Archive
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Unemployed labourer died of drug abuse
AN unemployed labourer died of drug abuse, an inquest heard yesterday. Stephen James Hutchinson, 33, had started smoking heroin before his father's death in 1999, the hearing at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court was told. His brother, Lee, told Darlington
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Plans to convert nursing home into hostel scrapped
PLANS to convert a nursing home into a hostel for asylum seekers were scrapped at the eleventh hour, it emerged yesterday. Plans to change the use of Lakeside Gardens, in Washington, on Wearside, to create a hostel for up to 50 residents, were to have
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Trooper Christopher, 18, has words of encouragement for new recruits
A young soldier who has graduated from an Army training college is back home in Durham, explaining careers in the service to others. Trooper Christopher Yard, 18, is in the Claypath Army Careers Information Office in Claypath until Friday, September 21
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The times they are a-changin'
WELL that's it. The world has definitely turned a little further. Bob Dylan is moaning about his 16-year-old daughter's taste in music. Yes, Dylan. Icon to a generation, one of the most influential figures in 20th century youth culture, sounding just
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House surveys bid to beat the burglar
POLICE are offering free house survey visits in a bid to beat burglars. "Dwelling house burglaries have fallen from more than 5,000 offences in 1996 to 1,030 last year," said Langbaurgh crime prevention officer, PC Jim Brown. "We want to keep that momentum
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Pensioner's death caused by asbestos
A PENSIONER'S death was probably the result of exposure to asbestos during his wartime bomb disposal work, an inquest heard yesterday. George Alexander Gardiner, 81, of Hilton Road, Barnard Castle, died in March at Darlington Memorial Hospital. His daughter
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Men to answer court charges
THREE men are to appear in court after an incident in which a man was run over on a grass embankment. Paul Rumney, 42, of Shiney Row, near Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, is fighting for his life following the incident, near Biddick Woods, Shiney Row. Three
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Decision over plans to build on cricket pitch
THE destiny of a cricket field in the centre of a Harrogate industrial estate hangs in the balance today. The field in the middle of Cardale Park was originally occupied by National Power when it had its headquarters in the town, boasting impressive facilities
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Hero Murphy nets to leave Cobblers bitter
TEENAGER David Murphy helped manager Steve McClaren to his first win in charge of Middlesbrough last night, it was just a shame there wasn't many at the Riverside Stadium to see the 3-1 victory. Local boy Murphy, a 17-year-old left-back, scored the opener
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Comment from The Northern Echo - The day of the unthinkable
September 11, 2001. It will be remembered as the day which saw history's most evil act of terrorism. It will be remembered as the day America - the world's wealthiest and most powerful nation - was brought to its knees in scenes which defied belief. It
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Bar auction brings boost for hospice
AN auction at an Irish bar has seen Darlington's St Teresa's Hospice receive a £600 boost. Mick McCarthy's, in Duke Street, held a charity auction night with more than 20 lots, including signed football memorabilia. Included in the items on offer was
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Taxi driver killed himself
A TAXI driver was found dead in a car with shotgun wounds to his head and two suicide notes, an inquest heard yesterday. Father-of-one Daniel Andrew Taylor, 36, suffered financial problems 18 months before his death, when he lost his job as a heavy goods
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Who is behind the carnage?
