Archive
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Computer firm kept busy after appeal in Echo
A DARLINGTON firm has been inundated with requests from schools and charities for cheap computer equipment. Comusel, which has premises on the Riverbank Trading Estate, in Darlington, was having difficulty persuading local groups to take advantage of
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Cabriolet is a breath of fresh air
PEUGEOT almost missed the boat with this one. Vauxhall's Tigra, the car that started the craze for small coupes six years ago, has just been deleted - it's been on sale that long. With Ford's Puma entering its twilight years it seems an odd time to be
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'Farm gate thefts may result in accidents'
POLICE have warned that a spate of farm gate thefts in the Weardale and Teesdale area could result in a serious accident if livestock escape. Galvanised steel gates have been taken from Romaldkirk, near Barnard Castle; Eggleston Hall, Hunwick; and Thornley
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Group searches for families who want glimpse of future
TWO families are being given the chance to live like the Jetsons in a home of the future. Work starts next month to build the futuristic homes in Roscoe Road, Billingham, Cleveland. The homes, which will be built to a modern design, will aim to provide
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Chancellor's petrol tax cut
THE Government announced last night that duty on unleaded petrol would be cut in the Budget - prompting immediate accusations of a pre-election "bribe". Tax on unleaded fuel will be temporarily lowered in line with the expected 2p cut in the duty on environmentally-friendly
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Farming disaster looms
Britain's farming industry was in crisis last night after the Government banned all exports of live animals, meat and dairy products following the nation's first outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease for 20 years. The ban came as it was revealed one of the
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Irishman Gavin ready for Venables' defensive SOS
Irish defender Jason Gavin is ready to answer the emergency call to join Middlesbrough's struggle against relegation. The 20-year-old defender was yesterday praised for his performance in the 0-0 draw against Manchester City reserves and could be on the
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Shake, rattle and roll in Scarborough
THE earth moved for thousands of people yesterday. Houses shook and windows smashed along the North Yorkshire coastline, prompting feverish speculation that the region had been struck by an earthquake. International media attention focused on Scarborough
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Firm stands by 500 jobs pledge despite downturn
FILTRONIC is on course to meet its 500 jobs pledge - despite concerns over the slowdown in the sale of mobile phones. The firm, which bought the old Fujitsu microchip plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, is looking for a partner for its compound semi-conductor
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'Cowardly lout' has sentence cut
A YOUNG man dubbed a "cowardly drunken lout" by a judge after he was involved in a town centre gang attack, yesterday had his sentence reduced at London's Criminal Appeal Court. Wayne William Johnson, 21, joined the attack on a man - who was already on
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Farmer banned from keeping livestock
A MAN who runs a North-East smallholding has been banned from keeping livestock for ten years for causing unnecessary suffering to animals. Michael Jewell, 56, of Limes Crescent, Marske, east Cleveland, was also given a 120-day suspended prison sentence
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Campaign puts brakes on speeders
A PILOT scheme to charge speeding motorists for extra prevention measures is proving a success, according to a report. However, many drivers are still driving too fast on Teesside's roads. Cleveland police are one of eight forces piloting the cost recovery
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Fantasy night as Leeds hit four
SENSATIONAL Leeds produced fantasy Champions League football to clinch a place in the quarter-finals as boss David O'Leary's side threw the form book out of the window. A devastating first-half performance of cut-and-thrust left Anderlecht's previously
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Steaming row as races cancelled
THOUSANDS of pounds of fundraising for charities could be lost after it was announced that an annual Teesdale race meeting looks certain to be cancelled. The Whitsun Meet races have attracted thousands of competitors from around the region since they
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Vitara passes test with style
THE NURBURGRING in Germany is certainly an odd place to launch a new 4x4. Probably the most challenging racing circuit in the world is used by car manufacturers to test their sports models at high speed. So it was a surprise when Suzuki, a company not
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Revamp of Royal Baths due to
WORK is finally due to get under way on the first phase of refurbishing Harrogate's famous Royal Baths. Legal agreements have been finalised and the crumbling western block is ready to be demolished to get the project started. Quarmby Construction has
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Arson-hit school back in business by May
YOUNGSTERS at a school hit by arson should be back together on the same site by mid-May - two months ahead of schedule. Junior and infant pupils at Hardwick Primary School, Sedgefield, County Durham, were left without classrooms after an arson attack
