Archive
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Contest open to nation's architects
A NATIONWIDE competition will help find the design for a development in North Yorkshire. Architects are asked to enter plans for a scheme bringing start-up office units for small businesses on Stokesley's industrial park. The units, with energy efficient
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Eating Owt: The Owl, the Pussycat and a very tasty bird
COLLECTIVELY, like so many lard-brained lemmings, the Sunday sports writers two weeks ago threw themselves over the editorial edge. Someone had whispered - bellowed, rather - that Steve McClaren, manager of Middlesbrough Football Club, was "almost certain
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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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Stars pitch in for tragic loss of Nice Guy Eddie
Eddie Sharp was a lovely lad and a promising footballer. Almost 1,300 mourners attended his funeral following a road accident, overflowing the biggest parish church in the diocese of Durham. Eddie died in February, aged just 23. This weekend his father
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Flood warning siren is just pathetic wail, say villagers
PEOPLE living in a village hit by floods have branded a new warning siren a waste of time. The siren has been installed by the Environment Agency to alert residents of Skinningrove when the water level in the beck is rising. The east Cleveland village
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New man in the North for TUC
KEVIN Rowan has come a long way from humble beginnings as a teenage trade unionist. On August 5, he takes over at the helm of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in the region. Mr Rowan has been active in the union movement since he was 17. Brought up in
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News in brief: Inquest into man's death
AN inquest was opened yesterday into the death of a 29-year-old Newton Aycliffe man found dead at his home last week. Christopher Oliver, of Biscop Crescent, was single and had worked for Bishop Auckland dehumidifier company Ebac for nine years until
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Louis is the best in town
A RETIRED school caretaker has achieved a personal ambition by clinching an award for his gardening. Richmond's Louis Neasham decided two years ago he wanted to take the overall top spot in the town council's annual competition. And, after a concerted
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Endangered bird project nets pupils £1,000 environment cash
A TEESDALE school has been awarded a grant for its work in helping an endangered species of bird. Pupils at Bowes Hutchinson C of E Aided Combined School, in Bowes, near Barnard Castle, have received £1,000 as part of the Volvo Practical Environmental
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Expansion planned by school
A SCHOOL in Newton Aycliffe is planning to install a temporary building in its grounds to ease the pressure on space in the main building. Woodham Community Technology College has applied for planning permission for a portable building. The unit would
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'Sneaky' litter snaps defended
A POLICY of photographing children caught dropping litter has been defended by Sedgefield Borough Council. The council's Kick the Litter Bug Campaign includes fixed penalty fines for children and adults found dropping rubbish and rewards for those picking
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Honours for fish and chips, twice
A FISH and chip shop has netted a second top honour for a family firm. Crossroads Chippy, at Tindale Crescent, near Bishop Auckland, has been awarded a fryers' quality award by the Seafish Industry Authority (SIA). Less than a month earlier, brothers
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Back to school for summer
GIFTED pupils from across Darlington have been putting their skills to good use at a summer school. Eastbourne, Haughton and Longfield comprehensives joined forces to hold a two week school for talented children, involving drama, information technology
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Reading scheme aims high
CHILDREN were encouraged to set their sights on the skies yesterday as a library treated them to a space-themed activity and face-painting day. Activities on offer at Darlington's Crown Street library included rocket-making, designing space-suit badges
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Keeping a watch on drama
CHILDREN are creating their own Big Brother universe this week as part of a series of drama workshops. Seventy children, aged between ten and 14, are taking part in a range of challenges in drama, performance and visual arts at Middlesbrough Town Hall
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'Problem area' welcomes plan
THE derelict centre of a troubled estate could soon be revitalised under a new million-pound project. Council chiefs in York want to demolish the Sanderson House, in Bramham Road, Chapelfields, and replace it with affordable family homes. Plans are also
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News in brief: Upturned boat sparks search
POLICE rescuers searched a stretch of the River Tees yesterday after finding an upturned boat and wet clothing in the area. A member of the public alerted the police at lunchtime after finding the boat along with abandoned angling equipment at Egglestone
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Pitch for defence work
STAFF from regional development agency One NorthEast will today attempt to sell the North-East as the place to invest for North American defence companies. Officials will work with the sector's North-East umbrella organisation, the Northern Defence Initiative
