Archive
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Appeal victory for pub chain
A REAL ale pub chain has won an appeal to overturn a council's refusal to let it convert a former building society. Now, J D Wetherspoon is seeking a drinks licence for the former Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society in North Road, Durham. The firm
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Benwell continue to show title credentials
Benwell Hill will take some stopping for the championship if they continue in the rich vein of form they have shown in recent weeks, culminating in the ten wickets rout of Tynemouth. The Seasiders battled through 38.4 overs scoring just 72 and were then
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Pupils walk on wild side
YOUNGSTERS took a walk on the wild side this week for a morning of nature activities. Year Five pupils from Skelton Junior School visited a wildlife pond at nearby Freebrough Community College on Tuesday to study the animals and plants which live there
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Church group forced to cancel mass
SEVERAL worshippers visited a remote, long disused church at the weekend after plans were announced to celebrate mass there for the first time in 500 years. Philip-James French had planned to return Catholic services to the tiny St Andrew's Church in
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Bus firm to be reported
A COUNCIL leader who has been inundated with complaints about a bus company is to report it to a Government-appointed watchdog. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader David Walsh is compiling a dossier of protests about Abbey Coaches, which runs
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Police back late opening hours
POLICE are backing bids for late opening hours in the hope that a town's drinking habits will change. Proposals for a trial period of extended opening hours at the Red Lion pub in Chester-le-Street and for a Chicago Rock caf bar that opens until 1am have
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Stars shine at soccer
ACTORS from the TV soap Emmerdale swapped their wellies for football boots at the weekend. And they proved that while stardom may not have gone to their heads it has certainly gone to their feet - as they thrashed their not-so-famous opposition by seven
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County Show settles in to new home
THE CATTLE, sheep and goats may not have made it to this year's Durham County Show - but people still arrived in their droves to make the event a resounding success. Following its cancellation due to the ravages of foot-and-mouth last year, this year's
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Thousands turn up for park re-opening
About 10,000 people joined Derwentside-born celebrities Sir Bobby Robson, Glenn McCory and Susan Maughan for a park's re-opening. The new Consett Heritage Park, otherwise known as Blackhill Park, was opened on Saturday after a £1.4m redevelopment. Nine
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Fun for all ages at Diggerland
AN adventure park where children can drive dumper trucks and diggers hopes to get more business executives trying out the machinery. North Durham MP and Government Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong opened a new building housing a function suite and shop at
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Benefits proposals hit post offices
GOVERNMENT proposals have caused an exodus of post office customers, threatening the future of small offices, according to unions and staff. The Association of Chartered Accountants (Acca) has warned that the livelihoods of people running smaller post
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Football team plays away in Russia
YOUNG footballers have flown to Russia for their first taste of playing away internationally. The footballers from Sandhole Juniors, based in the Stanley area, are the guests of young soccer players in Petrozavodsk in the republic of Karelia, North-West
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Brothers join forces for a Fine, Fine, Fine musical
TWO brothers have teamed up with TV agony aunt Denise Robertson to write a new musical. Peter and Dean Robertson, both of Sunderland and who have graduated from the city's university, have written the music for a stage version of one of her novels. It
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Tim Wellock's Durham Diary
DURHAM fans will be hoping there is something of the Dean Jones about Brad Hodge, who arrives from Australia today as Martin Love's replacement. It transpires that Hodge is 27 and has been around for some time, making his first-class debut for the Bushrangers
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News in brief: Officer hot on £12,000 scent
Beat bobby Chris Warriner proved he had a nose for trouble when he sniffed out a £12,000 cannabis haul. PC Warriner was tipped off that plants were being grown in a house on his patch in South Shields, South Tyneside and went to investigate. Although
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School team rises to robot challenge
YOUNG engineers from the region are celebrating after winning a national competition based on the BBC television show Robot Wars. Two teams from Teesdale School, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, took on fellow young engineers from the around the country
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Journalists to strike over pay
JOURNALISTS at a North-East newspaper group plan to go on strike in a wrangle over pay. National Union of Journalists members at the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal Ltd, which publishes The Journal, Evening Chronicle, Sunday Sun and Herald and Post series
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Picnic continues battle to save park
