Archive
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Early success for campaign to cut burglaries
A REDUCTION in burglaries have been recorded just two weeks after a campaign was launched to make people more security-conscious. Darlington Police's Operation Velvet is aimed at reducing home and garage break-ins, especially during the longer winter
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Pupils line up for carol competition
PUPILS from seven Darlington schools will be singing in the Market Square at the weekend as part of the town's carol competition. The final of the Carol for Darlington competition will take place on Sunday, at the switch-on of the Christmas lights. The
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Bellamy hero with last-ditch clincher
Craig Bellamy was the toast of Tyneside with the last-gasp winner that clinched Newcastle United's place in the second group stage of the Champions' League. The Magpies' adventure in Europe's elite club competition looked to have evaporated in the cauldron
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TV quiz team faces Oxford in brains battle
THE first skirmish in the battle to bring back a cherished national quiz crown to the North-East can be seen by television viewers next week. Durham's first opponents in this year's University Challenge knockout series are the brightest brains at Queen's
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Pupils have input into travel plan
DARLINGTON'S first school travel plan was launched in a special assembly at Harrowgate Hill Junior School last Wednesday. The £65,000 scheme is the result of months of work involving council officers, teachers and children. Ideas from the children have
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Last Night's TV: Location, Location, Location (C4): Faking It (C4)
All dressed up and nowhere to live. Half a million pounds will buy you a Grade II listed farmhouse with five acres in Suffolk, a seven-bedroom family house in Birmingham, or a luxury penthouse development in Bristol. Unfortunately Sara, newly-arrived
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Boro put on Hargreaves alert
Bayern Munich have opened the door for Middlesbrough target Owen Hargreaves to quit the German club in January. Boro are believed to be among a host of Premiership clubs tracking the versatile England international, who has found it difficult to command
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Community centre reopens following £200,000 facelift
A FLAGSHIP community centre has reopened following a refurbishment scheme. Park View Community Association, based on the site of Park View School, in Chester-le-Street, boasts new sports and leisure facilities as well as a theatre, following a £200,000
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Villagers aim to pay for chapel repairs
VILLAGERS are hoping that a nostalgic trip down memory lane will help them in their quest to save their local Methodist chapel. A steady flow of visitors enjoyed the three day exhibition at the Valley Chapel, Coundon Grange, this weekend. The venue for
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Are you kedged or are you penkered?
WOT fettle? Firstly today a little quiz, an attempt both to preserve what properly is called pitmatic and to promote a perfect little stocking filler. Readers are invited to translate the following terms - most of which have a distinct Co Durham accent
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Millionaire appears on kerb crawling charge
Swashbuckling millionaire Keith Schellenberg appeared in court on a kerb-crawling charge today but he said that at 73 he was not that kind of action man. Schellenberg, member of the 1956 British Olympic bobsleigh team powerboat and vintage Bentley racer
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Addicts to be targeted in effort to cut crime
A PROGRAMME to fight crime in Darlington by targeting drug addicts is to be set up with the help of a £190,000 Government grant. The scheme, to be run by the North-East Council on Addictions, will offer prolific drugs offenders help in overcoming their
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Police hoax crackdown pledge
HOAX callers who send soldier fire fighters out on false alarms will be prosecuted. That was the pledge made by a police chief as work began to track down malicious callers responsible for sending Teesside's handful of Green Goddesses out on nine hoax
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Pupils' recycling work cuts school waste by 58 per cent
REFUSE collectors visiting a Ferryhill school have been getting a lighter load recently thanks to the pupils' recycling efforts. Ferryhill Comprehensive School pupils have been helping to keep the school's rubbish bins empty by cutting the daily waste
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Royal congratulations for 60 diamond years
A FORMER policeman and his wife have celebrated 60 years of marriage. John Robert 'Bob' and Alice Chambers, of Gilesgate, Durham, received congratulations from The Queen last Thursday, on the diamond anniversary of their wedding at the Wesleyan Chapel
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Green Goddesses not ideal but can hold the line, insists Army
MILITARY personnel last night defended the ageing Green Goddesses they are using during the fire strike. Just 260 military men and women with seven weeks training are standing in for nearly 700 experienced firefighters on Teesside. From 6pm last night
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Group set for new challenge
A YOUTH group from Bearpark is looking for a new challenge after being awarded a £500 grant from the North-Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op. Since setting up 18 months ago, the group of 13-17-year-olds has tackled various projects including environmental schemes
