Archive
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Fundraisers reach target for Ann's trip
A WOMAN is preparing to fly to the United States for revolutionary treatment she hopes will save her leg. Fundraisers for Ann Teasdale have raised enough money for her to receive specialist care from a doctor in Texas. Although still a little short of
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Drinkers consulted over night buses
DURHAM drinkers are being asked where they want a planned late-night bus service to run to. The region's largest bus operator, Go North-East, could run buses as late as 2.15am to cater for drinkers out in the city on Friday and Saturday nights. The service
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Women targeted by phone sex pest
POLICE were last night hunting a man claiming to be a paedophile who has made a series of sickening phone calls to women. The man, who is said to be softly-spoken, rang women in the Darlington area and asked them if there were any young children living
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When The Dreamboat Comes In
MY wife has loved Donny Osmond since she was at school - and that's a long time ago. As a hormonal 14-year-old, in her Donny cap and gleaming Osmond Fan Club badge, she saw him in concert in London and was never quite the same again. A regular subscriber
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New man hopes to stoke Premier passions
NEW manager Mick McCarthy is ready to rekindle 'Premier Passions' on Wearside in a desperate attempt to rescue Sunderland from relegation. McCarthy is mystified by the Black Cats' miserable form at the Stadium of Light - they have lost nine Premiership
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Town adops Latin signs
Residents of a North-East town could be forgiven for thinking the Romans had returned yesterday when they woke up to find street and other signs and been translated into Latin. Baffled residents scratched their heads as the new bilingual signs appeared
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Strange times get Blair on the run
NORMALLY, Tony Blair is driven in a limo the 500 yards from No 10 along Whitehall to the House of Commons to face his weekly grilling at Prime Ministers' Questions. This is for security reasons. But these are not normal times and so yesterday, for whatever
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Civil servants' legal battle
TWENTY-two civil servants are locked in a landmark legal battle after they were forced to retire early by the Inland Revenue. The Government staff were left devastated after their working lives were cut short at 60 when they wanted to continue until they
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Knife 'to protect family'
A TEENAGER accused of murdering an asylum seeker told a court yesterday he had armed himself with a knife to protect his family. Steven Roberts, 18, said he had not even realised he had stabbed Peiman Bahmani when he lashed out to defend himself. Mr Roberts
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Women get together at open day
A VILLAGE hosted a special open day to mark International Women's Week. Durham City Council's Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Six team staged the event at Bowburn Community Centre, offering taster sessions in activities including DJ skills, cookery,
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Wesley's North-East tales make their mark
A BOOK on John Wesley's visits to the North-East will feature in a national collection celebrating the tercentenary of the birth of the famous Methodist leader. The Travelling Preacher, by former Sunderland Polytechnic history lecturer Geoffrey Milburn
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Taxi shortage talks
TAXI managers will meet council officers and police later this week to address the growing shortage of cabbies in the town. Darlington Borough Council has invited taxi firm bosses to the private meeting on Friday because of concern over the lack of cabs
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Council writes off steelworks debt
COUNCILLORS have written off a rates debt owed by a troubled steelworks. Weardale Steel, in Wolsingham, should have paid £41,384.10p in business rates for the first half of last year to cover the period until it went into administration on October 3.
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Folk music revival at school
THREE primary schools have revived traditional folk music. St Andrew's Primary School in Henknowle, is the venue for the weekly workshops where the youngsters are joined by pupils from Copeland Road and Oakley Cross, in West Auckland. The project has
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Blue-chips suffer as FTSE tumbles
FOUR of Britain's best-known blue-chip companies have been thrown out of the FTSE 100 group of companies. The news came on the day the Footsie fell to a near eight-year low, down 165.7 points at 3287. Battered airline British Airways, insurer Royal &
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Lakes bus route to be withdrawn
A POPULAR bus service from Durham to the Lake District is to be stopped, depriving many of day trips and holidays to the area. For several years, the X85 has run from Durham bus station to Kendal every Saturday from late May to late September. Setting
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Temporary home for blaze pupils
PUPILS of Middleton St. George Primary School, which was partly destroyed by fire, returned to the classrooms on Monday in a temporary home. Two classrooms and the roof were destroyed by fire on February 26 but 248 pupils were back behind desks this week
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CCTV protest workers return
A workforce who walked out in protest at the installation of closed circuit TV cameras, returned to work last night. All 70 shopfloor workers, members of the GMB union, staged the 24-hour stoppage on Monday, halting production at Conder Products, on the
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Youngster on right tracks
BUDDING racing driver James Johnston is busy preparing for a competition which could put him on the road to stardom. The 12-year-old motor sports enthusiast has won a place in a national contest to find the next generation of racing stars. Stars of Tomorrow
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Bus driver 'swamped by unruly children'
