Archive
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Hiding the real cost of US gun culture
IN THE three weeks during which the Washington sniper assassinated ten people, spreading fear throughout the region and distorting normal life, guess how many US citizens perished through guns? Remember that the US has a gun culture formalised in a hallowed
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N-E MPs increase pressure for action over airguns
THE region's MPs last night piled the pressure on the Government to crack down on yobs abusing airguns. A number of North-East MPs lent their support to a Private Member's Bill introduced in the Commons aimed at banning unsupervised use of the weapons
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Robson fears Juventus will offer no favours
Sir Bobby Robson was last night praying that Juventus would decide against adopting Sir Alex Ferguson's approach to the Champions' League and give United a sporting chance of qualifying for the second round. Newcastle need to beat Feyenoord on November
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Former mayor and councillor dies aged 82
A FORMER mayor of Spennymoor has died at 82. Retired miner John Kitson, who represented Middlestone Moor ward on Spennymoor Town Council for 39 years before retiring in the late 1990s, died in hospital on Sunday. During his long service he chaired all
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Leisure centre show cancelled
A ROCK show at Spennymoor Leisure Centre has been cancelled because of poor ticket sales. The Rockin On Heaven's Door show was due to take to the stage in Spennymoor on Friday. It was hoped sales would increase after a poor start, but the band's management
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Mystery of ostrich in road accident
MYSTERY surrounds how an ostrich came to be on a stretch of main road yesterday during rush hour. The bird was wandering on Leven Bank, between Ingleby Barwick and Yarm, Teesside, at 7.45am, when it was struck by a car. Motorists pulled over and tried
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Judge criticises free drink offers by bars
A JUDGE yesterday criticised bars which offer an admission only charge with all drinks free. Judge Peter Bowers was told that call centre worker Jonnie Kingh drank 15 to 20 vodkas before he attacked a stranger with a glass. Kingh, 20, was ordered to pay
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Teacher tackles Farne Islands swimming feat
A TEACHER will today brave notoriously treacherous waters off the Northumberland coast in an attempt to swim to the Farne Islands. According to fishermen at Seahouses, there have been many attempts over the years to swim from the town to the nearby islands
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Driver guilty of causing boy's death
A 36-YEAR-old man was yesterday found guilty of causing the death of a promising young footballer by dangerous driving. During a trial at Teesside Crown Court, a jury heard how talented 14-year-old soccer player Daniel Stewart had been thrown in the air
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Call for regional stock exchanges
REGIONAL stock exchanges and markets should be introduced to the UK, according to a new report. The idea was the key recommendation of a study by Robert Huggins Associates, an economic think-tank and consultancy specialising in competitiveness research
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From island to Ireland
A SOLDIER from the tropical island of Fiji is experiencing a different climate as he serves with one of the region's regiments. Private Harold Sword, from Suva, is based with the 1st Battalion The Green Howards in Northern Ireland. He has just completed
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Comment: Overwelming call for inquiry
IT is difficult for parents to accept that their child has committed suicide. In such tragic circumstances it is natural for them to cling to the hope that their son or daughter did not take their own life. Initially, this may have been the natural instinct
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Students make a meal of raising funds for charity
COLLEGE students have used their new-found skills to raise money for a cancer charity. Matthew Gallagher, 20, and Roy Hewlett, 19, both catering students at Darlington College of Technology, raised £150 for Marie Curie Cancer Care when they organised
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Race hate party's prizes for children
CHILDREN as young as five are being offered prizes to draw propaganda posters for a racist political group. The British National Party has been condemned for trying to recruit children through a leafleting campaign in schools. Children are urged to join
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Villagers' anger over lord of the manor's charge to access their homes
VILLAGERS across Britain were yesterday warned they may fall victim to an access charge which could affect thousands of households. The problem was highlighted in Sutton-on-the-Forest, North Yorkshire, where people have been told to get legal advice.
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Charity runner brings home £1,155 bonus
CHARITY champion David Snell raised more than £1,000 for a local good cause by completing the Great North Run. The retired headteacher raised £1,155 for the Salvation Army Corps in Shildon - over £88 a mile - by crossing the finishing line in two hours
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Richmond station developer selected soon
A developer for Richmond's former station building could be chosen on Wednesday (Nov. 6) when a special council meeting is convened. Richmondshire resources committee is asked to decide between four submitted schemes presented to the public last week.