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Bishop appoints couple to help in parish
PIONEERING church workers David Igoe and his wife Marie Louise have been officially commissioned to help a priestless parish flourish. The couple, who have three children, have been managing the parish of St Wilfred's Catholic Church in Bishop Auckland
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Guaranteed to inspire a chain reaction
A NORTH-EAST museum is holding Britain's first exhibition devoted to the humble loo. The exhibition, Are You Sitting Comfortably? - the Water Closet Workshop, is to be staged at Newcastle's Hatton Gallery. About 40 lavatories are on show, some painted
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Lyndon opens new store
A LITTLE boy who captured the hearts of supermarket workers with his brave struggle against illness starred in the opening ceremony for their new store this week. Seven-year-old Lyndon Longhorne, of Crook, has been a favourite at Bishop Auckland's Asda
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Patients are asked to join health survey
PATIENTS in the North-East are being asked to take part in an important health survey. Primary care trusts (PCTs) across the region have joined forces to invite a randomly-selected group of people to take part in a health and lifestyle survey. The survey
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Log cabin proposal approved
A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a Wild West-style log cabin for North-East tourists has won approval. Councillors on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council defied their own planning officers to approve the application. Former policeman David Laing applied
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News in brief: Road strategy goes on show
A PUBLIC exhibition looking at a ten-year Route Management Strategy (RMS) for the A69 road between Newcastle and Carlisle has gone on display. The Highways Agency exhibition is on show at Denton Burn Library, near Newcastle. The RMS looks at improving
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Disabled play area scheme nearer reality
AMBITIOUS plans to create a play area for disabled children are going well, according to community leaders. Thousands of pounds have been secured for the creation of the facility in Darlington. The idea was first mooted nearly two years ago, when a review
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Grassroots: Chester -le-Street, Birtley and District
WOOD GRAIN: The Wonderful World of Wood will be the subject of a talk by J Colley to Sacriston and District Everyman's Club, at 7.30pm, on Tuesday, in the lounge of St John's Court. JAZZ NIGHT: The Savannah Jazz Band will be the guest stars of Jazz in
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Nursery makeover
PARENTS and staff have joined forces to give a Durham nursery a new lease of life. Laurel Avenue Nursery has been given a makeover, costing several thousands of pounds, to bring it up-to-date. Parents helped raise some of the money by getting involved
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Man told to expect custodial sentence
A JUDGE has warned a 23-year-old man that he faces jail after admitting he had sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. Mark Cochrane was told by Judge John Walford that he faced a custodial sentence after he was found guilty of having sexual intercourse with
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Notes from Planet Zog: Say goodbye to your bathroom
B is for BATHROOMS and BEDROOMS. This is an age when - almost overnight - your filthy little duckling metamorphosises into a well groomed swan. The mucky urchin who could spend an entire week in cub camp in the same socks and underpants, and never wash
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'No alternative' to housing transfer says auuthority
A COUNCIL is preparing to transfer its entire stock of 13,000 local authority houses to a new landlord. While tenants will have the right to vote on the move, Middlesbrough Council says there is no alternative. The council says it cannot afford the £148m
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Circus gets street-wise
THE Circus of the Streets arrived in Durham on Tuesday, bringing with it a sport traditionally practised in car parks and back streets. Dextrous feats on inline skates and skateboards and daring BMX stunts are performed alongside trampoline tumbling,
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Couple's double celebration
A COUPLE have celebrated a golden milestone and a 70th birthday within two days. Bob and Joyce Aspey, from Brandon, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on October 25, more than 50 years after they met on a train station in Guilford. Mr Aspey had
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Get moving, town tells owners
A PETITION objecting to delays to a multi-million pound town centre expansion plan has been presented to the council. More than 3,000 names have been collected on the document protesting about the lack of progress on the scheme in Newton Aycliffe. The
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Young want to move from mining areas
ALMOST half of young people living in coal-mining communities would like to move out of their area, according to a new survey. A Mori poll, commissioned by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, asked 364 children in coalfield areas in England and Wales,
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Hospital delay to court case
A MAN accused of taking part in a break-in targeting state-of-the-art university computer equipment failed to appear at court yesterday. John Eubaston Duffus was arrested in London, in May, by Durham detectives working in conjunction with the Metropolitan
