Archive
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Neale victims win lawyer battle
THE victims of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale have been backed by the Legal Ombudsman in a dispute over "aggressive" defence lawyers. The row, which dates back to the July 2000 hearing which saw the North Yorkshire surgeon struck off, highlights the
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Hunt for man's attackers
POLICE are asking for help to trace three men who attacked a teenager walking alone. The incident happened at about 9.30pm on Saturday, February 23, when the 18-year-old, who was walking near the subway to the Greystones roundabout, near Redcar, east
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Festival to draw tourists back to the dales
Details have been announced of a new festival which organisers hope will help kick-start the tourist season in the Yorkshire Dales. The area has been hit hard by the foot-and-mouth crisis over the past 12 months and many businesses will be relying on
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School's cross-country athletes do it again
A GROUP of young runners have made their mark for the third time in a schools' cross- country competition. 52 pupils at Heighington Primary School, near Darlington, took part in the South Tyneside Cross Country Competition last weekend. Schools from all
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Midnight unveiling for Xbox
NORTH-EAST games fanatics will be the first in the country to get their hands on the most powerful console on the market - Microsoft's Xbox. Shops across the region will be hosting late-night gaming parties tonight to mark the machine's launch. Independent
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Sarah on the ball as soccer referee
TEENAGER Sarah Weedall will not be taking any nonsense from the boys when she takes to the football pitch in future. The 17-year-old pupil at Wensleydale School, in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, is a qualified referee having successfully completed an eight-week
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New cycle route
WORK has started on creating a cycleway in Newton Aycliffe. The cycle path along St Cuthbert's Way is the latest phase in a £73,000 initiative to provide links between residential areas, the town centre, the railway station and industrial areas. Cycle
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Parents dismayed by report findings on school numbers
COUNCILLORS are being recommended not to increase the capacity of a popular village school, despite a campaign by parents for more places. Last year, Durham County Council raised the number of reception class pupils joining Coxhoe Primary School from
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Darcy is officially top dog
DOG lover Margaret Robson is celebrating after her pet won best in breed in the most famous dog show in the world. The 59-year-old, from Newton Aycliffe, has trained dogs for most of her life and was delighted to come away from Crufts with the best in
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Primary pupils to be green 'pioneers'
PRIMARY school children in Darlington will be taking part in an environmental pilot programme this summer. Youngsters from across the borough will be treated to a day of projects based on the Earth Education scheme devised in America in the 1960s. The
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Diary holds on to secret after 60 years
A TINY diary found in Arnhem, near to the scene of the biggest airborne operation in history, has revealed a mysterious North-East link. Dutch-born Harry Koudenburg contacted The Northern Echo after a futile 20-year search to discover the owner of a 1942
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Landlady calls tax protest meeting
A landlady is urging people who are unhappy with their tax bills to attend a meeting at her pub next week. Cath Thompson, of the Bay Horse, in Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, has already considered not paying her business rates to Richmondshire District
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Court order for sex offence pair
TWO teenagers who asked an eight-year-old boy to perform a sex act on them have been made the subject of a supervision order. The Darlington youths, aged 15 and 17, had been playing together in a bedroom with the boy, when the younger teenager asked him
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North Yorkshire Grassroots news
Boroughbridge Town Council VANDALISM WORRY: Bor-oughbridge Association Foot-ball Club has written to the council about vandalism at the football field, especially in the spectator shelters. Coun-cillors heard that the damage was happening at weekends
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Booking system 'benefits tenants'
COUNCIL house tenants are benefiting from the expansion of a repairs-by-appointment scheme, according to officials. They are now able to book morning or afternoon slots for gas repairs and servicing, while two gas fitters are available to carry out work
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Chester-le-Street Birtley and Disrict Grassroots news
ANNUAL MEETING: Chester-le-Street Community Associ-ation will stage its annual meeting at 7.30pm, on Tues-day, in the Community Cen-tre. PICTURE POSTCARDS: A postcard fair will be held from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, March 23, in the North Lodge Annex of
