Archive
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Little sister's gift saves soldier
A 12-year-old girl has rescued her soldier brother from the hardest battle he has had to fight - against leukaemia. Royal Engineer Lee Robson, 24, was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. After four painful courses of chemotherapy, doctors decided his
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Club loses plea over £61,000 penalty
DARLINGTON Football Club has lost an appeal against an order to pay £61,188 to a former employee. An employment appeal tribunal hearing in London ruled that the original payout awarded to Helen Coverdale last April should stand. The tribunal dismissed
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Region pioneers job help for the ill
A PIONEERING project to test new ways of helping sick workers keep their jobs is being trailblazed in the North-East. The research could provide valuable information to enable people to get back to work quickly without losing their jobs, and help businesses
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14/03/03
WAR AGAINST IRAQ: TONY Blair should not worry too much about the possible resignation of Clare Short. The United Nations vote might well go against Messrs Bush and Blair but this will largely be the doing of France and Germany. Everyone knows that France
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Reyna riposte for 'old school' Wilko
CLAUDIO REYNA last night confirmed what Howard Wilkinson's detractors claimed throughout his disastrous Sunderland reign - that he was "boring". In an outspoken attack on the erstwhile Black Cats boss, the United States captain accused Wilkinson of being
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Court blow to steel workers
THOUSANDS of North-East steel workers faced the spectre of redundancy last night after a last-ditch legal challenge by Corus came to nothing. The company - created by the merger of British Steel and Dutch group Hoogovens - hoped to balance the books by
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Police social club to close
POLICE officers are unhappy that their social club is to be axed to make way for more offices. The club room at Chester-le-Street police station has formed an important focal point for those working from the station for many years. The club will be closed
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Prince is praised by rural group
RURAL campaigners in the North-East have praised the Prince of Wales for doing "a tremendous job" as an ambassador for local goods and services. Prince Charles visited the North on Wednesday, staying in a bed and breakfast and sampling local produce in
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Wife and nephew charged with dog walker's murder
A 31-year-old woman and her nephew today appeared in court jointly charged with murdering her husband. George Button, 53, was found lying in a pool of blood on a grass verge in a country lane near his home on West Rainton, County Durham. The Sunderland
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Suspicious death probe
POLICE were last night investigating the death of a man - a day before his 50th birthday. Walton Bell, of Fenton Terrace, in New Herrington, Houghton-le-Spring, died shortly after being found with serious head injuries in his house on Wednesday night.
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Recognition for angler who saved pensioners
A FATHER-OF-THREE who dived into a reservoir to save an elderly couple told yesterday of his fear that when he reached them they would be dead. Michael Bake, 40, was fishing with his friend, James Garnett, when they heard a loud bang and realised a car
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Listen, listen, listen to your people is the message for Blair
Lindsay Jennings returns to students at Sedgefield Community College in Tony Blair's constituency to ask then how they feel the crisis is unfolding. What should Tony Blair do now? Catherine Davison, 16: Reassure and gain the support of his own party.
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Listen, listen, listen to your people is the message for Blair
Lindsay Jennings of The Northern Echo returns to students at Sedgefield Community College in Tony Blair's constituency to ask them how they feel the crisis is unfolding. What should Tony Blair do now? Catherine Davison, 16: Reassure and gain the support
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Change and illness hitting prisons hard
PRISONS are facing a double whammy caused by a succession of changes in management staff and record sickness levels among officers. The Prison Reform Trust said problems amounted to a "recipe for disaster" when combined with overcrowding. It said three
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Listening to another point of view
YOU don't have to travel very far to broaden the mind - one of the major advantages of a multi-cultural society is the world of knowledge that now lies on your doorstep. I suppose when I first began visiting the local mosque as a police officer, it was
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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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Perverts plotted sex attacks on children
TWO paedophiles who plotted attacks on young girls boasted about their sickening fantasies in a series of letters. Michael Smith, 42, and Stephen Turner, 53, met in Frankland Prison while serving prison sentences for previous attacks on children. Smith
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Prince's aide 'gets £1m package to keep quiet'
The Prince of Wales's closest aide, branded a bully who enjoyed lavish perks and privileges, was last night at the centre of fresh controversy over his continuing royal role. Despite resigning as the Prince's personal assistant amid a hail of criticism
