Archive
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Bellion gives Reid breathing space
Peter Reid was given breathing space by David Bellion's first goal for Sunderland. Bellion secured a 1 - 0 win against Aston Villa when he fired home an angled drive from the edge of the penalty box after 69 minutes. It was a scrappy game, with few chances
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Chief's sudden move 'could affect merger'
THE sudden departure of a highly-regarded chief executive could seriously hinder hospital merger plans, it was claimed last night. Steven Mason departed just days before the North Durham and South Durham NHS hospital trusts were due to become one. Mr
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Marks and Spencer considering extra branches
ONE of the country's best-loved store chains is considering opening branches in the region. Marks and Spencer has confirmed that it is considering a number of locations nationwide for new stores, including Ripon and Northallerton. The stores would be
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Arcade plan opposed
PLANS to open an amusement arcade on a Darlington school route have been criticised by objectors. Church leaders, teachers and local businessman are complaining about the application to open the arcade, with 30 gaming machines, at Cockerton Green, Darlington
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How TV drama led to jail sentence
A MAN was behind bars last night more than ten years after molesting a young girl who finally reported him after watching a TV drama involving child abuse. After the episode last year, the girl, now 19, broke down and confided in her boyfriend before
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Health issues highlighted
PEOPLE from the Sedgefield borough have had their say on the services they get from their hospitals, GPs, opticians, nurses, dentists and other therapists. Forty five people attended the event at Jubilee Fields Community Centre, Shildon, organised by
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Police warn youths after car attacks
POLICE have issued warnings to gangs of youths caught throwing stones and eggs at cars travelling along a Darlington road. A number of complaints have been made to police by drivers and residents about youths throwing things at cars in Neasham Road. One
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Cash pledge over school playing field sell-off
COUNCIL officials have insisted that a Darlington school will receive a large proportion of the money from the sale of its playing fields. Approval was given earlier this year for part of Longfield School's playing field in to be sold for development.
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Disgraced solicitor 'sold out' miners
A DISGRACED solicitor has been accused of selling out thousands of ailing miners. Russel Young is being sued by the ex-pitmen who claim he was negligent in advising them to accept paltry pay-outs for the crippling condition vibration white finger. Young
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The princess and the pit pony
A ROYAL visit to Britain's favourite open air museum at Beamish turned into the tale of the princess and the pit pony yesterday. An accomplished horsewoman in her own right, it was no surprise that the Princess Royal spent more than her allotted time
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New Harry Potter film sparks rush for tickets
MOVIE bosses in the North-East are predicting that tickets for the new Harry Potter film will fly out of cinemas after being released a month early. Tickets for the hotly-anticipated next instalment of the Harry Potter saga went on sale yesterday - more
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University warns of killer disease
UNIVERSITY students are being urged to be aware of the dangers of meningitis. Both faculty staff and the Students' Union are concerned that young people starting their courses at the University of Teesside may incorrectly consider they are protected against
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Tillerman to clip Hawk wings
MAJOR upsets are par for the course in the £300,000 Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes and in this afternoon's Ascot showpiece Tillerman (4.20) might have the edge over assured market leader Hawk Wing. Twelve months ago 33-1 shot Summoner stunned punters by lowering
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International line-up for concert series
A LEADING orchestra is to launch a series of classical concerts in Middlesbrough. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra will perform under the baton of Barry Wordsworth, principal conductor with the BBC Concert Orchestra. Their programme will include
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Star kicks off walking week
MIDDLESBROUGH defender Franck Queudrue will go back to school to help fight traffic congestion outside Stockton's school gates. He will be at Whinstone Primary School to unveil its new weapon against traffic congestion and to help launch Walk to School
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Bridge to fully open
TRAFFIC flow will be restored to four lanes on Sunderland's Wearmouth Bridge tomorrow. There has only been one lane in use in each direction where the A1018 crosses the bridge since restoration work began in May. The temporary traffic system will again
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More support proposed for heart patients
A MEETING next week will aim to galvanise Richmond residents into supporting a new organisation for people affected by heart disease. The Richmond Heart Support Group will meet for the first time, at The Friary Hospital, on Thursday. The objective will
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Walkies of the stately kind
TAILS will be wagging tomorrow as many labradors meet up for a scamper around the grounds of a stately home. The Labrador Welfare Group is holding its annual sponsored dog walk at the Castle Howard Estate in North Yorkshire. To help support the rehoming
