Archive
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New kit pride for U-13 footballers
A YOUNG football team is wearing its colours with extra pride this season after a fast-food chain bought them their first new strip. Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre Under-13s have been left with hand-me-downs since they started as an under-nines team. But
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Lecturer in award finals
A LECTURER has been shortlisted for an information communications technology (ICT) award. Diana Lawson, a community development lecturer at Darlington College of Technology, has reached the finals of the ICT in Practice Awards. Sponsors include BT Education
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Call for tougher drugs penalties
MORE than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for emergency measures to tackle Teesside's drugs problem. The petition, compiled by the Gresham Community Council, demands the Government increase powers to seize drug dealers' property and assets
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Watson's wonder strike in a class of its own
CLASS will always shine through. Back on January 6, Hartlepool were heading for a dull draw with Exeter. Just 13 seconds into the second half up popped classy Tommy Miller with a stunning strike to break the deadlock. On Saturday, with Miller watching
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Plight of the jobless collies
HUNDREDS of border collie sheepdogs face being made redundant and homeless nationwide as a knock-on effect of the foot-and-mouth crisis. One lifeline for them is the Border Collie Rescue organisation, based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, which has revealed
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Emotive tale of men who did not return
THE rugged hills of Weardale in County Durham are a world apart from the slumbering landscape of Suffolk with its picture-postcard villages. But yesterday, they were united in prayer because of a remarkable memorial of the First World War. The memorial
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University honours Tanni
OLYMPIC champion and celebrity Tanni Grey-Thompson OBE will be among the recipients of honorary degrees at a university ceremony. Ms Grey-Thompson, who achieved fame by winning four gold medals in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, will be recognised with a
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Goal helps new signing get back on feet
It was inevitable. There must be an unwritten chapter in the FA rulebook which states players making their debuts must score the winning goal, especially when they have been signed the day before the game. Ex-Torquay and Spennymoor schemer Brian Healy
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Classroom helpers to chalk up new role
Teaching assistants could take charge of classes, under radical plans due to be unveiled by Education Secretary Estelle Morris today. Ms Morris's plans include allowing assistants to take control of classes if work has been set for pupils by qualified
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Healy grabs winner to reward Collett heroics
It was a day of firsts at Feethams on Saturday as Tommy Taylor enjoyed his first home game in charge. Beating Oxford brought Darlington a first three-point haul in nine matches, a first clean sheet in seven games, and Taylor's first signing, Brian Healy
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Bus drivers return to picket line in pay row
BUS drivers continue their battle for a better pay deal today with a second day of action. Stagecoach staff from Stockton, Hartlepool and Darlington will be involved in their fight for a standardised rate of pay. The company outlined the pay deals on
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Apache makes first visit to the North
A spectral shape which has struck fear into the hearts of soldiers around the globe hovered over the North for the first time today. An Apache helicopter flew into the Army Air Corps base at Dishforth to mark the departure of commanding officer, Lieutenant
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Online facility for residents
RESIDENTS on a once troubled estate can now log on to the world of computers at their showpiece community centre. The £600,000 Pelaw View Centre was built as part of the multi-million pound regeneration of the Sherburn Road Estate in Durham. The centre
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Horseplay danger warning
YOUTHS are being warned about their snowball-throwing games after a bus window was cracked. Mischievous youngsters pelted a service bus with snowballs and stones as it passed the Four Lane Ends at Spennymoor at about 11.15am last Friday. One of the windows
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'Tin shed' could be moved to Quakers' new stadium
DARLINGTON Football Club's much-loved "tin shed" stand could find a new home at the club's £20m new stadium when the Quakers leave Feethams. Quakers fans have a long affinity with the stand and chairman George Reynolds believes it could be preserved at
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Surgeon's daughter quits nursing for table dancing
A SURGEON'S daughter, who quit her nursing career because of low wages, has begun a new career as a table dancer. Nicola Provart earned the equivalent of half a month's wages as a student nurse in just a few hours by taking off her clothes at the controversial
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Namesakes who will be guiding lights
THE Harry Potter phenomenon has reached a charity, where guide dog namesakes of the best-selling books are in training. They may not be learning the witchcraft and wizardry taught at Hogwarts, but Harry and Potter are being taught equally important skills
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Memorial for infants buried in mass graves
Initial work has started on a lasting memorial to more than 2,000 babies buried in mass graves. For decades, stillborn babies were laid to rest in plots of up to 60 at Linthorpe Cemetery, in Middlesbrough. The practice, which ceased in the 1970s, stemmed
