Archive
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Drivers turning to black market
LORRY drivers are increasingly turning to black market diesel to beat the high cost of fuel, according to haulage leaders. Customs officers have reported a substantial increase in the number of vehicles found with red diesel, a low duty fuel intended
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Environment Secretary gets final say on theatre proposals
THE destiny of a historic theatre rests with Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett, after planners last night gave their blessing to a renovation. Controversy greeted the first draft of proposals which management hoped would help to breathe new life
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Birdkeeper who won't be cooped up in his retirement
A BIRDKEEPER has gone home to roost after 45 years of service. Wilf Watson, 65, has worked as a gardener, with responsibility for the aviaries at South Park, in Darlington, since he was 20, but yesterday was his last day. To celebrate his retirement and
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Move offers improved facilities
A GROUP which provides disabled people with leisure and sports opportunities has moved into new premises. The Durham Area Disability Leisure Group (DADLG), which was based at Sacriston Community Centre, was offered accommodation at the Donald Owen Clarke
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History of flooding hampers factory sale
A FORMER factory could be demolished to make way for a housing estate - but not before a town's flood defences are built. Malton Clothing Factory, in Norton, North Yorkshire, is up for sale, but the town's history of being hit by flooding has meant it
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Geordie Joe red-faced over secret
THE Magpies-mad youngster who stars in the new Coca-Cola commercials is really a Manchester United fan. Joe Cowling, 12, is seen in the TV advertisement leaping up and down in a Newcastle United shirt. But the youngster, who beat 300 others to win the
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Plans for homes due to be approved
COUNCILLORS are today expected to approve plans for a two-storey 60 bed residential home for the elderly. The home will be built on the former Sixth Form College, in Elwick Road, Hartlepool. The arts and crafts block and the covered playgrounds of the
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Manual skills put to ideal test
TRAINING manuals aimed at improving the productivity skills of technicians are being put to the test at Connor Solutions. Wayne Randall, 27, a maintenance engineer with the Houghton-le-Spring company, is helping to put his fellow professionals to the
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Appeal for return of Zac the macaw
A FAMILY is offering a reward after their pet macaw flew the nest. The six-year-old bird, called Zac, escaped on Saturday from Nenthead Close, Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham. Owner Lee Forster said: "She got out of the house and flew
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Plunge 'not suspicious'
THE death of a man who fell 70ft from the window of a town centre flat is no longer being treated as suspicious, police said yesterday. Adam Richard Ely, 30, died instantly after falling from a third-floor flat at the top of the former Talbot Hotel in
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Persimmon's profits take off after Beazer takeover
HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon has unveiled a near £20m increase in half-year profits following its £559m acquisition of rival Beazer this year. Beazer, which included Newcastle-based Leech Homes, agreed to Persimmon's takeover offer in January, with the deal
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£7.5m Lottery winner nets luxury mansion on website
THE NORTH-East's biggest National Lottery winner has splashed out on Hartlepool's most expensive home after spotting it on the Internet. Barry Moss, who won £7.5m on the Lottery last month, has bought the property, which was on the market for £890,000
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Harmison receives call-up
DURHAM'S Stephen Harmison returned home from recording his best one-day bowling figures in Cardiff on Monday to find a Welshman on the phone yesterday. Former Glamorgan captain Hugh Morris, now the ECB's Director of Operations, had the task of informing
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Ryan's Quest for speed is all in the genes
RYAN'S QUEST, a filly with speed to burn, has the pace to open her account in the opener at Catterick this afternoon. Karl Burke's juvenile hails from an extremely quick family, numbering this season's Stewards Cup winner Guinea Hunter amongst her close
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Training group expands
A TRAINING organisation is expanding and has moved to new premises in Hartlepool. City Centre Training was based at Brougham Enterprise Centre, but the company now occupies new premises in Church Street. The move coincides with increasing the workforce
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Cash injection to relieve bed-blocking problem
HEALTH chiefs have announced a £700,000 cash injection to move up to 100 patients out of congested hospitals and into private nursing homes. The money from North Yorkshire Health Authority is aiming to help patients, whose discharge from hospital has
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TV focus on RAF team
FILM crews descended on an RAF base to capture the moments leading up to a world record-breaking attempt by a parachute team. Presenters Fearne Cotton and Jez Edwards, of the BBC's Record Breakers programme, visited RAF Leeming to see a Hercules aircraft
