Archive
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Edwina provides an easier route to shops for the elderly
A HOUSEWIFE has cleared a path for frail shoppers to make their trip to the supermarket safely. Reaching Bishop Auckland's shops and Morrison's supermarket should be a simple task for the residents of Lingford Court Nursing home. But although the supermarket
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Two are quizzed after fatal crash
TWO people are being questioned about a hit-and-run crash in which a pensioner was killed. Anne Profitt, 71, of Landsdowne Road, Longlands, Middlesbrough, who was in the front passenger seat of a Ford Cortina, died in a collison with a Vauxhall Astra.
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Sharon Griffiths writes...
WELL, shock horror - nannies are earning up to £22,000 a year. And quite right, too. What was really disturbing about the survey, carried out by Nannytax, a nannies' payroll service, was that so many commentators (mainly women, alas) seemed aghast at
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Coronary group in plea for cash
A GROUP which supports heart patients in Darlington is seeking financial help. The Darlington Coronary Support Group was formed in 1992 and has a membership of nearly 100. All members have been referred by Darlington Memorial Hospital, and the objective
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Adverts make world go round
BUSINESSES are to be given the chance to have their name on roundabouts. Hartlepool Borough Council is to offer sponsorship deals to companies who want to put their names on roundabouts throughout the borough. There has been some roundabout sponsorship
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Gadfly
PERHAPS because so many readers can still taste the smell, the smoke gets in your eyes whiff of nostalgia has hung heavily since a passing reference in last week's column. It was a two pint reverie, no more, during which memories of Berriman's chip van
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Singing jack russell takes express route to new home
MATTHEW, the singing Jack Russell terrier, has found a home. The dog, which has a high-pitched yelp that sounds like a baby crying, was to have appeared on the ITV show This Morning to try to find him and several of his friends a new home. He has been
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Extraordinary art goes on show at college
A COLLEGE in Darlington is hosting contemporary exhibitions this week. Queen Elizabeth Sixth-Form College will be showing Work in Progress by Simon Gregory and Extraordinary, work by ten modern artists, until Friday. They will be on show in the college's
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999 chief takes on top job in Australia
ONE of the region's top ambulancemen is emigrating to help run a service which covers a vast tract of Australia. Geordie Steve Whinfield, 48, is to become superintendent of New South Wales ambulance service, an area roughly twice the size of the UK. "
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Cook f/t, Catterick Garrison. Nmw, split shifts tba, Experienced German cuisine cook for new restaurant. Ref: RID13684 Ladies/gents hairdresser, Catterick
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Boiler service engineer, Chester-le-Street. £8-£10ph, 40 hpw plus overtime, for installation and maintenance of domestic and commercial boilers. Must
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Quakers go top of good value league
DARLINGTON Football Club may not be enjoying one of their best seasons, but they are top of the league when it comes to providing value for money. A new survey reveals Darlington is the cheapest place to watch football in the entire country. But just
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Eleven held in big drug swoop
HEROIN worth £100,000 has been seized, and 11 people arrested, after an operation to crack a drugs ring described as "the biggest in the North-East". A six-month operation, code named Operation Pelican, ended yesterday in a series of dawn raids at nine
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Bid to set up £60,000 asbestos register
AN asbestos register is due to be set up in Darlington, at a cost of £60,000. Darlington Borough Council has proposed the register of the buildings it owns, such as schools, public buildings and its housing stock. A report by John Buxton, director of
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Eutech in Swiss sell-off
CHEMICALS giant ICI has agreed to sell its engineering consultancy subsidiary to Swiss technology firm ABB. The Northern Echo exclusively revealed on Saturday that ICI had plans to sell its Eutech Engineering Solutions business, which employs 300 at the
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Unforgivable
THE full horror of the "stolen" body parts scandal was revealed yesterday as the Government promised urgent action to stop organs being removed without consent. Thousands of patients who died at hospitals across the UK may have had body parts illegally
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Bank's fax fiasco leads Peter a paper chase
ENGINEER Peter Levett is pleading with NatWest bosses to get their fax right For the multi-million pound bank is costing the 48-year-old engineer a fortune in fax paper by sending him reams of highly confidential information. Mr Levett, from Ovington,
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Reid ready to lock horns with Ferguson
