Archive
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Countryside crisis forces writer to review attractions of towns
FOR someone born under the sign of the red rose in Lancashire, Mark Reid has developed a great affection for the white rose county of Yorkshire while walking in its broad acres. He was doing quite well, thank you, with a series of books about rural rambles
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Protection for car boot sale customers
SAFEGUARDS are being introduced to protect customers attending car boot sales. A code of practice, giving customers the same legal rights enjoyed when buying from a shop, have been agreed between Redcar and Cleveland Council and organisers of car boot
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Group urges council to act
A COUNCIL is being urged to act over smells from a sewage works. Areas of Redcar have been assailed by an offensive smell, on and off since April, forcing residents to leave their homes. Liberal and Democrat councillors for the town are demanding that
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Triple joy on cards
Stephen White will be hoping to prove the adage 'things come in threes' when he represents his country in the Inter Nations Karting Cup next month, writes CRAIG STODDART. Having won in England colours at the event in 1998 and 99, Stephen is looking to
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Extra police for Pool v Quakers game
MORE than 100 extra police have been drafted into Hartlepool to stop trouble at tomorrow's derby match against arch-rivals Darlington. Officers say they are stepping up security and there will be a strong police presence before and after the football
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Dogs thrown from car by yobs
YOBS who abandoned three dogs by throwing them out of a car window have been branded a disgrace. The dogs were dumped at a caravan park by their owners who then drove away. They were then rescued by a concerned holiday maker at the Crimdon Dene caravan
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This sex bomb just bombed
ANOTHER family holiday over - a holiday which made me realise more than ever before how quickly they're growing up. It probably had a lot to do with six of us being crammed into a mobile home the size of an average garden shed as the worst rains in 50
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Just days to live for puppies
POLICE are appealing for homes for three puppies who have just seven days to live. The dogs, thought to be a German Shepherd cross, are less than eight weeks old and were handed in at Crook police station yesterday, by someone who found them dumped in
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Darlington - Park under threat after accident
THE future of a playground is uncertain after a mix-up over maintenance was exposed when a child was hurt. Middleton St George Parish Council only discovered that Darlington borough council had stopped monitoring the equipment when a swing chain snapped
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Help for hospital visits
A NEW bus service should be just the ticket for elderly people making hospital visits. Until now visitors to East Cleveland Hospital, Brotton, have had to rely on taxis or walk to keep appointments. All that will change from Monday, September 3, with
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A 75lb trim for charity
THREE hairdressers have raised hundreds of pounds by trimming their figures for charity. Pat Downes, Sam White and Sarah Little from Morrissey's hair salon, in Darlington, have lost a total of 75lbs since January. The trio were sponsored by friends, family
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Angling News
Ex-Darlington Angling Centre Captain Chris Gowling enjoyed a welcome return to team fishing storming ahead during round 3 of the Northern Division of the Drennan Super League staged on the River Wear between Durham and Chester-le-Street. Now under the
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Finding out cause of blast
DETAILS have been officially released on the cause of the fatal electrical explosion at the Enron power station which killed three workers. Health and Safety Inspectors have completed the first stage of their investigation into the explosion on August
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Pool News
Bishop Auckland League - Witton Park Rose and Crown came from behind to beat the visiting St. Helens Wheatsheaf when Paul McConnell beat the Billy Gargett in both the captains games to win by the odd point. In the singles the Rose and Crown had two points
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Tributes to 'cracking' jockey Neil
THE family of a promising young jockey killed in a road accident during a freak thunderstorm have spoken of their loss. Neil Hill, 19, was one of the most promising young riders at the famous North Yorkshire stables of Ferdy Murphy. His family, from Langley
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Shoppers invited to 'spot the oddity'
SHARP-EYED shoppers will have to be on the look-out for things that are out-of-the-ordinary in Stanhope next month. Worn-out old boots planted in a shoe shop window, or used envelopes in a Post Office display are the kind of misplaced items that people
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Inquest told of ambulance safety error
A FRAIL widow died after an ambulance crew breached safety rules and failed to strap her into her wheelchair, an inquest heard. Her family vowed yesterday to pursue legal action after the ambulance service involved described the incident as "disappointing
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Pier evacuated after 'bomb' find
SALTBURN Pier was evacuated following the discovery of a 'bomb' on the beach. A surfers' shop, an amusement arcade and ice cream kiosk on the pier were cleared of people and the resort's famous funicular railway stopped, after a council official found
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Change is welcome but must be practical
ANY changes to the sheep sector must take into account the practical realities. Mr John Thorley, chief executive of the National Sheep Association, gave his warning this week. He welcomed statements by Lord Whitty that government was fully committed to
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Training school loss 'would be blow to N-E'
THE threatened relocation of a forensic training school in the North-East would be a crushing blow to the region, councillors have claimed. The Home Office recently contacted Durham Police to discuss the possibility of taking Britain's top forensic training