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County's future is placed in spotlight
THE future of Yorkshire in a European setting will come under scrutiny at a high-profile conference organised by the Royal Geographical Society. Three crucial aspects of how the region can meet the challenges of closer links with Europe will be explored
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Opportunity to beat a sweet record
PEOPLE with a sweet tooth are invited visit Harrogate today and attempt to break a world record by eating chocolate using chopsticks. Celebrating the launch of the new Guinness World Records 2003 book, people will be challenged to see how many Cadbury's
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Asda's new store brings 230 extra jobs
MORE than 200 jobs will be created when a new County Durham supermarket opens in six weeks time. Asda yesterday announced the creation of 230 additional posts in its 40,000sq ft Bishop Auckland store, set to open on Monday, November 11. The store, in
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Disabled rider's Stoneleigh challenge
A TALENTED North Yorkshire rider has qualified for the national dressage championships for disabled riders. Lindsey McLaren from Langthorne, Bedale, is one of 20 qualifiers who will be competing at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, for the British title tomorrow
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Black Cats must show more fight, says Monty
JIM Montgomery will make a rare pilgrimage to the Stadium of Light today. He will meet friends old and new, swap anecdotes and enjoy the convivial atmosphere in one of the ground's smart suites. Then Montgomery will settle in his seat and go through 90
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Giving parents a chance to grieve
A MEMORIAL has been unveiled to about 2,400 stillborn babies buried in unmarked mass graves in a North-East cemetery. Up to 60 infants lie in average sized graves dotted in common plots across Linthorpe Cemetery, Middlesbrough. It was a common practice
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Clergyman passing on clown tips
BRITAIN'S best-known clown priest is to pass on his skills to children during a workshop in Bishop Middleham this weekend. The Reverend Roly Bain has a unique ministry as a priest and a clown and has travelled all over the world teaching and performing
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Family pay tribute to journalist's courage
The family of a British journalist believed to have been killed while reporting on the conflict between Chechen rebels and Russian forces paid tribute to him last night. Roddy Scott, 31, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is understood to have died during
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Kevin's career takes new track
A FORMER cement worker is the first of a new breed of old-style workers looking after County Durham roads. Kevin Graham turned down the chance of a well-paid job with his former employer, Lafarge UK, who ended production at its Eastgate plant last month
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Court move to allow Railtrack takeover
The High Court is to hear a bid to lift the order that put Railtrack into administration. If the application on Tuesday by Transport Secretary Alistair Darling is successful, it will pave the way for Railtrack's takeover by the non-profit distributing
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MP backs cleaners in college move row
COLLEGE cleaners on Teesside are at the centre of a row between a local MP and academic bosses. Cleaners at Stockton and Billingham College are angry that bosses are apparently refusing to cater for them when the college moves sites to Thornaby. They
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Firm wins £60m
ENGINEERING company Cleveland Bridge last night promised a "significant" jobs boost after winning a £60m contract to help shape the new Wembley Stadium. The Darlington-based bridge builder will supply and erect the steelwork for the prestigious £757m
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Plans for £3m bingo club are announced
THE country's largest independent bingo firm plans to open a £3m club in the centre of Peterlee. Buckingham Bingo is planning a 1,100-capacity club in the town's Castle Dene Shopping Centre. It will employ 60 people as callers, cashiers, receptionists
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Why golfers and Hitler prefer blondies
THE real interest of the Ryder Cup is not the skill of the men and their balls but the appearance of their wives. An analysis of the line-ups of the golf wives yesterday suggested that 12 out of the 13 US wives are blonde (92 per cent), and nine out of
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Old league rallies new blood to game
A TABLE tennis league dating back more than 60 years is fighting for survival after a drop in interest in the game. When the Durham and District Table Tennis League was established in 1936, the game was commonly played in workingmen's clubs and miners
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From man of steel to man of God
THAT the Bible talks in the same breath of publicans and sinners should not be taken to mean that those licensed to sell are any more or less wretched than the rest of us. A "publican" was a tax collector, a sort of first century Revenue man but without
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Policeman injured in ramming
A POLICEMAN has been injured following a car chase across a North-East town. The 41-year-old constable sustained whip lash injuries after Cleveland Police say his patrol car was rammed. Police Inspector Peter Jones said: "The officer had been following
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Robert handed a final warning over outburst
NEWCASTLE United boss Sir Bobby Robson has told Laurent Robert he will be "hauled before the board'' if he talks out of turn again. The £10m winger has effectively been put on a final warning after furious United chairman Freddy Shepherd rang Robson to