A BUS driver said she was swamped by unruly schoolchildren on a journey which ended with a 12-year-old boy fatally injured under the wheels of the double decker. Appearing at Teesside Crown Court, Deborah White, 41, of Hollinside Road, Billingham, has
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Comment: Strengthening Blair's hand
A SECOND United Nations resolution justifying military action against Iraq appears to be little more than a pipe dream. Indeed, there is every chance the resolution may not even be put to the vote. France's insistence that it will veto the resolution
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Drugs affect memory, study shows
DRUG users have admitted that smoking cannabis and taking Ecstasy causes memory loss. A study carried out by Newcastle University psychologists has shown that recreational drugs are damaging people's lives. Involving 736 drug users, the study is believed
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One fan's view of our last days of steam
People often forget - indeed younger ones might never have known at all - just how big a railway town Darlington used to be...North Road locomotive works, Bank Top engine sheds, Faverdale wagon works etc, etc. It was hardly possible to set foot anywhere
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Trucker held after £2.5m drugs find
A TRUCKER from the North-East is being held by French authorities after cannabis worth about £2.5m was allegedly found in his lorry, his wife said last night. John Vasey, 42, of Washington, Tyne and Wear, has been in jail since he was stopped by customs
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Man quizzed over house fire
A MAN has been arrested following a house fire. Police are questioning the man about the blaze in Egerton Street, Middlesbrough, where firefighters found four seats of fire. Station Officer Steve Waggott said crews found a man overcome by fumes in a doorway
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Detention finishes for trio
THE first three teachers to be evicted from a makeshift prison as part of a school's charity event were named yesterday. Gill Selby, Jenny Catterall and Carolyn Williams were the first to be evicted as part of Yarm Preparatory School's I'm A Teacher -
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Welcome sign will be visible from sky
A SIGN welcoming visitors to part of the region will be so large that it will be visible from aeroplanes. Durham County Council has submitted a planning application to place the sign next to a cycle bridge across the A689 at Wynyard Station, near Sedgefield
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Jubilee nostalgia show is a sell-out
A SELL-OUT crowd joined in a jubilee celebration of Darlington's history last night. The Late Late Jubilee Show at Darlington Civic Theatre took a light-hearted trip around the town during the five decades of the Queen's reign. Presented by Councillor
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Pub granted extended hours
A TOWN centre pub has been given permission to stay open until 2pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Sedgefield Borough Council granted the licence to Blakes, in Newton Aycliffe, for six months, or until the current licence expires, when it will be reviewed
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'Sensitive' young chef killed himself
A YOUNG chef ended his life because he was too sensitive to live in the modern world, his parents told an inquest. Adam Williams, 20, of Dunelm Court, Brandon, had taken overdoses in the past, the hearing was told. South Durham Coroner Colin Penna ruled
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Water smart solution to rising crime
A PILOT scheme which uses technology similar to DNA profiling is to be introduced to reduce theft in Wear Valley. Police and Wear Valley District Council will work together to pilot the SmartWater identification system. A clear solution, which contains
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Jazz concert
JAZZ artist Tina May will perform in Cotherstone Village Hall, Teesdale, on March 22, at 7.30pm, as part of the North Pennine Highlights Rural Touring Scheme. The professor of jazz voice at the Royal Academy of Music, in London, will be joined by pianist
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Parking restrictions to be introduced in city centre
YELLOW lines are to be painted in city centre streets to stop "unsafe" parking by drivers trying to avoid paying charges. Most streets in the centre of Durham have pay and display parking, part of a move to ease congestion and encourage public transport
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Charity cartoon
SHOPPERS in Middlesbrough's Hill Street Centre will be able to take home a lasting reminder of Red Nose Day tomorrow and help charity at the same time. The shopping centre is inviting people to have a caricature of themselves drawn, complete with a red
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Town events
A TIMETABLE of events in Darlington town centre is being drawn up. Proposed events include the Darlington 10k road run and Mayor's Ball. Popular initiatives such as French markets, a Christmas market and heritage weekend are also being repeated. There
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Region in running for navy weapons deal
BUSINESSES in the North-East and Yorkshire are leading the race for a £1.5bn Royal Navy contract that would create and safeguard about 1,000 jobs. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is in talks with several major arms manufacturers to upgrade the fleet's outdated
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Chances to refresh culinary skills
A country house is opening its doors to offer men and women the chance to brush up on their culinary skills. Eggleston Hall, in Teesdale, County Durham, will soon begin cookery classes run by some of country's most celebrated chefs. One of the courses
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Widow held over death
THE widow of a dog walker who was found with fatal head injuries in a country lane has been arrested on suspicion of murdering him. Christina Button, 31, was arrested along with her 20-year-old nephew at her home in St Mary's Drive, West Rainton, on Tuesday
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Bosses plan welcome for coach trips
TOURISM bosses have devised a three-year plan to improve their share of the lucrative coach travel market. Scarborough Borough Council has designed a coach marketing and management strategy following consultation with coach operators and other groups.
