Archive
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A 'Wacky' day indeed down in deepest Emley
TUESDAY'S column was wrong to suppose that the population of Emley - who played West Ham in the 1997-98 FA Cup - is "only" 2,000. It's only 1,700. "There was hardly a soul left in the village that day, people seeing the M25 for the first time who'd probably
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No marts until new year - minister
NO livestock markets will be allowed this autumn - but there will be more animal movements between farms to avoid welfare problems among sheep and cattle on the hills. Lord Whitty, Food Chain Minister, this week also announced talks about the individual
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Thieves take quad bikes
QUAD bikes and a ride-on tractor were among equipment stolen in a garage burglary. Police believe the thieves made two trips to the house in Witton-le-Wear, escaping with £4,000 worth of goods. It is thought a trailer taken from the garage was used to
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Fire call fails to dampen fair
Despite losing one of its attractions to an emergency call, Glebe House Residential Home, Fishburn, raised £1,060 from a summer fair, far outstripping expectations. The event, held on the green in front of the home, featured children's rides, craft stalls
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Joan bringing back bronze
A NORTH-EAST sportswoman will be returning to the country this weekend as a medallist from the World Transplant Games. Joan Whitney, 61, of Montague's Harrier, Guisborough, east Cleveland, was a badminton player for many years before she suffered a heart
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Dog training club is aiming for the top
A DOG training club is aiming for the top after qualifying for Crufts for the second year running. Members of the Barney Bullets flyball team, which is part of the Barnard Castle Dog Training Club, in County Durham, hope to snatch a winners' medal when
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Campaigning villagers told speed limit may be increased
A VILLAGE, which has been campaigning two years for extra road safety measures to slow down traffic, has been told this week that the speed restriction could be increased instead. Sandhutton parish council near Thirsk cannot understand why the option
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Testing time for safety system from Nutec
AN international safety and survival centre is providing a test arena for a new generation of life-saving equipment for helicopter crews and passengers. Trials are taking place at the Nutec Centre for Safety, in Billingham, Teesside, on an integrated
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Death of barrister on assault charges
A BARRISTER facing several assault charges has died in Cyprus from cancer. Barry Stewart, formerly of Staithes, North Yorkshire, was told in March that he was expected to return to the UK to answer bail after his case was listed for the 15th time by Teesside
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Borrowing booms despite the gloom
BRITONS are borrowing more money than ever, despite the growing economic gloom, official figures show. The Bank of England said total lending hit £6.14bn in July, the highest figure since its records began in 1993. Consumer credit grew by £1.69bn, about
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When butterflies vanish, things are not always black and white
GARDENERS in the region have been saying it for weeks, and now it is official - 2001 is a bad year for butterflies. During the past few weeks, gardens should have been graced by large numbers of butterflies such as peacocks, red admiral and painted ladies
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Man appears on drug charges
THE son of magician Paul Daniels appeared in court yesterday charged with drugs offences. Paul Newton Daniels, of Northgate, Hartlepool, appeared before magistrates charged with growing cannabis worth £89,000 in his back garden. He did not enter a plea
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The man who gives two hoots about saving barn owls
A DISPLAY focusing on barn owl conservation in North Yorkshire has been intriguing visitors to the Beck Isle Museum, at Pickering. Museum committee member Ted Darlington, above, who is also a member of a local barn owl conservation group, put the exhibition
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Sigh of relief in dale as tests are negative
TEESDALE breathed a sigh of relief this week as a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease proved negative. A spokesman for Defra said an initial test on a sheep at Hamsterley had given a false reading. He described it as a blip that sometimes happened
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Abusive window salesman sacked
A DOUBLE-GLAZING salesman who called a diabetic pensioner with heart problems to "Go out in your vegetable patch and die" has been sacked. Twenty two-year-old salesman Layten Grafton was sacked after the outburst from his job with New Look Home Improvements
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Group seeks to develop green belt
A GREEN campaign group will be holding a meeting in Redcar next month as part of an ongoing scheme to establish a green belt around the urban fringes of Teesside. Earlier this year, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) together with
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Plan to convert builder's yard sparks protests
A SCHEME to convert a builder's yard into an area for industry in a village near Ripon has sparked protests from a parish council, a county councillor and a string of residents. When a planning application for change of use at the site, in Mankin Lane
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Hear All Sides
Letters from The Northern Echo GEORGE DENT NURSERY I WOULD like to take the time to commend Mrs Pennington, her staff and volunteers of George Dent Nursery, Elms Road, Darlington, in the excellent work they do. The nursery itself has been highly acclaimed
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Joan bringing back bronze
A NORTH-EAST sportswoman will be returning to the country this weekend as a medallist from the World Transplant Games. Joan Whitney, 61, of Montague's Harrier, Guisborough, east Cleveland, was a badminton player for many years before she suffered a heart
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Smashed to atoms by lightning
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - On Sunday evening, about eight o'clock, a violent thunderstorm passed over Easingwold. The lightning struck three new houses in Longstreet. A fall-pipe was smashed to atoms, the chimney stacks were hurled down, and
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Collett aims to keep pulling out all the stops
IN-FORM Darlington keeper Andy Collett is confident he can maintain the high standards he is setting himself. The Quakers go into tomorrow's clash with Lincoln City on a high after winning their last three matches, and Collett has been inspirational between
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The phoenix from foot-and-mouth
IT WAS during the long dark days of spring that the region's naturalists began to think the unthinkable. Agriculture was in the most severe crisis it had ever known as foot-and-mouth ran riot and the countryside was scarred with images of smouldering
