Archive
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Human shield has to leave
HUMAN shield Antoinette McCormick was last night reported to be on her way out of Iraq and heading for Syria. The 38-year-old, a veteran of the first Gulf War, left Baghdad after being told she could no longer stay there on her tourist visa. She had hoped
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And unleash the dolphins of war
As the US Navy brings in dolphins to search for mines in the Gulf, Nick Morrison looks at how animals from glowworms to elephants have been used to fight our battles. SURROUNDED by high walls and protected by patrolling submarines, Base 99727 at Bukhta
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Back in time with a mule
A MULE will help to recreate the country life of yesteryear at County Durham's biggest local history fair. Frances, who is more than 20 years old, will make her debut with the re-enactment group Rent a Peasant at Durham County Council's Yesterday Belongs
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Young achievers honoured
YOUNGSTERS who have shown bravery, determination and commitment to their communities have been recognised with Shrievalty Awards. A group of 35 youngsters from the county gathered for the award ceremony held at Durham Castle. The young people received
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Setback as Kim returns to hospital
BRAVE teenager Kim Stobbs has suffered a setback in her fight against leukaemia and is back in hospital. The 14-year-old underwent a bone marrow transplant from her younger sister, Kate, aged ten. But in 11 weeks since the operation, the youngster has
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Firm hopes to match people to jobs
A NORTH-EAST consultancy firm is settling into its new office in north-west Durham. David Llewellyn, chairman of Derwentside District Council, welcomed Westray Recruitment Consultants to Consett. Based in the town's old fire station, staff will aim to
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Fruit and veg gets stamp of approval
CHILDREN at a North-East nursery had a preview of the world's first DIY stamps this week. The three and four-year-olds at Borough Road Nursery, Darlington, tested out Royal Mail's new Fun Fruit and Veg stamps, which come with sticky comic body parts to
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27/03/03
WAR AGAINST IRAQ: THE atrocities committed by the evil tyrant Saddam Hussein have been well publicised. It was Edmund Burke who said: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Tony Blair and George Bush are good
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Autistics centre scheme backing
PROPOSALS for a care centre for autistic people to be set up in a village near Darlington look likely to gain approval next week. Villagers had condemned plans by Castlebeck Care to establish a centre of excellence for the care of people with autism and
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Safety inspections
SAFETY measures are being put in place to help prevent a tragedy in Darlington's cemeteries and churchyards. The borough council provides three cemeteries for burials and also maintains several closed churchyards. But officials are concerned about the
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Church's New Orleans beat
THE sound of New Orleans will be heard in Darlington when New Orleans Heat plays hymns at St Cuthbert's Church, in the town's Market Square, on Saturday, April 5, at 7.30pm. All the proceeds from the concert will go towards to the organ repair fund at
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Keen knitter's contribution
A PENSIONER who has spent more than 60 years knitting for hospitals in the region has delivered her latest work to a special care baby unit. Joan Howe, 81, from Darlington, visited the town's Memorial Hospital this week to present blankets she has made
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News in brief: Hedges provide habitation
Native hedgerows will be planted by volunteers in Chester-le-Street this Saturday. The Chester-le-Street Action for a Sustainable Environment group will plant 120 metres of hedgerow along the A167, by the Hermitage roundabout, to provide habitation for
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Events aim to bring in shoppers
FOUR events will be held in Bishop Auckland Market Place this year, in a drive to revitalise the town centre. Wear Valley District Council has granted free use of the market place to the Town Centre Forum. Town centre manager, Ken Wilson, said: "Getting
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Mystery donor boosts appeal
ANOTHER generous mystery donor has come forward to support the Advertiser's campaign to mark the graves of the victims of the Stanley Burns Pit disaster. A celebrity, who wishes to remain anonymous, has given £500 to the appeal. This follows other major
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Two treated for smoke inhalation
A POLICE officer and a resident were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation following a kitchen fire. Acting inspector Ken Pullan, who was on duty nearby, went into the ground-floor flat in a house in Allergate, near Durham city centre, to help bring
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Drive for better food hygiene
A £10,000 BLITZ on poor food hygiene is taking place across Teesside and Darlington. All five Tees Valley councils: Darlington, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool and Redcar and Cleveland; have been given a grant by the Food Standards Agency to combat
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Authority denies rights violation
A RESIDENTIAL home at the centre of a judicial review is to close after campaigners withdrew their challenge. Relatives of residents at Stoneleigh Nursing Home, in Barnard Castle, were due to challenge Durham County Council today over the proposed closure
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Traffic calming
PEOPLE in Boroughbridge are being consulted about a proposed traffic-calming scheme for Wetherby Road, between the Minskip Road roundabout and Roecliffe Lane. There have been six accidents resulting in injuries there in the past five years.
