Archive
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Hospitable welcome marks the end of epic voyage to new life
Jonathan Moscrop grew up in Albert Hill, Darlington, where his family were ironworkers. In the late-1870's, heavy industry was hit by a recession which reduced many wokring class people to poverty. Jonathan, and his friends, the Matthews family decided
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Inquiry into cell death tragedy
POLICE believe a teenager who died in a cell may have taken drugs, it emerged yesterday. Officers investigating the death of Martin Dakers, 17, of Pendle Close, Lambton Village, in Washington, Wearside, said it may have been prompted by Ecstasy. The teenager
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Time machine helps firm to bring Doctor Who up to date
A MEDIA company is using a Tardis to help transport classic sci-fi series Dr Who into the 21st Century. System Enterprises, at Gilesgate, Durham, was set up by managing director Darren Bean in May 2000, after he was made redundant as an electronic engineer
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On track to deter rail crime
HUNDREDS of schoolchildren will gather at the National Railway Museum, in York, today to learn about the dangers of trespassing on rail tracks. The aim is to cut tresspass and vandalism which costs the industry more than £150m a year. The majority of
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Campaign to cut heating bills is hailed a success
THE Government last night hailed figures which showed it had reduced the number of homes suffering from so-called fuel poverty. But campaign groups warned that more work was needed to tackle the problem of those on low incomes struggling to heat their
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Concerns raised over measures for prison reform
PRISON officers fear reforms aimed at modernising the service could put lives at risk. The Prison Service wants officers to agree on a long-term pay deal over three or five years, beginning in 12 months' time. It is proposing to tie the deal in with a
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Course aims to prevent unwanted teen pregnancies
THE appalling record of unwanted teenage pregnancies in the region will be tackled with a new course at a North-East university. Northumbria University is to launch The Sex and Relationship Education course which is aimed at teachers, social workers and
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Victim's torture ordeal by gang
A MASKED gang who kidnapped a North-East man subjected him to hours of torture before dumping him on a deserted road. Police are waiting to interview the 27-year-old victim, who was last night recovering in hospital from what is described as a sustained
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Hairy times for Adam Faith's mate
IN PASSING, as it were, last week's column noted the death at 62 of the singer and actor Adam Faith. Keith Robinson, among Derwentside Council's top officers, offers the North-East - and the Hungerford Bridge - connection. We'd noted that What Do You
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Pupils plan 24-hour swimathon
GIRLS at a school in Harrogate plan to swim the equivalent of a lap around the UK coastline to raise money for charity. Pupils at Harrogate Ladies College will be joined in the final hour of their 24-hour swimathon by gold medal winner Marc Woods to help
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Waste plant protestors in bid to get plans rejected
PROTESTORS fighting plans to build a recycling and waste transfer plant near their homes have called on county councillors to reject the proposals. In a last-ditch effort to block the scheme, people in Stainton Grove, near Barnard Castle, intend to appeal
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Overspending blamed on heart drugs
A NEW generation of expensive drugs, which are keeping thousands of heart patients alive in Darlington, are pushing the balance sheets into the red, health officials have revealed. Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) is expecting to overspend by £292,000
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Escaping jail for a good cause
A PLAN is being hatched for hundreds of people to escape from a North-East prison. Teams will be taking part in The Great Escape to raise cash for charities of their choice. Based on the 1963 film, which starred Steve McQueen, the event at Holme House
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19/03/03
STADIUM BOARD: IF Darlington Borough Council had done a proper job and consulted over 2,000 concerned residents, Mrs Mazurk would not have found her name splashed all over this graffiti board (Echo, Mar 18). It is because she has given hours of her time
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News in brief: Local history books sold off
Books chronicling the history of east Cleveland are to be sold off to raise funds for the appeal to restore Redcar's ageing town clock. Vera Robinson, Redcar charity worker and local historian, will help to sell the books at Sotheran Stationers shop in
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New walks programme to boost fitness
A NEW walks programme will set people in the Sedgefield borough on the path to fitness and good health. Because taking just a small amount of exercise every day can transform people's lives, local authorities and health trusts are sponsoring projects
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Chemical plant 'is not a health risk'