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Time travellers helping hospice
TRAVEL agency staff were transported back to the 1970s to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland. Workers from Hays Travel, which has shops in Shildon, Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland, donned fancy dress for the event at the Railway
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Heroin addict wins cut in sentence
A HEROIN addict who abused the generosity and kindness of his mother won a cut in his "manifestly excessive" sentence yesterday. In July, William Frederick Smith pleaded guilty to burglary and theft at Durham Crown Court and was sent to a young offenders
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Research spending cuts tax bill
A DARLINGTON business has managed to save more than £18,000 in tax charges after being given advice to invest more of its money in projects focused on research and development. The savings were achieved by the Barcode Solution Centre (BSC), which is based
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Diamond celebration
IT was a diamond celebration for William and Janet Jones when they marked 60 years of happy marriage The couple, who live in Spennymoor, celebrated the marriage milestone with family and friends. Mr Jones, 82, and Mrs Jones, 78, spent most of their married
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Cabbies vote to take strike action over driving tests
TAXI drivers in Darlington last night voted in favour of strike action over opposition to a new driving standards test. But some expressed concern about public safety when the strike goes ahead. Under new rules imposed by Darlington Borough Council, cabbies
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Sharon Griffiths: Why new rape rules could hurt more than help
SO when did we turn ourselves into victims? The new generation of women is meant to be bold and confident, striding out equally with men. Yet somewhere we seem to have turned ourselves into simpering little Victorian misses, incapable of looking after
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Care centre offering a host of learning opportunities
A NEWTON Aycliffe care centre will be offering a series of courses in the New Year. The Pioneering Care Centre has a programme designed for people who want to learn in the community. From January, courses in family history, holistic therapies - level
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Report calls for improvements
THE service offered to people with housing problems in an area of Cleveland needs major improvement, according to a Government report. But Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will today hit back by announcing details of a £1m temporary accommodation
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Hear All Sides: Bingo
EVERY year five million people visit bingo halls, including one out of every five people in the North of England. Bingo tax is levied on the customer, meaning bingo players are paying the Government over £100m every year. In the Budget, the Chancellor
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Carers' centre takes part in national survey
A CENTRE which supports people who care for relations, neighbours or friends has taken part in a national consultation project. The Princess Royal Trust Sedgefield Locality Carers Centre sent out 100 questionnaires to find out what changes have been seen
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Putting shopping on ice
Shoppers can take to the ice next month when a town centre becomes home to an ice rink. South Shields town centre will have an outdoor rink from November 19 to January 5.
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Angling club expansion bid opposed
A PLEA for councillors to reject plans for the extension of an angling club is being made by people living in Witton Park, Bishop Auckland. They will take their protests to a meeting of Wear Valley District Council's development control committee tomorrow
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Winning battle to lower teen pregnancies rate
EFFORTS to reduce the high levels of teenage pregnancies in the North-East appear to be working, according to figures. Research by public health doctors in the region shows there has been a sharp decline in conceptions over three years. Dr Bill Kirkup
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Grieving families on the march for justice
DEMANDS for a public inquiry into the mysterious deaths of young soldiers intensified last night as grieving families accused the Armed Forces of a "culture of secrecy". The campaign for an official investigation into the shootings of four Army recruits
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New child care places
Thousands of new child care places will be created across the North-East thanks to a lottery boost of more than a million pounds. The New Opportunities Fund is ploughing £1,490,661 into the region's pre-school and after-school clubs. The money will also
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Cummins gives jobs pledge as pull-out rumours denied
ENGINE maker Cummins last night pledged its commitment to the region amid growing fears that it may become the latest manufacturer to move abroad. The company ruled out closure of its Darlington plant and revealed plans to boost order books, raising hopes
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Quinn on the way out at Sunderland
NIALL Quinn is poised to sever his ties with Sunderland in the next fortnight after succumbing to his long-standing back injury. Quinn, 36, had a scan on the problem yesterday and is expected to confirm his decision to retire after a second X-ray early