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It's party time as children receive £500-worth of toys
YOUNGSTERS at an expanding village playgroup have taken delivery of £500-worth of new toys. A grant from the County Durham Foundation has enabled the West Rainton Mother and Toddler Group to buy toys and equipment to keep its members entertained. Yesterday
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Farm flowers are cull memorial
FLORAL memorials to the thousands of animals culled in Wensleydale because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic were hung on many farm gates over the bank holiday weekend. They were put there by farmers' wives who were so aware of the devastating effect of
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Youth club re-opens
A YOUTH club for youngsters in Redcar is to open again at the beginning of the new term. Fusion Junior Youth Club, based at St Alban's School on Yew Tree Avenue, is aimed at seven to 11-year-olds in the west Redcar area and is run by Churches Together
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Sartorially satisfied
THAT'S another thing they don't tell you about - Work Placements. This is actually a pretty good wheeze. As a term or a year out of a university course, they give students a taste of the real world and send them out to work for their living. This means
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Helping arm of the law
A POLICEMAN gave a helping hand to shoppers yesterday to raise money for a youth project. PC Jonathan Stoker, from Darlington, joined youngsters from the Blitz Bus project at the town's Asda store. The bus travels around Darlington offering young people
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Bowls News
Durham and District League - Leeholme moved nine points clear at the top following their whitewash success over the relegated King George V. Second placed, Ever Ready/Craghead struggled at Bowburn, where they just edged through to a two points victory
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Committee takes just ten minutes to agree to support £1m theatre scheme
AMBITIOUS plans to extend and improve Richmond's Georgian theatre royal, said to be the best of its type in Europe, won the unanimous backing of Richmondshire councillors this week. The district planning committee took just ten minutes to grant permission
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Consett & Stanley - Reprint of old map goes on sale
THE WAY it was in a northern pit community has been mapped out for posterity. The 1895 ordnance survey map of Annfield Plain, Oxhill, Catchgate and West and East Kyo, all near Stanley, has been reprinted and is now on sale. But some of the most fascinating
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Consett & Stanley - Parents fight for road death justice
PARENTS of a North-East woman killed by a drink-driver have joined forces with a national road victims charity to call for tougher sentences. It was a year ago this Tuesday when 30-year-old Susan Briggs was killed along with two friends when three-times
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Famous church hit by child vandals
A MEDIEVAL church which is a popular tourist spot en route to the Yorkshire Dales has been attacked by vandals. But the vandalism at West Tanfield parish church, near Ripon, will not lead to its being locked up during the day said the rector, the Rev
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How to be a good little mixer
I KNOW, I know, you're trying to get on with sewing on name tapes and trying to find the school socks stuffed down the back of the drawer, meanwhile your children think they're still on holiday and want to be entertained. If you can't turn them out into
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Zidler on the hoof
ONE of the abiding images from the new movie musical extravaganza Moulin Rouge is the sight and sound of British actor Jim Broadbent, resplendent in huge fat suit and ginger wig, cavorting with dancers while singing Madonna's hit Like A Virgin. Yet when
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A 'Wacky' day indeed down in deepest Emley
TUESDAY'S column was wrong to suppose that the population of Emley - who played West Ham in the 1997-98 FA Cup - is "only" 2,000. It's only 1,700. "There was hardly a soul left in the village that day, people seeing the M25 for the first time who'd probably
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ITP wraps up Smart Award funding
A SAFER form of protective polythene lining for reservoirs, waste tips and new housing sites is being developed in North Yorkshire. Industrial Textiles and Plastics (ITP), of York, has won a DTI-sponsored Smart award to improve the chemical resistance
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Ambulance merger results in costs, not savings
AMBULANCE chiefs have been accused of concealing the true costs of a merger. A report has highlighted the need to spend £1.2m a year to bring the North-East Ambulance Trust service up to scratch. The Durham and Northumbria ambulance services merged into
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Step-father charged in baby death
THE step-father of a 14-month-old baby boy who died on Wednesday appeared in court today charged with murder. Richard Anthony Baxter, 30, of Hodges House, Central Mews, Middlesbrough, was remanded in custody by Teesside magistrates until September 6,
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Rural revival
THE report commissioned by the Countryside Agency on the impact of foot-and-mouth disease sets out starkly the full financial effects of the last seven months of despair - about £8.8bn. While the direct costs of the disease - the slaughter, the testing
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Trio arrange trip
THREE A-level students were so shocked by the poverty they witnessed on a trip to Belarus that they raised money for a group from the former Soviet republic to holiday in England. Mark Tallon, Gavin Arnold and Doug Tailby, all aged 18, visited Belarus
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Police save viaduct man
A MAN who threatened to throw himself from a busy viaduct was last night rescued by police. Trained negotiators managed to secure a line around the man, believed to be in his twenties, shortly after 8pm last night before leading him to safety. Onlookers
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Tragedy family get leave to appeal
THE family of a father-of-two who received fatal brain injuries after being punched have been granted leave to appeal against his killer's sentence. Paul Simpson, of Askrigg Street, Darlington, was the victim of what a court heard was an "extremely dangerous
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Letters: Animal harm
Sir, - I am saddened that once again the public is being misled about the truth about farming. The lucky public at the NFU roadshow in Darlington were able to milk a wooden cow and see baby chicks. The milk that we drink comes from cows that are milked
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Snooker News
Worthington CIU Summer League - Wheatley Hill A went down to their second consecutive defeat when they entertained Shotton Palms, but still seem likely to take the League Championship as they still hold a seven points advantage with just three matches
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N-E firm flags up the flagmakers
