Archive
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Burning Questions:
Q CAN you tell me anything about the Picktree Brag, a kind of mischievous horse, I believe, that lived near Chester-le-Street? - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street A THE Picktree Brag was a kind of demon, usually described as a 'goblin' that was said
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Moxon has job to finish
DURHAM coach Martyn Moxon, who has turned down the chance to return to Yorkshire, is determined to finish the job he started two years ago at Chester-le-Street. The Barnsley-born former England batsman had one year left on his Durham contract and has
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Captain's Corner: Lifting the Lid
The trip back from Torquay on Saturday was a long one to say the least. Torquay is definitely one of my least favourite grounds. In five attempts I've yet to win there and it was at Plainmoor I picked up my only red card. Again it was the referee who
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Paedophile who had jail term cut stalked family
A paedophile who won a cut in his jail term is back behind bars after stalking the family of the teenage girl he molested. Alan Fairless was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of indecently assault and three of indecency
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Rules tightened after eviction
A DAMNING report has prompted changes within a local authority's housing department, which has since been ordered to pay a woman and her daughter £5,000 compensation after evicting them from a property their family had lived in for 32 years. Richmondshire
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Bragging about a four-legged fiend
QCAN you tell me anything about the Picktree Brag, a kind of mischievous horse, I believe, that lived near Chester-le-Street? - Bill Hutchinson, Chester-le-Street ATHE Picktree Brag was a kind of demon, usually described as a 'goblin' that was said to
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News in brief: Glass art goes on display
WORK by contemporary international glass artists can be seen on the last leg of a touring exhibition at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, next month. Heart of Glass features contributions by leading artists in the field, including Tony Oursler, Jean-Michel
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Beaumont eyes double
PETER BEAUMONT could be among the winners at Musselburgh today where he has several fancied runners. Beaumont will be trusting that nothing goes amiss with his stable-star Hussard Collonges, third favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. But the
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Teamwork tackles crime
A MULTI-agency approach is proving successful in tackling crime across Hambleton. The year ahead looks promising for the Community Safety Partnership, with the launch of fresh ideas, campaigns and roadshows filling the diary. Established in 1999, the
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Child injured in hit and run smash shows amazing recovery
A toddler critically injured in a hit and run car smash that left her six-year-old sister dead has amazed doctors with her powers of recovery. Six-year-old Rebecca Sawyer was killed when a stolen car driven by Ian Carr jumped a red light and smashed into
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The cream of the crop down Wensleydale way
The great Charlie Wayman, affectionately recalled hereabouts last month, is more surprisingly remembered in Middleham parish magazine. Charlie was among many big football names camped at Catterick during National Service - several of whom continued the
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Museums plan joint roadshow
A NEW scheme is about to take culture out of the museums and on to the road. The scheme will bring museum artefacts into unusual venues using a 'flying showcase'. Six museums across Hambleton and Richmondshire have signed up to the project putting museum
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Straw condemns 'charade' of search for Saddam's weapons
Britain and the US said last night it was clear that Saddam Hussein was continuing to hide his banned weapons programmes after UN inspectors delivered their keenly-awaited progress report. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw accused the Iraqi dictator of reducing
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Get in the swim
A swimathon to raise cash for cancer sufferers will take place in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in March. Anyone interested in taking part should call (01388) 602557.
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Get in the swim
A swimathon to raise cash for cancer sufferers will take place in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in March. Anyone interested in taking part should call (01388) 602557.
