Archive
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Hussain warns players to be 'strong but fair'
England captain Nasser Hussain will urge his side to confront Sri Lanka head on in the remainder of the Test series, confident they will not over-step the boundaries of accepted behaviour within the laws of cricket. The tourists' defeat by an innings
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High-flier PC killed
A WOMAN police officer, killed doing the job that made her so proud, was in line for a second commendation for her outstanding devotion to duty, it was revealed last night. PC Alison Armitage, 29, died in hospital shortly after being run down by a stolen
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No favours, just some fairness
REFLECTING on his four years as Chancellor Gordon Brown can rightly be proud of his achievements. After inheriting relatively benign conditions from his predecessor he has overseen steady economic growth, with both unemployment and inflation at their
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Group full of NRG to supply professional staff
THE Northern Recruitment Group plans to establish two new businesses to exploit the market for professional support staff. NRG City and NRG Connect will open for business later this year. Their creation follows the company's move to new premises in Grey
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Plea follows car accident
POLICE are trying to trace a driver who may have witnessed a car accident yesterday afternoon. The driver of a Ford Fiesta car lost control of his vehicle as he travelled along the A689 road, about a quarter of a mile west of Frosterly, County Durham,
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Sales person, Bishop Auckland, £3.70ph plus commission at 21 plus, 20hrs pw, must have sales background and customer service skills. Ref: BIS 9573.
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Views sought about crime and disorder
RESIDENTS are to be asked for their experiences of crime and disorder in an effort to make Hartlepool a safer place. Borough council chiefs want to talk to local people and have invited 40 resident and community associations to attend a meeting at the
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Pair in court on dogs-care charges
A COUPLE are to appear before magistrates charged with causing unnecessary suffering to two dogs. Mary and Keith Calvert, from Lowther Road, Bishop Auckland, appeared before Bishop Auckland Magistrates yesterday for failing to provide the dogs with necessary
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Today's news round-up from Northallerton
Hospital record praised: THE Friarage hospital at Northallerton has been praised for its record so far in arranging urgent consultations for patients with suspected cancer. Figures from the regional health authority show that Northallerton has achieved
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Company fined for polluting water
A COMPANY has been fined £500 for discharging high levels of zinc into the drains. Northumbrian Water brought charges at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court against refrigeration components manufacturer Kenmore UK, after an inspection revealed it had released
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Contract in the sun for supplier
A SOFTWARE supplier is celebrating after securing a £170,000 contract with a Cyprus distribution company. JBA Automated Logistics (JAL) a specialist division of JBA, of Durham City, has been appointed by CA Papaellina & Co to install a sophisticated
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Mother lives in fear after stabbing
A mother who was gunned down by one of the North-East's most notorious gangsters is in fear of her life after being stabbed, the Northern Echo can reveal. Heather Honey, 28, has spoken at length from her secret hideaway for the first time since she testified
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Purse strings may be loosened
THE weekly task of dissecting difficult stock markets has for one week at least been pushed aside by today's Budget. At the time of writing I am left to deal with conjecture and not reality, though at best the stock market will receive a mixture of positive
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Teenager traded heroin from shed
A TEENAGE drug addict who became a father at the age of 13 was given a chance by a judge yesterday. Kevin Conway, 18, was arrested when police raided a Teesside housing estate. Undercover police had bought £10 wraps of heroin from him, between May and
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Survey shows alarming fall in vegetable mineral levels
IT is the news that generations of schoolchildren have been waiting to hear - a scientific survey has discovered that eating your greens may not be that good for you after all. Data gathered during The Composition of Foods, a comprehensive study of the
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Father admits killing baby son
A father has admitted killing his baby son after squeezing the three-month-old so hard that he choked. Christopher Johnson, 30, also admitted fracturing Aaron Johnson's ribs on three previous occasions before his death in the early hours of March 22,1999
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Imitation firearm attacker locked up
A SHOP worker was ordered to strip at "gunpoint" before being subjected to a terrifying indecent assault. The woman was working in the shop in Sunderland last August when John Lark, 27, went in to buy some lager. After paying, he pulled out an imitation