HEALTH and safety chiefs say there are no immediate risks to people living near a Newton Aycliffe chemical plant. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last week recommended that an application for a nursery near the Great Lakes factory should be rejected
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Youth gangs go on the rampage across estate
GANGS of youths are terrorising residents and indulging in a rampage of destruction on a housing estate. The youths, some of whom are as young as seven, are smashing windows and ripping out the fixtures and fittings from derelict houses in order to build
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Housing project is launched
THE Mayor of Darlington took up a spade yesterday to help launch a housing development. Councillor Doris Jones was visiting the Firthmoor estate, where construction work began on the 413-house site to replace more than 300 demolished homes. The Moorfield
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Marathon charity target
A SHOP assistant is hoping to raise £1,000 for a national children's charity when she runs her first London marathon. Joanne Singleton, of Cockton Hill, Bishop Auckland, will take part in the 26-mile road race on Sunday, April 13, to raise money for Childline
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Instructors help drive down crime
DRIVING schools are doing their bit to put the brake on car thieves. Cleveland Police have persuaded more than 20 driving instructors to incorporate advice on vehicle security in driving lessons. The themes are ensuring that a vehicle is left parked in
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A view from High Row
WHEN a lot of money is at stake, strong passions are likely to be stirred. That has certainly been the case over the past week, with Darlington Borough Council and Durham County Council embroiled in a public feud over a costly legal dispute. The county
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Inspiration for women in business
A BUSINESS group for women in Darlington is holding an "evening of inspiration" to help more women achieve corporate success. Darlington Women into Business, which was launched by Darlington Business Venture in 2001, provides opportunities for Darlington
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Body identified
A BODY recovered from the River Tees at the weekend has been identified as that of a 60-year-old man who went missing a month ago. John Hanley, of Thornaby Road, Thornaby, Teesside, had not been seen by his family since Monday, February 17. Police say
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Medical student sentenced over theft
A MEDICAL student stole almost £4,000 from a vulnerable old woman in a bid to pay off his mounting debts, a court heard yesterday. Scott Walker, 21, of Ads-head Road, Redcar, who admitted stealing from the pensioner, appeared at Teesside Crown Court for
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Dyer aims to bury Barca nightmare
KIERON DYER confessed last night that he faces Champions League payback time this evening as he tries to make amends for his Camp Nou nightmare. Dyer, 24, is still haunted by the memory of his horrendous error that gifted Barcelona victory in the first
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Nervous Pool still have work to do
YOU'VE heard of the nervous 90s, but how about the nervous 70s? Hartlepool United are clear at the top, within spitting distance - for El Hadji Diouf at least - of promotion. But last night at Wrexham they suffered their second successive away defeat
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More improvements for skate park
FURTHER improvements are on the way for a skate park which attracts hundreds of youngsters every week. Final preparations are under way for the delivery of a £4,500 shelter for the park on Norton Road, near Malton. The Ryedale Community Safety Partnership
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Protestors to attend site visit
RESIDENTS protesting at plans for extra bus parking at Richmond School are to attend a site visit. Four or five people living in the Darlington Road area will represent those concerned that North Yorkshire County Council proposals will create more traffic
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Bewitching show staged by pupils
REHEARSALS are under way for a production of Arthur Miller's The Crucible at Polam Hall School, in Darlington. The cast of 13 to 18-year-old girls, some of whom are studying drama, will be entertaining friends and family with their performance. Susanne
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Comment from The Northern Echo
IN an hour at the despatch box yesterday Tony Blair confounded critics who accuse him of being driven more by focus groups than substance. In the face of ministerial resignations, hostility within his own party ranks, and opposition from much of the electorate
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Rail links are on the agenda
CAMPAIGNERS pressing for better rail links will meet at the weekend. The North-East branch of the Rail Development Society will hold its annual meeting in the Royal Station Hotel, Newcastle, on Saturday, at 2pm. Neil Buxton, of the Association of Community
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£500,000 Euro cash to boost town's -green' improvements
A MASSIVE scheme has been launched to improve the environment of a Teesside town. More than £500,000 of European funding is being poured into 17 environmental improvement schemes around Middlesbrough. Mayor Ray Mallon said it was just what the town needed
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Will war liberate the Kurds?
