Archive
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Shoppers tell Surf to clean up its act
A WASHING powder manufacturer has defended its risque packaging which has caused a few raised eyebrows in the region's supermarkets. But despite concern among customers, the makers of Surf has stood by its new-look product. Lever Faberge has just launched
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Water firm makes good its recovery
A WATER company that faced a Government threat of having its licence revoked only a few years ago has been named as one of the best in the country. Just five years ago, Yorkshire Water was in crisis following a summer drought which had left thousands
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There's Ibiza glamour then there's Seaton Carew
THE elder bairn was 21 last Wednesday. We celebrated at Don Bee's fish and chip caf in Seaton Carew. The bairn, lucky for some, celebrated on Ibiza. Seaton Carew is a seaside suburb of Hartlepool; Ibiza's by the seaside in Spain. To a well bred, middle-aged
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Team secretary: Northallerton, £7.52ph, 37hpw, Mon-Fri. Temporary six months. Copy and audio typing, minute taking, diary management. Typing speed 50wpm. Ref: NOE17262
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Joiner: Hartlepool, £7ph, 40hpw 8am-4.30pm, Mon-Fri. Must be time-served with own vehicle and driving licence. Ref: HAQ20566. Motor mechanic/technician: Hartlepool
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Soldier loses case against Army
A soldier driving an ageing armoured vehicle which crashed on a Bosnian mountain road and killed his commanding officer has lost his £100,000 claim for damages against the Army. The Armoured Fighting Vehicle which Paul Young was driving was built two
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Burning Questions: Visiting King Canute's mansion
Q WHAT is the connection between Raby Castle and King Canute? - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street. A KING Canute came to England in 1013 with the invading force of his father, King Swein Forkbeard of Denmark. Forkbeard declared himself King of England
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Applause for a region in bloom
IT may not have been the biggest, but organisers of this year's Northumbria in Bloom competition yesterday declared it the best. The annual event recognises the best floral displays in towns, villages and cities throughout the North-East. And yesterday
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Crooks warned they will be behind bars by Christmas
A WARNING is being issued to criminals as police employ new covert tactics in a crackdown which is already being hailed a success. Police are predicting that up to 200 high-volume thieves, some responsible for between 50 and 60 crimes each, will be behind
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Decision is made to close court
A MAGISTRATES' court is to be axed next year after more than a year of consultation. County Durham Magistrates' Court Committee has decided to close Chester-le-Street magistrates and disperse cases between the three remaining courts in the north of the
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Middlesbrough 3 - 0 Sunderland - Nemeth comes back to haunt Black Cats
PETER REID'S failure to persuade Szilard Nemeth to join Sunderland two seasons ago came back to haunt him at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night. Slovakia striker Nemeth, who opted instead to sign for a Middlesbrough regime then led by Bryan Robson
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Study looks at ways of utilising town's natural assets
A NEW study has begun which it is hoped will help to boost the fortunes of the Richmond area and the Swale Valley. The Richmond Swale Valley Initiative, which was initially the idea of Richmondshire District Council and the Countryside Agency, has appointed
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Hartlepool 1- 2 Tranmere - Pool's miserable cup run continues
THE LEAGUE Cup - or in whatever guise is appears these days - has few supporters. And it probably has even fewer in Hartlepool, because Pool's winless run in the competition was extended to seven years as Pool went down to Tranmere at Victoria Park. You
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The day America began to fight back
THREE of my parishioners were killed in the Twin Towers last year. They worked for Merrill Lynch, the huge commercial bank which has its European HQ right opposite my rectory. I have been close to Merrill Lynch ever since I came here from Yorkshire four
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Darlington set sights on a League Cup shock at Huddersfield
Darlington are primed to cause an upset tonight when they travel to Second Division Huddersfield Town in the first round of the League Cup. Mick Wadsworth's west Yorkshire outfit have made a stuttering start to the season while Darlington have lost just
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Villagers rally round to help stricken teenager
THE family of a teenager who was injured when he was hit by a train is raising money to buy him prosthetic limbs. Ben Woods, 17, of Hurworth, near Darlington, lost his right arm and left leg in the accident, on the East Coast main line in July. He had
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Struggling firm fined for safety breach
A WOMAN lost the tips of two fingers on a guillotine blade because her employer did not provide adequate safety measures, magistrates heard yesterday. Ohmega Electronic Products, of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that
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Bellamy claim will be probed
NEWCASTLE United yesterday launched a top-level probe into allegations that striker Craig Bellamy has been the target of death threats. St. James' Park officials were due to hold talks with Bellamy on his return from duty with Wales in Finland. Reports
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Reid vows to attack Riverside
SUNDERLAND boss Peter Reid last night told his squad to go with all guns blazing into the Tees-Wear derby with Middlesbrough. Following impressive results against the two Uniteds - Leeds and Manchester - the Black Cats travel to the Riverside this evening