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Harry Potter and the broom boom
WIZARD Harry Potter has worked his magic again - this time on one of the last producers of besom brooms in the country. Due to the huge demand for broomsticks sparked by JK Rowling's books and the Harry Potter film, production of heather brooms is set
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Honourable draw as Tait's unbeaten start continues
Caretaker boss Mick Tait was forced to settle for a point as Darlington were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Scunthorpe last night. An Ian Clark penalty cancelled out former Quakers striker Martin Carruthers' early opener. Both sides met on the back of
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Father touched by help for son
A FATHER has been overwhelmed by the level of support from villagers and friends to raise money for his injured son. Ben Woods, 17, from Hurworth, near Darlington, lost his right arm and left leg after being struck by a train in July. The Queen Elizabeth
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Top architects vie to leave mark on historic landscape
THE cream of Britain's architects are bidding to design a heritage resource centre for a nationally important historic landscape. Seventy three consultants expressed interest in designing a building for Hardwick Park, near Sedgefield, which is to be restored
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When every second counts
What sort of person wants to spend their days dealing with potentially lethal unexploded bombs? Nick Morrison tries to get behind the cool exterior of the bomb disposal squad. IN order to become a fully-trained member of the bomb disposal squad, you first
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Funding role for council's Claire
Derwentside District Council has appointed Claire Smith as its co-ordinator for the community resource network. Known to organisations through her work as the council's funding support officer, her first role will be to invite applications for funding
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Could you give a dog like Curly a home?
CURLY, a Patterdale terrier cross found wondering the streets, is in need of a home. Curly is thought to be between one and two years old, and was picked up in the Easington area by a dog warden about five weeks ago and taken to Deerness Kennels in Langley
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Action after spate of thefts
Police have promised action after vehicle thefts in Stanley and Consett last weekend. Thieves struck 15 times over four nights, stealing four motorbikes, two cars and one van. Crooks stole property from a further five vehicles and made failed attempts
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Police appeal after man's lip sliced open
A MAN has undergone surgery to a wound to his upper lip after it was sliced open in an unprovoked attack. A police spokesman said the 59-year-old victim had left Pumphrey's Bar to walk along Pudding Chare and down towards the Central Station, in Newcastle
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Plea over lights fund shortfall
PEOPLE are being told they need to put their hands in their pockets if they expect to see Christmas lights again. Organisers are £4,700 short of the amount needed for lights and decorations to be put up in Whitby. The chairman of the Christmas lights
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Police appeal in hunt for knife raider
POLICE have made a fresh appeal for help in catching a knifeman who robbed an off-licence. The attack took place in Booze Busters, Stanley, on Saturday, October 19, at 9.30pm. The robber threatened the cashier with a large kitchen knife and made off with
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Lifelike dolls offer lesson in parenthood
YOUNGSTERS have learnt the pitfalls of parenting with the help of lifelike dolls. Pupils at Sunderland's Castle Green School, in Hylton Castle, formerly known as Fellstead School, were given the dolls by London Electricity's call centre at Doxford Park
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No time to be idle with holiday activity days
CHILDREN have plenty to keep them busy this half-term holiday thanks to a scheme launched in the summer. People living in the Ford and Pallion area of Sunderland worked with the community development team to form an activities group, organising entertainment
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Nurse tells of sex assaults
A SENIOR staff nurse yesterday described her shock as she watched an anaesthetist sexually assault unconscious women patients twice on the same day. In the first case, he massaged a young woman and then later put his hand down the front of another woman's
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Council service only fair - report
A COUNCIL'S building service - holder of three Government charter marks for excellence - has been rated only fair by an auditors' inspection. Durham City Council spent £5.8m on its service in the past financial year, all but £200,000 of which was spent
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Atomiser contributes to university research
UNIVERSITY research into aerodynamics is being given a boost by industrial dust and odour control specialists Probe Industries. Cranfield University is introducing a Probe Atomising Unit at its Royal Military College of Science campus in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire
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Rain comes down with a force