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Robson's greatest night
Sir Bobby Robson last night hailed Newcastle United's heart-stopping victory over Feyenoord as the greatest of his time as manager at St James's Park. United became the first team to lose their opening three Champions' League matches in the opening group
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Customers fall victim to bank machines scam
Thieves are using sophisticated equipment to steal bank cards, police warned yesterday. A number of thefts have occurred over the past two weeks while people have been using outdoor cash machines. A device, known as the Lebanese Loop, has left five people
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Rank is dealt a good deal
Leisure group Rank was yesterday singing the praises of liberalised gaming rules allowing it to play music and serve alcohol in its casinos. The London group, which owns Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casinos across the North-East, started serving alcohol
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School campaigners will fight on
CAMPAIGNERS vowed to fight on yesterday despite the relocation of a Darlington primary school moving a step closer. The Cockerton Area Action Group is incensed by the borough council's plans to move Alderman Leach Primary School to a site on the West
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Chance to view new pub
A £3.5m family pub due to open in Darlington next month is holding a preview event. Brewsters, in Morton Park Way, is due to open on December 2, but children and parents can visit the pub between 4pm and 5.30pm from Monday, November 25, to Friday, November
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Avoid heroics ambulance crews warned
AMBULANCE bosses yesterday told crews to avoid heroics and put their own safety first when dealing with emergencies during the fire strike. The edict came from Paul Liversidge, director of Accident and Emergency Services at the North-East Ambulance Service
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Laying hospital foundations
THE Government will introduce a Bill so it can deliver its controversial plans to create foundation hospitals. Under the Health and Social Care Bill, top performing trusts can apply to become NHS Foundation Trusts and so have greater freedom from Whitehall
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Taste for N-E produced food
A TWO-WEEK campaign to promote food produced in the North-East has been hailed a success by organisers. North-East Food Fortnight, which ended on Sunday, aimed to increase sales for small, speciality food and drink producer and was backed by The Northern
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Security patrols for schools
NIGHT-time security patrols are being drafted in to cover "vulnerable" North-East schools which may become the target of arsonists during the fire strike. Redcar and Cleveland Council will run overnight patrols at 26 schools and two leisure centres in
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Accused is challenged over sex inability claim
A MAN facing sex charges was challenged yesterday over claims that he was physically unable to have sex. David Courtney, 61, of Mill Lane, Billingham, told Teesside Crown Court he had been unable to have sex after two industrial accidents left him with
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Social work degree students get cash aid
THE introduction of tuition fees will not affect trainee social workers at Northumbria University, who will also be entitled to a £3,000 bursary. Students at the Newcastle campus will be able to commence a degree in social work at the age of 18, direct
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Cracking down on 'yob culture'
THE Government has made a priority of cracking down on crime, tackling anti-social behaviour and "yob culture". On-the-spot fines will be introduced for minor offences thought to include dropping litter or chewing gum, graffiti and fly-posting. Local
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Bid made to restore clock
A £10,000 bid has been made to help get Redcar's town clock working again. The Redcar Town Centre Management Executive has submitted a revised application for the cash from the West Redcar Single Regeneration Budget to carry out a survey of the broken
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Motorist killed in blazing car horror
A MOTORIST became the first North-East person to die during the firefighters' strike last night when two cars were involved in an horrific crash. One of the cars exploded in the collison which happened close to Teesside International Airport, near Darlington
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By George - it's a boost for Asda
Supermarket Asda's sales jumped ahead in the last quarter as it increased customer numbers at its stores. Comparable store sales in the three months to October 31 were in the "high single digits" when compared with the same period last year, although
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Plea over 'forgotten village'
AN east Cleveland community has been branded The Forgotten Village by a local politician. Councillor Steve Kay claims Carlin How, near Guisborough, appears on few maps and is not signposted. The leader of Redcar and Cleveland Council's independent group
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News in brief: Residents to recycle in style
People in North Yorkshire will have their recyclable waste removed by a new type of vehicle. With a Mercedes chassis and a Terberg 'kerbsider' body, Harrogate Borough Council said their new vehicle would prove a smarter and more reliable way to collect