Much of the humanitarian argument of outing Saddam is based on the fate of the Kurds. But who are the Kurds and why are they everybody's whipping boys? Nick Morrison reports AROUND four millennia ago, squeezed out of their homelands by three empires,
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Chance to book course at university
NORTHUMBRIA University has launched a course for people in the information and library sectors. The masters course in information and library management is being provided through distance learning and offers professional recognition for library and information
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Former Magpies star could lose ear
A FORMER North-East soccer star could lose his ear after a crazed thug with a grudge tried to bite it off. Ex-Newcastle United striker George Reilly needed 50 stitches to sew his ear back on, after it was left dangling by a thread. The attack happened
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Inspectors examine near-miss by trains
RAIL inspectors are investigating a near-miss after a passenger train passed a red light on a busy stretch of line in a North-East city centre. The Rail Inspectorate confirmed last night it is staging an inquiry into the incident, in which an Arriva Northern
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Chalking up praise by Ofsted
GOVERNMENT inspectors have praised the "improving standards" at Northgate Junior School, in Guisborough. The Ofsted report's verdict reads: "This school provides a sound education for its pupils. Good teaching helps most pupils to achieve well and, as
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Exclusive shops area issues open invitation
A NEW trading association for shops in an "exclusive" part of Darlington has organised a three-day street party to encourage more people to shop there. Traders in Grange Road set up the association, called Exclusively Grange Road, last year to organise
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Sporting success
A SCHOOLBOY with cerebral palsy has taken a further step towards the Paralympics. Lee Maddison, from St Catherine's Close, Fishburn, has had tremendous success in boccia, a type of bowls, in which competitors give instructions to set the height and direction
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Landslip diversions discussed for walk
PART of a popular walking route may have to be diverted because of landslips. The North York Moors National Park Authority has been told diversions may be necessary to the Cleveland Way, on the coast. National trails officer Malcolm Hodgson said there
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Johnson looking to cut injured McCoy's lead
IN any other era Richard Johnson would have claimed at least one National Hunt Jockey's title. Unfortunately the presence of the ubiquitous Tony McCoy means he is condemned to finishing a perpetual runner-up in the annual race for the championship. Even
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Society turns back the clock to launch new branch
SHOPPERS will be taken back half a century when they call at Naafi Financial, in Catterick Garrison, tomorrow. The Darlington Building Society is launching an agency at the Shute Road premises and has invited Garrison Radio presenter Chris Marsden to
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Therapy is twice as successful
A SEMINAR highlighting the benefits of prescribing an anti-smoking treatment during pregnancy was held yesterday. About 60 doctors, obstetricians and pharmacists attended The Benefits of Prescribing Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in Pregnancy seminar
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Are these boys really old enough for war?
WELL, it looks as though it's going to be war after all. And all I can think of is those bright-faced young soldiers - young men the same age as my sons, soft-skinned lads like the ones I see at Tesco in Catterick, all dressed up in uniform like hard
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Are these boys really old enough for war?
WELL, it looks as though it's going to be war after all. And all I can think of is those bright-faced young soldiers - young men the same age as my sons, soft-skinned lads like the ones I see at Tesco in Catterick, all dressed up in uniform like hard
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Hairy times for Adam Faith's mate
IN PASSING, as it were, last week's column noted the death at 62 of the singer and actor Adam Faith. Keith Robinson, among Derwentside Council's top officers, offers the North-East - and the Hungerford Bridge - connection. We'd noted that What Do You
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Andersson ready to 'take care' of Shearer
BARCELONA defender Patrik Andersson will "take care" of Alan Shearer when he comes face to face with his former Blackburn Rovers teammate at St James' Park tonight. Andersson was with Shearer for 14 months at Blackburn in 1992 and 1993, when the Newcastle
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Police hunt for gang after stabbings
TWO people arrested following a triple stabbing have been released on bail. Cleveland Police say police will be interviewing the 18-year-old woman and 22-year-old again. About 30 officers are involved in the hunt for a gang - who were both black and white
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Anglers net cash for RNLI
