Archive
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Bringing a bit of Crackerjack to Panto
HE'LL never escape his I Could Crush A Grape catchphrase, but Stu Francis has many other claims to fame... including the day he almost pushed a custard pie into the face of the Princess of Wales. Francis, 51, is regarded as Britain's best comic turn in
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Big Brother bets scam alert to viewers
NORTH-EAST Big Brother contestant Jonny Regan survived foranother week in the show after viewers overwhelmingly votedto oust body builder Lee Davey last night. The escape for the 29-year-old firefighter from Trimdon,County Durham, came as the makers of
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Scheme to send patients abroad takes step forward
ARRANGEMENTS to send North-East heart patients abroad for surgery have moved a step closer. Hundreds of letters will soon go out to patients waiting for heart surgery explaining how the Government's plan to speed up operations will work. As part of these
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World Cup and jubilee see increase in home violence
NEW figures have revealed a disturbing increase in incidents of domestic violence in the region during the World Cup. Victims' groups claim there were three times as many reported cases of domestic violence after England's first World Cup match during
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Journalists back strike action call
STRONG backing for strike action has emerged from a ballot of North-East journalists after they rejected a pay offer. The National Union of Journalists has balloted staff at Newcastle Chronicle and Journal (NCJ) - whose newspapers include The Journal,
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Comment: Sir Bobby - that's right
THERE have been times when we have felt compelled to question the justification for honours handed out to certain individuals. But no one will disagree that Sir Bobby Robson sounds just right. It is a reward which will not be questioned even in the passionately
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Tykes' gloom deepens
Yorkshire's mood was as dark as the weather at Headingley when rain and murky light allowed only 23.5 overs to be bowled on the third day of the Championship match against Sussex. But there was still sufficient time for Yorkshire to lose their last four
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Addict robbed his own mum
A heroin addict burgled his parents' home weeks before violently robbing his mother. Adam Claughton, 24, raided his family home two days before Christmas last year and attempted to sell his parents' £500 hi-fi system for £30 to spend on the drug. Newcastle
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Recluse's body 'in flat for six months'
A LONER may have lay dead in his North-East home for six months before his body was discovered. The body of John Aplin was discovered by police after neighbours reported swarms of flies around his council flat home. The alarm was raised at the complex
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City Diary: Eyes on inflation and sales figures
ECONOMIC data will be the focal point next week as the London market attempts to pull out of its recent tailspin. With little in the way of company results, inflation and retail sales figures should be keenly watched. Data on Tuesday is expected to show
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Ambulance trust audited
ONE of the region's two main ambulance trusts is to be inspected by an independent health watchdog. The North-East Ambulance Service NHS Trust is due to be visited by an assessment team from the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI). As part of the
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Surprised and humble - the region's honours list recipients
A FARMER who saw at first-hand the devastation caused by foot-and-mouth is among those from the region to be honoured. Other recipients include a cheesemaker, a showwoman and a teacher who went the extra mile to help pupils from a poverty-stricken area
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Woolworths says Bhs merger would not benefit shareholders
WOOLWORTHS has rejected a merger with fellow high street retailer Bhs. The group said it had held exploratory discussions with Bhs boss Philip Green, to examine the benefits of a closer relationship between the pair, including the possibility of a merger
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Club assault witness plea
A 39-year-old man is in intensive care after he was assaulted outside a nightclub yesterday. The victim was last night in a stable condition in Middlesbrough General Hospital following the attack outside the Bongo club, in the town's Sussex Street. Two
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Bath-maker makes waves on railways
A NEWLY qualified driver at Arriva Trains Northern was celebrating this week after becoming the company's 200th train driver to complete his training. Following one of the largest driver recruitment and training programmes ever seen in the rail industry
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Leader sacked as probe continues
TROUBLED councillor Rod Hills has been sacked as leader of York's Labour group as a police investigation into allegations against him continues. Labour Party members of City of York Council voted at a private group meeting to replace him with Councillor
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Shakespeare shows up at two castles
HISTORY comes alive later this month when the work of Shakespeare is played at two of the region's castles. Dilston, near Corbridge, is first to host a performance of As You Like It from 7.30pm on Saturday, June 29, while another follows at the same time
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Local rivals face off in basement battle
It's the battle of the bottom today when former NYSD League rivals Norton and Stockton square up with vital points at stake. The pair are too near to basement side Tynemouth for comfort and with the possibility of one side being relegated, the outcome
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Robber forces landlady to hand over cash
A PUB landlady was left badly shaken after a robber forced her to hand over money from the till. The woman, who has not been named, was getting ready to open the Sportsman's Arms, in Front Street, Leadgate, County Durham, when the robber struck, at 6.30pm
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Tip hunt after sex attack
POLICE are searching through 150 tons of rubbish at a tip looking for evidence after what is believed to have been a case of male rape. Three men carried out a serious sex attack on a 32-year-old man in Scarborough town centre, North Yorkshire, earlier
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Murton look to regroup
If Murton needed any reminder that nothing is certain in cricket then the fact was dramatically brought home to them on Tuesday when they were shot out for just 38 runs by Crook Town in the Drill Turn Trible Shield. Just two days earlier they celebrated
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Sorensen - hero or villain?
