Archive
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Protestors fear N-E will be home to new nuclear station
ANTI-NUCLEAR campaigners fear Teesside could become home to a new breed of reactors earmarked for the sites of existing power stations. Last night, they vowed to do everything in their power to prevent a new wave of nuclear power stations being built
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Riddle of museum exhibit
THE 130th vehicle to be registered in County Durham has taken pride of place at Beamish Museum. A 1900 Humber Quadricycle was presented to director Miriam Harte by the Friends of Beamish yesterday. Many parts had to be hand-made at the museum because
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Olympian supports north-east effort for charity bikeathon
HUNDREDS of cyclists got on their bikes to raise money for charity yesterday. There were Blue Peter Bikeathon events on Teesside and in Darlington. At Castle Eden Walkway, Thorpe Thewles, near Stockton, a ten-mile ride was started by Olympic cycling bronze
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Darlington set 12-point target
Darlington RA need to win their remaining four fixtures to have any chance of clinching the championship. Their hopes rescinded when they were held to a 4-4 draw by Harton and Westoe and even assuming they defeat leaders North Shields, their rivals would
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Spotlight on handy pets
VISITORS to a Darlington pet shop were given a chance to find out how dogs can be trained to carry out tasks for disabled owners. Pets at Home, at Darlington Retail Park, held the event as part of the chain's national fundraising for the Dogs For The
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Tucking into royal grub for Queen's visit
YOUNGSTERS throughout Gateshead will make a meal of the Queen's visit by tucking into specially prepared food. Primary school pupils across the borough will be served with a Millennium Bridge menu tomorrow to mark the start of the Queen's jubilee visit
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Machinery destroyed in blaze
MACHINERY worth thousands of pounds was destroyed and the lives of 20 cattle put at risk when a fire was started in a barn. The blaze broke out at Carr House Farm, Murton Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside, just after 11pm on Saturday. It is thought to have
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Eating disorder therapy success sparks interest
A TREATMENT being pioneered in the region to help people who harm themselves or develop eating disorders is attracting international interest. Self-harm and eating disorders - such as anorexia and bulimia - are notoriously difficult to treat, but a new
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Walkers aid cash appeal
A SCHOOL bursar and two friends trecked across the countryside to raise money. Susan Luke, of Hurworth Comprehensive School, near Darlington, made the fundraising effort as part of a campaign to raise £50,000 for the school's bid to gain specialist mathematics
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Man charged with assault
A 30-year-old local man is due to appear before North Tyneside magistrates today charged with assaulting a 30-year-old woman at Hadrian Court, Killingworth, near Newcastle, on Friday night. The victim suffered head injuries and was found in bushes. A
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Thrashing good fun heralds fresh start
SHOPPERS and visitors were treated to a festival of music and dancing when a market town was brought to life with a feast of entertainment. The annual Teesdale Thrash, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, is a popular event that attracts crowds from all
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Night is shaping up nicely
SUNDERLAND will be a sea of red and white - and green - for veteran forward Niall Quinn's charity benefit match. The relegation-threatened Premier League side will play the Republic of Ireland at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, May 14, with the proceeds
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Landlocked town boasts beach in advert mix-up
DETERMINED efforts are being made to turn Darlington into a seaside resort. For the second time in five months, the landlocked town is being promoted for its sea and sand. Advertisers working for the British Resorts Association (BRA) have placed Darlington
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New weapon in the battle to reduce road accidents
ROADSIDE signs that tell drivers they are speeding are the latest weapon in the fight to make County Durham's roads safer. The signs are to be installed near Cleves Cross Junior and Infant School, Ferryhill, and Burnhope Way, Peterlee. Encouraging drivers
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Store's playtime plan for charity
PARENTS and children are invited to take part in playtime sessions across the North-East on Wednesday to help raise funds for the NSPCC charity. The sessions, which are being held at Early Learning Centres, coincide with the NSPCC's Children's Day. as
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TV date proves turn-off
A POTENTIAL dream date turned to disaster for a North-East hairdresser on TV show Blind Date. When 20-year-old Leanne Dowson picked Irish charmer Bosco on Cilla Black's ITV programme, and the couple headed for Munich, she thought her luck was in. But
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Demand for heavy lorries ban after bridge is damaged
ACTION is being urged to stop drivers of heavy lorries taking shortcuts through Barnard Castle after a low-loader wagon allegedly caused extensive damage to a bridge. The listed County Bridge was closed for five hours while Durham County Council highways
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Police launch hunt for sex attacker
A 20-YEAR-OLD holidaymaker is believed to have been seriously sexually assaulted in an attack near a town centre nightclub in North Yorkshire. The woman, who has not been identified, had been out with friends in Scarborough, police believe. Part of St
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Vital hearing in drug appeal
A JAILED charity worker's appeal against his conviction for possession of drugs in India could take a step forward today. India's Supreme Court will hold an initial hearing into the case of Ian Stillman, who has consistently denied possessing cannabis
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Judging is done on the hoof . . .