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Chance to have say on county future
PEOPLE living in North Yorkshire are to be given their say in the long-term development of the county. A consultation exercise is being launched at the end of this month for the county structure plan, which will be the blueprint for planning issues up
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Warships battle comes to climax
A BATTLE between two engineering giants to build the biggest warships in the UK will come to a climax on Thursday when ministers are expected to announce the victor. Rumours of a possible alliance between the companies vying to build two aircraft carriers
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Caravan drama
A MAN and a woman were treated in hospital yesterday after winds caused their caravan to overturn. The accident happened on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M), between Bradbury and Bowburn. Newton Cap viaduct on the A689 at Bishop Auckland was closed
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Charity bowling event
A branch of the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) is looking for people to take part in a fundraising event with a difference. The Durham and Cleveland branch wants teams to take part in a blindfold bowling match, designed to give people the
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Charity bowling event
A branch of the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) is looking for people to take part in a fundraising event with a difference. The Durham and Cleveland branch wants teams to take part in a blindfold bowling match, designed to give people the
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Private firm takes over contract for parking restrictions
A NEW regime for enforcing parking restrictions comes into force in Sunderland next month. From Monday, police wardens will be replaced by those from National Car Parks, which has won the contract from Sunderland City Council to enforce parking in the
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Police and schools to work together more
POLICE, politicians and teachers will forge links this week to look at a new approach to tackling crime. Northumbria Police chiefs will meet headteachers and education minister David Milliband in a conference. Cops, Kids and Schools will be held in Sunderland
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RSPCA baffled by dog's death in garden shed
RSPCA inspectors are appealing for help to solve the mystery behind the death of a Jack Russell dog found in a garden shed. Efforts to trace its owner have failed, despite an address written on a tag around his neck. Inspector Gavin Butterfield discovered
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Sinking feeling could put pressure on insurance firms
NEARLY £30bn was wiped from the value of Britain's biggest companies yesterday as the FTSE 100 Index fell for an unprecedented eleventh day in a row. Fears over a war with Iraq, terrorism and the health of the economy pushed the Footsie down 122.9 points
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You Write: Please come forward
SIR - Many of your readers will be aware that an independent inquiry has been launched into the Richard Neale case. Mr Neale was a consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician who worked in a number of hospitals in the North East and elsewhere and who was
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Company fined £12,000 for fork-lift accident
AN EMPLOYER was fined £12,000 yesterday after pleading guilty to three offences linked to an accident which almost killed a new recruit. Mark Hutchinson was thrown from a fork-lift truck he was driving, which then toppled on top of him at the Charles
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News in brief: Attempt to lure girl into car
Police are hunting a man who asked a young girl to get into his car in the Fordlands Road area of Fulford, York. The girl refused the man's request and ran to a friend's house nearby. The man, who was driving a red car, was in his late 30s or early 40s
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Real ale trek raises £3,000
REAL ale lovers have travelled the length and breadth of the country in a charity challenge that has raised more than £3,000. Regulars at the Ship Inn, Middlestone Village, near Spennymoor, County Durham, set themselves a challenge to raise money for
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Real ale trek raises £3,000
REAL ale lovers have travelled the length and breadth of the country in a charity challenge that has raised more than £3,000. Regulars at the Ship Inn, Middlestone Village, near Spennymoor, County Durham, set themselves a challenge to raise money for
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No truck with 'women driver' insults
A CHARITY is giving women drivers the chance to get behind the wheel of trucks and fire engines. Marie Curie Cancer Care will hold its annual Ladies' Driving Challenge at Albermarle Barracks, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland, on Saturday and Sunday,
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When is the right time to go to war?
Do Britain and the US need a further resolution before attacking Iraq? Sturart Bell, MP for Middlesbrough, argues that the United Nations has left enough tools to allow them to do the job, while Vera Baird, MP for Redcar, maintains the use of force now
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Get snapping for top prize
AN amateur photography competition is being held at the Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park Activity Centre, near Billingham. There are two categories: weird and wonderful nature; and signs of spring. There are two age groups: under-14s; and 14 years and above
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Cases heard in the magistrates' court
THE following cases were heard at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday: Philip Haley, 25, of Spencer Road, Teesville East, Cleveland, was disqualified from driving for three months and fined £200 with £35 costs for speeding on the A66 at Barnard Castle
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Belt campaign to mark anniversary
AN operation to mark the 20th anniversary of the mandatory wearing of seatbelts is underway in Cleveland. Over the next fortnight, the police will be searching for vehicles whose occupants are not using seatbelts. Inspector Steve Lawson said: "Motorists
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Top of class for physics
A PUPIL at one of the county's leading all-girls schools has been commended as one of the top 20 in the country for physics. Hala Ali, of Harrogate Ladies' College, won the award for a portfolio she submitted as part of her physics AS-level coursework
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28/01/03
WAR ON IRAQ: THOSE wanting America and Britain to attack Iraq without the authority of the UN should remember that under international law any country which is under attack has the legal right to defend itself. Thus Iraq is legally entitled to defend
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Jack takes public on a trip through town's past
A NEW exhibition aims to take residents of a North-East town on a trip back in time. Through The Lens Of Time is a display of photographs showing many of the changes Stockton has seen over the decades. The exhibition is by Jack Marriott, who worked as
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Jenny aims to improve links with schools
TEACHER Jenny Phillips is the latest addition to a team working to promote a 100-acre countryside site in Hartlepool. She has been appointed landscape interpretation officer at Summerhill. Ms Phillips, who has been working at a Stockton primary school
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Linguistic approach to better exports
A LANGUAGES hit squad charged with raising the awareness of the importance of multi-lingual communications in the export business is stepping up a gear. The team is to stage a series of events, at venues from Middlesbrough to Morpeth, Northumberland,
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Ten years jail for thug who knifed have-a-go policeman
A WOULD-BE thief who stabbed an off-duty police officer with an 8in blade was jailed for ten years yesterday. PC David Myers, 31, was stabbed three times when he tackled four youths tampering with a car near his mother's terraced house in Hartlepool.