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Chemists to meet MP
CHEMISTS in Darlington are to meet Health Secretary Alan Milburn to discuss a possible threat to their futures. They fear that sick and elderly people in the town could be hit hard by proposals to relax the rules on opening pharmacies. The Government
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Hospice celebrations as care unit funding target reached
CHARITY officials are celebrating after being awarded the money to open a full-time care unit at St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington. Yesterday, Darlington Primary Care Trust agreed to give £100,000 a year for at least two years to the hospice. With match-funding
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On court for badminton success
YOUNG badminton stars from across the North-East are celebrating after successes in two regional tournaments. Competitors from as far afield as York, Sunderland and Northumberland were among 60 youngsters who took part in the second round of the Darlington
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On-site safety lesson
CHILDREN put on hard hats yesterday during a visit to a building site. The youngsters from the reception class at Gurney Pease Primary School, in Darlington, were given a tour of the Alexander housing development on the town's Allan Street. The visit
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A summer full of activities
TWO teenagers are able to take part in a summer full of different outdoor activities thanks to a scholarship. Alice Jones and Charlotte Kitchen, who are both year ten students at Norton's Red House School, have been awarded Adventure Scholarships thanks
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Putting fun into science
A SCIENCE lesson proved to be plain sailing for some - but not for every attentive youngster. Children following the fortunes of circumnavigator Captain James Cook embarked on a scientific workshop, building model boats and sails; then putting the finished
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Traffic debate
A PUBLIC meeting has been organised to discuss traffic problems on Skipton Road and Wetherby Road, in Harrogate. The meeting will be at the town's football club, in Wetherby Road, on Tuesday, March 25, at 7pm.
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Fifties exhibition celebrates the decade of rock and roll
CELEBRATING the decade of rock and roll and the widespread introduction of television, a museum today opens its New Elizabethans exhibition. To mark its 50th anniversary, The Royal Pump Room Museum, in Harrogate, will commemorate life in the 1950s with
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Jobs boost if workshop plans agreed
THIRTY jobs could be created if plans to build a workshop in Billingham are approved today. Members of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee will discuss plans to replace the Bell Truck Sales facility, on the town's Macklin Avenue, with a bigger
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Public warned to watch out
POLICE have warned people living near Catterick against allowing strangers into their homes after reports of suspicious callers. Men with a Transit-type van have knocked on the doors of a number of elderly residents in the area, offering to do jobs at
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Objections over plans
OBJECTIONS raised over plans for a teaching extension and extra car and bus parking at Richmond School have prompted councillors to visit the site. North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee heard that the scheme had attracted 37 letters of objection
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Latin makes a return at Metro station
RESIDENTS of a North-East town could be forgiven for thinking the Romans had returned yesterday when they woke to find that signs had been translated into Latin. Baffled residents scratched their heads when the bilingual signs appeared at the Metro station
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News in brief: Charity plea to swimmers
SPONSORED swimmers are needed to take part in Darlington Association on Disability's fundraising at the town's Dolphin Centre on Sunday, from 1pm to 3pm. The fundraising event is open to adults and children and is being held this year as part of the European
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Comment: Running out of sympathy
NO one involved in the fire service negotiations escapes responsibility for the deadlock. The local government employers have dithered. The Government has interfered and hindered progress. And the Fire Bridges Union has not budged from its over-ambitious
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News in brief: University aids film-makers
AN archive held by the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, has helped to make a three-part BBC2 documentary possible. The campus holds part of the Northern Region Film and Television Archive and the one-hour footage from Teesside includes a 1913 Newcastle
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School plan to transfer early is approved
SISTER schools in Northallerton have decided to repeat a scheme to transfer pupils from one school to the other earlier than usual. Following last year's success, about 300 14-year-olds from Allertonshire School will move to Northallerton College in June
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Call for urgent talks on parking
HOPES for a solution to Bishop Auckland's parking problems could rest on a meeting between two councils. The town's county councillors have asked for urgent talks about parking issues with members of Wear Valley District Council. The call followed a meeting
