Archive
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Council accused over theatre
A NORTH-EAST council was criticised yesterday for giving control of its £14m new theatre to a company which collapsed with debts of almost £700,000. A creditors' hearing was told that the firm responsible for running Durham's Gala Theatre amassed the
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Runners switching to new route for annual 10k run
REGULAR runners will see a change of route for the 17th annual Darlington 10k Road Run, which was officially launched yesterday. More than 1,000 runners are expected to pound the streets for charity as the town grinds to a halt on Sunday, August 11. But
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Outcry over TV's racing claims
THE Jockey Club last night pledged to "consider very carefully" claims by a BBC undercover documentary that some trainers are happy to see their horses lose. But officials said they had misgivings over allegations made by the programme - part of the Kenyon
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Canal boat builder tastes success
Canal boat builder Riverside Narrowboats has set sail for success after fulfilling its first order. The Thornaby-based business has transported a 57-foot long vessel from the Tees Valley to a customer in Berkshire. When managing director Graham Morrow
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Stretton and Ostara double act on song
CLAIRE STRETTON'S association with Ostara (3.20) has coincided with a remarkable run of success for the Beverley-bound five-year-old gelding Trained at West Pinchpeck in Lincolnshire by Con Dore, who has recently taken over from his father-in-law Roger
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Age finally catches up with Lemerre's World champions
No inspiration, no goals, no hope - no wonder France are on the next plane home. Is it really so surprising that France's ageing squad, having been force-fed little more than a diet of friendlies for most of the last six years, were so off the pace in
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Soccer star escapes driving ban
A former Middlesbrough soccer star has escaped a driving ban after leaving a young mother in a coma following a 75 mph collision. Caroline Robinson, 28, suffered brain damage when former Boro striker Paul Wilkinson's car ploughed into her friend's vehicle
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Boxing fan's sex ordeal in alley
A BOXING fan was led into an alley by three men and raped as he made his way home from watching the world heavyweight championship bout between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. The 34-year-old victim was attacked in the early hours of Sunday a short time
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Retail centre scheme for town
A RUNDOWN storage unit is to be transformed into a mini retail centre as part of £1m investment in Bishop Auckland town centre. The new development will see the former Marks and Spencer storage area in Durham Chare, transformed into a store that will
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Smelly shoes and scent of success
A DESIGN engineer, with more than 30 years' experience, has hit upon an invention to make smelly shoes a thing of the past. Malcolm Doherty has invented a device which he believes can get rid of nasty foot odours overnight. His company, Tamer Cabinets
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Wage demands could halt Rivaldo bid
Rivaldo's extraordinary wage demands are likely to preclude Newcastle from pulling off an audacious bid to sign him. The Brazil World Cup star earns an amazing £5m a year after tax at Barcelona, whose new coach Louis van Gaal is looking to sell him. That
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Tears of joy as Heather weds her Beatle
IN the end, despite all the attempts at secrecy, it was the kind of fairytale wedding which the world wanted to see. Former model Heather Mills, from Washington, on Wearside, wept tears of joy yesterday when she exchanged vows with Sir Paul McCartney
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Gadfly: Politeness is next to godliness for guides
THOUGH the nation is proclaimed godless, many a bible was being dusted down last week following a letter in the Daily Telegraph from Mrs Winifred Shaw-Hall in East Herrington, Sunderland. Her thought for the day proved rather an eye opener. For 38 years
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News in brief: Chance to air local issues
RESIDENTS of Peterlee, the Shottons and Haswell are invited to the next meeting of Easington District Central Area Forum, on Wednesday, July 3. Residents and members of local organisations are welcome to raise issues of concern to a panel featuring councillors
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Independent women take North-East by storm
POP divas Destiny's Child left thousands of fans disappointed last year after cancelling their only North-East gig - but they certainly did not do the same again last night. The talented trio, who postponed their Newcastle gig following the September
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Licence call wins agents' backing
ESTATE agents are backing calls for the industry to be licensed to root out those who give them a bad name. The call came after yesterday's announcement that estate agents are to face a year-long investigation by the Office of Fair Trading. The inquiry
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Schools join forces for jubilee concert
ALMOST 300 children from nine schools come together to perform in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee tonight and tomorrow. Belmont Comprehensive, on the outskirts of Durham, is joining forces with its eight feeder primary schools to stage the music
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News in brief: Wider bridge battle victory
CAMPAIGNERS have won a battle to widen a bridge damaged by floods more than 18 months ago. North Yorkshire County Council has voted to widen Creet's Bridge, at Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, which has been closed since it was partially washed away. Councillor
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Mobile phone companies challenged over masts
MOBILE phone operators are to be challenged about their attitude to public opinion before any more masts are approved in the Yorkshire Dales. Hawes, in Wensleydale, has found itself at the centre of a rush of applications for antennas, all said to be
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News in brief: Company expansion