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Ex-pit towns blighted by drugs culture - MP
FORMER pit communities are being driven to the edge by drugs and anti-social behaviour brought in by housing benefit tenants, an MP has claimed. Kevan Jones told the House of Commons that the two main towns in his North Durham constituency, Chester-le-Street
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Regeneration efforts win praise
PLANS to regenerate Darlington and cut unemployment have been praised by the Audit Commission. Darlington Borough Council's regeneration service is rated good and with excellent prospects for improvement in a report out today. A team of inspectors gave
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Council tax rebel pays in full
A COUNCIL tax rebel said yesterday that councils were wasting public money. Durham City Council summonsed retired businessman Brian Clouston to court for not paying the full bill for the 2002/03 financial year for his home in Princes Street. He refused
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Rowdy drinkers in town will be banned
ROWDY drinkers in Washington face being banned from pubs under a scheme organised by Northumbria Police. Drinkers who cause disorder, commit anti-social behaviour or use illegal substances will be barred from pubs in Concorde, and possibly every pub in
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Groundwork for first toll road wins award for council
DURHAM County Council has won an award for work that paved the way for the country's first toll road. The council's efforts to test public opinion on the Saddler Street congestion charge in Durham and tailor it to meet local people's wishes have been
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Country doctor dies, aged 84
DR KENNETH HEAP, a well-known country GP and sportsman, who spent 36 years in in the Pickering area, has died at the age of 84. He retired from the practice of Heap, Blacklee, Gaskell and Capes in The Ropery, 20 years ago. Brought up in West Yorkshire
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Search for childminders
A SHORTAGE of childminders in County Durham has prompted an appeal to people to think about taking up the career. Childcare Information Service (CIS) manager Alison Gargett said: "There are only 50 childminders in the Easington District alone, way below
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Search for childminders
A SHORTAGE of childminders in County Durham has prompted an appeal to people to think about taking up the career. Childcare Information Service (CIS) manager Alison Gargett said: "There are only 50 childminders in the Easington District alone, way below
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It's business as usual for fundraisers
CANCER charity fundraisers say they are very much in business despite the closure of a neighbouring group. Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK has recruited six committee members to help with a busy events programme in the next few months. The charity's
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Young dancers who step out to aid charities
TWO teenage line dancers have toe-tapped their way across Europe to become international champions, raising cash for numerous charities along the way. Now Amanda Clixby, 13, and Amy Maxwell, 15, have been nominated for The Northern Echo's Positive Young
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Young dancers who step out to aid charities
TWO teenage line dancers have toe-tapped their way across Europe to become international champions, raising cash for numerous charities along the way. Now Amanda Clixby, 13, and Amy Maxwell, 15, have been nominated for The Northern Echo's Positive Young
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Mass 'die-in' demo planned
PEACE campaigners will stage a mass "die-in" outside one of the region's biggest shopping centres tonight, to mark the first week anniversary of the Iraq conflict. Tyneside Stop the War Coalition is mounting a vigil at the Monument, Grey Street, Newcastle
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Legal or not? Debate opens
A FREE public debate on the legal position of war in Iraq will be held at a North-East university next month. Organisers at the University of Teesside are keen to point out it is not a pro or anti-war meeting. The seminar is entitled Iraq: A Lawyer's
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News in brief: Police hunt for masked robber
POLICE are appealing for information after a masked robber stole several hundred pounds from a town centre fish and chip shop. Police said a woman assistant was unhurt but "extremely shocked." The robber's mask slipped during the raid, revealing pockmarked
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Town's youngsters tackle a game of tag rugby
PRIMARY school youngsters from across Hartlepool took part in a tag rugby event yesterday. Year five and six pupils from 15 schools competed in the Tag Rugby Festival at the town's High Tunstall School. Representatives from the town's rugby clubs gave
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Young offenders kept in community
CRIME committed by young people in Middlesbrough and Redcar fell by 13 per cent last year, according to a report by the South Tees Youth Offending Team. Three out of four young people who appeared before the courts or who were referred to the service
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Exploring the wonder of books
YOUNGSTERS celebrated World Book Day with nursery rhymes and traditional verse. Pupils and staff at St Chad's RC School, in Witton Park, dressed as their favourite characters to entertain the other children and their parents. Spike Milligan's poems and
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£30,000 Lottery windfall for luncheon club
THE future of a luncheon club has been secured thanks to a £30,000 cash boost from the National Lottery. Pensioners who have enjoyed the facilities at Woodhouse Close Church Community Centre, in Bishop Auckland, are celebrating after an announcement today
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A range of holiday activities
BEASTS and ball games are among the holiday attractions being offered to Stockton children during the Easter holiday. Open to three to 16-year-olds, Stockton Borough Council's Xplore holiday programme offers a varied selection of fun and games. Activities
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News in brief: Police hunt for masked robber
POLICE are appealing for information after a masked robber stole several hundred pounds from a town centre fish and chip shop. Police said a woman assistant was unhurt but "extremely shocked." The robber's mask slipped during the raid, revealing pockmarked
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News in brief: School ban for burger van
A burger van has been ordered to move from outside Longfield Comprehensive School, in Darlington, after the borough council received complaints about sales of food to pupils during school hours. A council spokesman said the van operator had not been given
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Plan will provide a breath of fresh air
FOR years, residents in Middlesbrough have endured jibes about the quality of the air in the town, which has the largest petro-chemical complex in western Europe. But now Middlesbrough Council plans to consign that to history with an air quality action
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News in brief: Website rises in the rankings
A COUNCIL'S revamped website with customised pages and tailored links has climbed up the ratings in a national survey. The new-look site, which was launched four months ago by Hambleton District Council, has improved the ranking given to it by members
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Appeal for last train passengers
RAIL enthusiasts working to reopen the Weardale Railway line are appealing for people who were on the last scheduled passenger train to run through Weardale to Bishop Auckland almost 50 years ago Weardale Railway Trust is appealing to the people who appeared
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Glowing Ofsted report for school
A SCHOOL has received a glowing report following a recent inspection. Browney Primary School, in Meadowfield, was visited by Ofsted inspectors last year. Their report, published recently, describes it as a 'good school with some particular strengths'.
