Archive
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Volunteers honoured
THREE pensioners have been commended for their good work in the community. Jean Little, Betty Heskett and Joan Etherington belong to the fundraising group, the Whitbread Pensioners. The leisure firm has given each of the volunteers a Whitbread Award for
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Plea as teenager fights for his life
EMERGENCY service personnel appealed to parents yesterday to keep tabs on their children during the remainder of the Easter holiday. Their warning came as a teenage boy fought for his life. Adam Mayhew, 15, suffered serious head injuries after falling
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Enthusiasts wage war on history
ONLY a matter of 189 years separates members of the 68th Foot re-enactment group from their worthy originals. The enthusiasts are enduring battlefield conditions on Teesside similar to what the forerunners of the Durham Light Infantry braved in the Peninsula
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Lady Luck is shining on threatened Boro at last
MIDDLESBROUGH'S hopes of avoiding relegation from North Division One received a double boost on Saturday. They won 20-11 at home to Driffield and there was good news in the division above, where Sandal won 37-35 at Walsall to ease fears of two North teams
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Ringing up a old number
THE phone rings. Nothing unusual about that except it's 1877 and such a contraption has barely been invented. On one end of the line, singing Auld Lang Syne, is eminent scientist and inventor of telecommunications equipment, Alexander Graham Bell. On
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Soldiers ready to drum up new recruits
TWO North-East soldiers whose duties have taken them round the world are returning to the region for a recruitment drive. Corporal William Hall, from Darlington, and Private Steven Dowson, from Stockton, will share their experiences of serving in Bosnia
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Youngsters crack egg challenge
YOUNGSTERS had a cracking good time when they took part in an Easter challenge. Skills trainees had to invent machines to carry a hen's egg along a course - powered only by an elastic band. One of the teams not only achieved the task, but set a record
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Angel's safe after gruelling journey
ANGEL, a four-year-old border collie, has landed safely in Australia after a marathon journey, which saw her being shuttled hundreds of miles between airports. It all started when Angel was taken from her former home at Stanhope in Weardale, County Durham
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Seagulls too strong for Quakers
Two quick first half strikes condemned Darlington to their first defeat in eight games at the Withdean Stadium this afternoon. Goals from Richard Carpenter (28) and prolific marksman Bobby Zamora (29) handed the Seagulls all three points to boost their
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'Justify restaurant decision' challenge issued to council
AN MP has stepped into a row over a town hall's handling of plans for a restaurant. Stockton South MP Dari Taylor is adding her voice to demands that Stockton Borough Council explains its U-turn in agreeing to the conversion of a disused funeral parlour
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Exhibition focuses on parish's past
A TOWN's Roman Catholic parishioners are being put in the picture about their past. An exhibition reflecting Catholic life in Middlesbrough over the years is one of a number of fundraising ideas which have been devised to help pay for repair and refurbishment
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Farmers welcome vaccine pledge
FARMERS in the North-East have added their support to calls for a foot-and-mouth vaccination programme. They welcomed last night's promise by Agriculture Minister Nick Brown that he would consult with farmers before pressing ahead with a limited programme
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All work and no play...
