Archive
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More train passengers despite delays
NORTH-EAST Transport group Go-Ahead has reported an increase in train passenger numbers despite the disruption caused by post-Hatfield repairs. Go-Ahead, the operator of Thames Trains and bus services throughout the North-East, said usage rose 5.8 per
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Echo teams up with college to provide Internet insight
THE Northern Echo has teamed up with Darlington College at Catterick to offer people in North Yorkshire the chance to improve their Internet skills for free. A hands-on web workshop event will take place from 6pm to 8pm at the College's Catterick campus
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National Lottery agents confirm town will get £4.5m swimming pool
THE MAN from Sports England, he says Yes. That is the message from the National Lottery agents who officially confirmed that Stanley is to get a new £4.5m swimming pool. As revealed exclusively in The Northern Echo earlier this week, after four years,
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'Shear' delight for Magpies
ALAN SHEARER marked his first start in six months with a double strike as Newcastle piled on the agony for beleaguered Boro boss Steve McClaren. The Magpies came from behind against ten-man Boro to storm to victory after home keeper Mark Schwarzer had
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Sporting pals laugh over the old times
THERE was a lot of catching up to do when three sporting stars met up for the first time in more than 40 years. George Hardwick, 81, Bill Lawton, 80, and John Mills, 80, had not seen each other since the mid-1950s when they were all in Oldham. Mr Hardwick
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Litter fight is started
A HIGH-PROFILE campaign designed to crack down on litterbugs on Metro trains and stations has been launched by operator Nexus. The campaign, which started with a series of posters across Tyne and Wear, will target a scourge which each year costs an increasing
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Ice hockey boss quits as dispute rumbles on
NEWCASTLE Jesters Ice Hockey Club chairman Paul Smith has resigned from the post seven months into a pay dispute which has threatened the club's future. The former Durham Wasps owner's decision will bring mixed reactions from fans already concerned over
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Desirable pieces of Cup gold going under hammer
DIE-HARD fans are being given the chance to buy their very own piece of North-East footballing history. Two 15-carat gold FA Cup winners' medals, which belonged to one of the region's top Victorian soccer stars, are going on sale. The medals were presented
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Durham must curb Hick threat in promotion bid
DURHAM will need to do a much better job of curbing Graeme Hick tomorrow than they did during his 200 not out at the Riverside yesterday. A combination of Hick and bad light left the final championship match heading for stalemate, but it will be all or
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Model town may inspire
A MINIATURE town fashioned by children could provide the inspiration for improvements to the commun- ity. When Derwentside District Council commissioned a community survey to be carried out in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, they asked pupils at Annfield
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Survey to learn public's opinion of hospital
A CONTROVERSIAL new hospital is the subject of a survey to be published by a County Durham MP. Kevan Jones, member for North Durham, is hoping to gauge the public's opinion on the University Hospital of North Durham. The survey of new hospital facilities
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School among country's best
PUPILS at Durham High School were the most successful GCSE candidates between the Tyne and Leeds. This year's Times league table ranked the school 66th in the country. Thirty-five per cent of GCSE entries were graded A* with 72 per cent at grades A* and
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Pipalong looking for Haydock success
HAYDOCK and Leopardstown are the two top-class venues for a brace of scintillating Group 1 races this afternoon. First port of call is Haydock where Pipalong (3.00) tries for back-to-back success in the six furlong £150,000 Stanley Leisure Sprint. Pipalong
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Quakers fightback for point
Darlington were thankful for late goals in each half to salvage a point against Carlisle at Feethams. The visitors had scored two goals all season coming into this fixture but quickly doubled that total when they took a two-goal lead through former Hartlepool
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Bishop backs Bowes idea for paintings
THE Bishop of Durham last night backed The Northern Echo's campaign to keep one of the Church of England's most valuable collection of paintings in the North-East. The Right Reverend Mich-ael Turnbull revealed that he has already asked the Church Commissioners
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Mother's school taxi-run dilemma
A MOTHER is claiming her son has been left high and dry by North Yorkshire County Council after making a fresh start at a new school. Although they live in Ilton, near Masham, Ian and Deborah Flowers already have two daughters and an older son at Wensleydale
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Holiday row PC retires from force
A DETECTIVE who went on holiday to Tenerife instead of appearing in court as a witness has retired from Cleveland Police. Detective Constable Gary Knapper, of Hartlepool CID, went on sick leave shortly after returning from the holiday isle 18 months ago
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Breakfast with the quad squad
WAAAAAAAAGH! I've walked into a bit of scene. Hannah is crying her little eyes out. She's a bit unsure of the strange man with the camera swung round his neck, while the three boys peer mischievously over their boiled eggs at their new visitor. The quads
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N-E team pioneers cancer tracking
SCIENTISTS in the region have developed a way of predicting the way gullet cancer spreads, leading to hopes of life-saving improvements in surgery. It could help thousands of gullet cancer patients, including Inspector Morse actor John Thaw, who recently