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Extra European cash being sought to create 400 jobs
HUNDREDS of jobs could be created in Darlington over the next three years with the supported expansion of businesses in the town. Darlington Borough Council is planning to extend two initiatives which have already brought 40 jobs and £80,000 to the local
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Hear all sides
MINING I WONDER if Hugh Pender (HAS, Aug 17) could answer a few of the following questions? Has this gentleman ever been down a coalmine? Has he ever lived in a mining community? Has he ever known the fear experienced by those whose husbands and sons
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Ear piercing leaves child disfigured
A YOUNG girl has been permanently disfigured after she tried to follow fashion by having her ear pierced. The girl was just ten years old when she went alone into a hairdressers, in County Durham, two weeks ago and paid £2.50 to have a stud put in the
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Showtime as circus pitches its big top
AN American big top was pitched in Darlington yesterday when the circus came to town. Uncle Sam's American Circus is visiting Darlington for the second time after making a successful debut last year. The non-animal circus starts performances today at
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Call for action over drugs abuse in park
DRUG users gathering in North Lodge Park, Darlington, have brought complaints from residents. They say needles and other drugs equipment have been found in the area. One woman, who asked not to be named, said: "I am very concerned about this. A lot of
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Injury cash is sought by cyclist
CYCLISTS have been warned to negotiate speed bumps with care after a man said he was badly injured falling off his bike. Wilfred Hutchinson, of Drummond Road, Darlington, is seeking compensation from Darlington Borough Council for a shoulder injury he
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Rob will take it from the top
A MANAGER has been appointed for a £43m shopping development. Rob Gildersleeve has been signed up ahead of the opening of Stockton's Wellington Square Centre, in October. Mr Gildersleeve joins after five years as operations manager for Middleton Grange
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Bus drivers on tow for charity
A TOWN centre will be brought to a standstill as bus drivers take a break from driving to pull one of their vehicles through the street. Drivers from Garnett Coaches, in Bishop Auckland, will be joined by rugby players from the town and by boxers from
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Six in a bed starts a new era
AN acting company is bringing repertory theatre to a town for the first time in nearly 50 years. Although Middlesbrough Theatre has co-produced professional shows in the past, this will be its first continuous season of weekly rep. From this week until
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Future uncertain for Viasystems workers
DOUBT remained last night over the jobs of more than 500 North-East employees of an American electronics firm. Frustrated union officials left a meeting with local Viasystems officials, still uncertain over the future of the firm's North Tyneside plant
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Mortgage lending may be at peak
MORTGAGE lending is set to slow after reaching record levels during July, a bankers' group has claimed. According to the British Bankers' Association (BBA) total new lending by the major banking groups was £10.98bn during July. The figure was boosted
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Artistic return of ex-club man
A FORMER North-East nightclub owner turned artist is returning to the region to exhibit his work. Marcus Levey owned Newcastle's legendary 1960s nightclub Dolce Vita with his brothers Norman and David. The club attracted international stars, including
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Social services offer care cash
PEOPLE who use a town's social services will have greater choice under a new "cash for care" scheme. Middlesbrough Borough Council is introducing a direct payment scheme allowing people to either receive a regular care package from social services or
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Operation to reduce crime
A MONTH-LONG operation by Northumbria Police has succeeded in getting dozens of knives off the streets. Operation dagger, aimed at removing weapons which could be used to commit crimes, centred on Newcastle. High profile patrols were also carried out
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Musical picnic tribute to heart attack teenager
RESIDENTS turned out in force to pay tribute to a teenager who died after he suffered a heart attack when playing football with friends. Just hours before his death, Anthony Wilkinson, 15, had received news of an operation on his leaky heart valve. Anthony
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Safety plea to swimmers
POLICE in Teesdale are warning people who decide to take a swim during the hot weather to be extra vigilant. Hundreds of people flocked to Whorlton Lido, near Barnard Castle, during the August Bank Holiday weekend. Police are worried people are people
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'Pool staff not up to job' claim at inquest
A HOLIDAYMAKER claimed pool staff were "not up to the job" at Scarborough's Atlantis water theme park after a 16-year-old drowned. An inquest at the resort heard how John Rudderham was dragged unconscious from the pool last summer, but died next day in
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Sowing the seeds of a brighter future at new stadium
