Archive
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Plan to build on open land is met by protest
A PARISH council and local residents are protesting over plans to build two homes on open land on the fringe of Masham, near Ripon. Masham Parish Council are objecting about lack of parking in the area near the planned development site, at Rodney Terrace
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Get away from it all, now
With the bad weather, the foot-and-mouth crisis and a possible election on the way, perhaps it's time to leave the country. Why not click on a holiday? There are plenty of bargains on the World Wide Web and just about all the major travel companies offer
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Explorer backs effort to help flycatcher
A CAMPAIGN to secure the future of one of the country's most rapidly declining migratory birds has received the backing of North-East polar explorer Robert Swan. During the launch of the campaign to help increase the number of spotted flycatchers in County
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Friends pay tribute to bombing raids hero
A FORMER aircraft engineer who flew on massed bombing missions over Berlin and Nuremburg has died aged 84. Family and friends packed into Sedgefield Methodist Church earlier this week to pay their last respects to John Petch. Mr Petch, of Hadleigh Close
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Mysteries of the iron mining world open up to public
DAY trippers will find a mine of information in east Cleveland next week. The Tom Leonard Mining Museum at Skinningrove is reopening for its summer season after being closed for the winter. A new team of volunteer guides has been trained to give visitors
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Ben's on the right road with staff donation
BUS company workers have proved to be just the ticket with parents struggling to unlock the autistic world of their child. Ben Collins, aged four, is making progress in his development thanks to an American therapy programme, which has included two visits
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Golfers en-route for change
GOLFERS are to get a new look golf course because of a road scheme on the Yorkshire coast. The Scarborough to Lebberston bypass, on the busy A165 holiday road between Scarborough and Filey, will cut through part of the South Cliff Golf Club in Filey Road
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School reunion date set
GRAMMAR school old girls organising a reunion have set a date in May. Former classmates at Bishop Auckland Girls Grammar School are travelling from around the globe to meet up after almost 50 years. Girls who all started at the school in 1949 have been
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In The Picture
As a government policy, it's a vote-catcher on a par with Anne Robinson standing for the Welsh Assembly. No politician would dare be the one to turn off the nation's TV sets and leave viewers all over the country with blank screens. The situation is not
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Unrest over park does not halt project
UNREST over a new fence and seat at a Richmond play area has not been enough to convince district councillors to call off the project. Residents living near the park at Pilmoor Hill, were claiming children hardly use the facilities. Instead it has become
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Pardon campaign 'a tribute to Tom'
SUPPORTERS of a long crusade to rewrite British military history have vowed to fight on as a tribute to a key campaigner who has lost his battle with cancer. Tom Stones argued tirelessly for a posthumous pardon for 306 soldiers, including 87 from Northern
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Furniture firm boss out of a job
THE boss of a furniture firm which sparked one of Britain's longest running industrial disputes is himself out of a job. David Williams has resigned as chief executive of Enodis, parent company of kitchen firm Magnet, after falling sales. Mr Williams
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Foot-and-mouth delays contest
THE judging of a competition that promotes communal pride in villages and hamlets has been put back because of foot-and-mouth. The judges of County Durham Tidy Village Competition were to begin touring the 85 entrants in May, but that has been postponed
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Project to conserve past for the future
A consultation programme is to take place in an effort to ensure the past is preserved for the future. It will allow the public to have their say on a new strategy produced by North Yorkshire County Council, with the aim of conserving the natural and
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Councillor bids to halt parish poll
AN independent councillor has written to the Harrogate borough's returning officer, urging him to rule against a bid for a parish poll on selective education, in Ripon. More than ten people voted for a referendum on the issue at the city council's annual
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Farmers urged to support vaccine
MINISTERS launched a concerted drive last night to get the farming industry onside ahead of a likely decision to use vaccination as a "firebreak" against foot-and-mouth disease. The Prime Minister focused on the issue during a 90-minute meeting with National
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Jilted lover flashed topless picture to his ex's pupils
A JILTED lover flashed a topless picture of his ex-girlfriend to boys at the school where she was teaching. Yesterday, Sunderland magistrates heard that Marc Bastholm pursued a campaign of intimidation against her after they split in January. Paul Power