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Parents' chance to learn about tax credit
A consultancy day to help parents get the most out of Childcare Tax Credit is being held in Sunderland today. The event is being staged by the city's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership in the function room at the Business and Innovation
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Backing for Tees crossing scheme
PLANS to create a second river crossing in an industrial area have won influential support. A second crossing of the Tees at Middlesbrough is being considered as part of the revised Tees Valley Structure Plan. The road and rail link would most likely
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Chance for say on town centre access
PEOPLE in Darlington are being invited to have their say on ways to improve access to the town centre. A community workshop is being held at the Dolphin Centre, next Monday, from 6pm to 8pm, to give residents and those who work or shop in the town, the
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Teenager's drunken sex assault on horse
A JOBLESS teenager has admitted carrying out a drunken sex attack on a horse. Eighteen-year-old Stephen Spalding was caught on security cameras as he assaulted the tethered animal on the way home from a night out. He pleaded guilty yesterday to committing
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Museum in decision over director's job
A LEADING North-East museum has offered its top job to an unnamed candidate following the early retirement of its suspended director. The identity of the new chief director of Beamish Museum, County Durham, will not be revealed until references have been
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Police seek clues to cause of woman's face injuries
POLICE are investigating how a woman received face injuries after a night out in Darlington. It is believed the unnamed woman, in her mid-30s, left the Bondgate area of the town in a taxi between 11pm and midnight on Saturday. She got out of the taxi
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Letters
DRESSERS I WAS sad to read about the impending closure of Dressers (Echo, Jan 16) but it stirred up many happy memories. I worked there, as a young girl, in the old shop on High Row, Darlington, between 1964 and 1966 and made many friends. I was in charge
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'Soldiers raped woman in woodland'
A MILITARY policewoman was raped by two soldiers in woodland near their army camp, a court was told yesterday. She was raped twice while pinned against a tree, it was claimed. Jon Carter, 22, and Christopher Carr, 23, of the Queen's Dragoon Guards met
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Abuser brother's appeal fails
A SCHOOLBOY who subjected his younger sister to serious sexual assaults over a three year period showed no emotion as top judges refused pleas to free him yesterday. The baby-faced 15-year-old repeatedly abused his sister between her tenth and 13th birthdays
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Feathered friend for youth club
YOUNGSTERS have risen to the challenge of choosing a name for a parrot who will be joining them at their activities. The brightly-coloured parrot will become the children's new chum at the De Brus Youth and Community Centre, Skelton, part of the East
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Spotlight is placed on sexual health
A conference aimed at improving sexual health is being staged on Teesside. Delegates from around the country will gather at South Cleveland Hospital, Middlesbrough, on Saturday, for the second Teesside Sexual Health Conference. Chaired by Dr Ian Holby
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Help offered
A SUPPORT group set up to help people whose lives are devastated by road accidents meets in Durham tonight. Steve Vasey, of Pity Me, and Andrew Smith, of Ushaw Moor, launched the group after living through the trauma that accidents cause. Steve's 14-year-old
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Another farm hit in outbreak
A FURTHER case of foot-and-mouth disease hit the region yesterday. Marshall Green Farm is the second business at Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, to be have been confirmed as having the disease. Farmer Joseph Johnson declined to comment about the situation
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Asian group secures its second Lottery grant
AN Asian women's group has received a Lottery boost for the second year running. For the past few years, a group of young women called Anokhee, meaning the only one, has organised educational trips and events and English classes for its members' mothers
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Why this crisis is all about money
THE foot-and-mouth crisis had been running for about a week before news emerged that animals can be vaccinated against it. And a further week or so passed before it was widely reported that the disease, far from being fatal to the infected animals, is
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Horse trials fall casualty as disease threatens shows
A Horse trials event which attracts top class international riders, has become the latest casualty of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. The three-day Witton Castle Horse Trials, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was scheduled for March 30 to April 1 but
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Police renew witness plea over death of train student