The owners of Northgate Vehicle Hire, Allington Way, Darlington, have applied to the borough council for permission to build an extended office block. RIDE CANCELLED: An off-road bike ride around Darlington planned for this Saturday has been cancelled
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On the march
The 1913 colliery village at Beamish Museum will play host to members of the Great War Society at the weekend. Dressed in pre-First World War uniforms, they will demonstrate military life of a century ago. There will be displays and marches through the
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Relief for drivers from heavy loads
LARGE loads will blight the region's road users less frequently thanks to funding announced yesterday. An £8.5m Government award will allow two freight-bearing vessels to be constructed, as part of a wider blueprint to boost the country's ailing waterways
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Residents to have a word over services
RESIDENTS will get the chance to help shape the future of their town library services next week. Hartlepool Borough Council's library service has until September to submit its annual library plan to the Government. Representatives from the town's libraries
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MP backs sausage factory jobs fight
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save 50 jobs in a work-hungry town. Middlesbrough MP Stuart Bell has joined the fight to keep open a 100-year-old sausage-making plant in the town. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) meets tomorrow to consider a ban on the
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Invitation to would-be students
WANNABE students are invited to find out more about open learning tomorrow. The Open University is inviting those interested in learning new skills to a course choice event at Darlington Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace. Visitors will have the opportunity
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Mayor travels by float and boat
A MILK float and a dragon boat are not the usual forms of transport for a mayor but yesterday Stockton's took the unusual method of travel in a bid to encourage others to ditch the car. Councillor Jean O'Donnell added her support to the Don't Choke Britain
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Work for safer water to start
A MASSIVE programme of investment is planned over the next few months to ensure water supplies are safe at a number of neighbouring communities in North Yorkshire. Yorkshire Water is ploughing about £1.8m into the scheme to ensure the safety of supplies
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Addict grabbed worker by throat
A man who grabbed a shop worker by the throat and used a fire extinguisher as a weapon escaped a jail sentence yesterday after impressing magistrates with his bid to kick his heroin habit. Paul Turner, 27, pleaded guilty to theft, affray, receiving, four
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Youngsters to make a splash
YOUNG swimmers are splashing for cash in Thirsk this month. The "teddy tots" age groups - from six months to four years old - are taking part in the Tommy Swimathon at the town's swimming pool to raise funds for research into stillbirth and miscarriages
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£18m roads investment
The Highways Agency is to spend more than £18m on the motorway and trunk road network in the North-East. The work will be carried out in the next 12 months as part of the agency's commitment to managing, maintaining and improving the strategic road network
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Centenarian is first for residential home
A WOMAN has become the first occupant of a residential home to celebrate her 100th birthday. Mary-Annie Elliott was delighted when friends and staff organised a party at Parklands Residential Home, in Crook, on Monday, to mark her birthday milestone.
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Jubilee party provides hospice tonic
RESIDENTS of Limpton Gate and The Slayde, in Yarm, held a golden jubilee street party at Limpton Gate green on Saturday. Money raised from the event was given to Teesside Hospice. Young and old took part in competitions, which included three-legged races
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Grassroots: Yarm and Eaglescliffe
Spotlight falls on antiques Yarm Fellowship Committee will present an antiques evening on Friday at its West Street Hall, at 7.30pm. The event features Ken Snowdon, who will give a talk on furniture restoration. Visitors can take along one item for valuation
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Teacher to address Palestine peace talks
A TEACHER who was caught up in fighting in Palestine will address a peace meeting in Darlington tonight. Language teacher Claire Theret escaped the battle-scarred streets of Bethlehem earlier this year. She initially went to the region on a ten-day trip
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Atlantic rowing bid under way at last
TWO North-East men last night began their bid to cross the Atlantic in under 35 days. George Rock and Nigel Morris, from Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, set off from St John's Newfoundland, Canada, at 9pm, after previous launches were held up by bad weather
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£650,000 jobs boost for dales centre
MORE than 30 jobs could be created in Weardale thanks to a £650,000 scheme to attract new businesses to the area. It is hoped the expansion of an already popular craft and business centre will see 12 new firms set up shop in the dale. Money from OneNorth
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Vintage cars sale gets ready to roll
HISTORY will change hands tomorrow when an estimated £300,000 worth of vintage cars and motorcycles go under the hammer. Stars of the Bonhams sale, at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, include an Austin hearse dating back to
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DSU Student In: Site
Hues of Blue to remember THE presence of author and long-running Radio 4 contributor Rabbi Lionel Blue within the university throughout the term has been evocative and enlivening for students at Durham. In residence at Grey College for his second visit
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Youngsters hold no fear of creepy-crawlies
THE fear of creepy crawlies is a thing of the past at a North-East primary school. Youngsters who previously loathed spiders, snails and other insects have put their terrors behind them, thanks to reassurance offered during a visit by insect experts.
