearly £2m on the National Lottery - then went straight back to work picking up fares. Stunned Shirley could not believe her eyes when her numbers came up during Wednesday's draw. But, instead of letting the champagne
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Rob set for run
GUISBOROUGH school teacher Rob Holladay is set to run the London Marathon in a bid to gain a full senior international vest. He is stepping up his training in a bid to finish among the top ten British runners in the race, which celebrates it 21st birthday
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Betty puts the finger on Les lookalike
CORONATION Street fan Betty Stapleton told police that she was mugged by a lookalike of the TV soap's Les Battersby. Within three hours they arrested Neil Dixon, 33, on the graphic description of widow Betty, 74, said Jamie Hill, prosecuting. He added
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Dad Spiderboy's vow to go straight
SPIDERBOY Tommy Laws has vowed to go straight after being presented with his first child. Laws, 20, gained notoriety during his younger years as a one-boy crimewave who led police on Tyneside a merry dance by escaping along high ledges. He is currently
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Venables right to focus on defence, says Houllier
Gerard Houllier has given Terry Venables' Middlesbrough rescue act his seal of approval. The former French boss understands why the ex-England coach has adopted an ultra-defensive approach. Liverpool have lost only one League game since early December
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No slaughter of Bantams - Reid
CAUTIOUS Sunderland manager Peter Reid last night warned home fans in a full-house Stadium of Light crowd not to expect a slaughter against bottom-club Bradford City tomorrow. The struggling Yorkshire club was the last side to win a Premiership game on
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Automatic promotion is reality for Pool - Turner
CONFIDENT Hartlepool United chief Chris Turner last night insisted: "Promotion is within our grasp." Pool entertain Carlisle at Victoria Park this afternoon on the back of an unbeaten run stretching back to November 25 that includes a club record-equalling
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Rare birds' eggs seized after raid at house
BIRD protection officers and police seized 70 eggs believed to come from protected breeds when they raided a home in County Durham this week. Experts from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) now examining the haul say it could contain
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Events in honour of the century's persecuted
A SERIES of events to remember those persecuted throughout the last century is to be held in County Durham. Holocaust Memorial Day - Saturday, January 27 - will be marked by a lecture and service organised by Durham Diocese, to be held in Elvet Methodist
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Leading figure in cash bid pulls out
LAWYERS representing former steel workers with throat cancer say they will continue the fight for compensation, despite the leading campaigner pulling out. Cancer sufferer Jack Atherton and his wife, Dot, stepped down this week from the campaign to prove
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Brain-damage man awarded £1.3m after hospital blunder
A MAN who suffered brain damage after a delay when he was a baby in diagnosing he had a chronic bowel condition was awarded £1.3m in an out-of-court settlement yesterday. Brian Conlon, 20, from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, was admitted to Sunderland General
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Spectator's Notes: You may have bought this at Dressers
THE gasps of dismay were genuine when, on Thursday morning last week, news reached this office that Dressers was to close its Darlington and Northallerton shops. The Darlingtonians could not imagine life without Dressers, where they'd been bought their
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Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League
Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire League Bedale knocked top of the table Harlow off their perch in Division One. Their surprise 2-1 victory was achieved thanks to wins by Alan Peirson and Mike Richardson. Harlow have now changed places with Harrogate Squash
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Home rule protest going to Tony's door
NORTH-EAST home rule campaigners will take their message to the Prime Minister's Sedgefield constituency today. This follows last Saturday's campaign day in Alnwick, Northumberland. The day of activity will follow an extensive telephone survey of the
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Leaving on a high note
IF this column has had a recurring nightmare these past seven years on its knees, it's that we'll turn up and find the service long since started - or finished - or that no one else is there, or the bailiffs have been in or that there's a notice on the
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Games on for Joan
A NORTH-EAST woman who rediscovered her favourite sport after a heart transplant is preparing to represent her country. Joan Whitney, 61, of Montague's Harrier, Guisborough, was a badminton player for many years before a heart attack in 1996. Although
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Lee ready to lift Newcastle
ROBERT Lee yesterday hinted that the worst could soon be over for beleaguered Newcastle boss Bobby Robson. Lee, out for the last six matches with hamstring trouble, is ready to give Robson a timely boost by declaring himself available for selection at
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Lee ready to lift Newcastle
ROBERT Lee yesterday hinted that the worst could soon be over for beleaguered Newcastle boss Bobby Robson. Lee, out for the last six matches with hamstring trouble, is ready to give Robson a timely boost by declaring himself available for selection at
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15 charged in hostel protest
FIFTEEN refugees have been charged with affray following a disturbance at a hostel. The refugees, all Afghanis, were arrested following protests at the Angel Heights hostel, in Newcastle, on Tuesday, over alleged Government delays in dealing with asylum
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Vassell plaudits
Aston Villa skipper Gareth Southgate is tipping FA Cup hero Darius Vassell to become a big player for the club. All the talk of strikers at Villa at present centres around £9.5m record signing Juan Pablo Angel, who is expected to make his debut in tomorrow's
