Archive
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No hockey, jolly or otherwise
ST TRINIAN'S was no laughing matter for Miss Catherine Fraser Lee. She was founder and head teacher of St Trinnean's, the Edinburgh girls' school upon which Ronald Searle's original cartoons and the subsequent films were based, and several times threatened
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Bid to trace owners of stolen stereos
POLICE hope to trace the owners of stolen car stereos recovered in a series of swoops in the area. Detectives have seized a number of items, including 14 CD players, from homes in and around Spennymoor, near Bishop Auckland, this summer. They are hoping
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York date for Quakers reserves
Darlington's reserves will begin their season by sending a strong team to York City this afternoon. All but two of the starting XI have first team experience as the Quakers' second string kick-off their season at the Minstermen. Chris Porter, Clark Keltie
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Steve gets his face in the picture in Hula Hoops advertising campaign
THE man Hula Hoops "plucked" from obscurity to become the face of the snack brand has visited the region as part of the firm's efforts to make him one of the most memorable faces in the country. Steve Thelfall, 20, the star of this bizarre marketing campaign
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Plea in hunt for mother's killer
POLICE hunting the killer of a former North-East woman are trying to piece together her last movements. Lorraine Turner, 37, originally of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was found dead with head injuries by her son, Jordan, ten, and daughter, Jasmine
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Grassroots: Crook
NEW NURSERY: Emerald Nursery, which has been awarded neighbourhood nursery status by County Durham Early Years and Children's Partnership, will open soon at Manor House, North Terrace, Crook. For further details call Ms Veitch on (01388) 767300. OFFICE
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Decision leads to appeal
THE decision to refuse planning permission for an extension at a North Kilvington farm is to go to an appeal. Mr and Mrs I Parry want to alter and extend an existing dwelling at the Old Byre, Quorndon Farm. Hambleton councillors said the application went
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Chester-le-Street, Birtley and District
STREET FUN: Shoppers in Chester-le-Street town centre can see Uncle Alf Ballonology between 11am and noon on Saturday. TENNIS TOURNey: Bournmoor Tennis Club is staging the sixth Chester-le-Street Open Tennis Tournament on Saturday, from 10am. SPORT TRAINING
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Free event welcomes jet ski fans
WATER sport fans from around the country will be converging on the North-East at the weekend for a round of the National GP Jet Ski Championships. The competition takes place on Saturday and Sunday, between 10am and 4pm, at the Tees Barrage, near Stockton
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Fairy tale trip for youngsters is booked up
TODDLERS from Stockton are taking a fairy tale trip to Nature's World later this month. The youngsters will dress up as their favourite story characters, using masks, paints and costumes. They will then take their fancy dress tour round the centre to
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Women prove age to be no barrier
A GROUP of women are proving people can achieve what they want at any age. The women, who are between 30 and 72, are part of a painting and drawing class at the South Bank Women's Centre and are well on their way to gaining the National Certificate of
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Oxbridge-bound with a clutch of A grades
TWO students are heading for the country's oldest universities after achieving top marks. Robert Griffiths and Catherine Salkeld, both pupils at St Bede's in Lanchester, County Durham, scored a total of seven A grades between them. Robert, 18, is looking
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News in brief: Healthy lifestyle course lined up
CIRCUS SKILLS, salsa dancing and yoga are on offer during an eight-week healthy lifestyle course starting next month. The course, which is available for anyone over the age of 16 and costs £18, runs every Monday from September 23 to November 11 at the
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Rebel Stockton councillors seek breakaway authority
Rebel councillors who launched a bitter attack on Stockton Council's Labour group have been branded "cheap politicians" by its leader. The authority's Labour leader Bob Gibson came out fighting after receiving a letter from 11 councillors in neighbouring
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Nurse in porn case suspended
A YOUNG nurse has been suspended from his duties after he downloaded thousands of indecent pictures of children from the Internet. North Durham Health Care NHS Trust are now waiting the outcome of court proceedings where Lee Wright faces 12 charges of
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Rise and fall of a proud monument
IT was time for bed. "Pack away your toys," said the giant's mother. The giant could not be bothered. As he flicked off the light in the playroom and pulled the door closed behind him, he just kicked at the top of his tall brick tower. The tower wobbled
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Volunteers set to drive ambulances
Volunteer members of the public are to go behind the wheels of new ambulances and respond to 999 emergency calls in a unique scheme launched in the region yesterday. The revolutionary "Yorlife" Community Response Scheme being pioneered in Wensleydale,