THE world's finest grass seed was delivered to Darlington's new football ground yesterday to ensure the club comes up with the top turf in the land. Already jubilant because of his team's double success at the weekend, the Quakers' chairman, George Reynolds
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Mean youths
A youngster was left stranded after a group of yobs threw her crutches into a tree. The teenager, who does not want to be named, was sitting outside her house in Hartlepool on Sunday evening when the group, who were drunk, took her crutches, which she
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Musician and composer Sturdy dies
LEADING Yorkshire musician and composer Leslie Sturdy has died at the age of 80. Mr Sturdy wrote the song From the Time You Say Goodbye, which was recorded by Vera Lynn, and a Christmas carol, Look Away to Bethlehem, which was performed by Cliff Richard
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Visitors get bird's-eye view of duck race
VISITORS to a beck went quackers as they took part in a Summer Duck Day. The event, at which people sponsored a duck for a race along the beck, was staged at the Billingham Beck Visitor Centre on Monday. The event attracted bemused glances from passers-by
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Club steps in to help martial arts competitor
A HEALTH club chain has come to the aid of a would-be champion in offering free training facilities. Tae Kwondo expert Steve Harbisher was hunting for a suitable venue to train for the world championships in South Korea in November when Middlesbrough's
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Death 'caused by two thrusts of knife'
A TEENAGER died from two thrusts of a knife into his chest an inquest was told yesterday. Wayne Bircham, 19, had a single stab wound to the left side of his chest, said a Home Office pathologist at the Middlesbrough inquest into his killing in Grangetown
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Operation cancellation 'a form of mental cruelty'
A patient was stunned when he was told minutes before he was due to have major heart surgery that his operation had been cancelled. Publican John Archbold, 63, was waiting to be taken into theatre for an operation on a serious swelling of the main artery
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Grants for youth events
COMMUNITY and voluntary groups in Hartlepool are being urged to dip into a £10,000 cash pool to help fund activities for youngsters aged 11 to 19. Grants of up to £1,000 are available, but they can only be used to help fund events in addition to those
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Festival the best ever, say organisers
THIS year's Orange Darlington festival has been declared the best ever, with thousands of people visiting the town. The festival, which took place over the Bank Holiday weekend, included a host of free entertainment, including bands and street entertainers
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Hopes of airport hotel site sale
HOPES are growing that a half-finished North-East hotel complex may find a saviour. An agent hoping to sell the development at Teesside Airport has received "significant interest" in the site. The complex was put up for sale by the Mirage Hotel and Leisure
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New appeal over mum's death
DETECTIVES trying to piece together the last movements of tragic Rachel Littlefair have launched a fresh appeal for witnesses. The young mother's body was found in the bedroom of her house in Lanethorpe Crescent, Darlington, in the early hours of Monday
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Lacemakers stitch up interest of museum visitors
EXPERTS had the ancient art of lacemaking all sewn-up at a North-East museum at the weekend. Beamish Open Air Museum held a demonstration of the craft and had their own collection on display. The two-day event was organised by Beamish and Northumbria
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Soccer fans in fame game
FOOTBALL fans are keeping their fingers crossed as Sunderland AFC prepares to unveil the winners of its One of the Lads competition. The competition, which attracted 10,000 entries, will give one lucky fan the chance of a lifetime to sign for the club
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A1 Good Samaritans praised
MOTORISTS who rushed to help free victims of a crash on the A1M were praised by the emergency services last night. Firefighters said that it was remarkable more people were not hurt when a lorry careered across the central reservation yesterday afternoon
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Officials in chase to quell outbreak
GOVERNMENT vets are involved in a desperate chase to halt the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak, as reported cases reached 13. Fear gripped farming communities in Northumberland when the disease reared its head again on Thursday. The first case, in the Allendale
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Crop yields hit by downpours
CEREAL farmers are facing the worst harvest in living memory in the latest blow to the agriculture industry. The effect of heavy rains in the spring and last autumn, when many fields were flooded, is now being seen in dramatically reduced crop yields,
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'Stay calm' appeal
Fears of a suspected foot-and-mouth outbreak near Hamsterley, County Durham, still loomed over the farming community last night. Sheep at an unnamed farm have already tested positive, but the disease cannot be officially confirmed until the results of
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Dog fails police test
A DOG which failed to make the grade with the police needs a new home. Sam, a two-year-old German shepherd, is being looked after by the National Animal Sanctuaries Support League (NASSL), near Darlington, after he was rejected by Durham Constabulary.