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Boro poised to land Windass
Middlesbrough are hoping to complete their on-off £1m-plus move for Bradford City's versatile Dean Windass today after talks between the clubs were revived overnight. Windass could become Boro's first signing since Terry Venables arrived last month by
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Boro poised to land Windass
Middlesbrough are hoping to complete their on-off £1m-plus move for Bradford City's versatile Dean Windass today after talks between the clubs were revived overnight. Windass could become Boro's first signing since Terry Venables arrived last month by
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Undercover officer traps heroin gang
A heroin gang was behind bars last night after an undercover police operation which saw a detective bartering children's clothes for drugs. A policeman, known only as Dave, became a regular customer at the gang's Darlington drugs den for four months,
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Undercover officer traps heroin gang
A heroin gang was behind bars last night after an undercover police operation which saw a detective bartering children's clothes for drugs. A policeman, known only as Dave, became a regular customer at the gang's Darlington drugs den for four months,
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Thome ranks Kev with Romario
KEVIN Phillips is struggling to establish himself in the England team - but he's good enough for Brazil! The Sunderland striker would be certain of a place in the Samba set-up, according to his team-mate Emerson Thome. The Brazilian defender even compared
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Thome ranks Kev with Romario
KEVIN Phillips is struggling to establish himself in the England team - but he's good enough for Brazil! The Sunderland striker would be certain of a place in the Samba set-up, according to his team-mate Emerson Thome. The Brazilian defender even compared
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Working wonders
THE man responsible for getting the North's unemployed back to work toured the region yesterday. Leigh Lewis, the chief executive of the Employment Service, visited job centres and Working Links offices in Middlesbrough, Peterlee, Bishop Auckland and
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Durham - Round two in battle of bail hostel
The decision by the Probation Service to appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a bail hostel has been greeted with dismay. People power last year blocked controversial plans for a 25-bed bail hostel in the centre of Chester-le-Street after
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Rusedski roars back by beating world No 1
Greg Rusedski has always had one of the biggest smiles in sport. But after a year when he had precious little to smile about, last night in Melbourne it was wider than ever. Unseeded and unfancied even by himself, Rusedski pulled off the best win of his
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Hounded by pub's lively spirit
USHER the Bassett hound has been banned from sitting on a cushion in a village pub - in case he upsets its deceased owner. The dog, and new landlord Gavin Turnbull, only recently moved into The Three Tuns pub, at Sadberge, near Darlington. Usher immediately
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Quakers agree to Aspin's request for release
DARLINGTON yesterday sprang a surprise by releasing centre-half Neil Aspin. The 35-year-old defender was signed by Quakers during the summer of 1999 from Port Vale, where he had played for ten years. He was a regular for most of last season, and until
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Quakers agree to Aspin's request for release
DARLINGTON yesterday sprang a surprise by releasing centre-half Neil Aspin. The 35-year-old defender was signed by Quakers during the summer of 1999 from Port Vale, where he had played for ten years. He was a regular for most of last season, and until
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Celebration hails work of foster carers
AN annual celebration of the work of foster carers is taking place on Teesside today. The event, organised by Middlesbrough Borough Council's fostering team, is at Potter's Bar club in the town centre. Jane Wilson, fostering team manager at Middlesbrough
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Elderly hit by a plague of conmen
AN "unusually high" number of reports of bogus officials have led police to issue a warning to pensioners in the region. Durham Constabulary have received more than 30 reports already this year, including about 15 in one day, by two men claiming to be
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The silent victims of drug abuse
A GROUP set up to help the silent victims of drug abuse is looking for more members. Often, family or friends who care for people who misuse drugs are over-looked, but Wear Valley Carers Initiative hopes to redress this problem with its support group,
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A £10m sporting chance for Stockton
A FRENCH sport's group is looking to create around 90 jobs in the region with a new retail development. Plans have been submitted for a new sports venture on Teesside for the development at the Portrack Interchange Retail Park. Agents for the sports store
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Gibbons can help Sarena Pride to another victory
FIRST it was the floods, then the kind of permafrost which has turned much of the ground to iron, and to cap it all Parliament has just voted to ban foxhunting. In fact, which ever way you look at the situation it's been a pretty bleak couple of months
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Graveney will launch Brown's benefit year
CHAIRMAN of selectors David Graveney will be the chief speaker when Durham's Simon Brown launches his benefit season with a dinner at the Riverside on February 2. Graveney, who gave the left-arm seamer his one England cap against Pakistan at Lord's in
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BT to reduce its debt with new bond scheme
COMMUNICATIONS group BT has unveiled radical plans to boost its debt-reduction programme by completing one of the largest ever corporate bond sales. The group, which called the offering a ''sensational deal'', issued bonds worth a total of 9.7 billion
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£50,000 gets twitchers nearer the action . . .