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Police warning over town centre drinkers
POLICE and health campaign groups in the North-East gave a mixed reaction to the most radical reform of licensing hours in 90 years. The scrapping of fixed licensing laws and the potential for 24-hour drinking are planned in the new Licensing Bill, announced
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'Businesses in N-E are least ambitious'
NORTH-East businesses are the least ambitious in the country, according to a new study. Nearly two out of three firms - 62 per cent - in the region are content to stay the same size, which is more than twice the average for UK companies, according to
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Donation helps restore historic map to former glory
A PIECE of a town's heritage has made a triumphant return, much the brighter after losing generations of grime. The Acklam Lordship is a primitive 18th Century map of the part of Teesside now covered by the urban sprawl of Middlesbrough, painted in oils
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Young actors receive top awards
THREE young actors, who have achieved stardom while still at school, have been presented with awards by the county council. The junior section of Chester-le-Street Theatre Group boasts more than its fair share of talent. Two of its members, Alexander
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Trio cleared of coke dealing
A man convicted of cocaine peddling - but who insists he was misidentified from more than 100-feet away by a policeman on a rainy, dark night - has been cleared and freed by Appeal Court Judges. The court also overturned the conviction of Clavell Earl
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Agency's Chinese remedy for trade boost
THE North-East is to reinforce its role as the new gateway to Europe for potential investors from China. Growing market opportunities are being opened up to the Far East which could reverse current trends for contracts to be lost abroad - particularly
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Great night for all the unsung heroes
PRIME Minister Tony Blair has sent a special good luck message to the Local Heroes of grass roots sport whose achievements will be celebrated tonight. A 600-strong audience will gather at Tall Trees Hotel, near Yarm, this evening for The Northern Echo's
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Pupils lighten binmen's load
BINMEN visiting a Ferryhill school have been getting a lighter load lately thanks to recycling children. Pupils from Ferryhill School have been helping to keep the school's rubbish bins empty after cutting daily waste by nearly 60 per cent. After taking
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News in brief: Road strategy goes on show
A PUBLIC exhibition looking at a ten-year Route Management Strategy (RMS) for the A69 road between Newcastle and Carlisle has gone on display. The Highways Agency exhibition is on show at Denton Burn Library, near Newcastle. The RMS looks at improving
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News in brief: Road strategy goes on show
A PUBLIC exhibition looking at a ten-year Route Management Strategy (RMS) for the A69 road between Newcastle and Carlisle has gone on display. The Highways Agency exhibition is on show at Denton Burn Library, near Newcastle. The RMS looks at improving
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Team receives award
A TEAM of volunteers who built a motorcycle track for youngsters has won an award. The York and North Yorkshire Guidance Services' Volunteers Team 11 was presented with the Prince's Trust Volunteer Award in recognition of an "outstanding" community project
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Strike cover around the region
NORTH YORKSHIRE A hoax call put the first Green Goddess on the road in North Yorkshire. The fire service control centre received the 999 call less than two hours after the strike began. The report of a house on fire with people trapped inside came from
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Pay offer 'is not good enough'
THE dulcet tones of John Prescott crackle over the radio on a cold night in the cathedral city. "Don't walk, talk", the Deputy Prime Minister urges firefighters. But here, no one is listening. Among the 50 or so firefighters and control room staff gathered
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Youngsters spreading some goodwill
THE season of goodwill has already started for pupils from a Bishop Auckland school who are sharing their celebrations with children across the world. Cockton Hill Junior School youngsters have collected 57 boxes of presents to send to needy boys and
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Pledge on sporting facilities
COUNCIL chiefs have pledged to continue improving sports facilities after facing criticism in an independent report. The condition of some of Darlington Borough Council's outdoor sports facilities - particularly children's play areas - were described
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Growth plan for museum
A development plan for Darlington Railway Centre and Museum envisages the site being enhanced over five-years to eventually attract 80,000 visitors a year. A revised bid for funding is to be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Darlington Borough Council
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Scientists create fossil DNA technique
Scientists are one step closer to creating a real Jurassic Park after discovering a world-first technique to extract DNA from fossils. For the first time, scientists at the University of Newcastle have extracted DNA from a 55,000-year-old fossil and could