A YARM publishing company, set up by a former ICI marketing man, has responded to international demand by producing a second edition of a trade guide to one of the world's oldest businesses - flag making. ATI Publications' book, Flag Industry Focus, features
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Historic buildings open doors to public
THE engine room of Newcastle's Swing Bridge and the Georgian Theatre at Richmond, North Yorkshire, are among the North-East's historical buildings opening to the public for free next week. More than 2,500 properties across Britain, which are normally
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Jason earns his stripes at Sunderland
A BEDALE High School pupil has just completed a successful year at the Sunderland FC U13 Academy. Jason Pollock (pictured above), who is about to start in year ten in September, is captain of the school and area football teams. He trains twice a week
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Durham - Family four face burglary charges
FOUR members of a family of Romanian gypsies have been charged with a series of burglaries in North-West Durham. A man, two women and a teenage girl were initially arrested in Berwick in Northumberland on Friday, accused of shoplifting. But they were
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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. Darlington & District RC. - Sept
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Neglect leads to ban for Horse of the Year owner
THE owner of a former Horse of the Year has been banned from keeping animals for ten years after she neglected a chestnut mare. Joanne Eleanor, 30, of Red House Farm, on Stockton's Moorhouse Estate, was also given a two months prison sentence, suspended
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New Micra could boost fortunes of N-E plant
NISSAN will unveil the new super-mini later this month in a bid to reverse the fortunes of its North-East car plant. The Micra does not go on sale in the UK until the end of next year. With demand for Nissan cars sliding across Europe, bosses admit there
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Cricket News
Roseberry Group North East Durham League Gary Shaw was the toast of Sunderland Hospitals when he took all ten Belford House wickets for 39 runs in 20.5 overs. Shaw, whose previous best performance was an eight wickets haul in their game with Craghead,
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Another bridge in spotlight
A FAMOUS Teesside bridge is to be featured in a revival of the class- ic 1980s comedy Auf Wiedersehen Pet. Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge will be used for several days' filming of the show based on the exploits of Geordie bricklayers. First screened
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Plans lodged for Olympic swimming pool
PLANS for the North-East's first Olympic-size swimming pool have moved a step towards reality. An outline planning application has been submitted to build the 50-metre, eight-lane pool next to Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light. A consortium led by the
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Surgeries held
COUNCILLORS are holding surgeries in the following Redcar and Cleveland wards: Tomorrow: Guisborough, Raithwaite House, Wilton Lane Estate, 11am-noon; Lockwood and Skinningrove, Carlin How Community Centre, 11am-noon; Loftus, Loftus Library, 10.30am-noon
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Death driver hunt reveals more clues
POLICE hunting a hit-and-run driver who killed a cyclist last week have more clues to go on after checking vehicles using the same road a week after the accident. More than 200 vehicles were stopped on the A658 between Harrogate and Pool-in-Wharfedale
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Museum considers 'Bowes Buddies' to beat vandals
A "BOWES Buddies" scheme is to be launched by the Bowes museum to help combat vandalism in the grounds. The initiative aims to establish a link with children who play in, and sometimes vandalise, the Barnard Castle museum's park. It is being taken forward
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The Northern Echo Darlington Sunday Invitation League
Spraire RA found the perfect response to their midweek cup defeat by Coundon Forresters, by defeating The Northern Echo to become the early pace-setters. A Richie Hindle hat-trick set Spraire on the way, and Graham Dodsworth rounded the Echo keeper to
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Angling News
Darlington's Chris Gowling tasted victory for the second successive Sunday following his River Wear glory to take the Yarm AA Danby Cup on the Tees, writes JEFF HERBERT. The recently re-opened Fisheries Bend since foot-and-mouth restrictions were introduced
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Volunteer's hard work rewarded
A GUISBOROUGH woman has received recognition for her help in a charity shop. Ruth Cartwright has worked as a volunteer at the Help the Aged shop, in the Market Place at Guisborough, for five years and was presented with a certificate by Coun Vilma Collins
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Lifeguard saves youth from sea
A LIFEGUARD has been praised for his "textbook" actions in saving a refugee from drowning. Ben Campion, 22, rushed to the aid of the Kosovan refugee in difficulties off the coast of Saltburn last week. Mr Campion plunged into the water with a surfboard
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Record number travel on cliff lift
THE Victorian cliff lift at Saltburn has enjoyed one of its best-ever Bank Holidays. More than 2,756 passengers went up and down the funicular lift, which connects the promenade and pier with the town. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said more than
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Call out for new lollipop people
A SHORTAGE of lollipop men and women has left a local authority in a sticky situation. With the start of the new school term fast approaching, Darlington Borough Council needs more crossing patrol people. There are 44 school crossings in the town, but
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Electronic project records local history
MORE than 100 heritage projects have been set up across the North-East to help compile an electronic equivalent of the Domesday Book. Tomorrow's History, Britain's first regional studies website, encouraged local organisations to come up with ideas for
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Chester le Street - Chester boss Bryson quits
PAUL Bryson has resigned as manager of Chester-le-Street due to his coaching commitments with Sunderland FC Academy. Bryson runs the Sunderland U13s who now train on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. "It means I will miss all Chester-le-Street's midweek
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Steelers duties keep Kent away
SKIPPER Mick Kent will miss Darlington Mowden Park's opening national league match tomorrow in the hope of lifting a national trophy with Rugby League team Teesside Steelers. As the Steelers' player-coach, Kent has involved several of the Mowden players
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Approval for car showroom
A NEW garage and car showroom is to be built on the industrial estate in Colburn after winning planners' approval. Five full-time and one part-time job will be created when the garage opens. However, the project did not go through entirely unopposed.