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Why teachers don't like school
Q: How big is the shortage? A: A recent survey by justforteachers.co.uk, which gauges the satisfaction levels in the education world, revealed that more than three quarters of teachers in the North-East are considering quitting their jobs. A worrying
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Cycles open a gateway for disabled
A CHARITY in Durham has become the first organisation the country to receive a delivery of a new range of specialised disability cycles from Germany. Gateway Wheelers has received a £5,500 grant from the Lloyds TSB Foundation to enable it to buy two bikes
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Hamlet homes plan backed
A HAMLET is to be extended after Stockton borough councillors agreed eight houses could be built. The development at Aislaby Village, near Yarm, which dates back to Viking times, will be built to the south of Aislaby Road and to the north of Aislaby Manor
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Hooray for Haakon and his bride
WHAT a brilliant example. The wedding of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway would have been unconventional for a normal family. In a royal one it was absolutely unheard of. Bride and groom have been living together in a modest city centre flat. She has a four-year-old
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Farmers 'led by the nose'
ON April 19, the Government's Chief Scientist, Professor David King, proclaimed the foot-and-mouth outbreak to be "fully under control". Four computer models indicated that, within a month, the number of new cases would be reduced to just one or two per
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More melodies to be unchained
CORUSCATING is a splendoured word, much used in these columns. Chambers defines it as "sparkling, throwing off flashes of light". Most recently we kidnapped it to describe the choir at the High Anglican church of St James the Great in Darlington - a little
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Cricket enthusiast john refuses to be stumped by illness
A TEENAGE cricket enthusiast stricken with the debilitating illness ME has found a way to keep active in his favourite sport. John Holland was a promising junior cricketer with both the Durham City and Chester-le-Street clubs before diagnosis of the disease
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Baby still critical
A 14-MONTH old baby is critically ill in hospital tonight following an incident at a Teesside flat. An ambulance was sent to Hodges House, at Central Mews, Middlesbrough, at around 2am today after the boy's parents reported that he had fallen from the
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Warning after boy shot with air rifle
A TEENAGER is recovering after being shot in the stomach by an air rifle. Wayne Browne, 15, had been playing with friends near a farm in Jarrow, South Tyneside, when the incident happened. The teenager collapsed after the pellet pierced his stomach muscles
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Win with Northern Echo Sport!
ENGLAND entertain Albania at the Riverside next week - and Northern Echo Sport is offering readers the chance of a lifetime to be a flag bearer at the under-21 clash. We've joined forces with the FA to give five children - aged between 8 and 14 - to be
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Cybercrime clouds e-trade
FEAR of cybercrime is hampering the growth of e-commerce among small businesses, according to a report out today. Security fears are deterring many firms from selling goods and services via the Internet, says the survey by business leaders. The CBI research
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Ecstasy girl still critical
THE parents of a teenage girl who lies critically ill in hospital after taking an Ecstasy tablet were last night keeping a vigil by her bedside. The 15-year-old took the drug while at a Middlesbrough night club on Friday night and shortly afterwards became
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River pollution clouds hopes for shipyard
ENVIRONMENTAL problems at a North-East shipyard could prevent it from being brought back into operation. The Cammell Laird yard, on the banks of the river Tees, at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, has been mothballed since April after the company went
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Firm gets go-ahead for GM trial
A NEW crop of genetically-modified oilseed rape is to be planted in the region, a seed firm confirmed yesterday. Aventis CropScience UK has been given a Government licence to plant the crop near the village of Sand Hutton, near York. Aventis seeds manager
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Finned visitors wow seaside crowds
A school of ten dolphins were among a crowd of sunseekers who flocked to the North Sea yesterday to enjoy the scorching temperatures. Diving, circling, and leaping out of the waves, the unlikely visitors delighted the crowds as they frolicked off the
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Student gets cricket call-up
UNIVERSITY officials hope to help a cricket-playing student take up a coveted place on England's winter tour while maintaining his studies. James Foster yesterday became Durham University's first undergraduate to earn a full international call-up since
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Artists support CD project
A CD produced as part of a project for people with mental health problems will be launched at an event in Darlington. The CD called Broken Dolls, includes tracks given by top folk artists, such as Teesside's Vin Garbutt. It is the brainchild of Darlington
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Night-time rescue for world's oldest coastal visitor
THEY are more used to saving people from the perils of the sea - but rescuers were yesterday celebrating an extraordinary operation which saw them preserve vital evidence of the time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. Working by torchlight in the dead of
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Speeding drivers turning town centre into race track
SPEEDING drivers are turning a pedestrian-only town centre into a race track and making people's lives a misery. People living near Bishop Auckland Market Place say they are being plagued by young drivers hurtling through streets at frightening speeds
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Bishop defies violence