BIRDwatchers can get closer to nature thanks to a donation from the County Durham Environmental Trust. The trust, which funds projects with money from the landfill tax, has given £50,000 for a new footpath at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, in Washington
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onyx set for brighter future after buyout
THE region's biggest provider of Internet connections believes it is set for a sparkling future after a management and employee buyout secured its future. Onyx Internet, based on the Riverside Park in Middlesbrough, appeared to be on the verge of folding
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Retailers solid over Christmas
RETAILERS enjoyed a healthy but unspectacular Christmas, official figures have shown. High street sales for December rose 0.1 per cent against November, while that figure was 4.4 per cent higher than the same period last year. Both figures from the Office
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The UniBond League
Bishop Auckland manager Tony Lee feels that his side learned a lot from their FA Trophy tie at Burton Albion last Saturday. Bishops went out 2-0 to Nigel Clough's side, which is top of the Dr Martens League and favourites for a place in the Nationwide
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Consett & Stanley - Burger bar serves up big thanks
CARING pupils were due to be treated to a full McDonalds breakfast instead of their early morning lesson this week. Youngsters from The Grove Primary school in Consett were being given the treat this Friday for completing the Junior Great North Run last
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Chester le Street - Kidney mix-up leaves family 'devastated'
THE family of a 24-year-old man who died in Greece have told of their horror after receiving another man's kidney three months after his body was flown home to them. Christopher Rochester's parents are set to take legal action after DNA tests revealed
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£2,500 cost of success
MARSKE United are already counting the cost of tomorrow's fourth round tie against Cornish side Porthleven. Under the rules of the competition, the home team have to pay the travelling costs of the visiting side - and the round trip from Cornwall to Marske
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Injury-free run is target for Vaughan with England
England and Yorkshire batsman Michael Vaughan is determined to kick his injury jinx as he seeks to resume his Test career. He was unable to take part in any of the three Tests against Pakistan because of a calf injury. Vaughan, 26, is now fully fit and
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Junior Football
Darlington 21st Allstars Frost-bound pitches resulted in only four teams in action at 11-a-side level and two teams at seven-a-side. In the Richmondshire League, it was the Under-nine Colts who flew the Allstars' flag with two fine 2-0 wins at home to
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Save cash, bag a bargain
JANUARY is such a cruel month. So much month, so little money. The average debt for this time of year is £2,503. Credit card debt is up by a quarter from last year and debt counsellors are rushed off their feet. Whether you're hiding from the rent man
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Council fills two of its key posts
TWO of the key directors' posts at Wear Valley District Council have been filled as part of a shake-up of services. Directors Paul Dobson and Bob Hope will keep key positions within the authority. The council is streamlining eight departments into four
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Sick trade in selling children
WE welcome all the inquiries and hurried legislation that our politicians are beginning in the wake of stories about how easy it is to adopt a child over the Internet. Our front page this morning tells how it took only minutes for our reporters to arrange
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Rural areas to be at forefront of Whitehall thnking
RURAL areas will be considered in the making of major policy decisions by the government, its spokesman has claimed. And rural development agencies will be seen as the key players in delivering stronger rural economies. Even when urban policies are being
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Draw wins farm £1,000
A GREAT Ayton farmer has won £1,000 in a draw run by NK as part of its annual national winter oilseed rape survey. Mr Martin Petch, right, farms in partnership with his parents, David and Mary, at Whitegate Farm is seen, above, receiving his cheque from
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Darlington - Town hopes whippet races prove a winner
NEWTON Aycliffe has attracted a national sporting event - the All England Whippet Derby. The event, seen as the whippet equivalent of the Grand National, is to take place on fields at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex over the Easter weekend, April 14 and 15
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Letters: Ripon will not be ruled by yes-men
Sir, - Mr Rainforth's sneering attack last week on Ripon City councillors is as ignorant as it is ill-mannered. The thought of a Ripon councillor being a Harrogate yes-man is, to most Riponians, laughable. Seriously, though, Mr Rainforth has no idea of
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Address by bishop to 'celebrate differences'
CONTROVERSIES within the Church of the issues of baptism and the ordination of women will be tackled head-on by a North Yorkshire bishop when he addresses an ecumenical service this weekend. Representatives from six denominations are expected to meet
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Lottery win for taxi driver
A TAXI driver was celebrating today after an amazing lucky streak ended with a £2m win on the National Lottery. Shirley Garbutt, 39, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, discovered she had scooped the jackpot in Wednesday's draw after returning home from a night's
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North Yorkshire - Joanne's finding jobs for the girls
A THREE-STRONG recruitment team is back from the Mediterranean, where they were on a mission to match Army wives to jobs in North Yorkshire. Joanne Lorenz, from the Richmond JobCentre, joined Lesley Simmons, from the Liz Dargue Employment Agency, and