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New league appeals for members
A NEW badminton league in Darlington is appealing for members for next season after announcing its first winners. The Dolphin Centre Singles Badminton League was formed in February to encourage over-16s to play at their leisure. John Hall, from Haughton
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Blaze destroys chalet complex at holiday resort
A COMPLEX of holiday chalets in Scarborough's South Bay were destroyed in a blaze at the weekend. Nine chalets owned by the borough council were destroyed in the fire. Scarborough fire station sub officer Simon Oliver said the blaze had been difficult
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A caravan break with a difference
Caravan couples are proving they really are passionate about the great outdoors. For a North-East company is reporting an increasing number of caravans being returned to its showrooms with broken beds. Managing director of Barrons, David Hold, said: "
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What's hot...and what's not
What's Hot: TUMMY TUCK: Forget the big pants immortalised in the film Bridget Jones'S Diary, now there is a new equivalent to the modern day chastity belt. The tummy hugging girdle is making a comeback (if you've never heard of them ask your gran) only
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The Monday poem
The Pub Quiz For answer sheets I've paid my pound Can't wait until the music round Pint on table, pen in hand Dulcet tones of the question man Where and what and why and when? (Bet he gets it wrong again) Who won the cup in '52? Where the heck is Timbuktu
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A good day for a Wednesday reunion
RITCHIE Humphreys' reunion with Gordon Watson is proving a happy one. Watson has bagged four goals this week after being reunited with Humphreys in the Hartlepool United front line. And even though Humphreys has yet to hit the target since his summer
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Designs on derelict site
FASHION designer Wayne Hemingway has been commissioned to help add a touch of style to housing proposed for a derelict part of the 1990 National Garden Festival site. The founder of the Red or Dead label and his wife, Geraldine, have been asked to contribute
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Substitute Taylor is the hat-trick hero
DURHAM City striker Micky Taylor was the hero as he turned certain defeat into victory against Mossley in the second round of the FA Carlsberg Vase on Saturday. City were trailing 2-0 with just ten minutes left, until substitute Micky Taylor prompted
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Shipwreck protection law to be enforced
A CRACKDOWN on divers who plunder sunken warships has been welcomed by campaigners in the region. The Ministry of Defence has announced that an existing law protecting wrecks will be stringently enforced - with divers who break the rules facing fines
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Misery for passengers hit by bus strikes
Bus services were severely disrupted again today as drivers across the region continued with strike action. More than 400 drivers formed picket lines outside Stagecoach North East depots in Darlington, Stockton and Hartlepool amid a strong police presence
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Southgate prepares for Villa return
MIDDLESBROUGH defender Gareth Southgate returns to Villa Park on Saturday fully prepared for an ear-bashing from the fans who once adored him. In the absence of the suspended Paul Ince, Southgate is expected to take temporary charge of the captain's armband
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Comment from The Northern Echo; Strengths of our clubland
THE Gaming Review Body is, of course, quite right to try to remove gambling temptations from young children. Like tobacco and alcohol, gambling can become an addictive habit and children should not be exposed to it. But is there any evidence that they
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Emotive tale of men who did not return
THE rugged hills of Weardale in County Durham are a world apart from the slumbering landscape of Suffolk with its picture-postcard villages. But yesterday, they were united in prayer because of a remarkable memorial of the First World War. The memorial
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Adding life to children's songs
Professional "singing animateurs" were called in by a district council to get school teachers and art workers to add some life into their children's singing. The organisers, Middlesbrough Borough Council, said the training offered innovative ideas and
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Cut-price tickets to the Continent
A BUDGET airline which slashed its fares to just £10 from Newcastle to London has extended its price cuts to include Europe. The company, Go, said it had had a fantastic response to its Newcastle to Stanstead deal and decided to offer a similar promotion
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Camera sites proposed
FORMAL bids have been submitted for permission to erect surveillance cameras in two North Yorkshire communities plagued by vandalism. Youths have been blamed for numerous incidents in Scotton and Catterick Garrison in the past 12 months, and the police
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Survey reveals extent of recycling
LESS waste could be buried underground in North Yorkshire in future if people living in the county play a bigger role in recycling. A recent survey, which polled 400,000 homes in the county by post and canvassed another 3,500 people by phone, suggested
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To the top of Kilimanjaro and back
ADVENTURE-SEEKER Jo Bewley came back down to earth with a bump on her return to the North-East after an African expedition. Jo was the only woman in a party of 37 Britons to reach the summit of Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, in a recent charity