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Crisis 'has changed our lives forever'
MR Ben Gill, president of the NFU, said the foot-and-mouth crisis, which was six months old on Monday, had changed the lives of every livestock farmer in the country forever. The disaster had landed an unprecedented body blow on Britain's battling agriculture
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Bid to prevent village floods
A £1.3m package of improvements to a village's sewerage system could prevent repeated problems of flooding. Carlin How, near Skinningrove, has suffered continued flooding - mainly along the A174 running through the village. Northumbrian Water said it
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Businesses move into empty properties
TWO previously-empty properties in the commercial heart of Bedale have been taken up by new businesses, as the town continues its efforts to win a share of Government money for regeneration. A ground-floor property which housed a fruit and vegetable shop
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Durham rampant as Sussex feel the Love
CRICKET can be a cruel game, as Durham know only too well. But suddenly everything can turn in your favour and all is bliss. Durham's championship record against Sussex reads: lost eight, drawn one. But by tomorrow evening there should be a large W on
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Tennis News
Slazenger Harrogate and District League - Northallerton completed a remarkable feat, finishing their second successive season unbeaten. And they were the only side to complete the latest season undefeated in which 336 matches were played. Since joining
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Double success for Merrigan at Ponies UK
A BARNARD Castle horse covered itself with glory at the Ponies UK East of England show at Peterborough last weekend. Merrigan, the seven-year-old skewbald gelding bred by Clare Martin of Stainton Village and ridden by Penny Thompson of Staindrop, took
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Opinions wanted
HEALTH bosses are finding out the public's views on modernising NHS services. People registered with family doctors in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough are being asked for their views on the proposals, which form part of the Government's plans.
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Clampdown on thefts
POLICE are hoping to put the brakes on a spate of cycle thefts. Uniformed officers with the Redcar-based District Community Policing Team are carrying out a range of checks in target areas. Cyclists will be stopped and bikes checked to see if the person
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Eye-catching sundial unveiled
AN EYE-catching sundial has been unveiled at Bishop Middleham to celebrate the millennium. Standing opposite the Fleece pub, the sundial is one of four ambitious millennium projects organised by Bishop Middleham Parish Council. Located in the High Street
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Science-lover Laura is star performer
A PUPIL from south-west Durham has received one of the top five GCSE science marks in England and competed in a national gymnastics competition. Laura Donohue, 16, from Rush Park, Bishop Auckland, scored one of the top five marks in her Dual Award Science
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Bowls News
Durham and District League - King George V celebrated only their third victory of the season when they defeated the visiting strugglers, Langley Park by six points. However the victory is unlikely to save them from relegation as they have only two matches
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'Let's nail this easy exams lie for good'
HEADTEACHERS last night demanded a Government commission into exam standards to finally put an end to accusations that they are getting easier. As thousands of students celebrated their GCSE results yesterday, a former principal examiner claimed political
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Neglected park to get makeover
A MAJOR improvement project is planned to give a total makeover to a neglected park. About £100,000 is to be spent on Falsgrave Park in Scarborough - and the local community is being asked to make their suggestions for the work. Questionnaires are being
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New team lines up for league baptism
DARLINGTON Ladies Rugby Club is appealing for more players as it prepares for its debut in the Merit league this season. The team, which was formed just last year, played fewer games than expected in its first season due to bad weather and the foot-and-mouth
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Proms event will help raise region's arts profile
GATESHEAD'S new Baltic Square - which opens in mid-September - is the setting for the first BBC Proms in the Park in the North-East. The Proms concert, which attracts more than 100m viewers worldwide, is one of the inaugural events of Music Centre Gateshead
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Call for end to criticism of hospital
THE doctor who heads County Durham and Darlington Health Authority has called for an end to the criticism of the region's newest hospital. Dr Brian Docherty, a Durham City GP for 30 years, said now that the new University Hospital of North Durham was
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Good start for Cottles
Crook and District League - Willington Cottles, champions last season, kicked off the new campaign with a 7-l victory over Crook White Swan. Wayne Fleming and Ian Britton (pen) made it 2-0 at half-time. A second half hat-trick from Anthony Stewart and
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The UniBond League
Spennymoor United's chances of a quick return to the UniBond League premier division after being relegated last season have been boosted by the league's decision to adopt a play-off promotion and relegation system - the first senior semi-professional
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Football game heart boy dies
A TEENAGER died playing football only hours after receiving news of a hospital appointment for an operation on a leaking heart valve, it was revealed last night. Anthony Wilkinson, 15, was playing with friends at Grangetown Park, in Middlesbrough, on
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Warning over suspected bogus worker
RESIDENTS have been warned over a possible bogus workman who tried to gain entry to three people's homes yesterday. The man approached council-owned houses in Longfield Road, Darlington, claiming to be from a firm suing Darlington Borough Council for
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Rolls-Royce purrs over healthy order book