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Christmas bonus for charities
A TEESSIDE club is celebrating a successful fundraising period over Christmas to help local charities. The Middlesbrough Teesside Lions Club, which covers Middlesbrough, Redcar and East Cleveland, has raised more than £1,500. Events included a Santa Claus
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Racing Week, by Jo Scott: Reveley star sparkles in Ascot showpiece
THERE were wild Irish celebrations as the connections of the Scart Stud, breeders and owners of Function Dream, greeted their mare back to the winners circle at Ascot on Saturday. Mary Reveley had worked the oracle and young Anthony Ross was seen at his
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Steel study under way
AN urgent attempt is being made to throw steel workers and their suppliers a lifeline should Corus announce further production cut-backs on Teesside. The Anglo-Dutch conglomerate axed more than 800 jobs on Teesside last year. Compulsory redundancy notices
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Doctor suspended by medical council
A GYNAECOLOGIST from the North-East has been suspended by the General Medical Council, just days after a former colleague was struck off. Dr Peter Silverstone of Elmfield Park, Newcastle, who used to work at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, has
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Hit and run victim hurt
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a hit-and-run accident that left a 60-year-old man badly injured. The victim suffered a broken leg and wrist, as well as head and face injuries, when he was struck while walking his dog on the Liverton to Moorsholm
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Compassion and cash for stab death victim
AN outpouring of sympathy for a Kurdish refugee who met a violent death has led to a flood of donations. The stabbing of 22-year-old Mohammed Ali at the Cleveland Shopping Centre, Middlesbrough, just after Christmas sent shockwaves throughout the local
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Teesside League
Teesside League Darlington Devils started the game against unbeaten Middlesbrough Mavericks at The Dolphin Centre with great spirit and with Aaron Hope scoring well from outside the key and Grant Wakefield managing to shackle the inside power of Marek
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Fears for future as new plan agreed
CONTROVERSIAL plans for further development at a site in Redcar took another step forward last week, despite concerns of local planners. The site, at the former gas depot on Thrush Road, has been at the centre of controversy after members of Redcar and
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Games
Tow Law Cup The new competition started in two leagues with the eventual winners of each playing off in the Final. All matches are made up of six pool singles, six dominoes singles and three pool doubles. The biggest shock in the first round of matches
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Cartoon swan will woo youngsters to museum
THERE have been many changes at the Bowes museum since it was taken over by a new trust last year. But more are planned in the future, including a new director, Mr Adrian Jenkins, who takes up his post on Monday, and a makeover of its famous silver swan
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Bid to set up 100 dales businesses
AN AMBITIOUS project to create 100 dales businesses in five years was launched this week. Cornerstone is targeting young members of farming families who want to stay and succeed in the Yorkshire Dales and is also seeking "mentors" from the area who would
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Campaigners stand firm in quest to save gorse bushes
REAL-LIFE mirrored fiction in a North Yorkshire village yesterday when neighbours stood firm to defy council workmen. A Christmas story line saw the residents of Coronation Street spend the festive season manning the barricades to save the famous cobbles
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999 first response volunteer in action
A VOLUNTEER who helped save the life of a heart attack victim has become the first First Responder to go into action in the North-East. Volunteer Tricia Slater, from Trimdon Village, County Durham, responded to a 999 call within five minutes, keeping
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Cleveland Ladies Super League
Cleveland Ladies Super League The Sheraton were at home to Burn Valley SC. Pauline Crowe (15.41) beat Sonya Hepple (13.53) 3-1 to give the home side the first point but it was soon level when lady of the match Pat A Smith (17.28) beat Margaret Nelson
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Swimming: Two golds for Alexander as Thirsk swimmers excel
Thirsk White Horse swimmer Alexander Fish took two gold medals and two fourth places at City of York's swim meet, which opened the new year's competitions. He took gold in the freestyle and breaststroke events and fourth in the backstroke and butterfly
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Letters: In defence of a scout hut
Sir, - How dare Coun Adamson suggest knocking down the scout hut at Thirsk to make a car park? It would be much better to knock down the old buildings in Picks Lane to make a car park, not build 26 homes there. In the mid 60s, I persuaded a small committee
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Boro Chat
THE Venables magic continues as Boro have now gone seven games without defeat and, perhaps more importantly, have moved out of the bottom three. But Venables believes there is still work to be done. "When we start to believe we have succeeded, then that's
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Dominoes
Willington League Willington Black Horse Inn just came through against the visiting Willington Club when Joe Patterson beat Micky Irwin in the deciding captain's game. The home side had singles wins from Tony Claughan, Shane Parkinson and Joe Patterson
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Anna crowned top national cadet in st John ambulance
A TEENAGE student has earned the title of St John Ambulance national cadet of the year for 2001. Anna Harrison, 16, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, has exceeded her own expectations with success at local, regional and national level. At the national final