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Objectors celebrate as plan to build flats is withdrawn
PEOPLE power has won after a firm withdrew a controversial application to build 24 flats in a quiet residential area. George Wimpey North-East had applied to Stockton Borough Council for permission to demolish a house in South View, Eaglescliffe, and
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Red nose disco
REGULARS at the Glittering Star pub, in Stonebridge, Darlington, will be doing their bit for Comic Relief tomorrow by holding a Red Nose Day disco to raise money for the BBC Television charity extravaganza. The fun starts at 7.30pm
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Search for bikeathon starter
THE organisers of the BBC TV Blue Peter Bikeathon in Darlington are looking for someone to open the charity event later this year. The event is being held on Sunday, May 4, to raise money for Leukaemia Research. The Darlington cycle event will take place
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News in brief: Pupils jump to help charity
Pupils have raised funds for the British Heart Foundation with a sponsored skip. Nearly 200 students at Roseberry Sports and Community College, at Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, took part in the Jump Rope for Heart event, skipping in groups of three
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News in brief: Cathedral date for lecture
The Friends of Ripon Cathedral end their present run of lectures with a talk called Some Blokes, Some Birds, Two Bears and a Big Cat. The Reverend Derek Ching will be unveiling some of the symbolism found inside the cathedral building. The lecture starts
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Grassroots: Yarm
CHARITY CONCERT: Marske Fishermen's Choir will perform in aid of Daisy Chain and other Lions' Club charities on Friday, March 21. The concert will start at 7.30pm in Yarm Methodist Church. Tickets are £3, available on (01642) 782900. RELIEF PLAN: Pupils
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Shop staff get a makeover
A DOZEN trainee beauty therapists have been pampering staff at the Ikea store in Gateshead. The applied science students from Gateshead College gave massages, manicures, facials and Indian head massages, along with reflexology and aromatherapy treatments
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Pub chef serves the Marines
A FORMER pub chef is enjoying a daily diet of adventure as part of his new career. Chris Hedley, 19, from Durham, is serving as a steward in the wardroom of HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy's largest warship, in the North Arabian Gulf. He joined the Navy a year
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Grandma gets on her bike to fund research
CYCLISTS gearing up for a coast-to-coast cycle ride are looking for sponsorship to fund research into a rare medical disorder. Organiser June Kynoch is the grandmother of four-year-old Charlie Whitaker, who suffers from diamond blackfan anaemia. Her daughter
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Career choices on display
YOUNG people had a chance to tune an engine and design a robot during a careers fair in County Durham. Opportunities 2003, at the Ramside Hall Hotel in Carrville, Durham,was aimed at pupils from years ten and 11. The idea behind it was to help them decide
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News in brief: Flat damaged in arson attack
FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a blaze at a flat above the post office in Eston High Street, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday night. The fire is believed to have been started by someone breaking into the unoccupied property and setting fire to an armchair
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Familiar landscapes
local scenes form an important part of an art exhibition on display in east Durham. The Long Gallery at Seaton Holme, Easington Village, is showcasing the work of retired teacher John Todd, who was born and lived in the village but now lives in Barton
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Blaze praise
THE emergency services have been praised for their efforts following the arson attack at Middleton St George school, near Darlington. At a meeting of the village's parish council, chairman Brian Jones thanked the police and fire brigade for their work
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Bishop move to be debated
ANGLICAN Church leaders will meet in Harrogate this weekend to debate two proposals. The Ripon and Leeds Diocesan Synod will meet at St Aidan's School, in Harrogate, on Saturday, where it will consider a motion calling for plans to allow women to become
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Advice offered
Age Concern Durham County, in partnership with three law practices, is offering older people in Durham an opportunity to talk to a lawyer about making a will and get free expert advice. Where appropriate, a will can be created. People over 50 can ring
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Poems brought to life
NURSERY rhymes and traditional verses brought poetry to life last week when primary school children celebrated World Book Day. Pupils and staff at St Chad's RC School, in Witton Park, dressed as their favourite storybook characters to entertain each other
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Learners put stars to shame
CELEBRITIES including pop star Gareth Gates and Big Brother star Jade Goody have been put to shame by a group of learner drivers from Darlington. The stars have been learning to drive for Comic Relief Celebrity Driving School show, but have been failing
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Family's heartache over mystery disappearance
THE brother of missing Craig Hetherington told yesterday of his family's heartache since his only sibling disappeared. Mark Hetherington spoke at a press conference at Redcar Police Station to appeal for information after detectives admitted they had
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Bannatyne gets wish to keep HQ in town
FITNESS entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne spoke of his delight yesterday after completing a deal that will keep his headquarters in Darlington. The announcement from Mr Bannatyne, one of the North-East's richest men, is a huge boost to the town's efforts
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Locals' backing for PM 'growing'
Sedgefield is starting to swing behind its local Member of Parliament in his hour of need, Tony Blair's constituency agent said yesterday. Speaking in Mr Blair's office in Trimdon, John Burton said: "In the last couple of days, we have had nothing but