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Jobless will have a better deal in store
TRAINING agencies across the region have joined forces to make sure local people get the chance to work at a multi-million pound supermarket development on Tyneside. The new Morrisons supermarket in Jarrow, South Tyneside, intends to employ up to 350
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Setting out vision for early learning
A VISION for early learning in Darlington was set out last night. Councillors of the cabinet committee at Darlington Borough Council heard how a review of the service had shown the town boasts many strengths in early years education and childcare. The
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Pool campaigners make waves
A CAMPAIGN to build a swimming pool in Guisborough has received the backing of town councillors. Local people are pressing for either a refurbishment of the existing pool or for a new one to be built, claiming facilities are run down. Councillor David
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Letters
ELLEN MACARTHUR WITH regard to Harry Mead's column (Echo, Feb 14), I am sorry to hear he doesn't share the "general rapture" of yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur's feat. But surely he has drawn entirely the wrong comparison. Yes, I agree with the sentiments
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'I saw partner savaged by police dog'
A mother-of-three told a court how she saw her her long-term partner "savaged" by a police dog. Maxine Andrea Pursey, 36, claims Lawrence Agar, 35, suffered bite wounds before police officers sprayed him in the face with CS gas and knocked him to the
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The Cyber Space - Look out for the love bug
ACCORDING to one of the definitions in the Oxford English dictionary, a virus is "a harmful or corrupting influence". And that influence could mean you will never get to read this article because rumours abound that there is a Valentine's Day virus out
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Smashing way to enjoy half-term
ONE of the region's leading glass artists visited an after-school club to demonstrate her skills. The ten to 14-year-olds from South Moor After School Homework Club (Smash) spent a day of their holiday working with Newcastle glass artist Effie Burns.
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Teenagers create image of rural life
DIGITAL images of life in a rural community from a teenager's perspective is to form an exhibition. Video artist Peter Allinson has been helping young people from Evenwood to capture life in their village, and the results will provide an exhibition at
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Fitness fans in services protest
PLACARD-CARRYING protestors plan to embarrass a council by greeting guests arriving at its civic ball later this week. Fitness fans will line up outside the Spectrum Leisure Complex, in Willington, on Friday night where government minister Clare Short
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Campaigners welcome bail hostel inquiry
PROTESTORS opposed to a town centre bail hostel have welcomed an announcement that the proposals will go to a public inquiry. The Planning Inspectorate, which investigates planning appeals, said the inquiry into the Chester-le-Street 25-bed hostel could
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Corolla an intelligent choice
Toyota's latest version of its small, family runabout, the Corolla - currently the world's best-selling car with over 23m sold worldwide since 1966 - adopts a family look similar to that of the bigger Avensis. Two new VVT-i engines, 1.4 and 1.6 litre,
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Cleveland picks up eighth gold award
LOCAL motorhome retailer, Cleveland Motor Homes, won its eighth consecutive Gold Award from Autosleeper UK. Brothers Neil and Craig Jackson, along with father Ken, who run the multi-franchise operation on the outskirts of Darlington, close to Teesside
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Plenty to admire in the Rover 25
THE 25 hatchback is Rover's biggest sales success. Now the Metro is no longer with us, the 25 is the cheapest route to a new Rover. Provided you don't specify too many extras a 25 can be had for less than the psychologically important £10,000 figure.
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Fazer stuns with thrilling performance
I REMEMBER when a budget bike used to be something mainstream with all the good bits taken off. Today, manufacturers design no frills motor cycles from the ground up and the result is something affordable which is rather good. Yamaha's Fazer is such a
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Woman, 79, injured in bag snatch attack
AN elderly woman suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder when she was attacked by a bag snatcher. The 79-year-old, who is not being named, also suffered bruising to her ribs during the attack, in Bede Crescent, Washington Village, on Monday. Police say
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Octavia leads Skoda charge
A FEW years ago, when these cars were all about the head and not the heart, you'd have been mad to spend more than £13,000 on a Skoda. Things changed when Volkswagen took over the company, injecting billions of deutschmarks into new models and the machinery
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Lottery windfall for charity which helps people into work
A CHARITY which provides work experience for people with learning difficulties was celebrating yesterday after getting a windfall that will help guarantee its future. Chopsticks, in Northallerton, is one of a number of causes in North Yorkshire to share
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If we work longer, who will volunteer?