HEAVY rain turned one of the region's most popular landmarks into a raging torrent. Swollen upland streams caused a significant rise in water levels over High Force waterfall, in Teesdale, County Durham. However, although the levels of many of the region's
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'Widen pensions firm inquiry'
ACTION groups of policyholders with troubled mutual Equitable Life yesterday joined forces to call for a fresh inquiry into the affair. They called on the Parliamentary Ombudsman to widen an investigation into the regulators who have been handling problems
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Former mayor dies, aged 90
A FORMER mayor and deputy headteacher of Richmond grammar school has died, aged 90. Frank Dickinson was a Richmond town councillor for 21 years, from 1948, and served as the town's then youngest mayor, aged 41, in 1953. He became deputy headmaster at
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Colourful idea will transform painting
A CHEMISTRY drop-out has used his rudimentary knowledge to design a revolutionary paint which changes colour on the wall. Chris Bramley's invention could transform DIY nightmares, with bright blue paint in the pot turning gleaming white once it dries
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Yards may get share in £3bn
NORTH-East shipbuilders are hoping to benefit from a £3bn Royal Navy shipbuilding contract. Two rival consortia are bidding to build two massive aircraft carriers for the Ministry of Defence. The 60,000 tonne carriers will be the biggest British warships
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Worker sues firm over gay taunts
A FACTORY worker's marriage broke down after he suffered up to 30 homophobic taunts every day from fellow workers, a court has heard. John Weatherstone, 42, endured 18 months of name calling while working as a warehouseman because of an alleged resemblance
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City rolls out a carpet of lights
A STATUE is to be lit up for the first time this year, as part of a city's Christmas lights display. Television presenters Ant and Dec will switch on the lights at Grey's Monument, in Newcastle, at 6.30pm on Thursday, November 21. This year's display
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North police drafted in to help track down serial rapist
POLICE forces across the region are being drafted in to assist in one of Britain's biggest ever manhunts. A serial rapist, who has carried out at least ten attacks in the past year, is still evading capture and is even thought to be taunting detectives
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Venables hopes statement will end race row
Leeds manager Terry Venables hopes to draw a line under the bitter row between Middlesbrough's George Boateng and Leeds' Nick Barmby of racism. Boateng is understood to have initially accused Barmby of making racist comments "against his brethren and
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Centre gets ready to meet the buyers
JENNINGS Ford's business centre is anticipating an influx of sales tomorrow. Its Meet the Buyers event, at the Samsung Centre, Wynyard, near Stockton, is a chance for firms to raise sales by meeting new clients. Geoff Robson, local business specialist
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Ballot to be held on housing
THE Yorkshire coast could receive £55m for social housing over the next five years. The investment depends on tenants voting to support a transfer of ownership from Scarborough Borough Council to Yorkshire Coast Homes. The council's cabinet is to decide
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Whitehall officials to visit the sharp end
A TEAM of officials from the Department For Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is to visit North Yorkshire this week. At the invitation of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), eight Defra officials will be on a fact-finding mission to study
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Bakke hits out at Boateng
George Boateng was last night warned he faces the full wrath of the Football Association, and the game's governing body would expose his racist accusations against Nick Barmby as 'utter rubbish'. As Boateng's English representative Barry Silkman argued
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Petrol sold to 11-year-old in undercover sting
GARAGES have been told to tighten up working practices after trading standards officers revealed children as young as 11 could buy petrol. Five out of six Middlesbrough garages that were visited by children aged 11 and 12 allowed them to take petrol from
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Police appeal for witnesses to stabbing
POLICE have appealed for witnesses following the stabbing of a 22-year-old man during an argument at a Metro station. A police spokesman said the victim got off the Metro train at the South Gosforth Station between 10.15pm and 10.30pm on Friday, October
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Rebel councillors 'hounded out by Labour witch-hunt'
THREE suspended councillors have been deselected after launching an attack on their local party hierarchy. Stockton borough councillors Steve Walmsley, Eileen Craggs and Anthony Holban have been barred from standing for the Labour Party in next year's
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News in brief: Lanterns workshop
PLACES are still available for children wishing to take part in lantern-making sessions in Sedgefield's Ceddesfeld Hall on Saturday, at 10am. People taking part must bring a jam jar. The finished products will be paraded before the start of the village's
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Touring drama to focus on epidemic