AN angling club has raised £900 for a lifeboat station by holding a fishing competition. Blackhall Navy Sea Angling club recently handed over a cheque to Mike Craddy, station manager at Hartlepool RNLI. The money was raised by competition entry ticket
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Tough task for Quakers
Relegation-threatened Darlington make the difficult trip to fellow strugglers Boston tonight with caretaker boss Mick Tait insisting they must learn from their mistakes or face the consequences. Quakers are just five points above this evening's opponents
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Dressed-for-war Saddam: I'm staying
A defiant Saddam Hussein appeared on Iraqi TV in military uniform last night. It was a signal that his role was as defender of the nation after flatly rejecting the US ultimatum to go into exile or face war. The Iraqi leader last appeared in a military
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Union steps up pressure on Corus
UNION leaders last night demanded they be shown a crucial report into the state of steel-maker Corus. The Anglo-Dutch firm brought in McKinsey management consultants last month to produce a study of the various assets, strengths and weaknesses of the
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Unwanted points record haunts Kilbane
KEVIN KILBANE last night revealed the fear that is stalking Sunderland's season: "We don't want to be the worst team in Premiership history." With Sunderland's hopes of staving off relegation almost nil, Kilbane is desperate for the club to avoid "beating
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Plan could prevent need for carrier bag charge
BRITAIN'S first carrier bag charge may be dropped in favour of a voluntary strategy drawn up between supermarkets and council chiefs. Durham County Council is considering levying a charge on carriers to try to cut down on waste. The authority launched
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Why the UN must play the game
WHAT are WMDs? All right, easy. But what, precisely, is a weapon of mass destruction? To a bowman at Agincourt, a tommy gun would be a wmd. Its big brother, the machine gun, able to mow down line after line of advancing troops like corn, as it did on
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Author entertains children with story corner to help reading project
A POPULAR children's author held a story corner yesterday to promote a project to help children in Middlesbrough learn to read. Steve Weatherill, who writes the Baby Goz books, met youngsters from Archibald, Whinney Banks and Newport primary schools with
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Support for gardens development
PLANS to build 75 homes on a former prison gardens site has won the support of Northallerton Town Council. Members were considering a scheme at Knottobottom - a joint venture between Yuill Homes and Broadacres Housing Association. Mayor Councillor Jack
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GM food issue to be debated by youngsters
HUNDREDS of confident young speakers will thrash out a series of topical issues on the debating chamber floor this weekend. Teams from 42 schools across the UK, plus a group of teenagers from Canada, will take part in a competition organised by Durham
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Arriva unveils website
ARRIVA Trains Northern (ATN) has introduced a website providing travel advice and support for its customers. The site also aims to provide support beyond ATN's services with web links for National Rail inquiries, Manchester Airport and Eurostar. It offers
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Robson worried by Tino case
WHEN Newcastle United take on the might of Barcelona in the Champions League tonight, Sir Bobby Robson will be hoping his title-chasing players don't suffer from post-Barca syndrome. That is exactly what happened to former Magpies star Faustino Asprilla
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Keith's challenge
A SUPERMARKET training manager is taking to the streets of Stanley as he prepares for a fundraising run for charity. Keith Weavers, 25, of Tanfield Lea, is taking part in the London Marathon in April, to raise cash for children's charity, Childline. Mr
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Blair sees off rebels in countdown to war
Tony Blair last night fought off a backbench rebellion as fewer than expected MPs voted against military action. With 139 MPs voting for an amendment to a Government motion authorising the use of force, Downing Street appeared relieved that predicted
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Amy Elizabeth is first baby in name scheme
A FORMER North-East couple will be the first to take advantage of a baby naming ceremony next month. Anna and Neil Hardy, who live in Banbury, Oxfordshire, will return to the region to celebrate the birth of their daughter, Amy Elizabeth. They are the
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Bank is wary as inflation creeps up
THE Bank of England could be forced to keep interest rates constant next month after inflation reached its highest level for almost five years. The underlying rate of inflation rose 0.3 per cent during February to 3 per cent, figures from the Office for
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Marconi 'not yet out of the woods
TROUBLED telecoms equipment maker Marconi refused to rule out further job cuts as it put back the target completion date for a £4bn financial restructuring. The group is filing a scheme of arrangement with the High Court which will give control to creditors