PONY society members put the foot-and-mouth crisis behind them at their annual spring show this weekend. The popular event hosted by The Dales Pony Society had to be abandoned last year as the epidemic gripped the region. But organisers were encouraged
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Rana produces the goods for Lanchester
Bilal Rana, who in recent years has been one of the most successful professionals in the North East, swept his new club Lanchester to a morale-boosting nine-wickets victory against Swalwell. The spinner claimed seven wickets for only 34 runs in 19.3 overs
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£50,000 of drugs seized during raids
POLICE seized £50,000 worth of heroin and cannabis during raids last week. Operation Venice - carried out between Wednesday and Friday - also saw £10,000 in cash seized in Langbaurgh, east Cleveland, along with a stolen Porsche Boxster, worth £18,000.
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Durham turn on the style
Durham City turned in the display of the day to upset the form book by beating champions Horden. At the Racecourse Ground the careful and confident start by Horden came apart when they lost their last eight wickets for just 39 runs. Chasing a Horden total
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Judges view blooming treasures
JUDGES for the Northumbria in Bloom competition have made their annual tour of Darlington to assess the town's displays. Now Darlington Borough Council's gardeners are waiting to learn if they can add 2002 to their prize-winning years. Rebecca Williams
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Opening time for community support centre
DIGNITARIES and community organisations gathered at a ceremony to launch a £675,000 centre that will become an important meeting place for local people. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, who is patron of the Four Clocks Project, performed the opening ceremony
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Questions to be answered
SOME of us have parish councillors who may be called town councillors. All of us have district councillors. A few of us have directly-elected mayors. Many of us have county councillors. We all have MPs. We all have European MPs. We may one day get regionally-elected
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Terror of silent rape attack in Darlington
A YOUNG woman was brutally raped in a North-East town at the weekend as she walked home alone after a night out with friends. While one man forced the terrified 21-year-old to have sex, another calmly pinned her to the ground and watched. After her ordeal
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Football thug given World Cup all-clear
ONE of the North-East's most notorious football hooligans has escaped a ban preventing him from travelling to the World Cup, The Northern Echo can reveal. The news comes less than a month before the start of the tournament, and potentially raises fears
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Impressive Henry will be monitored
BOTH Darlington and Mowden Park are likely to be interested in the services of Middlesbrough's Wes Henry following his eye-catching debut for Durham on Saturday. The flying winger scored two tries as Durham built a 21-0 lead, only to be overpowered by
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Artist's tribute to 'little mate' Caroline
THE father of murdered British backpacker Caroline Stuttle has paid an emotional tribute to the teenager he described as his "little mate". Artist Alan Stuttle is putting his city centre gallery, in York, up for sale after 30 years, saying he wants to
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Campaign aims to teach drivers to reduce speed
ROADSIDE signs that tell drivers they are speeding are the latest weapon in the fight to make County Durham's roads safer. The signs are to be installed in Burnhope Way, Peterlee, and near the Cleves Cross Junior and Infant School in Ferryhill. Educating
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Football club in training barn bid
REVISED plans for Sunderland AFC's long-awaited training academy have been submitted. The club proposes adding a training barn - a full-size indoor football pitch - on the Academy of Light site on 60 acres of the former Whitburn Moor Farm, just north
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Callous thieves steal trees from cemetery
COUNCILLORS are working with police to catch thieves who stole newly planted trees and flowers from a Stockton cemetery. Less than two weeks ago, Stockton Borough Council workers spent a full day planting flower containers to try to brighten up Durham
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Wiltshire and Fazal hit form for Marske
Marske topped 300 in only 44 overs but had to settle for a draw when Darlington RA's batsmen also produced a good performance. It was Marske's Fahim Fazal and Jonathan Wiltshire who stole the show, however, and both reached three figures with powerful
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High hopes for artistic pupils
A GROUP of Stockton schoolchildren have been rewarded for their artistic talents. Pupils from 23 primary, secondary and special schools submitted works of art to the borough's Northumbria in Bloom competition. A selection of the paintings will be entered
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New trust promises health benefits for thousands
