Archive
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Valley reverse could be a blessing
IN-FORM goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer believes Middlesbrough have suffered the reality-check the squad needed. Defeat to Charlton on Sunday was the club's first in five games and praise was being lavished on Steve McClaren's men from all quarters. However
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Prepare for fright night
ONE of Durham's oldest and spookiest houses will be getting in the Halloween mood on Sunday. Crook Hall, the city's medieval manor house and gardens, will be laying on ghostly activities for visitors who may get to see its resident ghost, The White Lady
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Licence appeal hearing to begin
OPPONENTS of an Australian theme bar hope to win their battle against a national pub chain next week. On Monday, Durham Crown Court will begin hearing Regent Inns' appeal against the North Durham Licensing Committee's refusal of a drinks licence for the
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Plans for £9.5m centre defended
ONE of the men behind controversial plans to reopen a £9.5m arts complex has defended the move in the face of a sceptical public. The Stockton Arc closed down last October after suffering spiralling building costs, high overheads and disappointing ticket
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Karen's success is noted
CORPORATE law specialist Karen Simms has won a business award. Karen, from Sedgefield, is a partner in law practice Sinton & Co and has won the Prince's Trust North East mentor of the Year award for her work with aspiring musician Laura Reid. She
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Dripping with all the best intentions
BENEATH a picture of bairns blissfully enjoying an ice cream, the Northumbria Tourist Board has launched a vigorous half term advertising campaign. "Remember when holidays tasted this good?" it asks. The Board, responsible for a glorious area between
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Abortion - women unsure of rights
THIRTY-FIVE years after the 1967 Abortion Act was passed, women in the North are still unsure of their rights. A new survey, published by family planning agency Marie Stopes International (MSI), revealed that although 75 per cent of women in the region
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Answer to jobs is blowing in wind
A wind farm company hopes to create hundreds of jobs by establishing its headquarters in the region. More than 140 will be created on Teesside in the next two years by Mayflower Energy. As governments worldwide sign up to the Kyoto Protocol, which demands
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Pool fall to five-star Rovers
HARTLEPOOL United were last night blown out of the LDV Vans Trophy by Second Division Tranmere Rovers. A Pool team - which was more like a reserves side - were never able to come to terms with Rovers and were defeated for the second time this season by
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40mph road fears over new Darlington school
DOZENS of people turned out last night to voice their disapproval at proposals for a new £2.9m Darlington school. Parents and residents of the Cockerton and Faverdale areas packed into St Mary's Church hall to tell of their anger and fears over the planned
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Arca sees Howard's way as route to Argentina recall
SUNDERLAND crowd favourite Julio Arca is eager to win a first-team place under new boss Howard Wilkinson - and revive his international career. The Argentinian skippered his country to World Under-20 Championship glory in the summer of last year. But
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'Chloroform rapist said it was a game'
A FORMER caretaker accused of drugging and raping young boys described the late-night attacks in a deserted college as their "little game", a tearful alleged victim told a court yesterday. He said that John James Sanderson, 35, told him and another boy
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Residential home would ease bed blocking
PLANS have been submitted for a 15-bed care home in Darlington. If permission is granted, the new residential care home will be built on land in Hundens Lane, off Yarm Road, in the town. The home would provide 24-hour care, seven days a week, for patients
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MPs press for Prescott meeting over funding
NORTHERN MPs are demanding a crisis meeting with Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to press for a fairer funding deal for the region. A group, to be made up of representatives from Durham, Teesside, Newcastle and Tyne and Wear, will put forward a last-minute
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Jobs scheme proves success
A JOBSEEKERS' scheme is celebrating after helping more than 1,500 people into work in two years. The Easington Action Team for Jobs was set up with Government backing two years ago to help people find jobs and remove barriers such as a lack of transport
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Youth development worker in place
THE latest staff member to move into a Bishop Auckland community centre is youth development worker Alan Prest. When the £1.2m Four Clocks Project scheme, to convert a Wesleyan Methodist Church, started six years ago one of its key aims was to represent
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Plea for villagers to join committee
COUNCIL chiefs are urging residents to help shape a village's future by joining a committee. A committee to make decisions on Dawdon's regeneration, which will take forward a blueprint for the village, is being set up. It follows initial consultations
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Garden design proves a good move
A garden designed and developed by mental health patients has been opened at a North-East hospital. The sculpture garden, in Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital's Tranwell unit, took more than a year to complete and was a project between patients and
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James hopes to cane the opposition
BUSINESSMAN James Hudson is hoping his latest venture will pack a real punch with the public - introducing a new drink on to the British market. He discovered Cane Spirit, a 40 per cent proof drink distilled from cane sugar, while in South Africa where
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New dean looks ahead to city life
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has announced the appointment of the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove as the Dean of Durham. He will succeed the Very Reverend John Arnold, who retires on December 31 to take up the role of a supporting clergyman in Canterbury.