IF we didn't know better, the natural assumption would be that America was in the midst of a full-scale war, the target of the biggest attack on its territory since Pearl Harbour. It had all the hallmarks of a military operation carried out by a vengeful
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Student teachers' salary blow
A FURTHER blow has been dealt to student teachers who had hoped to qualify for the Government's lauded £6,000 training salary. The incentive is aimed at plugging the teacher shortages crisis, described as being at its worst point for 36 years. Those who
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The times they are a-changin'
WELL that's it. The world has definitely turned a little further. Bob Dylan is moaning about his 16-year-old daughter's taste in music. Yes, Dylan. Icon to a generation, one of the most influential figures in 20th century youth culture, sounding just
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Imposter unearthed in literary corner
CHAPTER and verse, Philip Jones from Northallerton invites us to take a stroll around Regent's Park - the apostrophe may be permissible - a posh new housing estate with a literary theme at Colburn, near Catterick Garrison. It's part of Barratt's "Premier
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Shares plummet after US terror
EUROPEAN shares plummeted in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the US. About £67bn was wiped from the value of the FTSE 100 Index as the City showed its horror at what was happening across the Atlantic. The Footsie suffered its biggest one-day percentage
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Reid to Hammer out a transfer record to secure Sinclair
SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid is set to make a club record £6m bid for West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair. The Wearside boss, who tried to sign the 28-year-old England B international as part of the £5.25m deal which took Scottish cap Don Hutchison to Upton
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Blasting the pillars of capitalism
AN ANTENNA, towering a quarter of a mile above the New York sidewalk, sinks inexorably into a pall of smoke, a defiant gesture of a once proud building, smote by the ruthless hand of terrorism. One World Trade Centre followed its hapless sibling to the
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Buster sniffs out 2,000 Ecstasy tablets in raid
FOUR-legged, tail-wagging, crime cracking sleuth Buster has lived up to his name following a narcotics search on Teesside. The white and brown police spaniel sniffed out 2,000 Ecstasy tablets with a street value of £20,000, plus wraps of heroin in raids
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Policeman runs to aid of primary schools
A POLICEMAN is keeping his reasons for entering the Great North Run close to his chest. The hopes of 51 primary schools will be riding on PC Dave Peacock running well. His wife, Carol, is patiently sewing all the school badges on to the 44-year-old's
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Airlift rescue for woman hurt in crash
A WOMAN driver was airlifted to hospital after being seriously injured in a head on collision near an East Durham village. The 33-year-old woman, from Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, was flown to Newcastle General Hospital after the accident on Monday afternoon
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Top service for customers as centre makes its mark
A RECRUITMENT service in the North-East, which has become a nationwide role model, has been singled out for top level government praise. Minister for Work Nick Brown applauded the team at the Peterlee Customer Service Centre during a presentation of a
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Europe trip to educate youngsters
youngsters are swapping a former steel town for the former Eastern Bloc as part of a scheme to make them appreciate what they have. Four 18 and 19-year-olds from Consett YMCA have joined forces with The Prince's Trust to experience the rigors of life
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The North-East pair in middle of the unthinkable
THE noise of a massive explosion woke James Winter at 8.58am local time. A split second later, the resulting shock wave shook and rattled the 30-year-old's New York apartment as flames and thick black smoke began to obscure the clear blue morning sky.
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Firm facing closure denies blackmailing its workforce
ELECTRONICS firm Sanyo has hit back at claims that it is blackmailing staff to stay on at its mothballed North-East factories. The company is due to close its Newton Aycliffe and Thornaby microwave oven-making operations in November, with the loss of
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Small, but beautifully carved
AN exhibition of artwork that reflects the world as seen through Japanese eyes has opened in Durham. The Floating World in Miniature is being held at the dli - formerly the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery - until Sunday, October 28. It features more
