Archive
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Chinese culture in the public eye
THE mysteries of the East were revealed in Durham City at the weekend. Experts and enthusiasts gave the public a flavour of the ancient culture of China at an open day in Durham University's Oriental Museum. There were demonstrations on mask and lantern
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Dialling up contingency plans for call centre boom
A Task group has been set up in South Tyneside to tackle the shortage of skilled call centre workers and to prepare for a boom across the borough. The economic development team at South Tyneside Council has been fielding calls from firms outside the region
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Ban that falls at the final fence
THE ban on transporting livestock has been an unavoidable directive in the wake of the ever-deepening foot-and-mouth crisis. The move has the support of the agricultural industry because farmers know that the risk of the infection spreading out of control
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England spin to defeat but umpiring sours taste
England emerged from their opening Test defeat by Sri Lanka angry and frustrated by over-zealous appealing and unjust umpiring decisions but fully aware of the scale of the task ahead of them in the remainder of the series. Sri Lanka proved themselves
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Meals on wheels taken to extremes
BACKPACKER Rachel Kerr missed her favourite Indian restaurant so much she had a vegetable curry flown 11,000 miles around the world to Australia. Rachel, 24, is spending a year hiking around the world with her pals but after six months abroad she craved
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Country lovers dream up some crafty skills in new woodland
COUNTRY lovers turned Indian at the weekend to make dream-catchers. Volunteers in Sunderland helped complete a community wood at Herrington Country Park as well as trying their hand at making bird-boxes, weaving willow shapes and creating the North American
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UK business will embrace Net revolution, claims study
BRITISH business is due to fully embrace the Internet revolution over the next three years, according to a survey by the Confederation of British Industry and KPMG Consulting. The report, The Quiet Revolution, published with the support of the London
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Cementing global expansion with the French in control
CEMENT giant Blue Circle said it was looking forward to working with its new parent, French building materials group Lafarge, as it reported a 20 per cent jump in profits for the full year. Blue Circle, which has a plant at Eastgate in Weardale, was finally
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Jill Dando accused in court
Barry George - accused of killing TV presenter Jill Dando - carried a bible as he appeared in front of a packed Old Bailey court yesterday for the first day of his trial. But legal discussions were expected to last another two days before a jury may be
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The Martians really have landed
Scientists claimed last night to have found proof that there was once life on Mars. They presented new evidence which they say removes any doubt that a meteorite carried the remnants of ancient Martian bacteria to Earth. The findings, from the US space
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Bobby's double trouble
NEWCASTLE United boss Bobby Robson is facing double trouble with two of his most prized assets. Kieron Dyer and Nolberto Solano are ready to add to Robson's problems - for different reasons. Dyer is booked to see a specialist and undergo a scan this week
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Fresh attack on Shaw over Lancet costs
BELEAGUERED Chief Constable Barry Shaw has come under renewed fire after refusing to fill in the blanks in the balance sheet for Operation Lancet. The Cleveland Police chief said the overall cost of the three-year long investigation amouned to £3.25m,
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Four per cent tax increase for valley residents
COUNCIL tax rises have been pegged at less than £1 a week for thousands of Wear Valley families. Services have already been trimmed by the local authority, which aroused a storm of opposition by scrapping a residential warden service for the elderly,
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Leisure complex scheme wins support
A MULTI-MILLION pound leisure complex in Darlington has been granted outline planning approval. Darlington Borough Council's planning applications committee this week approved in principle a plan to redevelop a derelict site opposite Feethams bus station
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Tories' rallying call in Tony Blair's constituency
FORMER Home Secretary Michael Howard addressed Conservative activists from across the North-East at a meeting in Prime Minister Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency. Mr Howard told activists that Tony Blair had failed to deliver despite his promises to
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Lessons hit high note
A PIONEERING scheme to put pre-school children in tune with learning has hit a high note in Stockton. Music Makers allows youngsters in nurseries, pre-school and reception classes to make music together. The sessions have been developed and run by educational
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We've done nothing wrong
NO one but Jimmy and Joan Brown will ever really know what was going through their minds as their livestock went up in flames last night. However, high on the list of the couple's thoughts must have been: "Why us?" There was not the slightest evidence
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Girls share starring role
AN amateur dramatics group is staging Annie this week. The Stockton Stage Society is performing the show, a story about a young orphan girl, from Thursday until Saturday, March 10, at Billingham Forum Theatre. Holly Gray and Hayley Reinprecht, pupils
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Residents call for measures to slow traffic
A SMALL County Durham community is calling for new traffic-calming measures amid fears by residents that there could be a serious accident. A speed hump recently installed at the top of Close House is a waste of money according to the chairman of Dene