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Speak mind on services
PEOPLE in Hartlepool are being given the chance to have their say on social services provision in the town. Inspectors from the Audit Commission and Social Services Inspectorate, known as the Joint Review Team, will arrive in the town on Tuesday to take
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Dripping with all the best intentions
BENEATH a picture of bairns blissfully enjoying an ice cream, the Northumbria Tourist Board has launched a vigorous half term advertising campaign. "Remember when holidays tasted this good?" it asks. The Board, responsible for a glorious area between
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Speciality market lined up
A SPECIALITY market is to be established in a town. The monthly market in Guisborough's Westgate is expected to offer such delicacies as Yorkshire Punch, smoked trout, game pies and quail from about 20 to 30 traders coming from Tyneside to Yorkshire.
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Scientist takes lead in chemical analysis
A North-East company is using computer modelling to determine whether chemicals are environmentally friendly. Enviresearch, launched by Newcastle University biology researcher Dr James Garratt, is believed to be the only business of its kind in the region
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'Tis the season to be stressed
DO you know what day it is? What month, what season? Not if you're in the middle of a supermarket, you won't. The shelves groan with Hallowe'en goodies, but at the same time there are mince pies and hot cross buns. There are also strawberries and summer
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All-postal ballot plan raises fears of fraud
CONCERNS have been raised about a plan to hold an all-postal ballot. The move is being considered by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in an attempt to boost poor voting figures for council elections. The Labour-run authority, the most marginal of
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Shortlist of four sites for headquarters
THE field is down to four possible sites for new premises to replace a district council's out-dated offices and headquarters. District council cabinet members in Easington, yesterday whittled the contenders for the location of a civic base down to the
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Help towards sports goals
YOUNGSTERS are being helped to master some fancy footwork with professional football coaching. Barratt Homes in York has sponsored Harrogate Town FC's Football in the Community scheme to the tune of £10,000 - with equal funding from Sportsmatch, the business
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Why raped women feel the guilt
As pressure mounts on Ulrika Jonsson to press charges against the man who allegedly raped her, Women's Editor Christen Pears asks whether she should and why so many women fail to report sexual assaults. COLLECTING signatures for a petition calling for
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French play premier
A TRAGIC-COMIC play on the life of controversial French film maker Jean Vigo will be premiered in the North-East this week. Sunderland University's Concerts on Campus season continues tomorrow with the staging of Vigo, by Hexham-based theatre company
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Hear All Sides
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS: After reading the letter (HAS, Oct 12) from Stephen Hughes MEP, may I suggest he should become more conversant with the real world. In his letter he stated that we need a renewed sense of corporate social responsibility (CSR) between
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Banned driver was caught four times
Police in four counties caught Darren Bell driving in defiance of a ban, in just over a month, a court heard yesterday. Bell, 26, had been arrested in North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cleveland and Lancashire - on one occasion after he skidded into a
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Lara won't be ready for Christmas
The latest video game to feature gun-toting heroine Lara Croft will not be ready in time for Christmas, it has emerged. Game design group Eidos confirmed the City's worst fears yesterday by delaying the release of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of
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'Flying doctors' arrive from Germany to cut waiting lists
AS German "flying doctors" arrive this weekend, officials have confirmed that ten of their compatriots have accepted health jobs in the North-East. A team of four German hospital doctors will fly in later this week to carry out 42 minor orthopaedic operations
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Magpies drinking in 'last chance' saloon
SIR BOBBY ROBSON is setting his stall out for a famous victory over Juventus to rescue Newcastle United's Champions' League campaign. Robson insists that tonight's sell-out Group E clash at St. James' Park represents his side's "last chance'' to maintain
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Misconduct hearing for 'sex attack' doctor
A hospital doctor accused of sex attacks who was allowed back to work is facing a misconduct hearing over alleged indecency. Anaesthetist Dr Chandrakant Ganatra was suspended for nearly 14 months on fully pay after allegations came to light in January
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Police officer cleared of prostitution assault charges
A police officer was today cleared of picking up prostitutes and indecently assaulting them in the back of his van. Darren Dolan, 33, of Cleveland Police, was found not guilty of four counts of indecent assault following a week-long trial at Hull Crown
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Bramble backed by Sir Bobby
UNDER-FIRE Newcastle defender Titus Bramble has been backed to defy his doubters as he faces the biggest test of his fledgling career against Alessandro Del Piero and Co at St. James' Park tonight. Sir Bobby Robson, who paid Ipswich £5m for England Under
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Drop down suits Mark's Persuader
The Persuader, who ran in a really hot race at York last time, can take full advantage of a drop in grade in division one of the East Midlands Construction Raceday Maiden over a mile-and-a-quarter at Nottingham. Mark Johnston's colt, who holds an entry
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Historic coastal features will be stuided
