Archive
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Crash into power lines probed
A GAS company is investigating an accident in which one of its diggers and a trailer collided with a pole carrying power lines - disrupting electricity supplies to several homes. The crash happened on Tuesday when a mini digger and trailer towed by a
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Police recruitment drive to increase number of specials
POLICE in an east Durham town have launched a recruitment drive in a bid to boost the number of special constables. There are 11 volunteer officers supporting full-time bobbies in Peterlee and the aim is to swell their numbers to at least 25. In what
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Pupils in running for business title
YOUNG entrepreneurs will compete for a business title at regional finals tonight. For the past academic year, pupils from comprehensive, private and special schools have been managing their own businesses as part of the Young Enterprise North-East (Yene
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Town centre's £25m plan wins approval
COUNCILLORS have approved plans for a £25m extension to Newton Aycliffe town centre. Members of Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee on Friday approved the long-awaited application for the £25m scheme on the site of the former Avenue
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IT bus puts on service
PEOPLE in east Cleveland have been given the chance to have a go at IT thanks to a special bus circulating the area. The Technology Bus has been organised by Redcar and Cleveland College and is running across the length and breadth of Redcar and Cleveland
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Last night's TV
Give sitcom a chance to stand alone. Dossa And Joe (BBC2) Caroline Aherne is going to hate the reviews for her new series. They are, at the very least, going to mention her previous hit The Royle Family. Many will go on to judge it against that award-winning
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Repairs at last on danger rail bridge
VITAL repair work to one of the most dangerous railway bridges in the region is due to get under way at last - seven years after safety concerns were first raised. The decaying bridge barrier at Dalton-on-Tees, near Darlington, has been the scene of at
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Warehouse plan grounded
PLANS to build a warehouse on an ecologically sensitive part of Teesside Airport have been deferred. Councillors at Darlington Borough Council decided to defer a planning application by LV Shipping of Holland after hearing objections from the airport.
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Prom goers looked just magic
AMONG the more dubious ideas we've imported from America - Sunny Delight, trick or treat, bright pink cowboy boots - let us spare a small cheer for the School Prom. In our day when we left school, we did nothing more glamorous than make a bonfire of our
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Bogus knife sharpeners warning
POLICE are warning pensioners to be on their guard following reports of a gang operating as bogus knife sharpeners. But they say they are making progress in tackling the problem of bogus callers after two men were arrested for house burglaries in north-west
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The furture's bright after orange giant's no-show
Burning the (almost) midnight oil was the order of the night this week. Thank goodness the train was there to take the strain. THE columnist's worst nightmare - there are several other reasons for insomnia - has woken up screaming. Two hours before this
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Zindabad given nod over stable rival
IT'S simply impossible to keep Mark Johnston out of the news at present and the Middleham magician goes into this afternoon's Yorkshire Cup double-handed via Akbar and Zindabad (3.20). Both are class acts with a nifty turn of foot, so even after galloping
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News in brief: Hospital plans to be debated
THE public can find out about proposals for hospital services in County Durham at a meeting at the Masonic Hall, Victoria Avenue, Bishop Auckland, tonight, from 7pm to 9pm. The plans include services at Bishop Auckland Hospital, the University Hospital
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New mayor is a real leading light
THE new mayor of Darlington is to be honoured with a tradition which was shelved seven years ago. Councillor Doris Jones, 59, from Middleton-One-Row, will become the new mayor at a ceremony being held at Darlington Town Hall tonight. She will take over
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Children's home site to be used for housing
A DISUSED children's home in Darlington is to be demolished to make way for homes. The former Beech Rise Children's Centre, in Barmpton Lane, will be replaced with 20 houses. The home was closed by the council in 2000 after its final resident was rehoused
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£4.2m in aid for housing groups
MILLIONS of pounds have been given to housing associations in Darlington to improve properties throughout the town. More than £4.2m from the national Housing Corporation has been divided between eight housing associations working in the borough. The housing
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Detectives renew appeal for robbery witnesses