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Security seminar to tackle business terrorist fears
THE threat of terrorism against businesses in the region will be the subject of a unique security seminar. Worried business people have contacted Durham Constabulary in the wake of international and national terrorist attacks. In response, Crime Free
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Michelle enjoys taste of tv success
A NORTH-EAST woman enjoyed television success for the second time when she watched her team win Channel 4's Bar Wars series. Michelle Humphrey, 24, from Darlington, was drafted into the girls' team for the programme's last week, in August, and watched
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Unusual gifts for sale at the art exhibition
PEOPLE looking for unusual Christmas gifts are invited to attend two art exhibitions. Hartlepool Art Gallery is hosting displays by the Northern Potters' Association and Hartlepool Art Club, from now until January 7 and December 16 respectively. Items
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Lungo takes Direct route
LENNY LUNGO brings out one of his top guns at Carlisle today when Direct Access (1.30) makes his long-awaited reappearance in the D. A. Harrison Novices' Chase. Direct Access was unbeaten in four races over hurdles last season, despite, in the words of
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Wardens get tough with town's drivers
TRAFFIC wardens are taking to the roads aboard scooters in the latest bid to crack down on thoughtless motorists. In what is thought to be the first initiative of its kind in the country, Middlesbrough Borough Council is issuing a team of two traffic
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Strategy forges way ahead after foot-and-mouth
A STRATEGY put together to guide parts of the North-East into a post-foot-and-mouth disease era is to be unveiled next month. The North-East Country Landowners and Business Association (CLA) has been working with the regional development agency, One NorthEast
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Activity day to help brighten up the burn
A BID to restore a small but neglected beauty spot to its natural glory began yesterday with the help of local people. Members of the public were invited to take part in a day of art, craft and countryside activities as part of the project to brighten
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Party night to celebrate children's achievements
A HUGE party is being held this week to celebrate the achievements of young people in care. Durham County Council's Social Services department will be presenting a total of almost 60 awards to youngsters, aged between eight and 18, in recognition of their
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Witness plea after woman's bridge plunge
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following the death of a young woman who appeared to fall from a footbridge. Detectives launched the investigation after being called to the Central Motorway East, in Newcastle, following reports that a woman had fallen
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SAS playing key role in 'rout' of Taliban
Afghan opposition forces had Taliban troops on the run throughout the north of the country last night - with the help of British soldiers. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon confirmed for the first time yesterday that British forces - believed to be the Special
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Support dries up for flooding meetings
A GROUP set up to review policies for dealing with severe weather and floods looks set to be disbanded - because its members failed to turn up to meetings. Darlington Borough Council agreed to set up the group in July to look at how well its action plans
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The nation remembers
Amid tight security to prevent any terrorist attack, the Queen yesterday led the nation in remembrance of the fallen. On Big Ben's first stroke of 11am, Britain was called to two minutes' silence. It was the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month
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Sisters enjoy a magical prize
POTTERMANIA is sweeping the region, with cinema bosses staging special preview showings of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The film, the first in a planned series of seven, did not disappoint those lucky enough to see the JK Rowling story transferred
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Glendenning stars as Darlington hit heights
SKIPPER David Glendenning contributed 28 points as Darlington returned to their free-scoring ways with a 63-8 win at home to Bradford and Bingley. The victory moved them up to fourth in North One, the same position as Mowden Park still occupy in National
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Meals service
HUNDREDS of housebound people on Wearside are celebrating National Meals on Wheels Week, which takes place this week. Since taking over from Age Concern in 1999, Sunderland Social Services has expanded the service, which is now available to 987 regular
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Boost in fight to save grand
A THEATRE which has hosted stars ranging from The Beatles and Cliff Richard to Sir Malcolm Sargent has been given a boost in a bid to secure its future. Harrogate's Royal Hall in North Yorkshire needs £11.2m spending on its crumbling structure to save
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Park residents protest mast
Magistrates decided not to accept a farmer's guilty plea today when he appeared in court to answer two charges of interfering with a badger sett on his land. Mark Simpson of Hunter Hill, Seamer, near Middlesbrough, admitted blocking holes leading underground
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Plans for joint dog warden scheme
THE dog warden service in two North Yorkshire districts could be the first in the region to pool resources. At the moment, Richmondshire and Hambleton run their operations independently, even though their daily duties are similar. Both enforce legislation