PROTESTORS turned out in force yesterday to a Picnic in the Park event to make their voices heard against plans to build on it. The Friends of the Park group, set up by people living in Billingham, is angry at proposals to build on the John Whitehead
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Funding helps to prolong dance tradition
CHILDREN in the moorland village of Goathland, near Whitby, have been given cash help to safeguard the future of a 1,000-year-old tradition. Goathland Plough Stots have re-formed their junior sword dancing team after many years and they have now been
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Apartments scheme expected to win OK
COUNCILLORS are being urged to set aside job creation policies to bring new life to dangerous and dilapidated buildings. No commercial use has been found for an empty coach house and furniture store at Mowbray Square, Harrogate, despite intensive marketing
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Family day raises £1,750
A FACTORY'S family fun day has given a big boost to its chosen charity. The event at Komatsu, of Birtley, near Gateshead, raised £1,750 for Hadrian School, in Newcastle, the only school in the city for primary age youngsters with learning difficulties
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Health trust search on for new directors
PEOPLE with an interest in health and health issues are being urged to join Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust as non-executive directors. Anyone living in the Middlesbrough, Eston, South Bank, Normanby and Grangetown areas is able to apply. Primary care
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Streets of friendship
PERFORMERS from all over the world will converge on the region this week to take part in one of Europe's largest street festivals. The 15th Stockton International Riverside Festival starts on Thursday and organisers are promising it will be one of the
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Delving into the past
THE emphasis was on the past over the weekend as history was brought alive to mark National Archaeology Day. Visitors to York were given the chance to meet an ancient legionary and discover more about the city's Viking and Roman heritage. At the St Leonard's
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Harry Potter's magic motors on
HE'S been around for a few years now - but the appeal of the world's favourite trainee wizard is showing no signs of abating. Youngsters of all ages dressed up as Harry Potter and his pals as part of a weekend of festivities in the Ryedale market town
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Peterlee achieve a first
Peterlee are top dogs for the first time since they joined the League. They saw off neighbours Easington and at the same time Murton suffered their first defeat of the season, going down to Silksworth. The Hewson brothers - and Keith in particular - were
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Football fun for youngsters as festival kicks off
YOUNG footballers enjoyed a weekend of soccer fun. Forty seven-a-side teams took part in a series of tournaments as the second Sage Soccer Festival kicked off in Durham City. Boys aged eight, nine and ten, plus girls and women's teams, competed in the
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Where now for Bowyer?
WHO would be Lee Bowyer today? Unwanted by Liverpool and unloved throughout football, he learnt on Saturday that he faces an expensive civil lawsuit arising from last year's crown court trial. All he has to console him are his £17,000-a-week wages and
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Delay in seeking Army support made foot-and-mouth worse - report
Delays in calling in the Army to help deal with the foot-and-mouth epidemic prolonged the misery for farmers and increased the cost for taxpayers, the last of three independent reports was concluding today. The Lessons to be Learned inquiry, led by Iain
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Hospice thanksgiving service
CHARITY supporters are being invited to a thanksgiving service at the weekend. Trustees, staff and volunteers of Butterwick Hospice Care are invited to the ecumenical service at St Paul's Parish Church, Spennymoor, on Sunday. Parish curate, the Reverend
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Ashley shows age is no barrier to success
TALENTED young athlete Ashley Maddison did the region proud when she competed against youngsters a year older than herself in a national contest. The 13-year-old took part in the year nine discus event at the All-England Schools Athletics Championships
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College given healthy schools award
King James I Community College, in Bishop Auckland, has received the County Durham and Darlington Healthy Schools Award. Headteacher Ed Lott said: "We at King James pride ourselves on developing every student's academic potential, but also in equipping
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Survey probes dental health issues
MORE than 80 per cent of people in County Durham have suffered toothache, according to a survey. And 23 per cent of people only go to the dentist when their teeth are causing problems. The survey of more than 5,000 adults was carried out last year. The
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Competition winners
COMPETITION winners from an event held to educate children about the dangers of burns and scalds have been presented with their prizes. Accident and emergency staff from Darlington Memorial and Bishop Auckland General hospitals organised the event. Prizes
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Advice wanted on how to spend £3.8m
RESIDENTS are being urged to put forward their ideas for spending £3.8m to improve their community. The cash is available to Wear Valley and Weardale, which is considered one of the country's most deprived areas, over the next two and a half years, through