DETECTIVES investigating the knifepoint robbery of a man on a busy roadside have renewed their appeal for information. Darlington motorist Gianni Ross was robbed of his £12,000 Rolex watch and a quantity of jewellery by three men in a layby on the A67
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Vandal-hit park may get spy cameras
MOBILE security cameras could soon be installed in a town centre park in an effort to deter vandals who target the area. Darlington Borough Council was awarded a £3.9m National Lottery grant earlier this year to return the Victorian South Park to its
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Archer's 'surprise' N-E property interest
JAILED Tory peer and millionaire author Jeffrey Archer has property in the North-East, according to a new register of interests. Lord Archer is listed in the first compulsory list of peers' outside interests as having "rented urban property in London,
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Princely approval for health project
A PIONEERING North-East project which prescribes acupuncture and aromatherapy to patients got the royal seal of approval last night. Dawn Solomon, project manager for a scheme which gives patients living in the deprived West End of Newcastle access to
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Soldiers in Falklands ceremony
YOUNG soldiers will pay their respects to those who died fighting in the Falklands through a series of tough training exercises and a poignant ceremony of remembrance next week. Recruits destined for the Parachute Regiment, the Guards and the Gurkhas
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Boards off to a bad start
THE examination season is upon us, and our thoughts are with the tens of thousands of young people about to endure the toughest few weeks of their lives so far. Students place a great deal of trust in the agencies who administer the examinations. They
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'Turner Prize' pallet removed from view
A HUMBLE wooden pallet which was jokingly nominated for one of Europe's most prestigious arts prizes has now been removed from public display. The nomination came after council contractors sealed the pallet - which had temporarily jammed into a fence
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Athan recovers from killer bug
A THREE-year-old boy struck down with a deadly form of meningitis has amazed parents with his impressive recovery. A few weeks ago Athan Mahoney was fighting for his life after contracting meningococcal septicaemia. He managed to beat the disease, but
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Time for a party
A NIGHTCLUB is gearing up for a huge party. The Smirnoff Experience will be hitting the Tall Trees club, at Yarm, Teesside, on Saturday. Entrance is £10 and the doors are open from 8.30pm until 3am.
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Club milestone marked
TWO postmen teamed up to deliver a pictorial account of a special day in the history of one of the region's amateur football teams. Councillor Phil Graham, a postal worker, took photographs at the last match played at Bishop Auckland Football Club's Kingsway
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£941,000 transport initiative to improve rural services
A £941,000 initiative will bring new public transport schemes to rural areas of County Durham. The County Durham Response Project secured the funding through a Durham County Council bid to the Government's Rural Bus Challenge programme. Now the council
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Shamed GP got care home job
A CALL has been made for an inquiry into how a disgraced GP landed a top job with a care home chain run by a former medical colleague. Ashok Bhagat, 52, from School Aycliffe, was only sacked from the post with one of the biggest private nursing home firms
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Compensation for asbestos sufferers following ruling
A historic ruling by the House of Lords means that thousands of asbestos disease sufferers in the North-East will receive compensation. The court decision could cost insurance companies an estimated £6 to 8 billion. Five law lords unanimously overturned
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An exercise in verbal dexterity
THOSE of us fortunate to be on the North-East political circuit enjoyed the presence of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott last week as he toured the region promoting regional government, full of his usual pugnacious charm. In Newcastle, he denied that
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Bid to tackle park vandals
MOBILE CCTV cameras could soon be positioned in a town centre park in a bid to deter vandals. Darlington Borough Council was awarded a £3.9m lottery grant earlier this year to return the Victorian South Park to its former glory. South Park has been targeted
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Chance to view bypass plans
VILLAGERS will be given their first glimpse of a long awaited £5m bypass at a public exhibition next week. Residents have fought a long battle for much-needed traffic relief in West Auckland but up until two years ago they were told there was no funding
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Greening's pledge to England
MIDDLESBROUGH star Jonathan Greening has had to put his stag night on hold after receiving an 11th-hour England Under-21 call-up. The 23-year-old midfielder, who was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Michael Carrick, will marry fiance
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Thomas in the swing as Durham are blown away