ENGINE maker Rolls-Royce has reported a record order book as the group sought to banish memories of last year's surprise profit warning. Rolls delivered an upbeat report on progress despite seeing underlying pre-tax profits for the six months to June
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New foot-and-mouth outbreak "major setback"
A NEW case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Northumberland today. It is the first cast in the North-East for almost 12 weeks. Last night, three cows and their calves which were showing signs of infection were slaughtered at a farm near
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Winning artists named
THE winners of the annual Saltburn watercolour competition have been announced. Emily Hawkins, of Upleatham Street, won the child's section while Jenna Warren, of Hilda Place, won the youth section, with Jessica Hall, of Zetland Mews, runner-up. Michelle
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Leeming firm has sights set on Nestle ice cream assets
A FROZEN confectionery firm with a factory at Leeming Bar has begun talks to buy the UK ice cream business of Nestle. Formal consultations are under way with employees of Nestle about a possible deal with Richmond Foods, which will have the biggest ice
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Memorial to one of England's bloodiest battles
AN ARTIST and sculptor from Aiskew has produced two striking new interpretations of scenes from one of the bloodiest battles ever to be fought on English soil. Miss Kate Jones ensured that Wednesday's 863rd anniversary of the Battle of the Standard, near
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Wrong sort of water stops swimming
RICHMOND swimming pool had to be evacuated on Sunday after a storm caused a torrent of rainwater to come through the roof. Bathers at Richmond swimming pool got more water than they bargained for when roof drains failed to cope with two heavy downpours
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Stars and stripes is the future for Garry
Being offered a contract at a full-time football club is an ambition of many young players - but when that moment arrived Garry Williamson turned it down in favour of chasing another dream. Until this summer, Williamson had spent a total of four years
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Man hurt in gang attack
DETECTIVES are keen to trace anyone who may have seen a vicious assault in which a man was left with a fractured skull. The victim was set upon by a gang of youths as he walked along Toward Street, in Sunderland, at about 9.25pm on Wednesday. He was approached
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What a tasty idea
WHAT does a farmer do with a large empty house on the side of a busy road? Open a gourmet shop of course. That's what Paul Barkes and his wife Jo have just done with Thorpe Farm Peel House on the A66 near Greta Bridge, making it one of the more unusual
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Ops inquiry surgeon is found guilty
A SURGEON whose behaviour towards two women patients put them at serious risk, has been found guilty of irresponsible conduct. Peter Silverstone, 58, from Elmfield Park, Newcastle, has been before the General Medical Council's professional conduct committee
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Free Hayley campaign launched
THE latest soap opera martyr is attracting huge North-East support from fans desperate to see her set free from jail. The Friends of Hayley Cropper Society has been set up by die-hard Coronation Street viewer Vanessa Reynolds of Cockfield in Teesdale.
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Athletics News
Newton Aycliffe - The Darlington 10k race saw 17 runners out for Newton Aycliffe in a massive field. Matthew Bell was the star of the show, only turning out for the 10k after arriving too late for the fun run. Matthew, a promising footballer, had not
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Juniors graduate
Darlington's high flying juniors join senior club mates at next week's opening English Grand Prix tournament in Liverpool. Such is the improvement made by the club's juniors that their season plan now includes the top senior events as well as all of the
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Superbike ace rides in to meet the fans
STEVE Hislop, leader of the hotly-contested British Superbike Championship, heads for the region next week to take part in a chat show organised by the North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club. The ultra-popular Scot will be meeting fans and signing
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Blades nick it in injury time
A LATE goal conceded to Sheffield United on Monday night could not mask an encouraging start to Darlington's last season at Feethams. The Quakers had matched their First Division opponents for much of an entertaining Worthington Cup first round tie and
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Alison scores brilliant dozen
STAR student Alison Peacock topped the exam charts at Northallerton College when she discovered yesterday she had managed an amazing 12 A* grade passes. She as one of nine outstanding youngsters at the college who scored more than eight A-grades in their
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Letters: Use the law
Sir, - It is nice to learn that Cleveland police have unearthed an "obscure law" which could be a means of dealing with the anti-social behaviour of young people ("Police look to old law to tackle young hooligans", D&S Aug 17). It is, however, very
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Barn owl numbers worst in 20 years
DEVASTATING flooding over the past year has had a disastrous effect on the region's recovering barn owl population. Hawk and Owl Trust surveyors estimate that the breeding performance of the bird is the worst in 20 years following the wettest 12 months
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Top coaches reach out to sporting youngsters
RUGBY player Danny Brown tackled the issue of rugby coaching head-on when he gave some professional advice to young players in Wear Valley. The sportsman, who plays for the Newcastle Falcons A-team and Darlington Mowden Park, arrived in Leeholme near
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Watson stars for Eryholme
Eurocell Marshall Tufflex Darlington and District League - All six matches in Division A were cancelled and in Division B only three went ahead. Eryholme were involved in an interesting game at Ingleton and won by four wickets after the home side had
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Tenants say yes to homes hand-over