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Panic on another Black Monday
THE London Stock Exchange suffered yet another turbulent day after a late bout of panic selling sent the FTSE 100 Index to another record low yesterday. During a second successive Black Monday, the Footsie closed after losing 202.8 points, nearly five
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Dedication rewarded
A PROFOUNDLY deaf student has received an award for success in her studies. Sandra Dunn, 18, from Chester-le-Street, has been presented with the award by Newcastle College in recognition of her dedication to her NVQ level 2 beauty therapy course and for
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'No' to routine jabs for livestock
AN OFFICIAL inquiry into the Government's handling of the world's worst foot-and-mouth outbreak has ruled out routine vaccination of livestock to prevent another disaster. A report into the outbreak, which cost the country £8bn, says vaccination should
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Funeral service for tragic farmer
Farmer John Lovegreen, whose estranged wife has been charged with his murder, will be buried tomorrow after a funeral in his former home village. An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday into the death of the 34-year-old, who had moved out of the
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Robberies on trains up, but rail travel 'safer'
ROBBERIES on trains in the North-East leapt by more than 50 per cent in the past year, according to the latest figures released by the British Transport Police. But the report, released today, reveals how rail travel is generally safer in the region than
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Second arrest in club drugs death probe
DETECTIVES investigating a drug-related death say they have arrested a second man. A 44-year-old father-of-three died after collapsing in the Tall Trees nightclub, in Yarm, near Stockton, in the early hours of Sunday. It is thought a cocktail of Ecstasy
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Pool face Seaham
Hartlepool United go to Seaham tonight to take on the Northern League side, writes Nick Loughlin. With Stockport visiting Victoria Park tomorrow night - the first of four home friendlies in seven days - boss Chris Turner is likely to field a side made
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Residents object to flight path changes
OBJECTIONS are being made to plans to alter flight paths from an RAF training base in the region. Three flight path proposals have been submitted by RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, for approval by Hambleton District Council. Council officers have
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Union concern over Labour Party staff
UNION leaders concerned about staff cuts at the Labour Party's regional offices have written to the Government for clarification. The GMB has become increasingly concerned that, as the party's finances dip, more staff may lose their jobs at the Millbank
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Law-changing mothers call for a better deal for victims
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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Generations of vested interest in cancer trek
A FAMILY, including three generations of cancer survivors, is among those taking part in a forthcoming charity event. Peter Howe and his family, of Normanby, Teesside, will don their cycling shorts for the Durham Cycle for Life event, in aid of Cancer
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Bus boost for show visitors
A BUS operator is putting on extra services to carry visitors to and from Sunderland Air Show. Go North-East will run additional services direct to the show from Sunderland Interchange, stand R, every few minutes on Saturday and Sunday. For details on
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Attack helicopter sets its sights on air show
THE world's most advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter will fly into an airshow in the region this weekend. The Royal Navy's Merlin helicopter will be appearing at the annual Sunderland Airshow, on Saturday and Sunday, for the first time. Costing
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'I drove around as my baby died inside me'
The Government's plans to make the so-called abortion pill more widely available attracted controversy when they were announced earlier this month. Katie Relton talks to one woman about her traumatic experience with the pill. DRIVING around while her
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Hear All Sides: COUNCIL STRIKE
I WRITE to correct your article (Echo, July 18). Only a few Unison members turned up for work in Darlington to defy the strike. They were outnumbered by the non-union members who joined our strike. The most vulnerable people were looked after by our members
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Children help design garden
A garden designed by teachers and pupils has been opened at a Middlesbrough primary school. The Phoenix Gardens at Park End Primary School, were created to replace an existing wildlife area which was badly overgrown. Geography co-ordinator Jill Paterson
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Children's cancer care specialist awarded PhD
AN internationally-renowned cancer specialist from Durham has added a doctorate to her string of qualifications. Faith Gibson, 41, who used to live in Ushaw Moor, was awarded the PhD after completing a course at London's South Bank College. She attended
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Pupils conquer coast to coast bike challenge