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Marinelli fails to impress Torino
CARLOS MARINELLI'S future was in doubt last night after it emerged that Torino are unlikely to try to sign the Middlesbrough playmaker on a permanent basis. The Serie A side, who have financial problems, have not been sufficiently impressed by Marinelli
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Orchids prove a crowd-puller
NEARLY 1,000 people visited the Darlington and District Orchid Society's annual show at The White Horse Hotel on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors were asked to vote for their favourite orchid and the winner was a flower grown by one of the founding members
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£30m college project is just the first stage of a transformation
ONE of the main routes into Darlington town centre will be transformed over the next decade into a hotel, conference and business complex. A £30m Darlington College of Technology building in Haughton Road will be the first part of the development which
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Pistol is seized in raid on property
A LOADED semi-automatic pistol and ammunition have been seized by police during a drugs raid. The weapon was found under the floorboards of a house in Dawdon, County Durham, as part of Operation Grasshopper - which has led to the arrest of a total of
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Thank-you letter 'insult' to workers
REDUNDANT cement workers say that a letter thanking them for a successful year was a final kick in the teeth. Former employees at Lafarge UK's Blue Circle Cement works were sent a letter at the end of last week and a £500 bonus to mark the company's success
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Party time for Liam and all his family
A BRAVE little boy has celebrated the birthday his parents thought he would never see. Liam Lyons enjoyed his fourth birthday yesterday with a family party at his home in Cockfield, Teesdale, County Durham, knowing he must return to hospital tomorrow.
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Gala architects win civic trust award
THE £30m development that houses Durham City's Gala Theatre has won an award from local conservationists. Millennium Place, built with Millennium Commission funding, has been given the City of Durham Trust's Architectural Commendation for 2002. The complex
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New van for warden patrols
UNIFORMED wardens have been given a new van to help them respond quickly to reports of anti-social behaviour in Darlington's parks and cemeteries. The white van will be used by wardens patrolling the nine parks and three cemeteries in the town as well
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Sausages bring success
A DURHAM butcher is celebrating after picking up more awards for his sausages. Harry Coates, who has shops at Framwellgate Moor, Coxhoe and Trimdon Village, won a gold award in a national banger competition. He picked up silver awards for his pork and
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Wonder drug is lifesaver for world
A life-saving wonder drug pioneered in the North-East is on course to revolutionise leukaemia treatment throughout the world. Research by an international team led by a Newcastle specialist has shown that Glivec is far superior to conventional treatment
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Pupils earn clean-up prize
STUDENTS who have cleaned up their act have been rewarded for their efforts. Pupils from Sunnydale School, Shildon, were presented with £200 for being the Most Improved School in Sedgefield. Sedgefield Borough Council Mayor David Newell visited the school
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Union leaders will fight to prevent further steel losses
UNION leaders are laying the groundwork for a concerted campaign to stop steel-maker Corus closing its Teesside works. Officials met yesterday to plan a strategy to head off any move to jeopardise 3,600 jobs in various parts of the Anglo-Dutch firm. The
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Action needed to ease pressure
Darlington caretaker boss Mick Tait has backed his players to pull through their recent slump in results but warned they must act now before it's too late. Quakers have won just once in their last ten games and are now just six points clear of the relegation
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Whistle-blowers reveal the secrets of a stress-free ref
FOOTBALL fans who boo the referee are wasting their time, according to new research. Psychologists at Northumbria University quizzed refs to find out how they coped with the stresses of the modern game. They concluded that abuse seems to be water off
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MP warns of skills shortage
AN opportunity to build on aircraft carrier work coming to the region could be wasted because of a skilled labour shortage, an MP has warned. Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South, challenged Tony Blair in Prime Minister's Question Time to make sure her
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Museum hosts tribute to co-founder
ONE of the team who helped to found an air museum in the region has died at the age of 81 after a long illness. Yesterday, the funeral of Ronald Pontefract was held in the most appropriate of settings - a hanger at the Yorkshire Air Museum, at Elvington
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Double is on cards for Mate
DESPITE having to thumb back through the record books for 30 years to the time of L'Escargot to unearth back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, Best Mate (3.15) is still strongly-fancied to complete a famous double in this afternoon's blue riband of
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Knife 'to protect family'
A TEENAGER accused of murdering an asylum seeker told a court yesterday he had armed himself with a knife to protect his family. Steven Roberts, 18, said he had not even realised he had stabbed Peiman Bahmani when he lashed out to defend himself. Mr Roberts
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Village bids to save hall from closure
RESIDENTS of a Darlington village have stepped in to save their community centre from closure. The future of the building in Middleton St. George looked bleak after Darlington Borough Council withdrew its annual grant from rural halls last year. Villagers
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Strange times get Blair on the run