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News in brief: Record bid has serious side
COMMUNITY members will contribute to making the world's largest dress as part of a campaign. People from throughout Durham will join the student group Speak in its world record bid at St Nicholas's Church, Durham, tomorrow. Speak is a national network
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College plans exchange
LANGUAGE students at Stockton Sixth Form College will be joined by friends from Spain tomorrow. A group of exchange students from the Lycee International, the college's twin in Aix-en-Provence, have just returned home after a ten-day visit, which included
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Dry stone walls 'in need of protection'
MANY miles of dry stone walls in the 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 more than 200 years - have been lost or damaged
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High hopes, big bills, but no guarantees of a baby
Earlier this week it emerged that 38-year-old royal Sophie Wessex has turned to IVF to try and have a child, but what does it actually involve? Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. SINCE the first test tube baby, Louise Brown, was born in 1978, almost
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Pupils link up to explore folk music tradition
THREE primary schools joined together to explore the traditions of folk music. St Andrew's Primary School, Henknowle, is the venue for the weekly workshops, where the youngsters are joined by other pupils from Copeland Road and Oakley Cross schools, in
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Boost for environment initiative
A COMMUNITY group's campaign to improve the environment in their town has got off to a flying start. Guisborough Market Town Initiative wants the public to become involved in plans to landscape the Priory grounds and create a cycleway and walkway at Chapel
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Cultural quarter to be created in town
THE home of a well-known Scarborough literary family is to become the focal point of a major cultural quarter planned for the town. Members of Scarborough Borough Council's cabinet have agreed to support an £8.7m scheme which will upgrade Wood End, the
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Park in need of 100 staff
BOSSES at one of the region's most popular attractions are appealing for more staff. Lightwater Valley theme park, near Ripon, opens for the new season next month and urgently needs extra staff. More than 100 vacancies exist in all areas of the park,
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School donation to hospice honours teacher's memory
A SCHOOL has completed the charity work of a teacher, who died in a weekend car smash. Staindrop Comprehensive School teacher Jennifer Askew led fundraising events in aid of the Butterwick Hospice. Yesterday, the school presented a cheque for £750 to
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News in brief: Record bid has serious side
COMMUNITY members will contribute to making the world's largest dress as part of a campaign. People from throughout Durham will join the student group Speak in its world record bid at St Nicholas's Church, Durham, tomorrow. Speak is a national network
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Mayor calls for re-think on temporary polling station
A NORTH Yorkshire mayor has accused a district authority of failing to use "joined-up thinking" as it prepares for the local elections in May. The Reeth Road Social Club, in Richmond, has been used as a polling station for a number of years - until Government
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New group for women
A NEW social group for women has started in Consett. The Ladies' Forum meets every month. Past meetings have included craft demonstrations, healthy eating, alternative therapies, the domestic violence forum and a bridal evening. The group meets in St
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Theatre company goes back in time to celebrate 30th anniversary
Actress Denise Welch was on stage at Newcastle's Live Theatre this week to take part in the first play written for the company. Tom Hadaway's play The Filleting Machine also marks the company's 30th anniversary. The play was written in 1973 and first
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FA will rule on club logo
AN FA hearing will decide whether women footballers will be banned from wearing their new sponsorship logo. Chester-le-Street Ladies Football Club thought its funding worries were over when the club received sponsorship from author Keith Brown in the
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Glaxo workers' redundancy deal
Drugs company workers in the region are to be offered voluntary redundancy as part of a re-organisation programme. Staff in the quality assurance department at the GlaxoSmithKline plant, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, will be offered redundancy as
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Build-up for war hit by new fire walkout
THOUSANDS of troops who should have joined British forces in the Gulf have been held back to stand in for striking fire fighters, it was revealed last night. In the North alone, almost 2,400 soldiers at Europe's biggest base, Catterick Garrison, North
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Burglar jailed after leaving shoe at scene
A BURGLAR who was caught Cinderella-style after he lost his shoe at the scene of the crime was jailed for two years yesterday. Michael Swinnerton, 26, fled leaving behind one of his trainers but forensic scientists found hairs inside which DNA tests linked
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Bank grant saves toddler playgroup