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Footballer's infant son dies
A grief-stricken Premiership soccer star found his baby son dead in his sleep yesterday. Sunderland's Jody Craddock and wife Shelley were "inconsolable" at their home after making the horrifying discovery in the early hours of the morning. Four-month-old
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Prize for recruit
A BISHOP Auckland soldier has landed one of the Army's top honours. Private Craig Patterson has been awarded the prize for best recruit, which recognises the person who has performed to the highest standards throughout their recruitment course. The award
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Durham wait on skipper's fitness test
DURHAM skipper Jon Lewis will decide this morning whether he is fit to resume at his home club, Colchester, but there is no place for their other former Essex man, Danny Law. Durham desperately need Lewis back against the third-placed hosts, who will
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Decision-day looms for Boro
MIDDLESBROUGH face a crunch decision over cruciate-victim Juninho this week which could have a crucial bearing on their season. The Brazilian star, out until the New Year at least after damaging his left knee in a low-profile pre-season tournament in
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Bee-eaters go live on Web
A NEST camera is beaming live video pictures to twitchers eager to see the first pair of bee-eaters in the UK for almost 50 years. Birdwatchers from around the country have descended on Bishop Middleham, Sedgefield, to watch the birds, which recently
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Plans for driving range approved
A NEW golf driving range will open in Bishop Auckland by the end of the year after councillors approved plans for the site. Proposals for the 14-bay range at Flatts Farm were granted permission by Wear Valley District Council's development control committee
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Police set to patrol roads during holiday weekend
Specialist teams of police officers will be patrolling North Yorkshire's road over the Bank Holiday weekend in an effort to save lives. Operation Victory is aimed at reducing the toll of motorcycle road deaths in the county _ which so far stands at 20
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Speed fear parents urge crackdown
WORRIED parents are calling on Darlington Borough Council to clamp down on speeding traffic. People in the Lascelles Park area are fed-up with cars and motorcycles racing through the streets and putting youngsters at risk. They say that some drivers go
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Residents demand council chief's resignation
A new political group, set up by disgruntled residents, has voted to demand the head of the chief executive of a North Yorkshire district council. Around 40 people turned up at a public meeting arranged by the Richmondshire Association of Council Tax
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We must allow children their freedom
IT'S WHY we have fairy stories. Nowadays we think of them as something sweet and saccharin to send our children off to sleep. But originally they must have had a much darker motive - to frighten children into staying safe. Nothing in fairy stories is
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Life of tip extended
Planners have agreed to extend the life of a waste tip that was briefly used for burying foot-and-mouth carcasses. Dumping at the former Chapman's Well opencast site near Annfield Plain should have finished in June. But the operation was interrupted in
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Road diversion 'will aid safety'
RESIDENTS living near Darlington's largest ever housing development have been told changes to roads in the area will make it a safer place to live. People in Faverdale, near to the new West Park development, have been sent detailed plans of proposed changes
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Gadfly: No Hockey, jolly or otherwise
ST TRINIAN'S was no laughing matter for Miss Catherine Fraser Lee. She was founder and head teacher of St Trinnean's, the Edinburgh girls' school upon which Ronald Searle's original cartoons and the subsequent films were based, and several times threatened
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Beginners learn to make a joyful noise
AMATEUR and professional musicians joined forces at the weekend as part of a family music event. Beginners of all ages were helped on their first steps to music-making in a relaxed and fun atmosphere at Darlington's Arts Centre. Workshops included making
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Skaters celebrate as work begins on £22,000 facility
WORK has started on a £22,000 skateboard and BMX park for youngsters in Chester-le-Street. Enthusiasts worked with Chester-le-Street District Council on the plans for the facility at the town's Riverside Sports Complex and it is due to open on Saturday
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Couple discover air raid shelter in garden
A couple will be forced to shell out thousands of pounds in repairs after discovering an air raid shelter buried in their back garden. Pauline Middleton and husband Bryan, moved into their new home in Brankin Drive, in the town, three months ago. The
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Policewoman earns praise
A POLICE sergeant from Spennymoor has been awarded a commendation by Durham Police chief constable George Hedges. Sgt Sue Robinson, 32, was praised for her part in tackling a firearms incident in May, when she was a police constable based at Peterlee.