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Sharon Griffiths Meets...
Sharon Griffiths bounds off to one of the jolliest exercise classes in the region, a great way of getting the carpet slipper generation off their bottoms. "RIGHT, right arm up and over and stre-e-etch. Make that Christmas pudding disappear! Now other
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Every picture tells a story
Anne Collier had always been interested in art but got pushed into the straitjacket of accountancy. She tells Steve Pratt how she escaped to build up one of the most successful art galleries in Newcastle. ANNE Collier is explaining the pleasure and pain
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Young boxers show lots of fighting spirit
MEMBERS of Fishburn Amateur Boxing Club gave a good account of themselves in the North-East schoolboy championships at the weekend. Carl Thompson was defeated in the semi-final on a majority decision by Kevin Ringwood, of Hartlepool, who went on to take
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Villagers in drive for better train service
VILLAGERS are to step up their campaign for more trains to serve their community. People living in Middleton St George, near Darlington, want Arriva to increase the number of stops its trains make along the route from Darlington to Middlesbrough. Councillor
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Council tenants to have say in future of housing stock
COUNCIL house tenants in Teesdale are being urged to take an active role in the future of their homes after a survey revealed that the local authority will need to find £24m over the next 30 years to meet Government housing standards. A stock survey last
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Hotel aids mayor's charity fund
A raffle held at The Manor House Hotel, Ferryhill, has raised £300 for the Mayor of Ferryhill's charities. Co-owner Pat Giusti presented a cheque to the Mayor, Councillor Ken Campbell, at Ferryhill Town Hall yesterday. The money raised will go to the
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RSPCA baffled by dog's death in garden shed
RSPCA inspectors are appealing for help to solve the mystery behind the death of a Jack Russell dog found in a garden shed. Efforts to trace its owner have failed, despite an address written on a tag around his neck. Inspector Gavin Butterfield discovered
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Cases heard in the magistrates' court
THE following cases were heard at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday: Philip Haley, 25, of Spencer Road, Teesville East, Cleveland, was disqualified from driving for three months and fined £200 with £35 costs for speeding on the A66 at Barnard Castle
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Woman hurt in crash
A WOMAN was taken to hospital with head injuries after her car collided with a caravan near Sedgefield yesterday. The accident happened on the south-bound carriageway of the A1(M), between Bowburn and Bradbury, just after noon. The car rolled three times
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New help for home tenants
PEOPLE plagued by nuisance neighbours have a new council officer to turn to for help. Graham Carter has been appointed by Darlington Borough Council as a tenancy enforcement officer. He will offer help to council tenants who are caught up in disputes
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Help guide for teenagers
A GUIDE has been published to help Darlington youngsters face their teenage years. The guide, published by Clever Clogs Publishing of Durham, tackles issues including dating, drugs and leaving home. Downloading Darlington was commissioned by Darlington
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Watch kept on estate
THERE was a strong police presence on a Darlington estate at the weekend after a series of attacks on buses. Uniformed police patrolled the Skerne Park estate on Friday night and covert officers were in the area on Saturday and Sunday to ensure there
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Vigilant community warden captures young thief in act
A THIEF was caught in the act at the weekend by a council warden on litter patrol. The teenager had taken a cigarette lighter from a stall in Darlington market on Saturday morning, when he was seen by Community Warden Stuart Hodgson, who was on the look-out