A DRAMA about the foot-and-mouth epidemic is being brought to North Yorkshire. Theatre company Blaize is performing New Life, written by Maureen Lawrence. It portrays how the epidemic affected the lives of its four characters, a farmer and his daughter
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Agent finds great escape
THIRSK estate agent Gateway has found a country escape for a TV programme. Viewers of Escape to the Country, to be screened on BBC2, are invited to consider moving to the countryside. The Reading Rooms, in Carlton Husthwaite, will be a featured property
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Arnison's volley sets up Pool's tenth win
PAUL Arnison only scores spectacular goals for Hartlepool United. The last one led, ultimately, to heartache as Pool lost in the play-offs at Cheltenham, but last night's strike led to nothing but joy at Victoria Park. Minutes before half-time his dipping
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News in brief: Reprieve for free cuppa
MEMBERS of a Cleveland council agreed yesterday that they should not lose their free cups of tea. A proposal to scrap the catering service, which costs Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council taxpayers £67,770 a year in subsidy, was rejected by the executive
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Police and farmers' union join forces to beat thieves
POLICE have joined forces with the National Farmers Union to launch a campaign to combat professional thieves targeting rural areas. Quad bikes, trailers, tools and light machinery are popular among criminals who travel long distances to steal property
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News in brief: Lanterns workshop
PLACES are still available for children wishing to take part in lantern-making sessions in Sedgefield's Ceddesfeld Hall on Saturday, at 10am. People taking part must bring a jam jar. The finished products will be paraded before the start of the village's
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News in brief: Reprieve for free cuppa
MEMBERS of a Cleveland council agreed yesterday that they should not lose their free cups of tea. A proposal to scrap the catering service, which costs Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council taxpayers £67,770 a year in subsidy, was rejected by the executive
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Couple offering quirky soles for stylish souls
A HUSBAND and wife team have set up a new kind of shoe shop in Darlington. After years travelling to Newcastle or Leeds for footwear which was "different", Lee and Joanne Rankin identified a market niche in Darlington. They set up their business as a
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Grief of family in double tragedy
THE family of brother and sister Karl Bowes and Kelly McKie, who died after their car hit barriers while travelling the wrong way along a road, have spoken of their grief at the double tragedy. Their mother, Kathleen McKie, said: "It is hard for a parent
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World Heritage status bid for religious site
A RELIGIOUS site which was the cradle for England's first and most famous historian could soon be ranked with landmarks such as Hadrian's Wall and Durham Cathedral. The Bede's World visitor attraction, on Tyneside, is heading a bid to win World Heritage
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Cities shortlisted in Culture bid
Newcastle/Gateshead will battle it out against five other UK cities to be named European Capital of Culture 2008. The other five are: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Oxford. They have been unveiled as the contenders by Culture Secretary Tessa
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Families who will not rest until they uncover the truth
IT IS the knowledge that they may never find out exactly how their son was killed which has eaten away at the Riches' family for years. Fusilier Gary Riches, 24, died at his base in Bosnia when he was hit in the head with a bullet from his own rifle on
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Why new rape rules could hurt more than help
SO when did we turn ourselves into victims? The new generation of women is meant to be bold and confident, striding out equally with men. Yet somewhere we seem to have turned ourselves into simpering little Victorian misses, incapable of looking after
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Stamp of disapproval for major misdirection
BACK to basics, perhaps, left wing former Sunderland North MP Bob Clay now runs a business called Roots Music - selling CDs and things - from Stanhope, in Weardale. Peter Sixsmith from Shildon sent an order in August, waited a couple of weeks and then
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Hospital to recall 29 patients in CJD alert
UP to 29 patients may have been exposed to the deadly brain disease CJD because of a hospital blunder, it was revealed last night. Department of Health officials said that the patients were put at risk at Middlesbrough General Hospital when contaminated
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Widows' payout scheme extended
HUNDREDS of widows whose husbands suffered from vibration white finger (VWF) will have extra time to claim for compensation after a change of heart by the Government. The deadline for widows to claim under the national compensation scheme was due to run
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Child porn staff nurse escapes
A STAFF nurse who downloaded 9,000 Internet sex images of children escaped jail yesterday. Judge Peter Bowers said that although the offence justified an 18-month prison sentence, the Government would not fund short-term prisoners to be sent on a sex