POLICE investigating the death of Durham University student Patrick Brown have renewed their appeal for witnesses. Mr Brown, a 21-year-old second year Russian student at University College, died of head injuries. He was found at the bottom of an embankment
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Disabled to have say in film project
DISABLED people are being offered the chance to make their voices heard as part of a film project. In the latest stage of its Articulate programme, Cleveland Arts has developed a scheme called Shoot Your Mouth Off. Designed to deliver cutting-edge arts
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Plea to find owner of dog in sea-wall fall
ANIMAL welfare officials are trying to find the owner of a dog which survived after falling from a sea wall on to rocks. RSPCA Inspector Laura Glover rescued the German Shepherd and said it was lucky to survive. Insp Glover found the dog lying on rocks
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The two-way street of tolerance
TOLERATION seems to be very much a one way street at the moment. Suppose for a minute that I was discourteous and sacrilegious enough to take a copy of the Muslim scriptures out into the street and ceremoniously set fire to them. I might end up with a
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The lady really knows her onions
SHEENA Lawson likes the column, anyway. Beset by Hear All Sides correspondents alleging more froth than a pint of Whitbread, it is good - like Lady Windermere - to have a fan. To the point, the carpists claim to suffer from indigression - more Two Ronnies
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Touchline tantrums see Lynn take up the whistle
Mum's the word.... Lynn Briggs has qualified as a referee after deciding that touchline parents didn't know what they were shouting about. Elder son James, 15, plays for Darlington Albion, 13-year-old Mark for the 21st All Stars. "They were absolutely
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Help elderly to keep fit
A PENSIONERS' charity is seeking volunteers to help run a scheme to keep its members fit. Age Concern County Durham's ActivAge Department hopes to train instructors for its exercise to music sessions across the county. A training course for volunteers
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Government 'fails to fulfil pledge' over waiting lists
THE Government faced acute embarrassment last night as hospital waiting lists lengthened - months ahead of an expected election. Figures show that January saw waiting lists grow by 4,500 nationally, leading critics to claim the Government had failed to
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Wasted trip for Quakers
DARLINGTON had another wasted trip to the South-West yesterday when their game at Torquay was postponed just over an hour before kick-off. Nineteen Darlington supporters were left fuming after enduring a seven-hour coach ride, only to discover the match
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Inquiry into teenager's 'police van sex romp'
AN investigation has been launched into claims that two policemen had sex with a sixth-form schoolgirl in the back of their police van while they were on duty. Durham Police confirmed last night that an internal disciplinary inquiry was under way into
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North-East hit by fresh outbreak
A NEW case of foot-and-mouth was confirmed in the North-East last night as the total number of outbreaks nationwide rose to 81. Tests revealed the infection had spread to a smallholding at Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
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Pylons link to childhood cancer recognised
A GOVERNMENT body will today acknowledge a link between overhead power lines and childhood cancer for the first time. A study from the chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board, published today by epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll, has given
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Reid agrees to full-back Makin move
SUNDERLAND are prepared to offload first choice right-back Chris Makin to Premiership rivals Ipswich Town in a shock deal worth nearly £2m. East Anglian boss George Burley - a former Sunderland full-back - pressed home his interest in the 27-year-old
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Lormor late show maintains unbeaten record
SUPER-SUB Anth Lormor struck at the death to preserve Hartlepool United's proud unbeaten record last night. Lormor netted with just two minutes remaining to ensure a 1-1 draw with play-off rivals Rochdale after Pool battered the visitors into submission
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Trainers split
ACCORDING to the calendar, last Thursday was officially the first day of spring, but as far as the horseracing industry was concerned it simply marked the end of a winter of discontent. The trouble is, the agony seems far from over. To put matters totally
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Nursery teachers fear overhaul is threat to schools
NURSERY teachers fear their schools could face closure as part of an overhaul of the early years provision. Darlington Borough Council has carried out a Best Value review of early years education and found that nursery schools have expensive management
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Big banks accused of restricting competition
HIGH street banks have been accused of creating a "complex monopoly" which may restrict competition in small business banking. The Competition Commission pinpointed a number of possible barriers to the entry of smaller players, although the watchdog has