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Grant finances CCTV expansion
THE successful CCTV system in Darlington is set to be extended to new areas of the town thanks to a Home Office grant. From September, 12 new screens will be operational in the control room in Darlington's town hall. These screens will ensure that footage
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Vandals target floral displays
VANDALS who destroyed an award-winning flower bed have been condemned by a village mayor. Floral displays in Sedgefield are regularly attacked by drunken youths each weekend. The latest incident, which is being investigated by police, happened at the
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Vandals target floral displays
VANDALS who destroyed an award-winning flower bed have been condemned by a village mayor. Floral displays in Sedgefield are regularly attacked by drunken youths each weekend. The latest incident, which is being investigated by police, happened at the
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Council under fire over dining out
DURHAM County Council was under fire last night after details emerged of a dinner for cabinet members at a four star hotel. Ten councillors from the authority, including leader Ken Manton, are attending The Marriott Royal County Hotel on Thursday to "
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Support urged as fund hits first target
AN appeal to secure the future of a run-down town hall is in need of more support, despite taking a vital step closer to reaching its second-phase target. The Witham Hall Appeal Committee aims to raise about £5m in order refurbish the community centre
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Time running out to get in the running
Only one month remains for companies with under 500 employees to enter this year's CBI Growing Business Awards. Organised annually in partnership with Real Business magazine, the awards recognise entrepreneurial talent in the UK. This year's ceremony,
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News in brief: Thieves target caravans
CROOK POLICE are urging caravan owners to take extra care after a spate of thefts in Weardale this summer. Touring caravans have been regularly targeted as thieves remove wheel clamps and towing hitches. Anyone who sees anything suspicious is asked to
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Get on register or risk £100 fine
SELF-EMPLOYED people who fail to register their status with the Inland Revenue, within the first three months of setting up their business, could be liable for a fine of £100, warns the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Alan Hynd,
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Regulations blamed for fewer animals at shows
REGULATIONS still in force following last year's foot-and-mouth outbreak continue to affect agriculture shows in the North-East. Shows which have been staged in Weardale, for more than 100 years, will go ahead in the next few weeks, but with depleted
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Man admits weapons
A man has admitted being armed with two deadly weapons in a North-East street. Anthony Manston, 29, yesterday pleaded guilty to having a cosh and a knife with a 5in blade at Sea Road, South Shields, on August 19, last year. He was granted bail to Bentick
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Heroin addicts are locked up for crime spree
A GANG of heroin addicts who threatened terrified shop staff with syringes during a four-day crime spree have been put behind bars. They targeted women working alone in Hartlepool, and stole trays of lager and sweets, said Shaun Dodds, prosecuting at
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Quest for lost relative
A FAMILY from Portsmouth is hoping that the people of Richmond will be able to help them to find a long-lost relative. Keith Newman only found out he had an uncle on his mother's side recently. She had always been loath to discuss her family's background
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Guitarist Pete aids club's big night
BUDDING star Pete Shoulder is to help his local social club by appearing at a centenary night celebration at the weekend. The 18-year-old guitarist will perform a solo acoustic set, featuring a range of cover material, at Saturday's party night at the
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News in brief: Anyone for skating?