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House prices dip - but not in the North
THE prospect of war with Iraq has led to the first recorded fall in house prices for more than two years - but the North is yet to feel the pinch. A survey for the three months up to February by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) revealed
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Grassroots
CAMERA PRIZES: The Brian Carroll Trophy and the ATW Trophy competitions of the Chester-le-Street Camera Club will be judged by Phllip Warren ARPS at 7.30pm on Monday, in the library. FARM TALK: D Wade OBE will talk about the rise and fall of farming to
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News in brief
Tough trading costs jobs Electrical retailer Dixons is to cut up to 350 head office jobs because of tough trading conditions. The move follows disappointing Christmas sales and a warning that annual profits would fall short of expectations. Most of the
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News in brief
Childcare career advice PEOPLE keen to find out about the rewards of a career in childcare can learn all about it at an information day in Gateshead next month. An open day takes place on Wednesday, April 2, from 10am until 2pm in the Swallow Hotel, to
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Bright pupils praised
BRIGHT sparks at Stanley School of Technology have won praise from teachers after taking a GCSE exam early and achieving a 100 per cent pass rate. All 15 of the year 11 pupils at the school, in Tyne Road, Stanley, passed their maths GCSE. The youngsters
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Defence group's 'Robocop' vision
A COMPANY whose aim is to gain a greater share of defence contracts for North-East firms has branched out into Yorkshire. Northern Defence Industries (NDI) will use the combined skills and strengths of firms in the county as extra bargaining power when
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News in brief
Proxy advice to poll voters Voters who are unable to take part in the first all-postal vote in Darlington are being urged to appoint a proxy. Darlington is one of a handful of local authorities in the country taking part in a postal voting pilot scheme
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Concern raised over roadworks traffic chaos
FEARS that villagers must endure traffic chaos for the second time in four months have been expressed. Councillor Steve Kay has argued that repair work to the A171, at Birk Brow, must not mean Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council closes both carriageways
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Bobby's fingers crossed for a much-better Bayer
SIR BOBBY ROBSON reckons Bayer Leverkusen's determination to avoid Champions League humiliation will work to Newcastle United's advantage tonight as they rely on the Germans to grant them a huge favour. Leverkusen go into their BayArena encounter with
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Lottery tonic for baby hospice
A BABY hospice in the North-East is to get £600,000 of National Lottery cash to help with its running costs. Zoe's Place, in Middlesbrough, will use the money to secure new staff and improve care for sick children aged up to five years old. Baroness Jill
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Protestors angry at loss of green space in car park plan
PLANS to turn a public open space near Durham city centre into a temporary car park has provoked a storm of protest from residents. Angry exchanges took place on The Sands common land yesterday, when one of Durham's hereditary Free-men came face to face
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Millions to be spent on schools
MILLIONS of pounds are to be spent on school buildings across the county to improve the learning environment for pupils. North Yorkshire Education Service has given the go-ahead for £35m to be spent on schools, starting in April. That is £8m more than
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Blow for defence workers as 1,000 face the axe
THE national defence contractor BAE Systems is to cut 1,005 jobs across four UK sites after reviewing operations at its aircraft-related businesses. The overhaul reflects changes made recently to BAE's Nimrod patrol aircraft programme, which was the subject
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Last Night's TV
The glam sham of a model's life This Model Life (C4) A Night Out with the Girls (ITV) ANNA was just 11 and crossing the road with her mum when she was spotted by a scout from a model agency. The agency kept her under wraps for four years, not because
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Woman, 83, conned by caller
THIS is the face of a bogus caller who attempted to steal a tin containing cash from an 83-year-old woman. The incident happened at about 7pm on Thursday at an address in Mount Pleasant Road, Stockton. The woman was led to believe that the man was from
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Intelligent bus shelters unveiled
STANDING at a bus shelter and wondering whether there's anything actually coming will soon be a thing of the past in the congested tourist capital of the north. Would-be passengers in York will no longer have to simply wait and hope - thanks to a new