A CASH-strapped playgroup faced with closure has been saved, thanks to a £2,750 grant. Tanfield Lea Playgroup and Toddlers, based in the Old Junior School, Tanfield Lea, near Stanley, was facing a cash crisis and looked likely to shut down. The Lloyds
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Strike threat over changes
WORKERS in a dispute with public transport operator Nexus are threatening strike action which could cause chaos on the Metro system. Unison members have rejected a move by Nexus bosses to introduce job evaluation, linked to a new performance-related pay
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Postie ignores pain and speeds to glory on the ice
POSTIE Will Beveridge has proved himself one of the fastest postmen in the west after succeeding in the high octane world of ice speedway. In his daytime job Will delivers letters and parcels throughout south-west Durham. But when he isn't carrying out
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Listening to another point of view
YOU don't have to travel very far to broaden the mind - one of the major advantages of a multi-cultural society is the world of knowledge that now lies on your doorstep. I suppose when I first began visiting the local mosque as a police officer, it was
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County to get giant windmills
GIANT wind turbines the size of London's Big Ben clock tower are coming to County Durham. The four windmills, standing at 100 metres tall, will be the biggest and most powerful to be built on the UK mainland. They will be built on two remote rural sites
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Industry chiefs move to put the brakes on regional assembly
A North-East elected assembly should only be set up after a substantial number of voters have given a clear mandate, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is expected to give the go-ahead for the region
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Norman's paintings under hammer
PAINTINGS by one of County Durham's greatest living artists are tipped to reach several thousand pounds when they go under the hammer in Newcastle next week. The three pieces of artwork by Norman Cornish are to be auctioned off at Anderson and Garland
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Armoured vehicle firm sees turnover and share earnings double
ARMOURED car manufacturer Alvis yesterday said it had a strong future on the back of encouraging performances last year. The Telford firm, which bought Newcastle's Vickers Defence Systems for £16m in August, saw turnover rise 51 per cent, from £149.4m
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Sofa retailer plans to tackle Welsh market
NATIONAL sofa retailer ScS is looking to conquer Wales on the back of impressive growth across England. The furniture firm, which has its headquarters in Sunderland, is looking to South Wales to open its first outlet. The store will be located on one
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Prep school announces expansion
ONE of the region's largest boarding prep schools has announced plans for a major expansion. St Martin's Ampleforth is the co-educational prep school for Ampleforth College, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, and was only established in September 2001. It
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Fender-bender Mercs feel the need for speed
MERCEDES BENZ: WORLD RACING Publisher: TDK Interactive, Format: Xbo, Price: £44.99 A RACING game featuring Mercedes Benz cars? Don't they make luxury limos that wallow like a hippo stuck in the mud? What next, a simulation featuring a face-off between
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Bird strike
A Hawk jet from RAF Leeming was forced to make an emergency landing following a bird strike yesterday A spokesman for the base said: "The aircraft struck a bird in the Hexham area and landed at Newcastle airport as a precautionary measure. No damage was
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New base for community
A FORMER council house in Acton Dene, East Stanley, is being transformed into a community centre thanks to a £20,000 grant. Derwentside District Council is leasing one of its bungalows to the Stanley Hall Community Partnership to turn into a small community
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Vive la difference
If you haven't time to cook but are bored with supermarket ready meals, then get your own French chef to make your supper for less than a fiver. GET a French chef to cook your supper for less than a fiver? Easy when you know how. Le Carolo, just off the
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Britain's longest serving chief constable steps down
BARRY SHAW, BRITAIN'S longest serving chief constable has stepped down with no regrets about a controversial investigation into allegations of misconduct against officers on the force. Eight officers, including Ray Mallon, the former head of Middlesbrough
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Dicing with danger for a one-night stand
People are taking increasing risks without thinking of the consequences, says the organiser of an international conference on sexual health taking place in the North-East tomorrow. EVERY weekend in large North-East towns young men and women are going
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Red nose fever clears shelves
THERE were no red noses or wigs left in the shops last night as Comic Relief fever swept the region. Toy shops and fancy dress outlets were sold out of everything red - wigs, spray paint and noses - as fundraisers hurried to add the finishing touches
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Approval for N-E Shanghai base from Chinese
THE Chinese Government has given the seal of approval to One NorthEast's Shanghai office. The formal recognition of the regional development agency's base, in the heart of Shanghai's business district, will give One NorthEast valuable access to new Government