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Family stricken by 'silent killer'
A FAMILY of four had to be airlifted to hospital after being struck down by suspected carbon monoxide poisoning. A couple and two children , who are not being identified, byt live in Hartlepool, were flown to a specialist oxygen chamber at a hospital
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Barefoot thief leaves trail
A BAREFOOT burglar was chased from a house after disturbing a woman as she slept. The teenage thief entered the house through a door in Greenmount Road, Darlington, at about 6am on Saturday. He placed some electrical items near a door before going upstairs
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Nurse tells of a 'life of hell' with surgeon
A NURSE who broke ranks to reveal the full extent of the suffering caused by Richard Neale spoke yesterday of her "life of hell" working with the disgraced surgeon. Amanda Pinkney, now a key figure in the campaign to force a public inquiry over the scandal
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Centre display aids disabled
A CARE centre will be displaying and demonstrating a range of power chairs and scooters at its next topic group. The display will be at the Pioneering Care Centre, off Burn Lane, Newton Aycliffe, on Thursday, March 15. Retailers will supply equipment,
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Carnival spirit stirs again after 20 years
AN old community tradition is to be revived after a 20-year absence. The last time the people of Crook took to the streets for the town's community carnival was July 4, 1981. Now Crook Community Partnership hopes to stage a comeback for the event, which
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An annual charity event that is more than just a flash in the pan
DOZENS of pancake lovers were flipping for charity at the Great Charity Pancake Race yesterday. The participants braved the cold at St Peter's Riverside, next to the National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, to take part in the race. Organisers hoped to raise
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Tributes to doctor killed on ski trip
TRIBUTES were paid yesterday to a top cancer specialist who was killed in a skiing accident. Brendan Bolger, a consultant in gynaecological cancer at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), was on holiday in the French Alps with his family when the
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Farmers can reap benefits of cash crop
FARMERS in Durham are being invited to attend a conference in Durham City to learn how cash crops can be grown in an environmentally sensitive manner. The Integrated Crop Management (ICM) seminar has been organised by Durham County Council, along with
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Church marks millennium with window
An east Cleveland church has a new millennium window, crafted by artist Heather Gatt, with the help of the community. The window at Lingdale's United Reformed Church was made by using silk batik to create the illuminated effect usually produced by stained-glass
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Husband delivers baby
A BUSINESSMAN delivered his wife's baby on the floor of their living room as an emergency operator gave instructions by phone. Mark Bryce, 33, had the telephone cradled between his shoulder and chin as he delivered his 61b daughter, Devon. On the other
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Helping hands are needed by chrity
VOLUNTEERS are wanted to help a Darlington charity shop. The Cancer Research Campaign shop, in High Row, is seeking volunteers for a few hours or a couple of days a week, to help with a variety of tasks, including sorting and steaming clothes, manning
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MP mourns her mother's death
LOCAL Government minister Hilary Armstrong and her brother John are mourning the death of their mother, Hannah, who died peacefully on Saturday at the age of 90. Sunderland-born Mrs Armstrong had supported her late husband, Ernest, throughout a long and
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Facelift for church hall
YOUNGSTERS are about to start work on sprucing up a rundown church hall in record time. The group of 16 to 24 year-olds have two weeks to transform the building at Holy Trinity Church, West View, Hartlepool, as part of a Prince's Trust course. They will
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Letters
OPERATION LANCET YOUR editorial (Echo, Feb 17) claims there is much confusion and controversy over Operation Lancet. There certainly is - on your part. Let me correct the many errors in your comment piece. During the interview with Radio Cleveland, Chief
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Play focuses on health
THE message of living healthily is being spread throughout schools in Teesside. Teesside Heath Action Zone and drama company Team Players are working on a play based on the TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. The dialogue that the character of Chris
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Traveller condemns 'disgraceful' airport website
AN airport has advised passengers not to visit its website - because it is inadequate and out-of-date. The Teesside Airport site has not been updated for some time and carries no flight information. A frustrated customer, who contacted The Northern Echo
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Change to market meat rules is likely
A COUNCIL is considering changing a decision not to allow the sale of fresh meats on its markets. Two traders have called on Hambleton District Council to review its restrictions on the sale of fresh meat. The authority decided four years ago to allow
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Partners escape from pub blaze
A PUB landlady was rescued from a fire by her partner. Michelle Cowie and Neil Craggs escaped from their flat above the Bute Arms, Dipton, near Stanley, County Durham, in the early hours of yesterday. Mrs Cowie was awakened by smoke pouring into her bedroom
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Worrying signs of the new times