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Sounds fantastic as the racecourse
THOUSANDS of music fans turned out to see some of the biggest names in pop at the first of the region's Feel The Noise Live concerts last night. Among those performing at Newcastle Racecourse were Darlington's 17-year-old singing sensation Zoe Birkett
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Democracy has spoken, union conference told
NORTH-EAST members of the country's second biggest trade union have welcomed the general secretary's decision to stand down. Sir Ken Jackson accepted at the weekend that he had lost his job running Amicus after being defeated by left-winger Derek Simpson
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£60,000 jewels haul recovered
POLICE have recovered exclusive jewellery worth about £60,000 that was stolen from a couple's village home. The collection, which includes a woman's Rolex watch worth £18,000 and a man's watch worth £12,000, was stolen from the Country Teashop, in Staindrop
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Nicky's nightmare
JUST when Durham's Nicky Phillips must have thought life had taken a turn for the better it kicked him in the teeth yesterday. After wrapping up Durham's championship win against Derbyshire at Darlington with a spell of three for none, the off-spinner
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Charging patients is 'absolute scandal'
AN MP has added his voice to protests against charging bedridden hospital patients for using the TV or telephone. Stockton North MP Frank Cook said the move was an "absolute scandal" and he had "an inadequate vocabulary to describe what I feel about this
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Fire station opens to the public
FAMILIES enjoyed the summer sun at a fun-day held at Stockton Fire Station on Saturday. Among the attractions were vintage fire vehicles, ladder rescues, barbecues and rides in a little Dennis fire engine. The event was opened by the Mayor of Stockton
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News in brief: Approval likely for fares rise
PLANS to increase taxi fares in Middlesbrough look likely to be approved today. Middlesbrough Hackney Carriage Association has applied to Middlesbrough Council for the increase in fares. The last rise was three years ago and, since then, the association
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Head: There will be no religious brainwashing
THE new principal of a prestigious city academy says parents should have no fears of their children being brainwashed with religious indoctrination. Richard Coupe, who will start as head of the £20m King's City Academy in South Middlesbrough in September
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Pop Idol Zoe hands over arts awards
THE region's favourite Pop Idol, Zoe Birkett, has presented awards to top performing schools in the arts. The Artsmark awards from the Arts Council of England celebrate schools that have made a strong commitment to the arts. There are three awards recognising
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Artists reflect on mirror need
A PLEA has gone out to people across the region to donate mirrors to help an art project. Artists Dave Allinson and Michelle Tripp are presenting Synaesthesia, a visual art installation at the Riverside Festival. They have spent the past three months
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Stalwart's efforts to be marked by school
A SCHOOL is planning to place a bench in its grounds in memory of a tireless employee. June Theakston, 57, who was involved in life at Longfield School, Darlington, for more than 20 years, died last month. As well as being a dinner lady and cleaner, she
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Crime support group seeks more helpers
VICTIM Support branches in the North-East will open their doors this week in a bid to double the number of volunteers. The charity's County Dur-ham division supported more than 17,000 people last year and it is hoped this week's recruitment drive will
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'Somebody please stop Formula One's Peter Perfect'
Michael Schumacher... No, don't turn the page yet. I'll try to make this less boring than watching Schumacher drive round in a big circle 70-odd times. But then again, that's hardly the most severe test of journalism, is it? Schumacher's domination of
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Put us on the spot, moaners urged
PEOPLE who moan about their council in newspaper letters pages are being invited into the council chamber. But so far, there have been no takers for Durham County Council's offer to let council taxpayers ask questions of cabinet members at quarterly full
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Play school celebrates equipment grant
YOUNGSTERS from a Durham play school had a double reason to hold a party. Not only was it the end of term, but they have been given £10,000 for new equipment and toys. The Little Angels Play School is based in St Bede's Church, Newton Hall, and has places
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Museum gives insight into Burma's past
AN exhibition of Burmese artefacts has gone on show at a museum in the region. Golden Buddhas, lacquer vessels and manuscripts have been loaned by the British Museum for the exhibition at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens. Called Visions of the Golden
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Pupils paint jubilee portrait
A ROOKIE police officer and postmistress were called to sit in judgement on a school's royal poster competition. PC Paul Gray helped Phyllis Corner to rule over the efforts of 145 children aged between five and eight at Tanfield Lea Infants School. As
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New offices for advice bureau