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Corrie's Mr Nasty digs deep
HE is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most unpleasant men on television, murdering his way through the cast of Britain's best-loved soap. Tonight the nation will be glued to the box in the hope of making sure that evil Richard Hillman really
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Paintball games will increase
A PAINTBALLING activity run in an area of tight security near judges' lodgings is set to expand. Challenge Events has been given planning permission to increase the number of paintballing games it runs from less than 28 days a year to 75 days a year in
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Play area's future is secured
RESIDENTS have secured the future of their award-winning play area after raising enough cash in just six months to run the site for a year. Kind-hearted householders in Delves Lane, near Consett, which is in the top ten per cent most deprived communities
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Tears for 'lost and found' Betty
A DOG stolen along with its owner's car has been retrieved by police and reunited with the family. Police on Teesside said yesterday they hoped to arrest suspects in connection with the theft of weeks-old puppy Betty, and owner Jill Geiser's car. The
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True grit (or how acting legend's hat is set in stone)
THE hat of a Hollywood screen legend has been hung-up over a well at one of the region's treasured tourist attractions and, as if by magic, has turned to stone. The old straw hat belonging to John Wayne - a legend and the leading man in Hollywood in his
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Council to take a look at stadium's message board
COUNCIL officials announced last night that they are reviewing the legality of an advertising board outside Darlington Football Club's new stadium. The announcement came after club chairman George Reynolds used the board to post a statement about The
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Tinkler rewarded with new deal
DELIGHTED Hartlepool United boss Mike Newell last night revealed Mark Tinkler's new deal was just rewards for consistent displays this season, writes Paul Fraser. Tinkler signed a two-year extension to his current contract yesterday - keeping him at Victoria
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Russ revs up for successful season at wheel
A PARTNERSHIP with a North Yorkshire motor dealer has opened doors for an up-and-coming North-East rally driver, Paul Swift. As the son of famous precision driver Russ Swift, the 23-year-old has already made his mark on auto-testing, finishing second
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Accused denies goading refugees
A TEENAGER accused of murdering an asylum seeker yesterday denied goading Iranians for "sport". Steven Roberts is accused of stabbing Peiman Bahmani after a day of violent clashes between locals and asylum seekers at Peel Street, Sunderland, in August
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A reality check
It's back to the reality tent after three heady days of Cheltenham - but there looks to be a couple of decent betting opportunities on the Polytrack at Lingfield. The most appealing bet at the Surrey venue looks to be Tony Newcombe's The Best Yet, who
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Farewell to a life without power
AN electrician who has gone without power at his home for 28 years has decided to auction the property in favour of a more comfortable lifestyle. Richard Checksfield lives an 18th Century-like existence in an isolated bungalow. The 70-year-old, who has
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N-E expert challenges pregnancy memory loss
Research by a North-East psychologist has challenged the common belief that pregnant women suffer from memory and concentration impairment. A study by Dr Ros Crawley and her team at Sunderland University concluded that there was no evidence to support
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Quakers boss angry with referee displays
Darlington caretaker boss Mick Tait believes the poor standard of refereeing is doing his side no favours in their battle to beat the drop. Striker Barry Conlon became the latest player to face suspension after his sending off against Cambridge on Tuesday
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Stockbrokers keep fingers crossed for continued surge
STOCKBROKERS will today be hoping to continue a strong surge in share prices to end the working week on a positive note. The FTSE 100 Index has endured a roller-coaster ride in recent months, culminating in a near eight-year low at the close of play on
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Mother fined for sons' truanting
THE mother of two boys who persistently refused to go to school was fined £40 by magistrates yesterday. The woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - pleaded guilty at South Durham Magistrates' Court to two counts of failing to ensure they went
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Last Night's TV: Will the gerbil sink without trace?
Home (Tyne Tees); Coronation Street (ITV1) HOME, in the interior design show of the same name, is a place where rooms are always clean and tidy, where the scene is picture perfect. Home, for the Hillmans in Coronation Street, is a place where on-the-run
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Routine call nets big drugs haul
POLICE stumbled across a drugs haul worth more than £100,000 after answering a routine call to a disturbance at farmhouse. Bailiffs who were trying to enter the remote farmhouse in Greencroft, near Stanley, called the police at lunch time last Friday.