EVERY few miles a burning heap at the side of the road proved a grim reminder of the disease wreaking misery across the countryside. And even though it was more than 30 years ago, the memory still haunts Alan Scott. "There were numerous sites on both
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Scheme for homeless youngsters centre
A CENTRE offering advice and training for homeless young people could soon be established. Hambleton District Council has received an application from the YMCA to convert a property in Northallerton into a foyer which would focus on helping disadvantaged
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Farming epidemic toll could top 25,000
FOOT-AND-MOUTH last night tightened its grip on Britain as it emerged that up to 25,000 animals could have already come into contact with the disease. The list of abattoirs and farms known to have animals with the disease reached 12, with almost 7,000
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Manager gears up for charity ride in china
A middle-aged manager is to give up his suit and tie to go cycling on a trip of a lifetime. Dave Anderson, of Stanley, County Durham, plans to cycle 400 miles from the Great Wall of China to Beijing in the name of charity later this year. The 40-year-old
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Bet on the Bullet
KENTUCKY BULLET is fancied to shoot down his rivals in division 2 of the Amateur Riders' Handicap at Wolverhampton today. With snow and frost threatening the jumping fixtures at both Leicester and Catterick, the sand may once again come to horse racing's
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Auctioneers going loco for rail signs
AUCTIONEERS are willing to pay hundreds of pounds for old railway station signs from Darlington, particularly in its former Great North Eastern Railway days. Known as totems, the wide, rounded signs used to hang from the station awnings, and are now in
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Top QC offers to help in case of shamed surgeon
A LEADING QC who headed an inquiry into one of Britain's most shocking medical scandals has offered to help victims of shamed surgeon Richard Neale. Jean Ritchie led a year-long inquiry into the case of Kent consultant Rodney Ledward, who was struck off
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Outrage at no ban for killer driver
A judge came under fire last night for failing to impose an immediate driving ban on a racehorse trainer who killed a North-East stable girl in a crash after drinking. Jeff Pearce, 53, of Newmarket, Suffolk, yesterday pleaded guilty to causing the death
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Boro back line boosted for Charlton clash
RELEGATION-haunted Middlesbrough look to have escaped a potential defensive crisis for Saturday's crucial home clash with Charlton Athletic. Right-back Curtis Fleming and central defender Steve Vickers are expected to be fit after being forced off in
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£1.5m cemetery revamp proposed
THE finishing touches have been made to a plan to make more than £1.5m worth of improvements to an historic cemetery. Following public consultation, and in accordance with consultants' advice, a blueprint has been drawn up for Middlesbrough's Linthorpe
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Opportunity knocks for volunteers
AN initiative to encourage more people to take up voluntary work is to be launched in Newton Aycliffe. The Sedgefield Borough Volunteer Bureau (SBVB), funded by the National Lotteries Charities Board, opened its doors at several satellite offices in towns
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HSBCmust rise to challenge as value plummets
BANKING giant HSBC saw more than £6bn wiped off its market value after unveiling profit figures at the low end of expectations and saying the outlook for 2001 was "challenging". Despite reporting a 22 per cent increase in pre-tax profits for 2000, stacking
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'City has been tarnished by series of planning disasters'
PLANNERS, university chiefs and traffic experts were criticised by a leading conservationist for spoiling the city of Durham, during a packed public meeting at the weekend. Secretary of the Durham City Trust, Dr Douglas Pocock, attacked a number of ongoing
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Eating Owt column50
A LITTLE lovelorn, last week's column dwelt upon an unaccompanied February 14. Last week the lady returned, gingerly, to her feet. "Take her to Valentine's," suggested Tom Dobbin from Durham and, belatedly, we did. Though he considered the food very enjoyable
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Toilets issue is almost resolved
A LONG-RUNNING saga over where to build a public toilet block in Northallerton looks about to come to an end. Council chiefs have outlined their preferred option after considering the results of a consultation exercise. Hambleton District Council is proposing
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Animal lover donates £2,000 to sanctuary
AN animal lover has donated £2,000 to an appeal to build a sanctuary for abandoned pets. The volunteer Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (Sara), in east Cleveland, launched its appeal for a £200,000 shelter for strays with a £900 cheque in February 1999
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£5,000 cash aid for homeless
A SCHEME to help homeless people in Darlington was given a £5,000 boost during a presentation headed by MP Alan Milburn. The Health Secretary and Darlington MP visited the 700 Club to speak to young homeless people who have benefited from the 16-bed hostel
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Boro top the league for fundraising
ALTHOUGH languishing in the bottom half of the league table, when it comes to raising money for charity Middlesbrough Football Club is tops. During the half-time interval of their game with Southampton on Saturday, the club presented more than £5,000
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Mixed feelings over school campaign
PARENTS campaigning to have their village school extended have said they are still disappointed, despite securing a major victory. The Coxhoe parents met with Durham County Council officials after the authority agreed to pledge £110,000 to adapt the school
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Caring service takes to road