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TV link helps to nail thief
A housebound pensioner gave evidence to a jury from her living room yesterday, in the first video link of its kind for vulnerable witnesses. The evidence of Margaret Jeffrey, who is in her 70s, helped to secure the conviction of a thief who stole jewellery
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The latest chapter in a bishop's life
A BISHOP returned to his former cathedral yesterday for the first stop on an author's tour. Bishop David Jenkins, a former Bishop of Durham, spoke to local people at St Nicholas Church, down the road from Durham Cathedral, about his new book, The Calling
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School is well versed in poetry
A VILLAGE school is celebrating after a record-breaking number of pupils had poems published in a book. Pupils at Hurworth Comprehensive, near Darlington, have had 98 of their poems published in The Write Stuff, a selection of the best submissions from
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Villagers celebrate fencing fight win
VILLAGERS campaigning to have a popular woodland walk reopened celebrated yesterday after council officers promised to make the landowner take down a fence. Protestors in Blackfyne, near Consett, have gathered more than 500 signatures from residents,
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Funeral of crash boy, 13, confirmed
THE funeral of a teenager who died in a high speed car crash will take place on Friday. Liam Richardson, 13, was one of four teenagers in a stolen Vauxhall Astra which careered out of control, overturned and crashed into a fence in West Cornforth, County
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News in brief: Hospital car parking review
A review of car parking at Darlington Memorial Hospital is being conducted by borough council officers and health officials to resolve problems experienced by patients, visitors and staff. The health trust has requested the review of parking infrastructure
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Redesigned phone book distributed
BT'S new-look phone book will start dropping through letterboxes this week - and homes in North Yorkshire will be the first to get it. The telecoms giant has redesigned the directory listings for the first time in 20 years. For the first time the new
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Striker Proctor is worth a gamble
LOCAL boy Michael Proctor last night revealed the positive impact Kevin Phillips is having on his Sunderland career. Proctor started up front alongside Phillips for the first time at Blackburn on Saturday, and both players found the net in the FA Cup
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Why all those bishops are wrong
HOW can you tell that a war against Saddam Hussein is very likely the best policy? Answer: because the bishops are against it. Let's face it, they have got everything else wrong these last 40 years: through the Church Commissioners they have lost all
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Schools fear over budgets
HEADTEACHERS are taking their concerns about their school budgets to their local Labour MP. The heads of Scarborough's secondary schools are to meet the town's MP, Lawrie Quinn, to voice their concerns over budget shortfalls. David Pynn, headteacher of
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News in brief: Name change bid by school
A SCHOOL in Billingham could be given a new name. Northfield School will be known as Northfield School and Sports College if members of Stockton Borough Council's cabinet agree to the change when they meet on Thursday. If approved, the new name will come
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Job Search: Vacancies
Direct sales professionals. 16hrs pw, over 7 days to suit. No experience necessary as training given, but sales experience an advantage. Ref: DUR 35040. Cleaner. £5ph, 7.45-8.45am, Mon-Fri. Required for office. Experience not necessary as training provided
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Bid lodged - and now Magpies are kept waiting
NEWCASTLE UNITED were last night waiting for Leeds United to respond to their £10m bid for Jonathan Woodgate. After much prevarication, Newcastle have finally offered to make a down payment of £7m for Woodgate, with a further £3m based on appearances.
