Archive
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Security cameras help keep the peace
Closed-circuit television cameras have had an immediate impact on restoring peace to a Middlesbrough estate once plagued by vandals. Previous measures on the town's Easterside estate included a ban on drinking in public and funding for extra police patrols
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I'm a TV writer - get me out of here!
Cheeky Geordie chappies Ant and Dec tricked a bunch of journalists into a secret location where they became extras in the launch of their new TV show The invitation to the launch of the new series of Ant And Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway said to meet
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Bellion opts out of survival struggle
DAVID BELLION has dealt a massive blow to Sunderland's relegation battle by telling Howard Wilkinson he is not in the right frame of mind to play for the club and wants to quit Wearside. With Manchester United keen to sign Bellion, the 20-year-old has
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Cats to keep Sorensen, despite Poom signing
HOWARD WILKINSON will not sell Thomas Sorensen during the transfer window, despite the permanent signing of Mart Poom. The Sunderland manager is determined not to leave Jurgen Macho as the club's only fit senior goalkeeper in the continued absence through
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Spirit a big help to Pool, Clarke
DARRELL Clarke believes Hartlepool United's team spirit is going a long way to maintaining pole position in Division Three, writes NICK LOUGHLIN. Clarke and his Pool teammates are without a game today after their clash at Macclesfield was frozen off after
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Priory Commitment
What better way to begin celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley than at a Methodist church with 300 members? IT'S a big year for the Methodists, 300 years on June 17 since the birth of John Wesley, the founder. We haven't heard
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Youngsters helping carve out history
PUPILS from two schools in Teesdale are to unveil a sculpture to commemorate the history and wildlife of their community. Children from Evenwood and Ramshaw primary schools helped local interpreter Lesley Silvera and sculptor Steve Holliday to create
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Cashing in on energy grants
HOUSEHOLDERS will be given advice on how to protect the environment and save money in their homes next week. Wear Valley District Council will hold two energy saving advice days to inform residents how to save energy and access Government grants. The
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Donation gives centre a lift
A VOLUNTARY group has been given a boost after receiving a £2,000 donation. The Victoria Community House, in Stockton, provides a drop-in centre, adult education courses, a job skills project and other training for residents of the house. The Action Team
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Successful start for Internet village hall
A COMMUNITY is reaping the rewards of free computer access at a new facility. The Electronic Village Hall was set up within the library entrance at the £20m Sandhill View Community Learning Centre, in Grindon Lane, Sunderland, with funding from several
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Net saving for environment as documents go on-line
PEOPLE are now able to access information at any time about the decisions Gateshead Borough Council makes - saving money and the environment. Agendas and papers for meetings of the council are now on-line at www.gates head.gov.uk/councilpapers, with people
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Funds quest as hitch puts pool project over budget
LEISURE chiefs are hoping for extra Lottery cash after construction costs soared on a new swimming pool project. The multi-million pound project to build a pool in Stanley, County Durham, is running over budget by what bosses admit is a "considerable
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Rival store may make bid for Safeway
A rival bidder could be poised to gazump Morrisons' attempt to buy Safeway with a move coming as early as next Friday, a City analyst said last night. Morrisons announced with a fanfare on Thursday its £2.9bn offer for the flagging supermarket chain but
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Robson admits Bowyer was Magpies target
LEE BOWYER might have been facing boyhood idols West Ham today - not making his debut for them - if Sir Bobby Robson's plans had panned out the way the Newcastle boss had hoped. It has emerged that the Magpies were indeed among the posse of clubs who
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All ganging up on Leo
Five years after Titanic, Leanardo DiCaprio is back - in two major films. Entertainment Writer Steve Pratt finds out why he's been avoiding the limelight. For Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio the London premiere of his new film was a reminder of the Leo-mania
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Serial burglar stole to meet cost of addiction
A SERIAL burglar is beginning five-and-a-half years behind bars following 12 break-ins in less than four months last year. Ian Strong, 29, targeted homes in Durham and the surrounding villages that would yield a high value haul of stolen goods to help
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Award praises paths work
THE North York Moors National Park Authority has been given a national award for improving their network of bridleways. The honour, from the British Horse Society, recognises the work the authority has done over the past seven years to create more rights
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Egg donors plea brings offers of help
AN appeal for egg donors to help childless couples has struck a chord with North-East women. It is believed that six women who would like to be considered as egg donors have contacted the Newcastle Fertility Centre. It follows an exclusive article in
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'Hijack' student's second appeal
A NORTH-EAST tourist jailed in Australia for threatening to hijack an aircraft is launching a second appeal against his sentence. Thomas John Lilico, a 21-year-old student from Darlington, was jailed on January 2 for three months - two of which were suspended