THE Government wants to let us work longer, wants to abolish automatic retiring ages at 60 or 65. So who's going to do the voluntary work? At first glance it seems fine - just look at Newcastle United and Bobby Robson. For every person skipping happily
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Mortgage price war adds up to boom for home owners
THE prospect of a mortgage price war may tempt many home owners to consider re-mortgaging for a better deal. Although, with more than 150 mortgage lenders to choose from and dozens of different types on offer, it can seem easier to stay with your existing
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Charity's tribute to fundraisers
THE UK's leading authority on cancer research is coming to the North-East to thank three groups of fundraisers. Professor Gordon McVie, director general of the Cancer Research Campaign (CRC), will meet representatives from fundraising committees in Teesdale
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Drivers facing £50 fines
DRIVERS parking illegally in Darlington may face stiffer fines in the future. The cabinet meeting of Darlington Borough Council agreed proposals yesterday to change the penalty charges in car parks in the town. If someone has illegally parked in a council-run
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Cheaper travel vote by council
THOUSANDS of pensioners and disabled people will get cheap bus and train travel after councillors voted to opt in to a half-price Government scheme. People who rely on taxis will not be forgotten when Wear Valley District Council drops its existing concessionary
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Backing for £59m handout to docklands
A MULTI-million pound boost for a town has been hailed as a big step towards the regeneration of a hard-hit area. Middlesbrough Borough Council's cabinet has agreed in principle to back the £59m plan to redevelop the town's old docklands - Middlehaven
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Darlo bid for loan star Neil
Darlington have made a bid to sign Sunderland midfielder Neil Wainwright. But the move looks doomed to failure, as the Black Cats appear to have priced him out of the Quakers' reach. Wainwright was at Feethams for a three-month loan spell from the Stadium
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New contract is aim for goal hero Fitz
JUBILANT boss Chris Turner yesterday urged Torquay goal hero Lee Fitzpatrick to play his way to a new contract at Hartlepool. Fitzpatrick, 22, scored in Pool's 3-1 victory at Victoria Park on Tuesday night after coming on for the injured Paul Stephenson
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Fears of job cuts allayed at Glaxo
A BOOST in worldwide profits has helped to allay fears of job cuts for more than 1,500 workers at a North-East pharmaceutical factory. Staff at the GaxoSmithKline site, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, look to be facing a brighter future after the drug
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Hussain orders team to heed Oval lessons
NASSER Hussain leads England into the first Test this morning knowing they must heed the lessons learned at The Oval two years ago if they are to return from Sri Lanka with their unbeaten record intact. Under Hussain's leadership England have won the
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Suspected letter bombers arrested
THREE people were arrested yesterday by detectives hunting animal rights extremists behind a letter bomb terror campaign. Two men and a woman were taken into custody after a massive police operation involving five forces. At the same time, three more
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Builder criticised on office closures
HOUSE builder George Wimpey came under fire last night for axing jobs and closing offices despite higher than expected profits. The group confirmed it is to cut 400 jobs and close nine regional offices as part of a restructuring exercise. The company
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Companies net online store contract
TWO North-East firms have landed a £250,000 account to create an e-mail shop. JBA and Perfect Image Ltd have joined to provide a commerce system for mobile phone company Fone Logistics. The Internet-based sales venture, bigphoneshop.com, has been developed
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Childcare idea takes off
TWO mothers have launched a Mary Poppins-style childcare business aimed at matching nannies with families. Angela Brown and Anne Sutton, established lecturers in childcare at New College, Durham, have been prompted by a desire to help more families and
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Ex-PC to appeal over ban from all police stations
A FORMER policeman banned from working in every police station in the country has begun a legal challenge to overturn the order. Alan Thompson, from Gosforth, Newcastle, lost his job after 18 years of service after being found guilty of using "sexually
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March planned by Gulf War veterans
GULF War veterans and their families are to stage a commemorative march to highlight their claims of neglect by the Government. About 150 former servicemen and their families are expected to take part in the event in London on Saturday, the tenth anniversary
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Rocket keen to fire a future in the Premiership
DANISH international Dennis Rommedahl is eyeing a Premiership future with Sunderland - but the right-winger could be in for a huge disappointment. The PSV Eindhoven player, known as Rocket, yesterday admitted he is excited by the thought of landing at
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Brawler faces year ban from local pub