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Concern over shut pub
CLUBS and societies that use rooms at a Richmond pub are worried its closure could leave them without a home. The Black Lion in Finkle Street is one of the few in the town which can offer function rooms and, as host to the Rotary club, Richmond Live,
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Regional firm will upgrade Midlands network
One of Northern Electric Group's stable of firms has won a £30m contract to upgrade and maintain part of East Midlands Electricity's distribution network. Middlesbrough-based Integrated Utility Services (IUS) secured the deal, worth £7.5m a year for four
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Everyone's a Winner
It was good to see in Monday's Echo that Redcar MP Vera Baird is pushing Government to move their own quality jobs to regions like ours. This could be a classic win-win situation and I suspect it's often the officers, not the politicians, who are hardest
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Filtronic phones in with improvements
SEMICONDUCTOR business Filtronic has overcome a period of uncertainty in the global economy with improvements in its mobile phone operations. The company, which employs 300 staff at the former Fujitsu plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, manufactures
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Parents of dead soldier call for inquiry
The parents of a dead North-East soldier marked what would have been his 19th birthday by calling on MPs to back their campaign for a public inquiry. Private Geoff Gray, of Seaham, County Durham, is one of four young soldiers whose deaths at the Army's
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Rare guitar taken in raid
THIS guitar was among a haul of goods taken during three separate house burglaries in Thirsk last Friday. The black BC Rich, Mick Thomson Signature Special guitar was taken from a property in the town and is believed to be one of only a handful in the
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Boro home in on Derby duo, but no to Seth deal
MIDDLESBROUGH were last night close to clinching the loan signings of Derby County duo Malcolm Christie and Chris Riggott after shelving their interest in Leeds United midfielder Seth Johnson. Striker Christie and defender Riggott were on Teesside for
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Last Night's TV: State Of Mind (ITV1); The Honey Trap (five)
Never mind watching this state of a show "WHAT if he's playing you like a violin?," someone inquired of forensic psychologist Grace in State Of Mind. We all know that many a good tune is played on an old fiddle - although I don't expect Niamh Cusack,
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Captain's Corner
The trip back from Torquay on Saturday was a long one to say the least. Torquay is definitely one of my least favourite grounds. In five attempts I've yet to win there and it was at Plainmoor I picked up my only red card. Again it was the referee who
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Eating Owt: Frill-free and all the better for it
Whether they termed it lunch or dinner, generations of good Co Durham folk have regarded the Sunday midday meal as precisely that, have washed up by 12.15 and by half past three are wondering what's for tea. Once there was no need to wonder at all. It
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Homeless project set to expand
EXPANDING a volunteer scheme could give homeless youngsters across Hambleton and Richmondshire somewhere to turn in an emergency. The Nightstop project, which has its headquarters in York, is already a success in the south of North Yorkshire and Ryedale
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Soldiers pull together for charity
MORE than 100 soldiers took the strain to pull a field gun around their barracks in a fundraising marathon gun run. Weighing 1.8 tonnes, the Second World War gun was pulled around a course at Catterick Garrison's Vimy Barracks in aid of the Marie Curie
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News in brief: Hospital car parking review
A review of car parking at Darlington Memorial Hospital is being conducted by borough council officers and health officials to resolve problems experienced by patients, visitors and staff. The health trust has requested the review of parking infrastructure
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Special needs funding to go to schools
MILLIONS of pounds are to be given directly to North Yorkshire schools to streamline the help offered to children with learning difficulties. Each of the 400 primary and secondary schools in the county will get a share of more than £4m, giving them quicker
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Frill-free and all the better for it
Whether they termed it lunch or dinner, generations of good Co Durham folk have regarded the Sunday midday meal as precisely that, have washed up by 12.15 and by half past three are wondering what's for tea. Once there was no need to wonder at all. It
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News in brief: Name change bid by school
A SCHOOL in Billingham could be given a new name. Northfield School will be known as Northfield School and Sports College if members of Stockton Borough Council's cabinet agree to the change when they meet on Thursday. If approved, the new name will come
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So-called fairer deal hurts North-East council purses
THE Government's pledge to help struggling North-East councils looked to have backfired spectacularly last night. When ministers announced a cash pot of £51.2bn for local authorities in the forthcoming financial year, they promised a fairer funding formula
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Two-year pay deal ends Nissan strike threat
Nissan workers have accepted a pay deal - ending the threat of the company's first ever strike. Sixty one per cent of the 4,672-strong Sunderland workforce voted for a six per cent offer over the next two years. Amicus, the sole union represented at the
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Job Search: Vacancies
Vehicle fitter PCV, Bishop Auckland, £7.21ph, 39hrs pw, must be time served, PCV licence preferred and full driving licence. Ref: BIS 12272. Telesales person, Coundon, £5.30ph, 22.5hrs pw, required for cold calling, must be experienced. Ref: BIS 12230
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Power station could boost region
Plans for a power station linking east Durham with Norway would result in a £130m investment in the area, according to the firm behind them. National Grid International (NGI) wants to establish the electricity converter station, along with underground
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Bid to halt export of Madonna painting
AN attempt was made last night to prevent the export of a painting which is on long-term loan from the North-East. A temporary bar was placed on the export of Renaissance master Raphael's Madonna and Child - also known as the Madonna of the Pinks, which
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Comment: Moving the goalposts
AS expected, the United Nations inspection team in Iraq has so far failed to find Saddam Hussein holding a "smoking gun". Indeed, it is by no means certain that hard-and-fast evidence will ever be uncovered that he has weapons of mass destruction at his
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Plea after sex attack on elderly woman
PEOPLE returning from a night out may have information about a sex attack on an elderly woman. The home of the 78-year-old victim, who suffered a prolonged attack at the hands of a prowler as she lay in her bed, is not far from a popular dropping off
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Teenager bailed
A POLICE dog sniffed a teenager carrying cannabis on Framwelgate Bridge, in Durham City. The 18-year-old was arrested for suspected drugs possession and has been bailed pending further inquiries.