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People have say on TV filming
RESIDENTS have been asked to decide whether to allow the BBC to film scenes for a TV comedy-drama on the streets of their town. The Auf Wiedersehen, Pet production team says it has written to residents of South Bank, Teesside, as a courtesy. Local councillor
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Family relieved to make contact
THE family of James Winter, the Darlington man whose apartment is near where the World Trade Centre stood, has finally made contact with him. Mr Winter, 30, works as a systems analyst in New York, where he lives with his girlfriend Rachel Ward, also from
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Canadian cousin uses Echo to track down family
A FAMILY has been reunited with a long-lost Canadian cousin thanks to The Northern Echo. Ron Bell has come to Darlington with his wife Carol to meet his relatives, a year after he managed to track them down through the newspaper. He had tried to get in
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One day that shook US - and the world
In the blood-stained history of terrorism, there has never been a day as horrifying as September 11, 2001. In less than an hour, fanatical hijackers struck at the heart of the United States, plunging the nation into a state of shock. Millions around the
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Palestinians celebrate tragedy with sweets and victory signs
Thousands of Palestinians celebrated the terror attacks chanting "God is great" and distributing sweets to passers-by - even as their leader, Yasser Arafat, said he was horrified. The US government has become increasingly unpopular in the West Bank and
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Union members vote for strike action over jobs threat
HUNDREDS of North-East council workers have voted to take strike action against the threat of privatisation of council services. The strike, by members of the public sector union Unison at Newcastle City Council, was announced on the day Prime Minister
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For better or verse, say couple
A NORTH-East couple have tied the knot on the spot where Lord Byron married Annabella Millbanks, 186 years ago. Businessman Paul Goodfellow and his fiance, Valda Morris, were married in the same room of Seaham Hall, east Durham, where the poet wed his
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Tattoo bid needles planners
COUNCILLORS smarting over plans to turn a Knaresborough shoe shop into a tattoo studio, despite their objections, have come up with a long-term plan to define its prime shopping area. Knaresborough Town Council objected to Harrogate Borough Council's
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Dogs can snap up the chance of show glory
PAMPERED pooches go head-to-head at the Nidderdale dog show and craft fair next week. More than 50 breeds will be exhibited at Bewerley Park, Pateley Bridge, on Sunday, September 23. Judging begins at 9.30am. Little dogs can take part in the terrier racing
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Battle to save art enlists new ally
DEVELOPMENT agency One NorthEast has added its powerful voice to a campaign led by The Northern Echo to keep a historic collection of paintings in the region. The agency's chairman, Dr John Bridge, promised yesterday to try to enlist the support of Government
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Pre-school call for firefighters
DARLINGTON Fire Brigade paid a visit to youngsters at the Hurworth Panda Pre-school group, at Hurworth Grange Community Centre, which opened this week. The pre-school group is doing a project on firefighters, so the brigade took an engine along for the
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Actor proves family was class act
Actor Kevin Whateley met local Baptist minister Graham Brownlee, above, yesterday, and discovered that his mother taught the churchman history at Hexham High School in the 1970s. Mr Brownlee, chairman of the Redcar and Cleveland Partnership and the joint
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Wainwright scare for Quakers
Darlington winger Neil Wainwright is rated as doubtful for Saturday's trip to Torquay United after pulling out of training earlier this week. The ex-Sunderland 23-year-old has suffered a groin strain, while midfielder Brian Atkinson has yet to recover
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New date set for school reunion
A SCHOOL reunion cancelled after the death of a student will go ahead this week. Wolsingham School and Community College postponed its reunion just hours before the July 7 celebrations after 18-year-old A-level student Suzanne Preen died in a road accident
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Unemployed labourer died of drug abuse
AN unemployed labourer died of drug abuse, an inquest heard yesterday. Stephen James Hutchinson, 33, had started smoking heroin before his father's death in 1999, the hearing at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court was told. His brother, Lee, told Darlington
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What happens now, George W?