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What came down at listed cottage cannot go back up
A DECISION to turn down an application for a lean-to greenhouse extension to the side of a grade I listed building is to be taken to appeal. Mr John McDonnell hoped to attach the greenhouse to the eastern elevation of South Cottage, which forms the south-east
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Anna is star cadet
A student has been named St John Ambulance National Cadet of the Year. Anna Harrison, 16, a student at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, beat 41 other candidates in the national final of the competition, in Oxford. She joined the St John
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Past Lives: Ignorance and a tale of two old Moores
A CERTAIN amount of ignorance makes your world go round more happily. If you knew everything, there would be no delightful surprises, no inspiring happenstance. Ill-prepared travel can pay some of the best dividends. Indeed, double-divvy in the 1967 case
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Lasting the distance on the oche
WRITING this column means I've reached the age of pontification, when it's easier to sit on a bar stool and muse about life than to stride purposefully to the oche and test your nerve in a tension-packed darts match. Calling at my favourite pub on the
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Lease is signed for long-awaited heritage centre
THE idea of a village visitor attraction and heritage centre, which was first explored two years ago, looks set to get off the ground fairly quickly following the signing of a 25-year lease. In 1999, community-based trust Middleton Plus floated the possibility
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Builders unearth pub's hidden past
BUILDERS renovating a rural pub and hotel uncovered a forgotten piece of history. The workmen were ripping out the plasterboard walls of the Red Well Inn, in Barnard Castle, when they were surprised to find the original stone walls hidden behind. For
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Athletics
Durham Pine North-Eastern Harrier League SUNDERLAND Harrier Brian Rushworth, who won the North-East Cross Country Championships senior mens' title for a record tenth time last month, suffered his first local defeat for four years when he was beaten at
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Aid floods in after appeal
AN appeal for stationery for children in developing countries has brought a good response. Sarah Armstrong, 23, of Etherley Grange, near Bishop Auckland, is spending two years with Voluntary Service Overseas teaching English to children in Rwanda. The
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Ann looks back for brighter future
A LIBRARY leaflet led to a blast from the past for a Teesside woman. Until her friend picked up a leaflet from Redcar Library, Ann Stinchcombe had never thought of going back to school, but she was intrigued by a description of a short course in women's
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You have to be tough to watch TV
ANOTHER day, another new reality TV show. I was prepared - determined even - not to like Channel 5's The Mole in which ten contestants have to perform tasks and unmask the traitor in their midst to stay in the game. The original Belgium version was a
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Plaque marks a top quality effort in basic skills
PUPILS are celebrating an outstanding year with a Basic Skills Quality Mark for their school and the publication of a millennium book written by themselves. Alan Wells, director of the Basic Skills Unit, was at Durham Lane Primary School, Eaglescliffe
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Arpeggio set to score again for Nicholls duo
SUCCESS for Arpeggio (3.00) at Southwell this afternoon would represent a real family affair since the six-year-old gelding is trained by David Nicholls and partnered by his son Adrian. The pair have already combined to deadly effect over track and trip
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Rubbish burner objectors team up
RESIDENTS have joined forces with green campaigners in an effort to halt the expansion of a Teesside incinerator. Opponents are calling for a public inquiry into the whole question of extending the domestic waste incinerator at Haverton Hill, Billingham
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Row over refuse collection settled
THE dispute over refuse collection in Redcar and Cleveland is over after the council and trade unions reached an agreement over cleansing arrangements. The row over proposed changes by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to refuse collectors' working
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The Albany Northern League
Four Albany Northern League clubs are looking for places in the last 16 of the FA Carlsberg Vase tomorrow - and two of them will be praying they don't have to go to replays. Marske United and Bedlington have got home advantage against Cornish clubs Falmouth
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Spotter plane help on its way
RESIDENTS who experience sleepless nights at the hands of a North-East police spotter plane have been assured their suffering will soon be over. The loud noise emitted by the twin engine Islander plane has resulted in many complaints over the years, particularly
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Displays and services recall the persecuted
A SERIES of events to remember those persecuted in the last century are being held in County Durham. Holocaust Memorial Day, on Saturday, January 27, will be marked by a lecture and service at Elvet Methodist Church hall, Old Elvet, Durham City. Paula
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By George, he hasn't got it
THE charming swagger of a man who loves the limelight gives way to a very different image tomorrow. As William Jefferson Clinton finally hands over the White House to George W Bush, not only will the complexion of the United States change, but also that
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Community split by Gypsy Lane closure decision
ROAD closure campaigners in Nunthorpe have been accused of being prepared to put people's lives at risk. The angry claim from a Cleveland councillor came after a controversial decision on a rat-run road said to have betrayed the village. Middlesbrough