WE hope all our readers who are returning to work this morning do so relaxed and refreshed after their Easter break. In many ways, Easter is what Christmas should be. Christmas has become so heavily commercialised and is so weighed down by severe expectations
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Claims about 'terror tots' are rejected by Blair neighbours
POLICE and residents have played down allegations that children as young as three are running riot near Prime Minister Tony Blair's North-East home. It had been claimed that cars and houses were regularly attacked, and elderly people harassed in Trimdon
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Maureen heaves sigh of relief as ordeal in bog on the Tyne ends
Red-faced Maureen Shotton went to spend a penny - and got stuck in a superloo for almost two hours. A huge crowd of onlookers gathered as the drama unfolded on the Quayside in Newcastle. Maureen, 51, of Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, was marooned in the
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Armstrong's double puts Boro in the mire
MIDDLESBROUGH reject Alun Armstrong returned with a vengeance to make Bryan Robson rue the day he sold the Geordie striker to Ipswich. Armstrong, on his first appearance at the Riverside since his £800,000 move in December, struck twice in five minutes
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Men against boys
A SEVERE case of stage fright afflicted the student batsmen yesterday as the curtain went up on Durham University's first-class life. On an utterly cheerless day at the Riverside, the Durham University Centre of Cricketing Excellence seemed a wild misnomer
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Magpies get back on the winning trail at last
NEWCASTLE ended their dismal recent run of form with a hard fought win over an out-of-sorts West Ham side to finally banish any fears of relegation. It was United's first win since January 20, and only their third of a troubled start to 2001, but it was
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Expert's view on care of obese
OVERWEIGHT people have a lean time of it when looking for professional help, according to a nutritional expert. Middlesbrough lecturer and state registered dietician Dr Carolyn Summerbell said there was a lack of standardised treatment for obesity across
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Power company plans takeovers
TWO regional electricity companies could be targeted by a rival as part of a multi-billion pound spending spree. PowerGen is reported to be preparing a bid for Northern Electric and Yorkshire Electricity, among others, following a major cash boost from
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£5.5m formula for success
A £5.5M development is well under way on York's Science Park. Its main aim is providing office accommodation for new and expanding technology-based companies. It marks the continuation of a partnership between Malton companies, S Harrison Construction
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Painter's 11-week rise from beginner to exhibition fame
AN amateur artist is to see her first work exhibited in a gallery after taking up painting just 11 weeks ago. The impressive rise of Meg Childs began when she picked up a brush for the first time less than three months ago. More than 45 paintings, later
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Young high-flyers
YOUNGSTERS wiped the floor with their amazing acrobatics at a national gym festival. County Durham gymnasts somersaulted their way to four gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the recent Sports Acrobatics national finals. The teams of pairs and trios
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Capital misery for Pool
Hartlepool United's promotion hopes were given a further knock after going down 3-1 to Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road. The O's stunned the visitors, excelling into a 3-0 lead with just 18 minutes on the clock played. Captain Dean Smith opened the scoring
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Jenny seeks aid for Africa trip
A STUDENT will mix community work with adventure when she travels to Kenya this summer. Jenny Arrand, 20, from Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk, is studying physics at Cambridge University, and will take part in a three-week trip with the Dorset
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Concern over rise in burial charges
MUSLIMS are appealing to a council not to increase burial fees, which they warn will lead to hardship. Burial is a requirement of the Muslim religion, while cremation is forbidden. A report to Middlesbrough Borough Council says the Muslim community on
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Newly-weds among 30 fleeing big hotel blaze
TWO newly-weds last night described how their wedding night went up in smoke after they were forced to flee their blazing hotel. Terry Allan, 27, and his wife Denise, 24, were among 30 guests evacuated unharmed from the fire in West Rainton, near Durham
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Shipbuilder may keep rival afloat
STRICKEN shipbuilder Cammell Laird could be kept afloat by near neighbour Swan Hunter, it has emerged. Tyneside shipbuilding giant Swan Hunter is examining a bid for parts of the ailing firm, which called in the receivers in the face of £150m in debts
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Magpies end dismal run