DARREN Thomas is hardly one of the sultans of swing, yet he plunged Durham into dire straits yesterday. The 27-year-old Glamorgan seamer had a spell of seven for 19 as Durham recovered from a nightmare afternoon with a gutsy performance in the evening
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Lost pages reveal horror of community hit by tragedy
A LOST chronicle of one of the region's worst mining disasters has resurfaced. Buried in its yellowing pages is a vital clue to how many of the 168 men and boys who perished were interred in unmarked mass graves in Stanley, County Durham. The Northern
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Thieves spoil bid to brighten hall
THIEVES have thwarted a pensioner's efforts to brighten up a village's derelict Scout hall. The Howden-le-Wear resident, who has asked not to be named, placed two sets of flower pots outside Craig Hall, in Station Road, which is boarded up awaiting redevelopment
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Anti-burglary blitz nets 28 in quick time
OPERATION Raffles, a permanent anti-burglary initiative begun in Newcastle West in April, has had a good start with 28 arrests in just one month. Northumbria Police are leading the operation, part of a burglary strategy partnership which is gathering
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Fire hero PCs in running for award
THREE police constables who rescued an unconscious 50-year-old man from his burning home have been chosen as finalists in a national bravery awards scheme. PCs Brian Simpson, Trevor Kilbey and Graeme Bird battled scorching heat and choking smoke to save
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Nursery fun down in the jungle
A NURSERY has been transformed into a jungle as part of a project to teach pupils about animals. Children at Trimdon Grange Infant School and Nursery have built the jungle with the help of parents and staff, over the last few days. Headteacher Catherine
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Teenage girl attacked in public toilets
A TEENAGE girl needed hospital treatment after she was attacked by a man in town centre public toilets, police said yesterday. The 16-year-old had entered the public toilets behind the Safeway store in Northallerton, when a man forced his way into the
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Church warden stands down
At the annual parish meeting in Guisborough, Alec Harrington stood down as church warden after serving for eight years. Heather Whitehead was elected in his place, and Audrey Johnson was re-elected unopposed.
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Housing service rapped in report
SEDGEFIELD Borough Council has been criticised in a report which gave its housing maintenance service a zero rating. The independent Audit Commission report says the service is "poor and has uncertain prospects for improvement". It says the no stars rating
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Assault man's appeal to keep job fails
A FATHER jailed for a sex assault on his teenage babysitter has lost an appeal to keep his job. Wayne Armin, 32, of Thornton Close, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham was jailed in March after he was found guilty of indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl.
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Calendar to promote breastfeeding
A CALENDAR highlighting Breast Feeding Awareness Week is to be launched today by Sedgefield Borough Council's Sure Start scheme. The scheme's members for the Ferryhill and Chilton areas appear in the 18-month calendar at a time when a nationwide campaign
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Band is surprised at snub for jubilee
MEMBERS of a pipes and drums band have said they are surprised at not being invited to perform in their local area for the Queen's golden jubilee. The Teesdale Pipes and Drums band has performed in the Barnard Castle area for more than ten years, but
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Catapult missiles 'could be lethal'
CATAPULT-WIELDING teen agers who have been terrorising two North Yorkshire market towns have been warned to expect serious action if they are caught by police. Small gangs of youths have been spotted in both Northallerton and Richmond, using marbles as
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Killer has case sent back to appeal
A husband who murdered his wife after she taunted him about his lack of sexual prowess has had his case sent back to the Court of Appeal in a rare legal move. Phillip Rowland plunged a kitchen knife into his wife's neck after she mocked him. The Tyneside
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News in brief: Hospital plans to be debated
Hospital plans to be debated THE public can find out about proposals for hospital services in County Durham at a meeting at the Masonic Hall, Victoria Avenue, Bishop Auckland, tonight, from 7pm to 9pm. The plans include services at Bishop Auckland Hospital
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It's bin a change for the chairman
POLITICS has always had its ups and downs - but never quite as marked as this. The outgoing chairman of Ryedale District Council found himself filling a very different role yesterday - as a refuse collector. But Robert Wainwright's sudden transition to
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Task force targets tourism to revive fortunes of area
EXTREME sports, horseriding and golfing could be the key to attract tourists to "forgotten" east Cleveland. A tourism task force to spearhead a wide-ranging initiative to bring business to the area, is being recommended in a report published this week