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Hopes high for M&S boost
ONE of the country's best-loved stores is considering opening new branches in North Yorkshire. High street retailer Marks and Spencer has confirmed that it is considering a number of locations nationwide for new stores and both Ripon and Northallerton
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Exam fiasco spreads to AS-level students
THE integrity of the British exam system was at stake last night as evidence emerged of suspected grade manipulation with AS-levels - putting thousands more results in doubt. As the head of the inquiry into the grades fiasco, Mike Tomlinson, delivered
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Pool star Watson's recovery is right on schedule
GORDON Watson's rehabilitation took a big step forward yesterday. Ruled out for up to two months with a broken leg after suffering the injury a fortnight ago, the five-goal Hartlepool United striker has had the pot removed and replaced with a lighter
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Darlington fail to take advantage of first half lead
Darlington opened the scoring in first half added time as Neil Wainwright headed home a Barry Conlon cross. Darlington couldn't hold on to their first half advantage as fellow strugglers Leyton secured a 2 - 1 win. Lee Thorpe was Leyton's driving force
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'There's no crisis' - Speed
NEWCASTLE United midfielder Gary Speed last night insisted: "There's no crisis here.'' Speed's declaration came in the wake of comments attributed to teammate Laurent Robert, claiming United are a club in crisis. But Welsh international Speed maintained
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Amusements along the way
For a gardening sex god, Alan Titchmrsh's autobiography is short on kiss-and-tell scandal, but it's celebrating its third week in the bestsellers list. DABBLING with things that grow, Alan Titchmarsh asserts, is "every bit as exciting as a dalliance here
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Ehiogu at full stretch in bid for England return
UGO EHIOGU last night revealed how he has turned to yoga in an attempt to force his way back into the England set-up. The Middlesbrough defender, who plays in a Premiership clash at Totteham today, was left out of Sven-Goran Eriksson's 23-man World Cup
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Animal welfare centre plans 'scrapped'
A FINANCIAL crisis in the RSPCA may have sunk plans for an animal welfare centre in the North-East, it is claimed. The region is renowned as the country's animal cruelty capital and the charity planned to build a major sanctuary at Chester-le-Street,
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100mph chase driver wins jail term cut
A County Durham man who lured police on a high-speed car chase in which he smashed through traffic cones and drove at up to 100 mph has won a cut in sentence at London's Appeal Court. Gary Jones, 24, of Matthews Road, Seaham, broke into a car soon after
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Man in prison for drinking to be freed
A MAN deemed an anti-social nuisance is due for release after spending almost four months in prison for drinking a can of lager. John Newman, 37, was arrested for being under the influence of alcohol when caught on security cameras drinking from the can
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Dog in need of new home
AN 18-month-old labrador cross called Josie is looking for a new home. She is being cared for by the National Animal Sanctuary Support League at Sadberge, near Darlington, after her its owners started full-time jobs and could no longer give her the attention
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Adult abuse care promoted
FOUR care managers in Darlington are among the first in the UK to be trained in caring for vulnerable adult victims of abuse. The social services staff have completed a course at the University of Teesside on how to identify the signs of adult abuse.
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Refuse switch success
THE change to the refuse collection system in Darlington, is working, despite residents' complaints, the council says. The new system, introduced earlier this month, requires people to put refuse on the kerbside for collection. This has angered some elderly
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Comprehensive school honours its achievers
A DARLINGTON school handed out about 250 prizes at its annual awards evening. Hundreds of parents attended the event at Hurworth Comprehensive School. School spokeswoman Rita Rees said: "In the past we used to have one event for the whole school, but
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Attacker jailed for three years
A man was beaten almost unconscious and dragged to a cashpoint to draw money for his attackers, a court was told yesterday. Neil Devanny was walking a girl home from a nightclub when two men shouted abuse and then ran after him. He was punched, kicked
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Disease threatens to wipe out seal colony
A KILLER virus threatens to wipe out a northern seal colony. Hartlepool Borough Council "strongly suspects'' that a sick seal found on a beach at nearby Seaton Carew,was a victim of phocine distemper virus (PDV). The animal had to be put down. Results
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Scouts boost pool campaign
CAMPAIGNERS trying to save a swimming pool have had a boost, thanks to their community's Venture Scout group. The Scouts raised £250 with a 120-mile fundraising trek across the Pennines, to back a campaign to rebuild Guisborough swimming pool. The future
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China maker shuts factory
Troubled china maker Royal Doulton is to shut a factory producing collectables and giftware with the loss of 200 jobs. The planned closure of the plant at Beswick, near Stoke-on-Trent, is part of a wider company review which has already seen work transferred