Newcastle picked up only their third win of the year with a deserved victory over Harry Redknapp's West Ham. Boosted by the return of Nikos Dabizas after a seven month lay-off Newcastle set about the Hammers right from the start. Carl Cort volleyed home
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Bridleway to become public right of way
A LITTLE used bridleway is to be made a public right of way to encourage more people to use it. Sedgefield Borough Council is hoping to develop the circular bridleway, which runs for about two miles round Woodham, Newton Aycliffe. But only a small section
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Residents have say on park plan
RESIDENTS are to have a say in planning a park for the future. Some parents have declared Glebe Park, Middlesbrough, out of bounds to their children following the discovery of hypodermic needles used by drug addicts. Now, the area is to be transformed
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Hope as Brown says: Jabs next step
A GLIMMER of hope last night emerged among farmers fortunate to have so far escaped foot-and-mouth as Agriculture Minister Nick Brown hinted that a limited programme of vaccinations might be on the way. He promised to consult fully with farmers before
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It's all alien for William Hague
WILLIAM Hague must think that someone, or something up there, doesn't like him. First he's branded a Mekon by his own party chairman on Friday, then, to continue the "little green man" theme, the Labour Party will now portray the Tory Leader as part of
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Robson runs rule on stars
Magpies' boss Bobby Robson has admitted ahead of today's game with West Ham that many of his under-performing stars are playing for their Newcastle places. Some of his squad have just seven games to persuade him they are worthy of futures at St James'
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Rain puts strain on North's brave face
THE region's visitor attractions managed to put a brave face on the twin troubles of the foot-and-mouth crisis and mixed weather over the weekend. Those who had not jetted off to warmer climes appeared mainly to have chosen to shun the countryside for
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Ferry to become floating hospital
NORTH-EAST shipyard workers are to turn a disused ferry into a floating hospital to help people in Africa. The Africa Mercy cost £4m and is undergoing an £8m refit at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Hebburn, South Tyneside, where workers are awaiting a
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Student Stephenson stars in opener
FAST-IMPROVING Darlington teenager Barry Stephenson proved too strong and quick for his older rivals as he scored his first major road race victory in the Bydales 10k, the opening event in New Marske Harriers Grand Prix 2001 series. The Quakers athlete
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Innovation Centre looks on track for full capacity
BUSINESS is booming at the Innovation Centre on Kirk-leatham Business Park, near Redcar. It already has 17 firms in residence, employing 99 people, and hopes are high that occupancy levels will be approaching 100 per cent when the £2.4m facility celebrates
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Magic opportunity for Steven
Steven Hardy, 14, of East Herrington, Sunderland, has been chosen to compete in the Young Magician of the Year competition. Steven, who is a pupil at Sunderland High School, will travel to London's Centre for Magic Arts next Sunday for the national contest
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Police voice fears over proposal for new nightclub
A POLICE force aims to block plans for a nightclub, claiming the development will lead to a rise in crime and road safety dangers. Cleveland Police say there is "already an over-provision of late-night entertainment" in central Middlesbrough. The force
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Reading initiative launched
STORY sacks designed to inspire children to read will be launched next week. The sacks, which have been created by volunteers during the past three months, will be available from the Belmont branch library, in Durham City, from Tuesday, next week. A story
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Shayadi to make Kempton trek pay off for Johnston
Mark Johnston is the type of trainer who will scour the length and breadth of the country if he thinks there's a chance of a winner. This intrepid policy can pay dividends as he makes the long trip from Middleham to Kempton Park this afternoon with Shayadi
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Newly-weds among 30 fleeing big hotel blaze
TWO newly-weds last night described how their wedding night went up in smoke after they were forced to flee their blazing hotel. Terry Allan, 27, and his wife Denise, 24, were among 30 guests evacuated unharmed from the fire in West Rainton, near Durham
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Cash assigned for demolition
MONEY is to be earmarked to complete the purchase of houses in a run-down street - so they can be demolished. Chapel Row in Ferryhill Station is to be completely cleared and landscaped by Sedgefield Borough Council. Most of the houses in the street are
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Driving 300 along road to new career
MORE than 300 unemployed people on Wearside could be on the road to jobs after the launch of an automotive and manufacturing industry training drive. The Automotive Sector Strategic Alliance (Assa) has secured a contract with the employment service to