FOUR teenage cyclists raised £370 for the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland by completing the testing Coast to Coast route from Whitehaven, in Cumbria, to Sunderland. William Dobson, Philip Forster, Gareth Ross and David Stainthorpe, who are all 15
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Warning issued on pitch inspection
Football club officials in Ferryhill are being asked to be extra vigilant when inspecting pitches to guard against claims for compensation. Ferryhill Town Council is asking club secretaries to submit a written record to confirm they have checked the pitch
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Mighty beech is cut down to size
The felling of a mighty tree, which has stood for more than 200 years in a park, got under way yesterday. Experts say the beech tree, in Normandy Hall Park, near Middlesbrough, is riddled with disease and needs to be chopped down in the interests of public
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Garden transformed into open-air gallery
Keith and Maggie Bell, who own Crook Hall, one of Durham's oldest houses, are enlisting the help of local children for an Art in the Garden exhibition. Drawing on European street theatre, the children will act as living statues during the event. Mr and
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Pilot error blamed for crash deaths
DEFENCE Secretary Geoff Hoon has insisted that pilot error was the only "plausible explanation" for a 1994 Chinook helicopter crash which killed 29 people, including servicemen and members of the security services. Publishing the Government's detailed
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Holidaymakers in jet near-miss
HOLIDAYMAKERS from the region were kept in the dark as their plane narrowly missed a military jet, an airline admitted last night. The JMC Airlines flight, from Menorca to Teesside Airport, was involved in a near-miss with the military jet on Friday.
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Awarding times down on the farm
AT a time of hardship in the farming industry, a local farm is battling for survival with inventive and diverse marketing. In June 2000, Maria Henshaw and her husband, Andrew, opened the Mainsgill Farm Shop on the A66, near Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire
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Security boss jailed for attack with gun
A SECURITY firm boss who blasted his former business partner in the stomach with a shotgun was jailed for seven years yesterday. Martin Manderville was left "within an inch of his life" after being shot in the stomach by George Doneathy. The pair, former
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Disaster specialist has brought good news
AN international disaster recovery specialist has set up a base in the North-East. Staffordshire firm BELFOR has chosen Washington, Wearside, for its 14th UK branch, giving it complete coverage of the country. The firm specialises in cleaning, drying
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Bishop backs guide to county's brasses
THE latest volume in a series of books dedicated to brasses was launched at the weekend. The Monumental Brass Society is compiling and publishing a definitive list of figure brasses, inscriptions, indents and lost brasses to be found in the UK's ecclesiastical
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Colourful reception for artistic pupils
TEACHERS enlisted the help of their pupils when they decided to revamp their reception area. The 24 youngsters in teacher Shelley Campbell's class at Helmsley's primary school stitched, plaited and weaved to create an enormous work of art in just a few
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Opportunity for a sporting summer
CHILDREN in Middlesbrough are being given the chance to take part in a range of sporting activities throughout the summer. Summer Sports Camps Extra, run by Middlesbrough Council and Kings Manor Sports College, runs from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
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Campaign calls for deeper devolution
THE Campaign for the English Regions (CFER) has welcomed proposals for elected regional government, outlined in the White Paper Your Region, Your Choice. In preparing its response, CFER has consulted the six constitutional conventions and campaigns active
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Jubilee party gets a boost
RESIDENTS in a part of Hartlepool are getting set for a right royal celebration thanks to a financial helping hand. A street party, sports activities and competition for the best-dressed house are some of the events taking place during a fun day to mark
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News in brief: Arms amnesty draws results
A POACHER'S sawn-off shotgun, a derringer - a type of pistol - and a loaded .22 pistol where among items given to police in east Cleveland during a ten-day firearms amnesty. People had been invited to give in illegal weapons without fear of prosecution
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William is determined to show he's no quiz weakling
FARMERS and their families will be cheering on student William Wearmouth when he pits his wits against the mean queen of TV quiz shows, Anne Robinson. Nineteen-year-old William has surprised himself, and friends, by battling his way through to a place
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The department store that's put its faith in holy orders
A NORTH-EAST department store has called in a vicar to offer its staff a very special type of retail therapy. For the past six weeks, the Reverend David Herbert has been visiting the Debenhams store in Stockton, where he acts as support for staff who
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Unsung lives honoured