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Accident leads to road safety changes
ROAD safety measures have been carried out on a South Bank road where a youngster was knocked down earlier this summer. Eight-year-old Hennry Marriott suffered severe head injuries when he was struck by a motorcycle on Cromwell Road in May. Redcar and
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Elderly get attack alarms
PENSIONERS in east Cleveland are being given personal attack alarms by the local authority. The scheme is part of a borough wide initiative, organised by Coun Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. He
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Six decades in cricket for Ron
Newton Aycliffe stalwart Ron Mitchie is now playing in his sixth decade, after starting out with the club following his move from Reading way back in 1952. His parents came up to the North-East and Ron immediately started playing with Newton Aycliffe
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Scottish success for perfect partnership
A HORSE with a reputation for bucking off his owners has worked a treat for North Yorkshire rider Julia Picken. Broken Rule helped her clinch a good win in the B and C class on the first day of the summer show at Renfrewshire in Scotland. This upgraded
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40,000 new jobs is agency target
REGIONAL development agency One NorthEast has unveiled plans to create more than 40,000 jobs and 4,000 businesses in the next three years. The plans are set out in the agency's Regional Action Plan (Rap), a document which looks at ways of improving life
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Former 999 worker revels in brush with art
SELF-taught artist Russell Stoves is holding an exhibition of his work at an east Durham gallery. Mr Stoves, who lives in Peterlee, County Durham, has been interested in art since his days at school, but only had limited time to paint during his National
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'Go and die in the veg patch' salesman told heart victim
A DOUBLE-glazing salesman told a pensioner with heart problems to "go and die in the vegetable patch" after he cancelled a window order. The salesman, from New Look windows in Stockton, also hurled abuse at 68-year-old Christopher Sturgeon, calling him
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Avast there me hearties, for a day of pirate pandemonium
YOUNGSTERS sampled the cut-throat world of piracy with Captain Bullock, alias Dafe Bullock, above, yesterday. The captain led them in seafaring adventures as part of Pirate Pandemonium, at Flatts Lane Woodland Country Park, in Normanby. Many of those
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Ecstasy girl loses battle for life
A TEENAGER who lay critically ill in hospital for almost a week after taking an Ecstasy tablet has died. Lisa Teasdale, 15, from Middlesbrough, died yesterday afternoon at Middlesbrough General Hospital with her parents at her bedside. She had been in
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Darlington - Festival has bright future
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 for all the family, including top bands
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Man denies being in pub with shotgun
A MAN accused of threatening staff and customers in a pub with a sawn-off shotgun yesterday told a court that witnesses were mistaken as he had not been there that day. Teesside Crown Court heard that 6ft 8in Shaun Conroy, also known as Shaun Porritt,
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More buses running as cash injection boosts services
MORE buses will be running across North Yorkshire from the weekend as an injection of cash from the Government takes effect. Westminster announced it would be pumping extra money into the public transport network earlier this year - but it has taken time
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Old smithy becomes new business venue
A CONVERTED blacksmith's workshop near Richmond is being offered to businesses for meetings and small conferences after a £35,000 renovation. The smithy, in the grounds of Aske Hall, was renovated by Rural Solutions for Zetland Estates. The work took
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Warning to arsonists after farm barn blaze
YOUNG arsonists, who set hay bales on a Wensleydale farm alight, will face prosecution if they are traced as a result of an investigation into the fire. Crews from Leyburn and Richmond were called to put out the flames, which started in a barn. They were
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Buffalo meat on sale as farmers' mart gets going
FARMERS' markets are continuing their comeback after the devastation of foot-and-mouth disease. After months of wrangling and delays caused by the epidemic, Richmond finally begins to hold regular farmers' markets on Saturday, September 15. Farmers will
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Baggage handlers strike continues
A LAST ditch attempt to prevent an airport baggage handlers strike over pay will continue tomorrow. which could disrupt thousands of holiday-makers will continue tomorrow. The strike could distrput thousands of holiday-makers heading for warmer climes
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The UniBond League
Bishop Auckland and Spennymoor both had keeper trouble at the weekend, writes RAY SIMPSON. After winning at Hucknall on Saturday, Bishops went to Blyth on Monday, but finished the game with only ten players on the field after using all their three subs
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Shearer hands awards to trio
THREE former Durham High School pupils collected their gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards at a Buckingham Palace garden party. They were presented with their awards by Newcastle United footballer Alan Shearer, who was also invited to the event. Elizabeth Ledger
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Breaking out the bubbly
AFTER one of the world's biggest cranes inched up the Tyne to put her in place, she has made her first "blink" and allowed the first boat to sail underneath her magnificent arc. Now, at last, the £22m Millennium Bridge is preparing for use by the public
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A chance to enter the dragon race
A CHILDREN'S hospice is looking for volunteers to take part in a fundraising dragon boat race at the weekend. Six teams signed up for the event, in aid of the Butterwick Children's Hospice in Stockton, but one dropped out at the last minute. The organisers
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Funding package keeps Unipres driving forward
UNIPRES (UK) has secured a major deal with car manufacturer Nissan following a £17m funding package from Bank of Scotland business Banking. The funding will enable the Sunderland automotive parts manufacturer to purchase high-tech machinery to produce
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Murton enjoy season finale
Boddingtons Durham Coast League Under-13s Murton celebrated winning the championship when they defeated Marsden by 40 runs in their final game of the season. When they batted first Murton posted the useful total of 105 for eight mainly due to the efforts
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Top Charolais go for meat
A TOP Charolais breeder is losing thousands of pounds because the foot-and-mouth crisis is forcing him to sell pedigree cattle for meat. Mr Billy Turner, with his daughter Miss Sarah Turner of Brampton Hall Farm, Skelton-on-Ure, near Ripon, has a stock
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Chester le Street - Nursery able to extend free sessions
A NURSERY in Chester-le-Street nursery has been awarded Government funding for all its eligible three-year-olds. Selby Cottage Daycare Centre, which last year received an excellent Ofsted report, can now offer free sessions to all eligible children under
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Village considers its options as a new burial site is sought
HUTTON RUDBY will soon need extra land for burials, because the cemetery next to the parish church is almost full. New sites, possibly on the outskirts of the village, are being sought by the parish council, which may have to take out a loan to buy some
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Redcar teenager jumps into Wembley limelight
STEPHANIE Robinson, from Redcar, will be making her debut at the Horse of the Year Show at Wembley after qualifying at Birchinley Manor, Rochdale. The 15-year-old was riding the seven-year-old Little Irish Lad, which was fourth in the 60-starter Blue
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Friends' farewell to popular publican
MEMBERS of the licensing trade will join friends and relatives of a publican at his funeral service today. Keith Embleton, licensee at the Duke of Wellington, at Merryoaks, near Durham City, died last Saturday after a seven-week fight against cancer.