STRAIGHT-TALKING Sunderland boss Peter Reid goes into tonight's white-hot top-of-the-table clash against mighty Manchester United at the Stadium of Light admitting: "We can't catch them." The Wearsiders have become the Premiership's surprise team of the
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Festa determined to end his Teesside days
GIANLUCA Festa could be set to link up with Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri, after Terry Venables admitted attempts to persuade him to stay at the Riverside have so far failed. The former Inter Milan defender, a revelation since the new head coach arrived
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Ferguson facing another tough cup tie on Wearside
After losing one cup tie against West Ham on Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson knows Manchester United face another one at Sunderland tonight. United travel to the Stadium of Light for a Premiership summit meeting, knowing Sunderland will be treating the game
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Little comfort for families
THE full extent of the report into the removal and retention of organs is as shocking and distressing as Health Secretary Alan Milburn warned it would be. It must be absolutely awful for the families of children to learn that their loved ones' bodies
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Building plans win approval after changes
PLANS for 18 flats on a former garage site have won council backing - despite a residents' petition against them. Middlesbrough Borough Council first discussed the proposals for the former Brookfield Garage site, in Low Lane, Middlesbrough, last December
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PM in town video role
FERRYHILL'S mayor has presented Prime Minister Tony Blair with a copy of the town's millennium video. Mr Blair, who recorded the introduction to the video - called Ferryhill Past, Present and Future - during a visit to the town last year, received the
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Security workers' new strike
ALARM and security workers across the region are planning to strike again this weekend. The four-day strike by workers at ADT Fire and Security Alarm Systems will last from Friday to Monday, with staff returning to work at 8am on Tuesday. Workers at ADT
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Moves to encourage voters to make their mark in elections
A COUNCIL is hoping to encourage more voters to turn out for elections. Darlington Borough Council has been looking at ways to improve the turnout at general, European parliamentary, and local government elections. The next borough elections - held every
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Reaching out for global contact
AN event to be staged in Durham City to celebrate the very best in business innovation has received influential backing. Interprise 2001, which is being organised by County Durham Development Company (CDDC), will be held at County Hall on March 12 and
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Ladies hoping to net cash for football club
A CLUB has asked for a cash boost to help develop and promote ladies' football. Darlington Ladies Football Club has asked Darlington Borough Council for £500 towards the continued development and formation of a new girls' football section in the Darlington
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Plans rejected over road safety issue
PLANS for a second bungalow in the grounds of a house have been refused, amid claims that with the traffic situation there is "an accident waiting to happen". The proposal for the rear of 5 Kelgate Terrace, Stainton, was discussed at a meeting of Middlesbrough
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Course to help small firms and graduates
A course aimed at supporting both graduates and companies has been launched on Teesside. Bridges and Routes into Engineering has been devised by Teesside University to increase graduates' skills and experience, while boosting small and medium-sized firms
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Cutting crime with sporting opportunities
A PLAN to build on a community steering group's past successes has been drafted. During the past 12 months, the Reach for Success steering group, headed by Cleveland Police, has used sport to integrate thousands of youngsters into the community. Operating
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Seasonal crackdown successful
A CHRISTMAS crackdown on town centre crime in Gateshead has been hailed a success. Operation Hamper resulted in a 10.1 per cent fall in crime compared to December 1999, while detection rates rose by 5.8 per cent, according to the Gateshead East Area Command
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Inquiry vow after threat by 'nurses'
AN investigation has been launched after three people claiming to be nurses threatened to refuse to treat restaurant staff following a dispute over their bill. They were among a party of five who had booked a table at the Venus Italian restaurant, in
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Posters put up to aid search for pensioner
POLICE are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of a North-East pensioner who has been missing from his home for more than a week. Yesterday, Cleveland Police put up posters of 82-year-old widower George Winter in Redcar town centre, in the
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Hollywood date stops Arc show
Craig Charles, who was due to appear at the Arc in Stockton on Thursday, has had to postpone his show because he is flying to Hollywood to star in an American sitcom. People who have already bought tickets for the show are advised to retain them. They