AS the terrifying scenes of burning and twisted skyscrapers were being beamed around the world, President George W Bush was already gathering a war cabinet to decide how to strike back. It is unthinkable that the United States will do nothing. But the
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Teesside plants boost security
SECURITY was being stepped up at Teesside's industrial plants today. Queues formed outside British Energy-run Hartlepool Power Station as the bags of everyone entering the nuclear site were thoroughly searched, and public tours of the plant were cancelled
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Racing news
DEDICATED followers-of-form will more than likely be getting stuck into the leading Portland Handicap contender, Ho Leng (2.35), on day one of Doncaster's St Leger meeting. Fourth in the contest 12 months ago when beaten by the handicap "good thing",
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Work to speed up fire response times
ROAD improvements in Darlington will help the fire brigade cut 50 seconds off response times to incidents in the north of the town. The work on St Cuthbert's Way ring road in front of the fire station is due to begin next week. It will create a crossing
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Probe into car thefts
POLICE in Darlington are investigating a number of thefts from cars in the town. Thieves broke into a Vauxhall Astra, in Lyonette Road, between 1am and 7.45am on Monday. They took a 200-leaf compact disc case, containing a large quantity of compact discs
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Stuart proves he's a brick as town's cobbles marathon takes off again
WORKMAN Stuart Briggs pops up for a breather, above, while undertaking the task of relaying cobbles in Guisborough High Street. He is part of a team from Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which this week began the next phase of giving the town a new
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Stockton couple witness chaos
A STOCKTON pair holidaying in New York have witnessed the chaos in the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Centre. Alison Crake and her brother Robert, from Fairfield, Stockton, had been stopping at a hotel in New York and witnessed the huge explosions
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New home wanted for loving dog Ben
A GOOD-natured dog which has been without a home for six months is looking for a new owner. Ben, a two-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross, is being looked after by the National Animal Sanctuaries Support League at its kennels at Burdon Grange,
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Hannah's family hopes op will go ahead
THE parents of Hannah Maxwell-Jones are hoping the disruption to transatlantic flights does not delay her long-awaited operation. Two-year-old Hannah, accompanied by her parents, Allison and Keith Maxwell-Jones, is due to fly to the American city of Little
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Police launch crackdown on speeding motorists
COUNTY Durham traffic police have launched a month-long crackdown on speeding drivers. Crews are taking the force's mobile speed cameras to problem areas, including major routes such as the A67 at Darlington and the A690 at West Rainton, near Durham City
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Neil's career is sparkling
WHEN jeweller Neil Garratt was made redundant earlier this year he decided to follow a lifelong dream of setting up in business himself. After losing his job with Mayfair Jewellery in Newcastle, Neil, 28, started Neyves Jewellers in the Viking Centre,
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Imposter unearthed in literary corner
CHAPTER and verse, Philip Jones from Northallerton invites us to take a stroll around Regent's Park - the apostrophe may be permissible - a posh new housing estate with a literary theme at Colburn, near Catterick Garrison. It's part of Barratt's "Premier
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Home switch leads to complaints
EACH time she looks out of her kitchen window, Kim Eavis remembers the home she did not want to leave. Her former home, where she brought up her family, is a few feet from her back door - crushed to rubble under what is now her lawn. The mother-of-three
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Bridge firm gets ready for shares launch
WORLD famous engineering firm Cleveland Bridge has revealed plans to float on the Stock Exchange. The company, based in Darlington, County Durham, was the subject of a £8.4m management buy-out last June from Anglo-Norwegian group Kvaerner. Its fortunes
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Alley gates security call refused
RESIDENTS have had their request for alley gates turned down because of a lack of funds. Seventy-two people had signed a petition for the installation of gates at the back alley between Spring Garden Road and Coleridge Avenue, Hartlepool. Several alley-gating
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Pupils doing their bit for environment
SCHOOLS in Darlington are leading the way in the search to find the area's most environmentally-friendly people. Youngsters are involved in a range of green schemes, including recycling paper, planting gardens and learning about saving energy. Pupils
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Airports increase security checks