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Drive to entice second-hand car dealers help boost image
SECOND-hand car dealers are being urged to sign up for a new scheme and help ditch a dodgy image. Middlesbrough Borough Council is offering dealers the chance to display its seal of approval in its promotional literature if they promise to "go the extra
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Teachers get taste of real life mathematics
TEN Darlington teachers turned pizza chefs as part of an initiative to raising educational standards. The teachers spent yesterday morning at the town's Pizza Express restaurant, cooking treats for primary pupils. Sponsored by the Government Office for
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Last chance to vote on structure
A consultation on the future political structure of Sunderland City Council draws to a close today. It is the last chance that thousands of people in the city have to voice their opinion on the system of operation that will be introduced next year. All
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Many faces of Cleese
FILMING his new landmark series The Human Face for BBC1 brought John Cleese face to face with his bank manager - the project overran by so many months that it left him strapped for cash. The four editions of the "landmark" series mix serious research
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Landlord wins licence appeal
A LANDLORD has been granted a late-night entertainment licence after an appeal hearing. Last November, six pub landlords in Crook applied for extended entertainment licences to try to stop the drift of people to pubs in other towns. All the applications
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Appeal over road-safety play
SPONSORS are needed to help promote an anti-drink driving message to schoolchildren across Hartlepool. Road safety officials are keen to attract sponsors to help them stage a hard-hitting play in schools after the production Too Much Punch for Judy, proved
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On course for career in pop music
YOUNG people with ambitions to be pop stars are being invited to a college to sample a course tailored for them. The Acklam campus of Middlesbrough College, in Hall Drive, Middlesbrough, is holding a pop music course open day, tomorrow. The event, which
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Disabled 'buddying' scheme seeks volunteers
A NEW service for children and young people with disabilities is seeking volunteers to join a befriending scheme in Darlington. Darlington Inclusion has been set up by children's charity Barnardo's, in partnership with Darlington Social Services. It aims
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Sounds of history
Tudor tunes helped bring history to life for comprehensive school pupils yesterday. Students at Sunnydale Comprehensive School, Shildon, were treated to a display of dancing and music by duo Hautbois, otherwise known as Rick and Helen Heavisides, from
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90-year-old falls prey to tricksters
POLICE are hunting two con-artists who posed as hospital fundraisers to steal a 90-year-old's handbag. The woman, who has not been named, allowed a woman into her bungalow in the Darwin Grove area of Hartlepool, Teesside, after she said she was selling
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Gymnasts prove they are stars
YOUNGSTERS from a Washington gymnastics club are celebrating after medals. Girls from the AllStars club, which is based in the town's leisure centre found success in a competition at Whitley Bay for youngsters under nine, 11 and 13. Amy Coxon and Holly
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Women's group shrugs off flooding
A WOMEN'S group is refusing to let a cracked drain dampen its spirits. Flooding, discovered at South Thornaby Community Centre simply means an International Women's Day evening concert will now be switched to Thornaby Youth Club. The concert will include
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New centre discussed
A community centre could be built in Northallerton after a meeting between residents and council officials. The town's Hambleton Community Centre faced possible closure last year as the district council considered several options over its future. Centre
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Props used for entertaining troops donated to museum
THE lighter side of the British war effort has been honoured at a military museum, thanks to a gift from a North-East man. Edward Reah, of Fulwell, Sunderland, has donated a range of props used by Ensa, the forces entertainment group, to the Eden Camp
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Bus company keeps licence
A SCHOOL bus company has kept its licence despite the fact the buses had faulty brakes. David Stainthorpe, owner of Skelton Hire, based in Slapewath, east Cleveland, was ordered to sort out his vehicles by a Traffic Commission hearing. Faults including
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Stroke boy Luke may hold key for others
YOUNGSTER Luke Johnson is learning to live a normal life after he suffered a stroke while still in the womb. Luke had a severe stroke before birth, which had virtually destroyed the left side of his brain, leaving the right side of his body useless. But
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EX-band members help to recreate spirit of elvis - 23 years on
THE spirit of Elvis mesmerised thousands of North-East fans last night - 23 years after his death. For the king of rock n' roll was reunited with former band members on stage at Newcastle's Telewest Arena. Elvis provided the vocals using giant-screen