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Glenys, you should know better
I NEARLY hacked the top off my thumb recently, when I mistook it for a potato while armed with my brand new, very sharp, vegetable knife. "Serves you right for cooking," said a cheerfully unsympathetic neighbour in the village shop. And Glenys Kinnock
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Industrial estate to get medics centre
A MEDICAL centre is to be opened in the heart of an industrial estate - one of the first schemes of its kind in the country. The revolutionary service is being set up to look after the health of up to 15,000 people employed on the Aycliffe Industrial
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Sensory garden to benefit youngsters
YOUNGSTERS with special needs are set to benefit from a sensory garden that will be built on waste ground next to their school. Territorial Army Pioneers will create the garden, for the youngsters aged 11 to 19, next to Catcote School, Hartlepool. It
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Heroin is seized in -Dealer a Day' raid
POLICE raided ten homes in a North-East town as part of a campaign to crack down on drug dealers. Officers seized heroin with a street value of more than £2,000 and made one arrest during the raids in Middlesbrough. A 19-year-old man was charged with
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Villagers' protests postpone 'green' power plant decision
VILLAGERS who protested against plans for a power plant to be built near their homes have won a temporary reprieve. Residents of Thornton-le-Dale had expressed serious concerns about proposals for the gas-powered electricity station to be created on a
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Internet scam added £60 to telephone bill
A NORTH-EAST woman who fell victim to a new form of Internet scam is highlighting her case to prevent others falling in to the same trap. Cristina Jackson, of Norton, Stockton, and her husband Ignacio Hernandez are among 400 people across the country
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Making progress on trading mission to China
A South Tyneside manufacturer plans to double the size of its operation after a successful first year of trading in China. Bede Technology, of Jarrow, which makes thermostat production and test equipment, has completed more than £500,000 worth of business
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Teesside news in brief
Road and tip centre closure DRIVERS in Hartlepool are being warned of roadworks which will be carried out in the town this weekend. Due to essential resurfacing work, the section of Burn Road from Baltic Street to Whitby Street will be closed from 5pm
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Smiths group in massive jobs cut
Engineering group Smiths is to cut another 1,450 jobs, a large number of which will be in the UK. The group said the new cuts, which follow the 1,600 job losses announced last year, would be made in the second half of its current financial year, from
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Blitz Bus driving home key messages
IT IS a familiar story. With too few facilities, youngsters often resort to hanging around on the streets. There they arouse the suspicions of adults, whose fear of crime and vandalism are heightened. But in Darlington, youth workers, the police and other
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Inspectors call and praise school
A TEESSIDE girls school has been praised by inspectors in a report. The report on Teesside Preparatory and High School, in Eaglescliffe, found that "the overall standard of teaching was good or very good". A team of eight from the Independent Schools
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Town's first Tory councillor dies
CONSETT'S first Conservative Party councillor, who held his seat in the Labour stronghold for 33 years, has died. Welshman Larry Thomas, who was 83, served on Consett Urban District Council and its successor, Derwentside District Council, from 1950 to
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Gum-chewing kids boost brain power
School kids could soon be given the go-ahead to chew gum in class after boffins discovered it increases brain power. Tests by psychologists showed chewing can improve people's memory ability by up to 40 per cent. The amazing results could mean teachers
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Centre opens after high tech facelift
A BUILDING which has been a village's focal point for more than a century has been transformed as a technology centre. Church Street Community Centre, known as The Institute, in Langley Park, County Durham, has reopened as an information, communication
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Out-of-school club
A CHILDREN'S out-of-school club is taking bookings for its busy Easter holiday programme. An Easter egg hunt, team sports, baking, crafts and trips to Sea World, the Forbidden Corner, a butterfly farm and the cinema, are included in the busy schedule
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Brass band's whistle stop
A WORLD-RENOWNED brass band is to perform in the region at an event to raise money for hospices. It has taken more than two years for a County Durham rotary club to obtain the services of the Grimethorpe UK Coal Band. The concert, at Newton Aycliffe Leisure