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Jewel raider may get life for knife attack
A ROBBER who stabbed a jewellery shop manager during a raid has been warned he could be facing life behind bars. Brave David Parker, 46, was stabbed in the head and hand when he confronted masked raider Kevin Griggs, 38, on November 12, 2001. Griggs burst
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Mystery of loving mother's final day
THIS is the tragic mother and her two children who died in a mysterious car fire in the North-East. Police were last night trying to piece together the final movements of Nabeala Hussain, 23, who was found in her Vauxhall Astra in Walpole Street, Middlesbrough
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Website draws new customers
NEWSAGENT and convenience store company, Mills Group, is celebrating the success of its specialist magazine website, one year after its launch. The site www.uniquemagazines.co.uk, which is dedicated to specialist magazine titles, has reached a high of
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Bryan's relocation is proving a Smart move
BRYAN SMART'S recent move from Lambourn to Les Eyre's former stables high on the North Yorkshire Moors at Hambleton is proving to be a resounding success. Smart's team has been hitting the target with monotonous regularity recently, especially at Southwell
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Helicopter busy on life-saving duties
THE New Year has got off with a flying start for the North-East's police helicopter, which has already been saving lives. This week, the EC 135 Eurocopter, which has been hailed as a world leader, has responded to two major incidents. The Eurocopter put
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Woman hurt
AN elderly woman was taken to hospital after a road accident in Redcar High Street yesterday. The woman, was found on the pedestrian crossing and is thought to have been struck by a vehicle. She was seen by firefighters at about 10.55am and an ambulance
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The other side of the Med
Chris Moran travels to Tunisia where he discovers a Mediterranean holiday with a difference 'DAVEED Beck-ham. Daveed Beck-ham." The familiar sound cut through the hustle and bustle of the busy market. It was coming from a diminutive man partly obscured
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Making plans for Christmas market . . .
FERRYHILL'S Christmas market might be switched to a Friday this year to avoid a clash with other events. The Ferryhill 2000 committee, which organises the event, has identified Friday, November 28 as its preferred date. Friday is the town's normal market
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Building grants deadline looming
TIME is running out for people in a south Durham market town to apply to claim grant aid for buildings improvements. There are only three months left to access funds for Wolsingham's Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme, which aims to restore traditional
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Struggling Falcons could yet be saved by changes
SPECULATION is mounting that Newcastle Falcons will be spared relegation at the end of the season by increasing the Premiership from 12 to 14 teams. There is growing disenchantment with the fact that only three league programmes are scheduled in the 12
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Retailers still hogging headlines
Retail stocks continue to dominate the City agenda next week when some of the sector's biggest names report Christmas sales. The mood of the consumer should then be easier to judge with investors hoping that Dixons' recent profits warning proves to be
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Kent ready to go National with Steelers
MICK Kent's year-round involvement with rugby has strengthened with the news that Teesside Steelers Rugby League Club will play in a new National League Three next summer. The former Darlington Mowden Park captain is now player-coach at Consett during
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Church's green bid to cut energy costs
A CHURCH is pressing ahead with plans to generate engergy from solar panels, wind and heat exchange in a bid to help cut its mounting heating costs. But any fears that the church tower of St Peter's, which dominates Harrogate's shopping centre, will be
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Arcade application refused again
COUNCILLORS have again refused a planning application to turn a former caf in Cockerton Green, Darlington into an amusement arcade. The revised application by Count Cash, of Middlesbrough, was refused by the borough council's planning committee, despite
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Plea to rebuild ancient bridge
A COUNCILLOR is campaigning to have a historic bridge rebuilt after it was swept away in fast-flowing waters. The old cart bridge, in Hurworth - which dates back to 1840 - partly crumbled away two weeks ago. The footpath which runs over the bridge has
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Plan for recycling area is rejected
A RETROSPECTIVE application to allow a former builders' yard in Darlington to be converted to an outdoor recycling area has been refused. T M Ward Limited, of Faverdale Industrial Estate, had also applied to build a landscaped mound to screen the yard
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Car chase that netted 100kg of cannabis
A COURT heard yesterday how a police chase led to the discovery of a huge haul of cannabis. More than 100kg of the drug was found in the boot and back seat of the car after it crashed into the fence of Redcar racecourse. Appearing for sentence at Teesside
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Consigned to the ashtray of history
HISTORY is a most peculiar thing. For instance, the last thing the Hartlepool hierarchy seems to want is a statue of Andy Capp on the Headland. Indeed, earlier this week, plans were announced for an officially-funded £260,000 16ft pair of light sculptures
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Consultants start work on blueprint for town centre
A BLUEPRINT for the long-term vitality and viability of Hartlepool town centre is to be drawn up. Officials from Hartlepool Borough Council believe a comprehensive strategy is required to build on the many improvements that have been achieved in recent