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Mind of child's killer laid bare in confession letters
A CHILLING insight into the mind of the killer of three-year-old Rosie Palmer has been laid bare in letters obtained by The Northern Echo. Murderer Shaun Armstrong was jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court in 1995 after he confessed to killing Rosie at
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Busy Anne prepares to leap for good cause
MOVING house and starting a new job may be enough of a challenge for some - but one 30-year-old North Yorkshire mother faces an additional challenge this weekend. The new home in Brompton, near Northallerton, is now just about sorted out and the uncertainties
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Winning gesture by dad Graham
A MAN who won a motor scooter in a supermarket competition is planning to give the prize to his daughter. Graham Dixon-Prince, from Middleton St George, was presented with the Yamaha Neos 50 at White Brothers bike shop, in Northgate, Darlington, this
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Bosses play santa for happy staff
NORTH-EAST staff at a supermarket chain received an early Christmas boost when bosses told them they would be getting a three-day break. Morrisons, which has shops throughout the region, has confirmed that all of its stores will be closed on Christmas
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Milestone marked with knees-up
A neighbourhood enjoyed a knees-up last night. Nearly 2,000 people joined Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell to celebrate Thorntree Community Centre's 40th birthday. Teesside Wind Band and the Maloney Dance School provided the entertainment. Ward councillor
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Net 'must speed up'
The Internet needs to be faster, cheaper and more relevant to the needs of businesses in the region, a survey has discovered. A thousand firms were interviewed for regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and their responses show that the main concern
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Comment from The Northern Echo - Is detention the answer?
THE persistent attempts by refugees to make it across the Channel threaten to add to the burden of an asylum application procedure already under severe strain. And now the legality of a detention centre opened with the intention of reducing the backlog
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Attacker hunted after woman is robbed
POLICE are hunting an attacker who mugged a 34-year-old woman after she got off a bus. The victim had just stepped off a bus in Vigo Lane, in the Harraton area of Washington, Tyne and Wear, when the thug pounced. She was approaching the junction with
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Watch out for those weeds
Things are beginning to quieten down in the garden, but you cannot relax completely, especially with maintenance. Fresh weed seeds are still germinating and the lawn requires regular cutting, but most of the additional tasks like planting and staking
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Sorensen bravery is a timely boost for Reid
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid last night saluted the bravery of his star goalkeeper, Thomas Sorensen, who will play in this afternoon's home game against Blackburn Rovers only a week after breaking his nose on international duty for Denmark. The 25-year-old
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More than 50 hurt as coach and lorry collide
MORE than 50 people were hurt - seven of them seriously - when a coach and a lorry collided on a busy road yesterday. Witnesses described the HGV as ''smashed in two'' by the impact, while the coach was forced across a central reservation and into a field
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Frank and Betty go to Disney
WHEN a very irate Frenchman in a silly hat started shouting at us in Marne la Vallee train station, I knew we were in trouble. Not only was he angry with us - he also had our train tickets back to Blighty. Trying not to stare at his hat, which was now
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Hutchison 'rejected contract talk'
Peter Reid revealed last night that Scottish international Don Hutchison, who joined West Ham United in a £5.25m deal last week, slapped in a written transfer request despite being promised a contract review on Wearside. Hutchison, who is sure of a hot
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Three in hunt for soccer prize
THE winner of Sunderland AFC's One of the Lads competition will be announced on Monday. The original seven contestants in the Big Brother-style challenge have been whittled down to three - Shaun Kelley, of Edinburgh, Alan Kennerley, of Sunderland, and
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Britain's asylum policy in turmoil
THE Government's policy on asylum seekers was in disarray last night after a landmark High Court human rights ruling. Home Secretary David Blunkett reacted with dismay to the "deeply disturbing" court decision which could result in the release of hundreds
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Widow wins back Bluebird
THE widow of Donald Campbell - who was killed at high speed on a Cumbrian lake - claimed victory yesterday in a six-month legal dispute over the ownership of Bluebrid, the boat in which he died. A former business associate of Campbell, Paul Foulkes-Halbard
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Centre draws new retailers
FIVE new retailers are expected to be announced for Darlington's Cornmill Shopping Centre within a fortnight. The news follows the start of shop fitting at a 7,000sq ft double unit for HMV, expected to open on about Ocotber 10 and the arrival of Au Natural
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Man who aided twin's suicide
A MAN who helped his depressed twin brother commit suicide was spared jail by a judge yesterday. Paul Dane helped his 20-year-old brother, Kevin, hang himself from the bedroom ceiling at the family home in Carlisle, Cumbria, by drilling the holes in a
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Plucky Blair strikes a chord