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Three to follow in Queen Mother Chase
ALL the leading players have had their say, but the time for the verbal sparring is nearly over because at a little after 2.35 this afternoon one horse will rightly be crowned the king of the British and Irish two mile division. The Cheltenham Festival
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Judo stars gain medals success
A JUDO academy is celebrating after success at a major event. East Durham and Houghall Community College's Judo Academy travelled to Goole, in Yorkshire, for the Under-18 Open Championships, on Sunday. Academy member Colin Francis, 17, a first Dan black
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Saint's life caught on the big screen
A long-awaited film charting Durham's history will finally open this month at a flagship venue. Sacred Journey, by Brendan Quayle, tells the story of St Cuthbert and explains the origins of Durham's City of the Coffin title. It is the second large-format
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School's cross-country athletes do it again
A GROUP of young runners have made their mark for the third time in a schools' cross- country competition. 52 pupils at Heighington Primary School, near Darlington, took part in the South Tyneside Cross Country Competition last weekend. Schools from all
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Taylor's big battle
Darlington manager Tommy Taylor admits he faces a summer struggle to build a stronger squad as agents exert their ever-increasing influence. As the season approaches its climax, clubs and mangers are already sounding out prospective new recruits but Taylor
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Brighter picture thanks to overhaul
CONSTRUCTION and support services group John Mowlem has thanked an overhaul of its business for a spark in full-year profits. Mowlem, which has a regional base on Teesside, has restructured in recent years in an effort to boost earnings from its support
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Name change at Mandale
MANDALE Harriers, having failed in a bid to amalgamate with Middlesbrough and Cleveland Harriers, have dropped a bombshell by applying to change their name to Middlesbrough AC - and the move has been ratified by the North of England Athletic Association
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Darlington and South Durham news in brief
Aid for victims of violence Darlington's Domestic Violence Forum has thanked the town's mayor, Councillor Isobel Hartley, and Brownies, Guides and leaders of the Locomotion division of the Guide Association, in Darlington, for helping to raise £606 by
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91% say coastal area safe
RESIDENTS on the Yorkshire Coast have labelled the area a safe place to live and work. The findings follow an investigation into crime and disorder in the Borough of Scarborough - which includes Whitby, Filey and part of the North York Moors National
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Youth facilities shortage
A SURVEY carried out by Stokesley sixth formers has highlighted a lack of youth facilities in the area. Computer students from Stokesley Sixth Form Centre questioned residents from the school's catchment area, which includes Great Ayton, Stokesley, Hutton
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Hostels face axe in wake of virus
TWO Dales youth hostels are among ten axed nationwide in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis. The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) lost an estimated £5m as a direct result of the epidemic last year. With footpaths closed to limit the risk of spreading
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Grassroots news
PR ROLE: Vi Todd, of Billy Row, Crook, has taken up the position of public relations and marketing officer for JAB Records, which looks after the interests of country music singer Ann Breen. Ms Todd has done a lot of work in the past promoting Ann Breen's
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Glenys, you should know better
I NEARLY hacked the top off my thumb recently, when I mistook it for a potato while armed with my brand new, very sharp, vegetable knife. "Serves you right for cooking," said a cheerfully unsympathetic neighbour in the village shop. And Glenys Kinnock
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Proving a rather difficult nine yards to crack
IT has been linked with everything from the length of a Spitfire's machine gun belt to the amount of rubbish that would fill a corporation dust cart; from the volume of a rich man's grave to the length of a hangman's noose. Give 'em enough rope..? How
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Cannabis: some turn blind eye, others arrest on sight
MANY police officers have effectively decriminalised possession of cannabis by turning a blind eye to the offence, according to a major study published today. But, in a unique street-level survey, researchers also found that a small minority of officers
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Camp site blow for travellers
TRAVELLERS are to be removed from their illegal camp, to the relief of nearby residents and businesses. The travellers arrived at the council-owned land at Warrenby, near Redcar, a few months ago, because they claimed they had problems at Redcar and Cleveland
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Driver's arm is speared