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Needless deaths remembered
THE toll of deaths on the roads of North Yorkshire will be remembered this weekend during a service at Ripon Cathedral. Every year, scores of people are killed and hundreds more injured on the county's roads. Since last year's service, 70 people have
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Consultants to look at parking provison
CONSULTANTS are to be appointed to look into the provision and funding of additional car-parking in the centre of Ripon. The first phase of parking assessment in the city has been completed and it was found there was sufficient provision to meet demand
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Stolen goods go on show
AN Aladdin's Cave of stolen goods will be on show to the public on Teesside this weekend. Mountain bikes, gardening equipment, electrical goods and children's toys are waiting to be claimed at Cleveland Police's traffic headquarters at Cannon Park. All
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News in brief: School seeks performers
Greenfield School Community and Arts Centre in Newton Aycliffe is seeking performers for the Great Aycliffe Show's playhouse marquee event, over two days next summer. Anyone who would like to take part in the event can contact Jo-Anne Mason on (01325)
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Finance deal is set back as bid put on hold
IT has been confirmed that a £220m partnership deal for east Cleveland is facing a serious setback. Redcar and Cleveland Council has announced that Amey no longer the preferred bidder for the private finance building programme - which means the authority
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Body in ditch might have been hit by car
POLICE believe a man whose body was found lying in a roadside ditch might have died as a result of a traffic accident. The body of Lorenzo Crosswaite, 52, was found just north of York. The cause of death has yet to be established but it is thought the
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£1bn wiped off telecom group value
More than £1bn was wiped off Cable and Wireless's value yesterday after the telecoms company dismayed investors with costly plans to overhaul the business. The move will see 3,500 jobs cut as C&W abandons domestic business markets in the US and mainland
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Murghem's chance to shine again
WHILE trainer Mark Johnston jets off to Dubai to supervise the arrival of eight of his horses, Murghem will hopefully be flying the flag for the stable at a somewhat cooler Lingfield. Murghem (3.10) hasn't had quite such a fruitful campaign on turf this
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'Overseas market is hitting manufacturing sector'
The Government must pump investment into the nation's depressed manufacturing sector if it is to stop losing business overseas, industry leaders warned. The Engineering Employers Federation (EEF) and 24 other trade bodies painted a stark picture of the
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Cash grant for youth shelters bid
FERRYHILL Town Council has secured a £5,000 grant for two new youth shelters on King George V playing field. The cash is from the Durham Police Authority and the project is a joint venture between them and the town council. The shelters will form part
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Community enters into Christmas gala spirit
ARRANGEMENTS for this year's Ferryhill Christmas gala are well under way. The gala will be held on Saturday, December 7, and will be based on last year's inaugural event which attracted a large turnout and was well supported by townsfolk. St Luke's Church
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Wardens to help in crime fight
UNIFORMED wardens are taking to the streets in Wear Valley as part of a pilot scheme to tackle anti-social behaviour and crime. Five wardens have been taken on to help clean up the areas of St Helen Auckland, Woodhouse Close Estate, Bishop Auckland, Coundon
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Jeweller 'driven to death' by crime
FEAR of crime could have driven a jeweller to kill himself as he and his wife were planning to start a new life, an inquest heard yesterday. Clifford Robson, 63, who worked from his home in Wolsingham, County Durham, shot himself through the head with
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Mother flies the flag with award
SUPER mum Mandy Scott has won a national award for her approach to mixing business with family life. Mandy Scott, 34, from Castleside, near Consett, County Durham, has been named Single Mum of the Year by That's Life! magazine. The competition was designed
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Saris and sweets for Divali
A GROUP of toddlers learnt about a popular Hindu celebration last week. The youngsters from Flora House nursery in Darlington held their own Divali festival, which is the Hindu celebration of light. Nursery assistants Brenda Dodsworth and Karen Groves
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Visiting actor calls in on charity party
ACTOR Jeffrey Holland said Hi de Hi to staff at a Darlington charity shop as he helped them to celebrate a landmark birthday last Thursday. The TV star, who played Spike in the long-running holiday camp series, cut a cake celebrating Scope's 50th birthday
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Sharks and Jets wanted
YOUNG Sharks and Jets are being sought by the Gala Theatre stage school to star in a musical next year. On Saturday, November 30, auditions will be held at the Gala in Durham to find singers and actors aged between 13 and 24 for next July's production
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You write: Who killed Robins?