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Cricket club suports youths
CHESTER-le-Street's Riverside stadium is to help unemployed young people get a footing in the work place. Durham County Cricket Club is supporting The Prince's Trust's Volunteer Programme by offering those on the programme in the Durham area the use of
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Bodybuilder celebrates strongest man win
BODYBUILDER Eddie Ellwood is celebrating after winning the regional heat of the Britain's Strongest Man competition. Mr Ellwood, a father-of-two from Hartlepool, was one of 16 contestants who took part in the event at the Louisa Centre, Stanley, infront
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Burton's Bytes: Fender-bender Mercs feel the need for speed
MERCEDES BENZ: WORLD RACING Publisher: TDK Interactive, Format: Xbo, Price: £44.99 A RACING game featuring Mercedes Benz cars? Don't they make luxury limos that wallow like a hippo stuck in the mud? What next, a simulation featuring a face-off between
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News in brief: Charity plea to swimmers
SPONSORED swimmers are needed to take part in Darlington Association on Disability's fundraising at the town's Dolphin Centre on Sunday, from 1pm to 3pm. The fundraising event is open to adults and children and is being held this year as part of the European
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Security TV scheme for park
SECURITY cameras are to be installed in Darlington's South Park to foil vandals. The announcement was made at a meeting of the town's environmental forum. Terry Collins, assistant environmental director at Darlington Borough Council, told the forum on
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Staff raise thousands for charity
STAFF have rallied round to raise thousands of pounds to fight a genetic disorder that claimed the life of a colleague's daughter. Michael Bath and his wife, Anita, lost their first daughter, Jenny, eleven years ago to the genetic muscular disorder spinal
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On court for badminton success
YOUNG badminton stars from across the North-East are celebrating after successes in two regional tournaments. Competitors from as far afield as York, Sunderland and Northumberland were among 60 youngsters who took part in the second round of the Darlington
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Court hearings
The following cases were heard at South Durham Magistrates' Court in Darlington yesterday. PARKING OFFENCES: Five drivers were fined £60 plus £50 costs for parking illegally. The offenders were Thomas Blackie, of East End, Wolsingham; Carole Clark, of
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Request for nominations
Chilton Partnership holds its first annual meeting on Tuesday, April 15, in Chilton and Windlestone Workingmen's Club from 6.30pm. There are places available with the partnership for 14 residents, two young people and three local business representatives
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Easter picnic fun for all
A children's Easter picnic, organised by Sedgefield Community Association, will be held in Ceddesfeld Hall and its grounds on Easter Monday, April 21, between 2pm and 4pm. There will be children's games and a bar for adults. For details contact Wendy
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Man lucky not to lose his licence
A FATHER-OF-TWO narrowly missed losing his licence yesterday after a court heard he drove at almost 96 miles an hour on a dual carriageway. John Harrison, 41, pleaded guilty at South Durham Magistrates' Court to speeding in his Vauxhall Vectra on the
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Anger at litter and sewage left as travellers move on
RESIDENTS have expressed their anger at a group of travellers who left piles of rubbish at a disused office complex in Billingham. For two weeks, the travellers had been parked at the complex, known as Billingham House, on Cowpen Lane. After leaving the
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A bad heir day for Charles
It was meant to restore the battered reputation of the heir to the throne, but yesterday's report into the aftermath of the Paul Burrell trial may not be quite as reassuring as Prince Charles hoped. Nick Morrison reports. PINNED to the lapel of his navy
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Wide range of advice available at roadshow
RESIDENTS will be given essential advice and information as Hambleton's Home Safety Campaign hits the road again next week. Following a successful trip to Stokesley in February, the multi-agency mobile campaign will visit Thirsk and Easingwold to deliver
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Pupils raise awareness
YEAR 11 pupils at a Teesside school will today be learning how the money they raise for Comic Relief is spent. All of year 11 at Stockton's Grangefield School will be split into six groups to look at the topic of inclusion and why some people are not
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Door-to-door recycling scheme due to expand
A SUCCESSFUL door-to-door recycling scheme is to be expanded to take in every home in Hartlepool. Last year, 25,000 homes received blue boxes and plastic sacks that enable residents to gather together cans, glass, clothes and textiles for collection every
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Record numbers visit museum
RECORD numbers of visitors are flocking to a museum on Teesside. The Dorman Museum at Middlesbrough was closed for a massive refurbishment and extension three years ago. About 35,000 visitors toured the museum between 1999 and the year 2000 when it closed
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Children study Army history
YOUNGSTERS have been getting to know more of the history of their local Army regiment. About 100 students from Eastbourne School, in Darlington, along with 17 students from France, visited the Green Howards Regimental Museum, in Richmond. As part of their