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Raiders jailed for shotgun hold-up
MEMBERS of an armed gang who robbed a late night store were put behind bars for a total of 22 years yesterday. Gangleader Jonathan May, 21, who threatened staff with a loaded sawn-off shotgun was jailed for 10 years. Judge John Walford said at Teesside
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Lecturer fails in victim claim
A NORTH-EAST lecturer who claimed a campaign of victimisation cost him his job and his mental stability has lost his fight for damages. Michael Laidler, 51, suffered severe psychological injuries which he claimed were the result of incidents which included
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Mystery of the Great Cone Robbery
IT could have been a frustrated motorist or, possibly, a student prank. Police are refusing to speculate on the culprits, but someone has helped themselves to more than 1,000 motorway traffic cones. Detectives say they are treating the theft of the cones
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Gay man 'attacked by murder suspect'
A REGULAR visitor to the gay cruising area where Bruce Walker met his death told a court how he was attacked by murder suspect Lee Bright a year earlier. Andrew Crook told police he was in The Gardens, Newcastle, in November 1998 when he was attacked
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Councillors approve supermarket plans
PLANS for a supermarket have taken a step closer to being implemented by winning councillors' approval. Proposals for a Safeway store to the north of the Parkway Centre, Coulby Newham, were discussed by Middlesbrough Borough Council's planning committee
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Museum visitors offered opportunity to look behind the scenes
visitors have been offered a chance to find out about behind-the-scenes work at a Teesside museum and take a look into their past. Stockton Borough Council's museums service and the Friends of Preston Park held an event at Preston Hall Museum with fun
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Letting us look after our own
INDUSTRIES, be they sunrise or sunset, are finding life hard. We report today on the difficulties facing Filtronic in Newton Aycliffe, which operates in the "sunrise" microchip market. We reported last week on the narrow squeak at Nissan, the first of
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£7,000 boost for charity
MORE than £7,000 has been raised for charity by the Darlington branch of the Townswomen's Guild. The branch has thanked everyone who helped with its Millennium Project, particularly readers of The Northern Echo, who responded to appeals in the newspaper
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Staff travel to give tax advice
INLAND Revenue staff are visiting local JobCentres to offer tax advice nearer to the people who need it. A team from the tax office in Sunderland plan to call at Stanley, Consett and Chester-le-Street. Customer service manager Cath Joyce said: "We realise
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Farmers able to learn about ICM
NORTH Durham farmers will be able to find out about environmentally sensitive crop-growing at a seminar. Durham County Council organised the event to explain integrated crop management (ICM). ICM has been defined as a whole farm policy that provides the
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Office cleaner, Stockton. £3.70ph, 6.15 hours. Reliable person to undertake general cleaning duties. Previous experience preferred. Ref: STL26815. Manager
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Soccer centre decision deferred over allotment fears
A DECISION on plans for an indoor soccer centre has been deferred because of concern about the future of allotments on the site. Northern League Durham City FC wants to build the centre near its New Ferens ground, at Belmont, along with industrial units
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Job Search 2001
Manager/ess, Stockton. NMW, F/t hours, inc Saturday. Experienced person required for fashion outlet. Will be dealing with banking, paperwork and merchandising and will be a keyholder. Ref: STL26817. Care assistant, Hartlepool. £22.50 per night, 8pm-8am
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Cash move for green scheme
HOUSEHOLDERS will soon be able to do their own recycling in an innovative green scheme. Groundwork West Durham hopes to secure enough funding to offer 2,000 subsidised compost bins to Wear Valley homes. The bins will enable householders to recycle waste
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The doctor who harvested babies
IT'S a tale Mary Shelley would have been proud of, a horror story of Frankenstein proportions, a chilling saga of severed heads, disembodied limbs and babies' organs harvested for experimentation. But this story is true, this story is tragic, this story
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Pupils ready to give friends and family pantomime treat
CHRISTMAS may be a memory but youngsters are looking forward to taking to the stage in their school pantomime. Pupils at Framwellgate Primary School, in Durham, will be performing Puss in Boots for their classmates this afternoon. They will also perform
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Another say on shake-up