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News in brief: Euro honour for council
THE Council of Europe's plaque of honour will be presented to Durham County Council for its outstanding international links at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 24. The council is the UK's only local authority to receive an award for 2002, and was selected
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Residents turn out to say thanks to Linda
LINDA Walker's last day at work was full of surprises, thanks to the residents of St Matthew's Close, Leyburn, who were determined to make sure her 44 years as a postwoman did not pass unheralded. They were out early to make surprise presentations to
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Watson faces an old foe
GORDON Watson spends most of his time in the limelight at Hartlepool United, but all eyes are likely to be on the striker for different reasons tonight. Because the five-goal striker faces Tranmere's Kevin Gray for the first time since walking away from
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Child prostitution rife in North-East
The shocking extent of child prostitution on the streets of the North-east was revealed yesterday. According to new research, more than 140 prostitutes and rent boys under the age of 18 are operating in Cleveland - a sickening statistic which confirms
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Waste tip plans set for approval
CONTROVERSIAL plans for an integrated waste management centre near Scorton are expected to be approved today, even though an alternative site near Thirsk has been suggested for investigation by a Government inspector. The decision will end two years of
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Amec's £48m Scottish project
INTERNATIONAL engineering and services firm Amec has won a £48m contract to design and deliver a new gas compression station in Scotland. The Haughton Road, Darlington-based operations centre will carry out the work at Bathgate, near Edinburgh, for Transco
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Campaign woman's witness bid fails
VETERAN peace campaigner Ann Lee has failed in her bid to get Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to court in support of her fight against a criminal damage charge. Ms Lee, 61, was back in Harrogate Magistrates' Court yesterday for a fourth appearance after
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Cliff plunge victim's death an accident
A man died when a kite buggy he was riding plunged into a ravine, an inquest heard. Darren Drummond, 31, of Southfield Crescent, Norton, Stockton, died of a brain haemorrhage caused by a fractured skull on April 1, during a day out with friends at Carlton
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New head at the helm
A NEW headteacher has taken over at one of a city's most historic schools. Ian Hawksby, 42, has replaced Stephen Drew as head of Durham's Chorister School, whose old boys include Tony Blair and Rowan Atkinson. The father-of-three, from Hartlepool, who
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Restored churchyard reopens
AN 18th Century churchyard has been restored and officially opened to the public. The churchyard at the Holy Trinity Church, Church Street East - the first parish church in the city - was landscaped with the help of £50,000 from Sunderland City Council
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Comedy club line-up is a gas
THE Laughing Gas Comedy Club meets on Friday at the Washington Arts Centre. The line-up features comedian Michael Tombs, who delivers wry, penetrating insights into the craziness of modern living. He will be supported by Hayley Wilkes, Matt Reed and Kate
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Comment: Tragic price of gun law delay
FOR years it has been plain to see that restrictions on the ownership and use of air weapons were lax. All too often our newspaper and others have reported on incidents where people had been injured, sometimes seriously, by a pellet fired from an airgun
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Porn man may face jail
A YOUNG nurse could face a jail sentence after pleading guilty to 12 charges of downloading child pornography from the Internet. Lee Wright appeared before Sedgefield magistrates yesterday after having previously pleaded guilty to downloading 8,567 images
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Love, Sex and Cider opener
THEATRE goers can enjoy a host of new productions as Bishop Auckland Town Hall launches its Autumn programme. Bishop Auckland theatre company Jacuzzi kick-starts the adult season on Wednesday, September 18, with Love, Sex and Cider. The production follows
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Hunt for gunman after shop robbery
A shop keeper was forced to lie face-down on the floor while an armed raider escaped with the takings. Police officers are hunting for the man who burst into the shop on Darlington's Mowden estate on Friday evening. The man, was who brandishing a pistol
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Court told of Army crash 'agony'
A lawyer for a soldier who is suing the Army over a death crash in Bosnia yesterday urged the judge to picture "the agony of the moment". Barrister Michael Bowerman said that the 28-year-old armoured personnel carrier, driven by Green Howard John Paul
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Pupil was refused bus pass 'because she is not Catholic'
A FATHER claims his local education authority will not give his daughter a bus pass to get to school because she is not Catholic. James Robinson has accused Durham County Council of discriminating against his 12-year-old step-daughter, Emily, because
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Jailed arms dealer in talks with UK's man
JAILED arms dealer Peter Bleach has had a two-hour meeting in his Indian prison cell with the British High Commissioner. Sir Rob Young met Bleach for the first time since he was incarcerated seven years ago for his part in an arms drop over West Bengal