Tony Blair showed off his musical talents yesterday when he took part in an impromptu blues session with a school band. The Prime Minister strummed a Fender Telecaster guitar as he joined musicians from Dyke House School in Hartlepool. The 12-bar blues
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Asylum seekers to the rescue of anthems singer
OPERA singer Suzannah Clarke was taught the words to the Albanian national anthem by two asylum seekers in east Cleveland - just hours before she sang it to 52,000 people at England's world cup qualifier, at St James's Park, Newcastle. She had been contacted
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Fresh wave of blue-chip results
Investors will be hoping for good news amid another wave of blue-chip results next week with updates from the recruitment, retail and engineering sectors likely to prove the main interest in the City. Outsourcing and distribution group Hays will provide
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Hear All Sides
Letters from The Northern Echo MINERS I AGREE with Alf Pyle when he says that the NUM was once the greatest trade union this country ever had (HAS, Sept 3). Alf obviously refers to the time when we were led by Joe Gormley. Joe was an honest, astute man
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Busy writer looks forward to film release
ONE of the writers of the comedy double bill at South Shields' Customs House this week has a film starring Darlington's Vic Reeves nearly ready for release. Due out later this year, Stix represents Reeves' big screen debut. Penned by Jan McBride, of Middlesbrough
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Defra blasted over fair blunder
FARMERS fearing a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease have expressed disquiet that a funfair is being staged on their doorstep. The fair, which started last night and goes on over the weekend, is only a few hundred yards from one of the new disinfectant
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Pools pay the penalty
A late missed penalty cost Hartlepool United dear at Scunthorpe, as Chris Turner's side fell to a 1-0 defeat. Mark Tinkler was felled in the area with 10 minutes remaining, but Tommy Widdrington blazed the spot-kick high and wide into the travelling fans
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Greener Orange in line for award
A MOBILE phone company has been nominated for a local award for its work to help the environment in Darlington. Orange, which employs 2,500 people at its Darlington communications centre, has been entered in the Doing Your Bit competition run by The Northern
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Top grower takes four prizes in show
Sedgefield Social and Horticultural Society staged its annual show at Sedgefield Social Club. In the leeks competition, Norman Ellis took first prize and the Ramsden Trophy, with an entry measuring 225.56 cubic inches. He also won the Dave Franks Trophy
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Blair backs bid to develop partnership
THE formation of the Tees Valley Partnership and its efforts to develop a vision of the future have been welcomed by Prime Minister Tony Blair. At a meeting of the board of the Tees Valley Partnership earlier this week, Mr Blair said he was delighted
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Pub group serves up politics to punters
Pub chain JD Wetherspoon is targeting the North-East as part of an expansion plan that will bring scores of jobs. The group already has pubs throughout the region, including Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton and Redcar. Now bosses are looking
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Price to pay for coal cash
QSince I had central heating put in I receive cash instead of concessionary coal. This averages out at £3.42 a week. What difference should it be making to my weekly rent and council tax benefits? AYour rent should have increased by £2.22 (65 per cent
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'Make a day of it' plea
TOURISM chiefs have launched a bid to encourage day-trippers to return to farm attractions in an area devastated by foot-and-mouth. The Yorkshire Tourist Board said visitors to farm-based attractions would not pose any threat to animals there. It is hoping
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Cycle bridge across busy road opened by Blair
A cycle bridge across a busy dual carriageway near Sedgefield was opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday. The County Durham Gateway Bridge crosses the busy A689 at the site of the former Wynyard Station. The Prime Minister stopped to chat with
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Full-backs in spotlight for Sale showdown
THE spotlight will be on the full backs when Newcastle Falcons visit Sale today. David Walder will be opposed by Jason Robinson, who starred on the wing for the British Lions but is preferred at No 15 by Sale. Walder, the match-winner in last season's
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Single hearse carries family to resting place
The funerals of the North-East mother and her two children - bludgeoned to death by her police officer husband - took place yesterday. The bodies of Jill Bluestone and brothers Henry, aged three, and 18-month-old Chandler, were taken in a funeral procession
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Wedding photos stolen from car
A NEWLY-WED couple are enjoying a Caribbean honeymoon blissfully unaware that treasured pictures of their perfect day have been stolen from a photographer's car. Everything went smoothly for 21-year-old Deborah Sutton and her bridegroom Jamie Ellison,
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Solano kicks Peru into touch for the Magpies
NOLBERTO SOLANO handed Newcastle United boss Bobby Robson an eve-of-derby boost by pledging his loyalty to the club. Peruvian Solano is eager to line up against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium this afternoon after kicking his international career
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Punters are taken for a ride
Every time I read the racing papers I can't help wondering how much money these tipping lines draw out of punters. It's time a lot of these so-called professionals were stopped from selling so-called information to unsuspecting punters. I read a leaflet
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Go extreme - and go for it now!