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How to be a good little mixer
I KNOW, I know, you're trying to get on with sewing on name tapes and trying to find the school socks stuffed down the back of the drawer, meanwhile your children think they're still on holiday and want to be entertained. If you can't turn them out into
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Tenants promised home improvements
COUNCIL houses will receive £155m worth of improvements after residents endorsed a transfer to a new owner. In a ballot conducted by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, 89 per cent of tenants voted to transfer the ownership and management of council
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Quartet ready for trials
FOUR riders from the region are competing in the Burghley Pedigree Horse Trials this weekend, this year's only European four-star event. Foot-and-mouth forced the cancellation of Badminton trials in the spring and left competitors with few chances to
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Comment from The Northern Echo - Bringing hope from tragedy
IT is impossible to remove the peril of drug-taking from teenagers in our society. Whether because of peer pressure or curiosity, the temptation is often too great to resist. The best we can do, through education, is to make young people fully aware of
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Trouble with salesmen
Another double glazing company apologised to a man in Stanley, County Durham, in 1996 after a salesman made V-signs, when the man refused to let him in the house. Two salesmen from the same company threatened to set fire to a Blackhall Colliery pensioner's
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The Wearside League
Boldon CA played almost half an hour with just eight men yet still gained a 1-1 draw with Harton and Westoe on Wednesday night, writes MALCOLM PRATT. In an incident-packed game, Stephen Williams was sent off just after the interval for a handling offence
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Jazzman Melly bids Anthony farewell
JAZZMAN George Melly was one of many mourners who turned up to give a North-East man a fine send off at his funeral. Artist Anthony Earnshaw died last week, aged 76, and at his funeral in Saltburn, on Tuesday, mourners, including Mr Melly, lined up to
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Man burned in mine accident
A MAN is recovering in hospital with burns following an accident at a North-East mine. The incident took place at Cleveland Potash Mine, the country's deepest underground mine, at Boulby, east Cleveland, on Monday, but details have only just emerged.
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Massacre PC 'once held kids hostage'
A policeman who bludgeoned his North-East wife and two of his four children to death with a hammer before hanging himself was arrested two years ago after a violent row with his wife, it was revealed last night. PC Karl Bluestone, 36, was not charged
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Amec looks for bonus in downturn
ENGINEERING and construction firm Amec has claimed the global economic slowdown could be a bonus for the group. Amec, of Northwich, Cheshire, works in a variety of areas, including oil and gas, power, infrastructure, outsourcing and public private partnerships
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Bank workers 'will seek redundancy'
THE number of workers wanting to take redundancy from bank Lloyds TSB will far outweigh the 500 volunteers being sought because of the low morale of staff, a union has claimed. Unifi attacked the bank for axing the jobs from its branch network over the
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Funeral tributes to tragic Nicola
FAMILY, friends and colleagues gathered yesterday to pay tribute to 27-year-old Nicola Impett, who was found dead with knife wounds at her parents' home. More than a hundred mourners gathered at St Augustine's Church, in Larchfield Street, Darlington,
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Waste of money or vital to view? Clash over site visits
TWO planning site visits in Cleveland were this week slammed as a total waste of time and money. After members of Redcar and Cleveland planning committee had been out to check two applications, Coun Dave McLuckie said: "This was the biggest waste of public
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The Albany Northern League
Bedlington bounced back to form with a 6-1 thrashing of Morpeth on Bank Holiday Monday. The champions lost their first two matches, but they picked up six points from the weekend after beating Peterlee 2-1 on Saturday. They led 4-0 at half time, with
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Musicians' chance to make notes
MUSICIANS will have the chance to train as teachers with the relaunch of a college course. Following the success of the instrumental facilitator course at Middlesbrough College when it was run three years ago, it is being repeated from October. Lasting
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Threat of fresh campaign over forest gateway
PROTESTORS refuse to believe assurances that access to a woodland reserve is not earmarked for a new road to Darlington golf club. There is access from Barmpton Lane to Skerningham Manor, whose owner, Mr Martin Corney, is involved with the Tees Forest
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Sartorially satisfied
THAT'S another thing they don't tell you about - Work Placements. This is actually a pretty good wheeze. As a term or a year out of a university course, they give students a taste of the real world and send them out to work for their living. This means
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North Yorkshire - Garrison set for a new look
AMBITIOUS plans for a multi-million pound scheme to help secure the long-term economic future of a town centre have been revealed. The proposals are the result of several years' work by Army and council chiefs to revitalise Catterick Garrison. Among the
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A proper cause for our concern
MANY drivers are getting hot and bothered over news that police are introducing more speed cameras and cracking down on speeding generally. "A pox on taxing cameras", "Driving us out" and "Stop this car conspiracy" were just some of the headlines on articles
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Counting cost of axed parade
THE costs to the taxpayer of the ill-fated Love Parade came to light as the inquest into its failure rumbled on yesterday. Leading officials at Newcastle City Council were called before a committee to explain just how and why the Radio One dance festival
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Dog training is club aiming for the top
A DOG training club is aiming for the top after qualifying for Crufts for the second year running. Members of the Barney Bullets flyball team, which is part of the Barnard Castle Dog Training Club, in County Durham, hope to snatch a winners' medal when