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Chapter of praise for library service
A COUNTY'S library, museum and arts provision has been given official praise. An Audit Commission team has given Durham County Council's cultural services department two stars out of a possible three. Inspectors say the service is good, and has promising
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Helpline offices move to city
TWO helpline services have been on the move to make it easier for people to get face-to-face advice in Durham City. Directions and the Childcare Information Service, which used to be based in Framwellgate Moor, have relocated to County Hall. Directions
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Sporting rival snapped up
Sports management and marketing company Proactive Sports has acquired a County Durham rival in a £1.88m deal. Fox Sports, based in Durham, already represents several top Premier League clubs and also provides marketing solutions for athletics and rugby
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News in brief: Man charged over drugs
A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged with drugs offences after being arrested at his Harrogate flat. Andrew Mark Stevens, 22, was remanded in custody until September 17, following a raid on his home in East Parade, Harrogate, on Saturday. Mr Stevens
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First steps to upgrade road into motorway
THE first steps of a £225m project to upgrade the A1 in North Yorkshire have been taken. Highways chiefs have appointed a firm of consultants to begin preparatory work on making the road a three-lane motorway between Dishforth and Barton. The long-awaited
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Jobless women urged to swap the dole for fire service
JOBLESS women across Teesside are being encouraged to swap the dole queue for the fire service. A New Deal course is giving women the chance to complete a six-week paid training course in the rudimentary skills needed to become firefighters. Single mothers
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Newcomers scoop top prizes in Leek Show
MEMBERS of Northallerton Working Men's Club had a successful day at their 20th annual Leek Show. First prize went to Bernard Quinn, a member of the Leek Club and full-time joiner from Stable Cottages, Little Langton. He won £1,450 and was presented with
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Teamwork brings in plaudits
THE sales performance of staff working for one of the region's estate agents has led to them sweeping the board at the company's quarterly awards. Business has been so strong at Andrew Craig's main Sunderland property centre in John Street, and the branch
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News in brief: Euro honour for council
THE Council of Europe's plaque of honour will be presented to Durham County Council for its outstanding international links at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 24. The council is the UK's only local authority to receive an award for 2002, and was selected
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News in brief: Views sought about buses
COMMUTERS are being invited to express their views about bus travel in Middlesbrough to a bus quality partnership working party - on board a bus. An Arriva bus will be parked at the junction of Linthorpe Road and Davison Street, Middlesbrough, on Thursday
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Entertainment: Sandy's putting his money where his mouth is
Sandy Gilmore is no longer a jockey but retains an interest in horses - he has a bet every day. He doesn't say whether he's put any money on his own chances of winning a new TV talent show looking to crown the country's top new comedy performer. With
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When Elphick made the news in Darlington
NEITHER Michael Elphick nor a £7m budget could save BBC series Harry from the TV trash-can. The mid-nineties prime-time BBC show - set in Darlington and featuring Elphick as a hard-bitten news agency reporter - failed to set audiences alight and was axed
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Elphick, hard drinker and Harry star, dies
Television star Michael Elphick has died in hospital after collapsing, his mother said last night. Joan Elphick described the 55-year-old former EastEnders star, who died at the weekend, as a "very quiet and very kind" man who had loved his role in Britain's
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When Elphick made news in Darlington
NEITHER Michael Elphick nor a £7m budget could save BBC series Harry from the TV trash-can. The mid-nineties prime-time BBC show - set in Darlington and featuring Elphick as a hard-bitten news agency reporter - failed to set audiences alight and was axed
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999 crews on floods alert
EMERGENCY services were braced to deal with more flooding misery last night after heavy rainfall hit the region. North Yorkshire firefighters said they were on full alert to tackle yet more flood-related emergencies, only weeks after atrocious weather
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Former prisoner of war camp welcomes new exhibit
A PIECE of wartime history is to go on display following a donation to a museum. A signalling lamp which once belonged to the German Navy has been given to the Eden Camp modern history museum, near Malton, North Yorkshire. The Second World War item was
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All is safely gathered in for museum show
A VARIETY of vegetables and flowers grown in allotments were on show at a museum to provide visitors with an insight into an old pit village tradition. The Shield Row Allotments Association staged its exhibition at the Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County
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News in brief: Views sought about buses
COMMUTERS are being invited to express their views about bus travel in Middlesbrough to a bus quality partnership working party - on board a bus. An Arriva bus will be parked at the junction of Linthorpe Road and Davison Street, Middlesbrough, on Thursday