REVIEWS: Title: Extreme G-3 (XG3) Format: PS2 CD-ROM. Publisher: Acclaim. Price: £39.99. WIPEOUT was one of the half dozen or so games that made the PlayStation. Futuristic racers were nothing new, the 3DO had plenty, but Wipeout simply wiped the floor
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Hours restriction puts meat factory proposal in doubt
THE future of a controversial meat processing factory was in doubt last night after planners restricted opening hours to placate people living nearby. Directors of HDV Foods, which would create 25 jobs by opening a new plant at West Auckland, are holding
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Go extreme - and go for it now!
REVIEWS: Title: Extreme G-3 (XG3) Format: PS2 CD-ROM. Publisher: Acclaim. Price: £39.99. WIPEOUT was one of the half dozen or so games that made the PlayStation. Futuristic racers were nothing new, the 3DO had plenty, but Wipeout simply wiped the floor
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Bridges take starring role in exhibition
AN annual exhibition of photographs and slides showing popular images of Teesdale has gone on display in Barnard Castle. The photographs and slides feature all entries from a Focus on Teesdale competition. The 13 winners will make up the pictures for
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Quinn the star
REPUBLIC of Ireland international Niall Quinn earned Sunderland the points in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers with a priceless 81st minute header. It looked as though Rovers woould glean a point from their first ever visit to the Stadium
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Golden Chance for teenage star
TEENAGE star-of-the-saddle Sam Hitchcott has a further opportunity to shine aboard Golden Chance (3.30) in the Hambleton Cup at Thirsk. Hitchcott has been enjoying the majority of his success for guv'nor Mick Easterby, who has never been afraid to put
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Punters are taken for a ride
EVERY time I read the racing papers I can't help wondering how much money these tipping lines draw out of punters. It's time a lot of these so-called professionals were stopped from selling so-called information to unsuspecting punters. I read a leaflet
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Illegal egg collector gets four months
An "obsessive" egg collector has been jailed after he was caught with rare specimens just four weeks after he was fined for same offence. Barry Sheavills, 41, was jailed for four months for having four goosander eggs and three goshawk eggs. His sentence
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B&Q store will bring 250 jobs
A BIG jobs boost for Teesside has been given the go-ahead. Members of Redcar and Cleveland Council yesterday approved plans by B&Q to build a 100,000sq ft warehouse on the Cleveland Retail Park, off Skippers Lane, Middlesbrough, which will create
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Boro future excites me - Southgate
GARETH SOUTHGATE yesterday spoke of the culture shock which he believes will ultimately produce a winning formula at Middlesbrough. The England centre-back, who joined Steve McClaren's Riverside revolution when he moved from Aston Villa in a £6.5m summer
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Farmers flood helpline
HUNDREDS of farmers in the region have turned to a special helpline for advice in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Over the past six months, County Durham and Darlington Helpline has helped up to 95 callers week. The helpline, run by 12 operators
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Community sees meeting hall dream become reality
ESTATE residents fulfilled a seven-year dream yesterday when a £500,000 community centre was finally launched. The Jubilee Fields Estate, in Shildon, had no meeting hall for more than 50 years. Yesterday, Durham's Lord Lieutenant Sir Paul Nicholson performed
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Metric martyrs' fighting fund plea
THE so-called "metric martyrs" are appealing for money to help them continue to fight their cause. The martyrs are five retailers, including greengrocer Steven Thoburn, of Sunderland, who have been convicted of using imperial measures to sell their produce
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£6m water treatment works opened
A WATER treatment works, which aims to vastly improve bathing water quality, has been officially opened. The £6m scheme at Hinderwell, on the North York Moors, will treat waste water from the nearby villages of Staithes, Cowbar, Dalehouse, Runswick Bay
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Probation team gains accolade
A PROBATION team's work getting ex-offenders back to work has been rewarded. The team dealing with offenders in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland has become the only one in the north of England to receive national accreditation for its work. The award,
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Suicidal mother who put lives at risk walks free
A SUICIDAL mother who put others' lives at risk when she tried to end her own has walked free from court. Fiona Colyer, 33, twice severed gas pipes and caused two separate fires at her home in a bid to kill herself, earlier this year. Newcastle Crown
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Developing media skills
HUNDREDS of youngsters are being offered a chance to brush up their media and communication skills. Up to 20 schools across the North-East have booked a place on the Media Techniques training day at St John's College, Durham City. Students will get a