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'Scapegoat' bus firm blames changes to tokens scheme
A BUS company is angry at being made a scapegoat in the takeover of Darlington routes. Leven Valley withdrew its 32 and 33 services, which ran hourly from Morrison's supermarket in North Road, through the town centre to Mowden, on July 21. The firm, based
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Youngsters show artistic talents at Phoenix Festival
THE artistic talents of youngsters in Derwentside have been harnessed over the summer. And it is all down to the Phoenix Festival, organised by the Busy Ape arts group for youngsters during the school holidays. For two weeks, youngsters aged between 11
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Tennis tuition offered
YOUNGSTERS aspiring to be the next Tim Henman can take tennis lessons in Saltburn from next month. The classes, for under-nines and under-13s, have been organised by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Sports Development Team and will take place at
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Wear Valley - School celebrates record-breaking exam year
STAFF and students at a Shildon school are celebrating after securing their best-ever examination performance. At Sunnydale School, 33 per cent of students achieved the benchmark figure of five or more GCSE passes at A* to C grades. Two years ago the
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Home improvements firm preyed on vulnerable
A TEAM of crooked salesmen preyed on the elderly and infirm after being ordered to target "coffin dodgers". The company boss and employees of Global Seal Home Improvements conned more than £30,000 from vulnerable customers by persuading them they needed
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Darts News
Willington League - Last season's champions, the Victoria Club crashed to their second defeat when they only took three points from the visiting Prospect Club. Only Bob Hall managed to take a singles point for the Victoria, whilst the Prospect had points
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Gladys calls it a day after most depressing year at tea rooms
MRS Gladys McDonald will miss three things in her well earned retirement - her supply of spring water, the view from her front room and her wood-burning stove. The water and the spectacular view for 50 miles to Wensleydale and beyond have been two of
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Helping arm of the law
A POLICEMAN gave a helping hand to shoppers yesterday to raise money for a youth project. PC Jonathan Stoker, from Darlington, joined youngsters from the Blitz Bus project at the town's Asda store. The bus travels around Darlington offering young people
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Wellock's World
COME on Athers, just because Yorkshire have won the title for the first time for 33 years there's no need to go into a big sulk and hang up your boots. Or is it because, for an intelligent man, there has to be more to life than gearing yourself up every
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A proper cause for our concern
MANY drivers are getting hot and bothered over news that police are introducing more speed cameras and cracking down on speeding generally. "A pox on taxing cameras", "Driving us out" and "Stop this car conspiracy" were just some of the headlines on articles
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Zidler on the hoof
ONE of the abiding images from the new movie musical extravaganza Moulin Rouge is the sight and sound of British actor Jim Broadbent, resplendent in huge fat suit and ginger wig, cavorting with dancers while singing Madonna's hit Like A Virgin. Yet when
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MP launches pool bid
A PUBLIC meeting is being held by Redcar MP Vera Baird to launch her campaign to get the town a swimming pool. The meeting will be held tomorrow, at noon, in Redcar's Coatham Memorial Hall. It will be the first meeting of Get Redcar a Swimming Pool (Grasp
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Murder hunt launched
A murder hunt was under way last night after a man was attacked in a street. The victim, who was in his sixties and of Chinese origin, was taken to Newcastle General Hospital but died last night. He had been seen arguing with another man before the assault
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Games News
Crook League - The play off for the Second Division Championship could not have been closer when Crook Spitfire Club beat Crook Surtees in the enforced deciding frame in the match played at Crook Olde Horse Shoe. There was never anything to choose between
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Nightclub date for TV hardman Craig
EASTENDERS bad boy Dirty Dan will be dishing the dirt on Albert Square during a visit to a North-East nightclub this weekend. The BBC 1 villain, played by actor Craig Fairbrass, will be signing autographs and posing for pictures during a visit to the
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Frustration as high street store remains boarded up
A TOWN-CENTRE property which housed a famous North-East family business has been condemned as a mess and an eyesore. The former Dressers store in High Row, Darlington, closed in April after more than 100 years of trading. It was bought by Teesside developer
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Class war played out on stage
FOUR young actors are taking to the stage to portray a futuristic battle of the classes as a civil war looms. Bishop Auckland-based Jacuzzi Theatre thrilled crowds with its debut performance of Bouncers at the town hall last year. Now the company is back
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Happy Easter on verge of Wales call-up
HARTLEPOOL'S Jermaine Easter was last night celebrating after learning that he is on the verge of his first Welsh Under-21 call-up. The Cardiff-born striker has been placed on manager Jimmy Shoulder's stand-by list for their next two European Championship
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Cost to county's tourism industry hits £300m mark
THE tourism industry in Yorkshire has lost an estimated £300m since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the county in March. Now a £1m-plus recovery package has been put together to regenerate interest in the region from holidaymakers and day trippers
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Collett keeps Pirates at bay
THE sun really shone on Darlington over the bank holiday weekend as Quakers picked up six points out of six with excellent wins over Hartlepool United and Bristol Rovers. A superb save from Andy Collett and some stout defending put Gerry Francis' Pirates
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Joanne takes bullying fight to the top
schoolgirl Joanne Geldart took her plea for more action on bullying direct to Number 10 yesterday. The courageous 14-year-old, who contemplated suicide in her darkest moments, became a figurehead for a children's commissioner campaign, led by the NSPCC
