Archive
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Hair salon provides VIP treatment for hard-working carers
A NEW hairdo was a real tonic for four devoted carers enjoying a break from their duties. Staff at the Bishop Auckland Saks salon treated Betty Crone, Gillian Carney, Lillian Gowland and Marjory Bowes to new hair -styles and manicures while their husbands
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Upgrade for doomed mental hospital
HEALTH bosses are planning to spend £124,000 doing up a mental hospital which is earmarked for closure. The Pierremont Unit in the grounds of Darlington Memorial Hospital is due to be shut down as part of modernisation plans within three years. But the
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Secret plans for huge farm cull
SECRET contingency plans have been drawn up to deal with the slaughter of millions more animals and dispose of many of them in a re-opened North-East foot-and-mouth burial site, The Northern Echo can reveal. Government experts have been asked to come
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Club celebrates as membership hits 100
DARLINGTON and District Business Club has hit a century of membership, signing up its oldest member. Walworth Castle Hotel has become the 100th business to join the club, which has seen rapid growth in the past 18 months. The castle dates back to the
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Man cleared of raping woman at phone box
A MAN accused of raping a woman as she left a telephone box on the way to visit her boyfriend has been cleared of the charge. Robin Vernon, 36, was said to have attacked the woman, who cannot be named, earlier this year. But at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday
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Why we can't forget Bill Clinton
IT'S not what you say, it's how you say it. It's not what you do it's how you do it. As I see it, that is the big difference between US president George W Bush and his predecessor Bill Clinton. There is so much more to being president than pure politics
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Setting the record straight
It is to be a musical column, though more Station Pilot than New Musical Express. First, at any rate, to Mark Knopfler. Mr Knopfler, as readers may know, is a world renowned guitar player and Newcastle United fan who began working life in the inky trade
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Bloom judges on the way
DURHAM City will welcome the judges for this year's Britain in Bloom competition on Thursday, August 16. The city is representing the North-East region in this year's competition. Durham city councillor David Bell, who has special responsibility for environmental
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Why we can't forget Bill Clinton
IT'S not what you say, it's how you say it. It's not what you do it's how you do it. As I see it, that is the big difference between US president George W Bush and his predecessor Bill Clinton. There is so much more to being president than pure politics
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Flood-hit roads to get repair cash
The Government has announced new help for repairing roads in North Yorkshire and the North-East hit by last winter's floods. Local authorities will get more than £1.6m, with the lion's share - £1.25m - going to North Yorkshire, where roads had the worst
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Call-up angers Moxon
COACH Martyn Moxon is unhappy that Durham are to lose Nicky Peng for three weeks to England Under 19s. Peng, who hit his third one-day century of the season in Tuesday night's defeat at Worcester, was excused Under 19 duty for the one-day series against
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On with the face paint as youngsters given a day to remember
A COLLEGE and radio station joined forces to make sure that children had a fun day out. East Durham and Houghall Community College hosted events and entertainment for National Playday yesterday. Youngsters who went to the college's Howletch Centre, in
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A roof with a difference
AFTER my visit to the Stadium of Light, we returned up the A19 to the National Glass Centre - also in Sunderland - ready to enjoy a family-style afternoon outing. The brochure had been requested in advance, (always a good idea), and in it were many helpful
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Police study records on dead patients
POLICE have praised the cooperation from hospital authorities as they continue inquiries into a series of mental patient deaths. The Northern Echo revealed last month how police had launched an investigation into the death of Jonathan Long-staff. Mr Longstaff
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Starring role for Mellanby
New boy Danny Mellanby did his first team chances the power of good on Darlington's mini-tour of Ireland after joining from Bishop Auckland. The attack-minded midfielder scored twice on tour, including the winner against Waterford United, while he also
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Woolies to float
HIGH street retailer Woolworths will gain its own listing on the stock market later this month. Retail company Kingfisher is floating the business, chaired by former Railtrack boss Gerald Corbett, to focus on growing its DIY and electrical brands. Shares
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Police authority chairman welcomes new curfews power
COMMUNITIES which have declared war on yobs could be among the first in the UK to put tearaways under curfew. Councillor Ken Walker, the chairman of Cleveland Police Authority, said new legislation extending the scope of child curfews introduced yesterday
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Chance to belly dance
classes in Egyptian belly dancing and other Middle Eastern folk dances are being held by Chester-le-Street Community Centre. The six-week course will start on Tues-day, and will offer sessions for beginners and improvers. Call 0191-388 4752 for more information
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World of fun on a tour
CHILDREN visiting the Margrove Heritage Park this summer are enjoying a world tour to celebrate the British Empire. The summer programme of crafts and activities feature a different continent each week to link with the east Cleveland centre's exhibition
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Sharp returns for Pool match
Player of the year James Sharp and summer buy Darrell Clarke are in line for their Hartlepool United returns tonight. Pool take on Gateshead in the opening game of the four-team Century FM Festival of Football at the International Stadium, with Chris
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Water bosses splash out on a new name
ACCORDING to Shakespeare, a rose by another name would smell as sweet, but is the same true for business? Yesterday, the Northumbrian Water Group became the latest company to adopt a new name when it transformed itself into Ondeo Services UK. The change