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Boxer jailed over bar attack
A BOXER was jailed yesterday after he knocked out a stranger in a bar with a single punch, breaking his jaw in two places. Police said that Julian Bunney, 24, bragged to them about his punch after his victim was taken to hospital. Bunney, who had been
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Man put girlfriend into fire, court told
BLAZE victim Victoria Barker died after being dumped on a fire, a murder jury has heard. Prosecutors say Miss Barker, 30, was found kneeling over the remains of the sofa at her home in County Durham after a fire was deliberately started by John Collings
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Photographic puzzle
THE picture of a German shepherd dog complete with wig is among a handful of negatives found in Bishop Auckland town centre. Shopper Anne Glynn is trying to return the collection of snaps back to their rightful owner after having two of the pictures developed
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Play offers a message for youngsters
A MUSICAL play that looks at the effects of failed marriages through the eyes of children is to be staged in Crook. A Family Cookbook, which has been written for children over eight, will be performed by CTC Theatre at the Elite Hall on November 14. The
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Crack dealers under pressure
CLASS A drugs worth more than £2,500 and about £1,650 in cash were seized as officers working on the Dealer a Day operation raided 11 Middlesbrough houses. Eleven men and women, aged between 19 and 29, were arrested and charged with drug possession and
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Worker's loyalty brings reward
A MARKS and Spencer employee from the region has been rewarded for 25 years' service in a ceremony at the company's London headquarters. Ann Sill, who works in the Darlington branch of the store chain, was presented with a diamond eternity ring by Marks
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Left Bank can turn tables for Mary
ALTHOUGH Cheltenham has not been a happy hunting ground for trainer Mary Reveley over recent seasons, the pendulum could start to swing the other way if Left Bank can win the opener at Prestbury Park today. On the evidence of his latest cosy victory at
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Georgian landscape restored
A search for vital clues about a nationally important historic landscape is about to start. Archaeologists from Durham County Council are to dig into the past at Hardwick Park, near Sedgefield, to find out how the Grade II* English Heritage listed landscape
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Man critical after crash
A MAN was left in a critical condition after he and his wife were involved in a road accident. David Treweman, 50, of Salutation Road, Darlington, was taken by air ambulance to Middlesbrough General Hospital with serious neck injuries after the accident
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Touring exhibition back home
A TOURING exhibition will make its way back to the village where it was created to become a permanent display for the community. Going to the Centre was first on show at Toft Hill and Etherley Community Centre back in February and March. It then travelled
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Magistrates' court cases
Lee David Roberts, 20, of Haughton Road, Darlington, admitted stealing nine bottles of Becks beer from Darlington Arts Centre's cellar, when he appeared before Darlington magistrates yesterday. He was released on bail and will be sentenced on November
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Appeal over planning refusal
A PLANNING appeal has been lodged following refusal of an application to build six houses on a greenfield site in Hurworth. Gary Orpen has written to the Secretary of the State for the Environment appealing against Darlington Borough Council's refusal
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Future role of hospital in the spotlight
COUNCILLORS will meet today to discuss the future role of a community hospital in Barnard Castle. A presentation about plans to improve services at the Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle, will be given to members of Teesdale District Council at a
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Fears after hunt fails to find missing man
CONCERNS were growing last night for the safety of a teenager who went missing at the weekend, after a massive search failed to find him. Craig Foreman, 19, who had been receiving psychiatric treatment, walked out of his home at Denecrest, in the Dene
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Rugby player facing hefty ban after shoving referee
A RUGBY player who shoved a referee during a heated amateur match is facing a hefty ban. West Hartlepool Tech player Chris Ward was so incensed at being sent off during a match with Gateshead that he pushed experienced referee Mike Hodgson in the chest
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Watchdogs' beef over mince labels
CONSUMER watchdogs have warned people to be on their guard against misleading labels found on packets of minced beef. Trading standards teams in Yorkshire have been sampling products over the past few months to check on fat levels They found that many
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News in brief: New shopping centre to open
SHOPPING in a North-East town will be a new experience from this weekend when a revamped town centre is unveiled. The £26m Regent Walk shopping centre, in Redcar, will be opened by the town's former MP, Mo Mowlam, on Friday. The 23-shop mall is the centrepiece
