Archive
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Celtic tales to be told
TWO afternoons of Celtic story-telling for youngsters will be taking place at the Dales Countryside Museum, in Hawes, next month. Storyteller David Brown will be explaining the lives of 6th Century Pennine chieftains, who once ruled the Yorkshire Dales
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Housing schemes to go on display
TWO big housing developments are planned for Crook. Wear Valley district councillors will decide on Wednesday whether to approve Broseley Homes's scheme for 75 homes off Tennyson Terrace, Crook. Council planning officials have recommended approval of
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Tragedy prompts move to halt gas danger
HOUSING and local authority professionals are being urged to attend a national conference aimed at raising awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning, following the a family tragedy. Joan and Peter Stone, of Cumbria, and their 16-year-old daughter, Emma-Jane
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Police aircraft misery to end soon
RESIDENTS whose sleep is ruined by noise from a North-East police spotter plane have been told their suffering should soon be over. The droning from the twin- engined Islander plane has brought complaints over the years, particularly from people living
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Relatives of tragic student traced
THE family of a foreign student who died after 21 years in a coma following a brawl on Wearside are to receive inheritance from their son's estate. A six-figure sum will be paid to Hassan Musa's family, in Libya, after they were traced by a North-East
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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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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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Keeping fit the family way
IF EXERCISE is part of your life, then chances are it's part of your children's lives too. Active parents often produce active children for whom going for walks, swimming and playing football is the norm. With warnings that the computer age could be damaging
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Hitting crime with gimmicks
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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Whisky connoisseur hunted
A RARE £1,500 bottle of whisky has been stolen in a burglary at a North Tyneside home. The 25-year-old Glenlivet limited edition bottle was produced for the Queen's silver jubilee. It was taken, along with 22 other limited editions of the spirit, in a
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Display tells of anglo-saxon power
THE booty of long-forgotten wars and the culture of invasion are brought to life at a North-East art gallery this weekend. Newcastle's Laing Gallery has followed the unprecedented success of the Lindisfarne Gospels with an exhibition that sheds light
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MP invests in future of rail project
A EURO MP made an investment yesterday in the future of an ambitious project to help restore passenger rail services through a rural area. Yorkshire and Humber MEP David Bowe bought shares in the Wensleydale Railway plc, which plans to restore a line
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Looks aren't everything
AT the end of the presentation it didn't look like a huge plastic letter X as so many pundits had predicted. For all the ballyhoo surrounding the launch of Microsoft's first dedicated games console in over a decade, the Xbox looks remarkably staid. As
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Bank raises funds for its favourite charity
BANK customers are giving a much-needed helping hand for a hospice which has become their unofficial pet charity. A cheque for £1,418.36 was handed to officials from St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham, by staff from the city's branch of the Co-op Bank. It
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Project to cater for wellbeing of elderly
THE first multi-agency plan to create a better environment for elderly people has been produced by a local authority. Drafted by Middlesbrough Borough Council, the document followed a national pilot scheme entitled Better Government for Older People,
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Project to cater for wellbeing of elderly
THE first multi-agency plan to create a better environment for elderly people has been produced by a local authority. Drafted by Middlesbrough Borough Council, the document followed a national pilot scheme entitled Better Government for Older People,
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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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Village tribute to its 2000 baby
A VILLAGE has presented its first baby of the new millennium with a special award to mark the milestone. Bailey Tate Swainson became Fishburn's millennium baby when he was born on January 5, 2000 at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. The sixth child for
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Residents voice fears over phone mast plan
CONCERNED residents have been told that Stockton Borough Council has no control over plans to erect a mobile phone mast in Eaglescliffe. Orange wants to build a one-metre wide dish and an antennae on a 50-metre high national grid pylon near Hunters Rest
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Numeracy and literacy push
A WEARSIDE town was chosen to host the launch of a pioneering project to improve numeracy and literacy skills. The Basic Skills Agency organised a day of workshops, entitled Working Together, at the Forte Posthouse Hotel, Washington, to push the importance
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Automatic promotion reality for Hartlepool, claims 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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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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Study into 225mph North-South line
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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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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Police handed over stolen goods, court told
A MAN has been let off after a judge heard he was handed stolen property by Cleveland Police. Judge Peter Fox QC told Teesside Crown Court yesterday that it was regrettable 27-year-old Steven Shepherd was prosecuted at all. The court heard how Shepherd
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Persimmon ups the stakes in bid for Beazer
HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon last night increased its proposed bid for Beazer Homes, in a move which once more throws doubt on Beazer's planned merger with Bryant. York-based Persimmon ended a dramatic week of corporate activity in the housebuilding sector
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North-East teams Full-Time round-up
Darlington plunged into deeper trouble this afternoon with a 3-0 home reverse to table-topping Chesterfield. The Spireites, who were held to a goalless draw at home to Hartlepool in midweek, brushed a struggling Quakers team aside in emphatic fashion.