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Police plea in hunt for robber
A 19-year-old student was injured when a robber punched her in the face as he stole her handbag. The attack happened as the student walked in Stockton Road, Sunderland, at 6.30pm on Sunday. The suspect was described as male, aged 25 to 30, with a stocky
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Police plea in hunt for robber
A 19-year-old student was injured when a robber punched her in the face as he stole her handbag. The attack happened as the student walked in Stockton Road, Sunderland, at 6.30pm on Sunday. The suspect was described as male, aged 25 to 30, with a stocky
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Rock between a hard place and its thirsty population
Northumbrian Water has projects and contracts supplying water and sewage needs worldwide, not least its service to 2.6m people in the North-East. Business Editor Mike Parker travelled to Gibraltar to see the firm's involvement in a colony which has historically
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Organisations offered free TV publicity
CHARITIES and community organisations are being offered free television publicity. Tyne Tees Television will publicise specific services, events or volunteer appeals in its new Community Link announcements. The mini-programmes are shown at 3.15pm each
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Villagers in drive for better train service
VILLAGERS are to step up their campaign for more trains to serve their community. People living in Middleton St George, near Darlington, want Arriva to increase the number of stops its trains make along the route from Darlington to Middlesbrough. Councillor
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Text pest husband is warned over harassment
BOUNCY castle entrepreneur Robert Thorp was barred by a court order from contact with his estranged wife, even on the telephone, after he had been convicted of harassing her. But he did not let that stop him. He used his mobile phone's text messaging
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Young actors in the spotlight as part of national Holocaust day
PEOPLE across the region gathered yesterday in remembrance of the six million Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust. Services throughout the North-East and North Yorkshire marked the country's third National Holocaust Day, on the anniversary of the liberation
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Partnership hailed success in quest to reduce crime
A MULTI-AGENCY approach to tackling crime across Hambleton is proving a success. The year ahead looks promising for the Community Safety Partnership, with fresh ideas, campaigns and roadshows. Established in 1999, the partnership of Hambleton District
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Council taxes keep on rising
ANGRY council taxpayers are facing another year of big increases, despite Government promises to give the North-East a better deal. Local councils are due to announce their final council tax rises over the next few weeks. A survey by The Northern Echo
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£6bn North-South rail link 'needed by 2016'
PLANS for a high-speed rail line linking London with Scotland are to be resurrected this week by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA). The £6bn North-South rail link is expected to be in the SRA's development plan on Thursday - although a route has yet
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Opportunity to tour Kilpin Hall and admire its blanket of snowdrops
AS they bloom at the end of January, snowdrops are often described as the harbingers of spring - so anyone who needs reassuring that winter's end is only a matter of weeks away should make an effort to be at a North Yorkshire stately home this weekend
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Uncertainty won't stop people planning house move
MORE than one in ten people are planning to move house during the next two years, despite uncertainty over the property market. The figure, which has stayed at 11 per cent for the past nine months, is down from a high of 15 per cent in the summer of 2001
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Mystery of naked woman on bridge
A WOMAN has been spotted hanging naked from a bridge which spans a busy North-East motorway. Drivers have called police on two occasions after the mystery woman was seen either naked, or partially clothed, clinging from the bridge parapet of the Cleasby
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Search for teenager draws blank
VOLUNTEERS have spent a seventh fruitless weekend searching for a teenager. Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team was out on Sunday looking for any sign of Craig Foreman. The 19-year-old went missing from his home in Denecrest, Medomsley, near
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Search for teenager draws blank
VOLUNTEERS have spent a seventh fruitless weekend searching for a teenager. Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team was out on Sunday looking for any sign of Craig Foreman. The 19-year-old went missing from his home in Denecrest, Medomsley, near
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Ex-Nissan worker on radio as Elvis
AN Elvis fan sacked after a row over singing the King's songs at work proved a big hit with North-East audiences when he made his radio debut yesterday. David Jewers, 37, of Low Fell, Gateshead, appeared on Paul "Goffy" Gough's breakfast show, on Century
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Conman hunt continues as funeral nears