A BISHOP is defying violence in his country in keeping a pledge to make keynote visits to North and West Yorkshire. There had been fears that Bishop Kenneth Fernando, recently retired Bishop of Colombo, might call off his visit following recent outbreaks
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Bennett seeks more firepower
CONFIDENT Gary Bennett is still looking to add more firepower to his in-form Darlington squad. The Quakers boss has been impressed with how quickly Danny Mellanby and Barry Conlon have gelled since their summer arrivals. But Bennett, who takes his side
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Society voice their support
A HOSPICE for cancer sufferers is to benefit from a special performance by Richmond's Operatic Society this weekend. Members will be singing favourite songs from West End shows, as well as from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas at the Operatic Hall on the
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Tanni makes a good impression
OLYMPIC golden girl Tanni Grey-Thompson made an impression when she visited a North-East museum. The 31-year-old, who won four medals at the Paralympics in Sydney, was at the National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, yesterday, where her handprint was cast
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Santa blows in for Bank Holiday fun
THEY say Christmas comes but once a year - but that is obviously not so in Chester-le-Street. Necks craned and heads were scratched in disbelief as Christmas came early at Dobbies Garden World, where a 65ft inflatable Santa Claus appeared overnight. Staff
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Parents told of risk with break-ins
PARENTS are being asked to keep an eye on their children in the final few days of the summer holidays after a group of youngsters broke into a warehouse narrowly escaping serious injury or death. Police and businesses around Teesside are urging parents
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Renewed fight over building proposal for 'village green'
BATTLE lines are being drawn for a renewed fight over proposals to build houses on land local people deem their "village green". Last month, Durham Aged Mineworkers' Homes Association (Damha) was refused planning permission to build an eight-bungalow
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Final farewell for Anthony
MORE than 100 mourners gathered for yesterday's funeral of a teenager who died of a heart attack while playing football. Friends and family of Anthony Wilkinson, 15, many of them fellow pupils at Gillbrook Technology College, Middlesbrough, packed St
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Transfer of homes for elderly plans
OLD people's homes could be the latest council service to come under the control of a public-private partnership. Middlesbrough Borough Council is proposing the transfer as part of an overhaul of the way its old people's homes are run. It plans to create
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Spa town seeks better rail links
ELECTRIC trains and more frequent services are being demanded by councillors at Harrogate, who have opened talks with operating companies and the Strategic Rail Authority. The borough council is campaigning for electrification of the line to the spa town
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Women wrap up world record bid
THE Women's Royal Voluntary Service and Women's Institute are preparing to unveil what they hope will be the world's longest scarf. Members aim to beat the current record of 20 miles with the scarf, which has been knitted by people from across Britain
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Labour victory in by-election
LABOUR has maintained a big majority in Derwentside after winning a by-election. Derwentside District Council's Annfield Plain seat became available when Michelle Hodgson resigned after becoming a Durham county councillor. Carl Christer defended the seat
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Split festival is twice the attraction
DETAILS have been confirmed for the second half of this year's Swaledale Festival, which was split in two when the foot-and-mouth crisis was at its worst in North Yorkshire. The first half of the programme was staged in May and June, with organisers delighted
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Gardener plots world record bid
A GARDENER nearly broke the world record - with leeks the height of a child. The pair of blanch leeks measured about 4ft and towered above the competition at the Middlestone Moor Leek and Flower Show. They were grown by John Hayton, 62, at his allotment
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Pop fans flock to open-air concert
THOUSANDS of pop fans turned out to see their heroes take to the stage in a huge open-air concert yesterday. Some of pop's most polished acts, including Steps, A1, the Honeyz, Samantha Mumba and Blue, kept the youngsters happy at the Feel the Noise Live
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Football players attacked by mob
TWO professional football players needed hospital treatment after an unprovoked attack when a night out turned ugly. York City defenders Chris Smith and Neville Stamp were assaulted by a group of men. Centre-back Smith, 20, suffered concussion as a result
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Chance to explore country's hidden heritage
CHURCHES across the region will be opening as part of the Heritage Open Days scheme. The event, organised by the Civic Trust, takes place from September 7 to 10 and offers a chance to explore England's hidden heritage. More than 2,500 properties across
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A glimpse of motoring as it used to be
CLASSIC vehicle fans will be able to see how cars of the past are being restored to their former glory. The North-East Vehicle Restoration Club, which was formed 30 years ago, is holding a show at its premises on the Pattinson Industrial Estate, Washington
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Comment from The Northern Echo; Crisis of their own making
MIKE Tomlinson is telling us nothing new when he says that teacher shortages are at a dangerously high level. Too often in recent times we have seen reports of schools having to rely increasingly on supply staff. Some have had to recruit from overseas
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Hutch set for Hammers return
Sunderland midfielder Don Hutchison has agreed a £5 million move back to West Ham. Hutchison, 30, left the Scotland training camp to undergo a medical at Upton Park last night. He is expected to join the Hammers today after agreeing personal terms with