IT has been more than half a century since the Second World War ended but Britain's servicemen and women have had little time to rest. In the 57 years since then there has only been one year in which not a single soldier, airman or sailor has been killed
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Time for Sir Alex to ditch The Little Witch
SO, Sir Alex Ferguson has taken one small step towards remedying his defensive ills by signing Rio Ferdinand. Now he must take one giant leap by ridding Manchester United of the player who caused their implosion last season - Juan Sebastian Veron aka
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Darley to battle all the way the way
Kevin Darley may have lost the upper hand to Kieren Fallon when it comes to the jockey's championship but there's little doubt he'll be giving 110 per cent until the end of the season. And, after a three-timer at Ayr yesterday, the Yorkshire-based rider
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Homes plan faces new protest
VILLAGERS have vowed to fight a fresh attempt to site three-storey town houses next to their homes. Barratt York wants to build more than 100 houses and flats on land in Romanby, Northallerton. The company originally submitted plans for the development
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Website creates global interest
EMPLOYEES at a caravan retailer have been left in no doubt that the company's website has wide appeal. One potential customer from Afghanistan contacted Barrons through the site and other recent inquiries came from as far away as India and Australia.
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Last Night's TV: A Good Thief (ITV)
Don't bother setting out to catch this thief. KAY Mellor has created and written some very good TV series. Band Of Gold, Fat Friends and Playing The Field spring to mind. I will not be adding her latest TV movie, A Good Thief, to that list. This was Mellor
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Survivor rises from the ashes of Enron
WHEN US power giant Enron collapsed the reverberations were felt across the globe. The effects of the bankruptcy were felt even in the North-East - not least at Nepco Europe, based on Teesside, which had fatally close links with Enron. The ailing energy
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Freddy's reaction to losing his job - start your own company
WHEN Freddy Bourdais lost his job he took it in his stride, opened his own company and went into direct competition against his former employers. Plastic Mouldings Northern was launched on the South Church industrial estate, near Bishop Auckland, a month
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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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Public views sought to help shape Darlington
The first step towards mapping out the future expansion and regeneration of Darlington was taken yesterday. People who live, work and shop in the market town are being asked for their views on how they would like to see the borough developed over the
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Go-ahead council sparked success
AN electricity supplier has told how it was prompted to move to the North-East by a go-ahead council. Paul Cuttill, corporate services director for the London Electricity Group, was speaking at an event staged by the Department of Trade and Industry and
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Supplier gets vote of confidence
SUPPLIER of quartz glass products to the semiconductor industry, Tosoh Quartz, on the Greencroft Industrial Estate at Annfield Plain, County Durham, has received a big vote of confidence from one of its major European customers. French company Altis Semiconductors
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Keith's life on the ocean wave
A HIGHLY successful businessman has given up the car trade to make a second fortune while living a life on the ocean waves. Keith Smith, the Rowlands Gill man behind the European car import business Eusacar, now aims to cultivate a new generation of luxury
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Accolades for achievement
MORE than 200 people packed a hotel for Darlington Business Venture's annual awards. Six companies received accolades for their achievements in starting up their own businesses. Gill Goody, of Amity Mortgages, scooped the overall Business Achievement
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The Owl, the Pussycat and a very tasty bird
COLLECTIVELY, like so many lard-brained lemmings, the Sunday sports writers two weeks ago threw themselves over the editorial edge. Someone had whispered - bellowed, rather - that Steve McClaren, manager of Middlesbrough Football Club, was "almost certain
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Head chef. £25,000 to £29,000pa, plus bonus, 39hrs pw, 5 days out of 7, inc weekends. Required for hotel in Durham. Must have basic food hygiene certificate. Ref
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Cash goes to the dogs
THE police dog section at RAF Leeming has done its bit to help some of the region's least fortunate dogs. They have become the proud sponsors of a new puppy pen at the Jerry Green Dog Sanctuary near Thirsk. The section donated £200 to help to fund the
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Court sees red in taxi wrangle
MAGISTRATES saw red yesterday as a long-running saga over the colour of a town's taxis was battled out in court. Taxi drivers lined up their cabs in front of Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court, challenging chairman of the Bench, Colin Beadle, to choose
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Children's centre mural shows young artists awash with ideas