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Landmark for healthy life scheme
A PROJECT which encourages people in Sedgefield borough to live a healthier life has celebrated its first anniversary. The Passport to Health project celebrated is birthday at the Pioneering Care Centre in Newton Aycliffe, with local partner agencies
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New dean talks of unity in conflict
THE NEW Dean of Durham spoke of the sombre moment in our history as he was installed in the post last Thursday. Delivering his sermon after being instituted, installed and welcomed to the diocese before a packed congregation at Durham Cathedral, the Very
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Invisible ally joins crime fight
CRIMEFIGHTERS in Wear Valley have recruited an invisible ally to help reduce theft and recover stolen goods. They are marking property with a coating of a clear solution called Smart Water which they hope will be thief-proof because it cannot be detected
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Pupils raise hospice cash
ENVIRONMENTALLY conscious youngsters have raised money for charity through their recycling efforts. Children from St Cuthbert's Roman Catholic School, Crook, have been recycling their computer ink cartridges to support the Butterwick Hospice's recycling
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It's a lot less bother
IS IT a bird? Is it a plane? No it's a pizza delivery boy on a flying hover mower. Domino's Pizza is researching ways to combat the UK's increasing traffic jams, and plans to replace its fleet of moped delivery bikes, with hoverboards. Inspired by the
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Two arrested in drugs raid
DRUGS with a street value of more than £250,000 were recovered by police in a house raid. The swoop, by Durham Police across the force boundary in Houghton-le-Spring, in the neighbouring Northumbria area, also netted £13,000 in cash and a quantity of
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Heart-ops toddler enjoys birthday fun
AS little James Wilkes got into the full swing of his birthday party he was unaware of why it was such a happy sight for his parents. Four years ago Michelle Jones and Wayne Wilkes, of Sedgefield, celebrated the birth of their second child. But hours
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Liddle warns safety not assured
Darlington skipper Craig Liddle admits Saturday's win at Scunthorpe has eased relegation worries - but has warned they are not safe yet. Even in 16th place and six points clear of the relegation zone Liddle believes Quakers still have some work to do
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Mining inspires art
STUDENTS have brightened up a popular community venue with a piece of artwork. Twenty-five pupils from Year 9 at Greencroft School, in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, worked with artist Andrew Mckeown to design and create a mosaic for the Communal Rooms
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Disabled deadline is hard to meet
TRADERS and the disabled are calling for a rethink to Bishop Auckland town centre's disabled parking policy which they claim is too restrictive. The Disability Access Forum, Bishop Auckland Chamber of Trade, the Town Centre Forum and Wear Valley Business
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Surgery waiting times slashed
WAITING times for GPs and practice nurses have been halved as part of a new approach by doctors' surgeries in Darlington. Four of the town's 11 surgeries have been involved in the Advanced Access scheme, with five more expected to adopt the system soon
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Dalgleish to take Pride in performance
Keith Dalgleish loves nothing more than riding winners in his native Scotland and he looks well worthy of support aboard Hearthstead Pride at Musselburgh this afternoon. Despite being partnered by a relatively inexperienced apprentice jockey at Doncaster
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Cissy celebrates a century
WHEN Cissy Horner turned 100 she vowed she wasn't having any fuss. But she still had a ball when friends and family threw her a party. The popular pensioner was inundated with cards and flowers at Barrington Lodge, Nursing Home, Bishop Auckland, including
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Incinerator plans go up in smoke
PLANS for a toxic waste incinerator recently resurrected after ten years on the back-burner have again been ditched. Protest groups on Teesside are now celebrating the news that Cory Environmental Ltd has withdrawn plans for the £35m incinerator at Seal
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Cook death spear nets £135,000
THE spear which may have killed legendary explorer Captain Cook raised £135,000 at auction yesterday, despite original estimates that it would raise just £2,000. Edinburgh auctioneers Lyon and Turnbull sold the weapon, which has been fashioned into a
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Ehiogu unfazed by Sven snub
UGO EHIOGU last night revealed he is so sick of being overlooked for the England set-up he is not allowing his non-selection to affect him anymore. The Middlesbrough centre-back was a notable absentee from the latest squad announced by Sven-Goran Eriksson
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Wartime memories come flooding back
The Iraqi crisis rekindled memories for a group of Second World War firewatchers yesterday. Viscount Matthew Ridley and close friends Harry Earp and Douglas Allen met up 60 years after starting their duties during the Blitz. As students of King's College
