Archive
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A grim reminder at the end of the street
pensioners are appalled at plans to build a funeral parlour at the end of their street. Residents of an old people's home, and a street of bungalows for the elderly have collected a protest petition. The pensioners, who live in South Stanley, County Durham
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TA soldiers off to Romania
MORE than 300 Territorial Army soldiers from the North-East will fly to Romania at the end of the month to build bridges between East and West. The visit will be made by the Tyne Tees Regiment, which is based in Durham and has companies in Ashington,
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Bid to house students could improve life for residents
A COUNCIL has teamed up with a college for a £70,000 revamp of a block of flats. District of Easington Council is working with East Durham and Houghall Community College to redevelop the flats in Fulwell Road, Peterlee. Both organisations hope the renovation
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Fitting tribute
A memorial garden for servicemen shot for desertion or cowardice during the First World War was opened today. The moving memorial is located at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffs. At the centre of the garden is a 10ft-high
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United decide site for youth
NEWCASTLE United has announced an alternative site for the club's proposed youth academy. The club said work will start soon at the Darsley Park sports ground, in Benton, Newcastle, and that the academy will be up and running there by September. Earlier
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Workers can only grieve as closure marks end of an era
THE end of an era for a doomed steel mill came yesterday when the last metal rolled from its production line. When senior roller Billy McQuade rolled out the last piece of steel at the Corus coil plate mill in Lackenby on Teesside, it signalled the end
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Car theft victim had ear bitten off
A FATHER-OF-THREE had his ear bitten off after chasing a thief who was stealing his car, a court heard. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Douglas McLoughlin ran after a man spotted pushing his car along the street outside his home. He scuffled with the
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Subway's days numbered
PLANS to close a subway in a North-East shopping centre are set to be approved. As part of a major redevelopment of Hartlepool town centre, developers want to close the subway under Stockton Road, demolish the Clandsman and Shopmobility units and extend
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Open verdict on pensioner's death
A CORONER has returned an open verdict on the death of a pensioner, found dead in a river in February this year. An inquest in Richmond, North Yorkshire, was told 65-year-old retired boilerman, Thomas Richardson, left his house on Colburn's Grange Road
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Eight in court to face drugs charges
EIGHT people have appeared in court on charges of supplying drugs. The defendants, from Ferryhill and Spennymoor, County Durham, appeared before Sedgefield magistrates yesterday. All are accused of drugs offences, including supplying heroin. Six of the
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Magpies are handed Intertoto place
NEWCASTLE United's sun-soaked stars were last night stunned to learn they must cut short their summer holidays after UEFA handed them a shock Intertoto Cup reprieve. United, who missed out on a place in the competition a fortnight ago through the fairplay
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Cadets show their Nelson spirit
SEA cadets on Teesside are showing the Nelson spirit and refusing to be beaten by vandals. Window-smashing hooligans and cellar flooding problems drove the youngsters out of their Middlesbrough base more than a year ago. Determined not to be beaten, the
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Mystery remains over death of soldier
MYSTERY still surrounds the death of a soldier, found hanged in his barrack block. Paul Andrew Dennison, 18 - known to his friends as Andrew - was days away from a medical discharge from the Army. An inquest in Richmond, North Yorkshire, was told doctors
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Death of Balaclava Boy 'an accident'
A NOTORIOUS tearaway choked on a heroin-filled condom as police officers accused him of "play-acting", an inquest heard. But yesterday, after an eight-day hearing, a jury decided that the death of 18-year-old Gareth Brogden - once dubbed Balaclava Boy
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Subway's days numbered
PLANS to close a subway in a North-East shopping centre are set to be approved. As part of a major redevelopment of Hartlepool town centre, developers want to close the subway under Stockton Road, demolish the Clandsman and Shopmobility units and extend
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Smoke alarm warning follows death blaze
A SMOKE alarm could have prevented a blaze that killed one boy and left his younger brother fighting for his life, say fire officers. The tight-knit community of Spennymoor, County Durham, is still reeling from the fire that gutted the bedroom where Carl