SIR - I am writing to express my disgust with the behaviour of Durham City Council towards the Robins Cinema. Not content with fatally undermining Robins with their ill-founded scheme for a multiplex they would have us believe Robins is a struggling liability
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Regiment celebrates The King and Us
MEMBERS of a North-East Army regiment renewed links with the King of Siam after their unlikely bond came to light. In 1899, the grandson of King Rama VI - the King of Siam in the musical The King and I - was attached to the 1st Battalion Durham Light
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Railway village dream moves step nearer
FINAL funding has been approved for the creation of a museum to celebrate the region's railway heritage. Confirmation has been received of a £600,000 grant from regional development agency One NorthEast's Single Programme for the ambitious scheme to create
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Say goodbye to your bathroom
B is for BATHROOMS and BEDROOMS. This is an age when - almost overnight - your filthy little duckling metamorphosises into a well groomed swan. The mucky urchin who could spend an entire week in cub camp in the same socks and underpants, and never wash
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Part-timers to risk wrath of colleagues
HUNDREDS of part-time firefighters were last night planning to break strike action - and risk the wrath of their full-time colleagues. Up to two-thirds of North Yorkshire's 370 retained firefighters were prepared to continue working during the 48-hour
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Shopping challenge for hospice
BUTTERWICK Hospice Care is looking for people to take part in a sponsored Shopping List Challenge to raise funds for its three hospices, which take patients from across the region. In the challenge, teams of two must dress as Santa's elves and obtain
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Theme pub will replace cinema
A NEW 700-capacity theme pub will take the place of Durham's only mainstream cinema. Regent Inns won an appeal against licence refusal by North Durham justices following a two-week hearing which ended at Durham Crown Court last Friday. The London-based
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Notts first for Durham
DURHAM'S opening match in cricket's new 20-over thrash next season will be at home to Nottinghamshire on June 13. The competition, named the Twenty20 Cup, replaces the Benson & Hedges with the counties split into groups of three. The top county in
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Stonemason honoured
A stonemason has become a member of an historic order. Iain Wilmshurst has been sworn in as a Durham City Freeman and a member of the Company of Carriers and Tallow Chandlers, which was founded in the city in 1570. Mr Wilmshurst has worked at Durham Cathedral
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Leading show's marketing
A NEW boss has been appointed for the marketing team of the organisation behind the region's biggest farming event. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society has promoted Fiona Movley to marketing manager with immediate effect, She joined the department in January
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Help hospice with shopping challenge
A HOSPICE group is looking for people to take part in a sponsored shopping list challenge. Butterwick Hospice Care hopes to raise much-needed funds for its three hospices, which take patients from across the region. In the challenge, teams of two must
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Farmers quitting industry in droves
The deepening crisis affecting farming in this region is forcing more than 300 people a month to quit the industry. More than 60,000 farmers and farm workers have left the profession nationwide over the past three years. In the North-East and North Yorkshire
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Police hope to break racket
POLICE are trying to crack a stolen goods racket following a spate of thefts from sheds and garages. Detective Sergeant Brian Anderson, of Consett CID, said: "We are getting a lot of garage and shed burglaries throughout the whole of Derwentside, especially
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Warnings issued on rogue taxi drivers
ROGUE taxi drivers could be out in force over Christmas - that is the warning from Trading Standards officers in Stockton. With an increase in demand for taxis over the festive period, there is often an increase in unofficial drivers vying for trade.
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Taxpayers state aims
A DURHAM residents' group planning to enter the political arena has announced its objectives. The Durham Taxpayers' Alliance has been formed by people angry at the 14.8 per cent council tax increase levied by Durham County Council. The alliance plans
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Hospice reaps harvest bounty
YOUNGSTERS at Cockerton C E Primary School, Darlington, have raised £120 for St Teresa's Hospice. The children raised the money during their harvest festival celebrations when a collection was held in aid of the hospice.Some of them are pictured right
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Bank tactic at school criticised
A BAPTIST minister has condemned a High Street bank for targeting children as potential customers while they were at school. The Rev John Elliston was outraged when he discovered children at a Darlington school had been encouraged to open a Halifax bank
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Grassroots: Derwentside
FOCUS ON NELSON: Bob Moon will give a slide show and talk about Britain's greatest naval hero, Lord Nelson, to Stanley Men's Thursday Club at 10.30am next Thursday, in the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley. ART CLASS: A watercolour painting class is held
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News in brief: School seeks performers
Greenfield School Community and Arts Centre in Newton Aycliffe is seeking performers for the Great Aycliffe Show's playhouse marquee event, over two days next summer. Anyone who would like to take part in the event can contact Jo-Anne Mason on (01325)
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Teresa's 100th birthday treat
TERESA Snowball received a special gift for her 100th birthday - 100 packets of custard creams. The delighted great-grandmother, who celebrated her birthday last week, tucked into her favourite biscuits with family and friends at South Church Nursing
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Thome is ready to book his first-team position
BRAZILIAN Emerson Thome is ready for the battle that lies ahead as he looks to cement a place in Howard Wilkinson's new-look Sunderland side. The £4.5m defender is pushing for a first-team recall after a ten-month lay-off with knee problems, that have
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Call for new jobs on works site
DALES residents fearing a population drain are demanding job creating initiatives on a former cement works site. A new report published by the Upper Weardale Task Force sets out peoples' vision for the area's future in the wake of the closure of Lafarge
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Villagers celebrate Lottery windfall