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Hear all sides
STADIUM BOARD IF Darlington Borough Council had done a proper job and consulted over 2,000 concerned residents, Mrs Mazurk would not have found her name splashed all over this graffiti board (Echo, Mar 18). It is because she has given hours of her time
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Boom keeps company in the picture
CHANGES in the law on civil weddings have led to a boom in bookings for a Darlington photographic studio. Studio 2000, in Darlington, had 65 weddings inquiries last month, leading to dozens of bookings for this year, next year and even one in 2005. Owner
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Boro the only English club for Juninho
JUNINHO last night revealed he never had any intentions of playing for any other Premiership club than Middlesbrough. Last summer the Brazilian was linked with moves to Leeds United, Aston Villa and Birmingham, but he chose to join Boro for a third spell
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Animal magic helps Sasha reach final of National competition
DEDICATED vet Sasha Farr has been shortlisted in a national competition to find the Vet of the Year. Ms Farr, a senior vet at Wilson's Veterinary Surgery, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, has been named as one of the three finalists in the Petplan Vet
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Pupils learn some Big Top skills
PUPILS at a Darlington school had a taste of circus life this week. Circus performer Mini Mansell went to Firthmoor Primary School to teach youngsters aged four to seven a range of skills, from unicycling to juggling. "The kids had a fantastic time, they
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Four-legged power helps to clear woodland
A COUNCIL has turned to some old-fashioned technology to help clear a woodland area. Darlington Borough Council is using horses to pull felled trees out of the woodland in Cemetery Lane, off Edinburgh Drive. As part of its woodland management project,
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Search starts for borough's top citizens
DARLINGTON'S best citizens can be honoured for their tireless community work as part of the Mayor's Community Awards Scheme. The annual event was previously known as the Citizen of the Year Award, but its name was changed last year to widen the base of
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System aims to make identification parades a thing of the past
THEY have been a major benefit to crime-fighting and, as a result, have become a staple scene in detective thrillers over the years. But the age of the identification parade could soon be over - and leading the way in the revolution are police in North
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Orange staff answer the charity call
STAFF at Orange took thousands of calls for Comic Relief and also raised a record amount of money through their own fundraising efforts. For the first time, three Orange communication centres took calls on Friday in North Tyneside, Peterlee and Plymouth
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Council is opposed to housing plan
A PARISH council has been joined by 28 residents in opposing an amended scheme to build nine homes in a North Yorkshire village. Skelton-on-Ure Parish Council, near Ripon, said it did not oppose development at the former Rosewood and Philmore Drinks site
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Emma and Keeley to share a green passion
TWO green-fingered youth workers at Northallerton College have been signed up to share their passion for gardening with others. Emma Casson, of Kirkby Fleetham, and Keeley Metcalfe, of Northallerton, are to run a series of Saturday workshops as part of
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Pupils tackle witchcraft trials in play's 50th anniversary
YOUNGSTERS are performing a classic play with a supernatural flavour to coincide with its 50th anniversary this year. Pupils at Durham School will stage The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, in the school's Luce Theatre, from today until Saturday. Based on
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Aid leaves the region for Belarus
LORRY loads of much-needed aid has departed from the North-East, bound for the former Soviet republic of Belarus. A mixture of school and hospital equipment, food, clothing and blankets were in the consignment which has left Easington District Council's
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Grassroots
DEBRIS ISSUE: Rubble has now been removed from two areas of the village green, although building materials were still being delivered and left on a parking area and work was about to begin on a third site. It was agreed that steps should be taken to point
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Part and parcel of life as wartime boy soldier
WARTIME memories came flooding back, as a former soldier in The Green Howards was transported back to his days as a boy soldier. Maj Jack Riordan was the third generation of his family to serve as a regimental sergeant major and to be awarded the MBE.
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TV focus on Roman artefacts at park
THE secrets of a Roman settlement will be unearthed by time detectives on national television at the weekend. Experts from Channel 4's Time Team joined archaeologists from Durham County Council to dig into the history of Sedgefield village last April.