TENANTS in Redcar and Cleveland delivered a resounding yes vote yesterday to transferring ownership of its council homes to a new not-for-profit organisation. More than 70pc of the 14,000 tenants voted in a secret postal ballot, with 89pc opting for transfer
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Racing Week by Jo Scott
"IT'S a bit of an animal" runs the advertising slogan for a certain salami-style sausage snack and Tim Easterby's star of this week is certainly as tough as his name would imply. Pepperoni landed the Ripon Hornblower Stakes on Saturday and followed up
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Yorkshire win title
Yorkshire won their first county championship for 33 years today. They wrapped up the maximum-points victory they needed against Division One strugglers Glamorgan with more than two sessions of the final day to spare at Scarborough. Hundreds from Craig
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Abattoir under fire again after second animal escape
A REOPENED abattoir at Aiskew has come under fire again over the escape of another animal. The general manager of the Northern Counties Meat plant has emphatically denied a claim that a pig which escaped into an adjoining field last Friday was killed
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Show's success boosts grass sickness research
A COUPLE who put their heartbreak to one side to raise money for research into a killer disease have raised £500 for the Equine Grass Sickness Fund. Mandy and George Mitchell organised last Saturday's horse show at Hill Crest Arena, Sunniside, following
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Adele heads some great achievers
A TEENAGER who has battled with a severe sight problem all her life was celebrating yesterday after passing a string of GCSEs Adele Waterfall-Brown, 16, gained a B, seven Cs and two Ds. She has now achieved enough points to take A-level English Language
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Eye-catching sundial unveiled
AN EYE-catching sundial has been unveiled at Bishop Middleham to celebrate the millennium. Standing opposite the Fleece pub, the sundial is one of four ambitious millennium projects organised by Bishop Middleham Parish Council. Located in the High Street
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Chester le Street - Disabled sports group on move
AN organisation that provides sports and leisure activities for disabled youngsters is on the move. Durham Area Disability Leisure Group is shifting from Sacriston Community Centre to the Riverside South development at Chester-le-Street, which includes
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Flats plan for St Peter's House rejected on split vote
A PROPOSAL to turn part of a former nursing home into residential flats has been turned down by Teesdale District Council. Messrs Jonathan, Hugh and William Parsons had applied for permission to turn St Peter's House, an extensive range of redbrick Victorian
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Nemeth poised for Boro bow
SLOVAKIA striker Szilard Nemeth is in line to make his Middlesbrough debut at Everton tomorrow as his new club prepare for a compensation battle with Inter Bratislava. Boro boss Steve McClaren yesterday revealed that Nemeth, snapped up near the end of
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This most scientific of games
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - Improvements at Thirsk Institute are fast drawing to a close. When thoroughly completed, they will constitute it one of the best appointed institutes in North Yorkshire. Ever since the introduction of a billiard club
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Boy terrified of dogs after suffering Rottweiler attack
A BOY has been left terrified of dogs after he was savaged by a friend's Rottweiler. Neil Hines, 12, was attacked by the animal while he was playing a video game at a neighbour's house in Norton, Teesside. His head, throat and shoulders were ripped open
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Letters: Thanks to the bank
Sir, - As the owner of the King's Head hotel in Richmond, which has been badly affected by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, your readers might be interested to learn of the support provided to the hotel by Customs and Excise and the Inland.Revenue
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Deaf-and-dumb teen trapped in dark train
A TRAIN company is investigating how a deaf-and-dumb teenager came to be locked in a Metro train in a darkened depot. Vicky Cheung, 18, was terrified when the driver of a late night train failed to spot he still had a passenger on board when he ended
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New hope in 1970 murder case
DETECTIVES were today hoping against hope for a breakthrough at last in a horrific murder case that has had them baffled for more than 30 years. Barbara Mayo was just 24 when she disappeared while hitch-hiking to Catterick, in North Yorkshire, in October
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No cold comforts
Whilst 36,000 headed for St James's Park and the evening paper produced neat - if over-optimistic - headlines about Men Against Troyes, the column found itself a few miles to the north at Newcastle Blue Star against Brandon United. Blue Star's Albany
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Elderly in rush to secure personal alarms
ELDERLY people in Cleveland are flocking to obtain personal attack alarms being offered free in a pioneering scheme. Response to distribution has been described as phenomenal. More than 1,000 people have jumped at the chance for extra protection, and
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Bin Boy joe's mission to clean up the streets
A DREAM has come true for a four-year-old with a fascination for cleaning up rubbish. Joe Elstob, from Stockton, gets very annoyed when he notices any litter outside his home and often takes the trouble to pick it up and put it in a bin himself, under
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Damning report condemns health department
A DISTRICT council's environmental health department has been condemned by the Audit Commission. In a damning report, the service operated by Teesdale is described as being of "poor 'no star' quality", with little hope of improvement. The report by the
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A little bit of Africa that was Whitby
IT was, to coin a phrase and to move more or less seamlessly from other Past Lives about an epidemic, love in the time of cholera. A romantic exploration of Morocco early in our marriage ended in an anxious mele around the frontier post a few miles east