BARMAN David Walker is lucky to be alive after he was speared through the arm when his car plunged down an embankment. A piece of fence post went straight through his right arm, severing a major artery. Mr Walker, 31, pulled out the post himself and a
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Sculptor's son helps save controversial pavilion
THE son of one of the 20th Century's most eminent sculptors has helped save his father's most controversial work from demolition. The fate of the late Victor Pasmore's concrete Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee, east Durham, has hung in the balance for more
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Boots will give £300m to shareholders
Boots is preparing to return £300m to shareholders as part of a shares buy-back programme. The proposal, which represents more than five per cent of the company's share capital, will add to the £1.3bn already returned to investors since 1994. Chief executive
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Developer is sought for business park
A DEVELOPER is being sought for a multi-million pound business park planned for the outskirts of Darlington. Considerable interest has been expressed in the Morton Palms development, to the south of the town centre, which it has been estimated will create
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Warning to tenants over offer of quick house repairs
TENANTS in the region are being warned to be on their guard against doorstep canvassers offering quick repairs. The warning comes from trading standards officers at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council after salesmen targeted council house tenants in
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The 'hurt' of campaign for killer
GRAND National winning jockey Richard Guest has outraged the family of a North-East murder victim by planning to use this week's Cheltenham Festival to further the freedom bid of a self-confessed killer. Supporters of Irish-born jockey Christy McGrath
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Soccer thugs used mobiles to set up fight
THe following pleaded guilty to violent disorder at Newcastle Crown Court. David Breeds, 29, of Devonshire Street, Monkwearmouth, was jailed for six months. Stephen Goodfellow, 31, of Rotherford Square, Redhouse, Sunderland, Malcolm Clare, 39, of Seton
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Decline carries on despite signs of upturn
MANUFACTURING output continued to fall in January despite signs of an upturn in the global economy, official figures have revealed. The Office for National Statistics blamed sharp falls in the electrical and telecom equipment sectors for a 0.4 per cent
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Hospitals link-up completed
MIDDLETON St George Hospital and Care Homes, formerly known as Trees Park, is investing £90,000 on a computer and IT network. Computer stations at Middleton St George Hospital, and a sister site at Cheadle Royal, in Cheshire, will be linked to a network
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Diary holds on to secret after 60 years
A TINY diary found in Arnhem, near to the scene of the biggest airborne operation in history, has revealed a mysterious North-East link. Dutch-born Harry Koudenburg contacted The Northern Echo after a futile 20-year search to discover the owner of a 1942
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Plans outlined to make council services better
COUNCIL officials have outlined measures they are taking to improve a department which has come in for criticism by Government inspectors. A recent Audit Commission report criticised Sedgefield Borough Council's horticultural service, which has seen losses
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Overseas travel to find the best
A NORTH Yorkshire supplier has gone that extra mile to ensure his customers can expect the best. Michael Harrison, managing director of Richmond's Northern Select Foods, has assigned himself a twice-monthly van run to the Rungis Market, in Paris. The
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Couple help save pier fall victim
TWO pensioners walking their dog helped save a man who fell into the sea. Robert and Barbara McHugh, of Grindon, in Sunderland, were walking along the city's Roker Pier with their Jack Russell cross Kim on Monday morning. The dog heard the man's cries
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Roadshow in drive to give sex education
PUPILS at a Middlesbrough school were given advice about sex and relationships yesterday as part of a project aimed at reducing teenage pregnancies. The Sex Education Roadshow, organised by Middlesbrough Healthy School Scheme, was at Keldholme Secondary
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Jury discharged in sex case
A murder jury have been discharged after failing to agree whether a man deliberately killed his wife during a kinky sex game. Norman Heaton, 42, strangled mother-of-three Jacqueline Heaton, 32, before hiding her lifeless body under the stairs at their
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Waste dump closed after alleged assault on worker
A RECYCLING centre has been forced to close while police investigate allegations that an irate customer assaulted a member of staff. Waste management firm Yorwaste said the household waste dump on Beckfield Lane, in York, would be closed indefinitely.