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Talks held to bridge regional difference
A CONFERENCE which examined ways of tackling the North-South divide was held in the region yesterday. The office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, which deals with housing, planning, local Government, and the regions, heard evidence on reducing
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Boutique booster
STAFF at a Darlington boutique are celebrating a landmark anniversary by raising money for charity. Guru, in Blackwellgate, which sells alternative clothing and accessories, is running a raffle for St Teresa's Hospice to mark its 30th birthday. Proceeds
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Getting claws into grooming service
A NEW dog grooming business is taking the anxiety out of clipping dogs' claws for nervous owners. The service is part of the Perfect Paws company set up by Richard Kerridge, 22, and Lee Lennard, 26, at 11 Parkgate, Darlington. The friends were made redundant
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Scout group out of the cold
A SCOUT group in Stockton will be able to keep warm next winter thanks to a donation. Myson Radiators has handed over ten convector radiators to the 1st Hartburn Sea Scout Group, as part of an initiative to refurbish its facilities. The group, which specialises
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Loan boosts cookery firm
A COOKWARE company in Darlington has benefited from an £8,000 loan from a business fund. Four Corners Food Service products, at Morton Park, Darlington, applied for the loan from the Falchion Fund, which provides loans for small businesses in the town
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Natural ways praised
BUSINESSES which cater for breastfeeding mothers in Darlington could be given official praise under a new scheme. The idea of an accreditation scheme is being floated by Sure Start, which supports disadvantaged families in the town. Council chiefs in
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Footballers give leggs a boost
A CLOTHES shop, which hit the headlines thanks to Pop Idol Zoe Birkett is expanding. Leggs, in Skinnergate, Darlington, opened a new menswear section at the weekend - and donated part of its profits to the Comic Relief appeal. Darlington Football Club
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School bullies targeted by new scheme
AN accreditation scheme has been launched in County Durham for schools that tackle bullying. Durham County Council has won numerous accolades for its anti-bullying service and now, young people's helpline ChildLine is backing its latest initiative that
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Scheme could create 3,000 jobs
A DOCKLAND development that will reclaim a North-East brownfield site and create thousands of jobs has moved a step closer. Officials from Tees Valley Regeneration have appointed UK property developer Terrace Hill to carry out the first phase of the Middlehaven
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Tourist centre to close
BOSSES are to close a tourist information centre at one of the region's most popular visitor attractions - after admitting it was built in the wrong place. The committee that runs Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, is to shut the centre's TIC
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Car group turnover breaks through £1bn
CAR dealer CD Bramall broke through the £1bn turnover barrier last year. The Harrogate based retailer saw pre-tax profits rise 26.5 per cent on the back of buying the Quicks motor group. Tony Bramall, chairman, said: "This has been a record year for the
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Plan could prevent need for carrier bag charge
BRITAIN'S first carrier bag charge may be dropped in favour of a voluntary strategy drawn up between supermarkets and council chiefs. Durham County Council is considering levying a charge on carriers to try to cut down on waste. The authority launched
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Will war liberate the Kurds?
AROUND four millennia ago, squeezed out of their homelands by three empires, a collection of tribes arrived in what is now the frontier region of Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Largely nomadic, they nevertheless decided to make their home among the mountains
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Venue is chosen again for derby weekend
WHIPPET racing fever is set to return to the region when the premier event in the sport's calendar is staged next month. Organisers of the All England Whippet Derby were so impressed by the turnout at last year's event in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
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No deadline for maternity unit reopening
LEADING NHS managers have refused to set a deadline for the reopening of a popular maternity hospital. Bill Murray, chief executive of South Tees NHS Trust, made it clear that no date can be set for the reopening of Guisborough Maternity Unit in a statement
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Designer Wayne to speak on housing
THE designer who attacked the "Wimpeyfication" of Britain's housing is to speak at a property conference about creating balanced communities. Fashion guru Wayne Hemingway is to give a speech at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) at St
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Preparing for curtain-up
A NEW £17m college is preparing to raise the curtain on its first major theatre production. Performing arts students at Stockton Riverside College, which was declared open in January, are rehearsing their lines for a modern satire on cinema. Muliplex,
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Hostel loses sacking appeal
A HOUSING company which was found guilty of racially discriminating against an asylum seeker has failed in its appeal against the tribunal decision. Roselodge was ordered to pay Palestinian Mohammed Abu-Zahra £9,000 in damages after he was sacked for