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Move will lead to 'superb opportunities' for children
ONE of the county's leading girls schools is to open its doors to boys. Queen Mary's School, at Baldersby Park, near Thirsk, which has been all-girl since 1925, is to become fully co-educational from September 2004, after announcing closer ties with fellow
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Travel pass relaunched
A NORTH-EAST bus company is relaunching a discounted travel pass in an attempt to persuade more people to use public transport. The relaunch of Go North East's Go'n'Save bus card, providing unlimited daily travel, coincides with a planned price revision
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News in brief: Churches open doors to public
THIS SUNDAY five churches in Teesdale will open their doors so members of the public can visit and have a look around. Holy Trinity Church, in Startforth, will be open from noon until 5pm, Boldron Mission Church will be open from 2pm until 5pm, St Mary's
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Grant could transform wasteland
DERELICT land is to be transformed into a garden thanks to a £2,400 grant. The land behind Tockwith Village Hall, near York, will be spruced up with hedges and plants thanks to the cash from Yorventure, the grant-giving body which is backed by Northallerton
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Shake-up leaves Stadium in good shape
A shake-up at North-East electronics group Stadium has led to a 70 per cent increase in half-year profits. The Hartlepool group, which sold its plastics injection moulding division to a management buy-in team in a £7m deal earlier this year, said it was
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Group's bid for Grantchester
PROPERTY group Hammerson has launched a rival bid for retail warehouse specialist Grantchester, valuing the group at £192m. Hammerson said the 250p-a-share offer was 14.7 per cent higher than a management buyout deal, launched last month. The management
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Teenager defied ban to keep job, court told
A HARD-WORKING teenager's desperation to keep his job - even though he often worked 118 hours a week - led him to disregard a court order, Harrogate magistrates heard yesterday. The court was told by Geoffrey Rogers, representing 19-year-old Craig Johnson
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Community maps out its heritage
A SMALL farming community has well and truly put itself on the map after a mile-long heritage trail was opened at the weekend. Residents in the tiny village of Fryton, near Hovington, in North Yorkshire, have worked tirelessly to create the trail, which
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Show must go on
TORRENTIAL rain put a dampener on the final day of Wolsingham's 223rd annual agricultural show. But despite the weather many turned out to see the greyhound racing which was planned as part of the race day finale. Shuey the greyhound battled both weather
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New era for all-girls school
A LEADING all-girls school will join forces with another school and gradually become co-educational to offer better educational and sporting opportunities to its pupils. Queen Mary's School at Baldersby Park, Topcliffe will, from January 2003, work with
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Town pays tribute to family's work
ONE of Northallerton's best-known faces has received a rare honour. Kenneth Hird was installed as an honorary citizen of the town in a ceremony last Wednesday, becoming one of just a handful of people to be accorded the town council award. And Mr Hird
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Glasses raised for Marion's 107th
SHERRY glasses were charged at the weekend to celebrate the birthday of one of Yorkshire's oldest residents. Marion Lily Blacklock turned 107 on Sunday and was joined by family and fellow residents at the Terrace Nursing Home in Richmond for a sherry
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Visiting King Canute's mansion
Q WHAT is the connection between Raby Castle and King Canute? - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street. A KING Canute came to England in 1013 with the invading force of his father, King Swein Forkbeard of Denmark. Forkbeard declared himself King of England
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Sidebottom back as Tykes drop Kirby and Wood
Yorkshire Phoenix have dropped Steven Kirby and are expected to leave out Matthew Wood for today's floodlit match against Warwickshire Bears at Edgbaston where they will be trying to end a depressing run of four consecutive defeats in Division One of
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Arts festival programme published
FULL details have emerged of a major arts festival being held to celebrate the re-opening of a new-look community centre. The centre on Bullamoor Road in Northallerton - which is soon to be renamed the Hambleton Forum - has undergone a major facelift
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Patients moved after power failure
Four intensive care patients had to be transferred after power failed at a North-East hospital last night. Bosses at Middlesbrough General Hospital took the decision to transfer four intensive care patients to the neighbouring James Cook University Hospital
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Call centre staff face huge pay cut
STAFF at energy group Npower's call centres across the North-East are being asked to take 25 per cent pay cuts - or see their jobs moved outside the region. More than 700 workers at Innogy's electricity and gas arm, which has call centres in Newcastle
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Head for the North
JAMIE SPENCER'S big break came earlier this year when he started to pick up some high-profile mounts for the mighty Godolphin team, however this afternoon at Leicester he'll have to settle for some slightly less glamorous ride. That's not to say Spencer
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Sales assistant: Darlington. £4.49ph, 16.5hpw. Merchandising, serving customers and completing paperwork. Ref: DAE31399. Time-served electrician: Barnard Castle.