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Police 'will find clues to 1990 murder'
The detective leading the investigation into the murder of a wealthy businessman's wife 11 years ago said today that he was confident that new clues could still be uncovered. Bikini-clad Ann Heron was sunbathing at her imposing home on August 3 the hottest
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'Lives at risk from the perils of river'
SWIMMERS taking a dip in the River Tees during the current hot spell are putting their lives at risk. The warning comes on the eve of the anniversary of the death of Darlington teenager Christopher Glen. Christopher, 15, died in August last year after
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Your opportunity to reward a business achiever
TIME is running out to nominate people for the Lifetime of Achievement Award, at this year's Tees Valley Business Show. The event, which is to be held at the Tall Trees Hotel, in Yarm, on October 25, will attract the cream of Tees Valley business talent
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Festival events will be taking to the streets
VISITORS to one of the region's leading festivals can expect the unexpected during three days of street theatre. The final weekend of the Stockton International Riverside Festival will provide a platform for a wide range of street performances. The High
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Army pals roll back the decades
AS Enos Jackson walked into the lobby of the hotel in Darlington, a smile of recognition spread across the face of his Army pal. Enos may not have seen Peter Worthy for 37 years, but the pair quickly found the conversation flowed freely about the old
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Ex-bosses in buyout bid for shipyards
FORMER directors at the South Tyneside operation of shipbuilder Cammell Laird are putting together a financial package to buy the yard. The 160 workers left at the Hebburn site are facing their final week of work, with proposals to mothball the yard,
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Drivers flouting bus lane rules face penalty
DRIVERS are being reminded not to use the Yarm green route bus lanes during the peak evening period. Between 3.30pm and 6pm, from Monday to Friday, only buses are allowed to use the green lane. The lane, which is clearly marked in green tarmac, enables
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Driver and passenger die in holiday route crash
A MAN and woman were killed yesterday in a road crash that closed a lane of a busy dual carriageway holiday route. The car driver and his woman passenger died when their vehicle was in collision with a tipper lorry on the A64 York to Scarborough road.
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Civic clean-up sets the stage for a glittering new season
WHEN the stars return to Darlington's Civic Theatre in September, they will be walking into new-look dressing rooms and on to a refurbished stage. The theatre has "gone dark" for six weeks while annual maintenance and repairs get under way. Included in
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Traders in car park fees legal threat
A SHOP owner, who claims a council has blocked an established right of way, is considering taking legal action. As reported in yesterday's Northern Echo, a group of shop owners from Parkgate in Darlington, claim their businesses will be ruined by a new
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Far East meeting seals venture
MECHETRONICS boss Mitchell Wolfe has been the driving force behind a meeting between technology companies from different sides of the globe. Mr Wolfe has just returned from Hong Kong, where he hosted a meeting between managing directors from companies
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Hopes take flight as rare kites raise eight chicks
THE prospects of an endangered bird of prey reclaiming its traditional hunting ground have brightened dramatically with news of a successful breeding season. Wildlife experts have revealed that as many as six pairs of red kites have nested in Yorkshire
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Car smash
A BUSY stretch of motorway was the scene of a second crash in as many days yesterday. A female driver suffered head and neck injuries when her car overturned on the southbound carriageway of the A1M between Washington Services and Blind Lane junction
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Villagers welcome approval for youth recreation centre
A MUCH-needed recreation centre for young people in Ferryhill could be open by the end of the year. Planning permission has been granted for the development in a former electrical store in the town centre. Contracts on the building are expected to be
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'Misery of the poison pen victims'
A FORMER neighbourhood watch co-ordinator in a village at the centre of a 12-year hate campaign has told how he became one of the many victims, a court heard yesterday. Eric Collin, of Manfield, North Yorkshire, told Teesside Crown Court that he received
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Householders urged to form escape plans in case of fire
FIREFIGHTERS are urging people across County Durham to develop an escape plan in case of a fire in their home. Fire can spread quickly, producing heat, smoke and fumes and giving occupants only minutes to escape. It is therefore essential to plan an escape
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Farmers in virus hotspot shun Minister
GOVERNMENT officials last night played down reports that farmers had refused to allow Animal Health Minister Elliot Morley on to their premises. The minister had been scheduled to visit a sheep farm as part of a tour of a biosecurity area in beleaguered
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Infected blood scandal to be highlighted
THE plight of haemophiliacs infected with deadly viruses through contaminated blood is to be highlighted on national radio tomorrow. Radio Four's Face the Facts programme will look at the exposure of hundreds of haemophiliacs across the country, including
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Singer to support safety campaign
SINGER Robbie Williams has agreed to release his track, Angels, to North-east radio station Galaxy 105-106, to support Durham Road Safety's latest advertising campaign. Robbie has previously refused permission for the track to be used for advertising
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Register offices in double celebration
COUPLES getting married will receive a better start to married life, thanks to a multi-million investment programme. Cash from Durham County Council has been used to improve the decor at register offices throughout the county, open up and upgrade garden
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Work gets under way to build hospital
Mechanical diggers have moved in to start work on the long-awaited new community hospital for the North-East. Prime Minister Tony Blair cut the first turf to mark the start of building work on the £8m development in Sedgefield last week. Construction