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HIV test for child pricked by needle
A FAMILY faces an agonising wait for HIV test results after a child pricked her hand on a hypodermic needle as she played near her home. Lauren Meale had to spend most of her fourth birthday in hospital undergoing health checks after falling on the discarded
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Lord does it Howard's Way to win
HOWARD JOHNSON posted his 30th winner of the current campaign at Sedgefield yesterday when Lord Capitaine romped to an impressive victory. "That's our best season for six years. I never expected to get to 30 winners and there have been one or two blips
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Lee and Richard give priority to pets
TWO friends made redundant by an animal charity have got their careers back on the leash by launching their own dog grooming salon. Richard Kerridge and Lee Lennard, who lost their jobs when Guide Dogs for the Blind closed its Middlesbrough training centre
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Meatloaf and rednecks - now that's variety
The recent research showing that television viewing is still in decline came as no real surprise. With some honourable exceptions, my description of it last week as "lunatic wallpaper" holds good far too often. Coupled with that is the happy news, from
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Son finds his father's grave on a chance visit to Japan
A CHANCE business trip to Japan resulted in a North-East man finding his father's grave, which the family feared they would not see after he died 35 years ago. Project manager Mark Francis, 41, of Middlesbrough, visited Japan to oversee the development
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Restaurant hygiene rap
A restaurant was fined £10,500 yesterday, after Stockton Borough Council's environmental health department found filthy conditions throughout the building and poor food hygiene. Dartmanor Limited, which own McCoys, of Yarm, pleaded guilty at Teesside
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'I want your job, Tony Blair'
As war against Iraq becomes increasingly imminent, a North-East teenager tells Women Editor Christen Pears why young people should speak out against the conflict On Saturday morning, Florrie Darling stood up in front of a crowd of 2,000 anti-war demonstrators
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Controversial message is deleted from stadium board
A CONTROVERSIAL message on a board outside Darlington Football Club's new stadium has been removed after a complaint to police. The message, which named stadium protestor Jan Mazurk, was taken down yesterday morning. Police were called on Monday night
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Council legal fight may prove costly
COUNCIL officials were warned yesterday that they will have to shoulder the blame if a multi-million pound legal battle goes against them. Durham County Council is still locked in a cash wrangle with Darlington Borough Council - six years after the case
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Solicitor quizzed over cannabis package claims
A SOLICITOR has been arrested over claims he posted cannabis to one of his clients. Police called at the practice of Denis Whalley after his clients handed over the drugs. Carol and Peter Longstaff, from Jesmond, Newcastle, appointed Mr Whalley as their
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Fears that jobs may go at textile firm
FEARS have been raised that 100 jobs could be axed at a textile firm. Rainbow Corporatewear, which employs 100 people on the Skelton Industrial Estate at Skelton, east Cleveland, declined to comment on the reports. However, union negotiators have sought
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Dominating net names
A NORTH-East technology business has become one of the largest independent domain name registration companies in the UK, after buying up one of its online rivals. Domainnamesgb.com, based in Kingston Park, Newcastle, is buying Clicknames.net, the budget
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News in brief
Pupils to be taken prisoner Pupils at Risedale Community College will become prisoners when they take part in a Crime Awareness Day at Darlington College, Catterick, on Monday, March 31. More than 200 year nine students from Risedale College and from
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Your chance to be a radio DJ
BUDDING radio DJs are getting the chance to shine at a Teesside hospital. Bosses at Radio North Tees - which serves the University Hospital of North Tees - are looking for volunteers to host daytime, evening and weekend request shows. Presenter Paul Mack
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National scheme recognises car parks
EFFORTS to make Hartlepool's town centre car parks safer and more attractive to shoppers have won fresh recognition in a national awards scheme. The Secured Car Parks status granted last year to the basement and multi-storey car parks in Middleton Grange
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Fire engine rally seeks stallholders
Stall holders are being urged to take up a stall at this summer's Fire Engine and Vintage Vehicle Rally. Stockton Borough Council is looking for more stallholders selling a range of crafts, as well as stands from commercial traders and local charitable
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Warning over chain letter
TRADING standards officers are warning people to ignore a get-rich-quick chain letter which has been sent to homes in Darlington. The letter promises to make the receiver £40,000 within 60 days if they post £10 to a given address. It says: "Anyone with
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Wandering lonely as a cloud . . .
SPRING is in the air at one of the region's treasured stately homes. A large carpet of daffodils fill the grounds surrounding Castle Howard, near Malton, North Yorkshire, making it pretty as a picture. The castle boasts a wide variety of daffodils, including