A CARE centre is about to take to the road to show the communities of Sedgefield borough what it is all about. The Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe has proved a major success since it opened last year. To promote itself, a series of one-day roadshows
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The thief who struck more than the wrong note
AS WELL as the main organ, we have a lovely 19th Century chamber instrument in our church which is chiefly used for the anthem during the Holy Communion. This organ is in the south aisle and the choir leave their places in the chancel to stand beside
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Police drive to tackle youths
PROBLEMS with youngsters and motorbikes have returned to haunt residents on an east Cleveland estate. Councillor Eric Jackson, mayor of Loftus Town Council, said teenagers are riding the unlicensed trial bikes around the Mars Estate in Loftus and are
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Float brings in tide of cheer
CHRISTMAS float collections netted Darlington Bondgate Round Table more than £7,000, to be distributed to local good causes. Volunteers from the 9th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 17th Darlington Scout Groups helped pull Santa's sleigh over the festive period,
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Raising awareness of fostering
A Council is raising awareness of fostering at a series of information events across its borough, during March. Last month, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council was caring for 300 children, either in foster homes or in residential care. While the majority
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Sir Derman's life celebrated
THE life of one of a city's premier citizens will be celebrated at a service at Durham Cathedral, next month. Former vice-chancellor at Durham University, Sir Derman Christopherson, died in November, aged 85, and a service to mark his contribution to
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Parents plead with hospital to let them look after daughter home
PARENTS Susan and Raymond Greaves are asking to be allowed to bring their desperately ill daughter home from hospital, so they can share precious hours together. Emma went into hospital in November to have an operation to correct a life-threatening spine
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Plea for help
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to an assault which left a man needing hospital treatment. The incident occurred at about 6pm, on Saturday, at The Greenway, Thorntree, Middlesbrough. A man was returning to his car when he was attacked. He needed treatment
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Completion for green light project
NEW "greener" street lights will help Durham County Council slash its electric bills and help the environment. The council has completed a ten-year rolling programme of replacing almost 6,000 power- hungry mercury bulbs with high pressure sodium lights
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Pet pals are looking for homes two by two
TWO loveable double acts are looking for a good home to see out the rest of their days. Brothers Leo and Raffy are ten-year-old whippet-cross Labradors, which were recently taken to the Ramshaw Rescue Centre, near Bishop Auckland, for rehoming. The owners
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Praise for tradesmen
DURHAM'S trustworthy tradesmen have won a pat on the back from consumer watchdogs. The tradesmen have been rewarded for the honest way in which they show the public that they are not cowboys. Trading standards officers from Durham County Council checked
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Police appeal follows shop raid attempt
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after three youths tried to rob a newsagents using a hammer and baseball bat. The incident happened at the United News shop, Kingsway Avenue, Teesville, on Friday, at 8.40pm. The youths threatened staff in the unsuccessful
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Couple pleased with Tolkien plan support
MORE than 70 people have signed a petition supporting a couple's plan to create a fantasy wood full of elves and goblins at a North-East beauty spot. Retired marine engineer Harry Davison and his wife, Val, said they were both very pleased with the support
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£30,000 works to save garden
ACTION is to be taken to stop a quarry face subsiding because it is causing a garden to collapse. The worked-out quarry face, at the Regent Cinema site in Station Road, West Cornforth, County Durham, supports the garden of a privately owned house in Poplar
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Skiers call halt over talks to buy loss-making slope
SKI club members have pulled out of talks with council bosses over taking on a loss-making artificial slope. The 70-metre plastic run in Willington, County Durham, is due to shut as part of £300,000 cutbacks ordered by Wear Valley District Council last
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Pupils turn words into musical show
SCHOOLCHILDREN from Middlesbrough will bring words and music together in an innovative performance tomorrow. Pupils from Hall Garth and Kings Manor schools have been working with composer Duncan Chapman to create Borograms. Working with children's author
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High-flying corps celebrates 60 years from take-off
AIR cadets past and present got together on Saturday to reminisce and to look forward to the future. The reunion was held by The 266 (Stockton), the biggest squadron in the Central and East Yorkshire wing of the Air Training Corps, to mark its 60th anniversary
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Water baby Jamie prepares to follow in great grandad's wake
A FOURTH generation of a family is being groomed to take part in an annual charity challenge. Wallace Elliott, 72, has competed in every one of the BT Swimathons at the pool in Darlington's Dolphin Centre. He will again be joined in this year's event
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Burning Questions
Q: ARE Manchester and Liverpool really part of the North? I understand they were once part of the Midlands. I know that York was once part of Northumbria but what about Leeds and Sheffield? - J Anderson, Houghton-le-Spring. A: THERE were no real populous