DURHAM Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) has a new home, after moving into what is becoming the city's centre of culture and information. Durham CAB's new offices were officially opened on Friday at Millennium Place, which already houses the Gala Theatre
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Villagers to be consulted on plan for new nursery
A GROWING village is poised to have a new nursery created in an extension to an existing school. The proposed nursery, at Lumley Medway Infant School, in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, would cater for 52 three-to-four-year-olds each day. Governors
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Looking at childcare from a different angle
Run by local people, Skerne Park Childcare Centre has become an integral part of the community. Womens' Editor Christen Pears reports. IN the list of rules pinned on the wall of Skerne Park Childcare Centre, number 15 states that staff aren't allowed
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Anger at payouts for 'bad' prisoners
HUNDREDS of prisoners could be set to launch compensation claims against the Government following a historic human rights judgement. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the power of prison governors to extend jail sentences because of bad
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Leaky shipment led to deaths
A leaky consignment of toxic chemicals shipped via the North-East has led to the deaths of at least three workers in Africa. Many more were injured in the East African port of Djibouti following a major leak involving hundreds of tonnes of highly toxic
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From sensible skirts to covetable cosmetics
At one point Marks & Spencer looked set to become the ugly sister of the cosmetics world, but with the help of industry experts and some famous faces it has sprinkled fairy dust over its beauty range. Emily Flanagan reports. NOTHING you might have
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'Progress on safety for NHS patients'
A CAMPAIGNER who is seeking greater protection for NHS patients in the wake of the Richard Neale scandal believes the Government is ready to act. Former Northallerton Mayor, John Bacon, is angry that disgraced North Yorkshire surgeon Richard Neale escaped
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Mothers remembered in Jubilee relay
TWO young girls whose close friendship was forged through the death of their mothers had a lovely surprise at the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay. Ten-year-olds Danielle Staley and Bethany Hobson had a special trip from school last Wednesday to meet one of
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Prize falcon lost at show
A FALCONER is offering a £500 reward for the return of his prize bird which disappeared during a performance at Lanchester show at the weekend. It was a routine part of Rob Allott's act, sending his pair of Lanner falcons Jack and Jill up into the air
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Man quizzed over hoax
A MAN claiming to be a paramedic has been questioned by police after a hoax call led to a sea and air rescue being launched off the coast of Redcar. Redcar Lifeboat's inshore and Atlantic 75 Leicester Challenge vessels were called out at around 12.15am
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News in brief: Approval likely for fares rise
PLANS to increase taxi fares in Middlesbrough look likely to be approved today. Middlesbrough Hackney Carriage Association has applied to Middlesbrough Council for the increase in fares. The last rise was three years ago and, since then, the association
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McClaren still on lookout for new Boro players
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has vowed to keep searching in his bid to strengthen his squad ahead of the new Premiership season. Versatile Real Madrid star Geremi has sealed a season-long loan move to the Riverside and Paris St Germain star Edouard
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Roses match fails to inspire
After all the excitement of Darren Lehmann and Anthony McGrath's record-breaking stand of 317 on Saturday, it was back to dour Roses cricket at Headingley yesterday as Yorkshire worked hard to make Lancashire follow-on. They have so far been foiled in
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Residents 'horrified' by plans for bar
PLANS to build a themed caf bar has thrown residents from nearby flats on to a collision course with developers. Planning permission has already been granted to build a Chicago Rock Caf on Chester-le-Street's Front Street and now the company behind the
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Dead workman identified
A workman found dead inside the chimney of a power station has been identified. David Jamieson, 54, was found in the stack at Eggborough Power Station, near Selby, North Yorks. Mr Jamieson, from South Bank, near Middlesbrough, was discovered by colleagues
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Rivals Darlington end Guisborough's fine run
It had to happen sometime, of course, but Guisborough could well have done without losing their long unbeaten record to championship rivals Darlington on Saturday. On August 19, 2000, Guisborough lost to Normanby Hall and since then they had become almost
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Zoe presents art awards
THE region's bubbly Pop Idol, Zoe Birkett, has presented awards to top performing schools in the arts. The Artsmark awards from the Arts Council of England celebrate schools that have made a strong commitment to the arts. There are three awards recognising
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Southgate lined up as Rio's successor
MIDDLESBROUGH face a massive fight to hang on to Gareth Southgate after Leeds identified the defender as their top target to replace Rio Ferdinand. As Ferdinand was discussing personal terms with Manchester United last night over a British record £30m