RESIDENTS living in Hartlepool are to be given a further chance to influence how their local council is run. Under new legislation, residents must be consulted on a choice of three options as part of a Government push to make decision-making simpler and
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Ex-director of care charity on sex charges
A FORMER director of an after-school care charity has been committed to Newcastle Crown Court on child sex charges. Philip Hemmans, 33, appeared before Chester-le-Street magistrates yesterday on six charges of indecent assault. The offences are alleged
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Year of languages launched by MEP
THE North-East's first Bangladeshi Community Centre yesterday hosted a city's launch of the European Year of Languages. North-East Euro MP Dr Mo O'Toole opened the event at the centre in Hendon, Sunderland. A number of events are planned to mark the European
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Bus company seeks advice from travellers
PASSENGERS are being given the chance to say how life on the buses can be improved. Go North-East, one of the region's leading operators, is holding a series of surgeries at which travellers can give their views on the service they are getting. The company
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Bacon lover's sizzling prize
A BACON lover is to be handed a piggy bank containing £1,000 after winning a competition. Bus driver Kevin Longstaff, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, realised his bacon butty was worth more than a few pence when a pack of Royal Crest Dutch Bacon won
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Manager/ess, Darlington. £145 per week. Hours TBA. Must be fully experienced and possess a high standard of food hygiene. Previous supervisory experience
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Dog's eye wound had been left for days, court told
A DOG had to have its eye removed after it was attacked by another dog and left without treatment for days, a court heard yesterday. Bishop Auckland magistrates were told that owner Sybil Smith, of Adamson Street, Shildon, could not afford the vet's fees
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Let us now praise famous men
George W Bush. The very first act of the new US president is to open up the Arctic, one of the world's last great wildernesses, to oil exploration. The day after he was sworn in, his White House spokesman announced: "Moving quickly on a national energy
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Blair asked for help over funds
A COMMUNITY leader who claims an estate has been repeatedly overlooked for funding has written to Tony Blair to appeal for help. For five years, June Goodchild, chairwoman of the Easterside Community Council, Middlesbrough, has fought for extra cash for
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Thousands of organs in North hospitals
HOSPITAL bosses in the North-East set up help lines last night after admitting that they hold thousands of body parts. While most organs will have been removed with the relatives' agreement, hospitals admitted that families were not given enough information
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Dawson given chance to shine press first team claims
Off-spinner Richard Dawson gets an early chance to press his claims for first team recognition by being included in Yorkshire's party of 16 for their pre-season tour of South Africa which begins on March 16 and ends on April 3. Dawson, 20, is in his final
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Metro boy tells of tunnel terror
THE mother of an eight-year-old boy who was dragged 50 yards along a rail track and into a tunnel after getting his finger stuck in the doors of a Metro train, has told how he was lucky to be alive. Lee Hildreth was travelling from a Metro station near
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Agency escapes prosecution after destroying ancient works
THE Environment Agency is reviewing its procedures after escaping prosecution for destroying part of a 300-year-old ancient monument. The agency could have faced an unlimited fine for bulldozing walls and floors at Rookhope Old Smeltmill, in Weardale,
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Arson-hit council homes are set to be demolished
A COUNCIL is promising to end the suffering of residents by knocking down properties targeted by arsonists. There has been a spate of attacks on empty houses on Darlington's Firth Moor estate during the past six months. Darlington Borough Council is systematically
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Raiders jailed for shotgun hold-up
MEMBERS of an armed gang who robbed a late night store were put behind bars for a total of 22 years yesterday. Gangleader Jonathan May, 21, who threatened staff with a loaded sawn-off shotgun was jailed for 10 years. Judge John Walford said at Teesside
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Care workers' opportunity
CARE workers across the region are being offered a helping hand to gain vital training and qualifications. St John Ambulance, in North Yorkshire and Teesside, is now providing courses in care at NVQ levels two and three. The charity's scheme is designed
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Woman in racism row urged to quit
A COUNCILLOR accused of making a racist remark to an officer is facing a call to resign. Mildred Brown, former deputy leader of Labour-run Durham City Council, announced last month she was quitting the party ahead of a national disciplinary hearing that
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What of the other millions who dies?