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Fight against bail hostel hots up again
People opposed to town centre bail hostel plans are demanding a public inquiry. Thousands of families in Chester-le-Street are planning a new offensive after probation service chiefs announced they planned to appeal against refusal of planning permission
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176 discs seized in war on fakes
POLICE are continuing their war against traders selling counterfeit computer games. In the latest clampdown, officers seized 176 suspect discs from a man attempting to sell the illegal games at Chester-le-Street market. The discs, believed to contain
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Teaching project wins top marks
AN INNOVATIVE teaching project with disruptive pupils has won top marks from the Audit Commission. The pioneering Redcar and Cleveland Council's Education Other Than At School Service has been voted the most effective in the country. The service gives
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Basketball
Durham League Unbeaten East Durham and Houghall Academy passed a big test at Billingham when they defeated Teesside Huskies A 99-79 in a pool game of the Division One cup. The first-half was evenly-balanced as both sides ran set offences, both teams working
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A mission to remember
CURIOSITY has resulted in a Saltburn man setting off on a mission to trace the history of those whose names are on the town war memorial. Studying the war memorial overlooking the Valley Gardens one day, Mr Ian Bedford counted 84 names of those who had
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Leyburn and Carperby suffer cup ko
Wensleydale Creamery League The league's two representatives in the North Riding Saturday Challenge Cup quarter-finals were knocked out on Saturday. Leyburn travelled to meet Staithes Athletic but, after holding their own for much of the match, were eventually
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The ultimate shopping experience
THE British couple at the centre of the Internet baby auction have been described as "desperate" for a child. But Alan and Judith Kilshaw are only desperate in the same way that I am desperate for a £150 pair of pink snakeskin, pointy-toed, high-heeled
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Nuns' northern respite after escape from Tibet
TWO nuns who fled their Tibetan homeland to escape Chinese oppression are about to return to their nunnery in India after spending the last six months in Ripon. Ngawang Donsel, aged 18, and 24-year-old Thamcho Dolkar came to England to learn the language
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Businesses backing Interprise
TWO of the North-East's most imaginative businesses have announced their backing for a major event celebrating innovation. Millenniumpore Limited and Complement Genomics Ltd, both based at the Business Innovation Centre on the Sunderland Enterprise Park
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Post delivers cash for charities
THE Christmas post run by scouts and cubs in East Cleveland covered a wider area and was a big success. The boys delivered almost 34,000 cards at 10p a time. In Skelton and Brotton they handled 7,800 cards. In Guisborough, where the scheme started only
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Weather favours postponed ploughing match
DISHFORTH ploughing society's annual match, cancelled in November owing to bad weather, was held on Saturday by courtesy of Mr and Mrs B Wise of Holme Farm, Skipton-on-Swale, Thirsk. The conditions were exceedingly good, after all the rain in past months
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Millennium idea is profit on a plate
PEOPLE who bought millennium plates in Yarm may go on to enjoy a sale of the century. Last year's commemorative plates cost £20 each. Just 2,000 were produced for a town council scheme to mark the start of the millennium. The price has now been reduced
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Table Tennis
CaptionTony Gelder, in-form veteran, was called into the Darlington team for their British League, Premier Division game at Barnet on Sunday - 21 years after playing in their first British League game. Sadly for Gelder, a partner in the Sunderland-based
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Police praised for race relations work
NORTH-EAST police forces have won Government praise for their commitment to community and race relations. In a report released yesterday by the Home Office, entitled Winning the Race, Embracing Diversity, Cleveland is named among the top 15 forces in
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Parents battle for bigger classes
PARENTS have launched an action group in a bid to gain extra places for children at a County Durham village school. People in Coxhoe want more classroom space so all youngsters who want to go to Coxhoe Primary School can get in. A total of 36 youngsters
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W\earside League
Where's Vince? He must be poorly! Vince never misses a match. There's got to be something wrong. These were just some of the comments overheard at the Hill Top ground last Saturday when Stanley United's popular secretary and manager Vince Kirkup was a
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Back from my castaway island
IN keeping with the current trend for castaway adventures, a North-East student has been getting to grips with island life. Ecologist Kathy Fletcher spent three months on the remote Coquet Island, off the Northumberland coast. The 26-year-old's task was
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Congestion prompts bus services axe
TRAFFIC congestion in Harrogate has prompted bus com-pany bosses to scrap services which were running through the centre of the town. Routes from Knaresborough, through Starbeck and on to the west side of Harrogate were introduced by public demand seven
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Prices at the markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed. Fwd: 6 calves, 1,095 sheep. Lim hfr calves to £60 av £31.50. Store hoggs to £39.50; std to 119.4p av 111.8p; med to 118.4p av 111.4p; heavy to 111.8p av 108.2p. Cast ewes: Mule to £42; Cont to £41; Swale to £30.50; Suff £52.50.