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'Blue' blaze costs £10,000
ARSONISTS are being blamed for £10,000 worth of damage to a major piece of public art. Police say work on the £1.4m Blue Carpet art project outside Newcastle's Laing Art Gallery will have to be put back a week after Wednesday night's fire. It was damaged
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Mum and son shed 15 stones between them
SHOPPING trips were always a waste of time for Craig Dobson. Weighing in at 19 stone, the Teesside teenager could never find any trendy clothes to fit him. His mother, Shirley Dobson, said shopping trips with her son were a nightmare. "If he went shopping
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Chester le Street - Appeal for witnesses after attack
POLICE investigating an apparently unprovoked assault at a garage forecourt have appealed for two potential witnesses to come forward. Detectives hunting the man responsible for the serious attack on a customer at Red Tiles filling station, on the A691
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Consett & Stanley - Fine follows roofing fall
A FATHER has been questioned by Government inspectors for failing to carry out safety procedures which led to his own son having an accident, a court heard last week. Colin Dawson, of Stanley, suffered severe head injuries after falling from a roof at
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I just had to walk out on this movie
READERS with children under 18 should take a pair of sharp scissors, cut out this column and hide it well away from prying eyes. In The Picture carries an X-certificate as it mentions matters of an explicit sexual nature and, like Mr Censor, we feel a
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Charity is awash after failure of drains floods shop
A CHARITY is reeling after flood waters devastated a fundraising operation. Three hundred items of clothing were ruined when drains serving the Cancer Research Campaign shop in Redcar High Street failed to cope with a torrential downpour. Jigsaws and
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Final chapter written on history of ground
A FINAL chapter has literally been written on a long gone football ground's history. A book, The Trophy Room, is being launched at the site of the former Ayresome Park ground, the old home of Middlesbrough Football Club, now a housing an estate. According
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N-E family life in TV spotlight
PEOPLE living in the North-East are more family-orientated than ever before, according to research. A documentary to be screened on Tyne-Tees television next week follows people who work at weekends and those who do not, to see how lifestyles have changed
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Consett & Stanley - Steelworks site set for new college
WORK has begun on a new £6m college in Consett. Preliminary work on the Derwentside College, due to be completed by 2002, began at the site of the town's former steelworks last week. Meanwhile the new £2m expansion to the college's sixth form centre in
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Durham - Prize plant grows too tall for show
A PRIZEWINNING fuchsia will not be going to a show this year, because it is too big to fit in a van. Ray O'Brien, president of Durham and Northumberland Fuchsia Society, grew the plant from a cutting 19 years ago and has been taking it to the club's show
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Letters: It must be public
Sir, - The consecutive statements made by the Animal Health Minister, Mr Elliot Morley, "Hope of early news on cleaning review" (D&S, Aug 3) referring to "the remarkable achievements of our staff in bringing (foot-and-mouth disease) under control"
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Finding new uses
THE North York Moors National Park's desire to maximise the potential use of redundant farm buildings as workspace is highly laudable. Providing places to work and start businesses is a good way to ensure the park communities retain some semblance of
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Relief at start of new bus service for dales students
A COUNCIL leader has welcomed a new dales bus service for rural students but says a return to lodging grants is the best solution to their problems. Coun John Blackie, leader of Richmondshire District Council, was talking about a bus service being launched
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Disabled will have clear view to cheer on the lads
THE opening of Darlington's new multi-million pound football stadium promises a bright new dawn for disabled supporters. The traditional pitch-side viewing for handicapped fans has been swapped for specially designated vantage spots high on the terraces
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Send your vets to me, says publican who has lost £43,000 in trade
A DANBY Wiske publican who has lost £43,000 in trade because of the slump in tourism caused by the foot-and-mouth crisis, has asked the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs to accommodate some of its visiting vets in his village pub. Mr
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Arrests in death inquiry
TWO more men have been arrested in connection with the death of a Teesside man. In early morning raids Cleveland Police arrested a 32-year-old and a 22-year-old after raiding three homes in Grove Hill and Ormesby, Middlesbrough, yesterday. They are being
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Pudsey still means most to Arran
Blissfully unaware of all the controversy, Arran Fernandez yesterday became the youngest person ever to pass a GCSE exam. He was only five years and 11 months old when he took his two maths exams in June. Yesterday, he clutched his exam result and his
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Youth shelter idea is opposed
FEARS that a youth shelter will be used by youngsters to drink alcohol and take drugs, may block the project. Members of Dean Bank Residents' Association, in Ferryhill, attended a public consultation meeting on Tuesday to express their concerns about
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Hear All Sides
Letters from The Northern Echo EDUCATION IT'S wonderful that so many people have achieved such good A-level results. But here are a few thoughts. This was despite teachers and others constantly bemoaning that there's not enough money and morale is low
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North Yorkshire - Rescuers run for lost funds