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Runaway win for Tatham
QUAKERS runner Alisdair Tatham scored the biggest success of his career yesterday when he raced away to a clear-cut victory in the Fruit Bowl Seven in the grounds of the Gibside Estate at Rowlands Gill, Derwentside. The 29-year-old Middlesbrough PE teacher
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Needle find angers mother
A MOTHER is demanding a clean-up at a recreation ground after her young son found a used hypodermic syringe. The woman, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said that her son had been out walking with his father at Bishop Auckland recreation
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Town's event boosts campaign
Campaigners are using a Spennymoor initiative to reinforce their bid to restore an ice rink in Durham City. Five years after the closure of the Riverside Rink in Durham, now converted into a ten-pin bowling alley and health club, ice hockey and figure-skating
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Desperate times as charity faces closure
A FUNDING crisis threatening a charity which operates a taxi service for elderly and disabled people is deepening. Darlington Dial-a-Ride may close early next year because of spiraling costs and cash-flow problems. After an appeal for donations from businesses
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Concert tribute to bandsman
BANDS at a charity concert raised more than £2,000 in memory of a popular colleague. The Royal Signals TA Band joined Fishburn, Cockerton Silver and Spennymoor Town bands in tribute to Tim Holmes, who was 47 when he died from cancer in May. The event
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Hear all sides; The power of witchcraft
HARRY POTTER SOME people are worried that the content and subject matter of the Harry Potter books might lead a generation to have a damaging interest in witchcraft. I have been more or less happy with the books on two counts. Firstly, I have been satisfied
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Clean-up call follows boy's needle find
A MOTHER is demanding a clean-up at a recreation ground after her young son found a used hypodermic syringe. The woman, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said her son had been out walking with his father at Bishop Auckland recreation
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MPs fight to save clubs from ban on 'bandits'
North-East MPs are campaigning to block a proposal to ban "bandits" from social clubs. The removal of high pay-out fruit machines is among the recommendations of the influential Gaming Review Body. Now 100 MPs, many from North-East constituencies, have
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Here's to you, Mrs Robinson
GETTING schoolchildren interested in their lessons is hard enough. Encouraging their parents to take an active role is sometimes even more challenging. Since 1994, Barbara Robinson has worked as a community project manager at Blakeston School in Stockton
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Online facility for residents
RESIDENTS on a once troubled estate can now log on to the world of computers at their showpiece community centre. The £600,000 Pelaw View Centre was built as part of the multi-million pound regeneration of the Sherburn Road Estate in Durham. The centre
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Credit proves easy for student to obtain
AN experiment by trading standards officials has revealed that in a matter of hours a student can obtain £9,700 in credit. Middlesbrough Borough Council's Trading Standards Advice Centre asked Angela Dowdle, a final-year student at Teesside University
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Region's lamb goes back on sale in stores
SHOPPERS in the region can support local sheep farmers by buying Northumbrian lamb from today. Safeway has announced it will be selling the lamb in stores across the North-East and throwing a lifeline to the foot-and-mouth hit industry in an area where
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Band members strike a chord in non-stop music record attempt
MUSICIANS hope they have struck the right chord with the Guinness Book of Records after playing non-stop for 15 hours. More than 50 members of Musicians Unlimited, Hartlepool's award-winning big band, took part in the marathon on Saturday. The group braved
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In search of the true Romanies
A FEW weeks ago, you said that gypsies or travelling people originated from somewhere near northern India. I always understood that they were called gypsies because they came from Egypt. - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street. TRAVELLING people have been
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Remembering the Erato
REMEMBRANCE Sunday took on even greater significance for a group of people huddled around a grave in a North-East cemetery yesterday. Their tears of tribute were not for the fallen in war, but for a small group of sailors who, 100 years earlier, had waged
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Zoe's future is with the stars
AN astrologer has looked to see what the stars hold for Darlington's Pop Idol Zoe Birkett. Zoe, a Gemini, has beaten 10,000 young hopefuls to get through to the finals of the hit ITV programme, to be screened in February. Astrologer Patty Greenall has
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New name for centre in honour of pioneer
A LEADING light in a university's computer science department, who died earlier this year, is to be honoured. The University of Teesside's computer and mathematical sciences building in Middlesbrough will be renamed in memory of Bill Greig, who lived
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Ice fans turn up heat in rink bid
A BID to restore a city's ice rink could take a step forward next month. Five years after the closure of the Riverside Rink in Durham, now converted into a ten-pin bowling alley and health club, ice hockey and figure skating enthusiasts still yearn for
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Pole position girls?