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Rail rescue package ruled out
THE Strategic Rail Authority last night effectively ruled out riding to the rescue of troubled Arriva Trains Northern. And it cast doubt over whether the company will be able to hang on to its Trans-Pennine franchise - the region's second biggest. The
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Wilson is the centre of attraction
DARLINGTON Mowden Park try yet another centre combination today when last week's two-try hero Matt Howland is partnered by Durham University's Jonno Wilson. Among several centres they tried without great success last season was Mark Wilkinson and eyebrows
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Updates may help bring in investors
Investors weighing up whether to return to the stock market will be able to study updates from a host of companies this week, ranging from mobile phone operator mmO2 to Manchester United. Analysts will be looking for an upbeat trading statement from tour
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Compensation claims lodged
NEARLY £300,000 in compensation claims have been lodged against four North-East firms who were declared in default. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme has declared DMC Insurance Brokers Limited in Darlington, Allied Financial Ltd in Guisborough
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Minimum Wage
INTRODUCING a minimum wage was one of the greatest achievements of Tony Blair's first governnent. At least it was in principle. The idea that people should not have to work for poverty wages goes back to the age of Dickens. So it look a very long time
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Allison's cot what it takes
STUDENT Allison Robinson's futuristic baby cot design nearly landed her the top prize in a national design competition. The 18-year-old former Hartlepool Sixth Form College student was one of 28 finalists displaying design projects in a ceremony at Baltic
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Rising to challenge at pursuits centre
STUDENTS from a North Yorkshire school left the classroom behind for a week, pitting themselves against challenges set in the Yorkshire Dales. The 32-strong party from Risedale Community College stayed at the Bewerley Park outdoor pursuits centre, on
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Pictures from city's history
AN exhibition of photographs from a new local history book proved a big success. Pictures from Durham City Remembered 1935 to 1960, by Gilesgate-based archivist Michael Richardson, were displayed at Durham City Baptist Church. The event was organised
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Obelisk facelift gets the go-ahead
LONG-awaited repairs to one of Richmond's most famous landmarks are finally expected to start in the next few weeks. A specialist company, Castle Masonry, will carry out the restoration work on the obelisk in the town's market place. The project will
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Echo is proud to play its part in family reunion
AN appeal for help in The Northern Echo has helped reunite a family who had been separated during the Second World War. Margaret Newman moved to Gloucester from the Richmond area with the Women's Royal Auxillary Corps in the 1940s, married, and never
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Bag snatcher drags woman along ground
A woman was dragged along the ground by a mugger as she struggled to keep hold of her bag. Detectives said the 51-year-old woman let go of the bag a couple of metres into the roadway in Preen Drive, Middlesbrough. The badly shaken woman received hospital
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Care fund honours memory of Ellen
A WIDOWER who lost his wife to cancer has set up a fund in her honour to help other patients. Mother-of-four Ellen Stuckey died last year, aged 46, from breast cancer, at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough. Husband Mike, 43, from Coulby
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Metro system price increase
CONCESSIONARY fares are to rise on the Tyne and Wear Metro rail network to help counter a shortfall in takings on the Sunderland extension of the line. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority agreed to increase the maximum concessionary fare from
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Water firm's £1bn upgrade on course
NORTHUMBRIAN Water has appointed two strategic partners to help manage its £1bn improvement programme. The company, and its Southern operating division Essex and Suffolk Water, has chosen Atkins, Faithful and Gould and EC Harris, to provide cost management
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Holiday Shorts
Shop 'til you drop: YOU hit the West End in London in style for a serious Christmas Shopping Break with The Westbury Hotel, which is perfectly located for getting all your gifts in one weekend. The package costs £177 for two sharing, including VAT, and
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Residents will choose £1m scheme for new bus station
PLANS for the £1m redevelopment of a rundown town centre bus station have been unveiled. Derwentside District Council is consulting residents on a choice of four schemes for its proposed overhaul of the much-maligned bus depot in Stanley. The first will
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North joins anti-war protest
HUNDREDS of people from the North-East are joining an anti-war rally against action in Iraq. The rally, being held today in central London, is expected to draw as many as 100,000 protestors. Organisers the Stop The War Coalition and the Muslim Association
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The road to the Riverside
Artist-in-residence at Middlesbrough Football Club, Richard Piers Rayner, is watching another dream come true with the Oscar-tipped movie Road To Perdition based on his graphic novel. Film Writer Steve Pratt meets him. ARTIST Richard Piers Rayner says