TWO talented students, who have brought a glimpse of the ocean depths to a centre for children with special needs, are hoping to share their skills further. Northallerton College art students Charlie Toothill, 19, and Karen Fenny, 17, spent hours of their
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Komatsu ready to pass on some green tips
A FIRM which has saved more than £50,000 since it switched to greener processes will reveal how others can do the same at an open day. Businesses are invited to the event at Komatsu UK's premises in Durham Road, Birtley, near Gateshead, on Friday, where
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Dabate over Dales' housing boundaries
Areas where housing development can place in the Yorkshire dales are being more tightly drawn around villages, the Association of Rural Communities (ARC) has claimed. A spokesman said that development boundary lines shown in the park authority's draft
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New leads in young soldier's death
The grieving parents of a teenage soldier who was shot dead in mysterious circumstances are a step closer to finding out how he died. Geoff and Diane Gray, who believe that their son Geoff, 17, was murdered, revealed that police have several new leads
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Warning of riots after jail flare-up
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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Markets lead the way to recovery
A FARMERS' market launched after last year's foot-and-mouth crisis has proved so successful it is set for a major expansion. Farmers have been selling their home-grown produce at a monthly market in Richmond for several months, and next Saturday they
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Pupils left in the dark
NURSERY children have been given a taste of what life could be like for the partially sighted - while raising cash for charity. Youngsters attending the creche at Darlington College in Catterick were all invited to pay to wear sunglasses for the day.
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Probe is ordered into 'cargo of death'
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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For this ex-Tory, work remains a labour of love
ANYTHING in the leisure industry - that is the advice from multi-millionaire businessman Duncan Bannatyne when asked about the most lucrative market to move into at the moment. And one of the North-East's most successful entrepreneurs knows what he is
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Fasten your seatbelts - we're in for a rocky ride
CAN you hear the rumble in the jungle? Yes, the dinosaurs are back. There was Tony Blair chortling for the last five years about all the dinosaurs being extinct and suddenly they're back, bigger and fiercer and hungrier than ever. What these beasts are
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Police radio health fears played down
A SENIOR police chief has strongly denied reports that a controversial new radio system was leading to serious health complaints among officers. Forces in the region have long been under pressure to reconsider the use of the Airwave digital handsets,
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News in brief: Inquest into man's death
AN inquest was opened yesterday into the death of a 29-year-old Newton Aycliffe man found dead at his home last week. Christopher Oliver, of Biscop Crescent, was single and had worked for Bishop Auckland dehumidifier company Ebac for nine years until
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News in brief: Arms amnesty draws results
A POACHER'S sawn-off shotgun, a derringer - a type of pistol - and a loaded .22 pistol where among items given to police in east Cleveland during a ten-day firearms amnesty. People had been invited to give in illegal weapons without fear of prosecution
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Invitation into village gardens
GARDENS in Sedgefield village are to be opened to the public for what has become a popular annual event. The Sedgefield in Bloom committee is organising a garden open day within the village on Sunday, August 4, between 1pm and 5pm. A selection of private
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Shop raided by knifeman
A KNIFE-wielding robber burst into Darlington shop on Sunday and threatened staff. The fair-haired man, in his mid-20s, pulled out the knife in the shop in Haughton Green at 9.30pm before escaping with a quantity of cash. He was as 5ft 10in, of slim build
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Appeal over car accident
A DARLINGTON motorist is appealing for witnesses to a road accident earlier this year. Anthony Stephenson was involved in the collision between a silver Renault Clio and a blue Ford XR2, on the A68 roundabout, West Auckland Road, on the outskirts of Darlington
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Speed limit demanded after woman dies on village road
VILLAGERS are calling for a speed limit to be introduced on a notoriously dangerous road, on which a woman driver died last week. There was a spate of road accidents across the region at the weekend, believed to have been caused by heavy rain. But residents
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Take a stroll inside the garden gates
GARDENS in Sedgefield village are to be opened to the public for what has become a popular annual event. The Sedgefield in Bloom committee is organising a garden open day within the village on Sunday, August 4, between 1pm and 5pm. This has been a regular
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Woman admitted club glass attack
WHEN police arrested the wrong woman for a nightclub attack, her friend walked up and told officers: "I did it", a court was told yesterday. Even the victim had named the wrong attacker until mother-of-two Kelly Preston, 21, made her confession said David