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Taxi driver: Durham, nmw, 10-40hpw. Must have good knowledge of local area and pleasant manner. Must have private hire/hackney badge. Ref: DUR29293. CITB registered
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Time to wind down, say woollens shop couple
IT was founded in a remote, picture-postcard village amid troubled times for the Yorkshire Dales economy. In the darker days of the Seventies, with the fortunes of many rural enterprises on the slide, David and Grizel Morris saw their fledgling company
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Huddersfield 2 - 0 Darlington - Quakers tamed by Terriers
Darlington's hopes of causing a League Cup upset were over almost before they had begun when two conceded goals in the opening quarter of an hour at Huddersfield killed off any chance of being in the hat for the second round. Quakers conceded after just
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Eating Owt: There's Ibiza glamour then there's Seaton Carew
THE elder bairn was 21 last Wednesday. We celebrated at Don Bee's fish and chip caf in Seaton Carew. The bairn, lucky for some, celebrated on Ibiza. Seaton Carew is a seaside suburb of Hartlepool; Ibiza's by the seaside in Spain. To a well bred, middle-aged
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Town puts new transport plans on display
DETAILS of three options for improving traffic flow, safety and parking in Richmond have been revealed ahead of a public exhibition. The town traffic management strategy puts forward various suggestions including the introduction of 20mph zones, better
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We are thinking your team is brilliant
THEY may live thousands of miles away, but football fans in Norway have taken a North-East club into their hearts. Listeners to Norwegian radio show, Folkets Hus, based in Trondheim, have ignored Britain's premiership clubs in favour of Darlington FC,
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Music is key to family's fortunes
TALENTED youngster Andrew Turner is proving that musical ability runs in the family as he prepares to follow his brother to a top school. The 11-year-old, from Hornby, near Northallerton, has won a place at the Chethams School of Music in Manchester after
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Northumbria in Bloom roll of honour
BBC Radio Newcastle Trophy for best small village: Winner, Whalton. Runner-up, Neasham. Award of Merit, Melkridge. Wansbeck Trophy for best village: Winner, Earsdon. Runner-up, Elwick Village. Cameron Trophy for best large village: Winner, Aycliffe Village
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McClaren offers Kev some England hope
STEVE McCLAREN has assured Kevin Phillips that the England door is still ajar despite the emergence of Alan Smith on the international stage. While Sunderland striker Phillips was left kicking his heels again, Leeds star Smith crowned his first senior
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Energy group's shares plunge
Crisis-struck British Energy saw its shares collapse on its return to the stock market yesterday, as the group's future continued to hang in the balance despite a £410m Government loan. Shares slumped 65 per cent by the close of trading, knocking more
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Inside information for derby new boy Stewart
NEW Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart has been receiving a bout of North-East derby advice from former Middlesbrough front-man Alun Armstrong. Stewart, signed from Ipswich Town on the same day Tore Andre Flo completed his switch from Rangers, had to miss
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Factory pays price for chemical leak at plant
A FACTORY has been fined £10,000 for a chemical leak after which six people needed hospital treatment. Great Lakes Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, admitted two charges of failing to ensure the safety of employees, relating to
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Region's health gets £10m aid
MORE than £10m of Lottery money is being invested in healthy living projects around the region. They range from helping disabled youngsters in East Cleveland learn to sail to improving access to healthcare on Darlington's Firthmoor estate. Other highlights
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Worker crushed to death in factory
A young worker was crushed to death by falling steel as he worked today, police said. James West, 22, died shortly before 8am when he was struck at the NEF steel fabrication plant in Darlington. Mr West, who was single and lived in Main Street, Shildon
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Schwarzer quick to defend Sorensen
MARK SCHWARZER took a stand for the goalkeepers' union yesterday when he hit out at the way derby rival Thomas Sorensen was "crucified'' for his World Cup nightmare. Middlesbrough's Schwarzer believes Sunderland keeper Sorensen was harshly criticised
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Safe parking praised
CAR parks in the Hambleton district are among the safest in Britain. Council staff are celebrating after five of the car parks were officially granted secure car park status by the Association of Chief Police Officers. The council has now become one of