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£140,000 boost for summer activities
SUMMER activities for North-East children will be boosted by almost £140,000, it is announced today. The New Opportunities Fund has awarded the sum to two projects in the area, as part of its latest round of grants. More than £108,000 is being given to
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Theatre groups team up for play
ONE of the region's biggest theatre companies is to join forces with a group of dales dramatists to produce a new play. The Castle Players, based in Teesdale, will be working with members of Live Theatre to put on the Last Post, written by playwright
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Managerial role at £2.6m sports centre
A MULTI-MILLION pound community sports complex in Hartlepool has reached another important milestone. Karen Hyrons has been appointed manager of the new £2.6m centre, which is being built at Brierton School, in Brierton Lane. She will be responsible for
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Racing day climbs back into saddle
AN annual insight into the Sport of Kings will go ahead this spring after missing a year due to the foot-and-mouth crisis. Middleham's Open Day was cancelled at the height of the epidemic, last April, costing the Dales community thousands in lost revenue
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Campaign calls for clean up of dog dirt
DOG owners in Hartlepool who let their pets foul back streets are being targeted in a new campaign. Council chiefs have decided to take action in the wake of an increasing number of complaints about the state of the back streets in the town. Alley gates
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Victim bitten during mobile phone theft
A MAN was bitten on the finger during an attack in which his mobile phone was taken. Two men started talking to the victim in North Road, Harelaw, near Annfield Plain, at about 12.10am, on March 3. One took the phone and ran off and, when the victim grabbed
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Monty the terrier in search of a new home
A YOUNG Staffordshire bull terrier needs a new home, almost a year after he was rehomed by the National Animal Sanctuaries Support League, in Darlington. Two-year-old Monty featured in The Northern Echo last July, when he was looking for a home. A reader
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Positive backing for awards
AN EVENING to celebrate the achievements of young people has gained the support of the Learning and Skills Council. The training group has become the main sponsor of the Positive Young People awards, which are taking place in Darlington on Monday, March
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Students' business is more than just a paper exercise
TALENTED teenagers have pooled their skills to set up their own business venture which could prove more than a paper exercise. Girls from Sunnydale School, in Shildon, launched their own stationery company which they hope will prove both profitable and
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Trainer and his dog to embark on European odyssey
DOG trainer Ian Young will be following in his canine companion's paw prints when he embarks on a 900-mile sponsored walk this summer. Sally, a two-year-old black Labrador, will lead the way when Chester-le-Street-born dog lover Ian makes the charity
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North-East actor makes a Shakespearian entrance
A NORTH-EAST actor is returning to his roots to perform in the latest Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) tour. Darren Tunstall, who was born in Darlington, has been an actor for the past 13 years. He joined the RSC in September for their touring production
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Workers at doomed plant stay to fight
WORKERS at a doomed North-East cement plant are shunning generous job offers around the country to stay and fight for survival. Lafarge UK trawled through its national operations to identify 160 vacancies for 147 staff facing redundancy with the closure
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Football chairman opens the door to a world of books
A HELPING hand has been extended to a small primary school by a charity support group and the local Premiership football club. Grange Park Primary School in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, welcomed special visitors to mark the opening of its refurbished library
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Teenager who sparked hunt turns up safe
A TEENAGER who sparked a police search after she went missing with a man is now thought to be safe. Claire Louise Smith, 19, of Ramsey Close, Peterlee, east Durham, was reported missing after she left home on Friday and failed to return. It was suggested
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Inside dealers in skills for the outside
FRAN Elliot is a patient and determined woman. For 25 years she has watched young criminals filter through the prison system, unable to stay out of trouble once they are released, and inevitably ending up back behind bars. Her gentle nature - remarkable
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Reward offered after pet hens are tortured
CHILDREN as young as ten returning from school could have been responsible for an attack on a teenager's hens. Miles Copeland, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, found his birds tortured and maimed in their allotment pen at teatime on Monday. Moments
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Enduring glory of swimmer Florence
AT nine o'clock on the morning of Saturday, October 1, 1910, an 18-year-old girl called Florence Trusler slipped into the water at Darlington's Kendrew Street swimming baths. Up and down she swam, for hours and hours; sometimes on her back, sometimes