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Maccarone wins McClaren backing
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren insists he will stick by struggling striker Massimo Maccarone. The Italian international was hauled off at half-time in last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Charlton Athletic after being barracked by sections of the
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News in brief: Sparrow is top North-East bird
THE house sparrow has emerged as the North-East's garden bird champion in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch. The bird came top in the charity's survey in Northumberland, County Durham and the Tees Valley. Nearly 8,000 people in the region took part in January's
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Ex-pit towns blighted by drugs culture - MP
FORMER pit communities are being driven to the edge by drugs and anti-social behaviour brought in by housing benefit tenants, an MP has claimed. Kevan Jones told the House of Commons that the two main towns in his North Durham constituency, Chester-le-Street
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Comment: A victory for good sense
THE name Bhs is one of the most respected in the high street. And that makes it all the harder to understand the store's stupidity over the Little Miss Naughty range of children's underwear. Earlier this week, we reported how the company had bowed to
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Baths to be cooled for restoration
LEISURE chiefs are turning the temperature down at one of the region's Victorian splendours as a six-month restoration programme starts. Harrogate's famous Turkish Baths will close its doors in September to undergo almost £600,000 worth of refurbishment
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Head backs students' war protest
HUNDREDS of students made their own stand against the war. At Durham Johnston Comprehensive School's upper site in Crossgate Moor, Durham, hundreds of pupils gathered on the recreation field to make their protest. The protest was organised with the blessing
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£1m scheme
A £1M scheme to build ten classrooms and information technology facilities is under way at Stockton Sixth Form College. The two-storey classrooms, which will house the English and maths departments, are expected to be open in September. The classrooms
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No, this isn't a new computer game
IN between ferrying the children to football practice, struggling with maths homework and dishing up tea over the past few weeks I, like countless parents, have had to deal with the occasional huge and terrifying question. Why are we doing this, Mum?
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Whippet derby returns
WHIPPET racing 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 last year in Newton Aycliffe, they have decided to return.
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Memorabilia attracts lots of interest
FOOTBALL memorabilia from the world's greatest soccer stars fetched hundreds of thousands of pounds at auction yesterday. The collection, which included items from Pele, Ronaldo and David Beckham, went under the hammer at Christie's in central London.
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Bed blocking still a problem for hospitals
HOSPITAL bosses in the region are finding that the problem of blocked beds is proving difficult to resolve. Despite Health Secretary Alan Milburn's threat to fine local authorities for every delayed discharge from hospital to care homes, the problem seems
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Farming firm is growing
DIVERSIFICATION is proving to be the way forward for an agricultural engineering firm in Weardale. A new subcontract selling and servicing tractors has given a vital lifeline to Gardiners Agricultural Engineering in Frosterley. The small business has
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Feisty ladies celebrate WI
THE 'Jam and Jerusalem' myth that was once at the centre of the Women's Institute is long gone. The ladies from the Crook branch of the WI laughed off the image of yesteryear as they celebrated their 80th birthday with a special meal and cake at the Helme
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Couple celebrate as visa is granted
THE Turkish husband of a North-East mother-to-be has finally been given permission to come to this country - after twice being refused entry. Murat Aktas, 27, was given his UK visa yesterday at the British Consulate in Istanbul, after appealing against
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News from the Guilds and WIs
Leadgate WI: MRS Walker presided over the March meeting extending a warm welcome to all. The theme, read by Mrs Young, was most amusing. Secretary Mrs Hedley dealt with the business and correspondence, treasurer Mrs Moody gave the financial statement.
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School makes a big effort in aid of Comic Relief
PUPILS and staff at Stanley Burnside Primary School took part in some hair-raising events in aid of Comic Relief. The school held a non-uniform day, with a range of activities in keeping with the event's theme - The Big Hair Do. Activities involved pupils
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Kim back in hospital
TEENAGER Kim Stobbs has suffered a setback in her fight against leukaemia. The 14-year-old underwent a bone marrow transplant from her younger sister, Kate, aged ten. But in the three months since the operation, Kim has only spent two nights at home.