Normally, Tony Blair is driven in a limo the 500 yards from No 10 along Whitehall to the House of Commons to face his weekly grilling at Prime Ministers' Questions. This is for security reasons. But these are not normal times and so yesterday, for whatever
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Preparing to join city peace rally
A PEACE campaigner has been putting the finishing touches to his "Say no to the war heads" banner before posing with two caricature-masks of Bush and Blair. Pun aside, Keith Davis wants his message to be strong and clear as he takes to the streets for
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Police hunt driver after hit-and-run accident
A SCHOOLGIRL is recovering at home after being knocked off her bike in a hit-and-run incident. Carrie Louise Gibson, 13, was out for the day cycling with four friends at Red Briar Bank, between Bowburn and Quarrington Hill, near Durham, last Sunday afternoon
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Pennines service axed
A POPULAR weekend bus service between Durham and the Lake District is to be axed. Every Saturday morning in the summer for the past few years, Arriva's x85 bus journeyed between Durham and Kendal, picking up dozens of passengers on its route through Wear
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School goes top of the class
A SCHOOL will find it hard to make any improvements this year, after inspectors judged that it could not do any better. Government Ofsted inspectors have given St Godric's Catholic Primary School, in Framwellgate Moor, a glowing report following their
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Amdega to shed 70 jobs at plant
CONSERVATORY manufacturer Amdega yesterday announced it is to cut 70 jobs. Amdega, of Darlington, employs 370 people, and is shedding the jobs despite an upturn in its fortunes. The company recorded its most successful year in 2002, with turnover increasing
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'Science site bid being hampered by apathy'
EFFORTS to bring a £1bn world-beating scientific research facility to North Yorkshire are being hampered by Government apathy, MPs have been told. The bid to bring the centre, and up to 3,000 jobs, to the county was cited as an example of the funding
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Bellamy paying homage to Shearer
CRAIG BELLAMY insists he is sacrificing himself to ensure Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer receives the service he deserves. Shearer twice handed his side the lead in Tuesday's 2-2 Champions League draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro - and his first goal
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Stolen dog returned to owner
A dog that was stolen has been retrieved by police and reunited with its tearful owner. Police on Teesside are following new leads and expect to collar more suspects in connection with the theft of weeks old puppy bitch, Betty, and owner Jill Geiser's
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I'm glad Thomas has been derailed
I AM so glad experts have criticised Thomas the Tank Engine stories as being potentially damaging for young children - the unrealistic frequency of crashes, apparently, could leave them terrified of travelling by train. This gives me the perfect excuse
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Man jailed for two years for strangling partner
A MAN who strangled his girlfriend until she was unconscious as their terrified three-year-old daughter tried to drag him off her, was jailed for two years yesterday. Lee James Fisher, 32, from Middlesbrough, left Ann Grant with injuries all over her
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Last Night's TV: Exploiting the exploited
Real Men (BBC2) THIS two-part serial is very well-written, well-acted and well-made, but that won't stop the question being asked - as some did before it was even shown - whether it was actually necessary. The subject of child abuse is in danger of over-exposure
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Dangers of smoking highlighted
THE dangers of smoking were highlighted by a team of health and fire chiefs in the North-East yesterday. As one of a host of events across the region to mark National No Smoking Day, Darlington Primary Care Trust's smoking cessation officer, Darcy Brown
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Refreshing change for Black Cats
HOWARD WILKINSON used to berate journalists for appearing so maudlin when he conducted his Sunderland post-mortems. "You look as miserable as I feel," he said. Oh, how we laughed! The soul-destroying experience of listening to Wilkinson's inane ramblings
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Pantomime prince Luke helps in the search for Cinderella
BUDDING Cinderellas queued up to star in a theatre's Christmas show yesterday. But the response from would-be Dandinis was less enthusiastic, with only five young actors auditioning for the role. Durham's Gala Theatre invited youngsters from throughout
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Len sheds light on Viking artifact
FISHERMAN Len Smith is hoping to land a fortune after figuring out a use for a mysterious Viking artifact. The 47-year-old believes the 1,000-year-old whalebone was used as an ancient hand-line for catching fish. He is so confident his theory is no tall
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Flower power at nursery
YOUNGSTERS at a Darlington nursery have set up a florist's business in their classroom. The children at George Dent Nursery have been playing shop while learning about science, mathematics, language and creativity. Parents provided many of the flowers
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Booze with breakfast
DRINKERS can now enjoy at tipple at their local from 10am after North Durham magistrates gave their blessing to a pub chain's bid for earlier opening. But after JD Wetherspoon won approval to serve alcohol an hour before the current 11am opening time
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Samaritans seek a home
THE Samaritans group in Darlington needs a home while its base is being refurbished. The charity has received a grant from The National Lottery's Community Fund to make the building more accessible to disabled and elderly people and install a system for
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Businesses given cash boost
BUSINESS grants totalling more than £15,000 have helped to create 42 jobs in Darlington since January. Darlington Borough Council's Financial Incentives Panel programme awarded the money to 12 businesses through its small grants, marketing and economic