A PUB brawler was yesterday ordered to be electronicallytagged and banned from his local. Steven Wilson, 28, attacked two staff at the Black Bull, in Northallerton, after an all-day drinking session. Judge David Bryant banned Wilson from the pub for 12
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Theatre group seeking more volunteers
THEATRE company Jack Drum Arts is looking for volunteers. Co-director Julie Ward said: "We are becoming a victim of our own success and need help at all levels. "We are having a friends meeting tomorrow, to try to galvanise support. "People who volunteer
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Slide along to the snake show
THE atmosphere is getting poisonous at one of the region's leading attractions. A number of slippery customers have taken up residence at the Yorkshire Museum, in York, for an exhibition running until June. Fangs brings the world of venomous creatures
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Pilot scheme to protect pensioners
SCORES of North-East pensioners are to be given security gadgets in a pilot scheme to protect them from bogus call-ers, the Government said today. An electronic device which plays a recorded message reminding pensioners to use their security chain or
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Electrolux gains Investors in People training award
ELECTROLUX Outdoor Products has been awarded with the Investors in People standard for its employee development programme. The announcement comes as hundreds of Electrolux workers in County Durham, at plants in Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, are waiting
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Looks can't hide Hyundai Coupe's merits
YOU'VE not only got one of the best-value and best-selling coupes on the market, you've certainly got one of the best looking. It's so pretty, in fact, that you launch an advertising campaign boasting it's better looking than a Ferrari 550 Maranello,
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No excuse for handing out pardons
FAME, it is said, lasts for 15 minutes. Infamy, on the other hand, lasts a lifetime. I thought Bill Clinton would buck the trend. I thought he'd endured his 15 minutes of infamy and was destined for a lifetime of fame. He'd left a thriving economy. His
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North-East shamed in TV licence crackdown
THE North-East has been uncovered as the home of the TV licence dodger with the publication of a new league of shame. Six local authority areas in the region have found a place in the 40 with the highest number of licence evaders caught in a six- month
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Picasso paints a very pretty picture
CITROEN has brought a new level of style to the rapidly-expanding compact MPV market with its state-of-the-art Xsara Picasso. The Picasso's blend of distinctive looks, smart use of space and numerous neat touches, are all designed to ensure enjoyable
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Theatre's birthday bash
A North-East theatre was wished a happy birthday by an international star yesterday. The Theatre Royal, in Newcastle, celebrated its 164th birthday when the former Three Degrees lead singer Sheila Ferguson released 164 balloons to commemorate the occasion
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Is there a life after death?
SITTING in her study Jane Welbourn works away under the watchful eye of her father. He's sitting in a chair nearby. Nothing unusual in that, countless fathers are there for their children, particularly in times of need. The difference this time is that
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Housing bonanza as loan rates cut
THOUSANDS of homeowners across the North-East will be shopping for cheaper mortgages after Britain's two biggest mortgage lenders slashed their rates and sparked a price war yesterday. Nationwide building society started the battle by cutting its standard
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Luck's in as album reveals its story
IN the old days, when money and time were no object, The Northern Echo used to present to each out-going mayor of Darlington a full collection of photographs that had been taken during his or her year in office. Two large scrapbooks of cuttings, noting
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Safety review follows N-E planes scare
A FLYING safety review is under way following a report into a near-miss between an RAF Tornado and a passenger aircraft. The RAF jet came within 300ft of the charter plane as it approached Newcastle airport, with neither pilot having enough time to take
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A new moving experience
For those who want to relax on a caravanning holiday without the strain of manhandling their vehicle, Robsons of Wolsingham has a novel solution. Robsons has recently become a designated retailer for the Carver Caravan Mover. This revolutionary new product
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£250,000 nursery project under way
WORK has started on facilities to help young families on a revamped Sunderland estate. The £250,000 extension to Pennywell Nursery School, one of only two nurseries in the country to win beacon status, will bring the school and a social services nursery
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Home-from-home comforts on the road
SOON it will be that time of the year again. A time when thousands of people open the garage and dust down their second home ready for the summer ahead. I always used to think caravan owners were sad individuals who just had to take a little piece of
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Mystery surrounds death at care home
A PENSIONER died from a brain haemorrhage following a blow to the head, an inquest heard yesterday. Teesside Coroners' Court heard that Sarah Burr, otherwise known as Sally, had been living at Welburn House nursing home, in Fairfield, Stockton, at the