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Hospital jobshop is just what the doctor ordered
THE Minister for Work, Nick Brown, opened a job centre in one of the region's leading hospitals yesterday. The Royal Victoria Infirmary's (RVI) Jobshop aims to give job seekers access to up to 1,700 health sector vacancies a year. Mr Brown said: "I am
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Houllier searching far and wide for answer to Anfield woes
WHAT'S happened to Liverpool? It may only be January but, once again, the Reds can already kiss goodbye to winning the Premiership title for the first time. Former Newcastle midfielder Dietmar Hamann insists Liverpool can still claw themselves back into
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MP intervenes over footpath problem
AN MP met council officers yesterday to try to solve the problem of anti-social behaviour along a footpath. Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South has received numerous complaints about the behaviour of youngsters gathering along the Wynde pathway near Darlington
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Long wait for training in life-saving drug injection
TWO years after Health Secretary Alan Milburn called for paramedics to inject heart attack victims with life-saving drugs paramedics have yet to treat a single North-East victim. In February 2001 the Darlington MP said he wanted to see paramedics giving
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Feethams reunion for class of '66
Darlington will receive a welcome blast from the past next week when players from the 1966 promotion-winning side descend upon Feethams for a nostalgic reunion. The team, widely regarded by many older Quakers fans as the best in the club's history, will
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Safety concerns raised over application for showground
A LONG-RUNNING show faces an uncertain future as a planning application for a permanent site for the event is expected to be refused. Councillors, who will meet next week, have been advised to reject plans to change the use of 11 hectares of agricultural
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Did thief stalk his frail victim?
POLICE believe a conman may have stalked a frail pensioner who died hours after becoming his victim. George Sharpe, 82, collapsed and died from a heart attack on Wednesday night - only three hours after the bogus council worker struck at his home in Faraday
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I'm a TV writer - get me out of here!
Cheeky Geordie chappies Ant and Dec tricked a bunch of journalists into a secret location where they became extras in the launch of their new TV show The invitation to the launch of the new series of Ant And Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway said to meet
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Tragic mother's fight for payout
A WOMAN who discovered skin samples from her stillborn baby were taken without consent will join other parents in court later this month in their fight for compensation. Zoe Holman, from Darlington, contacted South Durham NHS Trust hotline almost two
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Hear All Sides
EDUCATION - I read with interest that the Government's campaign to attract graduates with a "good" degree into teacher training has resulted in 110 applicants. The campaign apparently cost £14m. No doubt in Tone-speak this represents sound value for money
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New guide for college is success
A COLLEGE is celebrating an increase in students after rethinking its marketing methods. Until recently, New College Durham relied on traditional prospectuses to attract students. Now, after redesigning the guide in a newspaper format and distributing
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Appeal made for people to help scheme
A CHARITY scheme supporting youngsters who are caring for relatives is appealing for more volunteers. Derwentside Young Carers project works with children aged up to 17 who are caring for a sick or disabled family member. It needs volunteers to provide
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Carly aims for England squad
A TEENAGER is hoping to impress England football bosses next month and win her second cap. Carly Telford, 15, of Newburn Road, Stanley, will join the England Under-17s girls' squad for training in February. If she impresses, she will win a place in the
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Get tips on clearing clutter
PEOPLE committed to ridding their homes and lives of clutter in the coming year are being offered a helping hand to fulfil their resolution. Complementary therapist Suzanne Plant is running a one-day workshop to outline her theories next week. It is held
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McClaren strikes for 'cut-price' Christie
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren has revealed he was quoted £9m by Derby County last summer for loan target Malcolm Christie. Former Rams coach McClaren is looking to land striker Christie and defender Chris Riggott on three-month deals with a view
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Given wants to be boring
SHAY GIVEN has called for Newcastle United to shed the "Entertainers'' tag on their travels in a bid to avoid any more away-day horror shows. The Magpies have conceded 50 goals in 33 games in all competitions this season following their disastrous 3-2
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Killer driver had done it before
A CAREER criminal, banned from driving for life, yesterday admitted killing a six-year-old girl when he ploughed into her family's hatchback in a stolen car. Ian Carr - branded by police a "menace to the public" - was out of jail on licence when he killed
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Houses to be part of green waste plan
A £700,000 recycling scheme is being launched in Derwentside, Wear Valley and Teesdale districts today. About 80,000 homes will be targeted in the initiative, which aims to meet Government targets for recycling waste. Houses in the three districts will
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Union hopes to boost savings
A CREDIT union that will provide savings and credit for people has been launched in Durham. People who live or work in the city can join the community-run co-operative, which is a non-profit organisation offering basic banking and financial services.