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Work starts on cliff path repairs
A CLIFFSIDE footpath is being repaired two years after it was eroded by heavy flooding. The path, which has more than 100 steps from its top to the beach below, at Hummersea, near Loftus, is being fixed by 15 unemployed youths from NACRO, the crime reduction
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Declining number of pupils seals primary school's fate
A SCHOOL may find itself with classes of only two or three pupils after parents admitted defeat in their fight to keep it open and have moved their children elsewhere. St Francis School, in Whinney Banks, Middlesbrough, is due to close on December 29
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Doctors 'will quit over these contracts'
NORTH-EAST consultants have voiced their "extreme concern" about plans to give them employment contracts. Twenty-eight consultants from hospitals across the region are among 500 throughout the country who signed a letter against Government proposals.
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Village welcomes flood alert siren
RESIDENTS who have been plagued by flooding from their local beck have welcomed the introduction of a siren to alert them when the water level is rising. Two years ago, following days of heavy rain, an eight-ft wall of water stormed down Skinningrove
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Police deputy set to be the driving force
THE new Chief Constable of Durham was appointed last week - and received an immediate call of support from the man he is replacing. Paul Garvin, 53, the current deputy chief constable of Durham Constabulary, is to take over the top job after the retirement
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Wise up to scam, warn police
SHOPPERS in Redcar and Cleveland are being warned to wise up to a scam which could already have left them out of pocket. Customers of an East Cleveland supermarket contacted police after discovering that £50 cashback had been added to their shopping bills
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Event tackles issues
DRUGS, crime, abortion and euthanasia were just some of the topics under discussion when 100 schoolchildren visited Redcar and Cleveland College. The youngsters, from Ryehills, West Redcar and Bydales schools, were invited to the college for a day of
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City take honours
DURHAM Amateur Rowing club won the Victor Ludorum at the Hexham Jubilee Regatta with a score of 17 points, a clear lead of seven points. The weather was beautiful and conditions were calm. Junior scullers Nadine Bruce, Kathryn Frost and Daniel Howie continued
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Weekend TV: The Service (BBC2): Equinox (C4)
National health or national wealth? THE ills of the National Health Service became all too apparent during the second part of The Service, tantalisingly entitled The Man With The Plan - or Darlington MP and Health Secretary Alan Milburn as we know him
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Canoe stunt raises public safety fears
CANOEIST Shaun Baker has promised to visit the region to kayak down the country's mightiest waterfall. Last week, the 38-year-old canoed 50ft down the Skjalfandafjot River waterfall, in Iceland, and now he is planning to take on High Force, in Teesdale
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Young urged to choose safety
A NEW road safety campaign that aims to reduce the number of teenage accident victims is being launched in South Tyneside. The Government is asking councils to warn youngsters that traffic is the biggest single killer of 12 to 16-year-olds. The campaign
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Hunt for knife woman
PICTURES have been released of a woman who tried to rob a customer in a bank with a penknife - right under the nose of the region's Press. The woman, who managed to escape, did not realise the Bishop of Durham and several TV cameras were in the vicinity
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Thousands steam in for a ride on TV's Thomas
THOUSANDS of visitors flocked to a North-East rail museum at the weekend to see television train Thomas the Tank Engine. The children's favourite was joined by a cast of friends, including Devious Diesel, George the Steam Roller and Bertie the Bus at
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News in brief: Officer hot on £12,000 scent
Beat bobby Chris Warriner proved he had a nose for trouble when he sniffed out a £12,000 cannabis haul. PC Warriner was tipped off that plants were being grown in a house on his patch in South Shields, South Tyneside and went to investigate. Although
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First Group tipped to win rail franchise
TRANSPORT operator First Group looks set to win the race to clinch the Transpennine rail franchise at the expense of bitter rival, Arriva. Sources close to the Strategic Rail Authority, which is due to announce the winner in a few weeks time, said the
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Pupils show gratitude to firefighters
YOUNGSTERS have shown their appreciation to firefighters - by presenting them with a picture that is all their own work. The children from Mill Hill school, Northallerton, visited their local fire station last month to learn about fire safety. Firefighters
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Dettori heads up to Beverley
Frankie Dettori's presence at Beverley this evening is sure to add plenty of interest to what already looks a fair card at the East Yorkshire venue. And the Italian can be on the mark on Ben Hanbury's Sorbonne in the Sailors Families Society Maiden Handicap
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Comment: Easy with the cold water...