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Tributes to pioneer in patient care
FRIENDS and former colleagues of a pioneering GP, who has died aged 78, have described him as a compassionate and visionary doctor who played a key role in revolutionising patient care. Dr Harry Dawes practised in the Bishop Auckland area for nearly 40
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Hear All Sides
Letters from The Northern Echo FOOT-AND-MOUTH THANKS again Harry Mead (Echo, June 13) for speaking out for the vaccination of livestock. Much of the recent foot-and-mouth publicity has, understandably, been focused on new cases and the plight and fight
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Theatre on road to teach safety
CHILDREN are being taught vital road safety lessons in a fun way thanks to a theatre programme. S'Cool to be Safe is touring schools in Sunderland to make youngsters more aware of the dangers that traffic poses to them. The 90-minute production is a participatory
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Good garages guide gets cash backing
TRADING standards officers have won Government funding to set up a Good Garage Guide. Consumer Affairs Minister, Melanie Johnson, announced the success of a bid for the Guide, by the five Tees Valley authorities, at a trading standards conference in Cardiff
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Town and country work together
AN army of volunteers have banded together to bring a piece of the countryside into the heart of urban Consett after receiving grants of nearly £9,500. Bridge Hill Residents Association, in Consett, has been working to transform an area of wasteland into
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Quayside plan unveiled
PLANS have been unveiled for a £35m development on Newcastle's Quayside. The scheme, which will transform the Broad Chare area, will include office space and housing, and could create up to 2,000 jobs. Silverlink Property Developments was appointed to
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New council leader announces high hopes for county
THE newly-elected leader of Durham County Council hopes to raise the authority's profile regionally and nationally. Ken Manton, councillor for Sedgefield, was yesterday confirmed as the successor to Don Robson, who retired at the last election. He said
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Pub keeps up old tradition
A PUB landlord will be kindling a log fire next week to mark Midsummer's Day. Sam Kidd, landlord of the Old Farmhouse, in Yarm Road, Darlington, is encouraging customers to join the fun by appealing for them to reveal Midsummer traditions of their own
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Killing of cat leaves couple grief-stricken
AN animal-loving couple have told of their anguish after their beloved cat was killed near their home. Graham and Claire Bartlett were left distraught by the death of four-year-old Claude, which was shot with an air weapon in daylight. The animal left
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It's a tough job, but I can cope
EVERYONE seems to think that the strain of running UK Ltd. has told on the MP for Sedgefield, Tony Blair. After four years at No. 10, the Prime Minister has visibly aged, going from the boyish new kid on the block, to a greying statesman. While his ability
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How could thieves be so heartless?
A COUPLE whose two-year-old child died after being badly scalded have suffered further heartbreak. Kelly Dunn and Anthony Kirtley are still trying to come to terms with the death of their daughter Chloe in April. But their grief has been compounded after
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Aide accuser 'himself a sex offender'
A YOUNG man who accused an aide of Prime Minister Tony Blair of sexual abuse is himself a sex offender, a court heard yesterday. Martyn Locklin, 41, a senior Labour councillor in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency, faces three counts of indecent assault
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Seventh heaven for nursery chain
A NORTH-EAST nursery chain has grown to become the seventh largest in the country. Just Learning, which opened its first nursery in Darlington, in 1996, now operates 21 the UK, with three more under development and a further three awaiting planning permission
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Print firm's award success proves that it has the golden touch
A NORTH-East printer has won a national award. The firm, simpsongroup, of Washington, Wearside, was presented with the gold award in the poster category of this year's Screen Printing Association (SPA) awards. The competition was judged by a panel of
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McClaren Gunning for perfect start
New Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren will begin his managerial career with a home game against Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. Last year's Premiership runners-up visit the Riverside Stadium on 18 August, where they are likely to hand debuts to summer signings
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'Have you got the right woman?'