THE future of a popular church hall has been guaranteed by a grant from the National Lottery. Villagers in Sowerby, near Thirsk, are celebrating the announcement of a £100,000 windfall from the Community Fund. It will enable them to press ahead with improvements
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Home rule backed - just
A SLIM majority of North-East voters do want their own regional assembly and would like it to be based in Durham City, according to an exclusive poll carried out by The Northern Echo. The poll coincides with yesterday's Queen's Speech in which the Government
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League is Liddle's priority
Darlington take time out from league duties at the weekend when they travel to Wrexham in the FA Cup first round and skipper Craig Liddle hopes a good result can help kickstart Quakers' season. The mood at Feethams remains upbeat despite Saturday's defeat
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Tragedy of teenager who didn't wake up
THE sisters and parents of a seemingly healthy teenager who died in her sleep are facing medical checks for the adult version of cot death syndrome. Claire Avery was a lively, happy 18-year-old when she passed away without warning asleep in her boyfriend's
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Hope of ditching double jeopardy
CAMPAIGNING mother Ann Ming has cautiously welcomed the pledge in the Queen's Speech to scrap the double jeopardy rule. Mrs Ming, backed by The Northern Echo's Criminal Injustic campaign, has been fighting for legislation which would ensure that the self-confessed
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Plans to improve public transport links
PROPOSALS to improve public transport for some of Darlington's most deprived areas have been revealed. The borough council has received just over £1m from the Government's Urban Bus Challenge scheme to provide direct links between estates and the town's
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Church in new row over mass bid
A RELIGIOUS row has broken out over an attempt by an obscure Christian group to hold a mass in one of England's smallest churches. Philip-James French hit the headlines earlier this year when he was knocked back at the last minute in his attempt to hold
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Do we want to see what the butler saw?
THE sorry saga of what the Royal butler saw grows tackier by the minute. While the tabloid which paid Burrell £300,000 for his story is spreading the tale over its front pages (and more) every day, the others are rummaging around among the leftovers to
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Early success for campaign to cut burglaries
A REDUCTION in burglaries have been recorded just two weeks after a campaign was launched to make people more security-conscious. Darlington Police's Operation Velvet is aimed at reducing home and garage break-ins, especially during the longer winter
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Maternity row
The first meeting of a scrutiny panel examining the closure of Guisborough Maternity Unit will be open to the public. The Redcar and Cleveland District Council committee meeting will take place in Laurence Jackson School on November 20, at 6.30pm.
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Computer crime: eight arrested
EIGHT people were arrested in connection with computer crime, child abuse and indecency following a series of raids yesterday. The eight men arrested were from Scarborough, Ryedale, Northallerton, York, Selby, Harrogate and Craven areas. Only brief details
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Ten reasons why it must be Durham
Following yesterday's Queen's Speech, more details will be announced today about how the North-East could get its own assembly. Political Editor Chris Lloyd throws The Northern Echo's weight behind Durham City as a base for the assembly and reports on
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Civic leaders celebrate return of The Tall Ships
The Tall Ships Race is returning to the North-East, injecting up to £50m into the region's economy. Civic leaders celebrated yesterday as race organisers announced Newcastle and Gateshead as the choice to stage the only British leg of the event in 2005
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Civic leaders celebrate return of The Tall Ships
The Tall Ships Race is returning to the North-East, injecting up to £50m into the region's economy. Civic leaders celebrated yesterday as race organisers announced Newcastle and Gateshead as the choice to stage the only British leg of the event in 2005
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Flooding exhibition goes on the road
A SERIES of exhibitions are being held next week to give the public a chance to see the results of flooding studies which have been carried out in the Hambleton area. A number of areas in the district have been badly hit over the past two years, including
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Magic win for pupils
PRIMARY school children were given star treatment when they won tickets to see the London premiere of the latest Harry Potter film. Children from Esh Winning Primary School won the tickets after taking part in a Harry Potter University Challenge at the
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Active holidays overtake relaxation
MORE Middlesbrough holidaymakers are looking for active breaks rather than relaxation, according to a new survey. About 65 per cent of people interviewed by Stena Line Holidays wanted to be more energetic on their annual breaks. Julia Fothergill, the
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Tributes are paid
STOCKTON North MP Frank Cook says the town will be a poorer place without community activist Doris Gibbs, who has died aged 82. He said the one-time delegate to the European Pensioners' Parliament had been "a wonderful individual with courage, commitment
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Open verdict recorded
A FATHER of two died from an overdose of painkillers after a car accident, an inquest was told yesterday. Peter Sams, 43, had been drinking heavily before he swallowed codeine phosphate tablets at his home in Beckett Close, Bishop Auckland. Darlington
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Planting ceremony marks launch of work to regenerate playground
PUPILS helped plant 5,000 spring bulbs yesterday to mark the launch of a project to improve play provision for children on a housing estate. The playing field on Hilda Park Estate, South Pelaw, is to be regenerated to improve life for children on the
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More freedom over town hall borrowing
RADICAL overhauls of town hall financing and the way planning applications are handled have been proposed. A Local Government Bill will give greater financial freedom to councils to borrow capital for major projects within "prudent limits". Councils will
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In memory of Caroline
STUDENTS at the college attended by murdered backpacker Caroline Stuttle will today be raising funds for the Rainbow Foundation set up in her memory. York College is holding a gap-year fair to help other students plan their year off and to travel safely
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Yoo hoo . . . woo goes there?