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Krazy goings-on celebrate summertime
A DARLINGTON shopping centre was immersed in a sea of balloons and bubbles yesterday, thanks to the antics of Kellar and His Krazy Kart. The entertainer launched Queen Street's Jubilee Summer of Fun, a series of performers entertaining children until
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Jail term for clerk who stole £200,000
HIGH-ROLLER Martin Howe bought drinks for everyone at his local pub after stealing more than £200,000 from work, a court was told yesterday. The 26-year-old wore an expensive watch and diamond ring and went on exotic holidays, but in real life was a £5
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News in brief: Driver hurt as car overturns
POLICE ARE appealing for witnesses to an accident involving a Renault Clio, which overturned on the B1280, between Station Town and the A19, after the driver swerved to avoid a fox. Philip Powell, 29, from Trimdon Station, fractured a number of vertebrae
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Matalan pledges jobs boost
DISCOUNT fashion retail chain Matalan yesterday confirmed the extent of its commitment to expansion in the region. At least 130 of the 2,200 jobs it has pledged to create in the country this year will come to the North-East. In a move that will boost
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No cut in jail term after '20 assaults'
A MAN who subjected his former lover to a prolonged and horrifying ordeal of humiliation and beatings has failed to have his four-year jail term cut. Andrew John Fennon, 31, Banfields Road, Eston, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court
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Report warns NHS changes may fail
The former Chief Medical Officer - now a North-East academic - has accused the Department of Health of ignoring warnings about reforms for reforms' sake. The Government's plans for modernising are "at risk of failing" because of the constant changes to
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Abbey habit . . .
The National Trust people is inviting people to don a monk's robes and learn some monastic crafts at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, on August 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. The events will be held at the Swanley Grange Activity Base.
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'Reservoir is not safe place for swimming'
PARENTS are being urged to warn their children about the dangers of swimming in a Hartlepool reservoir. Police and water company officials fear children will be drawn to Hart Reservoir during spells of warm weather. PC Jim Blackwell, of Hartlepool police
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Comment: Virgin on the ridiculous
THE latest detour in the bizarre world of rail privatisation suggests that our rail network is no longer primarily concerned with shuttling passengers safely from A to B, but is more interested in shuttling vast sums of money from the taxpayer directly
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Children's Summer reading scheme is out of this world
A READING scheme with a planetary theme was launched in Middlesbrough yesterday (July 22). Youngsters taking part in the summer scheme - part of a national campaign to encourage children to read - each receive a frieze of an imaginary planet. Every time
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Flower show host to the Thyme Machine
SUNDERLAND City Council's social services department is entering a "thyme machine" made out of herbs in a flower show this weekend. Bishopwearmouth Horticultural Nursery, run by the department and attended by adults with learning difficulties, has incorporated
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General manager appointed after council shake-up
A PUBLIC servant has emerged as the central figure at a council after the fourth major reorganisation in little over a decade. Mike Clark, will receive a pay rise of £10,000 to earn £79,000 a year after taking charge of more services at Derwentside District
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District will have the final say
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a conference and exhibition centre on the outskirts of Pickering is to be decided by Ryedale District Council. They are to make the final decision because members of the authority's northern area planning committee overturned
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Jonny's chance to turn on the magic
Magician Paul Daniels had better watch out - firefighter Jonny is learning some new tricks inside the Big Brother house The final four have been set a mini-task by Big Brother to keep them busy during their last days together. They have to master a variety
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Ex-marine fights on for Falklands War veterans
A FORMER Royal Marine is to set up a charity to help veterans of the Falklands conflict. Colin Waite, from Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, who served on HMS Fearless during the war, claims that veterans of the conflict are not given enough support
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'Sex offenders are not all monsters'
A pioneering scheme claims an astonishing success rate in stopping sex criminals from reoffending. Nick Morrison asks a paedophile how it has made him a better person. IT is only on the way up the stairs that I resolve the dilemma that has been lingering
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Agricultural society appoints new president