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Former employee 'regretted note'
A MAN accused of assaulting his former bosses in a pub, has told a court he regretted writing "a childish" note about one of them. Stephen Hayward, 37, of Northallerton Road, Brompton in Northallerton is accused of assaulting Mark and Shelia Flintoft
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Owen can be Shear magic insists Sven
Sven-Goran Eriksson has backed Michael Owen's bid to emulate Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer as the striker who can shoulder the burden of England's goalscoring needs. Andy Cole's first international goal may have seized the immediate headlines after England's
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Boro fail in audacious bid for Juninho
MIDDLESBROUGH have failed in a bid to bring crowd favourite Juninho back to Teesside for a third time. The 28-year-old Brazilian is currently in his homeland after being loaned by Atletico Madrid to Vasco da Gama, where he has recaptured his old form
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Labour to give North vote on devolution
THE North-East has been given the clearest hint yet that it will get the chance to vote on a regional assembly within the lifetime of the next Parliament. Former Cabinet minister and key Labour insider Peter Mandelson will today throw his support behind
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Student 'acted out play' in siege
A CRAZED drama student who held the sister of actor Jimmy Nail hostage at gunpoint, has been put on probation. Newcastle Crown Court had heard Christopher David snapped when no one would listen to his ideas for a play, so he started to act out the plot
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Hick can battle back into team - Graveney
Graeme Hick, dropped ten times by England and now omitted from the elite Test dozen, can still fight his way back into international contention. England chairman of selectors David Graveney yesterday refused to rule out any candidates when he named the
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Fines warning over truancy
PARENTS in Hartlepool are being warned they risk incurring stiff financial penalties if their children do not attend school. The warning has been issued following the Government's recent introduction of a maximum £2,500 fine, and up to three months' imprisonment
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By gum -- acceptable plaque at dental surgery
A VISIT to the dentist is less of a trauma at a village practice, thanks to Joanne Hewitson. She is a familiar face for many of the 4,087 patients on the register of dental practitioner Stuart Cox, in Coxhoe, County Durham. Ms Hewitson, 23, who lives
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Councillor calls for voting delay
A County councillor has urged the Government to postpone the local council elections. Weardale councillor John Shuttleworth wants the May 3 vote postponed and has written to all farms in his Durham County and Wear Valley wards, offering support. He said
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Radio joker's Savage ploy gets Underwood
THE radio presenter who made national headlines last weekend by attempting one wind-up too many on England soccer boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has turned his attention to the North-East and former England rugby star Tony Underwood. Tony Horne is launching
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Performance that's bound to impress
I CONSIDER myself a bit of a film buff and so I watched the Oscars ceremony over the weekend. In fact, I enjoyed it - you can't beat a bit of showbiz and glamour. But, as the stars arrived at five minute intervals choreographed to ensure they all received
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Last chance to question MP
READERS have until the end of today to ask former Cabinet minister Peter Mandelson any questions they may have. The former Northern Ireland Secretary launched The Northern Echo's Interview-e Internet feature last week. Since the launch, readers have been
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Trading standards team win accolade for quality of legal advice
AN award-winning consumer watchdog team has added another accolade to its collection. The trading standards consumer advice service operated by North Yorkshire County Council has been awarded the Government's quality mark for legal advice services. The
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fundraising youngsters -kidnap' beat bobby
CHILDREN found an ingenious way to raise money for nursery equipment - "kidnapping" their beat bobby and holding him to ransom. PC Kevin Woodcock got more than he bargained for when he promised to visit a sponsored sing-song at Evenwood Primary School
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Better service promised in homes transfer
TENANTS have been promised repairs and improvements after their council landlord gave up control of their homes. Labour-run Sunderland City Council has completed the transfer of its 36,800 houses, flats and bungalows - worth £200m - to a specially-formed
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Theatre company boss goes quits
Arts chief Mandy Stewart is quitting as executive director of Northern Stage, in Newcastle, after seven years. She is to take charge of Leicester's Haymarket Theatre. She leaves Northern Stage in a healthy state - the company has secured extra investment
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Mum At Large