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Firewalk actors blaze a trail
PUPILS were treated to a musical extravaganza by the Firewalk Spanish Theatre yesterday. The company, which is on a tour of Europe, gave language students from across the Darlington area a special performance of Delada Espanola, at Hummersknott School
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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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News in brief: University aids film-makers
AN archive held by the University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, has helped to make a three-part BBC2 documentary possible. The campus holds part of the Northern Region Film and Television Archive and the one-hour footage from Teesside includes a 1913 Newcastle
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Green school wins top award
PUPILS and staff at a Hartlepool school are celebrating after winning international recognition for their commitment to environmental issues. St Helen's Primary School, on the Headland, has become the first in the town to scoop the highest possible accolade
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On court for badminton success
YOUNG badminton stars from across the North-East are celebrating after successes in two regional tournaments. Competitors from as far afield as York, Sunderland and Northumberland were among 60 youngsters who took part in the second round of the Darlington
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Trust will celebrate first year
HEALTH chiefs are to hold an open day at their new headquarters as they celebrate their first year of operation. Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust is throwing open the doors of its building in Station Road, Thirsk, next Friday. On the same
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Campaign brings £210,000 bonus to pensioners
PENSIONERS on a low income have claimed more than £210,000 in extra benefits after an awareness campaign. Workers Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Welfare Rights Unit calculated that hundreds of pensioner households across east Cleveland were missing
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News in brief: Furniture firm expanding
A FAMILY furniture firm which feared it may have to pull out of Richmond a year ago has expanded. Peter J and R Olivier relocated from the town centre to the Gallowfield Trading Estate last year. At the time, the smaller site meant the firm had to end
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Swimming lesson plans attacked
PARENTS have criticised plans to increase the number of children being taught to swim, saying cramped conditions will hold them back. Many of those with children attending swimming lessons at Chester-le-Street Leisure Centre are unhappy after being told
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Pavilion in castle grounds a step closer
KNARESBOROUGH is pressing ahead with plans to create a performance area to mark the Queen's Jubilee in one of its tourist hot-spots. A site near to Knaresborough Castle and the former bandstand has been earmarked. In a bid to move the scheme forward,
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Appeal launched to repair fire-damaged church bells
CHURCH leaders yesterday launched a £55,000 appeal to restore fire damaged bells at one of their historic buildings in Durham. The eight bells at St Brandon's Church, Brancepeth, near Durham City, have been in storage since a blaze ripped through the
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Funded places at Blair school shelved
PLANS to fund places for underprivileged youngsters at Tony Blair's former school have been shelved after councillors had second thoughts. In December, Sunderland City Council announced a partnership with the fee-paying Choristers School, in Durham, enabling
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Grassroots: Derwentside
EASY STROLL: The Acorn Ramblers are holding an easy three-and-a-half mile walk at 1.30pm on Sunday, March 23, from the car park opposite the Queens Road Surgery in Blackhill. The bus will be picking up walkers at 12.45pm near the Old Stanley Fire Station
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News in brief: Record bid has serious side
COMMUNITY members will contribute to making the world's largest dress as part of a campaign. People from throughout Durham will join the student group Speak in its world record bid at St Nicholas's Church, Durham, tomorrow. Speak is a national network
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Top-up fees fight
EDUCATION secretary Charles Clarke was heckled by more than 100 university students on a visit to Durham University. The minister was at the university for an invitation-only event to talk to Labour students about his controversial White Paper on education
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Top-up fees fight
EDUCATION secretary Charles Clarke was heckled by more than 100 university students on a visit to Durham University. The minister was at the university for an invitation-only event to talk to Labour students about his controversial White Paper on education
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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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County to get giant windmills
GIANT wind turbines the size of London's Big Ben clock tower are coming to County Durham. The four windmills, standing at 100 metres tall, will be the biggest and most powerful to be built on the UK mainland. They will be built on two remote rural sites
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Little sister's gift saves soldier
A 12-year-old girl has rescued her soldier brother from the hardest battle he has had to fight - against leukaemia. Royal Engineer Lee Robson, 24, was diagnosed with leukaemia last year. After four painful courses of chemotherapy, doctors decided his
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Daughter wins court leniency