A VITAL life-saving service whose funding has been hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis is fighting back by organising its first-ever fun run event. The Swaledale Fell Rescue Organisation is made up entirely of volunteers and relies entirely on fund-raising
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Strange custom to link with a saint
TODAY is the feast of St Bartholomew and in rural Yorkshire, it was known for two things - first, ancient weather lore said that the season's dew arrives on this date and second, it was the occasion for feasts and fairs, one of the survivors being Witton
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Drawing circles in our minds
THE silly season is at its height, so that means crop circles are in the news again. The latest creation, 400 or so perfectly aligned in a mammoth psychedelic swirl 1,500ft across, is baffling even the most sceptical observers. The sheer size and mastery
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Tributes paid to city macebearer
THE Ripon City Council macebearer for the past 17 years, Pat Webb, died last week, aged 72, after a long fight against cancer. Mr Webb, a well-known figure in the community, married long-time friend Audrey Collingham only three weeks ago while in hospital
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This sex bomb just bombed
ANOTHER family holiday over - a holiday which made me realise more than ever before how quickly they're growing up. It probably had a lot to do with six of us being crammed into a mobile home the size of an average garden shed as the worst rains in 50
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Addict jailed for knifepointrobbery
A YOUNG robber who terrified two teenagers at knifepoint was jailed yesterday. Drug addict Kevin Conway, 19, told his young victims it was better to rob them than an old lady, Teesside Crown Court heard. The court was told Conway had held one of the Middlesbrough
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Drawing circles in our minds
THE silly season is at its height, so that means crop circles are in the news again. The latest creation, 400 or so perfectly aligned in a mammoth psychedelic swirl 1,500ft across, is baffling even the most sceptical observers. The sheer size and mastery
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Date
What a tasty idea
WHAT does a farmer do with a large empty house on the side of a busy road? Open a gourmet shop of course. That's what Paul Barkes and his wife Jo have just done with Thorpe Farm Peel House on the A66 near Greta Bridge, making it one of the more unusual
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I just had to walk out on this movie
READERS with children under 18 should take a pair of sharp scissors, cut out this column and hide it well away from prying eyes. In The Picture carries an X-certificate as it mentions matters of an explicit sexual nature and, like Mr Censor, we feel a
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Date
No cold comforts
Whilst 36,000 headed for St James's Park and the evening paper produced neat - if over-optimistic - headlines about Men Against Troyes, the column found itself a few miles to the north at Newcastle Blue Star against Brandon United. Blue Star's Albany
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Tipping battle to continue
RESIDENTS have pledged to continue their campaign against waste tipping in a disused quarry, despite winning a fight against toxic dumping at the site. Waste company Biffa has withdrawn its controversial application to deposit "special waste", including
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Minister in oil venture launch
ENERGY Minister Brian Wilson was on Tyneside yesterday for the inauguration of a new oil production and storage vessel. The Minister of State was at the Swan Hunter yard in Wallsend to see the 700ft-long Global Producer III vessel, which will be used
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Top juveniles set to light up Ripon
RIPON'S traditional two-day bank holiday meeting on Monday and Tuesday is the penultimate fixture of the season at Yorkshire's garden racecourse. Monday's programme begins at 2.20, the principal race being the £20,000 Ripon Champion Two-Year-Olds Trophy
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Sex romp PC tries to save his career
A POLICEMAN forced to quit along with a colleague over a sex romp with a sixth form schoolgirl in the back of a police van is to appeal against the decision. PC Michael Hendy and PC Marc Watson had to resign following a six-month police inquiry into a
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Cash boost for Quakers
THE Quakers Supporter savings account, provided by Darlington Building Society, has again paid a huge dividend into the club's coffers. Launched four seasons ago, the account has now contributed £56,885.79 to the club, with £23,032.80 being raised in
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Where there's a willow, there's a fuel source
A NEW company has been formed to try to kick-start interest in wood as a fuel source. REFA - Renewable Energy From Agriculture - aims to act as the link between farmers interested in growing short rotation willow coppice and end users. "The idea is to
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New worry for tenant farmer
A NEW bombshell has been dropped in the saga of a Guisborough tenant farmer threatened by development. Southlands Management, owners of Home Farm, has withdrawn its appeal against a planning decision, but has submitted new plans which campaigners are
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Witnesses sought after PO raid
DETECTIVES investigating a village post office robbery last night appealed for information from witnesses. Five people were arrested following Wednesday's raid on the premises in Penshaw, near Sunderland, and were yesterday helping police with inquiries
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Girl hurt in skylight fall
A TEN-year-old girl is seriously ill in hospital after plunging six metres to the ground through a plastic skylight. The incident happened after the girl, along with two other ten-year-olds, climbed on to the roof of Caldicotes School, at Brambles Farm
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Trust fights new road proposals
COUNTRYSIDE guardian, the National Trust is to fight proposals for a new road. A bypass being considered by Middlesbrough Council would plough through Trust land on the edge of former stately home, Ormesby Hall, Ormesby, Middlesbrough, which the watchdog
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Speeding row cop may face charge