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The lure of the stars
THE Forestry Commission is taking the wraps off powerful telescopes to lure stargazers into a popular beauty spot at the weekend. Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, is launching a new season of events with a Star Party on Saturday. The event will
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Dad At Large: Knitting, bombs and breakfast cereals
YOU never forget where you were at momentous points in history: Kennedy's assassination; the moon landing; John Lennon's murder; Princess Diana's fatal car crash; September 11. When the War against Iraq began, I'll look back and remember that I was in
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Adults only stage performance is cancelled
A SELL-OUT adults only performance of controversial show Puppetry Of The Penis has been cancelled. Darlington Civic Theatre is contacting 900 ticket-buyers with the news after producers called off the April 19 show. A previous visit in 2001, involving
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Body identified
A BODY washed up on a beach at Saltwick Bay, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, last Friday, has been identified by police as John Butterwick, 59, from Whitby, who was reported missing from home on January 25. An inquest is expected to open shortly.
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New jury sworn in as husband denies murder
THE murder trial of a man accused of killing his disabled wife began for a second time at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. Kenneth Hood, 57, of The Garth, Coulby Newham, near Middlesbrough, has denied the murder of his 55-year-old wife. He has also pleaded
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Team gets gold reward
A DARLINGTON school struck gold in a football competition. Dodmire Junior School team beat off all other competition in the Football in the Community tournament but then narrowly lost 2-1 to the Leeds Academy in the semi-finals. Their skills caught the
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New partnership fights disease
WEAR Valley residents could be recruited for a new study helping to cut the rate of deaths from heart disease. Internationally-renowned medic Professor Massimo Massarini wants to carry out research in the district on the link between exercise and obesity
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Swindling solicitor is struck off
THIEVING coroner Jeremy Cave, who plundered £155,000 from the estates of dead clients, was today barred from practising as a solicitor. The 53-year-old was struck off at a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal in London after he was jailed for three-and-a-half
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Beer fans toast spring festival
ALE drinkers will be taking a tipple or two during the Spring Thing folk music festival. The Darlington branch of The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has organised a beer festival in conjunction with the folk festival and is hoping to sell about 4,000 pints
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Puzzle over Bellamy 'charge'
CONFUSION reigned last night as to whether Newcastle United football star Craig Bellamy will be charged over an alleged racist incident. The 23-year-old striker voluntarily met police on Tuesday to discuss allegations surrounding an incident in the early
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Joy and heartbreak of life in the New World
Whatever happened to Jonathan Moscrop? For the past three months, readers of Echo Memories on both sides of the world have been folwing his diary of his 1879 voyage from Darlington to Dunedin in New Zealand. This is waht became of him and the Matthews
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Knitting, bombs and breakfast cereals
YOU never forget where you were at momentous points in history: Kennedy's assassination; the moon landing; John Lennon's murder; Princess Diana's fatal car crash; September 11. When the War against Iraq began, I'll look back and remember that I was in
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£3.1m grant safeguards jobs at chemical manufacturer
TWO hundred jobs have been safeguarded by a £3.1m grant to overhaul a chemical plant. Polyester resins manufacturer DuPontSA was awarded the regional selective assistance money to buy new technology to improve the plant's efficiency. The finance forms
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Store shut in tribute to its former manager
ONE of the biggest names in retailing closed its store as a tribute to a former boss. The Barnard Castle branch of Woolworths, in County Durham, remained shut while the funeral took place of former manager Val Watson, who died from cancer at the age of
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Wolves hungry to snap up Cort
WOLVES have revived their interest in Newcastle United striker Carl Cort and are attempting to push through a loan deal ahead of today's Nationwide League deadline, writes Clive Hetherington. Molineux boss Dave Jones was rebuffed by counterpart Sir Bobby
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Loss mourned
Tributes have been paid to Sue Woollhouse, who helped to run Darlington's Nightstop charity, which provides homeless people with accommodation. Ms Woollhouse died suddenly last week. The latest edition of the Darlington Council for Voluntary Services
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News in brief: Hedges provide habitation
Native hedgerows will be planted by volunteers in Chester-le-Street this Saturday. The Chester-le-Street Action for a Sustainable Environment group will plant 120 metres of hedgerow along the A167, by the Hermitage roundabout, to provide habitation for
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Instant action for Michael
TWO weeks after becoming a Royal Marine Commando, a 22-year-old has been sent to Iraq. Michael Graham received his coveted Green Beret last month. His family now believe he is near Basra, but do not expect to hear from him again until the war is over.
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Police warn football thugs
POLICE chiefs are warning hooligans they will not get away with causing trouble at next week's England international football match in the North-East. Sunderland's Stadium of Light stages the key Euro 2004 qualifier against World Cup semi-finalists Turkey
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Lucky escape
A PEDESTRIAN involved in an accident with a car in Church Street, Shildon, was unhurt, police said yesterday. It was feared that the 41-year-old man, who has not been named, had been seriously injured in the incident on Tuesday night. He was taken to
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Lucky escape
A PEDESTRIAN involved in an accident with a car in Church Street, Shildon, was unhurt, police said yesterday. It was feared that the 41-year-old man, who has not been named, had been seriously injured in the incident on Tuesday night. He was taken to
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Gulf veterans await medals
THE Ministry of Defence has played down claims from North-East veterans of the last Gulf War that many are yet to receive their service medals. Scores are thought to have still not received the Gulf campaign medal. The Newcastle-based Gulf Veterans Association
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Message for front line: Yes!