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Villagers accuse Government of breaking its own rules
VILLAGERS protesting against a foot-and-mouth burial site claim the Government is ignoring its own guidelines on carcass disposal. As the battle rages on over the use of the mass burial site at Inkerman, Tow Law, County Durham, protestors say they have
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Students develop environmental pack
THREE students are helping residents in Darlington work towards a greener future by creating an environmental information pack. Zoe Davies, Angela Hutchinson and Natalie Wagstaff, all 18, of Darlington, devised the pack as part of the borough council's
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Sadness as charity shop volunteers are honoured
A CEREMONY recognising the efforts of volunteers in Darlington was touched with sadness yesterday following the death of a veteran British Red Cross helper. Violet Harrison, 83, spent 22 years working as a volunteer at the charity's store in the town
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Disability campaigners call for policing of pavements
DISABILITY access campaigners have warned that plans to control obstructions on Darlingtons highways should be properly policed. Gordon Pybus, chairman of the town's accessible transport group, said the consultation document Pavements for People will
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Stamping out young smokers
SUNDERLAND City Council is urging traders to help it stub out under-age smoking. The council's health and housing department is to launch a good practice award scheme to recognise shops that ensure that cigarettes are not sold to under-16s. Stores face
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No conflict of interests, says dual-role McClaren
STEVE McCLAREN last night indicated he would be the first to admit if his coaching role with England was damaging Middlesbrough's Premiership prospects. The Boro boss, who leads his side into the derby with Newcastle United at the Riverside Stadium this
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Elliott is back to halt Quakers' run
SIX months after leaving, Stuart Elliott returns to Feethams today as his Carlisle teammates look for their first win of the season against in-form Darlington. Although his time at Feethams came to a premature end in March this year, the tenacious midfielder
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Turner focused on putting Pool right
UPBEAT Chris Turner believes the real Hartlepool United will stand up this afternoon. After almost a fortnight without a game, focused Pool go to Scunthorpe aiming to shake off their early season failings. Pool lost back to back games with Darlington
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Who's afraid of Mr McGregor?
EWAN McGregor is angry. Not with reviews for his new movie musical extravaganza Moulin Rouge! Not with early coverage of the film when he was caught in the crossfire of on-screen leading lady Nicole Kidman's split from husband Tom Cruise with gossip hinting
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Surgeon found guilty of 'appalling errors' in operations
A FORMER North-East surgeon has been found guilty of appalling errors in three operations. Nalini Senchaudhuri left one woman walking with sticks after a procedure to straighten toes went disastrously wrong. A male patient was unable to lift his arm after
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Disease nightmare creeps closer for Dales farmers
DALES farmers watched helplessly last night as the foot-and-mouth menace advanced relentlessly from the west. An outbreak of the disease was confirmed at Palliard, on the A66 near the Cumbria/County Durham border yesterday - only a few miles from Teesdale
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Easyjet still pulling in passengers despite ad boob
DESPITE the embarrassment of losing Tony Blair's custom to rival Ryanair, thousands more passengers are still flocking to no-frills airline easyJet. During August, Luton-based easyJet carried 698,350 passengers, a 19.1 per cent jump on the same month
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Model's parents criticise attack
THE parents of an amateur model left with a ten-inch facial scar after being attacked by a female riding school boss yesterday rubbished reports that their daughter flirted with the woman's boyfriend. Scarred Gina Sassetti was attacked by 41-year-old
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Tories put their case to lead the party
Conservative Party leadership contestants Kenneth Clarke and Iain Duncan Smith held their final regional hustings in North Yorkshire last night. After private meetings with Tory members in London, both candidates headed north to Harrogate to put forward
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Community is praised for floral feast
THE community's response to Darlington's Britain in Bloom bid has received praise from leading figures in the town. Darlington Town Centre Forum heard how working together and individually businesses had combined to make the town a floral feast for residents
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Fundraising efforts win Rachel an award
WHEN nine-year-old Rachel Fuller's schoolfriends complained there was nothing to do, she set about helping to build a community centre. Now her efforts have won her an award. The outstanding achievements of children in Wear Valley were celebrated at a