A police chief who escaped a speeding ticket after claiming he did not know who was driving his car could still be prosecuted, it emerged last night. Detective Superintendent Adrian Roberts, head of Middlesbrough CID, may face a speeding charge under
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Darlington - Stores told to patrol parking
SHOPPERS are being asked to blow the whistle on supermarkets that fail to cater for the disabled. Darlington Association on Disability (DAD) is joining a national campaign to ensure that disabled parking spaces are not used by able-bodied shoppers. The
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Wear Valley - Bid to keep youngsters away from crime
THE Home Office has handed out a £33,000 grant to steer bored youngsters away from crime in Weardale this summer. The money is awarded for schemes that divert young people from vandalism and other petty crimes, which increase during the long summer holiday
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North Yorkshire - Tesco shuts for refit
THE major upgrade and refit of the Tesco superstore in Thirsk is now nearing completion. The store is being doubled in size and work on the upgrade in now in its final phase, with the official opening due on October 1. However, because of the scale of
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Hit-and-run witnesses sought
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a hit-and-run collision involving a car and a pedal cycle. The incident happened at 5pm yesterday, as the cyclist was travelling south along Newport Road, Middlesbrough, towards Newport Bridge. The driver of a red
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Comment from The Northern Echo - No reward in petty criticism
The GCSE results were published yesterday, and yet again suspicions were voiced that examinations were getting easier. Like the A-levels a week ago, it is a great pity that the controversy has overshadowed the undoubted achievements of our children and
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Royal boost for Stockton spectacular
THE Princess Royal will be at the World Canoe Marathon championships in Stockton next week. Princess Anne, who is patron of the challenge, praised the event to be held on the River Tees. In a special statement she said: "I would like to take this opportunity
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The Albany Northern League
Durham City manager Brian Honour has his eye on a money-spinning run in the FA Cup. Once regarded as a financial loss by many non-league clubs, round by round cash awards means a place in the later stages is now very much worth while. Even the winners
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Antique cupboard theft prompts plea
POLICE are appealing for information after an antique cupboard, worth £4,000, was stolen from a removals van. The Georgian mahogany bow-fronted cupboard was among several items of furniture being stored in the van when it was broken into in Middlesbrough
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Marvellous metamorphosis
ONE of the region's biggest success stories over the past few years has been the Hermitage school in Chester-le-Street. As a large, underachieving comprehensive in the early 1990s, it has been transformed into an up-to-date community college with a GCSE
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Teenagers hailed as heroes
TWO teenagers have been praised for saving the life of a pregnant woman. Sam Bennet and Zoe Duncan rescued the woman, who has not been named, after she waded into the sea, off Redcar, last Thursday night. The 16-year-olds had been walking along the Esplanade
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Record GCSE passes as all that hard work pays off
THE anxious wait for thousands of students was over yesterday as celebrations were under way for the record number of GCSE passes. Many schools across the region reported vast improvements on the previous year's pass rates and spoke of dozens of students
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Power station blast still a puzzle
SAFETY inspectors investigating a power station explosion that killed three workers have so far found no evidence of mechanical failure. Andy Sherwood, 36, and Darren Higgins, 28, caught the full brunt of the blast in a transformer at Enron's Teesside
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Hutton skill lights up anniversary match
THIRSK Cricket Club took on an MCC XI at its Newsham Road ground last Thursday as part of the club's 150th anniversary celebrations. Despite dreadful weather in the morning and a heavy defeat, Thirsk chairman George Gifford said the occasion was a great
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The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League
The league kicked-off last weekend, with the usual opening-day recipe of new teams, new names and exciting games full of goals. However, last season's champions Coundon Forrester's - or the Miners Arms as they were known - were thwarted in their attempts
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Durham - Developers face fight over homes
VILLAGERS are gearing up to fight a bid by developers to renew permission for a controversial ten-year-old housing plan. The scheme to build 229 homes on fields near Station Road and Rainton Gate, at West Rainton, won outline approval at appeal in 1991
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Jobs blow as plant closes
THE future of more Teesside jobs is in doubt after BP announced plans to close its polyethylene operations at Wilton. Consultations are taking place with the 81 BP employees who work at the plant, and the company has commited itself to helping them find
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Call for border controls on A66 as FMD threatens
GRAVE fears were expressed this week that foot-and-mouth could return to County Durham after a break of almost three months. A local farmers' leader called for cross-border controls - including disinfecting vehicles - to be set up on the A66. The disease
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Community company could run Esk rail line
A PIONEERING scheme could see Britain's first community company running a railway in North Yorkshire. Masterminded by Dr Paul Salveson and Mr Neil Buxton, of the association of community rail partnerships, the venture could secure the long-term future
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Pony dates
Annual show. - Sept 2: 9.30am, in hand, ridden, working hunter, show hack and show jumping classes. Sae for schedules from Union Hall, Brass Side, Durham DH1 5SG. Sept 30: Combined training, dressage and show jumping. Bedale Hunt SC. - Tomorrow: Barn
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Darlington RA are a two man show!