A TEMPORARY skate park will open on the tennis courts in Exhibition Park, Newcastle, from Saturday until Monday. City council officers hope that in between pulling off daredevil tricks and stunts, the skate boarders, BMX bike riders and in-line skaters
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Kazzia will make Dettori the Duke of York
OCCASIONAL race-goers puzzled by the ever-increasing absence of Frankie Dettori from all but the major meetings will be glad to hear the chirpy Italian is fit and well, and on duty at York today. Rather than charge around the country like a deranged lunatic
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Congregation gives verdict on leadership at cathedral
A STEADY stream of letters have been arriving at a bishop's administrative headquarters ever since he invited the public to deliver their verdict on the leadership at one of the region's cathedrals. The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Methuen, has
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Comment: United in face of tragedy
THERE are many times when it is easy to think of the world as a divided place, with bitterness, rivalry, and suspicion setting countries and their people apart. But, occasionally, something happens which provides a welcome reminder that compassion and
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Woman killed in crossroads crash
A woman died and two others were seriously injured in a two-car crash at a remote country crossroads. They were travelling in a grey Ford Fiesta which collided with a black Isuzu Trooper at the Thornton Watlass crossroads, on the B6268 Bedale to Masham
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Stage is set for young wannabes
AMATEUR performers are invited to take to the stage this weekend as part of the Orange Darlington Festival. Alpha 103.2 is hosting the annual talent competition at the festival, which runs throughout the Bank Holiday weekend. Young performers will show
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Students celebrate success
WHEN friends Nicola Kerr and Lisa Plews were told they may not be able to take A levels they were determined to prove that they could. The two 19-year-olds left Wolsingham School and Community College with one GCSE each and the idea of them going on to
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Area declared alcohol-free to combat anti-social youths
SHOPKEEPERS and elderly residents who live in terror of drunken youths have welcomed Middlesbrough's first alcohol-free zone. Middlesbrough MP Ashok Kumar yesterday declared the grassy square outside the Broughton Avenue shops, on Broughton Avenue, Easterside
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£6m scheme blocked in Soccerdome row
DARLINGTON businessman Duncan Bannatyne has put plans for a new £6m head office and health club on hold in a row over plans for a Soccerdome complex. The chairman and founder of Bannatyne Fitness last night revealed exclusively to The Northern Echo that
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Kabul death soldier's body returned to UK
THE body of a North Yorkshire soldier, who died of gunshot wounds while on peace-keeping duties in Afghan- istan, has been returned to the UK. Corporal John Gregory, aged 30, of the Royal Logistic Corps, died near Kabul airport in what was described as
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News in brief: Police warn of bogus callers
THIEVES stole a substantial amount of cash from an elderly woman in Northallerton last Friday. A man who had earlier attempted to trick his way into her home by posing as a water board official was among a group who broke in and stole money. Police warned
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Excitement and controversy rage over bid to develop massive sports centre
PLANS to develop a major centre for the development of football on the outskirts of Darlington have created a mixture of excitement and controversy since being unveiled by The Northern Echo yesterday. The excitement comes from the potential for a host
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Police appeal to catch school vandals
POLICE are appealing for local residents to help them catch a group of drunken vandals who attacked a primary school. The vandals ripped off guttering, smashed windows, tore bins of walls and kicked fencing down at North Road Primary School, in Darlington
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Display combines ancient and modern
MODERN technology and old books have come together as part of a display about the Bible. The Bible Exhibition, organised by the Christadelphians, is at Darlington's Dolphin Centre. Graphics, photography, videos, models and computers give an up-to-date
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Spennymoor School's high achievers
STUDENTS at Spennymoor School surpassed expectations when they collected their A level results last week. Overall the school recorded one of its best set of results, with a 100 per cent pass rate in five subjects at AS level and ten A level subjects.