THE funeral of a pensioner who fell victim to a bogus caller will be held on Thursday. Frail widower George Sharpe, 82, died of a heart attack hours after a man conned his way into his home at Faraday Terrace, Haswell, County Durham, on Wednesday, January
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Enjoy the warm glow of unseasonal winter weather . . . it isn't going to last
WEATHER forecasters warned the region to batten down the hatches last night as winter prepared to return with a vengeance. The unseasonally mild weather is set to come to an abrupt end tomorrow, when freezing winds bring with them the threat of snow and
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Fighting for waxed jackets jobs
UNION officials will meet bosses at clothing firm Barbour today hopeful they can strike a deal to save its County Durham factory from closure. Staff at the company's Crook plant, which makes waxed jackets, were told on Friday that production was to move
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Champion for region wanted
A champion for the region is being sought to help lead the North-East forward in its goal to compete with the world's best. Regional Development Agency One NorthEast is advertising for a chief executive to take over from Mike Collier, who is retiring
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Warning over new farms epidemic
A FUTURE foot-and-mouth epidemic could spread across the country just as quickly as the previous outbreak despite Government efforts to enforce biosecurity, says a report out today. Researchers at Newcastle University say urgent changes need to be made
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Auditions bring praise for N-E girls
THE producer of a £10m film being shot in the region has praised the acting talents of North-East girls. At the weekend, more than 700 aspiring actresses queued for hours at Tyne Tees studios, in Newcastle, for the chance to play the lead role of Steph
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Hockey days planned for half-term
HOCKEY coaching sessions are taking place in Stockton during the half-term holidays. On Monday, February 17, from 10am to 1pm, a hockey festival for year six pupils will give participants the opportunity to have fun, learn skills and make friends. The
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Owner sells up and retires
THE region's only authorised distributor for the Swagelok Corporation has changed hands in a seven-figure deal. Teesside Fluid System Technologies, formerly Teesside Valve and Fitting, has been sold by retiring owner John Walker to former employee Barry
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Initiative to target riders on dunes
MOTORCYCLISTS and quad bikers using protected sands at South Gare, in Teesside, face prosecution and confiscation of their machines or fines of up to £20,000 in a crackdown. Redcar and Cleveland Council, Cleveland Police and Corus will carry out the joint
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Opposition to recycling site forces re-think on strategy
COUNCIL chiefs have been forced to review their recycling strategy following opposition to a recycling centre in East Cleveland. Suggestions have been put forward for the centre to be sited at Deepdale, Loftus; at Liverton Mines Industrial Estate; and
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News in brief: Glass art goes on display
WORK by contemporary international glass artists can be seen on the last leg of a touring exhibition at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, next month. Heart of Glass features contributions by leading artists in the field, including Tony Oursler, Jean-Michel
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Colourful designs by children help reduce litter in schools
TWELVE children will see their winning designs displayed on litter bins in their schools in an attempt to cut down on litter. The children entered a competition run by the West Middlesbrough New Deal for Communities (NDC) to produce posters giving a clear
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Environmental schemes get lottery cash
THREE environmental organisations have been awarded National Lottery grants totalling £67,000. The money comes from the Social, Economic and Environmental Development (Seed) programme, which has awarded £485,500 in grants to innovative environmental projects
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News in brief: Glass art goes on display
WORK by contemporary international glass artists can be seen on the last leg of a touring exhibition at the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, next month. Heart of Glass features contributions by leading artists in the field, including Tony Oursler, Jean-Michel
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Birth false alarm costly for driver
MARTIN Walker's rush to be at the birth of his second child brought him a bill for £365 yesterday and a warning not to go dashing round the country. Magistrates heard how Walker, 32, had been clocked by police at 105mph as he headed north in his BMW at
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Quiz fans raise cash for good causes
FOUR worthy causes have profited thanks to the fundraising efforts of regulars at a Northallerton pub. Quiz nights at the Nags Head, in the High Street, have helped raise £1,000, which has been shared between the day unit and Brompton ward at the Friarage
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Economy in turmoil as war panic spreads
THE world economy was in turmoil last night as growing fears over war with Iraq fuelled panic on the stock markets. All the major European markets registered heavy losses. At one stage in morning trading, the value of leading shares on the London market