A FIRST-WEEK leak at the £46m Baltic Centre is embarrassing and clearly shouldn't have happened. But it is only a teething problem and it should not be allowed to inundate all that is positive about the centre. It certainly should not be used as a stick
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Redesigned police website goes online
THE latest version of a police website has been officially launched by a 21-year-old university student who has spent the past 12 months developing it. Vicky Robertson spent a year on a work placement at Cleveland Police's force headquarters, in Ladgate
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Burning Questions - Tracing a Barbarian power struggle
Q What is the origin of Bavaria? Is it named after the Barbarians? Was it ever an independent country. - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street. A Bavaria is the largest state in Germany, encompassing the south-east of the country including Munich, Germany's
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Funding row helicopter 'a success'
A LIFE-saving helicopter which was at the centre of a row between ambulance chiefs is proving to be a success. Grahame Pickering, chief executive of the Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA), said the helicopter, based at Teesside Airport on a month-long trial
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Fresh battle looms over housing plan
A VILLAGE is preparing for a fresh battle against developers who want to build more than 100 houses and flats near local homes. Barratt York wants to build the development - which would include three-storey town houses - on the site of an old county council
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Carl swaps bus for the bike in aid of charity
BUS driver Carl Thompson aims to travel about 500 miles on his summer break - but it won't be a busman's holiday. Mr Thompson, 50, of Langley Park, near Durham, is a driver for Arriva and set off on a sponsored bicycle ride to Edinburgh to raise money
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£46m art centre's bucketful of problems
Arts chiefs at the flagship Tate on the Tyne, Newcastle's Baltic Centre, are trying to mop up their embarrassment after it sprung a leak in its first week of opening. Visitors to the Centre for Contemporary Arts were swamped with water from the leaking
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Award for sporting excellence
ST Patrick's RC Primary School in Thornaby has become the first school in the borough of Stockton to be awarded Activemark Gold accreditation from Sport England. The award recognises schools that have a healthy and sporting curriculum. St Patrick's success
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Garden offers place of respite
A garden has been created for parents whose children are in a hospital's special care unit. The sensory garden has been opened outside the neo-natal unit at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, to offer respite to parents and staff. Margaret
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Shotley gain sweet revenge over Lintz
Shotley Bridge turned the tables on Lintz, who last Wednesday reached the final of the League Cup with a nail-biting victory over their rivals. There was to be no repeat performance at The Spa on Saturday, however, as Shotley edged their way to a crucial
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All for one, and one for the sofa
Fuelled by booze from the post-task celebration hamper and too much free time on their hands, the Big Brother housemates have been making merry. The bickering and backstabbing has stopped as the quartet have some fun and frolics in the final week of their
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Music festival change hailed worthwhile
THE first two-day music festival held in Durham city centre has been hailed a success. A one-day event held on Sundays in the Market Place has been an annual attraction since 1991. But Durham City Forum expanded it to include Saturday and combine it with
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Falklands veteran's fury over possible sale of warship
A FALKLANDS War veteran who served on HMS Fearless during the conflict has vowed to sink the vessel if it is sold to Argentina. Colin Waite, who has been trying to raise funds to save the ship, hit out after rumours that Brazil would sell Fearless to
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Plenty of summer fun at arcade
SUMMER fun begins today for young visitors to a Darlington shopping centre. Kellar and His Krazy Kart will provide entertainment for children at the Queen Street Shopping Arcade, in the town, with 60-minute walkabouts starting at 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm
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First school steps lead to drama award
A PORTRAYAL of a child's first day at school has led to honours for a Darlington drama student. Michael Daynes, 12, passed the London-based Guildhall School of Music and Drama's character study grade 4 examination with merit. His mime, called First Day
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Fancy dress fundraiser