DON'T talk to me about Mother's Day. I'm thinking of disowning Senior Son. He forgot all about it. Forget? How could anyone FORGET? For months the shops have been full of cards, chocolates, jumpers, jewellery, vouchers for make-overs and adventure holidays
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Yobs mount stone-throwing attack on bus
A BUS was badly damaged in an attack by a gang of stone-throwing youths. The Stagecoach bus came under attack at 4.20pm on Tuesday, at the junction of Winterbottom Avenue and Myers Avenue in Hartlepool. A boy stepped in front of the bus to slow it down
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Echo helps in search for village memories
A PLEA for information about a village has reached a worldwide audience, thanks to The Northern Echo. Author Bill Lees, who is trying to write the first history of No Place, near Stanley, was amazed to hear from readers from as far afield as the US and
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Warning issued over conwoman
POLICE and Hartlepool Borough Council are warning people about bogus callers after a conwoman stole jewellery from a pensioner. The woman, posing as a council official, tricked her way into the woman's home in Grosvenor Gardens, Hartlepool at 4.40pm on
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Post enables public to enjoy nature's music
THE public can to listen to the sound of the pouring rain, and other natural phenomena, at a project which opened this week. Environmentalists and artists unveiled a "listening post" at an award winning wetland at Quaking Houses, near Stanley. The post
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Pupils choose outfit fit for visiting the queen
BUDDING young fashion designers were determined that their teacher would be well-dressed when she met the Queen. Youngsters at Abbey Junior School, Darlington, were asked to design an outfit for Judith Kent to wear when she received her MBE this week.
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Shoptalk
SEVEN women, five shops, three floors, all under one roof...In these days when the same big names dominate every High Street in the country, the businesses in 36 Priestgate - opposite the King's Head in Darlington - make a refreshing change. Not that
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Club is suffering due to vandals
A football club may kick out plans to invest in its ground if it continues to be the target of repeated acts of wanton vandalism. Not for the first time, Northern League's Seaham Redstar, in east Durham, were on the brink of cancelling a game at the weekend
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Merger boosts financial teams
TWO firms of financial advisors have merged in Darlington. BIB (Darlington) will be further strengthened by the merger with Kent Finance. All staff from Kent Finance, including Nigel Kent and Kevin McKeown, have made the move from Coniscliffe Road to
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It could be risky to hedge your bets
With the ISA sales season well under way the Financial Services Authority has issued a timely warning to investors to be aware of the potential risks associated with hedge funds. Hedge funds gained fame and notoriety following George Soros's assault on
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Appeal to aid autistic boy
A FAMILY are moving closer to their goal of getting help for their autistic son. Sandra and David Baker, from Bishop Auckland, want to take Ryan, two, to the Options Institute, in Massachusetts, which offers development programmes for autistic children
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Casualty display a hit
CASUALTY equipment devised by a North-East hospital and being developed by a manufacturer in the region, will soon be available to the nation's healthcare industry. The new accident and emergency (A&E) display unit was developed by the Regional Medical
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Residents stop drug centre proposal
NEW premises are being sought for a drug treatment centre after residents objected to a planned town centre site. Hartlepool's Drug Action Team (Dat) had applied to Hartlepool Borough Council for planning permission to turn offices in Raby Road into a
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Creme Eggs blockade
FRENCH officials have halted a North-East mercy mission - after discovering its cargo contained 500 Cadbury's Creme Eggs. Customs authorities say the eggs - packed among 44 tonnes of essential supplies for Romanian orphanages - could risk spreading foot-and-mouth
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Countless murders down, Jack left only one unsolved
AS a piece of police history, the grim catalogue of crime charting the 40-year career of one of the North's top detectives speaks volumes. The story of retired Chief Superintendent Jack Collinson, who died last weekend, is told in the pile of papers he
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Quakers boss Bennett ready to make French connection
Darlington manager Gary Bennett could give another Frenchman his debut in tomorrow's home game against promotion-chasing Leyton Orient. After giving Alex Jeannin and Olivier Bernard their first taste of English football in the last fortnight, Bennett
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Primarosa could bring worthwhile rewards
ALL-WEATHER racing has without doubt had its critics in the past, but I shudder to think what state the sport would be in now but for the three sand tracks at Wolverhampton, Lingfield, and Southwell over the past few weeks. Thankfully the area around
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Footballer's lifetime ban for breaking jaw of match referee