A FATHER yesterday won freedom for his robber daughter who left home when she became a heroin addict. Alisha Teal, 20, of Kinross Grove, Hartlepool, was only 17 when she took her father William's car and helped two others in a street robbery. She failed
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Top-up fees fight
EDUCATION secretary Charles Clarke was heckled by more than 100 university students on a visit to Durham University. The minister was at the university for an invitation-only event to talk to Labour students about his controversial White Paper on education
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Determination wins award for Hall Hill
A WOMAN who reopened her farm to the public after it was devastated by foot-and-mouth disease has been named NFU North-East farming ambassador of the year. Ann Darlington, 40, with her father Jack Gibson, opened Hall Hill Farm, at Satley, near Lanchester
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County to get giant windmills
GIANT wind turbines the size of London's Big Ben clock tower are coming to County Durham. The four windmills, standing at 100 metres tall, will be the biggest and most powerful to be built on the UK mainland. They will be built on two remote rural sites
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Riches to rags in a tale of two streets
For most of their history, the ancient streets of Framwellgate and Millburngate were part of the main road from London to Edinburgh, known as the Great North Road. The two streets formed an area known in medieval times as the "Old Borough" and traced
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Chubby returns to the stage
COMEDIAN Roy "Chubby" Brown, who recently beat throat cancer, is appearing in the region next week. The Empire Theatre, in Sunderland, will host the controversial entertainer plus support next Wednesday and Thursday. Best known for his crude humour, he
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Council's new £1m row over 'divorce' payout
Council chiefs, who were ordered to pay another North-East authority more than £1m, say they have a strong legal challenge against the decision. Durham County Council was forced to pay Darlington Borough Council £2.2m earlier this year after losing a
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Strange tale of cat rescued by Mouse
IT'S a tale that would have Jerry fuming with rage - a cat has been rescued by a mouse. In a new take on the old "cat stuck-up-tree" saga, mischievous moggy Captain Kirk was rescued from his perch by a firefighter whose nickname is Mouse. Kirk had somehow
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Ricketts illness opens door for Christie return
MALCOLM CHRISTIE is in line for a quick return to action with Middlesbrough at Leeds United tomorrow. The former Derby County striker made a scoring debut against Sunderland on February 22, but he missed the 1-0 win over North-East rivals Newcastle United
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Witness 'saw Jamie punched' before he died
A 12-YEAR-old schoolboy was punched in the head moments before he died beneath the wheels of a double decker bus, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday. A teenage witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told a jury that passenger Jamie Wells had
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Driver flouted ban to visit sick father
A BANNED driver bought a van and drove it along a motorway without a licence or insurance after hearing his father was seriously ill, a court heard yesterday. Carl Orchard, 24, was arrested by police after the van broke down on the A1(M) at Newton Aycliffe
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Corus chief resigns amid fear of job losses
The chief executive of steel giant Corus has resigned after the company announced losses of £458 million. The appalling figures cast a long shadow over thousands of North-East jobs. Unions called for immediate talks aimed at winning a promise that the
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Residents must fight mast again
RESIDENTS are rallying themselves for a second fight against a bid to put up a mobile phone mast, which originally provoked hundreds of protest letters. The company behind an application to build a mobile phone mast at Pelaw Grange Greyhound Stadium,
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National Express posts losses
THE UK's largest trains operator, National Express, posted losses of £85.6m after pulling out of its train and tram operation in Australia. The group, whose UK operations include ScotRail, Midland Mainline and Wagn railways, took a £125.9m hit in December
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On-air slip costs station £5,000
A North-East radio station was counting the cost yesterday after a breakfast show DJ made a gaffe live on air. TFM presenter Mojo thought his microphone was off when he commented to co-host Cara that a cash prize of £10,000 was too small. He told his
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Fashion chain's second warning
LADIES' fashion favourite and home furnishings company Laura Ashley warned it would slump into the red after dismal January trading left it short of targets for the second time in as many months. The clothing and home furnishings group said expectations
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Drunk driver spared jail term
A FORMER civil servant who suffers from cancer and has debts of £86,000 was spared a jail sentence yesterday despite being caught three-and-a-half-times over the drink-drive limit. Harrogate magistrates heard that Anthony Moore, who was a Ministry of
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LuaLua turns up the heat in racism row
LOMANA LUALUA last night accused Christian Vieri of calling him "a monkey" as football's latest race row took an ugly turn. With UEFA already investigating a Newcastle United complaint following Tuesday's dramatic Champions League match at Internazionale