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Man planned to scare boss with 'gun'
A MAN who took a replica gun to frighten his former employer was warned he could face jail yesterday. Teesside Crown Court heard Brian Johnston had taken the plastic handgun on a taxi journey from his home town of Sunderland to Middlesbrough. Richard
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Teenager faces robbery charge
A teenager has made his first appearance at Newcastle Crown Court charged with robbery. Terry Pape, 19, spoke only to confirm his name during the short hearing at Newcastle yesterday. He will be back before the court on August 6 for a plea and directions
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New hospital takes first patient
GEORGE Longstaff got VIP treatment when he became the first patient to enter the new £67m Bishop Auckland General Hospital. Mr Longstaff, from Crook, was presented with a commemorative tankard and met senior officials from South Durham Health Care NHS
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Man is accused of child indecency
A MAN has gone on trial accused of indecent offences against children and child cruelty. Geoffrey Dempsey, 59, of Moorcock Close, Eston, Middlesbrough, is appearing before Teesside Crown Court on four charges of cruelty to a person aged under 16, three
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A meeting of like minds
An event promoting disability awareness in the upper Wear Valley was a great success says Phil Donegan. ONE of the key aspects of promoting access issues is to see what good practice is already going on in the communities around us. The job, then, is
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MMR is declared safe after big study
THE mother of a five-year-old boy who claims he was damaged by the MMR jab is unimpressed by the new claim. And the controversial private health company offering separate mumps, measles and rubella injections in Darlington has confirmed it is seeking
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Summer fair offers delights for all tastes
ARTS and crafts will be displayed at a summer fair weekend at Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, later this month. Thorpe Farm Peel House will host the event on June 22 and 23, from 10am to 5.30pm. Half of the £1 entrance fee will be donated to the Sick
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High-tech home for e-firms
SOFTWARE consultant John Usher believes he has saved thousands of pounds since moving his young firm to a new e-business centre. His company, Blue Logic, sells and provides back-up support for software packages, which are helping public and private sector
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Politeness is next to godliness for guides
THOUGH the nation is proclaimed godless, many a bible was being dusted down last week following a letter in the Daily Telegraph from Mrs Winifred Shaw-Hall in East Herrington, Sunderland. Her thought for the day proved rather an eye opener. For 38 years
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£3,000 grant aids glazing firm's vision
TEN new jobs look likely to be created in Darlington after double glazing entrepreneurs received a £3,000 council grant. Steve Holdsworth and Paul Pointon, directors of Direct Glass Supplies, have taken over the 1,000 square metre former Apex Cables building
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Draw sends England through
England are through to the second round after they were held to a goalless draw by Nigeria in Osaka. Sven Goran Eriksson's men will face Denmark on Saturday after finishing second behind Sweden in Group F, who sent Argentina packing after a 1-1 draw.