A desperate search began yesterday for a soldier posted near the Iraqi border - because his girlfriend has accepted his marriage proposal. Caroline Nesbitt wept tears of joy when her brave boyfriend Adam Holmes, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, proposed to
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Free microchips for pet owners
A MOBILE "chip shop" is to sell microchips to dog owners in and around Chester-le-Street. The National Canine Defence League (NCDL) is to send a bus to Chester-le-Street and nearby villages next week, allowing people to microchip their dogs. The chips
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North-east university students in line for international award
STUDENTS from four corners of the globe are in line for a major award for their contributions to the North-East. The group, all studying at Northumbria University, in Newcastle, have been shortlisted in the International Student Awards. Thomas Jakobsen
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Chance to try out sports at festival
CHILDREN as young as five will have the chance to try their hand at tag rugby and netball in a new sports festival. The Inter District Festival, which is being held at Blakeston School in Junction Road, Stockton, on Saturday, April 5, is aimed at Stockton
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Young offenders kept in community
CRIME committed by young people in Middlesbrough and Redcar fell by 13 per cent last year, according to a report by the South Tees Youth Offending Team. Three out of four young people who appeared before the courts or who were referred to the service
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More support for patients
HIP and knee replacement patients at the University Hospital of Hartlepool are to get extra help before their operation and during their convalescence. About 500 patients at the hospital receive help de-signed to reduce patient anxiety and the length
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Project aims for a greener town
A PROJECT is underway to create a greener Middlesbrough and improve the environment, starting with a two-day tree planting programme. The three-year scheme will increase the tree cover in the town to complement its social and economic regeneration. "Increased
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Diamond couple separated by the war get together for a special day
SIXTY years ago, Fred and Margaret Hickman were experiencing the same heartache facing couples across Britain earlier this month. Parted by war, they had to say their goodbyes not knowing if they would see each other again. But, for the Hickmans, the
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More people needed to decide regions future
THOUSANDS of pounds is being invested in Ryedale projects to improve the quality of life of its residents. But more people are needed to help create blueprints for the next decade, said Jo Reilly, the district's community link officer who is masterminding
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Exploring the wonder of books
YOUNGSTERS celebrated World Book Day with nursery rhymes and traditional verse. Pupils and staff at St Chad's RC School, in Witton Park, dressed as their favourite characters to entertain the other children and their parents. Spike Milligan's poems and
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Date
£30,000 Lottery windfall for luncheon club
THE future of a luncheon club has been secured thanks to a £30,000 cash boost from the National Lottery. Pensioners who have enjoyed the facilities at Woodhouse Close Church Community Centre, in Bishop Auckland, are celebrating after an announcement today
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Home closure protest dropped
A RESIDENTIAL home at the centre of a judicial review is to close after campaigners withdrew their challenge. Relatives of residents living in Stoneleigh Nursing Home, Barnard Castle, were scheduled to clash with Durham County Council today over the proposed
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Camera focus on bikers
YOUNG bikers who turn village paths and greens into muddy tracks could be the unwilling stars of police videos. Officers in Evenwood will be filming quad bike and motorcycle riders as young as seven who residents say are causing a nuisance. Culprits face
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Boost for police numbers
ANOTHER 43 policemen are joining the beat across Teesside as the result of restructuring. They will join Cleveland Police community policing teams during the coming financial year. The shake-up will also produce two new five-strong task force teams in
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News in brief: School ban for burger van
A burger van has been ordered to move from outside Longfield Comprehensive School, in Darlington, after the borough council received complaints about sales of food to pupils during school hours. A council spokesman said the van operator had not been given
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1960s shocker takes to stage
THIRTY years after the original film shocked 1960s cinema-goers, Anthony Burgess' violent tale A Clockwork Orange is being staged in County Durham next week. The Snap Theatre Company is taking its all-female version of the controversial classic to the
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Grassroots: Derwentside
BLANCHLAND WALKS: An eight-mile over Warlaw Fell and Blanchland Moor will be led by Maurice Holliday, at 10am tomorrow, from the main car park in Blanchland. A nine-mile walk will be led by Mr Holliday from 10.30am on Wednesday, from the Baybridge picnic