AS A little girl, Dela Smith would carefully line up her toys before her and set to work. It was time for school. Her inanimate pupils would stare blankly back at her as she taught them, but their soulless expressions didn't deter the youngster who harboured
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Athletes ready for the final hurdle
A SCHOOL'S athletics team is gearing up for the finals of a national competition. The junior boys team from Laurence Jackson School, in Guisborough, beat teams from across the region to become the Northern winners at a competition held at Gateshead Stadium
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Police lay in wait in chip shop
UNDERCOVER police lay in wait in a back room at a village fish and chip shop after regular reports of late night disorder, a court heard. Within 40 minutes of the two officers taking up position, at M & M Fisheries, in North Guards, Whitburn, near
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Fiction with more than ring of truth for Jessica
YOUNG Jessica Archer is well aware of the devastating impact the foot-and-mouth outbreak has had on young farming families. The 12-year-old was helpless to prevent her pet cows, Flower and Cheddar, being destroyed along with the rest of her family's herd
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Transport union warns of strike
TRAIN drivers look set to strike after a last-ditch bid from Metro bosses to stall an industrial action ballot appeared to have failed last night. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) Union says it will today ballot its members on strike action on the
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Arrests made
THREE men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Teesside teenager. The men, aged 19, 20 and 29, were today being questioned by Cleveland police over the death of 19-year-old Wayne Bircham. They were arrested following early morning raids
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Arrests made
THREE men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a Teesside teenager. The men, aged 19, 20 and 29, were today being questioned by Cleveland police over the death of 19-year-old Wayne Bircham. They were arrested following early morning raids
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Samaritans launches appeal for volunteers
The Samaritans in Darlington has launched an appeal for listeners and people to help with fundraising activities. The group recently held an open day at its centre in Woodland Road to try to attract potential recruits. The branch now plans to hold another
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Thrills turn to terror on white-knuckle ride
A SAFETY investigation was under way last night into a rollercoaster accident at one of the region's most popular tourist attractions, after a woman was left fighting for her life. The 20-year-old, who is thought to have been thrown from a car on the
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Deal halts strike on East Coast line
A THREATENED rail strike has been called off only days before it was due to cause disruption on the East Coast mainline. Talks between GNER and the Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT) over the safety role of guards ended in agreement yesterday. The
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Young vandals halt bus service
ESTATE residents are to lose a night-time bus service because vandals as young as six have been throwing stones at vehicles. Arriva made the decision to stop running its 9/90 service along Weardale Drive, on Bishop Auckland's Woodhouse Close Estate, after
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Inquiry follows mystery death
AN investigation has been launched into the mysterious death of a man who had found shards of glass in a sausage he was eating just days earlier. Police have refused to rule out a connection between the death of 23-year-old Darren Gleadow and a complaint
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Man jailed for attempted rape
A GOOD Samaritan helped a teenage sex attack victim - only to discover later that his grandson was the girl's tormentor. A court heard that it was their strong Yorkshire accents which linked the two and led to would-be rapist Paul Miller's arrest And
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Man jailed for attempted rape
A GOOD Samaritan helped a teenage sex attack victim - only to discover later that his grandson was the girl's tormentor. A court heard that it was their strong Yorkshire accents which linked the two and led to would-be rapist Paul Miller's arrest And
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Anti-bully bid builds on success
PUPILS from County Durham will swamp County Hall next month as part of an anti-bullying initiative. Happier in School week, which will run from July 11 to 18, is being organised by the County Durham Anti-Bullying Service, based in the council's Education
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Club joins no smoking campaign
ONE of the North-East's top football clubs has launched an initiative to stop young people taking up smoking. Middlesbrough FC, in partnership with Teesside Health Action Zone, has arranged four football tournament days for 500 children aged ten and 11
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No barriers to Pipalong win
PIPALONG, reported to have been "breaking the sound barrier" on Tim Easterby's gallops, has an outstanding chance of claiming the £120,000 Group 2 Cork And Orrery Stakes on day three of Royal Ascot. The five-year-old mare holds a special place in Tim's
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In line for new home
A GROUP aimed at preserving locomotives has found a new home in the Birthplace of the Railways. After a long search, the North-East Locomotive Preservation Group (NELPG) has been presented with the lease for the Hopetown Carriage Works, in Darlington.