THE Yorkshire Agricultural Society, the organisation behind the annual Great Yorkshire Show, has appointed a new president. Farmer and landowner John Henderson has taken over from Peter Smith as the society's figurehead. As president his role is to represent
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Union concern over Labour Party staff
UNION leaders concerned about staff cuts at the Labour Party's regional offices have written to the Government for clarification. The GMB has become increasingly concerned that, as the party's finances dip, more staff may lose their jobs at the Millbank
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Academy of talent selects young Zoe
SCARBOROUGH schoolgirl Zoe Bruce has been selected to study at university - at just 15. She is one of only a handful of gifted youngsters nationwide to be selected for the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youths' first summer venture aimed at encouraging
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Clergy threatened by pensions deficit
CONGREGATIONS in the York Diocese are being warned that unless parishes raise more money they could lose their vicar. Canon Francis Hewitt, Rural Dean of Pickering, said the diocese needed an extra £160,000 for pensions for its clergy. Some parishes are
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News in brief: Manor house joy for owners
OWNERS of a fortified manor house who threw open their doors to the public for the first time have been amazed by the response. Hundreds of visitors descended on Markenfield Hall, near Ripon, and its opening was such a success that it will be repeated
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High praise for children working for safer estate
YOUNGSTERS are helping to make their neighbourhoods safer by getting involved in a task force. The Pennywell Junior Task Force meets every week-night in the Old Neighbourhood Centre, Pennywell, in Sunderland, where members take part in exercises and games
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News in brief: Driver hurt as car overturns
POLICE ARE appealing for witnesses to an accident involving a Renault Clio, which overturned on the B1280, between Station Town and the A19, after the driver swerved to avoid a fox. Philip Powell, 29, from Trimdon Station, fractured a number of vertebrae
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Farm markets reap rewards
A FARMERS' market that was launched to help the fight back after last year's foot-and-mouth crisis has proved so successful it is planning a major expansion. Local farmers have been selling their home-grown produce at a monthly market in Richmond for
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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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Window cleaner shines at shopping centre
A WINDOW cleaning business has a brighter outlook since securing a shopping centre contract. Royale Window Cleaners has had the window cleaning contract at Durham's Prince Bishops shopping centre since it opened four years ago, during which its owner
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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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Battles of the synchronised swimmer
Chief Sports Writer Steven Baker has been talking to North-East athletes who will be heading across the Pennines in the hope of returning with medals from the Commonwealth Games which start in Manchester in two days time. With a fortnight of sporting
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News in brief: Driver hurt as car overturns
POLICE ARE appealing for witnesses to an accident involving a Renault Clio, which overturned on the B1280, between Station Town and the A19, after the driver swerved to avoid a fox. Philip Powell, 29, from Trimdon Station, fractured a number of vertebrae
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Rain fails to stop play in cup rerun
KOREA were the winners of Teesside's mini-World Cup tournament held last week. Twenty teams of year five and six children from primary schools across Teesside took part in the event at Southlands Leisure Centre, Middlesbrough, with each adopting the name
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Medals haul for athletes
YOUNGSTERS from Stockton are celebrating after shining at the Teesside Sport Partnership Youth Games. The two-day event, which included swimming, tennis, basketball, cricket, rugby and netball. Sports for disabled athletes included swimming, boccia -
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Club event fires up heart charity funds
A VILLAGE gun club has been praised for its charity fundraising efforts. The Shadforth Valley Shoot staged a clay pigeon shoot and barbecue that raised £2,830 for the British Heart Foundation. During the event, novices were taught how to shoot, by experienced
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More injury problems as Gough pulls out of Test
Darren Gough will be out of action for at least another fortnight after breaking down in the Roses match and then pulling out of the first Test against India which begins on Thursday. And after being told of the news England contacted Yorkshire coach
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Dabate over Dales' housing boundaries
A new bus service between Teesdale and Darlington begins this Saturday. Service 70, operated by Go North East under contract to Durham County Council, will link Barnard Castle to Darlington Memorial Hospital and the town centre. The five times a day,
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Schoolgirl wins battle to wear trousers
A 14-year-old schoolgirl has won a memorable victory over her school in a battle to wear trousers in class. Katie Hunter took on St Robert of Newminster School claiming it was discriminating against girls with its policy forcing girls to wear skirts.