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Taxi driver has licence revoked
STUART Turner, 44, of Faverdale Road, Darlington, had his taxi licence revoked by councillors yesterday (Wed). Darlington Borough Council's licensing committee revoked the licence due to a drink driving conviction. He will be able to reapply for a licence
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Conservative zero tolerance demand rejected by police
RESIDENTS living in the Denes area of Darlington are becoming increasingly concerned about crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, it has been revealed. A door-to-door survey carried out by Conservative candidates for the Pierremont ward found that
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Young runners lead the way home
THE girls and boys running teams at Rosa Street Primary School, Spennymoor, are both celebrating competition successes this week. Their sporting talents gained them the Anne-Marie Readshaw Memorial Trophy after both relay teams finished first in the competition
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Access improves at Samaritans centre
WORK has started on the transformation of the headquarters of the Samaritans in Darlington. Last year the Darlington branch of the national charity was contacted by 23,000 people, either by phone, letter or by people visiting its centre on Woodland Road
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Ghanaian farmer shows pupils the benefits of fair trade
A COCOA farmer from Ghana paid primary pupils a visit yesterday, to show them how fairly traded products benefited her community. Cocoa farmer Comfort Kwaasibea and 15-year-old Rijayatu, both from Ghana, visited Red Rose Primary School, in Chester-le-Street
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Boost for school
PUPILS and staff at a village school are celebrating after securing a £60,000 grant to improve their school's facilities. The school, at Luttons, near Malton, will use the money to renovate a community hall and convert it into a gymnasium and mini-theatre
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Recruitment campaign launched to find carers
A £400,000 recruitment programme has been organised to provide care for children under council protection. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has announced it will invest the money in its fostering service during the next two years. The authority wants
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Flying start
Leading Aircraftman Sean Moore, from Ferryhill, has completing his initial RAF training. The 20-year-old has graduated from the Supply Training Squadron at RAF Halton and will be posted to RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, where his skills will be used in supporting
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Pool spy TV
SWIMMING pool lifeguards could be given closed-circuit television support. Teesdale District Council is considering installing cameras at Teesdale Sports Centre's pool in Barnard Castle. A meeting of the council's economic affairs committee, members heard
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Children vote to pick their favourite book
CHILDREN in the Stockton area are being given the chance to vote for their book of the year. About 700 nine to 12-year-olds, from primary and secondary schools across the borough, have been busy reading to find out who their favourite author is from a
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News in brief: Pupils jump to help charity
Pupils have raised funds for the British Heart Foundation with a sponsored skip. Nearly 200 students at Roseberry Sports and Community College, at Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, took part in the Jump Rope for Heart event, skipping in groups of three
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Straw admits hopes of new UN vote may be abandoned
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw last night acknowledged that Britain may have to abandon hopes of securing a new United Nations resolution before going to war with Iraq. At a news conference at the Foreign Office, he repeatedly refused to say whether the
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Royal date for new recruit
A RETIRED Army officer has been appointed as the regimental secretary of the Green Howards. Major Brian Metcalfe takes over the post temporarily; he will be succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Pip Leighton in September next year. However, until then, he will
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What they think about it
A BARREN wasteland which attracts rats, fly-tippers and joy-riders is how many residents describe the new college site on Haughton Road. For years, the field has been almost empty, home only to the odd burnt-out car or abandoned mattress, while one development
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Bearings decision imminent
THE future of a bearings plant could soon be decided after a delegation from its new parent company arrived in the region yesterday. The former IR Torrington site, in Yarm Road, Darlington, welcomed representatives from bearings manufacturer Timken, which
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13.03.03
HOUSE PRICES: I SYMPATHISE fully with the young couple searching for a house in the centre of Durham City (Echo, Mar 7). Two years ago I set out to buy a similar property and was prepared to offer up to £120,000. Three estate agents tried to fob me off
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Merged primary schools celebrate a fresh beginning
A SCHOOL created out of a shake-up of primary education services in Spennymoor was opened yesterday. The £1.34m development of North Park Primary School followed the controversial merger of the 12-year-old North Road Junior School and Bessemer Park Nursery
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Paula's brave charity step
A YOUNG mother has had her head shaved to raise money for Cancer Research UK in memory of her recently deceased mother. Paula Barker, 28, of Redcar, said: "My children won't recognise me when they come home and they've already said they're going to disown
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Now it's last orders at police social club
POLICE in Chester-le-Street are to lose their social club to make way for offices. To the dismay of some in the ranks, forces across Britain have had to examine the viability of their clubs since an Audit Commission report in 1999. One officer at Chester-le-Street
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Youngsters bid to reach national stage with production