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Gathering a culture success
MUSIC professionals from around the world have been finding out about North-East culture. More than 50 cultural leaders from 20 European countries visited Newcastle and Gateshead as part of the area's bid for Capital of Culture. They attended the Northern
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Community link award for school
A SCHOOL has received a national award recognising the quality of its working relationship with members of the community. Rossmere School in Hartlepool has received the honour from the Schools' Curriculum Award. In order to win the award the school had
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Rise in claims for benefit
THE number of people claiming unemployment benefit increased by 5,400 last month, while the steady loss of manufacturing jobs continued. The claimant count stood at 953,000 in April, the highest figure of the year, giving a jobless rate of 3.2 per cent
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News in brief: Walk your way to a healthy life
A SERIES of doorstep health walks are taking place this month. Volunteer walkers will be taking Gateshead residents on a series of two-mile circular walks to encourage people to take part in regular exercise from their front doors. Walkers can meet on
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Kvaerner group returns to profit
INTERNATIONAL construction and shipbuilding group Kvaerner has returned to profit in the first quarter of the year. The Anglo-Norwegian business, which employs more than 1,500 people in the Tees Valley, saw operating profits in the three months to March
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Pensioner choked on piece of food
A PENSIONER choked to death on a piece of pork, despite frantic attempts to save her. Staff at St David's Nursing Home, Redcar, tried oxygen, abdominal thrusts and back slaps in a vain attempt to dislodge the obstruction. A paramedic responding to a 999
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Cook plan to be decided
THE future of a £10m memorial to one of the country's best-known explorers is to be decided by planners next week. Scarborough Borough Council's planning committee meets on Tuesday to discuss whether to grant planning permission for a controversial project
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Girls work out a way to help charity
A SCHOOL has been praised by a national charity for its efforts to raise money to help the victims of leprosy in developing countries. Angela Lisle, the North-East community fundraiser for Lepra was presented with a cheque for £1,717 by the girls of Teesside
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Busy mayoral day for junior pair
TWO Darlington children were treated to a day as mayor and mayoress after winning a competition. Sean Kelly, ten, from Corporation Road Junior School, and Laura Arkle, ten, from Whinfield Junior School, were chosen to be Darlington's Junior Mayor and
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Community decline leaves parishes struggling
THE decline of rural communities has led to many parish councils failing to attract enough candidates to fill their seats at election time, a study has revealed. Nearly two-fifths of grassroots local authorities are said to be suffering serious problems
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Restaurant's a star player
AN Indian restaurant, which has almost doubled its capacity, has won national recognition for the quality of its food. Recent demand persuaded the owners of Tandoori Nights, on Richmond's Castle Hill, to extend into adjoining premises, adding room for
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Dancing in the street for jubilee
RESIDENTS at Langley Park are preparing to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in style. People living in Hazelwood Court will hold a party in the cul-de-sac on Monday, June 3, between 11.30am and 5pm. The entertainment includes a fancy dress competition
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Gruelling day takes teams to the limit
STUDENTS from across the region were battling it out for the title of Army College of the Year yesterday. A total of 19 teams of teenagers were put through their paces at Marne Barracks, Catterick, in North Yorkshire, completing a number of gruelling
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Pair on drugs charges following crash
TWO men appeared in court yesterday following the seizure of heroin with a street value of £8,000. Liam Woodier, 20, of Leckfell Close, Nunthorpe, and John McPartland, 21, of Ros-coe Street, Middlesbrough, were charged at Teesside Magistrates' Court with
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Dancing in the street for jubilee
RESIDENTS at Langley Park are preparing to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in style. People living in Hazelwood Court will hold a party in the cul-de-sac on Monday, June 3, between 11.30am and 5pm. The entertainment includes a fancy dress competition
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Traders fear effect of road closure
PLANS to close a major link road between two Ryedale towns this summer could be disastrous for traders, it has been claimed. Part of Norton Road, Norton, will shut for 14 weeks from Monday, to allow a flood defence pumping station to be built. District
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Raising smiles by drilling home the message about dental care