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Door opens to region's artists
BUDDING artists from across the region are being urged to put their work on display. Billingham Art Gallery is hosting the open art exhibition for all amateur and professional artists living or working in the North-East. Muriel King, museums officer for
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Imitation firearm attacker locked up
A SHOP worker was ordered to strip at "gunpoint" before being subjected to a terrifying indecent assault. The woman was working in the shop in Sunderland last August when John Lark, 27, went in to buy some lager. After paying, he pulled out an imitation
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Dispute over car parking charges
RISING car parking charges have led to a dispute between two local authorities. Members of Barnard Castle Town Council have criticised Teesdale District Council for agreeing to increase the cost of short-stay tickets in the council's car park. The rise
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Fundraisers looking forward to Funtastic fun to help the katie trust
TWO enterprising boys from Redcar are organising a spring fair to raise money for a charity established in memory of a sister. Last year, Michael Philo and Tom Neal, both aged 11, sat through all 18 James Bond videos in a Bond Aid marathon and raised
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Parents' anger at school timetable
A TEESSIDE MP is calling for further consultation about plans to introduce a controversial timetable into a school. On the day they broke up for half-term school holidays, youngsters at three east Cleveland schools - Rosecroft at Loftus, Warsett at Brotton
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School stages healthy event
THE importance of a healthy lifestyle will be highlighted at a fun event later this month. Brierton School, in Hartlepool, has teamed up with various community groups to host a health evening on Wednesday, March 14. Food-tasting sessions, quizzes, and
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Vandals close play area
A PLAY area in Teesdale has been closed for the second time in six months after vandals caused more than £300 damage to safety barriers. Council officers were forced to close the play area at Stainton Grove, in Barnard Castle, when it was deemed unsafe
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Cruelty case man given two-year ban
A MAN has been banned from keeping dogs for two years after his lurcher's coat became so unkempt it fell out. Harry Bird, 53, from Johnson Street, Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to his dog, Bossy, after RSPCA
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Job Search 2001
Sales representative, Darlington and Stockton, £200 plus commission and expenses, full time, experience in direct sales required, own transport and good communication skills. Ref: CCP 2866. Hotel receptionist, Teesside Airport, one full time, two part-timers
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Sales administrator, Brompton on Swale, 8am to 5pm or 7am to 4pm Mon-Fri, administration experience in office environment or qualification in administration
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Backing for Tees crossing scheme
PLANS to create a second river crossing in an industrial area have won influential support. A second crossing of the Tees at Middlesbrough is being considered as part of the revised Tees Valley Structure Plan. The road and rail link would most likely
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Threat to old people's homes is rejected
SUGGESTIONS that there is a hidden agenda to close old people's homes have been rejected by a council. Durham county councillor Tony Moore, Independent, said concern is growing following the decision to temporarily close two homes, Essyn House at Easington
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Job Search 2001
MORE details about the jobs below are available from the Employment Service Direct on (0845) 606 0234. PCV driver, Chester-le-Street, £3.70ph plus overtime, 35hrs pw, must have clean current driving licence, experience preferred in similar background,
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Cinema change to bar may go ahead
PLANS to convert a cinema into an Australian theme bar could win planning permission despite strong opposition. Police are among the objectors to the proposals for the conversion of Robins Cinema, which would see another night spot created just a few
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Homes 'hidden agenda' denied
SUGGESTIONS that there is a hidden agenda to close old people's homes have been rejected by Durham County Council. Independent Councillor Tony Moore says concern is growing in the wake of the decision to close temporarily two homes: Essyn House, at Easington
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On course for £10m school plan
Planning consent will pave the way for the building of a £10m Church of England-backed school, on part of Ryhope Golf Course, on the Sunderland side of the boundary with County Durham. The brief for architects was to bring together the best ideas to save
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Villagers assured over beat bobby
POLICE have assured villagers that a new beat officer will be appointed to patrol Chilton. People have expressed concerns about rising levels of youth disorder and anti-social behaviour in the community. The village has not had a beat officer since the