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When dinosaurs ruled the coast
AN amazing reminder of the age when dinosaurs roamed the earth is the latest exhibit at a showpiece National Trust venue. Dinosaur tracks, thought to be 175 millions years old, were discovered four years ago at a secret location on the North Yorkshire
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Vandals break into church
VANDALS have broken into a village church causing substantial damage. Sometime between August 14 and 16, vandals broke into Stainton Parish Church, on the outskirts of Middlesbrough, via the bell tower and extensive damage was caused to the church roof
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News in brief: Teacher faces photo charges
A TEACHER appeared in court yesterday accused of nine counts of making an indecent photograph of a child. Andrew Guffick, 33, whose address was given in court as Commercial Street, Ferryhill Station, County Durham, faces allegations which date between
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Climbing characters to act off the wall
A PLAY about four rock climbers is to be performed at an indoor climbing wall in Newton Aycliffe. The play, to be performed on the Rock Antics wall at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, tells the story of four climbers, one from the 19th century, one a 1930s
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Society founder celebrates 80th
ONE of the founders of a branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society will celebrate his 80th birthday this weekend. Leonard Palmer, of Strawgate Grove, Darlington, helped form the Cleveland branch of the society in 1981, which he is now chairman of, after
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Caretakers on the move
THE West Middlesbrough Community Caretakers have moved to new premises in an attempt to offer a better service for residents. The £2.9m scheme, funded by the West Middlesbrough New Deal for Communities (NDC) Partnership, is designed to cut crime and the
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Family forced to flee farm inferno
AN investigation will continue today into a massive blaze forced a family to flee their home and stretched firefighters to the limit. Sixty firefighters from across North Yorkshire were called in during the early hours of yesterday morning to tackle the
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We must allow children their freedom
IT'S WHY we have fairy stories. Nowadays we think of them as something sweet and saccharin to send our children off to sleep. But originally they must have had a much darker motive - to frighten children into staying safe. Nothing in fairy stories is
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Last Night's TV: The Ship (BBC2)
Climbing over the futtocks. ANYONE hoping for this new six-part series to be The Frontier House at sea will be sorely disappointed. Director Chris Terrill didn't want to make one of those living history docu-soaps in which modern day folk have to live
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Ecstasy victim's dad tells of anguish
THE father of a promising young footballer who died a year ago after taking Ecstasy told yesterday how he was still "reeling in disbelief". Former York City player Gordon Staniforth also spoke of his determination to continue highlighting the perils of
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Success for young mum
YOUNG mother Lisa Miles has successfully juggled bringing up a baby while sitting an Advanced GNVQ in Health and Social Care. The 19-year-old, who attended Wolsingham School and Community College, found out she was expecting in year 11 but decided to
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Mortgage lending climbs to another record height
MORTGAGE lending set another record last month as consumers continued to make the most of low interest rates, figures showed yesterday. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said gross lending by banks and building societies reached £21.8bn in July, an
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Striking rail staff reject 7% rise offer
UNION bosses have rejected a new pay offer aimed at ending the long-running conductors dispute on Arriva Trains Northern. The Rail Maritime and Transport Workers union said no to what would have amounted to a seven per cent basic rise, split over two
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Airman joins the march
A BISHOP Auckland airman fought fatigue and struggled against sore limbs for more than a 100 miles in one of Europe's largest walking event. Senior Aircraftsman Andy Wilson, of the RAF Regiment, whose father John still lives in the town, was part of the
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Recognition for Jackie
A COMMUNITY newspaper has been named runner-up in the publication of the year category of a national competition. Richmondshire District Council's twice-yearly newspaper was also second in the community involvement category and third for photography and
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Castle restoration agreed
THE remains of a 700-year-old castle are to be saved after a two-year wrangle between town councillors and English Heritage. Kirkbymoorside Town Council was told by the agency that Neville Castle was on the Buildings at Risk register, and thousands of
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New scheme is attacked
A NEW recycling scheme introduced in Thirsk and Sowerby has been criticised by residents. A meeting of Sowerby Parish Council heard that elderly people and people living in terraced properties were having difficulties with the wheeled bins. Councillor
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Big guns star in armoured displays
A DISPLAY this weekend of armoured might heralds the start of 30th birthday celebrations for the region's military vehicle enthusiasts. The North-East Military Vehicle Club was formed in 1972 and the following year staged the first of what has become
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Hannah bids for national team
A 14-year-old girl has won the chance to challenge for a place in the national hockey team. At the end of the month Hannah Baker, from Crook, will take part in a national assessment camp for players from the North of England. It follows her participation
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Bowls qualifiers draw top players
TOP indoor bowls players arrive in the North-East next month for a major event. The World Bowls Tour and Professional Bowls Association's national qualifiers take place in Stanley Indoor Bowls Centre, from September 15 to 22. More than 200 competitors
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Walkers' milestone
A Teesside rambling club is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a dinner this year. Stockton Rambling Club, formed in 1952, has planned the celebrations for October. The club, which now has about 250 members, holds regular Sunday walks, as well as weekly
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News in brief: Anyone for skating?