A NEW mobile dental surgery put a smile on the faces of children in a rural community yesterday. As part of National Smile Week, children from Middleton-in-Teesdale Primary School were given a dental check and some pupils were given a free x-ray. The
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Compost scheme to brighten region
COUNTY Durham could be made a brighter place thanks to an offer of free compost made from recycled garden waste. Premier Waste Management and Durham County Council are making the offer to the county's 99 town and parish councils, for planting projects
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Widening of bridge opposed
PLANNING officers have come down against widening a flood-damaged bridge which has been shut for more than 18 months after part of it was washed away. The bridge has been bypassed by a temporary structure while a debate about the future of Creet's Bridge
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Hear all sides: Child benefit
ON the flip side of removing child benefit from parents of criminal children, will good, hard-working children with responsible parents receive a top-up? I was born in the 1960s, colliery house, shared tap in the yard, tin bath and outside toilet. Does
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News in brief: Man injured in flat blaze
A man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after a blaze at a flat in Mount Parade, Harrogate, early yesterday morning. The fire is believed to have been caused by a chip pan. Police meeting: The public will have a chance to quiz members
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Opticians produce eye-catching newsletter
A CHAIN of Tees Valley opticians is making an innovative bid to put itself at the heart of the community. Pagan Eyecare, which has branches in Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough, has successfully applied for business development funding to establish
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News in brief: Rape trial jury is discharged
A jury hearing the case of a man accused of raping a woman twice and indecently assaulting her, was discharged yesterday. Judge Peter Fox discharged the jury at Teesside Crown Court, which had been hearing the trial of Peter Biggins, 30, of Brierton Lane
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Matty is helped into the groove by top DJ
A TEENAGER from Billingham has had his wish to spend time with a top DJ come true. Matty Wilkinson, 15, was granted a wish by Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, the charity that turns dreams into reality for children living with life-threatening illnesses. The
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Thieves swap similar cars
THIEVES who took a car from a Darlington car park are thought to have left an almost identical stolen vehicle in its place. A blue Vauxhall Nova, registered H 491 KDC, was taken from Morrisons car park at Morton Park between 6.40pm and 7.10pm on Monday
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Traders bemoan work on street
ANGRY traders in Bishop Auckland town centre have launched a petition over redevelopment work they say will lead to job losses. Many independent retailers have reported a drop in takings of up to 50 per cent and at least three people face redundancy because
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White's work in vain as Tykes crash
Craig White hammered Yorkshire's first Championship century of the season at Canterbury yesterday before Amjad Khan brought home the Danish bacon for Kent. The 21-year old Copenhagen-born paceman, playing in only his third first-class match, deservedly
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Mum at large: Prom goers looked just magic
AMONG the more dubious ideas we've imported from America - Sunny Delight, trick or treat, bright pink cowboy boots - let us spare a small cheer for the School Prom. In our day when we left school, we did nothing more glamorous than make a bonfire of our
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Boy hero saved family from fire
A BOY has been hailed a hero after rescuing his family from their burning house. Seven-year-old Jonathon Robinson called the fire brigade when his little brother, Adam, set fire to a bedroom. After making the 999 call, Jonathon woke up his parents, Mark
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Former teacher dies at 87
A RETIRED Darlington teacher has died, aged 87. Muriel Iles lived all her life in Darlington, where she worked as a Sunday school teacher and as secretary at the town's Darlington and Simpson Rolling Mills and Polam Hall School. She went on to teach shorthand
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Hat-trick of footballing success for youngsters
HAUGHTON Community School has scored a hat-trick of football victories, bagging three trophies in a year. The young teams have won three trophies this season - in the under-12s, the under-13s and the under-16s competitions. Triumph by Haughton's year
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Pub changes
Councillors have given approval for alterations to a Darlington pub. Scottish and Newcastle, which owns The Wheatsheaf pub in Yarm Road, has been given permission to partly demolish a conservatory and create a fenced-off outdoor drinking area. Under the
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Finishing touches to cinema
FINISHING touches were being put to the latest upgrades at Darlington's only cinema last night, in time for this morning's first screenings of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. After the £117,500 refurbishment of the ABC in Northgate last year