Saving an Alan Shearer penalty bestowed instant deification upon Thomas Sorensen in Sunderland. Today he stands a possible 90 minutes away from being denounced as the devil incarnate throughout the whole of England - Wearside included. With the eyes of
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Floods hit roads and hospital
A CHILDREN'S hospital ward was disrupted and fire crews across the region were deluged with hundreds of emergency calls after heavy thunderstorms sparked flash flooding last night. Firefighters and local authorities were kept busy in County Durham after
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Probe is launched into air tragedy
Air accident investigators fly out this weekend to probe the cause of a helicopter crash in the Atlantic Ocean that killed two Royal Navy flyers. Flight Lieutenant Jenny Lewis, a former student of Newcastle University, is believed to be the first woman
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Viking invader gets no joy from St George
An English hero faced a Viking warrior yesterday and made him look as soft as Danish pastry. Pre-match rivalry boiled over in an historic showdown as St George crossed swords with Erik Bloodaxe. The scary Scandinavian looked a fearsome sight but it was
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Women who live in fear of football
The number of reported cases of domestic violence has risen dramatically during the World Cup. One victim tells Women's Editor Christen Pears why she is not surprised MELANIE'S husband was a big football fan. He used to invite his friends round to the
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For Your Benefit: Should I be paying full tax?
Q Should I be paying full council tax of £711.34 a year? My monthly income is: state pension of £375.20, war pension £95.84 and works pensions of £147.10. I have no savings. AIt depends how your council treats your war pension. If they ignore it your
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At Your Service: A devoted life and a violent death
THEY were poor but they were honest - most of them, anyway. They were sober other than on Fridays and Saturdays, smart in a second-hand sort of a way, peace makers except when provoked or drunk or on the occasion that a wronged husband threatened to cut
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Being a sport can help little Annie beat eating disorder
AMATEUR golfers and racing pundits can help raise money to send a four-year-old girl with a chronic eating disorder to America for treatment. Friends of Annie Jones' family have organised the fundraising events to help the youngster, who suffers from
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A hero we have taken to our hearts
Sir Bobby Robson's epic journey has taken him from the County Durham mines to the coal face of Premiership football, via the toughest job in England and a life-saving operation. The 69-year-old's boundless energy puts people four decades his junior to
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Favoured five
England will be looking for five brave men, good and true, if today's game goes to penalties. It rankles that the last time England were knocked out of the World Cup finals without the game going to spot-kicks was in 1986 - and then Diego Maradona had
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Private meeting over 'adventure freebie' condemned
A PRIVATE meeting between a local authority's management team and its councillors has been condemned by one member, who is demanding it be held in public. Richmondshire District Council found itself under fire when 11 senior executives enjoyed a two-day
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Love lost down by the Riverside for too long
DURHAM are resigned to being without Martin Love until late July, but seeking a replacement is out of the question. Although the rules allow a deputy for an overseas player who is on international duty, they do not allow one for an injured player. "We
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Easy does it for Ebeneezer
HAT-TRICK seeking soft-ground specialist Jonny Ebeneezer has the class to conquer a hugely competitive field in this afternoon's £65,000 William Hill Trophy at York. Any further rain will definitely suit Ian Wood's fast-improving sprinter, while his keen
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'Woman on a mission' Sally lands achievement award
A RADIO station manager has been named Woman of Achievement in the inaugural North-East Women in Business Awards. Sally Aitchison, managing director of Swalwell-based Metro Radio, received the award at Hardwick Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, County Durham,
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Car crime menace is locked up
A YOUTH described by police as Middlesbrough's most prolific car thief was locked up for ten months yesterday. The 16-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - pleaded guilty at Teesside Youth Court to 11 charges relating to vehicle crime and
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News in brief: Fears of homes market crash
ECONOMISTS have sought to reassure homeowners that the housing market is not heading for a 1990s-style crash following warnings that current price growth was unsustainable. The comments come after Bank of England Governor Sir Edward George told a Commons
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Rapist used screwdriver to threaten prostitute
A RAPIST was on bail for a similar offence when he assaulted a prostitute and threatened her with a screwdriver, it was revealed in court yesterday. Anthony Curran had been accused of raping a woman at his flat nine months before he raped the prostitute
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Police hunt lay-by carjackers
POLICE were last night hunting two brazen thieves who hijacked a high-performance car from a lay-by on the Great North Road. The blue BMW M3 coupe was stolen after the owner, who has not been named, pulled over on the south-bound carriageway of the A1
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Threat of strike as lecturers reject rise
NORTH-East universities could face strike action after lecturers rejected the offer of a 2.5 per cent pay rise. The Association on University Teachers (AUT) said it would "take whatever action necessary" to secure a better deal after refusing the offer
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Tesco growth slows after buoyant year
Tesco's sales growth is slowing as consumer demand becomes more subdued. The group said like-for-like sales in its 700-plus UK supermarkets for the three months to May 18 grew 4.5 per cent. That compares with a 4.9 per cent rise for the previous quarter
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Theatre place a big break for Jonathan
A TEENAGER from the North-East has been selected for training with the National Youth Theatre. Jonathan Bussell, 17, from Yarm, is one of 180 chosen from 4,000 applicants. The Conyers School sixth-former is fresh from lead roles in Oklahoma and a show
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Pro-hunt activists target MP's office
PRO-HUNT activists have struck at the office of York MP Hugh Bayley leaving behind a cleaning bill expected to run to hundreds of pounds. A dozen poster stickers have been plastered across the outside of the Labour MP's Holgate Road base. The green A4
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Training for riverside jobs
A TYNESIDE college is playing a lead role in a flagship project to maintain vital skills for marine and offshore industries. South Tyneside College, in conjunction with Swan Hunter, has launched a new adult apprenticeship training programme, known as
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Guitar prospect Pete back in the limelight
ROCK prospect Pete Shoulder is looking forward to his first live performance this year. The County Durham 18-year-old, who signed a six album deal with Sony's USA arm last year, will play at the Pretoria Club, Medomsley, near Consett, tomorrow night.