The Wearside League's newest club is run entirely by secretary Martyn Jackson and manager David Woodcock and the pair are determined to continue the progress which has been made in recent seasons. "We do everything between us. We carry out all the administration
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FMD victim homes in on paintball
FOOT-and-mouth victim Wallis Hodgson hopes his new venture will be a sure fire hit. The Weardale farmer, who lost all his stock to the disease, heeded government advice to diversify and set his sights on a paintball enterprise. Now "Under Siege" is up
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Hardy city folk see off rural wimps
HEALTH experts have long extolled the virtues of fresh country air - as opposed to the choking pollution of the big city - as one of the keys to a long and happy life. But new evidence suggests those roles were reversed centuries ago, with city dwellers
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Market push to combat disease
FARMERS markets across the region are being promoted to try to combat the devastating effects of the foot-and-mouth crisis. The National Association of Farmers Markets has initiated a programme of events to advertise the many markets which had to be rescheduled
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Bridge rebuilding plan suffers blow
A CAMPAIGN to widen a narrow bridge which villagers say is a hazard was dealt a blow this week. Residents of Kirkby Malzeard have complained for years that Creets bridge is too narrow and is a danger to motorists. The stone bridge, which is only wide
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Dancers prepare for festival talent competition
A YOUNG dancer is hoping to put her best foot forward in a talent competition this weekend. Eleven-year-old Lauren Rafferty has signed up to take part in the Orange Darlington Festival with other youngsters from the Born to Dance troupe. Two talent competitions
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Bumper entertainment at Orange festival
THIS year's Darlington Orange Festival starts tomorrow with a host of wild and wacky entertainment planned for the Bank Holiday weekend. The annual event aims to bring street theatre and musical entertainment to people who do not usually get the chance
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Lifeguard praised for rescue off coast
A LIFEGUARD has been praised for his "textbook" actions in saving a teenage refugee from drowning. Ben Campion, 22, rushed to the aid of the Kosovan refugee after he got into difficulties off the coast at Saltburn, east Cleveland, at about 2pm on Wednesday
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Wear Valley - Tragic girl wins place at college
A TRAGIC teenager who was killed in a car accident should have been celebrating A level success. Suzanne Preen, from High Grange, Crook, died just weeks after sitting her A level exams at Wolsingham School, not knowing whether she had achieved the results
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Another three dates for Simon
The Simon Brown Benefit Committee has arranged three events in the next couple of weeks, writes MALCOLM PRATT. On Thursday, August 30, a Durham County side including several regular first-team players, will line up against former Sunderland footballers
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Farmers to face court action over bio-security failure
FARMERS in a foot-and-mouth hotspot who breach the tough precautions in place to fight the disease are being warned they could face court action. Four North Yorkshire farmers have been already been prosecuted and convicted for breaching bio-security regulations
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Adults go back to school for summer
A DARLINGTON school has opened its doors during the summer holidays to teach people new skills. Haughton Community School is running a variety of courses with funding from the Darlington Local Education Authority and the Learning and Skills Council Tees
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Private bank opens in Northallerton
PRIVATE banking has come to Northallerton. Brown Shipley & Co already has merchant and private banking operations in London, Harrogate, Leeds, Manchester and Jersey. Now it has appointed Mr Jonathan Craig (pictured) to head the service alongside its
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Car dealer under siege from thieves
A STOKESLEY car dealer has said thieves have repeatedly broken into his garage and stolen Land Rover parts to order - costing his business £15,000 this year. Mr Paul Hughlock, who owns PVH Land Rover at Stokesley industrial estate, contacted the police
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Next stop: the hospital
A NEW bus service for an East Cleveland hospital has been greeted with delight. The hourly service which will serve the hospital at Brotton from a number of surrounding villages, starts on September 3. A council leader says this will have a major spin-off
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Child prodigies - blessed or cursed?
THEY were a familiar sight along the streets of Oxford - Harry Lawrence with his distinctive black beard always in the front seat of the tandem, daughter Ruth behind, academic gown billowing in the wind. Wherever the duo went they attracted stares, not
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Rape case accused attacked, court hears
A MAN accused of raping a teenage girl was sought out and attacked by a group of her friends, a court heard. They set off vigilante-style in search of Gary Lines, 30, after his 15-year-old victim was seen in a highly distressed state shortly after the
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Police will be kept in picture
AN insurance firm has lent its support to the fight against insurance fraud by donating a digital camera to the police. Royal and SunAlliance (RSA), sponsored the camera to help Cleveland Police tackle the problem. It will be used to enable the first
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Old feuds flare as parishes divide over homes plan
A VILLAGE is split by the news that a developer wants to buy its playing field to build 32 houses. Middleton St George and Low Dinsdale parish councils, whose faulty play equipment could cost £15,000 to repair, now face a new dilemma. Miller Homes is
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Cole seeking talks for £10m Tyne move
ANDY COLE is set to ask Manchester United for permission to talk to Newcastle following Bobby Robson's shock £10m approach to take the former Tyneside idol back to St. James' Park. Newcastle boss Robson will switch his sights to Liverpool's Robbie Fowler