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Chapel where you step back in time
PEOPLE are being offered the chance to step back in time on a visit to east Cleveland. Sir William Turner's Chapel, near Redcar, will be open every Sunday this month. The chapel dates from the time of King Charles II and is virtually unaltered since being
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Warden scheme's a model for the rest
A PROGRAMME based in the North-East to make the streets safer is to be used as a model for the rest of the country. The Government is spending £50m to launch 100 street warden schemes around the country, based on the success of the pilot scheme in Middlesbrough
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In the picture over Arc action
ONE of the biggest photographs in the region has gone on display. Last year, the Arc in Stockton commissioned photographers Denis Dunning and Dave Hudspeth to photo-document events taking place within the building. Aware that many people were still unsure
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Thief with the 'worst record' is back in jail
A THIEF described by a judge as having probably the worst criminal record he had ever seen is back behind bars after embarking on another crime spree. William Bogie, of Kirkstone Close, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, has clocked up 185 convictions since
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Comment from The Northern Echo - Facing up to more slaughter
THE Northern Echo today reveals that Government experts have drawn up plans to slaughter millions more animals in the face of mounting evidence that the fight against foot-and-mouth is not being won quickly enough. It is important to stress, of course
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Disabled pensioner dies in flat blaze
A PENSIONER died when a fire swept through the bedroom of her flat early yesterday. The woman, who was believed to be disabled and bed-ridden, was discovered by staff from social services when they called at her home in Villette Road, Hendon, Sunderland
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Families feud boiled over at Christmas
A LONG-RUNNING dispute between two families led to a violent confrontation on Christmas Day, a court heard. Trouble flared in St Helen Auckland, County Durham, on Christmas morning last year as the Iceton and Gilbey families, who have been feuding for
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Vicar backs call to free charity worker
A VICAR and his parishioners have joined a growing campaign to release a deaf charity worker from an Indian jail. Ian Stillman was jailed after allegedly being caught with a large quantity of cannabis , although this has been strenuously denied by his
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Firms feel effects of economic slowdown
MANUFACTURERS continued to suffer because of the global economic slowdown last month, new figures have revealed. The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Managers (CIPS) said production fell for the fifth consecutive month in July. Orders also
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Lifeguard gave in to advances from 'silly girls' - court
A lifeguard who persuaded three schoolgirls to perform sex acts on him in the boiler room of a leisure centre today received a suspended jail sentence. Mark Stephen Eyles, 23, gave in to temptation after being constantly propositioned by adoring young
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United's Euro dream a step nearer reality
Newcastle United booked their place in next Tuesday's Intertoto cup final with a 6-3 aggregate win over TSV 1860 Munich last night. And to make the success over the Germans even sweeter for manager Bobby Robson, they will now face French team Troyes,
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N-E tenors return for tribute to girl
TWO East Durham tenors are returning home to give a concert in memory of a three-year-old girl who was killed earlier this year. John Upperton and John Foley, who are both from Murton, but now live in London, will perform in the village's Glebe Centre
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Council seeks rethink on transport shake-up
A ROW is likely to erupt between two authorities at the centre of plans to create a better transport system for east Middlesbrough. Both Middlesbrough Borough Council and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council held meetings this week to discuss the East
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Climate in US blamed for profits plunge
SPECIALITY chemicals group Elementis, which has a site at Eaglescliffe, on Teesside, saw its first-half profits cut after being hit by high energy costs and tough market conditions. The London group, which makes pigments and products for use in printer
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Mother lashed out after son's needle scare
A MOTHER and her boyfriend, who attacked a drug user after the woman's son cut himself on a discarded syringe, have been ordered to carry out community service. Tracy Steele, 28, admitted she snapped after her six-year-old son, Richard, cut himself while
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Youngsters can enjoy a sporting summer
YOUNGSTERS are being encouraged to sample a variety of sports, in events organised by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. Tag rugby is on offer for eight to 15-year-olds at Guisborough Rugby Club tomorrow, and at St Peter's School, South Bank, on Friday
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Hear All Sides
Letters from The Northern Echo TONY BLAIR I AM a farmer in Sedgefield and Tony Blair is my MP. As well as being Prime Minister, he is an MP first and foremost, and has an obligation to look after the interests of his constituents, of which I am one. During
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Partners help art works to head north
ART lovers in the North-East will soon be able to enjoy some of the finest works from the National Gallery's collection without leaving the region. Masterpieces are to be shown outside London on a regular basis under a new partnership scheme between the
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Coastguard station to shut, despite protests
A DATE has been set for the closure of the North-East's last coastguard station. The Tyne Tees station, at Tynemouth, North Tyneside, will shut on September 28. The nearest station, at Bridlington, in East Yorkshire, will then have responsibility for
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Park chief is voted back for third term
THE chairman of a park authority has been re-elected for a third term. Steve Macare, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, who is also a county councillor, was returned unopposed as chief of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, by members at a meeting
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Precipitation within sight?