PASSENGERS flying from North-East airports are being warned of delays as security checks were stepped up in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Both Teesside and Newcastle Airport were on maximum alert with US-UK flights continuing to be grounded. Passengers
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Confidential post system set up for victims of racist attacks
VICTIMS of racist attacks no longer need to suffer in silence - they can now report incidents confidentially by post. People subjected to racial abuse in Tyne and Wear can now use a free postage self-sealing tear-off strip to report attacks, without visiting
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Society pitches in with cash for choir
A LADIES' choir is singing with joy thanks to a £500 donation from Newcastle Building Society. St Cuthbert's Ladies Choir provides free concerts to various organisations in and around Sunderland, bringing live music to people who may not normally have
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Estate revamp team's new HQ
THE team behind the £10m regeneration of a North-East estate has moved into new headquarters. A former branch of Barclays Bank in St Luke's Terrace, Sunderland, is the new home for officials working on the seven-year revamp of the Ford and Pallion districts
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Transport rally entries sought
ENTRIES are still being accepted for a transport rally on Sunday, October 7, at the Timothy Hackworth Victorian and Railway Museum, in Shildon. Already in the programme are a 1950-built Allard, a 1937 Austin 7, Jowett cars from the 1950s, a 1948 Jowett
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Cat found alive tied inside bag in stream
A CAT was stuffed inside a bag and thrown in a stream in the third such incident in weeks. The tortoiseshell cat was discovered tied inside a carrier bag in a beck in Spennymoor, County Durham. The frightened animal survived the traumatic ordeal and now
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Top cop 'did not bend the rules'
A high-ranking police chief has been cleared of any wrongdoing by his bosses after it was claimed he bent the rules to dodge a £60 speeding fine. Detective Superintendent Adrian Roberts sparked outrage when he alleged he could not remember who was at
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Youngsters sample the surroundings of new school classroom
A NEW centre for North-East pupils with language and speech problems is up and running. The facility, at Greencroft School, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, is a result of a partnership between Durham County Council, North Durham NHS Trust and the Association
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Business park is key to town's revamp
WORK has begun on installing the infrastructure of a new business park that could create more than 400 jobs and help to regenerate a North Yorkshire town. The development agency for Yorkshire, Yorkshire Forward, yesterday got work under way on the installation
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Bus stops review provokes opposition on High Street
A PLANNED £70,000 scheme to radically alter the bus facilities in Northallerton has come under fire amid claims it will add to local congestion. North Yorkshire County Council wants to spend the cash on a series of improvements to passenger waiting facilities
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Veteran star will return to his roots
ROCK 'n' roll veteran Freddie "Fingers'' Lee is coming out of retirement to play a one-off gig in his home town for charity. He will perform at Blackhill Club, Blackhill, Consett, on Friday, next week, to raise money for Macmillan Nurses Cancer Relief
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Drug fears may close toilet block
A TOILET block in Hartlepool could close over worries of the continuing increase in drug abuse and vandalism. The block, in Brenda Road, a residential area, is still in quite good condition and is used by delivery drivers and travelling sales reps. In
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'We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our friends'
Britain will stand full square alongside the US in the battle to drive the "new evil" of terrorism from the world, Tony Blair said yesterday. The Prime Minister appeared resolute as he offered US President George W. Bush his full support in bringing the
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New case as disease measures tightened
THE region was hit by another case of foot-and-mouth yesterday as the Government announced strict new measures to combat the disease. The 23rd case in Northumberland means that more than 4,000 cattle and sheep are still waiting to be destroyed in the
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Charity appeals for more aid gifts
AID workers gearing up for a mercy dash to help East European orphans are appealing for gifts of essential items. A storage area in Willington is already packed to the rafters with boxes of clothes, toys, cutlery, stationery and toiletries, ready for
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Former darts champion dies
A FORMER Darlington darts champion who won titles all over the region has died, aged 77. Tommy Welsh was a popular and well known figure on the local darts scene for a number of years. He lived in Coronation Street, Darlington, from the age of two until
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Police launch crackdown on speeding motorists
COUNTY Durham traffic police have launched a month-long crackdown on speeding drivers. Crews are taking the force's mobile speed cameras to problem areas, including major routes such as the A67 at Darlington and the A690 at West Rainton, near Durham City