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Jenas steels the show for Magpies
All eyes were on debutant Lee Bowyer on Saturday but it was Newcastle's Jermaine Jenas who stole the show with a superb late equaliser that earned his side a valuable point. Kieron Dyer returned to midfield at the expense of Nolberto Solano, with Shola
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Approval for flood defence scheme despite rise in costs
MILLIONS of pounds were set aside yesterday for a flood defence scheme to protect hundreds of home in two flood-hit communities. Rising costs for new defences along the River Gaunless, near Bishop Auckland, have meant delays for families in South Church
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Deepcut police seek funeral photographs
POLICE investigating the deaths of four soldiers at the Deepcut Army barracks in Surrey have asked a newspaper for photographs of one of the recruit's funerals, it emerged last night. The soldiers, including Private Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, east Durham
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N-E jails worst for prisoner suicides
TWO of the North-East's biggest jails have been identified as having the worst suicide records in the country. Durham Prison and Holme House, near Stockton, came first and second respectively in a league table published by The Howard League for Penal
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Alert after boys fall through ice
A WATER company has issued a warning after two boys had a luckly escape when they plunged into a frozen lake on Thursday night. Yorkshire Water is urging visitors to steer clear of frozen reservoirs because of the dangers they pose. Safety manager Nikki
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Andy's a model man at long last
Working-class hero Andy Capp is to be immortalised in sculpture in his home town of Hartlepool later this year. Adrian Worsley, who also likes a jar, propped up the bar with the man behind the plan, and discovered how the cartoon character could be turned
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Councillors back extension to pub
PLANS to extend a pub in Yarm have been approved by councillors despite concerns from residents. Members of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee met yesterday to discuss an application to build a two-storey extension to The New Cross Keys. The
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Grants tot up to £23m
REGIONAL development agency One NorthEast handed out more than £23m last year to create and safeguard thousands of jobs. Forty-two firms were helped under the Government's Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) scheme. The grant offers are expected to create
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Salting figure was incorrect
COUNCILLORS have moved to correct reports that east Cleveland has the worst record for gritting icy roads in the North-East. A news report on the BBC this week claimed that only 20 per cent of primary and classified roads in the borough were gritted.
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Boastful cocaine dealer looked a right Charlie
BIG-HEADED Raymond Casling could not resist bragging about his successful career to former school pals. He used the Friends Reunited website to tell them he was now coining it in - as a drug dealer. "I'm doing very well. I'm selling a lot of Charlie (
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Headbutt attacker spared prison term
A MAN who headbutted a pub landlord in the aftermath of the England versus Argentina World Cup game has escaped prison. Harrogate magistrates yesterday decided against sending Nigel Wade to jail after he admitted assaulting David Johnson, licensee of
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African chief in running for business award
THE North-East man who is chief of a remote African village is in line for a business award after setting up a travel company to send volunteers to developing countries. John Lawler, 28, is one of six finalists in the North-East Business of the Year award
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Checking out the prospects of a stores merry-go-round
Supermarket Morrisons' attempt to takeover rival Safeway has sparked speculation about the potential impact for Darlington shoppers. Stuart Mackintosh examines the possible consequences of the deal THE announcement that Morrisons is on the verge of swallowing
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Saving town's old buildings
A PRESSURE group could be formed to protect historic buildings in Darlington. Residents concerned about the loss of old buildings are meeting later this month, with a view to forming the organisation. The move follows the demise of buildings such as Chesterfield
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Schools boss cleared of deception
A SCHOOLS music boss has been found not guilty of obtaining money transfers by deception. In a unanimous verdict, a jury at Teesside Crown Court cleared John Allen, who is head of school music services at Durham County Council. The 50-year-old denied
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Keep this man off our streets
IAN Carr is clearly not the sort who was ever going to take any notice of a lifetime driving ban. He ignored a lifetime ban imposed in 1994 and carried on with his appalling record behind the wheel. It ended with the death on New Year's Eve of Rebecca
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Pair appear in court on charges of fraud
A LAWYER and his firm's office manager have appeared in court accused of trying to take money from a property sale on behalf of an elderly client. Solicitor David Gatherer, 51, and office manager Joyce Watts, 48, of Durham firm Carpenters, in Old Elvet