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Charity seeks fresh blood
THE Newton Aycliffe branch of Help the Aged is looking for new members to sit on its fundraising committee. The committee, which meets once a month in Aycliffe Village, decides how the money should be spent on the town's senior citizens. Anyone interested
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Fingers crossed over Lottery loos bid
IT could soon be all cisterns go for a town which for decades has been trying to get to the seat of a vexed problem - public loos. Anti-social behaviour and vandalism means Yarm's public toilets are closed in the evenings and weekends, much to the frustration
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The Monday Page; The artist, the actor and the lion tamer
CRAMPED, cold and cluttered with paints, pieces of old wood, mouldy books and mounds of cigarette butts, 72-year-old Sheila Mackie shuffles round her caravan-cum-studio situated in a remote Durham wood. But it is from this mess that Sheila creates magic
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Burning questions
Q: CAN you give me some information on the dinosaur fish that was discovered a few years ago? I cannot remember its name, but I believe it is human-sized and was thought to be extinct. - C Parker, Peterlee. A: THE creature is called a coelacanth and,
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Brave face in the rain
THE region's visitor attractions managed to put a brave face on the twin troubles of the foot-and-mouth crisis and mixed weather over the weekend. Those who had not jetted off to warmer climes appeared mainly to have chosen to shun the countryside for
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Inquiry follows blaze at abattoir
A POSSIBLE arson attack is being investigated at an abattoir at the centre of a recent foot-and-mouth scare. About 200 bales of straw were destroyed in a blaze at the Stockton Butchers Slaughterhouse Company site, on the edge of the Teesside town. The
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Residents seek answers on burial pit safety
VILLAGERS campaigning against a mass burial pit hope a liaison group will help them find the answers they demand. At a meeting between protestors and councillors in Tow Law, County Durham, it was decided to form a panel including villagers and councillors
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Comment from the Northern Echo; Learning from the tragedy
IT is hard to imagine that the Government had a coherent disaster plan in place before the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Two months into the crisis - and with suspicion rife that the authorities knew of a potential outbreak long before it became
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What's Hot and What's Not
LOOKING GOOD: Stripes are really in this season with everyone going for the nautical look, so get down the High Street and start hunting. FLY TO THE MOON: Forget Spain, American or the South of France, people in the know are going into space on their
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The water's gone but not the pain
FAMILIES across the region are still facing a life of misery - five months after the worst flooding in decades forced hundreds of people out of their homes. Dozens of residents of flood-hit communities remain uncertain about when they can return to their
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£8m low-cost homes scheme announced
AN £8m housing association scheme will provide more than 100 homes during the next year. The Nomad Housing Group is to get Government grants of almost £3.7m to build homes for rent or low-cost ownership. The grants, from the Housing Corporation, will
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More lambs are killed in latest 'beast' attack
THE mystery beast which has slaughtered scores of lambs in the past few weeks and left a farmer fearing for his livelihood has struck again. Police are investigating the spate of attacks, which all occurred at night on a County Durham farm. Last night
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Attracted to all creatures slimy and scaly . . .
CREEPY-CRAWLIES and all things slimy and scaly fascinated visitors to an unusual exhibition yesterday. The annual creepy-crawly fair at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, in County Durham, included displays of spiders, snakes, lizards and stick insects.
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Double blow ends Quakers' revival
Two goals inside a minute ended Darlington's six-game unbeaten run at promoted Brighton yesterday afternoon. But Gary Bennett's men so nearly spoiled the promotion party with a battling display which was only ruined by some bad luck and some loose finishing
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European dream fades further for Reid's men
SUNDERLAND'S European dream is turning into a nightmare after a second Easter defeat, this time at the hands of relegation-haunted Coventry City at Highfield Road. The Wearsiders had Slovakian central defender Stanislav Varga sent off for the second time
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St George's Day service
Nearly 300 scouts will be celebrating their patron saint this weekend. Bishop Auckland Scout District will hold its St George's Day service at Ferryhill on Sunday, when Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Venture Scouts from South Durham, will gather together.