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Lottery bid for parks revamp
A COMMUNITY in Darlington could be hitting the National Lottery jackpot with a bid to improve their neighbourhood parks. The Firthmoor Community Association is working with Darlington Borough Council to apply for grants to renovate the green areas on
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The joys of growing old before your time
WILLIAM Hague feels free. He's not the only one. A year after he resigned as Tory leader, he says he feels like a teenager. Not bad for 41. And about time too. But he's not alone in trying to work out what he wants to be when he grows up. When he really
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Senior office leads investigation
A police force's most senior investigating officer has been appointed to head an inquiry into the latest disappearance of a prostitute from a red light town. An incident room has been opened at Middlesbrough Police Station and Detective Superintendent
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The joys of growing old before your time
WILLIAM Hague feels free. He's not the only one. A year after he resigned as Tory leader, he says he feels like a teenager. Not bad for 41. And about time too. But he's not alone in trying to work out what he wants to be when he grows up. When he really
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Manufacturing chair seeks balance
The new chairman of Manufacturing Challenge in the Tees Valley has called for a "better balance" between attracting inward investment and supporting North-East home-grown businesses. Bill Bates claims there is a need to improve the co-ordination in the
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Last night's TV: Cutting Edge: Gigolos (C4)
OWEN is just a gigolo, but eager to tell us he has a long list of satisfied clients. "I do have a high sex drive," he says. "You can have sex two or three times a day with the right kind of training." He charges £300 an hour, a sum that rises to £500
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Nursing manager denies charges
A NURSING manager who is alleged to have behaved in an abusive and threatening way towards his staff yesterday faced a series of misconduct charges at a disciplinary hearing. Allan Leslie Harling, 56, who appeared before a professional conduct committee
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No-go for Benni at the Boro
BENNI McCarthy's agent has taken a swipe at Middlesbrough after the club pulled out of a deal to bring the £6m man to the Riverside. Rob Moore, who held contract talks on the player's behalf while the striker has been on World Cup duty with South Africa
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Law in contention for his first start of the season at the Riverside
DURHAM will decide this morning whether to pitch Danny Law into his first championship match of the season against a Worcestershire side bolstered by Allan Donald at the Riverside today. All-rounder Law turned in a match-winning performance when Durham
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Echo memories - Canals, coal and the birth of Dixie
Echo Memories embarks on an extraordinary ramble from a historic canal on Cockfield Fell, accompanied by the Darlington Male Voice Choir, and ends up wiffing, waffing and wuffing in Etherley Dene. THE Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR) is the
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Shamed by the ignoble art of boxing
'THIS was a legalised beating up'' - an excited BBC sports commentator on Lennox Lewis's felling of Mike Tyson. And seeing the revolting Tyson flat on the deck, with blooded nose and eyes, it was highly tempting to say: "It couldn't have happened to a
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Access All Areas - A meeting of like minds
An event promoting disability awareness in the upper Wear Valley was a great success says Phil Donegan. ONE of the key aspects of promoting access issues is to see what good practice is already going on in the communities around us. The job, then, is
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Closures force Norwich Union to lay off 750
Insurance giant Norwich Union has announced plans to close 11 claims centres with the loss of 750 jobs. However, around 425 new jobs will be created elsewhere with the expansion of a further 11 centres, including one on Tyneside. The moves are part of
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Egg thefts fear as rare birds fly in
BIRDWATCHERS from around the country have gathered at a North-East site in the hope of getting a glance of the mating rituals of an exotic pair of birds. Twitchers from far and wide converged on the County Durham site, in the hope of seeing two colourful
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Well-deserved praise for a delightful town: MIDDLETON-IN-TEESDALE
BACK on the road again this month, I went off to Middleton-in-Teesdale for a walk with my wheels. A bright morning welcomed me as I approached up the dale for my planned meeting with Judith Mashiter. Judith is the co-ordinator and manager of the Tourist
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Hamilton is back in contention after a poor start
Gavin Hamilton is included in Yorkshire's squad of 12 for the Frizzell County Championship match against Sussex which starts at Headingley today. And the return to the senior ranks of the energetic all-rounder has been warmly welcomed by Yorkshire's acting
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Save my life - mother's plea to Blair
A SERIOUSLY-ILL mother living in Tony Blair's constituency has written to the Prime Minister asking why she is being denied a life-saving drug pioneered in the North-East - but so far only available to British patients in Scotland. Ann Tittley, 55, from
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Plans to build store creating 400 jobs take a step forward
PLANS to create about 400 jobs in Hartlepool took a step forward yesterday after councillors approved a proposal to develop a new supermarket in the town. Members of Hartlepool Borough Council's planning committee agreed to allow Wm Morrison to build