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Top airman flies in for assessment
A WAR hero and flying legend has been in the region to talk to aviation enthusiasts. Captain Eric Brown, the most decorated Fleet Air Arm pilot and British test pilot, was at the St George Hotel at Teesside Airport to talk to the Cleveland Aviation Society
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Ultimate tribute to King goes on road
THE winner of a television contest to find the best Elvis impersonator will appear at a North-East theatre next month. Former truck driver Heath Ashton, from Tiverton, in Dorset, won GMTV's Search for Elvis competition, which was run in conjunction with
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Evenwood and Brandon vie for top spot
The leadership could again change hands today because Kimblesworth have a free day which gives Evenwood and Brandon the chance to move into pole position. Most clubs play twice this weekend and the top game this afternoon is between Evenwood and Brandon
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Boost for Hetton
The derby at Eppleton looks set to be the most interesting game of the day when they entertain top-of-the-table Hetton Lyons. Nineteen points separate the sides as a result of Eppleton being left kicking their heels last week when rain washed out their
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Northallerton fearing the worst from Boro visit
After being bowled out for a meagre 30 runs in the Kerridge Cup at Acklam Park on Thursday night, Northallerton will not relish the prospect of meeting Middlesbrough again this afternoon. Even though they will have a stronger side on duty - including
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The World Cup Bit on the Side
A Newcastle-supporting journalist at the World Cup almost committed the ultimate sin by claiming to be a Sunderland fan to get a story. Trying to chase up the latest on Jon Dahl Tomasson's injury, he eventually managed to track down Danish team-mate Thomas
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The black and white knight
THE sporting world united last night to congratulate football stalwart Bobby Robson on receiving a knighthood in today's Queen's Birthday Honours List. The hugely popular Newcastle United boss, who was rewarded for services to soccer, joins Sir Bobby
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Picking the perfect place for a pleasant pond
IT'S all about turning a negative into a positive, isn't it? That's exactly what I have done in one particular area of my own garden. Where once I had a pile of broken old stones, I now have a sculptured wildlife pond. Every garden has that little corner
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Ron Hogg's World Cup Diary: English are well behaved as police turn eye to Japanese
I HAD predicted that there would be some low-level disorder here in Japan, but we have not even had that. The English fans and Argentinians all mixed well together during last Friday's game. By and large it was good-natured. I think the big thing concerning
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Hear All Sides: WORLD CUP
AFTER a match resulting in England progressing to the second round of the World Cup, we should be singing England's praises. Not so after their match with Nigeria, when they were lucky to scrape through, due to the four points they already had under their
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100 faithful venturers rev up for reliability run
A FLEET of ageing vehicles from a bygone era of British motoring takes to rural roads of the North-East for an annual test tomorrow. The 31st Beamish Safety and Reliability Run is back on its normal 150-mile route after being curtailed due to last year's
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Something for the weekend
SATURDAY - BEST FACTUAL Two years ago Channel 4 news presenter Jon Snow was offered an OBE. He declined to accept it (on the grounds it would compromise his journalistic integrity) but wondered how his nomination came about. He finds out in Secrets Of
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In the Picture: More than a family affair
New families often have a short shelf life in soapland, especially if the producers run out of storylines. But, sometimes it's the ones we love to hate who survive the test As the Hancocks make their exit from Ramsay Street this week, a new family - the
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Transport hiccup throws future of charity into doubt
A CHARITY for the disabled may be forced to shut down. Marie Ward, of the Durham County Association for the Disabled, said she fears for the charity's future if Durham County Council does not step in. In the past, the council provided buses to drive about
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England make last eight
England are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after they beat Denmark 3 - 0 in Niigata. Sven Goran Eriksson's men will face Belgium or Brazil in the next round thanks to first half strikes from Michael Owen and Emile Heskey and a bizarre
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Parents angry at children film ban
CINEMAS bosses are to challenge the 12 certificate awarded to this summer's big movie, Spiderman. Thousands of comic book fans have been disappointed to find they are too young to watch the film because censors believe it is too violent. Although the