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Hear all sides
STEVE THOBURN WHEN I heard that Sunderland market trader Steve Thoburn had been found guilty of selling a pound of bananas, I couldn't believe it. The judge gave his reason for his verdict that ever since Edward Heath took us into the Common Market, as
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Former factory worker finds medicine course is the right prescription
AFTER working in a factory producing snacks, a mother-of-three could soon get her teeth into a career in medicine. Allison Corbett, 34, of Hartlepool, is awaiting the results of her final examinations, after taking a foundation programme in bio-medical
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Hope for Gospels' return
A CAMPAIGN to have the treasured Lindisfarne Gospels returned to their spiritual home has taken a step forward. Culture Minister Alan Howarth has told Berwick MP Alan Beith that the illuminated manuscript could eventually be put on show at its island
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Respects paid to Wilf on Anniversary of his death
A FLORAL tribute to soccer legend Wilf Mannion marks the first anniversary of his death. The wreath, laid by Middlesbrough Football Club, where the Golden Boy spent his heyday, lies at the foot of his statue, at the Riverside Stadium. While no formal
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Tree survives fire attack
FIREFIGHTERS had a knotty problem to solve when they were called to extinguish a blaze in a tree. Youths are suspected of starting the fire in an old ash tree in South Park, Darlington, yesterday. The tree, which stands about 40ft high, is well established
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Demolition proposal brings joy
FLATS on a run-down council estate are to be demolished, to the delight of a residents' group. Sedgefield Borough Council, in County Durham, has announced a programme of demolitions, which is part of a strategy to reduce the high number of empty properties
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Doormen can learn their trade in class
Club doormen can now learn their trade in the classroom. Gone are the days when all a doorman needed was an intimidating stare, now they can learn how to diffuse difficult situations at a specially run course, in Teesdale. Bishop Auckland College's training
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The Monday Poem
The Donkey Have you ever felt the weight of Christ? I have - 'twas light as air, The warmth of Him was wonderful - knowing He was there. I carried my precious burden As a basket filled with eggs. My body filled with ecstasy As if I had no legs. They strew
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Replacement schools take step nearer
FOUR new primary schools are to be built in North Yorkshire following a successful four-year project by county council officers. Officers from education, financial services, legal services and building design and management have worked together since
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Armstrong makes winning return
Ipswich striker Alun Armstrong returned to haunt beleagured Boro with two second half goals to leave the Teessiders deep in the relegation mire. Offloaded by Boro boss Bryan Robson earlier in the season for just £500,000, Armstrong heaped the pressure
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Charity fundraisers honoured
A CHARITY has been honoured for its remarkable fundraising efforts. Darlington and District Federation of Townswomen's Guilds, has raised just over £7,300 for Save the Children over the past 18 months. To recognise the achievement, chairman Elsie Robinson
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Congregation packs cathedral for easter service
HUNDREDS of people packed into Durham Cathedral yesterday for an Easter service, pictured. The traditional sermon was delivered by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull. Meanwhile, his colleague, the Archbishop of York, offered a message
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Council opposes pensioners' bungalows on 'village green'
A PARISH council is fighting plans to build pensioners' bungalows on its unofficial village green. Pittington Parish Council will urge Durham City Council to refuse planning permission for the scheme, put forward by Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association
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Daniel aims to have coal title in the bag
IT may not be one of the most famous sporting events on the planet, but Daniel Wright will still be aiming to become a world champion today. The York coalman is hoping to build on an unexpected good performance in last year's World Coal Carrying Championships
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Fresh hope for ex-pitman, 90, in cash claim
ONE of the North-East's oldest lung compensation claimants has been given fresh hope in his fight for justice. Former pitman John Palmer, who will be 91 next week, was thought ineligible to make a claim because of the years he spent towards the end of
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Meeting to address future of youngsters
A PUBLIC meeting about the future of education services for children and young people with visual impairment is to be held. The meeting at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, on Tuesday, May 1, has been organised by the RNIB, in response to a Government
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Couple aim to see each other by running pub
FED up of passing like ships in the night, a husband and wife have packed in their jobs as nurse and tour bus driver to take over a pub. Bob Wilson has spent the last 30 years working away from home as a long distance driver, during which time he saw