TODAY the local college drama department hall, tomorrow The National Theatre. That is the exciting prospect for east Cleveland drama students about to perform the world premiere of a play. The youngsters, from Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough, are
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Diamond memories at the dance
A COUPLE celebrated 60 years of married life by returning to the church where they said their vows. Jane and Harold Applegarth were married at St Cuthbert's Church in Durham in 1943 and on Sunday the couple, who live in Darlington, returned to the church
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Security grant is awarded
THE Government has agreed to pay for the relocation of Richmond's closed circuit television control room. North Yorkshire Police, which said it did not have the staff to monitor the system, will stop monitoring it this year. The Richmondshire Community
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Fire brigade rewards long service
FIREFIGHTERS and civilians have been honoured at an awards ceremony in Durham. The event, at County Durham and Darlington fire brigade headquarters, recognised firefighters' long service and good conduct. Those who had notched up 30 years' service received
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Tourism day invitation
ORGANISATIONS and individuals linked to Richmondshire's tourist trade are invited to an exchange day in Leyburn next week. Hotel, guest house and bed-and-breakfast owners, representatives from the area's attractions and tourist information centre staff
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Secret advice steers children away from abusers
A PROGRAMME aimed at tackling child abuse by talking to children in schools is going from strength to strength, say police. Safe Secrets involves PC Paul Colborn, of Gateshead West area command, and PC Ian Punton, at Gateshead East, visiting all of Gateshead's
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Police and county blamed for council tax hike
A LOCAL authority under fire for a big rise in council tax is telling disgruntled residents to direct their complaints somewhere else. Derwentside District Council raised its council tax by 2.5 per cent this year - less than the rate of inflation. But
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Ben is a rising star
CHEF Ben Greeno has been at the cutting edge in helping his restaurant secure a prestigious Michelin star less than three years after he left a Darlington catering college. The 22-year-old returned to Darlington College of Technology yesterday to break
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Guinea pigs found dumped in field
A FAMILY of abandoned guinea pigs almost froze to death after being dumped in a cardboard box in a field full of cattle. The four guinea pigs were discovered on Monday by a member of the public in the field off the A178, near Seaton Carew, Hartlepool.
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News in brief: Flat damaged in arson attack
FIREFIGHTERS were called to tackle a blaze at a flat above the post office in Eston High Street, Middlesbrough, on Tuesday night. The fire is believed to have been started by someone breaking into the unoccupied property and setting fire to an armchair
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Two Emmas to sing in youth choir
FRIENDS Emma Lightwing, 11, and Emma Jane Goodwill, 13, have won places in the Yorkshire Youth Choir. Places were limited for the 100-strong group, and the two Emmas, both pupils at Terrington Hall School, near Malton, had to pass tough auditions. Emma
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Vieri at centre of racist row
NEWCASTLE United have lodged a formal complaint with UEFA against Christian Vieri, claiming the Inter Milan striker racially abused Lomana LuaLua in Tuesday's enthralling Champions League clash at the San Siro. UEFA yesterday confirmed that their delegate
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News in brief: Pupils visit Sikh temple
Children and staff from Firthmoor Primary School, Darlington, have been visiting the local Sikh Gurdwara Sahib (temple). The visit was arranged by the Akal Federation, which represents the Sikh community, as part of a cultural awareness programme. Parminder
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News in brief: Pupils visit Sikh temple
Children and staff from Firthmoor Primary School, Darlington, have been visiting the local Sikh Gurdwara Sahib (temple). The visit was arranged by the Akal Federation, which represents the Sikh community, as part of a cultural awareness programme. Parminder
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Widow's anger at cemetery work
A WIDOW has accused a North Yorkshire parish council of vandalism after contractors were sent into a village cemetery to prune a line of trees. Allen Swainston died in a collision with an Army lorry on the tank road between Richmond and Leyburn in 1998
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Pregnant women don't have memory impairment - survey
New research by a North-East psychologist has challenged the common belief that pregnant women suffer from memory and concentration impairment. A study by Sunderland University's Dr Ros Crawley and her team concluded there is no evidence to support widespread
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News in brief: Man arrested over sex attack
A MAN has been arrested following a sex attack on a woman in her home. Cleveland Police said that the woman, in her thirties, described her attacker as Asian. She and a friend had shared a taxi to their respective homes in Middlesbrough after visiting
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Hypnotist seeks volunteers
HYPNOTIST David Knight has launched an appeal for volunteers to take part in a world record. Next week, he will be making an attempt to set a world record by hypnotising 30 people in under six minutes. Mr Knight, who claims to be one of the fastest stage
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School wins gold for fitness
A PRIMARY school in Wear Valley has been given a national award in recognition of its efforts to keeps pupils active, fit and healthy. Howden le Wear Primary School, near Crook, has been presented with the Activemark Gold award by Sport England. Almost
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Bright future for Chris
BIKE-mad Chris Paxton has started a new business with the help of a Darlington college. The 19-year-old has launched his own company making specialist bicycle frames and components for BMX, trials and stunt machines. Riders are prepared to pay up to £1,000
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Thomas 'still a useful engine'