A TEMPORARY skate park will open on the tennis courts in Exhibition Park, Newcastle, from Saturday until Monday. City council officers hope that in between pulling off daredevil tricks and stunts, the skate boarders, BMX bike riders and in-line skaters
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Robson's nagging keeps LuaLua on right track
NEWCASTLE United skipper Alan Shearer has revealed how Sir Bobby Robson's constant nagging is increasing Lomana LuaLua's Premiership nuisance value. LuaLua triggered a goals rush at St. James' Park on Monday when he struck twice as Newcastle stormed to
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Magpies' young guns impress Roeder
GLENN Roeder reckons Newcastle United's young tyros will give Alan Shearer his elusive first piece of St James' silverware. At 32, Shearer is the head prefect in Sir Bobby Robson's footballing nursery that is growing up fast in the Premiership cauldron
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Boost for housing charity
A CHARITY has received a boost in its campaign to help the homeless. The Cleveland Housing Advice Centre (CHAC) helped 3,700 people last year with issues ranging from housing rights and benefits to debt, eviction and repossession. It also negotiates with
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News in brief: Healthy lifestyle course lined up
CIRCUS SKILLS, salsa dancing and yoga are on offer during an eight-week healthy lifestyle course starting next month. The course, which is available for anyone over the age of 16 and costs £18, runs every Monday from September 23 to November 11 at the
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Get ready for festival of fun
POP acts and circus performers will be on stage this weekend as part of the Orange Darlington Festival. The festival will be opened in Darlington market square at 7pm on Saturday by Paul 'Goffy' Gough from Century FM and will end on Monday night with
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Council saves the day for soccer team
YOUNGSTERS in Shildon are able to continue to play football after a council stepped in to replace stolen goal nets. Last week children from the town's junior football club were devastated when thieves ransacked their storage hut, taking four goal nets
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Boxing clever over post-16 options
LIKE thousands of youngsters across the country, Denis West is hoping that the white slip of paper he collects from school tomorrow will bring him good news. The computer print-out will not only encapsulate the hard work of the past two years leading
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Residents demand council chief's resignation
Three major athletics events are being held in Bishop Auckland this weekend. The New Balance Running Fitness road race will take place on Sunday morning, based in the beautiful grounds of Auckland Castle, home to the Bishop of Durham. A record number
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Not just one law for the Royals but several
IT is astonishing how Royalty manages to sidestep laws that affect everyone else. A matter that is becoming of widespread concern is the capital gains tax paid on homes worth more than £250,000. Any glance at the property pages of local papers will reveal
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I thought I would die - dog attack boy
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy last night relived the moment when he thought he was going to die after being savaged by a dog. Sean Young was speaking from his hospital bed as he recovered from an operation to repair his shattered wrist. The youngster was playing
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Reid continues hunt for Phillips' partner
PETER Reid's proposed £6.2m move for Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was in jeopardy last night. Seven weeks after Leeds United forward Robbie Keane rejected a move to Sunderland, Ibrahimovic revealed he did not want to leave Ajax. And Reid was also
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Lost art works uncovered
Previously lost works of art by one of the region's most celebrated and respected 19th Century portrait painters have been uncovered more than a century after his death. Three paintings by Clement Burlison, who was born in Middleton-in-Teesdale, County
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Tykes hope White will be big hit in C&G final
Although Craig White misses the Headingley Test match tomorrow because of a side strain, Yorkshire are hoping to play him in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy Final on August 31 purely as a batsman. "The plan is to pick Craig for the Championship match
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Shop creche may shut
PARENTS have reacted with dismay over the news that Safeway may lose its creche. The supermarket on Victoria Road in Darlington is undergoing a 30-day consultation period, during which the company will decide how best to use the floorspace within the
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No buses to MetroCentre
SHOPPERS have been warned that a cancelled bus route to the Metro Centre is unlikely to be restarted. Last week it was revealed that Stagecoach NorthEast had cancelled its daily X90 service from Darlington to Newcastle and the Metro Centre for financial
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'NHS should fund weight loss camps'
THE mother of an obese teenager who lost nearly seven stones has urged the NHS to fund more weight loss summer camps across the UK. Thirty-three stone Colin Ord, from Seaham, County Durham, is now down to 26st 3lbs after attending a camp near Leeds. Obesity
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Hoping to put rail back on track