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Trio plan charity climbing tribute
THREE colleagues are scaling Britain's three main peaks in memory of a friend who died of cancer. Steven Young, Steven Wilkinson and Andy Collishaw, who work at Darlington Borough Council, will climb Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours, on
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Retirement makes John a free man
A COMMUNITY has bestowed a rare honour on a parish councillor who stepped down this month after 37 years of service. John Ashby was bowled over when Kirkby Malzeard Parish Council, near Ripon, took the unusual step of giving him freedom of the parish,
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Stepping out with new map for ramblers
The latest Ordnance Survey map of Barnard Castle and Richmond has gone on sale. The OS Landranger Map has changed its traditional look and replaced the cover with a picture of Eggleston Abbey, in Teesdale, County Durham. The map covers an area stretching
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Action group formed to fight care home proposal
OUTRAGED relatives last night vowed to fight council plans to demolish a care home. They formed an action group to oppose proposals by Durham County Council to close Barnard Castle's Stoneleigh care home, at a public meeting held in the town's Charles
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Clean-up begins but Railtrack faces fine
RAILTRACK has begun a clearance programme to rid the region's railways of potentially dangerous debris. But work to target materials which could be used by vandals to derail a train is not due to be completed until October. The revelation comes in the
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Taylor target opts to stay close to home
Darlington have missed out on signing striker Dene Cropper, who has chosen to sign for Lincoln City. Released from Sheffield Wednesday, the 19-year-old forward was being chased by Tommy Taylor but has opted to sign a one-year contract for the Imps. Taylor's
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'Ills' of private cash in NHS
THE jury is still out on the Government's controversial idea to use private cash to build NHS hospitals, a new report claims. Despite claims that the private finance initiative will boost the number of NHS beds, a Commons report has concluded that the
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Businesses face losses over bridge closure
BUSINESSES face losing thousands of pounds after it was announced that a bridge would have to be closed for repair work. Shopkeepers in Barnard Castle, County Durham, are angry that the County Bridge will be shut for a fortnight this summer while structural
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Fans offered training tours
FOOTBALL fans can go behind the scenes at one of the region's top training grounds. The Middlesbrough FC £7m facility at Rockliffe Park, in Hurworth, is to open for five weeks during the summer. For the second year running, supporters can take an hour-long
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Tees addict death: another arrest
POLICE have arrested another man following the murder of a drug addict on Teesside. Officers investigating the death of 29-year-old Robert Parkin, who was found dead in a top-floor flat in Shaftesbury Street, Stockton, have been involved in a series of
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Quinn leaps towards his mighty target
BIG-HEARTED striker Niall Quinn is today at least three-quarters of the way towards his magical £1m charity target after more than 35,000 fans backed Tuesday night's benefit match between Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland. But Sunderland Football
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Rape accused puts his side
A FORMER soldier accused of raping a woman in her home yesterday told a jury: "I did not rape her." John Ellison is standing trial at Teesside Crown Court charged with rape and indecent assault. The prosecution allege the former Scots Guard raped the
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Illegal loads put lives at risk on A19
ILLEGALLY tall lorry loads are putting motorists' lives at risk on the A19 road in the region, it is being claimed. Lorries are causing major problems on the route through Cleveland and County Durham, as they hit and damage bridges carrying roads over
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Mystery for couple on 65th anniversary
DEVOTED couple Arthur and Edith Duff celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary yesterday. Taking pride of place among the many cards adorning their Easington village home, in County Durham, was a message of congratulations from the Queen. But even the
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Tender moment as railway gardens find a platform
IN THE golden era of the railways, passengers would travel the length and breadth of the country to catch a glimpse of a lovingly-tended station garden. From a few milk churns full of geraniums to a sophisticated French knot garden, the fruits of dedicated
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Niki hoping not to make a big splash
A YOUNG care worker from Newton Aycliffe will be hoping not to make a big splash when she abseils from Newcastle's Tyne Bridge. Niki Brown, 17, is on a trainee placement with the Options Disability Initiative at the Pioneering Care Centre in the town.