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Police chief is to blame, says report
A NORTH-East Chief Constable could face disciplinary action after a damning report heavily criticised him for his part in the circulation of sexual rumours about a female police clerk. An independent inquiry was launched after Hartlepool police station
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Sights set on international future for literary festival
ORGANISERS of an annual literary festival hope to turn it into a major international event following the success of this year's outing. Since it began 13 years ago, the Durham Literature Festival has attracted big-name authors and poets from throughout
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Quakers' photo show a hit
An exhibition celebrating the history of Darlington's football stadium has proved a huge success. Hundreds of Quaker fans have been wallowing in nostalgia, in the first week of the Farewell to Feethams exhibition at the town's Arts Centre. Around 4,000
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Quakers rule out move for striker Foran
DARLINGTON have denied rumours linking them with Carlisle striker Richie Foran after speculation suggested the Irish striker was on his way to Feethams. Quakers would like to add to their strike force and several trialists have already thrown their hat
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Seminars aim to improve oil storage safety
A SERIES of seminars to educate businesses on safe storage in the oil industry are to be held by the Environment Agency. The agency receives more calls about incidents of oil pollution than any other substance and hopes to educate businesses about better
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Angels with faces appear from the past
GROUP photographs depicting the heroic Aycliffe Angels munitions workers have been donated to The Northern Echo for the benefit of the public. The family of Ruth Barker, who worked with wages in the stores at the County Durham factory, want former Angels
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WIN! a revolutionary hair removal treatment
From manicures to the lastest hair removal techniques, the Beauty Spot offers a wide range of treatments. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. TUCKED away in a little courtyard in the centre of Durham City, The Beauty Spot isn't the easiest place to
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Officer criticises force for not prosecuting suspect
A police officer has criticised detectives for failing to prosecute a man she says her husband caught breaking into his car. Northumbria Police officer Caroline McArdle has spoken of her disbelief that the man had not been charged. Craig McArdle from
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Region's golfers fail The Open test
DID you enjoy The Open? So did the North-East's top golfers. Whether sat in their favourite armchair or propping up the bar at their local clubhouse, they had a great view of the enthralling play-off. There were 156 players in The Open - and none of them
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Bricklayers, Barnard Castle, £7.80ph, 30hrs pw plus. Must be time-served. Ref: BAJ 4490. Security officer, Stanhope, £4.10ph, 40hrs pw, age 21- plus, transport essential
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Domestic assistant, Leeming Bar. £4.35 to £4.50ph, 8am to 1pm, Mon-Fri, temporary, 2-3 months. Required to clean nursing home. Must have own transport if not local
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Cook/chef, Yarm. £6.20ph, 30hrs pw-plus, 5 days out of 7. Basic food hygiene certificate desirable but not essential. Transport essential due to location. Ref: STC
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Huge crowds expected at Orange fest
Crowds of more than 30,000 are expected to attend the seventh annual Orange Darlington Festival. There will be a variety of free entertainment in Darlington town centre during the late August Bank Holiday weekend. street theatre, tribute bands and musicians