RAIL enthusiasts have organised a touring exhibition which opened in County Durham last week. Maps, model trains, photographs and old British Rail uniforms all feature in the display, for which railway heritage organisations throughout the county pooled
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Path cleared for town centre pub
WORK can begin next month on a new £1.2m pub development in Darlington after magistrates gave the scheme the go-ahead. The JD Wetherspoon pub chain will undertake a major redevelopment of buildings on Crown Street to form a new bar, which will be due
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Carnival bounces back with a bang after fears of collapse
A LONG-RUNNING charity carnival, which looked set to be abandoned only a year ago, is returning on the bank holiday weekend. Hopes for the popular event being staged again in Northallerton were fading last year after the resignation of several key committee
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Harry - 24 Sharratt gold
HARRY Sharratt, the man who proved that if you didn't have to be mad to be a goalkeeper, it was certainly a very considerable advantage, has died suddenly, aged 71. "He was just a nut, a total bloody idiot," says Derek Lewin, his friend and former team-mate
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Echo Memories: Rise and fall of a proud monument
IT was time for bed. "Pack away your toys," said the giant's mother. The giant could not be bothered. As he flicked off the light in the playroom and pulled the door closed behind him, he just kicked at the top of his tall brick tower. The tower wobbled
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Residents want traffic-calming
RESIDENTS in Darlington are petitioning the council to slow down racing traffic on their estate to protect their children. Christopher Noble, of Moulton Way, is hoping to collect at least 40 signatures from residents in the Lascelles Park area to send
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Sage lays foundations for new HQ and 500 more jobs
A MAJOR company yesterday pledged its long-term future to the region - which could lead to about 500 new jobs. Bosses at international accounting and software giant the Sage Group laid the foundations for the firm's new group headquarters in Newcastle
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Town hosts road race
BISHOP Auckland is set to host three major athletics events this weekend. The New Balance Running Fitness road race will take place on Sunday morning, based in the grounds of Auckland Castle. A record number of more than 800 runners will take part in
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Cook Lyn takes title
SPICY Weardale lamb served with cous-cous and a plum chutney followed by sticky apple sponge with a fruity coulis has proved to be a winning combination for school cook Lyn Pearson. Miss Pearson from Wolsingham Primary School matched her culinary skills
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Bid to trace owners of stolen stereos
POLICE hope to trace the owners of stolen car stereos recovered in a series of swoops in the area. Detectives have seized a number of items, including 14 CD players, from homes in and around Spennymoor, near Bishop Auckland, this summer. They are hoping
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Ombudsman agrees to second Neale case inquiry
THE Legal Services Ombudsman has agreed to carry out a second investigation into complaints made against the barrister who defended disgraced surgeon Richard Neale. Angry victims objected to allegedly aggressive cross-examination by Malcolm Fortune, at
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Wildlife reserve gets £177,000 boost
A WILDLIFE reserve near a Darlington housing estate is due to benefit from an extra £177,000 investment. Darlington councillors yesterday approved plans for more work to be carried out at Firthmoor grasslands, which has been managed as a nature reserve
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Children's nursery to be sold as home
A POPULAR nursery will be turned into a private home when it closes next month. Bakers House Day Nursery, in Staindrop, County Durham has been sold exactly a year after it was put up for sale. The owner of the property, Elaine Johnston, has given staff
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£6m plan scrapped in 'dome' bust-up
A BUSINESSMAN last night pulled out of a proposed £6m sports development in Darlington after a proposals for a rival project were revealed. Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, founder of Bannatyne Fitness, said he was on the verge of signing a deal to buy
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Children learn to reconstruct history bit by bit
YOUNG visitors to Hadrian's Wall have proved that Rome can be built in a day. Youngsters have been creating their own Roman towns, thanks to a scheme at the Corbridge Roman Site, Northumberland. Brightly-coloured wooden blocks are used to replicate seven
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Lovers charged over Soham girls' deaths
School caretaker Ian Huntley was last night in a secure hospital charged with murdering ten-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. His girlfriend, Maxine Carr, 25, a former teaching assistant in the Cambridgeshire girls' class, was last night charged
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Roger rides high in the US
CHAMPION unicyclist Roger Davies hears the same joke from his two-wheeled rivals all the time - "Where's your other wheel?" But instead of his usual response - "Get rid of your stabiliser" - he can now boast that he is a world champion. The 38-year-old
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Vagrant stabbed 17 times by car park torturers