A NEW Primary Care Trust (PCT) launched in east Durham promises to bring health improvements. The Trust will act as a freestanding statutory body accountable to the County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority. Easington's MP John Cummings
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Fresh talks over parking headache on cobbled road
PEOPLE who live on one of Richmond's steep cobbled streets are hoping a rethink over roads will open the door to fresh talks on parking outside their homes. Bargate residents were happy to pay a £10 annual fee for parking permits in 1998 when restrictions
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Ex-corrie star hopes brother's business will be a street ahead of rest
FORMER Coronation Street star Joanne Froggatt took time out of her busy schedule to help her big brother launch a business venture. Antiques dealer Daniel Froggatt enlisted his celebrity sister's help to open the Antique and Collector's Corner, in Southgate
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In the company of werewolves
SEEING Star Wars on screen at the Odeon cinema in Newcastle was a turning point in Neil Marshall's life - it made him decide that he wanted to make movies himself. The Geordie film-maker has been back at the cinema, this time as a film-maker rather than
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Teenage arsonists threaten important wildlife habitats
FIREFIGHTERS and police are cracking down on young arsonists after a spate of incidents in Hartlepool. Cleveland Fire Brigade said there had been an "unprecedented upsurge" in the number of fires deliberately started in urban countryside, seriously stretching
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Study will review child care safety
A TWO-YEAR study has been launched into national progress in improving the safety of children living away from home. The research carried out by the York-based Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), will consider if safeguards for children in residential care
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The Monday Poem
RELIGION IN 2002 O little town of Bethlehem Where Jews and Arabs shoot; The hopes and fears of all the years -. We worship Beckham's foot. E. Turnbull, Gosforth. Geordie Had A Barrow Ask any old Raintonian, He will tell you, my friend, How Geordie kept
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Harmison misery continues as Durham suffer Notts defeat
THE man sent to cover Saturday's Nottinghamshire v Durham match for the Sunday Times had been told to concentrate on Stephen Harmison on the grounds that he has a good chance of being in the squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka. It would be fair
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Captain Cook's Endeavour goes sailing into Rio
THE replica of Captain Cook's ship, Endeavour, is due to drop anchor in the Brazilian port of Rio de Janiero today. From Freemantle, Western Australia, through Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands, the £10m HM Bark Endeavour is due to arrive in Whitby,
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History essay challenge
A RECORD number of entries were submitted for this year's James Barningham History Essay Competition, at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. The first prize, £75, went to Richard Hogg, 18, of Bishop Auckland, who wrote an analysis of the
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Flying high with Bertie
GIANT, multicoloured hot-air balloons filled the sky over Newcastle Racecourse as part of an annual event at the weekend. This year's Balloon Festival brought the usual crowds to the Gosforth racecourse to catch a glimpse of the larger-than-life exhibits
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Music festival boosts hospital gym fund
SEVEN hours of live music raised hundreds of pounds for a North-East hospital on Saturday. Amelia's Charity Rockfest, at the Mill House, Blackfell, near Washington, Wearside, saw local acts performing to help raise money for gym facilities for children
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Coastguard's station move
COASTGUARDS are to build a new rescue equipment station at the cliff-top village of Ravenscar, on the North Yorkshire coast, after making changes to original plans. The Coastguard and Maritime Agency said the existing station, which was about 80 years
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In praise of prunes
CELEBRITY chef Lesley Waters shared tips on preparing prunes in shopping centre demonstrations at the weekend. The star of the BBC's Ready, Steady Cook and Can't Cook, Won't Cook programmes was at the Gateshead MetroCentre on Saturday as part of the California
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Village school given good Ofsted report
A VILLAGE primary school has been given a good report from Government education inspectors. Frosterley Community School, in Weardale, was described by inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education as "a very effective primary school" which "achieves
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Golfing staff lose jobs after cash ultimatum by council
A GOLF professional and ten golf club staff have lost their jobs after a council decided to call in a £9,000 debt. Alan Hartley, who ran the clubhouse, driving range and golf academy at the municipally-owned Roseberry Grange Club, West Pelton, near Chester-le-Street