A FOOTBALLER has been banned from playing for life after punching a referee and smashing his jaw.. Yesterday, Philip Helmrich, 20, was also ordered to pay £2,000 compensation and carry out 240 hours community service, for causing grievous bodily harm
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Saved by a whisker and the love of robert
A DOG-LOVER has embarked on a one-man mission to save unwanted canines from being put down. Unwanted and stray dogs which find themselves at Waterfall Kennels in Guisborough have just one week to find their owners, or a new home, or else they are destroyed
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Week promotes healthy eating
YOUNGSTERS are being urged to eat more healthily and have fun at the same time. Several events have been lined up by the school dinners service in Sunderland to mark National School Meals Week, which starts on Monday. These include competitions to design
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Mallon defiant on speaking at public forums
SUSPENDED supercop Ray Mallon has angered his bosses by speaking out. The detective superintendent has received a written warning from Cleveland Police to take care in what he says after agreeing to appear at three public meetings with Middlesbrough South
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Silver lining to Bootle blow
CONDOM manufacturer SSL International is expanding its County Durham factory, even before it officially opens for business. The £12m project at Whitehouse Industrial Park had been planned to go on stream in June, creating 150 jobs. Now a reorganisation
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Trio aim for the sky in bid to help toddler
A COMMUNITY hopes to send a toddler with cancer to Disneyland. Katie-Leigh Tones, two, from Crook, County Durham, has tumours in her stomach and neck, and cancerous cells in her bone marrow. The youngster has had intense chemotherapy since she was diagnosed
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WI members present jewels to charity
WOMEN'S Institute members willingly handed over sackfuls of jewels to help to keep a heart research charity ticking. The haul of gems was donated by member clubs, which make up the Durham County Federation of Women's Institutes, at their spring council
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Course on coping with a disaster
EMERGENCY services staff are attending the first North-East course on how to manage major incidents and disasters. Suresh Wadhwani, accident and emergency consultant at North Tees General Hospital is running the programme alongside postgraduate manger
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Online payroll service
AN accountant has launched an online service offering businesses their own personal payroll system. Wagemail.co.uk is thought to be the first service of its kind in the UK, and is headed by Garry Burns, who used his 12 years in accounting, to design it
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Search for ID parade volunteers
POLICE are looking for people to take part in identification parades in Darlington. Darlington police used to have a computer database of about 600 people who volunteered for parades. But this figure has dropped to 400, and officers say that depending
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Ministry gives horse owner the runaround
A HORSE owner says he has been unable to obtain advice from the Ministry of Agriculture on how to feed his animals. The man, who does not want to be named, keeps four horses in fields near the A68 at Burtree, near Darlington. He usually gets his feed
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Jobs to go in M&S chief's recovery plan
TROUBLED high-street chain Marks & Spencer is to cut up to 4,390 jobs in a bid to revive its fortunes. The retailer, which has fallen dramatically from grace during the past two years, is closing its 38 mainland European stores and selling its two
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Staff gain award for help given to patients
STAFF working with older people with mental health problems have been praised for the quality of their efforts for the patients. Workers at the Derwent Clinic, in Shotley Bridge Hospital, have become the first unit in County Durham to be awarded Practice
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Casualty watch reveals long waits
PATIENTS faced four or five hour waits for treatment in North-East hospitals, according to the UK's last ever nationwide casualty watch. A snapshot of waiting times in the region's hospital accident and emergency units showed that some patients faced
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Mother let youths use home as safe house for stolen gear
A MOTHER of four allowed neighbourhood children to use her home as a safe house for stolen goods, a court heard yesterday. Caroline Dodsworth, 30, was living in Melsonby Crescent, Darlington, in August last year. Yesterday, at Teesside Crown Court, she
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Good Knights
NIGER - pronounced, more or less, Nee-zhair - is reckoned the poorest non-warring country in the world. The average life expectancy is 43 for men and 41 for women, a child under five dies every four minutes, the literacy rate is 21 per cent - the lowest
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Leukaemia projects win £135,000 research grant
SCIENTISTS in the North-East will be placing the engine room of the human body's cells, the mitochondria, under the microscope in groundbreaking research into blood cancers. Experts at Newcastle University believe the DNA found there will contain essential