PARENTS in the region were reassured last night that meeting Thomas the Tank Engine is unlikely to deter their children from travelling by train. TV programmes featuring the friendly-faced steam locomotive, which visits Darlington Railway Museum on July
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'Robust' formula lifts sales by 14%
SHOPPERS helped high street fashion chain French Connection deliver a 14 per cent boost in sales in the past five weeks, the company said. The group was upbeat about its prospects for this year and said its own "robust" formula had helped it boost custom
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Call to extend parking hours in town centre
TRADERS and disabled drivers have urged county councillors to rethink a town controversial parking restrictions. Traffic orders made by Durham County Council limit visits to Bishop Auckland's main shopping area, Newgate Street, to before 11.30am and after
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District hit by new jobs blow
YET more Wear Valley workers are facing the dole queue after administrators moved to close another factory. The move will make more than 70 employees jobless at electrical components firm Ohmega Electronics in South Church, Bishop Auckland. The company
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McCarthy keen to face new challenge
MICK McCARTHY yesterday took charge of crisis-torn Sunderland and maintained he has gained strength for the toughest of managerial challenges from the trauma of the Roy Keane affair. McCarthy's cataclysmic bust-up with Keane on the eve of last summer's
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John North: A Rawe deal
They were secretly engaged at 17 and honeymooned in Wingate. Now Lez and Betty Rawe are celebrating their diamond wedding. ON his wife's 75th birthday they told Lez Rawe that he had cancer of the colon. "We wept together," says Betty Rawe, but they operated
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Traditional battle for the ball
ONE of the North-East's most enduring sporting traditions was upheld in time-honoured manner last week. Sedgefield village ground to a halt as shops boarded up their windows and residents young and old turned out in force for the annual Shrove Tuesday
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Future of PVC industry secured
THE jobs of 48 workers have been secured at the Hydro Polymers PVC plant in Newton Aycliffe following a £240,000 grant from One NorthEast. The money will allow the Norwegian firm to buy machinery to improve efficiency in the manufacture of PVC granules
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Stone walls should be protected
Scores of miles of drystone walls in North York Moors National Park should be protected in the same way as hedgerows, members of the authority have been told. Many of the traditional walls - some dating back 200 plus years - have been lost or damaged
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New site for £30m college complex
DARLINGTON College of Technology last night unveiled a new site for its £30m showcase campus following the collapse of a previous deal. The college, which has 15,000 full and part-time students from across the region, will now move to Haughton Road. It
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Drugs anger over triple death crash
A DRIVER who died in a head-on crash which also killed an 86-year-old widow and her daughter had been smoking cannabis, an inquest heard. Forensic tests showed swimming instructor Steven Clark had the drug in his blood and urine following the accident
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Dales group wants action
CALLS are being made for French company Lafarge and Government agency One NorthEast to reveal plans for a redundant cement works. Weardale business people have formed an action group to bring jobs to the dale after the closure of the Lafarge UK's Blue
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Murray misses arrival of Sunderland 'saviour'
WOULD the Prime Minister miss the Queen's Speech? Would Richard Branson fail to press the flesh at the launch of a new Virgin product? Of course not. So draw your own conclusions, please, from Bob Murray's absence from yesterday's unveiling of Mick McCarthy
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Pupils pay tribute to popular teacher killed in crash
SCHOOLCHILDREN stood in silent tribute on Monday to remember a popular teacher who was killed in a road crash at the weekend. A special assembly was held at Staindrop Comprehensive School where food technology teacher Jennifer Askew, 54, had worked for
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Cash gets new jobs
BUSINESS grants totalling more than £15,000 have helped to create 42 new jobs in Darlington since January this year. Darlington Borough Council's financial incentives programme awarded the money to 12 businesses through its small grants, marketing and
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Ancient stone carvings given global showcase
STONE carvings in the North-East that are thousands of years old are getting a global showcase in what is believed to be the most detailed Internet site of its kind in the world. The website will include global positioning system readings - highly accurate
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Inquest to open on car death friends
INQUEST proceedings open tomorrow into the deaths of two men found dead in a fume-filled car outside a friend's home. North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle will open the inquest on friends Paul Williams, 38, and 32-year-old Christopher John Howe. Mr Howe
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Teenagers star at angling fair
TEENAGERS who got hooked on fishing through a nationally-acclaimed police scheme will be among star demonstrators at a major angling fair. The four are aged between 15 and 18 and are all graduates of Durham police's award-winning Get Hooked on Fishing
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Jewellery thief avoids prison term
A DECORATOR found guilty of stealing jewellery worth nearly £60,000 from a couple's bedroom walked free from court yesterday. But the judge said Anthony Cormack had narrowly escaped going to jail. Father-of-three Cormack, 37, was shocked to learn from
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Drinkers are warned again over whisky
DRINKERS and traders are warned to be on the lookout for whisky containing enough of the dangerous liquid methanol to cause blindness. Environmental health and trading standards officers recently put out a warning about counterfeit Johnnie Walker Black