A SEVENTIES night raised almost £1,000 to send a group of disabled people on a holiday this summer. The fancy dress event boosted funds for Bishop Auckland Friendship and Activities Club, so members can enjoy a trip to Blackpool. A donation was also given
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Headteacher steps down
NURSERY children have said farewell to their headteacher, who is retiring after 14 years in charge. Sheila Finn is stepping down as head of Aclet Close Nursery School, in Bishop Auckland, to spend more time with her family and in her garden. The 61-year-old
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Strange sights in the sky are just kite-flying
DARLINGTON people could have been forgiven for doing a double-take yesterday, if they saw a flying octopus and a big blue bear floating over Eastbourne Comprehensive School. The unusual blots on the town's skyline were part of the second annual Darlington
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No takers for 'Question Time' offer
PEOPLE who complain about their council in newspaper letters pages are being invited into the council chamber. But so far there have been no takers for Durham County Council's offer to let council taxpayers ask questions of cabinet members at quarterly
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Home violence issues debated
A COUNCIL policy aimed at combating the misery of domestic violence in Darlington will come a step closer to reality this week. A meeting of Darlington Borough Council's social affairs and health scrutiny committee will be held on Thursday, to discuss
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Shoppers speak out on new-look town centre
THREE years after it was branded one of the worst town centres in Britain, Bishop Auckland's shopping area has been given a new look with a £750,000 facelift. Seating, bollards and wider paving have all made the Newgate Street pedestrian-friendly, while
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Successful Pub Watch scheme to be extended
A SCHEME aimed at tackling drugs and violence in Darlington's town centre pubs and clubs is being expanded across the whole borough. Darlington Pub Watch was launched four years ago, originally taking in the larger on- licensed premises, before being
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Send it back, says Supermac
NEWCASTLE footballing legend Malcolm MacDonald is backing a campaign to encourage people to recycle more. The former Magpies and England striker was at a roadshow in the city centre's Northumberland Street, that featured the world's first motorised dustbin
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News in brief: Library fun for youngsters
VISITORS to Darlington's town centre library will get the chance to enjoy more than just a good book today. Staff at the Crown Street library are staging a free face painting and activity day, from 10am to 4pm. The theme is "space" and activities will
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Accropodes weigh in for erosion battle
A PROJECT to protect a section of coast from the ravages of the North Sea has moved into a new phase through the arrival of huge concrete blocks. The pre-cast blocks, known as accropodes, are designed to interlock and absorb the heavy impact of the seas
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Straw presses case of charity worker in Indian jail
FOREIGN Secretary Jack Straw has met his Indian counterpart to press the case of jailed deaf charity worker, Ian Stillman. Mr Stillman, 51, whose parents live in York, has been in prison in India for more than two years after being convicted of possessing
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Out and about with Badger Bus service
FAMILIES in Hartlepool will be able to get out and about during the summer holidays when the popular Badger Bus service begins today. The service 402, operated by Stagecoach in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council and the Countryside Agency, offers
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Course offers English help
MEN from ethnic minority groups are invited to take part in a course to improve their English and job search skills. The 60-hour course, funded by the Adult and Community Learning Fund, will run from August 29 to October 4, with sessions held in the Stockton
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News in brief: New festival enjoys success
A WEEK-LONG festival or theatre, film and workshops in a former pit village drew to a close on Friday. The July Festival was staged for the first time by Theatre Cap-a-Pie at The Store, the group's new headquarters in the former Co-operative store building
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Living legend agrees to tell her tale
IN a display of daring equestrianism Sonora Carver enthralled a bygone generation by diving with her mount from a 40ft high ramp into a pond of water. Even after being blinded when one of her plunges went wrong, she carried on with gutsy determination
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Wind farm gets the go-ahead
A £30m scheme to create the region's largest wind farm has been given the go-ahead. Redcar and Cleveland Council's planning committee approved the Tees Wind North scheme - which could be in operation by the end of next year - at a meeting on Tuesday.