Plans are in the pipeline to undertake a comprehensive survey of the 19th century industrial coastal features of North Yorkshire. Tees Archaeology are in the process of preparing a bid for Heritage Lottery funds to carry out the project and early discussions
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Government criticised over patient watchdog reform plans
One of the most experienced community health council chief officers in the region has attacked the Government over its plans to reform patient watchdogs. Health Secretary Alan Milburn has said he wants to abolish community health councils, but there are
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Bid for village green status likely to fail, residents told
A BID by residents to safeguard a recreation site for future generations looks likely to fail. Robert Heslop, of College View, Esh Winning, has applied to Durham County Council for land known as The Green, between College View and Esh Winning Primary
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'Blackmail' fury as firemen feel the heat
The Government was last night accused of trying to blackmail firefighters ahead of a wave of pay strikes as the heat was turned up in the increasingly bitter dispute. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott attacked the planned 36 days of stoppages as "completely
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Stringent checks to prevent repeat of the Neale scandal
HEALTH bosses say tough new employment checks introduced earlier this year should prevent NHS hospitals re-employing people like disgraced surgeon Richard Neale. The former Friarage Hospital surgeon was struck off the medical register two years ago after
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News In Brief
Autumn arts exhibition Chester-le-Street Arts Society will be holding its autumn exhibition at Chester-le-Street Library from Saturday until November 9. The group meets at Chester-le-Street Community Centre on Newcastle Bank, every Wednesday, from 7pm
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Trust promoting personal growth
A Darlington Building Society employee is helping a charity team which is restoring a church's garden. St Matthew and St Luke's Church, in Brinkburn Road, Darlington, is being given a make-over by a team of young people, most of whom are unemployed,as
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Who can defend this form of hunting?
OPPOSED to foxhunting, I nevertheless acknowledge a case for it arising from the centuries-long primacy of the fox as the chief and most cunning farm predator and, counting more in my book, the social role of the hunt in rural life. Dividing opinion (
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Police authority publishes allowance details
Cleveland Police Authority today published details of the allowance paid to its members in the past financial year together with the level of expenses claimed. The total amount of allowances claimed by members for the financial year 2001-02 including
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Port authority facing fines
A North-East port authority faces unlimited fines after admitting it played a part in the death of a taxi driver. Abdul Rashid drowned after driving his cab over the dockside at the Port of Tees. His Vauxhall Astra was dredged from Tees Dock the day after
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Job losses caused by 'ripple effect'
A BUSINESS leader is warning of a "ripple effect" caused by recent Black and Decker redundancies after another firm laid off more staff. Peter Troy, chairman of the Darlington branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, spoke after Altec Engineering
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Night bus service restored to estate
TRANSPORT managers have agreed to restore night bus services to an estate. Bus company Arriva North-East withdrew vehicles to the Skerne Park estate, in Darlington, following a string of vandalism and assaults in recent months. The move to suspend services
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'Tis the season to be stressed
DO you know what day it is? What month, what season? Not if you're in the middle of a supermarket, you won't. The shelves groan with Hallowe'en goodies, but at the same time there are mince pies and hot cross buns. There are also strawberries and summer
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My other 'car' is a nuclear bomber
FOR most boys, a flash car or a fast motorbike is the ultimate toy - but for one lucky North man, a dangerous aircraft and a steam engine are top of his play list. David Lee, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, spends his spare time taking children for pleasure
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Your kids aren't safe anywhere, says sniper
police hunting a sniper who was last night feared to have shot dead another victim have received a message warning: "Your children are not safe anywhere at any time." The chilling threat was apparently discovered by police on Saturday night at the scene
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Rape case man freed by appeal judges
A MAN jailed for eight years after being convicted of raping a teenage girl was freed yesterday by judges who ruled his convictions were unsafe. Nigel William Dack, 41, of Princess Royal Park, Scarborough, was found guilty by a York Crown Court jury in
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PM unveils new private care home
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has opened a 33-bedroom care home in Sedgefield. Willowdene, in Lizard Lane, is believed to be the first care home outside the public sector Mr Blair has honoured in this way. The care home, on the outskirts of the village, is
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Zone scheme makes streets safer for all
MIDDLESBROUGH Council has won funding to deliver a Home Zone scheme in the Gresham area of town. Home Zones creates attractive urban environments, fosters community spirit and provides safer streets by meeting the interests of pedestrians and cyclists
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Dance shows a little magic for pre-school children
CHILDREN from Sure Start sure had a good time at a special fun day yesterday. The pre-school children at Government-backed children's learning group Sure Start in Redcar were treated to shows from a Sri Lankan dancing girl, learnt all about the circus
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Sending out the wrong message
THERE are no easy answers in the debate over how the law should change with regard to rape. The issue is highly complex, hugely sensitive, and has to be considered with extreme care. The statistics, however, demonstrate that something has to change. If