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Duo set personal landmarks but Durham fail to hit heights
NICKY Hatch took the first two wickets on his championship debut and Danny Law followed up with career-best bowling, yet it would be wrong to say Durham's bowling hit new heights yesterday. From 149 for eight, Hampshire recovered to make 246, Law taking
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Workers can only grieve as closure marks end of an era
THE end of an era for a doomed steel mill came yesterday when the last metal rolled from its production line. When senior roller Billy McQuade rolled out the last piece of steel at the Corus coil plate mill in Lackenby on Teesside, it signalled the end
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Partridge and hawk are birds of a feather
A PARTRIDGE and a hawk have joined forces to keep the pitch at Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light in perfect condition. The football club has welcomed back the red-tailed hawk, Red, who is guarding the pitch while the grass grows in preparation for the
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Man had ear bitten off in struggle, court told
A FATHER-OF-THREE had his ear bitten off after chasing a thief who was trying to steal his car, a court heard. Douglas McLoughlin had to scour the ground to look for the ear after the attack in December last year. Newcastle Crown Court heard that Mr McLoughlin
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Decorator is cleared of rape
A DECORATOR who said that two women asked him for sex was cleared yesterday of eight rape charges. After a seven-day trial, a jury took just 45 minutes to clear John Kerry, 40, of raping two women aged 28 and 32. Kerry, a married man, told Teesside Crown
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Judo girl takes sporting accolade
ONE of three Judo sisters who took up the sport three years ago has been named Darlington Young Sportswinner for June. The award, sponsored by Orange, was presented to 13-year-old Katherine James, a pupil at Hummersknott Comprehensive School, Darlington
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Man kicked and bitten by untethered horse
A MAN has been treated in hospital after being attacked in the street by an untethered horse. Gary Teasdale, 36, of Bell Street, Bishop Auckland, was left black and blue and needing stitches when the horse bit him. He had been making his way home on Thursday
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Good garages guide gets cash backing
TRADING standards officers have won Government funding to set up a Good Garage Guide. Consumer Affairs Minister, Melanie Johnson, announced the success of a bid for the Guide, by the five Tees Valley authorities, at a trading standards conference in Cardiff
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At last, killers won't get away with murder
VICTORY looks certain for a campaign by The Northern Echo to stop killers getting away with murder. Under the current double jeopardy rule, defendants cannot be retried once acquitted, even if they later confess or if police discover new evidence. But
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Brave Nicola tackles fresh descent
A TEENAGER who is deaf and going blind is to abseil from the Tyne Bridge. Nicola Henderson, 18, from Blyth, Northumberland, impressed skydiving experts two months ago by parachuting from a plane over Peterlee, County Durham. The dive, which earned her
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Twin town's celebrations
AN East Durham town is celebrating the 20th anniversary of town twinning. Since 1989 Peterlee has been linked to Nordenham in North Germany and this year, it is Peterlee's turn to host a group of German visitors. Fifty people will visit the town from
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Deal is struck in sea coaling dispute
A COMPROMISE deal has been reached over a long-running dispute about the future of sea-coaling in Hartlepool. A series of measures, including licensing people to collect coal from the town's beaches to sell, were agreed at a meeting of Hartlepool Borough
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Mother's plea for her daughter's murderer to be kept in prison
A MOTHER of a five-year-old who was raped and murdered will present a petition to the Prime Minister this afternoon pleading for her killer not to be released from prison. John Johnston was jailed indefinitely in 1989 for the brutal sex killing of Margaret
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War museum to open up new front
A FRENCH medal presented to a British soldier nearly 90 years ago will be among the exhibits at a new attraction devoted to the story of the First World War. The rare Croix de Guerre with oak-leaves will go on display at a new feature in the award-winning
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Why Hague was right to stand down
There's a right time and a wrong time to go - William Hague chose the right time. I'm convinced that it's true. When Mr Hague was elected leader of the Conservative Party, he was the best man for the job. Michael Portillo had lost his seat, Ken Clarke
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Why Hague was right to stand down