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News in brief: Euro honour for council
THE Council of Europe's plaque of honour will be presented to Durham County Council for its outstanding international links at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 24. The council is the UK's only local authority to receive an award for 2002, and was selected
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Euro MP attacks store for proposed closure of creche
AN influential European MP yesterday launched a remarkable attack on supermarket chain Safeway as he called for the company to save the threatened creche at its Darlington store. Stephen Hughes, spokes-person on Employment and Social Affairs Issues for
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Judge calls for tough curbs on air guns
A judge called for a crackdown on air guns yesterday after locking up a schoolboy who killed his friend when a prank went tragically wrong. Matthew Sheffield, 14, was shot in the head by Daryl Allison as they larked around in the garden of Allison's home
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Last Night's TV: A Is For Acid (ITV)
A for actor behaving very well indeed A IS also for Actor, which is what Martin Clunes is - although we tend to forget that readily as his looks and ability to play one of the Men Behaving Badly to perfection have led to him pigeonholed in comedy roles
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Group steps up pain battle
A self-help group set up to improve services for patients suffering chronic pain, holds its annual meeting later this month. Members of Action on Pain (Durham), which wants to set up groups in Darlington and Bishop Auckland, will be invited to formally
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Protest group to stand in elections
A RESIDENTS' group launched in protest at a council tax rise may enter the political arena. The Durham Council Tax Alliance was formed earlier this year after Durham County Council levied a 14.8 per cent increase in its share of the bills taxpayers have
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Valley gears up for sixth black-tie extravaganza
THE sixth annual Tees Valley Business Show takes place on Thursday, October 10. The event will once again be held at the Tall Trees Hotel in Yarm with a wealth of after dinner speakers. Among those marking the event in their diaries will be Sir John Banham
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Rail strike threat over level of cover for fires
UNION leaders last night demanded assurances from train operators over the level of cover in the event of a strike by firefighters. The Rail Maritime and Transport workers union warned it could take industrial action if guarantees over safety were not
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Missing man plea
Police have renewed an appeal for information about missing Leeds man Keith Marsden, 47, who was last seen three months ago and may have travelled to art galleries in the Scarborough or York areas. He is white, 5ft 5in, of medium build, with a pale complexion
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Girl locked up for attack that left refugee brain-damaged
A TEENAGER was jailed yesterday for stamping on an asylum seeker's head after he exposed her friend's breasts in a crowded bar. Louise Dobbs, 18, left Kosovan Gazim Harexhim brain-damaged and with a violent personality change, said prosecutor Shaun Dodds
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Compulsive hoarder who stole £50,000 for 'security'
Police investigating the theft of a £50 gift voucher from a wedding reception arrived at a hotel employee's home to find thousands of pounds in notes and coins stuffed in bags, a court heard yesterday. Assistant manager Kara Kennedy, 30, admitted stealing
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Exports help narrow trade gap
BRITAIN's trade gap with the rest of world narrowed in July as demand from the US fuelled a surge in exports. But the Office for National Statistics showed manufacturers' profit margins are still suffering from high raw material costs. Higher crude oil
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'Pay-back time' for delinquents
CONVICTED teenage tearaways are to pay their dues to communities where they have wreaked havoc. "It's pay-back time and we think it's a great idea,'' said Councillor Dave McLuckie, lead member for community safety with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
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No, you're not going quackers. It is like a duck
Walter Hooper thought he had gone quackers when he came across a strange shaped tomato. Mr Hooper was given the tomato by a friend who tends an allotment in Darlington and he couldn't believe its likeness to a duck. He has decided to save it from the
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New floor unveiled at sports centre
A NEW £42,000 sports hall floor was officially unveiled at a community facility last night. The new floor has been installed at Durham County Council's Stanley Youth Centre. There were demonstrations of a range of activities that take place in the centre
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Could you police the police?