PLUCKY Mavis Jackson-Gould is making a truly spirited effort to raise cash for Children in Need - by spending a sleepless night with some spooks. She's the head custodian at 900-year-old Pickering Castle and tomorrow night she will be taking her responsibilities
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Hear All Sides: Paul Burrell
I THINK most people would agree with the comment (Echo, Nov 5) that Paul Burrell received a great deal of public support for the way he conducted himself throughout his trial and his reluctance to divulge anything that might be damaging to the Royal Family
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Thieves strip house
BURGLARS made off with more than £6,500 of goods from a house, making their getaway in the owner's van. Thieves struck at a home in Park Drive, Langley Park, near Durham, on Friday night, while the family was out. They forced open a kitchen window, then
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Weapons amnesty is hailed a success
A WEAPONS amnesty on Wearside has been hailed a success. Sunderland residents have been handed in 87 potentially dangerous weapons to Northumbria Police over the past three weeks. Thirty-seven guns and 50 knives have handed over at police stations across
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Gas supplier to create 30 extra jobs
Thirty jobs will be created on Teesside after a long-term deal was signed by gas suppliers Centrica. OC5, owned by the utilities and services provider ETOL, will see its staff base rise by a fifth to cope with the new deal to provide specialist services
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Praise for crew after first call dealt with
TROOPS took to their ageing Green Goddesses on Teesside for their first taste of fire action within minutes of the strike starting. By 6.10pm, an army crew based at Stockton's TA centre was scrambled to deal with a minor fire at the town's largest supermarket
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Lighting up time
THE lighting of the Christmas tree outside Northallerton Town Hall will be on Sunday, December 1, at 6pm, followed by a carol service in Hambleton Forum. Free tickets are available from churches, the town council office and the Churches Together bookshop
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Comment: We can make a difference
WE are in favour of the theory of regional government. The North-East has an identity of its own unlike practically all the other English regions. It has identifiable borders. It has its own specific problems. It feels very, very distant from its Whitehall
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Scientists create fossil DNA technique
Scientists are one step closer to creating a real Jurassic Park after discovering a world-first technique to extract DNA from fossils. For the first time, scientists at the University of Newcastle have extracted DNA from a 55,000-year-old fossil and could
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Omission a bitter blow to grieving parents
CAMPAIGNERS calling for tougher laws on airguns were left disappointed after the issue failed to make it into the Queen's Speech. A number of North-East MPs have led a year-long campaign to persuade the government to introduce law reforms to stop the
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Planners refuse mast permission
COUNCILLORS have refused a mobile phone company permission to erect a 60ft mast alongside the old A1 at Boroughbridge because of the impact it would have on the Vale of York. T-Mobile (UK) wanted to erect the tower at the former Byways filling station
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Panto star opens school play area
PANTO star Martin Barrass was helping youngsters celebrate the opening of their new play area yesterday. With Berwick Kaler, Mr Barrass is one of the main attractions at the pantomime at York Theatre Royal, and this year he will be appearing in the show
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Company to appeal
ONE of North Yorkshire's top tourist attractions is appealing to the Government to safeguard its latest attraction. Flamingoland, between Malton and Pickering, opened the 55 metre-high Cliffhanger ride earlier this year. But neighbours complained the