There's a right time and a wrong time to go - William Hague chose the right time. I'm convinced that it's true. When Mr Hague was elected leader of the Conservative Party, he was the best man for the job. Michael Portillo had lost his seat, Ken Clarke
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Body found in raid hunt was missing patient
A BODY located by a police helicopter searching for post office raiders has been confirmed as missing mental patient Julie Sams. The 54-year-old, from Cockfield, in Teesdale, had not been seen since she left the Goodall Psychiatric Unit, in Walker Drive
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Boro in battle for Barron
Middlesbrough look to be heading for a compensation battle with Aston Villa over coach Paul Barron. The goalkeeping specialist yesterday quit Villa Park to pave the way for his link-up with new Boro boss Steve McClaren. Steve Harrison, right-hand man
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Mysterious death investigated
THE mysterious death of a 19-year-old woman is being investigated by police. Inquiries are continuing following the death of the woman in Whickham, Gateshead, on Sunday. Shortly after 7pm police were called to an address in the town following reports
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Food company is to expand
A firm that began as a one-man operation has confirmed plans to expand. Turnover has increased by nearly 50 per cent at Northern Select Foods, in Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, and management has announced a bid for bigger premises and a recruitment
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Guided walk support
MEMBERS of the public are invited to take part in a guided walk on Sunday to celebrate National Osteoporosis Month. It has been organised by Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Group Health Promotion and Chester-le-Street District Council to encourage
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Legal bid to close village social club
A WORKING men's club which has become a focal point for village life is facing closure after a brewery started court proceedings to shut it down. Time has been running out for the Oakenshaw Club, near Willington, since the Northern Clubs Federation Brewery
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'Co-operative is right on course' claim
DAIRY farmers co-operative Zenith has reported a modest profit in its first set of accounts since it was set up two years ago. Zenith, which markets nearly 1.4 billion litres of milk annually on behalf of more 3,500 farmers across the North of England
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£5,000 offered to help trace a killer
A REWARD of £5,000 has been offered for information leading to the capture of the killer of a man found lying on a quiet country road. Millions of TV viewers last night saw a recreation of the final hours of David Williamson, 58, who was murdered earlier
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Comment from The Northern Echo - Timely end to outdated law
THE Government's promise to end the principle of double jeopardy, which prevents people being tried more than once for the same offence, is long overdue. When it was enshrined in our justice system eight centuries ago, the principle was appropriate. It
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Specialist schools announced
Click here for the full list of new beacon and specialist schools in the region. Education Secretary Estelle Morris today announced a new wave of Beacon and Specialist Schools across England. Ms Morris said the priority in the new Parliamentary session
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'Euro will ease cash laundering'
THE introduction of euro notes and coins on January 1 will make it easier to launder money in Europe, according to a North-East expert. Paul Williamson, office senior partner at Deloitte and Touche in Newcastle, said: "Crime syndicates will be able to
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Struggling US venture puts brakes on Stagecoach profits
BUS operator Stagecoach has plunged into the red after the value of a recently-acquired US business plummeted. The company, which operates buses throughout the North-East and was founded by brother and sister team Brian Souter and Ann Gloag, lost £316.5m
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How to find your sheep rustler relative
PETTY thieves, illegitimate children and agricultural labourers. While we all dream of uncovering a member of the landed gentry among the tangled branches of our family trees, these are the kind of ancestors you are more likely to discover. The parish
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Force's call for tough recruits
CRIME-busters with a nose for police work are urgently wanted by a North-East force. There is a nationwide shortage of suitable alsations needed by Cleveland Police. PC Paul Smith, whose dog Blade, a German Shepherd, recently retired, said some dogs'
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Athletes prepare for sports day
MORE than 150 athletes are expected to take part in a sports day for adults with learning disabilities, next week. The event is taking place at the Riverside sports complex, at Chester-le-Street, on Monday, from 10.30am. Clients from most of County Durham's