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Idol Aaron serenades shoppers
FORMER Pop Idol contestant Aaron Bayley had them rocking in the shopping aisles during the weekend. Screaming girls packed in to see the 27-year-old perform three songs at Middlesbrough's Cleveland Centre, on Saturday. The former train driver, from Walkerdene
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Pub auction raises £694 for hospice
REGULARS at a real ale pub topped their fundraising ways at a charity auction during the weekend. Drinkers at The Ship Inn, at Middleton Village, near Spennymoor, county Durham, have set themselves the task of visiting all 5,000 pubs in the Campaign for
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Royal honour for sisters grieving for their mother
TWO sisters, whose mother lost her battle against cancer two days before the death of the Queen Mother, have been chosen for a royal honour they will always treasure. Rebecca and Harriet Ashley, aged eight and four, have been selected as the joint winners
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Blaydon look to Perry after second defeat
Blaydon cannot wait for the return of their West Indian professional Nehemiah Perry, who has been badly missed in the first two games. After losing heavily to Chester-le-Street on the opening day, the Tynesiders crashed to 76 all out against Gateshead
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Roundabout is new home to much-maligned steel sculpture
A STEEL sculpture which caused controversy when it was first erected in a town centre, has been moved - more than 30 years later. The 13-ton black triangular shape, named after Thornaby's motto, Always Advancing, was lifted by a crane from its home in
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MP backing specialist status campaign
A SCHOOL'S campaign to become a centre for business and enterprise education has been launched with support from Darlington MP Alan Milburn. Branksome School, in the town, needs to raise £50,000 by September to submit its bid, which it hopes will aid
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Hundreds flock to college exhibition
FORMER pupils travelled from as far as Australia to celebrate a school's silver anniversary. A photographic exhibition at Greenfield Arts and Community College, in Newton Aycliffe, helped visitors to recall their schooldays at the weekend, as part of
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Dutch villagers unveil tribute to crew who made ultimate sacrifice
THE Second World War has been over for more than half-a-century, but for many of those involved the memories of the sacrifices made are as fresh as ever. In the early hours of March 13, 1941, the crew of an RAF bomber was killed when the plane blew up
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Agony of son as fire kills mother
A DESPERATE son tried to battle his way through searing heat to save his mother from her burning bedroom. Geoffrey Trotman and a neighbour fought their way upstairs towards the blaze, but were unable to reach the room where his 87-year-old mother, Winnifred
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Miners' tribute to civic leader
A DRAMATIC painting depicting the Durham Miners' Gala has been commissioned to mark a veteran councillor's retirement. The 5ft by 4ft oil painting, by George Robson, formerly a member of the National Union of Mineworkers, pays tribute to Councillor George
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Threat to playgroup is eased
A PLAYGROUP, which had been in danger of losing its home, is on the verge of securing temporary accommodation. The pre-school group in Romanby, near Northallerton, had a question mark hanging over its future after church leaders announced plans to sell
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Youngsters and Morris Troupes enjoy a spring dancing fling
YOUNGSTERS stepped back in time to recreate traditional May Day celebrations at the weekend. On Saturday, Beamish Colliery Village, which is within the open air museum, near Gateshead, became a hive of old-fashioned May festivities. The children began
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Call for canines
mongrels from across the region are being sought for the RSPCA's Dog of the Year show. Finalists are chosen for condition, appearance and character - not beauty. A regional heat will be held at the RSPCA centre in Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, on June
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Celebrating the work of carers
CARERS across Gateshead are being invited to attend events in June to help raise awareness about carers' needs and celebrate the work that they do. All carers, whether looking after a disabled child, an adult with physical or learning disabilities, mental
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Company pays tribute to its long-serving workers
MORE than a quarter of an east Cleveland company's workforce has been with the firm for 25 years. The Cleveland Potash 25-year Club welcomed a further 21 members, swelling the ranks to 225, 26 per cent of the workforce. Along with their friends and family
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Hospitals cash crisis deepens
A NORTH Yorkshire health trust's cash crisis is set to rocket. Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Trust, which covers hospitals at Whitby, Malton, Scarborough and Bridlington, had a £3.5m shortfall at the end of the financial year in March says Gerry