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Preparations under way for fireworks extravaganza
THE temperatures may be plummeting, but a spectacular fireworks display will be turning up the heat in Darlington at the weekend. This year's Bonfire Night event in Darlington's South Park, which is being staged on Saturday, is being hailed as the best
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New waste collection system
A NEW refuse collection system for homes in Teesdale will be discussed by councillors today. Teesdale District Council will consider a report by officers overseeing the introduction of a wheelie bin system for thousands of people in the dale. The council
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Five in hospital after crashes
FIVE people were still being treated in hospital yesterday after two accidents which happened within minutes of each other near Darlington. Philip Stallard, of Catterick, North Yorkshire, was thrown from his red Honda motorcycle in a collision with a
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Youngsters get expert advice on green schemes from former TV pundit
YOUNGSTERS from a Billingham school will be helping to spread an eco-friendly message after BP Cats sponsored a visit by an environment expert. Phil Williams, of Plan-It Eco, returned to Teesside, after his thought-provoking workshop struck a chord with
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Residents urged to voice protests over town centre
NEWTON Aycliffe residents have been urged to make their feelings known about a dispute which could stop a proposed town centre extension. The long-delayed £25m expansion scheme has been thrown into doubt and may result in a legal battle which could take
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Learner driver was high on drugs
THREE people died in a fireball because a learner driver was high on drink and drugs. An inquest heard that after it had sped round a roundabout the wrong way, the car, carrying six friends home from a night out, clipped a kerb, careered into a tree and
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Last Night's TV: Sex And Fashion: Inside Gucci (C4); Dambusters: Revealed (five)
Furnish's fluffy, fawning look at a fashion icon His revealing Elton John documentary Tantrums And Tiaras led you to believe that film-maker David Furnish's Inside Gucci would provide startling behind the scenes stories about the fashion house. Far from
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Police to combat disorder in Ricmond
Police are to have extra powers to combat alcohol-related disorder in five public areas of Richmond and Catterick Garrison. The discretionary powers of confiscation and arrest will apply to Ronaldshay park, the Batts, Castle Walk and Friary gardens, all
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Medal for dedicated poppy fund raiser
With his dying breath, leukaemia sufferer Ernest Hancock told his mother he was determined to get out of hospital in time to help with his beloved Poppy Appeal. A dedicated fundraiser despite being mentally handicapped, his death came the day he was due
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Health officials followed guidelines -- South Tees
Twenty-four patients who are at theoretical risk of contracting an incurable brain disease are being contacted by South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust today. The patients were operated on with the same surgical instruments used on a woman patient who was diagnosed
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Gadfly: Stamp of disapproval for major misdirection
BACK to basics, perhaps, left wing former Sunderland North MP Bob Clay now runs a business called Roots Music - selling CDs and things - from Stanhope, in Weardale. Peter Sixsmith from Shildon sent an order in August, waited a couple of weeks and then
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Shearer's priceless goal rekindles hope
AFTER seeing the match as the biggest game of his European career, Alan Shearer scored arguably his most important goal in a Newcastle United shirt to keep alive their hopes of performing a remarkable Champions' League Houdini act. Shearer converted a
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Police crackdown on teenage gangs
POLICE are stepping up patrols to combat rising complaints of anti-social behaviour. Gangs of teenagers are said to be intimidating residents in the Derwent Walk and Queens Road areas of Blackhill, Consett, and Annfield Plain. Detective Sergeant Dave
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Youngsters put music in Folkus
FOUR of the region's finest young folk talents perform this weekend. Megan Hatto, of Eastgate, County Durham, and Newcastle youngsters Julia Ross, Sarah Jones and Matthew Jones, are part of New Folkus, an eight-strong band comprising the cream of the
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Former port official makes nostalgic return to River Tees
THE first managing director of the Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority returned to his former workplace yesterday to show his grandchildren where he used to work. Geoffrey Robinson, 86, who now lives in West Sussex, was managing director from 1966 to 1977
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Support for forest scheme
PEOPLE in Thirsk are backing plans to create a community forest following the first of two public meetings. Mike I'Anson, who came up with the forest initiative as a way to improve the town's environment and aid its economic regeneration, said: "The feeling
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Innovation helps boost Orange performance