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A land of ironmasters and old soldiers
TO Saltburn, the other weekend, to see the Charleston danced in the old Primitive Methodist church; to walk out along the newly re-opened pier into what its sponsors in 1869 were pleased to call the German Ocean ... ... to hear a swinging version of Pennies
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Theme park worker will not face charges
A THEME park worker who was arrested over the death of a talented student in a rollercoaster accident will not face any criminal charges, police said today. The man was arrested on June 24, four days after Durham University student Gemma Savage was involved
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Racing Week by Jo Scott
CATTERICK Bridge saw the head-to-head battle between the current jockeys' champion, Kevin Darley, and the past king, Kieren Fallon, wound up a notch or two as Darley took a brace while Fallon remained winnerless. Darley won for Tim Easterby, who had another
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Swimming News
Most of Europe's fastest long distance swimmers will be competing in the Scarborough North Bay on Saturday and Sunday when the European open water super cup final is staged there over five and ten km courses, writes ERIC WILKINSON. London's Paula Wood
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Graveyard puzzle over missing family
CHURCHWARDENS in a Cleveland village are making an appeal for relatives of a family buried in the local graveyard. Four members of the Johnson family lie in the cemetery of St Peter's Church, Hilton. But church workers have been unable to contact relatives
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Healthy plans for fitness club expansion
BANNATYNE Fitness, the UK's largest independent health club operator, is planning an ambitious expansion across the UK. And the North-East firm has appointed a new commercial director to mastermind its expansion. Nigel Armstrong, from Darlington, will
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People are more important than time
SAUSAGES, cricket and grandparents might seem a strange combination. But for one family, who have chosen to make their home among some of the world's poorest peoples, they are the things they miss most when away from England for up to two-and-half-years
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The eagle has landed - in Eggleston
AN 8FT-tall wooden eagle, which has been causing much interest at its present resting place in Eggleston, will soon be winging its way to its intended home. The sculpture, made from specially imported South American cedarwood, has been made by artist
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Letters: Let Mr Bird stay
Sir, - Leyburn Town Council's proposal to fit gates to the shelter in the market place (D&S, Aug 24) will distress many of its regular users, and not only the youngsters who voiced their disapproval at the council meeting on August 20. If the shelter
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In step for a new home
A POPULAR event for dog owners and their four-legged friends took place in Saltburn. Following the success of last year's event, the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (Sara), staged a Sponsored Walkies Fun Day around the Valley Gardens on Monday. Commencing
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Soldiers to stop foot-and-mouth
SOLDIERS have been drafted in to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease after three new cases were confirmed today in the Hexham area of Northumberland. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed outbreaks at Low Eshells, Hexham
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Design work to promote learning skills
TWO artwork projects are opening up business opportunities for groups of people with learning difficulties by giving them a chance to develop creative ventures. Managed and run by Cleveland Arts, they are part of the Articulate Programme funded by the
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£10m for the fight against criminals
THE North-East's crime tsar secured £10m for the fight against criminals in his first year in the job. Alan Brown, former deputy chief constable with Northumbria Police, was appointed regional crime director by the Home Office in July last year. His job
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North Yorkshire - Villages get spy cameras
TWO village communities are celebrating a breakthrough in a lengthy battle against vandals after ambitious plans to install security cameras were approved. The Home Office has awarded a grant of more than £250,000 to the parishes of Scotton and Hipswell
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Scheme ends with a splash
YOUNGSTERS who took part in an activity programme were treated to a boat trip to mark its close. Participants in Splash, a five-week programme based at West Redcar Youth Club, set sail for their final event aboard the Teesside Princess last Friday. The
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Dilemma in plan to move footpath
DIVERTING a public footpath in a Hutton Rudby conservation area would give the new owners of a cottage direct but private access to their nearby paddock - but it could also turn the small field into a prime house building site. Despite this apparent dilemma
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Wear Valley - Show goes on for villagers
AS the fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth spread at the weekend, it cast a shadow over a brave attempt to stage the 132nd Weardale Agricultural Society show at St John's Chapel. On Sunday prayers were read at the village church for the latest foot-and-mouth
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Busker shares his cash
A MAYOR sang the praises of a veteran busker last week when he presented her with a cheque for £1,000. Redcar High Street busker Norman Evans MBE awarded the sum to Redcar and Cleveland's Mayor, Coun Vilma Collins, for her charity fund. It is the largest
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New look, flying start
THIRSK Falcons FC's new sponsor Andy Wain, landlord of the Black Lion pub in Thirsk market place, has provided the team with new shirts. The team, which plays in the Harrogate and District League, made a great start to the season with an emphatic 7-1
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Flood ruins charity shop
A CHARITY is reeling after flood waters devastated a fund raising operation. Three hundred items of clothing were ruined when drains serving the Cancer Research Campaign shop on Redcar High Street failed to cope with a torrential downpour. Jigsaws and
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Hills are alive at Chester
ARDENT followers of trainer Barry Hills have consistently cashed in on his runners at Chester, a trend all set to continue this afternoon via Negligee (3.05), Whale Beach (3.35), Foxcote (4.10), and The Glen (5.10). Negligee takes on some useful sorts
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Spend, spend, spend but not in our towns