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Gearing up for fair dealing in sale of second-hand cars
BUYING a second-hand car can be a fraught affair, but one man is hoping to revolutionise the industry with the help of bungee jumping and bouncy castles. After enduring the trials and tribulations of trying to buy and sell cars, entrepreneur Trevor Lightburn
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Rapist may have string of victims
A RAPIST who was jailed for 13 years yesterday for sex attacks on two North-East schoolgirls may have committed a string of other sex crimes. Northumbria Police have circulated information about double rapist Colin Jacklin, 54, to every force in the country
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Now exam regulator sets duff questions
THE watchdog charged with the job of ensuring that accident-prone exam boards clean up their acts last night admitted its own part in setting a duff question. Hundreds of pupils fell victim to the latest blunder, which left them sitting an exam riddled
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Boundaries shake-up will redraw political landscape
A SHAKE-UP of constituency boundaries in the region could see one county's political map completely redrawn. While in County Durham and Darlington the proposed changes take account of new district and borough ward boundaries and are likely to be minor
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In at the birth of a new nation
In the second of a series of reports from Kabul, Nick Morrison talks to some of the British soldiers charged with keeping the peace in a country which has got used to war. AS he walked through the market square, Jon Hutchison had a feeling he was being
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Solicitor charged
MIDDLESBROUGH solicitor John Aelred Tate has appeared before magistrates in Newcastle charged with fraud and forgery. The 50-year-old, who ran a one-practice on Borough Road until last year, was bailed to appear at the same court on July 10.
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Hooligans bid fails
THE ATTORNEY General has failed in a bid to have the sentence of eight convicted North-East football hooligans increased. Despite agreeing that the sentences passed on the men, ranging from four months to four years, were too short, three Appeal Court
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Beverley's victory over Nissan's porn watchers
A FEMALE car plant worker forced out of her job by male colleagues who watched hardcore sex movies on their lunch break was celebrating last night after an employment tribunal victory against Nissan. Paint shop worker Beverley Ward said that, despite
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Pub saved
A VILLAGE pub that opened 170 years ago has been saved from closure. The owners of the Raby Hunt Inn at Summerhouses, Mike and Barbara Allison, had applied to Darlington Borough Council to convert the pub into two houses. The plans were met with strong
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Factory site plans displayed
PROPOSALS for the redevelopment of a former factory in Ferryhill will be unveiled by Sedgefield Borough Council at a series of exhibitions next week. The council has completed the purchase of the former Praxis Taylor site, and surrounding land, in the
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Are gamekeepers conservation heroes?
BRITAIN'S biggest scientific investigation into the effect of predators on upland birds has been launched in the North-East. An eight-year project which will cost £960,000, the results could improve the breeding performance of important wading birds such
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Union calls off secretaries' strike action
Public service union Unison last night announced it had suspended strike action proposed by medical secretaries employed by Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust following a "realistic" offer from the trust. If accepted, the new deal would give the secretaries
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Adventure trip debate
THE controversy surrounding a council executive team's adventure training trip is to be debated when the authority meets next week. A number of councillors have signed a motion requesting further discussion of the two-day visit to Adrenaline UK, at Aske
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West End show seeks N-E singers
TALENT scouts are looking for North-East singers to perform in a West End show. The creators of the musical 125th Street, which opens in London in September, are looking for a different amateur performer to sing each night. The show is set in 1969, in
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A fond farewell to respected dalesman
DALESMAN Hubert Bywell Sadler left clear instructions for his own funeral. He directed: "I am to be disposed of as cheaply and as quickly as possible. Nobody is to be miserable since I have had a wonderful life on this earth." Aysgarth church was packed
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Regalia now ready for right royal jubilee knees-up
JUBILEE celebrations are well under way at a County Durham school. Pupils at Dean Bank primary school, Ferryhill, have been busy making crowns and flags as part of the school's plans to mark the Queen's golden jubilee. The youngsters, aged between four
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Faulty bolts to blame for plane crash
A PLANE crash in which Britain's top policeman narrowly escaped death was caused by two faulty bolts, an investigation has found. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens landed his Piper propeller plane at Newcastle Airport on two wheels after
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News in brief: £10 Ireland flights on offer
AN airline is offering flights for £10 from Teesside to Dublin. Ryanair is announcing today the introduction of extra weekend flights between Teesside International Airport and Dublin, in addition to its daily service. The evening flights will operate
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Road normal after delays
TRAFFIC was running normally by noon yesterday on one of the North-East's busiest roads after a factory fire caused disruptions lasting nearly 24 hours. Thousands of motorists were caught up in delays after police blocked off the A1(M) at its junction
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Kelly is found
Kelly Baker, 16, who went missing from her home in Hartlepool, Teesside, on Thursday, April 30, has been found safe and well in Kent. Police would like to thank all those who offered help and assistance in tracing the teenager.