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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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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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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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Arts chief gets teeth into project
A CASE of mistaken identity sparked a spooky idea which has led to a showcase of vampire-inspired work. Bob Beagrie, of Cleveland Arts, thought Middlesbrough had a nest of vampires after stumbling across a group of youngsters doing a role-play. He was
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Dealer sold heroin to police
A YOUNG mother sold drugs on the way to pick up her daughter from school, a court heard yesterday. Juliet Mitchell, 25, was unaware that her customer was an undercover policeman, said prosecutor David Lamb. His attention was drawn to her odd behaviour
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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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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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Rent and council rebates just don't add up
Q: I get rebates on my rent and Council Tax and after paying my share I am left with £75.71. Yet the benefits section say I need £78.45 to live on. Why the gap? A: Your rent probably includes extras like water or heating charges, for which you cannot
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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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Clean town image dashed by vandals
VANDALS have destroyed litter and dog waste bins installed by a town council. Thornaby Town Council spent more than £4,500 putting the bins around the town to try to improve the area. An agreement was reached with Stockton Borough Council to empty the
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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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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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Housing schemes to go on display
TWO big housing developments are planned for Crook. Wear Valley district councillors will decide on Wednesday whether to approve Broseley Homes's scheme for 75 homes off Tennyson Terrace, Crook. Council planning officials have recommended approval of
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Scout group sets £40,000 target to revamp base
A SCOUT and Guide group is facing a £40,000 fundraising effort to pay for the renovation of their building, which has become a target for vandals and thieves. Craig Hall, of Howden-le-Wear, near Crook, has been plagued by youths smashing windows and thieves
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Centre for victims of abuse gets cash boost
A CENTRE providing counselling for victims of rape and sexual abuse in County Durham has received a vital cash injection. The National Lottery Charities Board has awarded about £60,000 to the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre. The cash will allow
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Nursing hopes of home
TWO Army nurses will be enjoying belated Christmas celebrations when they return to their North Yorkshire base early next month from Africa. Private Kerry Knapper and Lance Corporal Kieley French, arrived in Sierra Leone last November to provide medical
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Nurses' anger over action
ON the day they should have been celebrating their results, student nurses locked in a graduation battle staged a protest instead. About 30 nursing undergraduates, and student leaders, gathered outside the school of health at Teesside University yesterday
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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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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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Free software still on offer
SCHOOLS across the North-East are being urged not to miss out on free software from a computer company. TIME is running its Free Software for Schools Scheme for the second time. Last year the scheme provided more than £48m of software to £26,000 schools
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Landfill site restaurant bid
THE McDonald's fast-food chain wants to build a drive-through restaurant on a former landfill site. The company has submitted a planning application to create an 85-seat restaurant on the West Auckland bypass, near Bishop Auckland. The site has already
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City face the fear factor
Durham manager Brian Honour is hoping his players can overcome the fear factor at home to Tow Law today. City go into the game having lost their last two matches after overcoming champions Bedlington a fortnight ago, leaving them four points clear of
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New learning forum launched
THE Northern TUC is launching a new forum next week designed to help trade unionists play a more effective role in the Government's lifelong learning agenda. The 'Education, Learning & Skills Forum', will bring together union Officers and representatives
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Looks aren't everything
AT the end of the presentation it didn't look like a huge plastic letter X as so many pundits had predicted. For all the ballyhoo surrounding the launch of Microsoft's first dedicated games console in over a decade, the Xbox looks remarkably staid. As
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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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Charity ski challenge
TWO Darlington Borough Council workers are taking up a ski challenge for charity. Julie Russell and Rebecca Williams, who work for the community services department, are training for the Charity Ski Challenge. More than £1.5m is being invested in cancer
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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
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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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Home is where the art is . . .