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The region gets its running shoes on for charity
A RETIRED headteacher will face one of the biggest challenges yet in his running battle with cancer. On Sunday, October 6 David Snell will take part in the Great North Run to raise money for the charity that has supported him and his family. Last year
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Singer returns to his roots on a high note
ONE of Britain's finest singers performed an intimate concert last night in the North-East town that taught him how to sing. It was the inspiration he received from the late Dennis Weatherley that led a young Thomas Allen, now Sir Thomas, to a prolific
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School link is just top glass
A NEW glass corridor linking a junior and senior school has been opened by conservationist David Bellamy. Mr Bellamy visited Polam Hall School, in Darlington, to open the link. The schools were originally linked more than a 100 years ago and the replacement
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Health service views
PEOPLE from across Sedgefield borough have had their say on the services they get from their hospitals, GPs, opticians, nurses, dentists and other therapists. A total of 45 people attended the event at Jubilee Fields Community Centre, Shildon, organised
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Consider your role, Ms Morris
THE interim findings of the Tomlinson Report shed little light on the fiasco surrounding this summer's AS and A2 examinations. We do not need an expensive independent inquiry to tell us that the examination structure is flawed and was introduced with
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Brewery fleet additions
CAMERONS Brewery has added four new articulated lorries to their vehicle fleet. The artics are used to distribute their products around the country from their Lion Brewery in Hartlepool. Charlie O'Rourke, distribution manager at Camerons, said: "It is
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Sculpture is big fish in the park
AN MP felt a fish out of water yesterday - but could not have been more pleased about it. Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar was guest of honour at the unveiling of a fish sculpture at Hemlington, near Middlesbrough. Created by community
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Campus cracks number crunching
A private number plate prov-ider is saving thousands of pounds a year, thanks to the University of Sunderland. National Numbers, of Billingham, Teesside, was losing time and money by having to spend days sifting through the 7,500,000 registrations that
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Health boost as new clinic launched
A NEW health clinic opens next week for people in a suburb of Durham. The Framwellgate Moor Community Health Clinic in Front Street will receive its first patients on Tuesday. Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust funded the development to replace
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Frankie speaking
It's off with the armour and off with the clothes for Paris Jefferson's latest role, she tells STEVE PRATT WHEN I tell Paris Jefferson that she's more Michelle Pfeiffer than Kathy Bates, she takes the remark as it was meant - as a compliment. Usually,
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Helpline launched to tackle racism
A HELPLINE offering round-the-clock support to victims of racist abuse was launched yesterday. The Racist Incident Procedure line offers recorded responses in 11 different languages and will operate 24 hours a day. Set up by Gateshead Borough Council,
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Emotions will run high as Jody returns to the fold
JODY Craddock will make an emotional return to the Sunderland team today with Peter Reid's glowing praise ringing in his ears. Craddock has not made a first-team appearance this season and was devastated last month when his baby son Jake died. But after
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Villagers in plea to create play facility
FAMILIES in a Weardale village are pleading with the council to support plans to open a children's play area. Residents of Stanhope hope to raise enough money to replace a playground which was closed and the equipment dismantled early this year. They
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Taylor happy to go back to Orient
A 250-MILE trip to the capital does not normally give cause for a high degree of optimism, but today's visit to east London has come as a welcome relief to Tommy Taylor's Darlington. A run of four defeats in five has caused many Quakers' critics to find
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Maccarone opens his away score sheet
Middlesbrough's first away win of the season was secured in style as they cruised to a comfortable 3 - 0 victory at White Hart Lane today. Massimo Maccarone, the 8.1 million Italian striker that was passed up br Spurs a few months ago, opened the scoring
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Man injured in town centre
Detectives sealed off a large part of Darlington today following the discovery of a badly injured man. The man, with what officers described as serious injuries, was discovered on West Auckland Road in the Cockerton area of the town this morning. Officers
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Pitching it just right
Banish thoughts of cold, concrete-block showers with cracked tiles and cramped caravans - camping is no longer the sole domain of the kagoule brigade, as Lindsay Jennings discovers. WE arrive on a pretty grey day and have the distinct feeling we're being
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Travelling Man
It's a far cry from the rarefied atmosphere of Durham City, but computer consultant Michael Pears will spend the nex few months travelling on the Trans-Siberian Express and camping with Mongolian tribesmen as he journeys from Moscow, through Russia, Mongolia