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First-class derby launches Durham's season
IT will be another historic day for Durham cricket today when the university's inaugural first-class match gets underway at the Riverside. Nine years after the county team began first-class life, they have the opportunity of a derby match, with the Durham
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Happy memories of seven sisters
A FAMILY of seven sisters are to be remembered at their favourite childhood haunt. Beth, Isabella, Maud, Susan, Ellen, Molly and Francis Law lived in Spennymoor at the beginning of the last century, in the now demolished Park Terrace. They lived next
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Groups invited to join Internet history project
A COUNCIL is asking people to help make history by taking part in an Internet project. Ideas are being invited from community groups, organisations and societies in Gateshead, who would like to take part in the project. The Tomorrow's History project
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Female trickster steals wallet
POLICE are looking for two bogus officials operating in the Wrekenton area of Gateshead. A woman claiming to be from social services stole a wallet containing a large amount of money from an 80-year-old in Easington Avenue, after tricking her way into
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Former Roker hero is mourned
SCOTTISH football legend Jim Baxter, who played for Sunderland in the 1960s, died over the weekend after a three-month battle with cancer. He was 61. Slim Jim, as Baxter was then known, was rated one of the finest wing-halfs in world football at his peak
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Worshippers appeal for help to save chapel spire
A TINY Methodist community in the north Pennines is battling to preserve a rare piece of church architecture. The spire on the 110-year-old Bainbridge Memorial Chapel, at Eastgate, in Weardale, is one of the few to be erected on a Methodist chapel, in
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Small museum shows the big picture offered by decades of censuses
A FASCINATING insight into the world of census-taking in the 1800s has gone on show at one of the North-East's smallest museums. It has taken retired doctor John Backhouse ten years to put together six volumes of the censuses covering Weardale, in County
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Bishop attacks soap rape scene
A FORMER Bishop of Durham has condemned a Coronation Street rape storyline. The Right Reverend David Jenkins, who now lives in Cotherstone, near Barnard Castle, described the story as "shocking, pathetic and obscene". The rape of Toyah Battersby was shown
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Egg-cellent fun
A SPOT of Easter egg-jarping yesterday helped to lift the gloom imposed on a farming community by the foot-and-mouth crisis More than 40 people entered the competition, which has been held at the Cross Keys pub, at Eastgate, in Weardale, County Durham
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Chinese passport gave me my life
IF it was not for an oversized Chinese passport a North-East man might never have been born. James Gilman's father, also James, was an intelligence officer working in China in 1927, when the Communist Party was trying to seize power from the country's
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Conman takes £240 - and leaves a squirrel
POLICE are hunting a conniving thief who appears to have a way with animals. A teenager carrying a young squirrel in his hands tricked his way into a pensioner's home on the pretext he needed to telephone the RSPCA. He left, leaving his victim with the
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Letters
KYOTO AFTER reading your editorial comment (Echo, Mar 30) I thought how strange it is that, as religious observance declines, the prophet of doom arises to remind us of the day of destruction and requests us not to follow "the filthy path to prosperity
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Help for firms in country
WITH the foot-and-mouth epidemic expected to continue into the summer, hundreds of rural County Durham businesses are struggling to cope. A4E's Business Link County Durham is aware of the difficulties and is committed to providing support for any companies
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Fears for value of property near site
RESIDENTS fighting a new retail and office development in Darlington fear the value of their properties could be slashed if it goes ahead. Darlington Borough Council looks set to grant approval for the two storey building with 78 car parking spaces, in
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The dubious croupier who took writing for a spin
MARGARET was never born to be a croupier. She would often cause quite a stir when she'd clean up all the wrong numbers from the roulette table and have gamblers gasping as cards went flying across the room. Most of her gaffes were because croupier-turned-author
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'Stake your claim' call as Lotto rules change
COMMUNITY groups across North Yorkshire are being urged to stake their claim for a share of National Lottery cash after a shake-up of the grants system. Changes to the procedure for applying for funding have been made, and officials hope they have made
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We'll bounce back with a capital show - Lormor
HARTLEPOOL United striker Anth Lormor vowed his side will bounce back from Saturday's defeat against Hull when they take on Leyton Orient this afternoon. Pool make the Easter Monday trip to London to face a team level on points, with a superior goal difference