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Health advice for Chinese
THE Chinese community in Sedgefield are having their questions on heart disease answered by specialist nurses from the primary care trust. Leaders from the borough's 230 Chinese residents have linked up with the trust's public involvement manager Heather
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Chance to try out sports at festival
CHILDREN as young as five will have the chance to try their hand at tag rugby and netball in a new sports festival. The Inter District Festival, which is being held at Blakeston School in Junction Road, Stockton, on Saturday, April 5, is aimed at Stockton
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Bright idea on show
A MACHINE made of brass, steel cogs and cat gut that became the father of the modern lighthouse system is to return to its North-East roots after nearly a century. The mechanism, the first lighthouse device in the world to use an alternating electric
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Burglars gather haul in wheelchair
THIEVES used a disabled pensioner's wheelchair as a shopping trolley, filling it with items as they ransacked her home. The burglars struck at the bungalow in Marx Crescent, South Stanley, County Durham, while the 80-year-old woman was asleep. They stood
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Towering tribute to police HQ architects
A police radio mast has joined the ranks of the country's historic buildings. The 150ft concrete tower at the headquarters of the County Durham force has been given Grade II Listed Building status. It is one of seven post-war communications structures
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John North - A world away from liver salts
DAVID MacBeth, among the best remembered voices from the early days of Tyne Tees Television, is to sing with a 35-piece orchestra again. "I'm looking forward to it immensely," says the 68-year-old who had a top 20 hit whilst simultaneously selling Andrew's
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News from the Guilds and WIs
Merry Oaks WI: The March meeting was the 35th birthday party with a buffet supper followed by musical entertainment from the Reminiscence Group of Singers. Mary Redford cut the birthday cake. The programme of speakers, outings and special events was presented
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Step back to Saxon times
MUSEUM visitors are being invited to step back in time to see a familiar street in Anglo-Saxon times. An exhibition by Durham University students entitled Saddler Street: An Anglo-Saxon Soap Opera, opened at the Old Fulling Museum of Archaeology, in Durham
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Joy and heartbreak of life in the New World
Whatever happened to Jonathan Moscrop? For the past three months, readers of Echo Memories on both sides of the world have been folwing his diary of his 1879 voyage from Darlington to Dunedin in New Zealand. This is waht became of him and the Matthews
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El Karkouri wants permanent deal
MOROCCAN defender Talal El Karkouri has admitted that his friends thought he was mad to join Sunderland. Yet El Karkouri, signed on loan from Paris St. Germain by sacked manager Howard Wilkinson just before the transfer window closed in January, has revealed
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Fairytale wedding really was only make=believe
IT was the kind of special day every bride dreams of - even down to the pre-wedding nerves. But when Caitlin Lodge and Morgan White walked down the aisle, it was only make-believe. Parents and friends dressed for the occasion as the two four-year-olds
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Pupils vaccinated in mumps scare
MORE than 1,000 students have been offered the MMR vaccine after a case of mumps was confirmed at a Darlington college. Public health officials are awaiting laboratory test results on 11 other possible cases among teenagers at the Queen Elizabeth Sixth
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Pupils spend time thinking about health
PUPILS at a Darlington school took part in a series of healthy living workshops. Hurworth Comprehensive School held its third annual social, moral, spiritual and cultural day for Year 8 students. The event took the form of workshops to stretch the mind
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Council employs horse power to clear woodland
A COUNCIL has returned to its roots in an attempt to clear a woodland area. Darlington Borough Council is using horses to pull felled trees out of the wooded areas on Edinburgh Drive. As part of its on-going woodland management project, the council has
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Flight of fear
A CONSETT man has told how his flight home became a terrifying ordeal, after the plane caught fire and the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing. The British Airways service from Birmingham to Newcastle, had only been in the air for a matter of
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Parking change angers residents
PROPOSALS for a pay and display scheme in a residential area has angered residents, who say it flies in the face of consultation. People living near Claypath in Durham City say residents-only parking was introduced to Renny Street, Ellis Leazes, Kepier
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Instant action for Michael
TWO weeks after becoming a Royal Marine Commando, a 22-year-old has been sent to Iraq. Michael Graham received his coveted Green Beret last month. His family now believe he is near Basra, but do not expect to hear from him again until the war is over.