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Course for coroners' officers begins
A course for coroners' officers has been launched. The two-week course has been devised by Teesside University, to equip officers with a sound knowledge of the laws and procedures governing the profession. Delivered by the Centre for Police Research and
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Witness scheme expands
A SCHEME designed to make court appearances less stressful for witnesses is due to be expanded. For five years the Ryedale and Scarborough Victim Support Group has been helping witnesses at trials in magistrates' courts, talking them through what will
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Fun all the way on zippy ZR-7
NEVER judge a book by its cover - the Kawasaki ZR-7 is proof of that. It's a basic looking motorbike in the finest tradition. Two wheels, an engine, seats, tanks and bars and that's about it. It is not bad looking, neither is it flash. But get past that
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Pair hurt in 'brutal' attack
A MOTHER and daughter were injured when youths threw a brick at a bus, smashing a window. The attack happened at 4.40pm on Monday, near the Raby Arms pub, in Hart village, near Hartlepool. The pair, who were travelling on the bus, suffered cuts when they
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Bowls pair's crash death was unlawful
THE deaths of two women on the A19 last year on their way to a bowls match were caused by unlawful killing, a coroner decided yesterday. The lorry driver involved in the accident, Paul Simpson, 30, of the The Avenue, Seaham, east Durham, must now wait
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Pool campaigners make waves
A CAMPAIGN to build a swimming pool in Guisborough has received the backing of town councillors. Local people are pressing for either a refurbishment of the existing pool or for a new one to be built, claiming facilities are run down. Councillor David
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THE Princess of cool opens heated pool
Princess Anne made a big impression with youngsters as her North-East tour continued yesterday. On a crisp February morning she wisely chose to wear a heavy tweed suit and matching polo neck for the early visit to the Northern Counties School for the
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Student to represent Great Britain in biathle
AN athlete has been selected for Great Britain in a new sport - despite never having taken part in the event before. Michael Turnbull, 17, from Newton Aycliffe is hoping to find sponsors for his trip to the international biathle event in South Africa
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Turning up the heat on the Cold War
PERHAPS you remember the TV pictures? Though I've seen no mention of it, next Sunday brings the tenth anniversary of an event that symbolised the end of the Cold War. No, not the breaching of the Berlin Wall, which happened on November 9, 1989. Fifteen
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Shogun is the model of efficiency
THE Mitsubishi Shogun is large even by outsized 4x4 standards but at least the new-generation Shogun has been engineered for maximum efficiency on the roads as well as off. It is the only range of four-wheel-drive vehicle to offer two environmentally-friendly
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Young farrier gets accolade
A YOUNG farrier has hammered the competition by being voted the best apprentice in the UK. Steven Beane, 21, of Low Worsall, near Yarm, Teesside was voted top in his profession at the UK Farrier Championships held last weekend. Steven competed against
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Santa Fe joins battle for share of the growing off-road market
GLOBAL warming has done more for the sales of off-roaders than any amount of clever marketing. Floods, blizzards and high winds have given real purpose to the 4x4 market. Hyundai has decided to join the fray with the introduction of its first ever off-roader
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The great Brussleton folly
TONY Hawkins, likeable rogue, died last week, aged 64. His passing affords the opportunity to recount the calamitous story of the Brussleton Folly - co-starring George Reynolds, Gadfly and a policeman reading the Beano. Brussleton is a hamlet above Shildon
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Garden helped to a makeover
A COMMUNITY garden in Consett is about to get a makeover by Acorn Trust volunteers following a grant from their funding body. The garden, in the Benfieldside area, is regularly used by schoolchildren and volunteers have been invited to tidy up the site
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Campaign to cut lorries nuisance
PEOPLE are forming an action group to campaign to cut the number of lorries thundering past their homes. Residents of Almond Court, Shildon, will meet tonight to discuss plans to start a petition in the town and the neighbouring village of Middridge.
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Elderly look to Lifeline for peace of mind
A RECORD number of elderly people living alone in Darlington have joined a potentially life-saving scheme during the last year. More than 160 people joined Darlington Borough Council's Lifeline service during the past 12 months. The scheme allows people
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Theatre group brings fairy tale magic for half-term youngsters
CHILDREN are in for a bewitching time this half-term, courtesy of the theatrical group Century Adventures. The York group is at the city's Castle Museum all week in the shape of wicked stepmother Lady Vane, played by Lucy Adlington, and poor shoemaker