COMMUNICATIONS group Orange yesterday announced a strong performance in revenue and customer growth for the nine months to the end of September. One of the reasons for the good performance was the company's range of innovative products which have been
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Foundation shows its concern for the aged
MEMBERS of a charity are dancing for joy after being awarded £2,800. Age Concern Consett received the cash from the the Lloyds TSB Foundation, one of the UK's largest grant-giving trusts, towards the cost of hiring a hall for its weekly tea dance. Age
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Mentoring scheme for pupils to expand
A MENTORING scheme for schoolchildren is being extended to pupils with learning difficulties. The Learning Mentor Strand, which operates in Newcastle secondary schools to help youngsters achieve their potential, is to be launched in special schools. This
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Tourism firms still struggling
THE region's tourism industry is still struggling with the aftermath of September 11, according to figures released yesterday. There were more foreign visitors in the UK last month than at the same time last year when numbers were hit by the terrorist
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New-look mobile libraries take literature to the people
NEW-LOOK mobile libraries have taken to the road in North Yorkshire. The first port of call for the service was the village of Thornton-le-Clay, near Malton. Young Bethany Shipley was among the first of many visitors welcomed by mobile driver Liz Gibson
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Winter burglars warning
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to watch out for tea-time burglars taking advantage of the early nightfall due to daylight saving. Derwentside Police are warning that a spate of early evening thefts usually follows the clocks going back. Officers have started
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City wharf gets a £55m Manhattan make-over
WORK has begun on a £55m investment to bring New York style to the region. The Akenside group has begun work to convert the Barbican building at St Peter's Wharf, Sunderland, into Manhattan-type loft apartments. Designed by Mosedale Gillatt Architects
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Innovative scheme is welcomed
POLICE are using innovative measures to crack down on the number of cyclists who put lives at risk. Riders already face a £30 fine if they are found to be out on their bikes at night without lights in York. As part of a new pilot scheme, they now have
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Roadwork calls
COUNCILLORS want interchanges built at each end of the Malton bypass on the A64 road between York and Scarborough to reduce the number of heavy lorries passing through Malton and Norton. The council is pressing the Highways Agency and North Yorkshire
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News in brief: Taxpayers face £26,000 bill
THE roof of Northallerton Town Hall is in urgent need of repairs, and taxpayers will have to pay the £26,000 bill. Councillor Jack Dobson said it would cost £7,000 just to put a net over the roof to prevent tiles from falling. He said: "We have to do
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Police offers honoured for efforts to save man
Four police officers are to be honoured for their repeated efforts to save the life of an elderly man who collapsed in the street. Sergeant Dave Kirton, PCs Mark Jagodinski, Stuart Dawson and Kevin Wilson of Darlington police are to receive letters of
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Traffic threat to sheep
SHEEP farmers say they are becoming increasingly worried about the safety of flocks on the road between Bilsdale and Helmsley. Police and North Yorkshire County Council highway bosses are taking action to curb the volume of heavy lorries, members of Helmsley
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Young film makers offer advice
YOUNGSTERS are to be put in the picture about the problems they face on leaving care. A group of young people armed themselves with a video camera and turned film makers to focus on the issues faced by teenagers living independently for the first time
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Service repairs its image
A PREVIOUSLY under-performing housing department in Hartlepool is improving, according to an audit report. An Audit Commission report into repairs and maintenance carried out by Hartlepool Borough Council said it was a fair service which showed promising
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Retired principal starts new chapter
A RETIRED college principal says he discovered the meaning of life over lunchtime conversations with his students and now he has written it all down. Eric Middleton, who retired from Guisborough's Prior Pursglove College in 1995, has written a book called
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Former college caretaker guilty of rape
A former college caretaker was found guilty today of the chloroform rapes of two children. John Sanderson, 35, who attacked the two boys at a teachers centre in Darlington where he worked for two years remained impassive when the jury brought in their
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Law questions Proctor's Premiership credentials
HOWARD Wilkinson was given a stark warning last night that Michael Proctor, the striker whose recall from Bradford City on Friday infuriated the First Division club, will be a top-flight flop. As Kevin Phillips continues his frustrating search for his