IN A typically snide article last week, The Times newspaper, owned by the republican Rupert Murdoch, informed us that the Queen would not be attending the Holocaust Day ceremonies and that she would be "going on a shooting trip with her husband instead
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Matter of the heart for England captain's mum
Martin Johnson, brick outhouse captain of England, returns on Saturday from rugby purdah. His mum wonders, quite literally, how much more her heart can stand. Hilary Johnson's from Darlington, Hilary Cleminson when she joined Darlington Harriers as an
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Couple call for inquiry over killer fumes discovery
A FAMILY is calling for an investigation after learning that toxic carbon monoxide fumes were leaking from a boiler in their bedroom. Diane and Philip Kane found there was a potentially-lethal fault in their central heating boiler when they called out
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You write
NISSAN IT IS good news that the new Micra will be built at the Sunderland plant and the decision ends months of uncertainty. However, the indication is clear; Sunderland has been chosen because this country has not ruled out the option to join the single
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Aerial photographic survey proposed to help planners
A MAJOR photographic survey mapping North Yorkshire from the sky could soon provide planners with a bird's eye view of the county. The county council is exploring the scope for a county-wide aerial survey, which would provide a snapshot of land use, landscape
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Animal roadshow comes to town
ANIMAL lovers are being treated to a special offer this week as the National Canine Defence League brings its campaign roadshow to the Hambleton district. The charity's Give a Dog a Life campaign is offering free microchipping for dogs whose owners are
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How pair kept police posted about raider
A BURGLAR met his match in two sharp-eyed posties, a court was told yesterday. Postman Stewart Rose spotted there had been a break-in at a detached bungalow where everything had been secure on his previous day's delivery. Soon afterwards, colleague Graeme
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Striking lecturers disrupt classes
CLASSES at one of the North-East's largest colleges were disrupted yesterday as a two-day strike by lecturers against possible job losses got under way. Members of Natfhe, the university and college lecturers' union, are taking action against Newcastle
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Second say on mayor changes
RESIDENTS are to be asked again if they want an elected mayor. Derwentside District Council will ballot voters in a postal election for a second time in the coming weeks, after a Government instruction. In the first ballot in 1999 - in which voting forms
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House fire probed
POLICE are investigating a house fire on Teesside. The flames at the terraced home in Outram Street, Middlesbrough, took firefighters 30 minutes to bring under control. No one was at home at the time of the blaze, but crews arrived at the scene to find
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Meeting to fight crime
HARTLEPOOL residents can have their say on the fight against crime at a meeting later this week. Superintendent Steve Sugden, of Hartlepool police, will be speaking at the Central Police and Community Safety and Local Consultation Forum on Thursday. As
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Countdown to Lidl's different concept in shopping
FINAL efforts are being made in South Shields to complete the work for a new food store due to open on Thursday, February 15. Lidl, a major German retailer, will open this new outlet to provide the local community with a new shopping experience. Shoppers
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Capital defence of town's rich and bloody past
THE birthplace of Bryan Robson, the infamous answer to Peter Lee's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? question and the highest unemployment in County Durham - Chester-le-Street has certainly had a mixed press in recent years. However, a new book by a local
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We'll tough it out - pledges Filtronic chief
UNDER pressure microchip manufacturer Filtronic has promised to "tough it out" at its Newton Aycliffe facility, despite costs of £1m a month. Yesterday, the Northern Echo revealed the full extent of the losses at the West Yorkshire-based mobile phone