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Barratt on course for 11th success
HOUSEBUILDER Barratt Developments is on course for an 11th successive year of growth after posting record interim profits of £105.3m. The figure for the six months to December 31 represents an increase of 36 per cent on 2001 and comes after a buoyant
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Riverside opener in doubt
DURHAM could be without a fixture on the first day of cricket's National League programme following a warning by Scotland that they might withdraw from the competition. The Scots are due to make their debut in division two of the 45-overs-a-side competition
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I'm a cheque for charity, get me out of here
CHARITIES that benefited from a group of teachers being locked in detention were presented with their cheques yesterday. The group of nine teachers from Yarm Preparatory School, at Yarm, near Stockton, spent three nights locked in the school during the
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Bright idea on show
A MACHINE made of brass, steel cogs and cat gut that became the father of the modern lighthouse system is to return to its North-East roots after nearly a century. The mechanism, the first lighthouse device in the world to use an alternating electric
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BNP fights record number of seats
A RECORD number of candidates from the right-wing British National Party are to stand for election in North-East towns on May 1. Seven candidates will contest wards in Darlington and three are to stand in Stockton. It is the first time the BNP has put
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Mass 'die-in' demo planned
PEACE campaigners will stage a mass "die-in" outside one of the region's biggest shopping centres tonight, to mark the first week anniversary of the Iraq conflict. Tyneside Stop the War Coalition is mounting a vigil at the Monument, Grey Street, Newcastle
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Newell unlikely to make late additions
HARTLEPOOL UNITED are not expected to make any 11th hour signings on transfer deadline day today. The Third Division pacesetters are confident they have enough players within their title-chasing squad for the remaining seven games of the season. Assistant
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BA to cut jobs and services
BRITISH Airways is scaling back its services and accelerating its job reduction programme as the impact of the Iraqi conflict starts to bite. The airline said it planned to reduce capacity by four per cent in April and May through reduced frequencies
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Experts called in to promote case for N-E steel
ECONOMIC experts are to be called in to make a case for Teesside steel. The move to compile a business plan was made by worried Redcar and Cleveland councillors yesterday following a statement from debt-laden Corus steelmakers. Fears have grown among
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Message for front line: Yes!
A desperate search began yesterday for a soldier posted near the Iraqi border - because his girlfriend has accepted his marriage proposal. Caroline Nesbitt wept tears of joy when her brave boyfriend Adam Holmes, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, proposed to
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Legal or not? Debate opens
A FREE public debate on the legal position of war in Iraq will be held at a North-East university next month. Organisers at the University of Teesside are keen to point out it is not a pro or anti-war meeting. The seminar is entitled Iraq: A Lawyer's
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Child pricked by used needle
A FAMILY faces an agonising wait for HIV test results after a little girl pricked her hand on a hypodermic needle as she played near her home. Lauren Elizabeth Meale had to spend most of her fourth birthday in hospital undergoing health checks after falling
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Strongman contest is free
THOUSANDS of people will be able to watch England's Strongest Man contest free as this year's event moves outdoors. The event, which in only its third year is one of the biggest shows in the competitive calendar, will be held in a town park this weekend
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Viana returns to haunt Platt's England stars
ENGLAND UNDER-21 boss David Platt hopes his worst nightmare does not return to haunt him tomorrow night. Last May, Newcastle United's Hugo Viana tormented Platt's side in an embarrassing 3-1 victory for Portugal in a crucial European Championship clash
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Business couple accused of fraud
A COUPLE who hit the headlines when they fell victim to an expensive jewellery theft, have been accused of defrauding one of the country's biggest insurance companies. Susan and Michael Melton reported the theft of nearly £60,000 worth of jewellery from
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Vet Sasha earns national praise
DEDICATED vet Sasha Farr has been shortlisted in a national competition to find the Vet of the Year. Sasha, a senior vet at Wilson's Veterinary Surgery in Bishop Auckland, has been named as one of the three finalists in the Petplan Vet of the Year competition
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North fans may yet catch Ferry
ROXY Music star Bryan Ferry may yet play a gig in his native North-East - despite calling off a show on Tuesday with less than an hour to go. Fans from all over the country who travelled to see the Wearside-born singer were devastated when they arrived
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Wife criticises fine on accident firm
THE wife of a man paralysed from the neck down in a work accident says the £3,500 fine imposed on the company for breach of safety regulations is too lenient. Karen Dodds, whose husband Michael, 24, nearly lost his life when he stumbled to avoid falling
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Last Night's TV: Rehab (BBC2)
About as enjoyable as Bernard Manning WEDNESDAY is now officially gloom and doom night on BBC2, with dramas about child abuse and premature babies followed by a demanding drama about a bunch of drug addicts trying to get clean. At two hours, this was
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Abuse of health workers 'getting worse'
HUNDREDS of North-East health workers are abused and attacked every year - and the situation is getting worse, according to new figures. Reports of violence against NHS staff have risen by 13 per cent in the past two years, says the National Audit Office
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Bones ready to go...
GIANT BONES that lived their life deep in the Alaskan waters, endured an epic 7,000-mile journey to the region and spent several months buried within layers of manure are finally ready to go on show. The remarkable pair of whalebones will soon be taking
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Councils hit back in row over tax rises
LOCAL authorities have hit back at Government condemnation of excessive council tax rises. Figures released by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister show that the average council tax per dwelling will rise by £100 from next month to £908. The average
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Police seek clues as man fights for life
A MAN is fighting for his life after sustaining serious head injuries in a late-night incident. The 60-year-old married man, who has not been named, was found unconscious only yards from his home in Ivy Terrace, off Midhill Close, in Langley Park, near
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Musicians to compete for festival spot
MUSICAL groups from across the region will be converging on a school to compete for the chance to showcase their talents on the national stage. The Regional Festival of Music for Youth is to take place at Eaglescliffe School, Eaglesciffe, near Stockton