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United star arrested in immigration clampdown
SOCCER star Nolberto Solano has been arrested as part of an immigration clampdown on fake passports. Police confirmed that a footballer, believed to be the Newcastle United midfielder, has been interviewed. The 26-year-old Peruvian was one of a number
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Political march warning
POLICE have warned they will make arrests if a right-wing political party defies a march ban. The National Front's website says it plans to "assemble" in Sunderland on Saturday, to protest against asylum-seekers - although it does not give a time or venue
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List published of money claimed by councillors
DETAILS have been published of expenses paid to councillors serving on Richmondshire District Council. The list is the first to be published since Westminster introduced new rules which did away with payments which reflected attendance at council meetings
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Plan for homes in listed building
A BUILDING with a 200-year history may be turned into luxury apartments. Starbeck Hall, which occupies a prominent position in the High Street, in the Harrogate suburb from which it takes its name, was built in 1810 as a warehouse. That use survived until
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Town's first resident celebrates milestone
ONE of the first residents of a North-East town celebrated her 100th birthday yesterday with members of her family. Edith Buckton's father, George Thompson, built the first house in the Whaggs Park area of Whickham, Gateshead, and she lived there with
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Con trick criminals jailed for five years
A PAIR of callous criminals hatched a plot to fleece vulnerable pensioners of cash in a string of despicable con trick burglaries. Derek Howe, 31, and John McLaughlin, 27, preyed on 11 pensioners, some in their nineties. The pair were already on bail
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Ormerod gets chance at Pool
HARTLEPOOL United will this afternoon hand Middlesbrough winger Anthony Ormerod an opporunity to impress. The 21-year-old spent last week on trial at First Division Grimsby and will play for Pool's second string against Notts County. Reserve boss Colin
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On the road with rhythm and rhyme
A POET is teaming up with a Danish popstar and a samba band to help take the mystery out of poetry. Singer-songwriter Louise Dal and Sunderland's SunSamba drum band will join Durham County Council poet in residence Kevin Cadwallender for a roadshow next
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Man 'critical' after accident
A 20-year-old man injured when a car hit a wall on Saturday night was critical but stable in Middlesbrough General Hospital last night. He was a front seat passenger in a blue Vauxhall Cavalier which failed to negotiate a T-junction near Barnard Castle
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Warning as bike boy hurt in crash
PARENTS are being warned about the dangers of buying their children off-road motorcycles after a boy narrowly escaped serious injury. The 14-year-old was riding a MT50 Honda off-road motorcycle along St Bernard's Road, Stockton, on Monday afternoon when
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Hundreds pay their respects to tragic Rachael
THE funeral of a young mother has been held in the church where her baby daughter was christened just 12 months ago. Hundreds of mourners packed into St John's Church, Darlington, to pay their final respects to 20-year-old Rachael Littlefair, who was
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Campaign launch to put brake on speeding drivers
COUNTY Durham traffic police have launched a month-long crackdown on speeding drivers at known hot spots. Crews are taking the force's mobile speed cameras to problem areas including routes such as the A67 at Darlington and the A690 at West Rainton, near
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Grants enable firm to update its machinery
AN expanding engineering company is installing new machinery thanks to a £35,000 grant from UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE). The grant has enabled KC Engineering, of Consett, County Durham, to buy equipment that will help the company move ahead in a highly
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Inquest into death of biker
AN inquest has opened into the death of a motorcyclist during a biking festival. James Daniel Casey, 46, from Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, died in Bishop Auckland General Hospital following an accident on the A68 at Tow Law, County Durham. He had
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Icing on cake for studio
A NORTH-East photographic studio has won a major contract with British ice hockey's top league. Touch the Sky Photography, of Durham, will supply all imagery, including regular match-night photography and special photo-shoots for the Ice Hockey Superleague
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Sensory garden of delights
A sensory garden was officially opened yesterday to bring delight to those with visual impairment. The garden has been created next to the new tea rooms in Rossmere Park, Hartlepool, and will contain a range of features. As well as scented flowers and