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Bawdy comedy with an edge
At Home With The Braithwaites (ITV) HERE is proof, if proof were needed, that money can't buy you love and happiness. This third series finds Alison Braithwaite, the mother-of-three who won £38m on the Euro-Lottery, in deep, deep trouble. But which of
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Group plans crafty Easter exhibition
A CRAFT exhibition is taking place in east Cleveland to celebrate the first year of a self-help group. The event, hosted by Saltburn Crafters, takes place on Easter Monday at Saltburn Community Centre and a wide range of handicrafts will be on offer along
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Lessons in store for youngsters
YOUNGSTERS from Teesville Infants School went on a shopping mission with a difference yesterday morning. The children are among youngsters from several schools in the South Bank, Normanby and Middlesbrough area who have been taking part in a scheme with
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Bowe in Euro talks
A NORTH-EAST Euro MP was involved in top-level talks last night to protect Europe's steel industry in the wake of the US decision to impose import tariffs. Last week, President George W Bush announced he would be imposing tariffs of up to 30 per cent
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New varieties make debut at spring show
NEW varieties of flowers and alpines will be making their debut at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show from April 25-28. The event, being held on the Great Yorkshire Showground, is the first major show of the year and growers will be parading their new varieties
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That's life as students learn the basics
STUDENTS learned the art of life drawing from an expert yesterday. Durham Sixth Form Centre was the first school to be visited by an artist and model from the Royal Academy of Arts as part of the Yakult Outreach Programme. Throughout the rest of the week
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Derwentside Grassroots news
BATTLING PLAY: Fighting the Tide is being staged by the Bad Apple Theatre Company at 7.30pm on Friday, March 22, at Stanley Civic Hall. MONEY ON TREES: The Butterwick Hospice has org-anised Butterwick Wood Tree Planting, in Hare Law Wood. There is a choice
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North Durham and Tyneside news in brief
Appeal after guitars stolen Rare guitars, including a Rickenbacker worth £2,000, have been stolen from a house in the Durham Road area of Leadgate, near Consett. Burglars also took the black case the Rickenbacker was in, an Eko acoustic guitar with a
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Young soprano auditions
AUDITIONS for the Young Soprano of the Year competition are being held today. The judges will listen to the tapes of 12 youngsters singing a song of their choice. They will then chose six finalists who will be invited to sing live in front of judges at
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Changing climate threatens region's precious plants
VOLATILE weather caused by climate change could spell disaster for some of the North-East's most precious plants, according to a report. Among the victims could be the globeflower, a member of the buttercup family which is found in upland areas, such
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Happy birthday to a brave battler
BRAVE youngster Liam Lyons shrugged off his troubles and celebrated his third birthday with friends and family yesterday. Liam has already had three major operations at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, including two lung operations and a heart operation,
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Club issues warning over false map claims
DARLINGTON Football Club has repeated its warning to businesses that it has nothing to do with a proposed town map. Club official Luke Raine says several traders have contacted him after being approached by someone selling advertising space on a folding
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Hayley takes to the air
DARLINGTON Memorial Hospital radio has a new disc jockey. Hayley Gyllenspetz, 27, chief reporter of The Northern Echo, is training at Radio Skerne FM to host the Sunday night slot from 8pm to 10pm. During the show she will be taking requests from patients
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Talks continue on scheme for 800 homes
CONSULTATIONS are continuing on plans to build 800 homes in Spennymoor. The £50m scheme, which was unveiled at Spennymoor Town Hall for public inspection about a month ago, has met with a mixed reaction. Councillor Bill Waters, leader of Spennymoor Town
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Bad tempered dog sent on anger management course
A foul-tempered terrier called Scruffy has been sent on an anger management course after a string of attacks on postmen. He looks like a harmless, if bedraggled, family pet but his lovable looks hide a dangerously short fuse. Last year Scruffy took a
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Lessons fashioned from life in trenches
A MILITARY museum has helped bring survival in the trenches during the First World War to life for teenagers from one of the region's schools. Youngsters have been trying on uniforms and shouldering the guns British soldiers were issued with between 1914
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Schoolboy's death prompts call for guardians on buses
The death of a 12-year-old boy has prompted renewed calls for 'guardians' to be present on buses when there are large groups of schoolchildren onboard. Jamie Lee Wells died on Friday (March 8) after slipping as he tried to get down through the open doors
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Smokers are offered help to kick the habit