A WORRYING aside in the lengthy Countryside Commission report on the state of rural economy dwelt on the apparent conundrum about the effect of the foot-and-mouth crisis on the overall economy. Despite the economic slowdown the nation has kept on spending
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Darlington - Trouble spot tackled
RESIDENTS who have complained for four years about anti-social behaviour in a local park could see an improvement. The problems have been caused at the park owned by Home Housing in Newton Aycliffe by teenagers using a small football pitch as a place
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Blooming town hit by subway graffiti 'artists'
SOME of the shine is being taken off Northallerton in Bloom as one area of the town "goes down the nick," according to a local man. The state of a graffiti-covered pedestrian subway at East Road and the general area around the county library building
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Wellock's World
COME on Athers, just because Yorkshire have won the title for the first time for 33 years there's no need to go into a big sulk and hang up your boots. Or is it because, for an intelligent man, there has to be more to life than gearing yourself up every
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Another arrest in Ecstasy death
ANOTHER person has been arrested in connection with death of a 15-yar-old Middlesbrough girl who took an Ecstasy tablet, police said today. The teenager, Lisa Teasdale, died yesterday after five days in Middlesbrough General Hospital's intensive care
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Sadness as vandals spoil roundabout
ANGRY residents and councillors have hit out at vandals who damaged a water feature on a Darlington roundabout. Asda, which has a branch in Whinfield Road, paid the borough council £3,000 to sponsor the roundabout at Stockton Road. All the old planting
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Gym is worth a million
A GROUP of super-strong men flexed their muscles for a marathon lifting session to raise money for their gym. Members of the Redcar Amateur Boxing and Sports Club undertook the challenge of lifting one million pounds in weight at Kingsway Leisure Centre
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Extra help on offer to busy mums
CHANGING lifestyles has prompted a Rushyford woman to set up a nanny agency. The Need A Nanny service, which aims to provide quality child care services for families throughout County Durham and North Yorkshire, is believed to be the only one of its kind
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Daughter follows father into butcher's shop
WHEN Miss Sarah Jane Ballard took over her father's business, she really did put her head on the chopping block. She has become Thirsk's only woman butcher. "The other butchers in town and the men at the auction mart were very surprised when I first took
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Scarecrow puts the rest to flight
NORTHALLERTON Riding Club overcame the foot-and-mouth restrictions by literally getting on their hobby horses. Members dusted down old friends and found new mounts for the one day event at North Lodge, Londonderry, home of Phil and Janet Coupland, who
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Talks aim to avert airport staff strike
HOLIDAYMAKERS could yet be saved from severe disruption after a late attempt to avert an airport strike was made yesterday. Managers and trade unionists at Newcastle Airport agreed to meet after baggage handlers voted by three to one to reject an improved
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Council puts up reward in bid to catch flower vandals
A council is offering a £100 reward to anyone who can help to catch vandals who destroyed about £2,000 worth of floral displays. Stockton Borough Council is offering the reward after ten of 50 newly-planted displays were vandalised. The council spent
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How war ended for E16 - in murky depths 85 years ago
A LONG-LOST First World War submarine sunk after sailing from a North-East town has finally been found in the North Sea. The E16 was reported missing in August 1916 after setting out from Blyth in Northumberland on a mission to destroy German submarines
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Harassment sentence deferred for reports
MAGISTRATES have called for a psychiatric assessment of a man who pestered and made advances to women at a town centre library. Last month, Bernard Costello, 59, of Greenbank Road, Darlington, admitted three charges of harassment relating to his behaviour
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Durham - Knitters hoping to break the record
THE Women's Royal Voluntary Service and Women's Institute are preparing to unveil what they hope will be the world's longest scarf. The scarf, which aims to beat the current record of 20 miles, has been knitted by people from across Britain and as far
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Pilot vaccination scheme called for
A CALL for a pilot vaccination policy during the current crisis was made at the launch of the report. Mr Ewen Cameron, chairman of the Countryside Agency, does not believe the public will tolerate another mass slaughter strategy. However his call met
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The stillness of a summer night
One of the great delights of dying summer is to sit in the garden with a glass of something special as the darkness intensifies on a balmy evening. At the end of a demanding working day, such a period of relaxation is both wonderful and beneficial, and
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Milburn backs Simpson family appeal
HEALTH Secretary Alan Milburn has backed a family's fight to increase a killer's jail sentence. The Darlington MP met the family of Paul Simpson, who died when he was punched in the street and fell and hit his head on a kerb. Mr Simpson's attacker Alfred
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Flats rejected for fear they would cause 'canyon'
BUILDING a three-storey block of 14 apartments on a garage site in Great Ayton would turn Newton Road into a dark and dismal canyon, the parish council claimed this week. At its meeting on Tuesday, it described the planned building as too high and inappropriate
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Letters: Facts of the case
Sir, - The "No to the Euro" letter in last week's issue is part of the tennis match between the two views and is not helpful in sorting out ideas on the issues involved. The question is whether or not we would have a better standard of living overall
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Hodgson defies the pain to shine at Cadwell
IT was left to the local youngsters to put on an excellent show in front of more than 35,000 fans when the British Superbike Championship visited Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on Monday. Leading the way with a resounding sixth place in the 125cc race was