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Footballing youngsters have extra supporters
FOOTBALLING teenagers from Spennymoor Comprehensive School have visited Lothian House Nursing Home to thank residents for sponsorship which provided the school team with a new strip. Residents were delighted to meet the boys and are looking forward to
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On right track for golden awards
CHILDREN have been given a big incentive to keep fit while helping to save the environment. The Friends of the Walking Train initiative at Abbey Road Infant School, Darlington, was established last year and is proving a major success. It runs alongside
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College's Bistro looking better by design
A COLLEGE restaurant is getting a new image thanks to the efforts of graphics students. The Bistro at Darlington College of Technology has undergone a month-long, £36,000 refit. The restaurant, which is open to the public and is used as a training ground
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Bills may have been excessive - solicitor
A SOLICITOR and former coroner charged with ten counts of theft yesterday admitted he may have overcharged some of his clients. Jeremy Cave, 53, who denies the theft charges, said that "with hindsight", some of the charges may have been too high. But
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Security is stepped up as gipsies arrive for funeral
POLICE chiefs have met local authorities to draw up a plan of action following the arrival in the North-East of a large number of gipsies. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is also applying for a possession order from Teesside County Court to get rid
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The latest chapter in a bishop's life
A BISHOP returned to his former cathedral yesterday for the first stop on an author's tour. Bishop David Jenkins, a former Bishop of Durham, spoke to local people at St Nicholas Church, down the road from Durham Cathedral, about his new book, The Calling
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Pupils to be moved after arson attack
EDUCATION officials are looking at alternative premises to house pupils of a primary school devastated in an arson attack. Large parts of the single-storey Dunn Street Primary School, in Minster Parade, Jarrow, South Tyneside, were destroyed in a blaze
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Pupils to be moved after arson attack
EDUCATION officials are looking at alternative premises to house pupils of a primary school devastated in an arson attack. Large parts of the single-storey Dunn Street Primary School, in Minster Parade, Jarrow, South Tyneside, were destroyed in a blaze
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Baby examination revealed severe injuries, court told
A CHILD expert said that a two-month-old baby had the most severe injuries he had ever seen on a youngster, a court was told yesterday. Two-month-old Kane Simpson, from Billingham, Teesside, was taken to a medical centre with brain injuries, two skull
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Revival plan gets £20,000 funding
A MINING village's park is to be restored with landfill tax credit money. Horden Parish Welfare Park is getting £20,000 from the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDent) for tree restoration, planting and landscaping to help restore the park. The eight-hectare
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Museum fire blamed on vandals
VANDALS are believed to have deliberately started a blaze which caused £4,000-worth of damage to a replica Viking village. The gang attacked the Danelaw village, at Murton Park, near York, setting light to a reconstruction of a Viking longhouse, which
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Unit boosted by quiz cash
PUB regulars have raised thousands of pounds for good causes and charities through regular quiz competitions. And the latest to benefit from the efforts of the Tickle Toby Inn, Northallerton, owned and run by the Beckwith family, is the Mowbray Suite
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Job Search: Vacancies
Employment officer, Northallerton. £13,514pa, 35hrs pw, 9am to 5pm, Mon-Fri. Must have marketing, presentation and communication skills. Experience of training/teaching desirable. Ref: NOE 18202. Office assistant, Northallerton. £5,067pa, 1-5pm, Mon-Fri
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Wilkinson still hopeful of landing new blood
SUNDERLAND boss Howard Wilkinson last night admitted he is prepared for the worst case scenario in his bid to land new players. The Black Cats chief, who lost out to Tottenham in the race to sign Japanese World Cup star Kazuyuki Toda last week, currently
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Tykes to get smart
New Yorkshire captain Anthony McGrath is already mapping out his plans for next season and he will officially inform the players of what he has in mind when they report back for duty on March 3 High on his list of priorities will be an insistence that
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Job Search: Vacancies
Cleaner, Yarm. 12-16hrs pw, between Mon-Fri. Required for public house. No experience necessary. Must have own transport. Ref: STK 36240. Motor vehicle technician, Stockton. 39hrs pw, 8.30am to 5pm, Mon-Fri. Must be time-served and flexible regarding
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Car boot sale reveals washday treasure
FORMER laundry manager Pauline Golightly confesses to more than a passing interest in old washing machines. Her relationship with one particular model has, in fact, developed into an obsession. It all began at a car boot sale at Scorton, where 35-year-old