INDIAN head massage and aromatherapy are just some of the enticements being offered to smokers today to help them kick the habit. The University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, is marking National No Smoking Day with an advice and support session for students
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Profits for construction company
Construction and development company, S Harrison has reported a 40 per cent increase in turnover in the last year. The Malton, North Yorkshire-based business saw turnover top the £31m mark in the year to December 31, compared to £22m in 2000. Despite
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On track to begin upgrade work at railway station
THE £468,000 transformation of a Teesside railway station will begin on Monday. The work, at Thornaby Station, will provide a new station building, restoring a staffed ticket office to the station for the first time since 1979, along with a retail unit
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Expanding business hits new high note
A WOMAN who has helped hundreds of people discover their natural voice is looking for someone to help with her expanding business. Many people are inhibited about singing or speaking in public, but Susan Lever, who is based at Pinchinthorpe, near Guisborough
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Students take the stage for musical show
YOUNG performers are donning leather jackets and looking forward to summer nights in their latest production. A cast of 22 Durham School students, with additional band members and behind the scenes helpers, is preparing to stage Grease, in the school's
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Four accused of knife raids on same day
FOUR people appeared in court yesterday accused of involvement in knifepoint raids at a housing office and village post office on the same day. Cashiers and customers were threatened with knives at both a housing rent office in Shiney Row, Wearside, and
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Yes! Big boost for exciting rail plan
A £4.9m Lottery grant which could bring thousands of extra visitors to the North-East and pave the way for a new network of themed tourist attractions is due to be announced today. Exciting new plans to open a £7.7m museum in the railway town of Shildon
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House damaged in night-time crash
A POLICE inquiry is under way after a car crashed into a house, causing damage which could run into thousands of pounds. The incident happened at about 10.15pm on Monday in Stammergate, Thirsk - an area where residents have previously complained about
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Parishioners' tribute to their former priest
FORMER parishioners of Barnard Castle priest Father Anthony Barker have marked his retirement with a presentation. Fr Barker was priest at St Mary's Roman Catholic Church for 15 years until his recent retirement to Wolsingham. His parishioners invited
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At least someone is going to be alright, Jack
AMONG matters on which New Labour is deaf to all pleas is the restoration of the link between earnings and the state pension, notoriously broken by Margaret Thatcher. Shamed by that insulting 75p increase, the Government has more recently raised the pension
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Why our children are being sold short
When Labour came to power in 1997 education was at the top of its agenda. Five years later, Darlington's seven school secondary headteachers describe the stark reality of the town's education system. WHO would have thought a few miles could make such
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Jury told of fatal stabbing at party
A WOMAN told a court yesterday how she watched in horror as the father of her child died in a pool of blood on the doorstep of their home. Leanne Watson was at a late-night family party with Darren Liddy when he was allegedly attacked by Peter Topping
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Premier chiefs ready to call Ziege
THE PREMIER League are set to name the date when Liverpool and Christian Ziege will face charges over the German international's controversial move from Middlesbrough 18 months ago. Northern Echo Sport exclusively revealed in September that Liverpool
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Close race expected
TYNESIDE track Brough Park stages the final of the £2,000 William Hill Gold Cup on Friday night and racing manager Terry Meynell is expecting a close race: "It looks wide open - anything can win it." But Scottish raider Bell Isle Ace could start favourite
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Details about city proves a touchy subject
A TOUCH-SCREEN tourist information panel has made locals see red in Ripon - because it gives too much information about neighbouring Harrogate. Following complaints from city councillor Andrew Williams, action is being taken to make the information more
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Drop in sheep numbers puts moors at risk
THE North York Moors could become a wilderness of scrub unless the number of grazing sheep is increased, a councillor has warned. Herbert Tindall, chairman of the Primary Landusers group, said it was of grave concern that sheep numbers grazing on the
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Hear all sides
DRUGS POLICY THE latest Government move to avoid nightclub drug related deaths is urging club owners and promoters to take more action to try and prevent further deaths. The first move should come from the young people who go to these clubs. Since the
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Allegation of charity scam
A MAN appeared in court yesterday accused of a charity scam involving between £40,000 and £50,000. Dean Russell White, 35, who is facing 12 charges, did not enter any pleas at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, North Yorkshire, and was remanded on bail until