GYRATING your pelvis in public while wearing only the tiniest of G-strings and a pair of ludicrously high heels is not the most conventional way to earn a living. But for the girls at For Your Eyes Only, table dancing is just another job. Some of them
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City date for Santa
SANTA will arrive in Durham City on Thursday to switch on the Christmas lights and take up residence in his grotto. He will travel from Palace Green to the Town Hall, where he will be greeted by the mayor and will switch on the Christmas lights. Entertainment
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Talks planned to resolve Remembrance Day divide
DIFFERENCES over how a North Yorkshire city remembers its war dead could be settled by next year. Yesterday, and the year before, veterans stayed away from a civic service in Ripon Cathedral, preferring to stand in silence at the war memorial, in the
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Park residents protest mast
A public protest is planned in the heart of a North Yorkshirs national park by campaigners who have spent the last two years resisting plans for a telecommunications mast close to their homes. The dish and tower are part of package which will allow emergency
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Children thumb through books
A school can boast its own library, thanks to a new extension. Classrooms in a temporary building have moved to a new, permanent home at Norton Primary, but the space left behind has not gone to waste. The library has since opened in the old buildings
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Silent tribute to those who fell
THOUSANDS of war veterans paid tribute to fallen comrades at Remembrance Day services across the region yesterday. Those who gave their lives were remembered on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month - the first time since 1990 that
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Make or break time for Kev's England dreams
KEVIN Phillips believes he has shown England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson that he is capable of being a force at international level after his performance in the friendly clash with Sweden at Old Trafford. But the Sunderland striker knows he faces a crucial
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Computers issued to foster parents
FOSTER parents are being issued with computers in a bid to improve educational standards among children in care. The first batch of 30 computers and software packages are being delivered to Middlesbrough foster families as part of a range of measures
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It's a dog's life for Santa
A TEAM of four huskies helped Santa kick off his festive stint in Darlington after foot-and-mouth disease grounded his traditional reindeer escort. In previous years, Father Christmas has been led round the town centre by reindeer drafted in from Northumberland
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Children show healthy interest in website
A website has been created by children, for children, in a bid to promote healthy living. The Healthnet site, operated by Teesside Health Action Zone and Middlesbrough Football Club, gives information and advice on issues such as smoking. This is presented
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Two die in grim weekend on roads
TWO people were killed in separate road accidents in the region over the weekend. The first, at about 6.15pm on Saturday, happened in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, on the A178 Coronation Drive, about 200m south of Newburn Bridge, and involved seven casualties
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Village sculpture in search of a home
A WOODEN sculpture, dubbed an eyesore by some and an iconic representation of Dales life by others, could be looking for a new home next week. A wooden base on the edge of Bainbridge, in Wensleydale, supports four revolving arms, each with a carving of
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Man stable after attack on road
A MAN is recovering in hospital after he was beaten up on a busy road in the late afternoon. The 34-year-old, who lives locally, sustained serious head injuries in the attack on Normanby Road, South Bank, in Middlesbrough, near the junction with Market
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Schools hit by supply teacher shortage
THE demand for supply teachers in the region is so great that there are not enough staff to fill school posts. Primary and secondary schools in the area are crying out for workers as staff shortages reach crisis point. Specialist recruitment agencies