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Teachers awarded
The Oscars of the education world will honour the region's most dedicated teachers at a glittering ceremony next Thursday. The Teaching Awards, will be handed out to celebrate the vital role teachers and teaching assistants play in the region. Hundreds
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Increase takes us out of recession
INTEREST rates look set to rise after new figures showed the manufacturing sector was heading out of recession. The Office for National Statistics said manufacturing output rose 0.8 per cent in April, the biggest rise for eight months. Ten out of 13 sectors
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News in brief: Chance to air local issues
RESIDENTS of Peterlee, the Shottons and Haswell are invited to the next meeting of Easington District Central Area Forum, on Wednesday, July 3. Residents and members of local organisations are welcome to raise issues of concern to a panel featuring councillors
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News in brief: Chance to air local issues
RESIDENTS of Peterlee, the Shottons and Haswell are invited to the next meeting of Easington District Central Area Forum, on Wednesday, July 3. Residents and members of local organisations are welcome to raise issues of concern to a panel featuring councillors
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Zeus in need of a new loving owner
A LOVEABLE German shepherd dog is looking for a new home. Five-year-old Zeus was given up by his owners when they started a family and could no longer spare the time to take him for walks. He has been taken in by the National Animal Sanctuary Support
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News in brief: Company expansion
The owners of Northgate Vehicle Hire, Allington Way, Darlington, have applied to the borough council for permission to build an extended office block. RIDE CANCELLED: An off-road bike ride around Darlington planned for this Saturday has been cancelled
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Grassroots: Neasham Parish Council
GREEN RULING: The council is acting on the assumption that it owns the village green, after contacting a former clerk who has records from 1962. He recalled being asked to go to Durham County Hall to claim the land on behalf of the village. But it is
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New Lottery officer to aid cash search
A LOTTERY officer has been appointed in Darlington to make sure groups in the town get as many grants as possible. Jill Thistlethwaite is the first Economic Regeneration Officer for Lottery and Community Funding at Darlington Borough Council. The new
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Student off on highland trip
A DARLINGTON student is preparing to walk the 92-mile West Highland Way and climb Ben Nevis in four days. Tom Oliver, who is studying at Lancaster University, will complete the challenge with two friends in July to raise funds for the Royal British Legion's
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Praise for villager's getaway car tip-off
AN observant woman who helped police catch a getaway driver involved in a raid where valuable shotguns were stolen, was commended by a judge yesterday. Judge Peter Armstrong rewarded the woman with £250 from public funds at Teesside Crown Court. The judge
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Ms Mills becomes Lady Heather
THE big day finally arrived yesterday for former model Heather Mills when she married veteran rock musician Sir Paul McCartney in a village church. Ms Mills, from Washington, on Wearside, wept tears of joy during the service, which was conducted in front
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Comment: Injustice over saving lives
THE National Institute of Clinical Guidance (Nice) has an important role to play in the modern health service. The resources of the NHS are finite, yet the demands made on it are infinite and increasingly expensive. It is vital that an independent agency
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Plan for extra care flats
A PLAN to build 42 extra-care flats and ten bungalows for elderly people will be considered by Darlington Borough Council's cabinet next Tuesday. The scheme, on land at East Haven, next to Orchard House and fronting on to Yarm Road, aims to help people
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Dog day for dads at rehoming centre
PET lovers are invited to join the fun at a father's day event at the weekend. The National Canine Defence League in Darlington is holding an open day on Sunday, from noon to 5pm. The rehoming centre at Hill House Farm, Sadberge, will be opening its doors
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Inquest opens into police car tragedy
AN inquest has been opened into the death of a teenager when his car was involved in a collision with a police car. Karl John Harrison Sutcliffe died on Monday night last week after the Peugeot 309 he was driving collided with a marked BMW police patrol
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Flayed flesh art passes taste test
AN exhibit from a controversial show featuring flayed human corpses rolled into the North-East for a flying visit yesterday - and did not seem to attract so much as a whisper of dissent. Crowds flocked in fascination for a glimpse of the Body World exhibition
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England shirts taken in burglary
Police are hunting burglars who escaped with England shirts worth £5,000 in a sports shop raid. Detectives believe the raiders will now try and sell the kits cheaply to fans in the wake of the crucial Nigeria match in Onaka today. Stores nationwide have
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Stately home prepares for dance celebration
ONE of the region's stately homes will be alive with wood-tapping and skirt-twirling dancers this weekend. Castle Howard will host a gala of historic and traditional dance on Sunday afternoon - from noble 18th Century Playford dancing in the Great Hall