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Big chance for Crook
DREAMS occasionally do come true so Andy Crook's hope of having a winner with his inaugural Cheltenham Festival runner Ryalux (5.05) is not beyond the realms of possibility. Ryalux lines up for the Mildway of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase with a
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Reyna is sure Craddock can join England's World Cup squad
UNITED STATES World Cup star Claudio Reyna, battling to make a first team return at Chelsea on Saturday, believes that Sunderland teammate Jody Craddock is knocking on England's door. Reyna, who has been an instant hit since his £4.5m move from Glasgow
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'Wait and see' approach over webcasts idea
THE possibility of webcast council meetings is to be decided later in the year by a North-East authority. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is considering broadcasting its meetings live on the Internet. The council chamber and main meeting room would
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Heads join forces over 'woeful' spending
MANY North-East children are receiving a second-class education due to massive inequalities in school funding, The Northern Echo can reveal. The Government formula for spending means some schools receive tens of thousands of pounds more than similar sized
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Comment from The Northern Echo; Building on past glory
CONGRATULATIONS to Shildon. Today it will get confirmation of its £4.9m grant from the National Lottery towards its new railway museum. The museum will be a tourist attraction. It will bring money to the town. It will tidy up an unsightly area of wasteland
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Johnston's pledge on titles as it buys group for £560m
NEWSPAPER group Johnston Press is to buy Regional Independent Media, owners of the Yorkshire Post, for £560m. Johnston said the acquisition of RIM, which is the fifth largest regional newspaper publishing group in the UK by circulation, would consolidate
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Thistle sells hotels in £600m deal
LEISURE group Thistle is to sell more than half its portfolio of hotels, including sites in Middlesbrough and Newcastle, in a deal worth more than £600m. The Leeds group has agreed to sell 31 regional and six London hotels to Gamma Four, a subsidiary
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North Yorkshire news in brief
Hotels alerted to burglary risk Hotels have been urged to be on their guard following burglaries at two in North Yorkshire during the past few days. Intruders smashed windows at both The George at Piercebridge and Hartforth Hall, before attempting to
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School's extra facilities unveiled
THE latest phase of a multi-million pound school upgrading will be opened in Newton Aycliffe today. Greenfield Community School and Arts College will have provision for an extra 131 places as a result of the work. The school has undergone a transformation
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Anti-smoking treatment fears
TOP lawyers say there are still doubts over a controversial anti-smoking drug which is being widely prescribed in the region. Zyban, which is seen as an important weapon in the war against tobacco, is playing an increasingly significant role in the North-East
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Heating targets reached
A £6.3m house improvement programme has been hailed a success by Derwentside District Council. The cash, used to improve energy efficiency in 4,700 homes, means the district now meets Government targets for heat efficiency. The council has invested in
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Town is handed ticket
The age of the public railway began in May 1822 when the first piece of track was laid along a 21-mile route between Stockton and Darlington. It was another three years before Locomotion Number One hauled 26 wagons and a coach into history, when 650 intrepid
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Business news in brief
Cable firm's 90 office jobs CABLE company ntl has created nearly 90 jobs at its Teesside offices, after wielding the axe at other sites. The jobs have come as a result of the closure of ntl's other UK operations, with work being transferred to the Stockton
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Farms are springing back
AN award-winning Dales open farm has joined a national initiative to tempt tourists back to the countryside in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Star Joan Collins was back from her honeymoon and in London at the weekend to help publicise the Your
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Good citizens of the future learn the lesson of teamwork
A SPORTING great made the trip to North Yorkshire yesterday to help with lessons in life for youngsters from the Dales. Former British Lion John Bentley joined Rugby Football Union (RFU) envoy John Lawn at Wensleydale School, in Leyburn, to help promote
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New jobs for North-East
Dozens of new jobs are being created thanks to financial support from a local council. Almost 90 new jobs will be created over the next three years in a variety of businesses either relocating or expanding in Darlington, after grants of £30,036 were awarded
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Strike may affect further hosptials
STRIKING health workers are continuing to picket hospital gates today as a dispute over pay looks set to spread. More than 130 medical secretaries are on strike at the 1,000-bed City of Sunderland Hospitals NHS Trust. Now, union bosses say more than 50