A SEARCH has been launched to find volunteers to check custody conditions in police stations. Men and women over the age of 18 are being recruited to make surprise visits to local police stations on Teesside and report what they find. A spokesman for
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Man denies New Year's Day rape
A TEENAGER went to sleep in a four-poster bed with her boyfriend, but woke up having sex on the floor with a stranger, a court heard yesterday. The girl said that she was fully clothed when she climbed into bed with her boyfriend after a party at a friend's
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News in brief: Man quizzed over accident
POLICE have arrested a man following a road accident at the weekend. A 44-year-old woman is still critically ill in hospital after being involved in a collision with a white Peugeot 205 in Greenfield Way, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, on Friday night
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Love, Sex and Cider opener
THEATRE goers can enjoy a host of new productions as Bishop Auckland Town Hall launches its Autumn programme. Bishop Auckland theatre company Jacuzzi kick-starts the adult season on Wednesday, September 18, with Love, Sex and Cider. The production follows
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News in brief: Churches to open doors to public
THIS SUNDAY five churches in Teesdale will open their doors so members of the public can visit and have a look around. Holy Trinity Church, in Startforth, will be open from noon until 5pm, Boldron Mission Church will be open from 2pm until 5pm, St Mary's
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Charity show organisers hope for third time lucky
A CHARITY show is trying to fight back after two disastrous years. The committee behind the Northallerton horticultural show is hoping people will turn out in force this year. The show is being held on Sunday, September 15, at Thornton-le-Beans village
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News in brief: Euro honour for council
THE Council of Europe's plaque of honour will be presented to Durham County Council for its outstanding international links at a ceremony on Tuesday, September 24. The council is the UK's only local authority to receive an award for 2002, and was selected
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Hear All Sides: Gibraltar
THE settled will of the population of Gibraltar could not be clearer. On every occasion where the question of sovereignty has been posed, the response has been an almost unanimous affirmation that they wish to remain British. Why then would a supposedly
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Workers reminded of safety matters
THE region's construction industry safety record came under the spotlight with the visit of a safety bus yesterday. The Working Well Together bus, set up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), visited two Corus sites on Teesside to drive home the message
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Three schools to be merged into one
A NEW school is set to be created after no-one objected to plans to merge three existing sites. A two-month formal consultation period announced by Darlington Borough Council into plans to merge Corporation Road nursery, infant and junior schools has
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Northumbria in Bloom roll of honour
BBC Radio Newcastle Trophy for best small village: Winner, Whalton. Runner-up, Neasham. Award of Merit, Melkridge. Wansbeck Trophy for best village: Winner, Earsdon. Runner-up, Elwick Village. Cameron Trophy for best large village: Winner, Aycliffe Village
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Green Howards meet royal challenge
SOLDIERS from the 1st Battalion The Green Howards have competed at a Northern Ireland Army base for an award bestowed by the King of Norway. Among those taking part were Private Marc Bowcock, 19, and Private Jonathon Cross, 21, both from Billingham, Teesside
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Inquiry has left civic trust exhausted
A HERITAGE watchdog has admitted the cost of a public inquiry has left it seriously short of cash. The York Civic Trust, which was defending Clifford's Tower against the proposed Coppergate II shopping development, says it struggled to meet the costs
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Show must go on
TORRENTIAL rain put a dampener on the final day of Wolsingham's 223rd annual agricultural show. But despite the weather many turned out to see the greyhound racing which was planned as part of the race day finale. Shuey the greyhound battled both weather
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600 opportunities for Christmas work
MORE than 600 festive jobs are up for grabs as retailers across the Tees Valley begin their preparations for Christmas. A series of jobs fairs are being held in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Darlington this week. They include positions with
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Harmison's crunch day
DURHAM paceman Stephen Harmison will hear today whether he is to spend part of the winter helping England try to win the Ashes. If the selectors feel that raw pace might be the key to unsettling the Australians, they could find room for both Harmison