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New garden opens to aid Red Cross
A NEW garden is being opened to help raise money for the British Red Cross. Every year people open their gardens to the public to raise money for the County Durham and Teesside branch of the charity. The new garden, owned by Harry and Jean Walton, is
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Local radio station licence call
THE licence to run Darlington's local radio station is out to tender. Next week, the Radio Authority will ask to hear from companies interested in applying for the town's local radio licence on the FM waveband. Listeners are being asked to give their
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Best for Business award
STOCKTON Borough Council is celebrating after netting the North-East Chamber of Commerce's Best for Business award 2002. The accolade is awarded to the local authority which is judged to have provided the best service to the business community over the
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Police forensic experts win praise for quality of their work
NINE police forensic and fingerprint experts have been praised for their work which helped to capture a string of criminals in Darlington over the past year. Their attention to detail provided the missing link in clearing up hundreds of crimes carried
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Lake tribute plan
The Royal Horticultural Society is hoping to create a lake in memory of the Queen Mother at Harlow Carr Gardens, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The society has applied to the Environment Agency for permission and work could begin this summer. It would be
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Hear all sides: GOLDEN JUBILEE
WHATEVER your point of view on the monarchy, four days of celebration showed how people from many cultures can come together and rejoice and give thanks for the multi-definable quality of being British. It should not be lost on any of us that the roots
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Sunnier times for First Choice
TOUR operator First Choice has given a sunnier picture of the holiday market, after seeing robust bookings. The group, which slashed capacity and axed 1,100 jobs in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the US, said that its cost-cutting strategy
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Charity's appeal as concern grows for missing vice girl
CONCERN is growing for the third prostitute to go missing from the streets of a North-East town. The family of 19-year-old Rachel Wilson are scouring Middlesbrough for the vanished teenager. Worried social workers are questioning vice girls they meet
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Youngsters are entertained along with teddies
IF you had gone down to a certain community centre yesterday there would have been a big surprise - nearly 200 tiny tots clutching teddy bears. A teddy bears' picnic was organised in Middlesbrough to launch the start of the town's early years child car
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Plea for residents to renew travel passes
RESIDENTS in Stockton who are entitled to a bus pass are being urged to renew their right to travel as soon as possible. Gold and Silver cards expire at the end of June and holders need to renew now to ensure they do not miss out on reduced price bus
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Model-maker's profits steaming ahead
Harry Potter has helped Hornby to bumper profits in the past year. The Kent group, which makes Hornby model railways and Scalextric car racing models, said pre-tax profits for the year to March 31 rose 62 per cent to £3.7m, while turnover leapt 16 per
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Time for police to deliver, says watchdog
A WATCHDOG'S boss says council taxpayers are handing out more this year for policing on Teesside - and it's time to deliver. Councillor Ken Walker, re-elected yesterday as chairman of the Cleveland Police Authority, said: "We asked local people to make
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Dine outdoors and help hospice
A NORTH-EAST children's hospice is set to benefit from a new book containing secret barbecue recipes from Britain's favourite TV gardeners. Called Alfresco Dining, it has been produced by Tarmac TopPave and sales of the book will help the gardeners' charity
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Move to change rural area plans policy welcomed
A move to allow minor housing developments, including conversion of disused barns in rural areas, has been welcomed. Harrogate Borough Council's environment scrutiny commission voted to drop a clause in planning policy, and the issue will now be considered
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Joy as new centre for carers is opened
A FORMER derelict building in Barnard Caste was officially opened as a carers' centre yesterday, after a six-month renovation project. The new-look Teesdale Carers' Centre, in Barnard Castle, will act as a drop-in centre and meeting place for carers from
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News in brief: Speeding bikers idea pursued
AN idea to put up notices detailing the number of motorcyclists fined for speeding in the Yorkshire Dales is to be put to police. The problem of speeding bikers was discussed by Barton-cum-Walden parish council, in upper Wensleydale. Councillor Geoff
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Getting balance right for 230 firms
NEARLY a million workers at companies including British Airways and Tesco can expect a better work-life balance thanks to a cash boost announced by the Government. More than 230 firms and voluntary groups will share funding of £4.8m with the aim of promoting
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Jail likely after woman's attack
A woman has been warned she could be facing jail after admitting a violent attack. Angela Taylor, 31, pleaded guilty to wounding Marie Bishop on February 10 during a short hearing at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday. Sentence was adjourned until July 2