ONE of the first couples to move into a residential development have been given a house-warming present. Lawrence and Johanna Close moved into one of Tees Valley Housing Group's new homes at Allensway in Thornaby yesterday. Stockton MP Dari Taylor was
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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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Armed robbers flee with haul
TWO armed robbers held up a Newcastle newsagents and escaped with cash and goods. The men, one armed with a handgun, burst into AM Forster, in Hexham Road, Throckley, on Thursday evening. They threatened staff, who police said were left "extremely distressed
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Time running out to see pantomime
PANTOMIME fans are being urged to move fast if they want to catch the last performances of a show at a North-East theatre. There are only four performances left of pantomime, Cinderella, at Darlington Civic Theatre. They are today, at 2pm and 7pm, and
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School's work draws visitors from Wales
THE reputation of a transformed school at Chester-le-Street persuaded a delegation of Welsh community leaders to travel 300 miles to witness its achievements. A group of delegates from Gwent visited the Hermitage School as part of a tour of the region
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We are passionate about wild flowers
THE passion for wild flowers continues unabated. In recent years their presence has developed from a very minor one to something of enormous significance. There are now specialists who only supply wild flower seeds and plants to gardeners. It would be
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Quality award for surgery
PRIME Minister Tony Blair will present a doctor's surgery with a quality award on Friday. Dr Dinah Roy and her staff at The Surgery, in Oxford Road, Spennymoor, have achieved the Quality Practice Award, given by the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Former church may face demolition
A 140-year-old church which was forced to shut when its congregation fell to less than a dozen, could be demolished. The United Reformed Church, in South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, has been empty since closing a year ago. Andrew Toes, of estate agents
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Former church may face demolition
A 140-year-old church which was forced to shut when its congregation fell to less than a dozen, could be demolished. The United Reformed Church, in South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, has been empty since closing a year ago. Andrew Toes, of estate agents
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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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Battling Boro share the honours at Anfield
A superb rearguard performance earned Middlesbrough a well deserved point at Anfield this afternoon. In the opening 45 minutes Boro more than matched their more illustrious opponents with Alen Boksic and Christian Karembeu outstanding. After the break
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Awards to reward best buildings
CIVIC leaders have launched a competition to find examples of new building work which have helped to raise a town's profile. Nominations are being invited for the Scarborough Building Design Awards, set up to reward excellence in building design and development
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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 for Internet babies
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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Henman knows there can be no more lapses
With Pete Sampras having dropped four sets in three matches, it might seem harsh to dwell on the one and only lapse Tim Henman has had on his way to the last 16 in the Australian Open in Melbourne. But the word lapse does not quite convey what happened
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Dwight accepts rotation, insists Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson insists Dwight Yorke may not like his squad rotation policy, but he understands it. Yorke is expected to be on the Manchester United bench today against Aston Villa now that Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole are fully fit. The return of
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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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Victims face doubt over compensation
HUNDREDS of asbestos victims were yesterday facing uncertainty over compensation payouts after an insurance company called in provisional liquidators, lawyers said. Law firm Thompsons is handling hundreds of asbestos-related claims and fears at least
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Suicide man coaxed from roof
A MAN was talked down from the roof of a three storey building after a three hour drama in Hartlepool. Police were called to a house in Tankerville Street in Hartlepool at 9.30pm on Friday after reports of a domestic incident. When officers arrived at
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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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City waits for M&S statement
THE City has been awash with updates from retailers over the last couple of weeks, but one of the most eagerly-awaited - Marks & Sparks - has been kept almost to last. And with few companies set to report next week, its trading statement will provide
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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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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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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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Dealer sold heroin to police
A YOUNG mother sold drugs on the way to pick up her daughter from school, a court heard yesterday. Juliet Mitchell, 25, was unaware that her customer was an undercover policeman, said prosecutor David Lamb. His attention was drawn to her odd behaviour
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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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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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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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Patients to benefit as work starts on mental health unit
WORK began yesterday on a £4m mental health unit for old people in north Durham. Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg performed the turf- turning ceremony at the building site in the grounds of Earl's House in Durham. The state-of-the-art facilities were welcomed
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Free books given to child projects
BARNARDO'S projects on Tyneside have received 42,000 free books from the children's book company, Bright Sparks. The picture books have been donated to projects in Newcastle, North Tyneside, Gateshead and Blyth, which work with children throughout the
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Pool held by last-gasp strike
HARTLEPOOL United could only manage a 2-2 draw with bottom-placed Carlisle at Victoria Park. Pool went into the game on the back of a stunning run of seven wins from eight games, but could not beat the side four points adrift at the bottom. The visitors
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Old courtroom is sold at last
WORK is finally due to begin on converting the redundant Bedale courtroom into a private house. Tony Roebuck, of Masham, has concluded lengthy talks with owner North Yorkshire County Council to buy the 96-year-old building at the top of Aiskew Bank. The
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Bus shelters to be handed over
THE future of bus shelters across Richmondshire will be discussed next week as the district council continues its budget-cutting exercise. In October, the council decided to offer ownership of the shelters to parish and town councils, with a refund of
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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