IT'S summer. The weather is hot, the spending is easy. But, as sure as every heatwave eventually ends in a thunderstorm, talk is already turning to Britain being threatened by an economic downpour. The dreaded r-word - recession, rather than rain - is
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Setting the record straight
It is to be a musical column, though more Station Pilot than New Musical Express. First, at any rate, to Mark Knopfler. Mr Knopfler, as readers may know, is a world renowned guitar player and Newcastle United fan who began working life in the inky trade
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Decision to increase hours angers staff
STAFF at the North-East Chamber of Commerce have reacted angrily to a decision by their employers to increase the length of their working week. The chamber is increasing their hours from 36 to about 37-and-a-half per week from next January, and reducing
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No bones about it - they're animal not human
WORKERS have uncovered a mysterious collection of bones hidden beneath rotten floorboards. The 17th Century Sir William Turner's Hospital, at Kirkleatham, near Redcar, is in the middle of a £1.7m renovation scheme by the Tees Valley Housing Group to bring
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Driver and passenger die in holiday route crash
A MAN and woman were killed yesterday in a road crash that closed a lane of a busy dual carriageway holiday route. The car driver and his woman passenger died when their vehicle was in collision with a tipper lorry on the A64 York to Scarborough road.
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Firms can earn tidy awards
An initiative has been launched to encourage businesses to support a campaign to make Hartlepool cleaner and more attractive. The Tidy Business Charter is a joint venture between Hartlepool Borough Council's Pride in Hartlepool campaign and the Tidy Britain
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Sex cases councillor launches appeal
A SENIOR North-East councillor has lodged an appeal against his conviction for a string of sex offences. Martyn Locklin, 41, of Ladybower, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was jailed for 15 years last month. Locklin, a senior Labour party activist who
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Dental service for people not registered
SPECIAL services for people needing urgent dental treatment in North Yorkshire came on stream yesterday. Pilot schemes have been set up across the county for people suffering severe toothache or other serious dental problems who are not registered with
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Launch of summer crackdown on drink-drivers
POLICE in the North-East have launched a month-long crackdown on drink-drivers. The County Durham, Northumbria and Cleveland forces are targeting drivers who drink at barbecues and country pubs. Superintendent Barry Peart, Durham Constabulary's head of
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Find out about falling price of electricity
SHOPPERS in Darlington and County Durham will be able to meet a team of experts next week to find out about falling electricity prices. Advisers from British Gas will be in the area with road shows where people can have their questions answered, not only
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Families start action group to fight open-cast mine scheme
RESIDENTS are preparing to fight plans for open-cast coal mining on farmland between three villages. A consortium called the Eco Energy Group is seeking Durham County Council's permission to extract about 750,000 tonnes of coal, over three-and-a-half
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Multi-talented drama pupils in spotlight
DRAMA-LOVING youngsters have put the popular children's story, The Emperor's New Clothes, on stage. Pupils from Polam Hall School, in Darlington, also made the costumes and props. Year seven and eight pupils are all members of the school drama club and
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Town's residents are offered warm welcome in US
A GROUP of tourists from the US have visited their town's namesake in the North-East. The group, from Darlington, South Carolina, visited Darlington, County Durham, as part of a whistle-stop tour of the UK. During a visit to the Darlington Railway Museum