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Seven-year ban for bosses
TWO directors of a music firm which ran up debts of £92,000 have been banned from managing companies for seven years. Timothy Oldroyd, of Cotswold Drive, Skelton, and John Andrew Hudson, of Wakefield, who ran Oldroyd and Hudson Ltd in West Road, Loftus
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Guests at second hotel hit by virus
GUESTS at a second seaside resort hotel have been struck down by the same stomach bug which affected more than 200 holidaymakers last week. Health chiefs confirmed that 12 people staying at the Royal Hotel in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, had developed
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Joint crackdown on taxis nets 14 drivers
FOURTEEN taxi drivers are to be prosecuted following a joint operation launched by police and council officials to catch pirate operators. All 14 are accused of plying for hire in Middlesbrough, illegally, and without the correct insurance. Three were
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Stumble led to death of woman, 76
GETTING up to answer a call of nature in the night led to a woman's death. Unsteady on her feet because of problems with her balance and arthritis in both knees, 76-year-old Dorothy Burnett lost her balance opening her bedroom door and fell, hitting her
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Packaging firm changes name after sale deal
PACKAGING firm Rexam Combibloc has changed its name, following a change of ownership. The company, which is based in Houghton-le-Spring, was established in 1974 and operated as a joint venture between SIG and Rexam for 28 years. In January SIG purchased
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Young players take unique soccer treble
A COLLEGE football team has scored a hat-trick by winning three national competitions in less than two weeks. Middlesbrough College's Soccer Academy earned the winners' trophy at the British Colleges' Sport National Cup on May 1. Then, on May 3, the team
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Hinkes scales new heights - but just wants some chips
Mountaineer Alan Hinkes is expected to return to Britain next week after scaling new heights in an extraordinary quest. After becoming the first Briton in 32 years to conquer the giant Himalayan peak of Annapurna, the country's most successful extreme
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Watchdog slams rail closure proposals
A RAIL passenger watchdog has criticised proposals to close thousands of miles of rural branch lines because they are under used. The North-East Rail Passengers Committee said services should be enhanced with greater investment rather than face the axe
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Youngsters offered star roles
Youngsters are being offered the chance to take part in a hit show. The King and I has begun a two-year national tour, including a stint at the Sunderland Empire Theatre this autumn. Characters being sought include the King's youngest son, who should
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Teenagers inspire health scheme clients to join charity drive
HEALTH scheme clients clean-ed cars for charity after being inspired by two teenagers. Six clients of the Gap Day Service, at Whitfield House, Framwellgate Moor, which helps people back into the community after being in hospital, washed cars with the
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Showing off in style
SHOPPERS will catch a glimpse of the latest styles during fashion shows at a local centre. The Galleries Shopping Centre, in Washington, will host local models wearing the latest summer looks for fashion shows from today until Sunday, at 11am, 12.30pm
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Job swap for staff as part of initiative
COUNCIL staff will swap jobs for the day as part of a national promotion. To mark Learning at Work Day, today, a number of chief officers at County Hall, Durham, will swap places with staff in different departments. Throughout the day, staff will also