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Football: Quakers face big test with renewed hope
QUAKERS' mini-revival is put to the sternest of tests tomorrow when they play table-topping Chesterfield at Feethams. A win may be a tall order but it is much-needed. Saturday's 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle left Darlington in a wobbly 18th place in the
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Wear Valley - Centre may be given facelift
A SOCIAL centre built in the early 1900s with penny a week contributions from a town's miners looks set for an exciting new future. Shildon Town Council hopes to give a 21st century facelift to a derelict Rest House dedicated by long-dead pitmen as a
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Ice Hockey
Junior round-up Billingham Wolves would have beaten visitors Sheffield Steelhawks by a bigger margin than their 7-2 winning scoreline had it not been for Geoff Woolhouse in the Sheffield net. He faced a total of 48 shots and did well to keep the goals
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Aspin in limbo following surprise Feethams exit
defender Neil Aspin last night revealed he doesn't have a club lined up following his shock departure from Darlington. Aspin, who was signed in the summer of 1999, was released on Thursday by "mutual agreement" following a meeting with club officials.
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Couple vow to battle to keep Internet twins
The couple at the centre of the Internet twins row last night vowed to do all they could to keep the baby girls in Britain - but conceded they might have "to let go". Solicitor Alan Kilshaw, 45, and his wife Judith, 47, of Buckley, North Wales, who have
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Study into 225mph rail link
THE possibility of a new rail link between London and the North, operated by some of the world's fastest trains, moved a step closer yesterday. The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority said it was inviting consultants to work on a detailed feasibility study
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Willington League
Willington League Willington Brewer's Droop A took five of the six singles at Willington Burn. Only Alan Franks managed to win for the home side, while Brett Fleming, Paul Williams, Alan Lee senior, James Bolam and Alan Lee Junior won for the visitors
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Three cleared of races fix
THREE men accused of rigging races at a greyhound track on which a punter won £45,000 have been cleared by the sport's national body. The National Greyhound Racing Club held an inquiry this week into racing at the Regal Sunderland Stadium on November
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MP Radice makes way for -younger person'
THE North-East's longest-serving MP last night ended months of speculation and announced he was standing down at the next General Election. Durham North MP Giles Radice, who has represented the region at Westminster since 1973, said the constituency needed
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The passion that ruled Victoria
ONE hundred years on, Queen Victoria is regarded as a prude who was never amused. She coldly glowers out of grainy old photographs, a miserable matriach forever in mourning, sexually repressed and grimly passionless. Yet little of the popular image is
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United rebel returns to Paris St Germain for £3m
Newcastle have sold rebel full back Didier Domi back to Paris St Germain in a £3m deal, ending one of the messiest transfer sagas for years. Newcastle yesterday confirmed they had agreed terms for the left back, who joined from PSG for £4m over two years
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It's a wonderful life for -goal machine' Phillips
GOAL-ACE Kevin Phillips, who comes under the scrutiny of new England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson for the second time in nine days at the Stadium of Light tomorrow, admitted last night: "Life can't get much better than it is at the moment." The little striker
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Police to quiz rugby players over assault
AN entire rugby squad is to be questioned by police after an opposition player suffered serious head injuries during a match. Police are planning to quiz the Whitby Maroon rugby squad over the incident, which happened during a league match earlier this
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Has our Tony lost his bottle?