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Wanted: A big home for some big fish with big teeth
WANTED: Good home for piranaha fish, with strong jaws and razor sharp teeth. Previous fish keeping experience not strictly neccessary. An aquatic pet shop in County Durham has received a consignment of ten unusually large red-bellied piranhas. The tropical
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Workmates have got that lubberly bubbly Lotto feeling
A GROUP of workmates from County Durham are celebrating after winning £142,209 on the Lotto draw. The win softened the disappointment of England's 2-2 draw against Macedonia for syndicate leader Richard Skilton. For it was while watching the match on
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Jail for intruders who were caught in the act
TWO burglars were jailed yesterday after police caught them red-handed stealing antique silverware from a country cottage. The police were keeping observations on a white Transit van when it parked at the back of a cottage near Sedgefield in County Durham
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Dogs may have been starved for three months
THE young dogs pictured on the right could have been without proper food for as long as three months, according to vets. The pair are thought to have survived by scavenging for scraps before being taken in by the Hobos rescue centre at Evenwood, where
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Police step up on cycle safety
CYCLE lights and data tags were on offer from police officers in South Bank at the weekend in an initiative to encourage cycle safety. Three primary schools have taken part in a cycle safety poster campaign, with 12 winners receiving free lights and data
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Greg picks up IT qualification
GREG Hamilton is celebrating after he became the first registered blind person in the region to achieve an RSA IT qualification. Mr Hamilton, who works for the North-East Chamber of Commerce, recently completed level three of the Oxford and Cambridge
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Last Nights TV
Wild West (BBC1) - Linda Green (BBC1): Men Behaving Badly creator Simon Nye was on the radio this week sounding unhappy that someone at the BBC had added canned laughter to his new series Wild West. I can only applaud their ingenuity in finding somewhere
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Store seeks 50 festive workers
A STORE is holding a two-day recruitment event offering jobs for up to 50 people. Marks and Spencer at the MetroCentre has teamed up with the centre's in-house recruitment agency, metrojobs, to organise the event tomorrow and on Friday, from 10am to 3pm
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Youth theatre group warm up for West End
TALENTED performers from a youth drama group will perform a musical on home territory this week before heading for London's West End. Spennymoor Youth Theatre Group's 80 cast members will stage Fame The Musical at the town's leisure centre from tonight
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Hospice fears council waste scheme will hit fundraising
HOSPICE fundraisers fear a council drive to recycle more rubbish could leave them short of cash. The mountain of waste collected by the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland every year raises about £15,000 for patient care. But organisers fear supporters
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Panto cat Tim ends up as the top dog
THE world of amateur theatre has turned full circle for 21-year-old Tim Fairhurst - thanks to a pantomime cat. It was as an 11-year-old that Tim first played the cat in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - the Christmas pantomime produced by the Glenholme
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Winter hampers gift for the elderly
WINTER hampers are to be distributed to elderly people in Spennymoor as part of Make a Difference Day. Spennymoor Borough Volunteer Bureau has teamed up with Age Concern Durham County and the Salvation Army to provide the hampers. Organised by the national
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School survival depends on move say education officers
Plans for a £2.9m school to replace Alderman Leach Primary School have caused a stir among, Darlington parents and residents. After last night's public meeting, Stuart Mackintosh reports on the debate THE dispute over the future of Alderman Leach Primary
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Pupils' achievements celebrated
Parkside Comprehensive School, Willington, marked pupils achievements with an awards evening last night. Assistant headteacher David Wallace said: "This is a celebration of success for our pupils. The school is absolutely delighted with the progress our
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Open for holidays, 16 years on
A holiday retreat is nearing completion after 16 years of delay. The holiday hideaway is being created in what was a folly overlooking Hackfall Woods, Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, built by William Aislabie in 1767. Late next year, when a £444,000 restoration
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Call for poppy appeal support
PEOPLE living in the Richmondshire district are being urged to show their support for this year's Poppy Appeal. District council chairman councillor James Kendall said that the public's backing was vital for the Royal British Legion to continue its good
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A hero's welcome for the pint-sized giant killers
THEY have escaped a closed world and crossed half the globe for the chance of a cup of tea and a kick-about on a North-East housing estate. After 36 years of isolation, the other boys of '66 will today return to the place where they made football history
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Revamped maintenance service takes to the roads
A new operation has been set up to maintain North Yorkshire's roads - and it has already taken delivery of its first contract-designed vehicle. The county council has joined up with existing design consultant Mouchel and new maintenance contractor Raynesway
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Sex for sale fear over cafe proposal
RESIDENTS are opposing moves to reopen an all-night caf which they fear will become a meeting place for prostitutes and their punters. Romeo's Caf, in Hartington Road, Middlesbrough, currently serves food in the daytime and evening, but father and son
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It's good news week!