A VAGRANT survived a savage torture ordeal which left him with 17 stab wounds. Homeless Lee English, 21, was conned into getting into a car with three men, who took him to a deserted car park, where they stabbed, slashed and stamped on him. He was left
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Raising the pure air standard
A PROJECT that encourages businesses to introduce smoke-free areas is proving to be a breath of fresh air. More than 130 businesses signed up to the latest Sunderland Smoke Free Air Guide, now in its third year. The guide, by Sunderland City Council and
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Petrol theft crackdown
Northumbria Police is to launch an operation to combat the theft of petrol from filling stations, known as bilking. It follows an increase in the number of offences in the Gateshead, Newcastle and Washington areas. Gateshead Police are targeting vehicles
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Lessons of law hoped to deter youngsters from stepping out of line
YOUNGSTERS have been given a very real taste of what life is like on the wrong side of the law. Students at the Allertonshire School in Northallerton found themselves locked up during their crime and safety awareness day. Organised by the No Way Trust
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'School groper' accused of tormenting girl classmates
A PERVERT schoolboy made girl classmates' lives a misery by groping them in lessons, a court heard yesterday. The 15-year-old also carried out an indecent assault on a younger girl on the school bus, magistrates were told. The Darlington youth, who cannot
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Man jailed after he terrorised mother
A MAN who terrorised a mother as she dropped her children off at school was jailed yesterday. Harrogate magistrates heard how Brian Barrett took exception to cars dropping pupils at Oatlands School in the town and vented his anger on a mother and her
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Bishop speaks against return of death penalty
THE Bishop of Durham has spoken out against the re-introduction of the death penalty in the wake of the Soham tragedy. The Right Reverend Michael Turnbull said that although the moral case for bringing back capital punishment as a deterrent to save innocent
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Warning over counterfeit goods
COUNTERFEIT goods worth more than £30,000 have been recovered from two raids in part of the region. The first seizure carried out by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's trading standards officers was at the regular Sunday car boot sale at Redcar Racecourse
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Blaze sparks job losses fear
BOSSES at a major food factory are being urged to avoid job losses after a huge blaze destroyed the building. Fire tore through the Vale of Mowbray factory at Leeming Bar, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, at the weekend, immediately prompting speculation
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Appeal follows armed raid on off-licence
POLICE are hunting an armed robber who terrified two assistants in an off-licence. The women escaped into a backroom at Victoria Wine in Falsgrave Road, Scarborough, when the masked man threatened them with a knife and demanded cash from the till. Police
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Hear All Sides: Countryside
REGRETTABLY the countryside is having to call again, in force, on Westminster on September 22. This is entirely MPs' own fault: the only interest most of them appear to show in the countryside is in trying to force an unjust hunting ban through Parliament
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Funding boost for nursing homes
INDEPENDENT nursing homes will receive an increase of £370,000 in fees from Darlington Borough Council during the coming year. The increase, which follows one in April, was agreed at yesterday's meeting of the council's cabinet. The decision was taken
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Pub will get entertainment licence
DESPITE protests from neighbouring residents, councillors have agreed to grant an entertainment licence for a Stockton pub. Members of Stockton Borough Council's licensing committee met yesterday to discuss plans for The Five Alls Pub, Bothal Drive, Stockton
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Lyndsay gets result - at last
A LONG-SUFFERING student was finally told her A-level grade yesterday - five days after thousands of other sixth formers. Lyndsay Angus, of Darlington, could at last allow herself to celebrate after hearing that she had scored an A in her English language
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Ex-Navy Gulf War veteran navigates a course to teaching career
A GULF War veteran who left school with no qualifications is looking forward to a new career in the classroom. Former sailor Paul Barber, 31, who served on HMS Cardiff during the conflict with Iraq, will take up his first teaching post next month. He
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Top gardeners awarded
The presentation of awards to the winners in the Ingleby Barwick garden competition has taken place at Peter Barratt's Garden Centre, Yarm road, Eaglescliffe. The garden competition for residents was organised by Ingleby Barwick Parish council. Judging
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Full steam ahead for railway plans
THE dream of reopening Weardale's historic railway line is soon to become a reality with the appointment of a project leader. The Weardale Railway Trust is forging ahead with its plans to breath life into the redundant line by appointing someone to take