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Twin towns plant trees
COMMEMORATIVE trees were planted in an east Durham town to mark a long-standing link with a German community. Seaham and Gerlingen forged their friendship with a ceremony in the Town Park. Trees were planted by the Mayor and Mayoress of Seaham, Councillor
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Classical concert at hospital
Three classical musicians will perform the first ever piano trio concert at Sir William Turner's Hospital, in Kirkleatham, near Redcar, on Thursday. The Mainardi Trio will perform in the chapel at 7.30pm. Tickets, costing £10, are available on (01642)
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New exhibition offers insight into art works
AN east Cleveland artist is giving people a glimpse of artistic processes as part of a new exhibition. It is the first time Saltburn- based artist Andrew Broderick has held a solo exhibition at the town's Art Gallery and he intends to give visitors the
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Donation gives boost to playgroup
A MOTHER and toddler group is celebrating a new start in a new building. Skinningrove Mother and Toddler Group has a new home in the former primary school in the east Cleveland village thanks to £16,000 from Sure Start East Cleveland. Sisters Clare Boyd
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Peterlee look genuine title contenders
Peterlee registered their credentials as championship contenders with a three-figure win at Houghton who were all out for just 77 as the Hewson brothers shared eight wickets. Professional Keith claimed five at a cost of 34 runs and Neil took 3-32, this
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Farmers use course to key into new skills
FARMERS who joined a computer course in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis have not only acquired new skills, but also new slants on farming and country life. After spending half-a-day a week for the past six months in Northallerton College's training
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Dave calls it a day after life of service
ONE of Durham's longest serving magistrates has retired from the bench. Dave Willey, 60, a journalist at The Sunderland Echo's Durham office until he took early retirement two years ago, dispensed justice for 23 years. He presided in adult and youth,
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Club back in swim after pool reopens
A SWIMMING club is ready to make a splash again after spending five months without a pool. Loftus Swimming Pool closed in November when its filters failed, and only recently reopened. The timing could not have been worse for Loftus Dolphins Swimming Club
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New mental health unit's royal link
A NEW mental health unit in County Durham, named after the late Queen Mother's family, has been opened. Health Secretary and Darlington MP Alan Milburn performed the ceremony at the £4m Bowes Lyon Unit, at Earls House Hospital, Durham City. It was attended
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Life's a gas for endangered seabirds
THE future's bright for one of Britain's rarest seaside birds. Sections of Transco's yellow polyethylene gas pipes are appearing on North-East beaches, which conservationists hope will help the fragile colonies of endangered Little Tern. They hope that
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Homes plan withdrawn by company
OPPONENTS of plans to build three homes on the site of Kirby Hill Church of England Primary School near Boroughbridge have been given new hope. Ahead of a Harrogate Borough Council planning committee meeting to decide the scheme's fate, developers withdrew
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Town GP dies after lifetime of loyalty
A FUNERAL service will be held tomorrow for a GP who worked in the same town for 30 years. Duncan Robertson, who was 60, was a senior partner in the Friary surgery until his retirement in October, 1999. He arrived in Richmond with wife Jean soon after
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Hear all sides
TRUANCY -- SO the Government is going to cut benefits to the families of habitual truants who, while they are playing truant, are out shoplifting, bashing up grannies for their pensions, joy-riding, smashing up and burning out cars, vandalising, etc.,
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Burning Questions
Q I recently joined a packed congregation at a funeral conducted by a humanist who led us to give thanks for the full and interesting life of the dear departed. I am 80 years of age but was impressed enough to refer to the reference books to see how I
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Searching for the right note
Q What are the most covered songs of all time? We have a bet on this at the work. I think White Christmas is the most covered but one of my colleagues thinks it is My Way? - Chris Taylor, North Ormesby According to the Guinness Book of Records, neither
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What is humanism?
Q I recently joined a packed congregation at a funeral conducted by a humanist who led us to give thanks for the full and interesting life of the dear departed. I am 80 years of age but was impressed enough to refer to the reference books to see how I