Margaret Thatcher had a word for it. "Frit" was her description of people of the spineless variety. So the Iron Lady wouldn't have hesitated to brand the current Prime Minister "Frit Tony" for his performance this week. Frit for backing out of the television
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Club to offer fencing lessons
A SPORTS club is looking to give people in East Cleveland a taste of an Olympic event. Guisborough Fencing Club is looking to set up a course for beginners at the sports club at Cleveland Potash, Boulby. But the club needs volunteers who want to learn
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Bennett calls on Quakers to erase Boxing Day nightmare
Darlington manager Gary Bennett will use his players' last display against Chesterfield as motivation when the league leaders come to Feethams this afternoon. Quakers last faced Chesterfield less than a month ago and produced one of their worst performances
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Guide lays down methods of pupil restraint
GUIDELINES on using force to control pupils are to be sent to a town's schools. Following changes to the law, Middlesbrough Borough Council has compiled information on the use of "positive handling strategies" for unruly children. The move comes after
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Hatfield rail firm loses contract
THE rail maintenance company that was working at Hatfield when a GNER express was derailed was last night stripped of its East Coast Main Line contract. Rather than renew Balfour Beatty's contract, Railtrack has named rival company Jarvis Facilities as
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Shares at Baird plunge after threat to buyout
SHARES in clothing supplier William Baird plunged more than 17 per cent today after plans for a £87.9m management buy-out were thrown into doubt. The buy-out vehicle, backed by venture capital group Alchemy Partners, said ''certain information'' had been
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New study launched into BT pricing
COMMUNICATIONS giant BT has been accused of hiding the real cost of using the phone behind baffling blurb as new research suggested customers can pay anything between £83 and £287 for the same set of calls. The Plain English Campaign said it launched
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Fight is on to keep court open
NORTH Yorkshire councillors are expected next week to oppose the closure of any more courthouses in the county. The magistrates' courts committee has circulated a consultation document on a review of buildings which began after a visit by the national
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New medical practice concern
RESIDENTS and patients are worried about the building of a new surgery on Wearside. The Kepier medical practice, in Houghton Health Centre, Houghton-le-Spring - serving 7,000 patients, many from outlying villages - could move later this year because of
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£36m project changes will add 100 jobs
A CHANGE of plans for a proposed £36m retail and leisure development has been approved and is due to bring a further 100 jobs to the area. Easington District Council agreed yesterday that the developers of the Dalton Flatts project, at Murton, East Durham
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Mancini in tune with Leicester
Leicester City manager Peter Taylor yesterday signed Italian legend Roberto Mancini until the end of the season, and insisted he will be fully focused on helping the Foxes to get their push for a European spot back on track. Taylor played down reports
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Man slashed stranger's face for £30 dare
A man was jailed yesterday for slashing a stranger's face in a pub for a dare to win £30. Lee Mulcahy, 27, had been showing a knife around at a karaoke night at the Park Hotel, in Hartlepool, before he was goaded into using it by his brother, said Jamie
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Turner rallies support
HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner has issued a rallying call to supporters. Pool moved into the play-off zone on Tuesday night with a goalless draw at leaders Chesterfield - and were backed by almost 800 travelling fans. Tomorrow they entertain Carlisle
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Turner rallies support
HARTLEPOOL United boss Chris Turner has issued a rallying call to supporters. Pool moved into the play-off zone on Tuesday night with a goalless draw at leaders Chesterfield - and were backed by almost 800 travelling fans. Tomorrow they entertain Carlisle
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£30,000 traffic safety plan
A TOWN is to spend £30,000 on traffic safety measures, thanks to neighbouring villages securing a bypass. The Government money has been earmarked for Saltburn to offset any problems which may be generated by the planned Skelton and Brotton bypass. The
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'Dirty movies' were too clean
A businessman selling sex films was ordered to pay nearly £6,000 in fines and costs yesterday - because the movies were not blue enough. Nicholas Griffin's company sold the videos, costing up to £50, from adult shops in York and Grimsby, promising customers
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Inquiry demanded into delays to miners' cash
THE Government last night faced demands to order an inquiry into delays in the massive compensation scheme for former miners crippled by industrial disease. Prime Minister Tony Blair this week promised urgent action to speed up compensation pay-outs to
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Man killed cruising gay area, court told
A bachelor died after he visited a gay cruising area because his killer thought he was a paedophile, a court heard. Bruce Walker, from Sunderland, was stabbed three times in the back after he left a gay haunt, known as The Gardens, at Newcastle's Quayside
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Jail for youth who pulled gun in court escape bid
THE thrill-seeking teenage son of a well-to-do family, who pulled a gun in court in a bid for freedom, was jailed for three years yesterday. Only a day after Old Bailey Judge Ann Goddard was left bruised and battered by a prisoner who jumped from the
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Elwine eases Park's back problems
FORMER player-coach Anthony Elwine will be back in the Darlington Mowden Park team today for the visit of Driffield. The powerful centre has missed a season and a half after going to work in Singapore and on his return he recently played twice for West
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National winner's truant secret
UNDER a stricter form tutor Bob Champion, who paid a return visit to his old school yesterday, might never have gone on to win first his battle against cancer then the Grand National. But, as it was, Mr McKenzie took a shine to the young sportsman, and