As you probably saw in Monday's Northern Echo (front page no less!), it's been quite a week with the call from Number Ten. I was telling you in my previous column that I was due at a bit of a do last Friday to celebrate the opening of the new Sleep Inn
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Darlington manager Taylor sacked
Darlington has sacked manager Tommy Taylor after the club's poor start to the season. The Quakers have won just three of their first 14 league games to leave them in 20th position in the table. Taylor's final game in charge was the 1-0 defeat to Stockport
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Dog charity walker continues campaign
A man who walked from Germany to County Durham to publicise his charity is now embarking on the next step of his campaign. In August Ian Young and his black labrador Sally arrived in Chester-le-Street, after setting off in June from Germany, walking hundreds
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Neale campaigners to meet inquiry barrister
The senior barrister chairing the inquiry into Richard Neale has agreed to meet campaigners to discuss their concerns, it was revealed last night. Campaigners believe it could be the last chance to turn the inquiry into the disgraced former Friarage Hospital
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Newcastle Utd 1 - 0 Juventus - Griffin makes it a night to remember for Magpies
ANDY GRIFFIN was the unlikely hero who on Wednesday night dramatically re-ignited Newcastle United's Champions' League challenge as Tyneside celebrated another unforgettable night of European football. It was a victory which evoked memories of the Magpies
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Football club can appeal award payout
In a rare legal move Darlington Football Club has been granted the right to appeal against the £61,000 it was ordered to pay a former employee. It was in April of this year that Newcastle Employment Tribunal ruled the club should pay the hefty sum to
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Jobs group moves to bigger premises
AN organisation helping the unemployed back to work has just opened new, larger offices. Action 4 Employment has moved into new premises on the corner of Eskdale Street and Larchfield Street, in Darlington. The group works with the Government's New Deal
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Defeat the least of Taylor's worries
Win or lose, the result of last night's LDV Vans Trophy first round tie with Stockport County was never going to have much of a bearing as Tommy Taylor sits down with chairman George Reynolds today to discuss his future with the club. For the record Quakers
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Murder suspect will be extradited to UK
A murder suspect is to be extradited back to the North-East after failing in his last appeal to remain in Spain. Detectives from Middlesbrough will fly to Madrid in the near future to escort Jonathan Crossling, 36, back to the region. Crossling is being
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Pet Shop Boy backs school in arts dream
A music legend has struck a chord with pupils at a rural North-East comprehensive school by backing their bid to become a performing arts college. The Tyneside-born half of the Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant, has agreed to become patron of the venture if
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Region set to lead leukaemia trials
North-East patients are set to be at the forefront of ground-breaking medical trials that could spell new hope for thousands of leukaemia patients. Experts say the findings should be helpful in the treatment of acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML), one
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Fundraising effort brings aid to lepers
FUNDRAISERS have helped an extraordinary medical worker realise her dream of setting up a clinic for Indian women stigmatised by leprosy. Thousands of miles away from her family's home in Frosterley, Weardale, fine arts graduate Leah Pattison brings hope
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Stress awareness initiative
A NORTH-EAST council is doing its bit for European Safety and Health Week by launching a free stress awareness initiative for staff. Teesdale District Council has given employees the chance to take part in stress awareness sessions and free blood pressure
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Man crushed to death in tyre factory
A 49-year-old man died at a tyre factory this morning when he was crushed between a tractor and gritting machinery. The worker, from the Chester-le-Street area of County Durham, was killed on the site of the Dunlop Tyres plant in Washington just after
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Alert as counterfeit £1 coins surface
POLICE have issued an alert over counterfeit pound coins circulating in pubs and shops. The coins are identical in shape and design to regular pound coins, but can be easily scratched and marked, revealing a silver colour underneath. The fakes, some of