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News in brief: New festival enjoys success
A WEEK-LONG festival or theatre, film and workshops in a former pit village drew to a close on Friday. The July Festival was staged for the first time by Theatre Cap-a-Pie at The Store, the group's new headquarters in the former Co-operative store building
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Euro business cash decision awaited
THE future of a project aimed at helping fledgling businesses get off the ground will become clearer early next year. Hambleton District Council has revealed plans for purpose-built industrial units to be created in Stokesley, giving new firms both a
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The lilies may be wrought from iron - but they whiff of success for blacksmiths
A TEAM of iron workers is celebrating after scooping the first prize at one of the region's biggest agricultural shows. The trio of blacksmiths, from Little Newsham Forge, near Winston, in Teesdale, County Durham, picked up the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths
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Grassroots: Derwentside
STEAM DAYS: The Tanfield Railway is holding an over-60s day when senior citizens can travel for £1 between 11am and 4.54pm on Sunday. PUPPET SHOW: The Postman Pat Show is being performed by Mister Peter's Puppets at 11am and 2pm on Tuesday, July 30, at
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No limits to theatre company's success
SUNDERLAND'S No Limits Theatre is celebrating a £20,000 grant from Northern Arts by taking its latest work, I Catch Your Breath, to Edinburgh's Festival Fringe later this year. Working primarily with performers with learning disabilities, No Limits Theatre
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The return of the survivor
He was The One That Got Away in the most notorious SAS mission of all time. Now giving careers advice in schools, Chris Ryan talks to Steve Pratt about life after the special forces. The noise at the rear of the school hall made pupils spin round in their
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Disharmony in the cathedral
THE launch of a beer and the sight of clerics hitching up their gowns to compete in pancake races are said to have upset the purists among the congregation at Ripon Cathedral. The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Methuen, has been instrumental in
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National champ performs a treble
GRAND National winner Red Marauder helped a village to celebrate its own success by being the guest of honour at a triple opening event. The steeplechaser, who triumphed in last year's race, was accompanied by victorious jockey Richard Guest and his owner
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Hear All Sides: TRAIN STRIKES
THERE are two separate disputes causing strikes at Arriva Trains Northern. The conductors' dispute is about a pay rise, and our station staff are in dispute because of a commitment Arriva made to them in 2000, but never fulfilled. Arriva is offering a
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Farewell to Fearless friend
MORE than 100 seamen marched into history at the weekend when the Royal Navy's last steamship said its final farewell to its adopted port. HMS Fearless is being paid off from the Royal Navy next month, after almost 40 years of action-packed service that
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Pupils focus on transport
PUPILS have been learning the importance of pedestrian and pedal power as part of a study on transport. Year six children at Newker Primary School in Chester-le-Street have been working with regeneration group Groundwork West Durham on a Sustainable Transport
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Victim's mothers call for more Government support
Two North-East mothers whose personal tragedies led to changes in the law have called on the Government to do more for victims. Ann Ming and Pat Gibson became national figureheads for tougher sentencing after losing a child in terrible circumstances.
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Prison Service issues riots warning
Prison officers are warning of a summer of riots in the North-East's jails if widespread overcrowding continues. The alert came after three prison officers and an inmate were hospitalised after a disturbance involving 170 prisoners at Stockton's Holme
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Zoe presents art awards
THE region's favourite Pop Idol, Zoe Birkett, has presented awards to top performing schools in the arts. The Artsmark awards from the Arts Council of England celebrate schools that have made a strong commitment to the arts. There are three awards recognising
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Tracing a Barbarian power struggle
Q What is the origin of Bavaria? Is it named after the Barbarians? Was it ever an independent country. - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street. A Bavaria is the largest state in Germany, encompassing the south-east of the country including Munich, Germany's