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Hannah's cross happy
Superfan Hannah Sumner has turned her house into a giant England flag. The 28-year-old found 15 of her neighbours gathered on her lawn after England beat Argentina in the World Cup. One of them was holding a tin of red paint and they pleaded with her
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Licence bid rejection angers ice cream vendor
AN ice cream vendor has accused Darlington Borough Council of double standards after refusing one of his staff a licence. Ian Pritchard, of Ian's Ices, in Darlington, had wanted his friend Neil Beaumont to join him in business to drive one of his vans
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Shipyard worker awarded £400,000 for fire ordeal
A NORTH-EAST shipyard worker who suffered horrific burns while wearing what he thought were fireproof overalls has been awarded £400,000. Leslie Peacock, 45, was left so severely traumatised by his ordeal that he had been unable to leave the house alone
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MPs press for gun law review
A NORTH-EAST MP is leading calls to tighten the laws on selling airguns to youngsters. Sunderland South Labour MP Chris Mullin is one of a number of MPs demanding action following a spate of airgun attacks. Nicola Diston, 15, was left blind in one eye
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Parish council bids to buy allotments
A PARISH council has launched a bid for cash from the Government's New Opportunities Fund to buy and regenerate village allotments. The privately-owned allotments came under threat of closure two years ago. Now Barton Parish Council, near Darlington,
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News in brief: Chance to air local issues
RESIDENTS of Peterlee, the Shottons and Haswell are invited to the next meeting of Easington District Central Area Forum, on Wednesday, July 3. Residents and members of local organisations are welcome to raise issues of concern to a panel featuring councillors
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Hunt is on for carnival queen
A CARNIVAL queen for Staindrop will be chosen at a disco on Friday night, when retiring queen Jessica Bretherton will relinquish the robe, sash and crown of office. The disco takes place at the Scarth Hall in Staindrop at 7.30pm. This year's carnival
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Woman 'supplied drug to teenager'
A WOMAN supplied a teenager with heroin the night before he was found dead in bed, a court heard. Peter Dolan, 17, arranged the deal with Donna Couzens, 26, from a phone box in Hough-ton-le-Spring, just hours before he choked on his vomit. Newcastle Crown
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Air deaths campaign taken to Europe
FAMILIES of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) victims took their legal battle for greater awareness of the condition to Europe yesterday. They want the European Union to introduce legislation to force airlines to step up information to combat DVT and reduce
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Zeus in need of a new loving owner
A LOVEABLE German shepherd dog is looking for a new home. Five-year-old Zeus was given up by his owners when they started a family and could no longer spare the time to take him for walks. He has been taken in by the National Animal Sanctuary Support
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Global views of life shared
YOUNG people from diverse backgrounds around the world will gather in the North-East next month to share their views of life in the 21st Century. More than 200 delegates will attend the Commonwealth Youth Summit, in Sunderland, which this year adopts
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Grassroots: Weardale
WESLEY DATE: As part of the 250th anniversary of Methodist founder John Wesley's first visit to Weardale, a celebrity concert is being held at High House Chapel, Ireshopeburn, on Saturday, at 7.30pm. It will feature the Gibside Singers, from Gateshead
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Empire strikes blow in battle for top shows
THE Empire could soon be striking back in entertainment stakes after a £1m funding pledge. Bob Symonds, newly-appointed leader of Sunderland City Council, said the authority's seven figure backing of the city's Empire Theatre would help to draw further
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The school in a class of its own
Dealing with problem children is one of the most serious issues facing our schools. But there is an alternative to expulsion, as Nick Morrison discovers. IN the end Susan Raine started to anticipate the Monday afternoon calls. Almost without fail, as
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Abbey to cash in on monks' artistry
THE artistic talents and business acumen of 13th Century monks are being tapped into as part of an unusual venture. Ancient patterned mosaics, which once covered the floors at the 900-year-old Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, have been
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Comeleon sets sights on US market
Imaging company Comeleon plc is preparing to take the US corporate gift market by storm after a share placing raised £4.2m from institutional investors. The Tanfield Lea-based business, best known for its imaging technology for mobile phone fascia's and
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News in brief: Getting into better shape
A WEEKLY activity session has been launched in Hartlepool which aims to prove that getting in better shape can be fun. It takes place on Wednesdays at the town's Belle Vue Sports Centre, Kendal Road, from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Health trainer Alexa Carter
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Allotment buy-out bid for funding
A PARISH council has launched a bid for cash from the Government's New Opportunities Fund to buy and regenerate a village allotment site. The privately-owned allotments came under threat of closure two years ago. Now, Barton Parish Council has applied
