Archive
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Treats in store for our boys in the gulf
A LORRY-LOAD of surprises is on its way to the Gulf from the wives of soldiers serving with the Queen's Dragoon Guards. After a frantic few weeks in the opening phase of the conflict in Iraq, the troops of the Welsh cavalry regiment, based at Catterick
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Can democracy take root in Iraq?
IT was the "big-tent" meeting that really did take place in a big tent. An air-conditioned one, in fact, at an airbase at Ur, birthplace of Abraham, near the southern city of Nasiriyah. Aiming to bring in delegates from all parts of the vast maelstrom
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Under starter's orders for charity race day
OUTSIZE jodhpurs and rival football mascots will be vying for glory at one of the most outrageous race meetings of the year. The first hobbyhorse charity event at Sedgefield Racecourse on Saturday, May 17, will include a colourful array of races never
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The Deer stalker
Weighing up which conditions suit which horses the best is the main consideration when it comes to assessing any race. One mile and one furlong on fast ground are ideal requirements for Mark Johnston's Desert Deer - and he can prove the point by taking
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Town trails plan takes new look at community's past
A £25,000 windfall will help a south Durham town celebrate its history. A series of town trails will be created around Bishop Auckland to encourage people to take in elements of the town's history. Bishop Auckland Community Partnership has been awarded
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Getting shellfish together
SCIENTISTS are about to starting a dating agency - for ageing and lovelorn shellfish. Freshwater pearl mussels once thrived in northern waters but their numbers are now dwindling, possibly because of illegal hunting for the precious stones they sometimes
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Windsor Castle set buzzing
The Queen was amused yesterday when a rival and a swarm of bees took on the British Army. A Royal beekeeper rushed to the rescue when a queen bee sent a buzz of excitement around Windsor Castle. An angry swarm colonised chairs (one pictured) set out in
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Mother's quest for race in memory of stable girl
A MOTHER is trying to raise more than £1,000 to stage a horse race in memory of her daughter, who was killed three years ago. Catherine Marr, 30, originally from the North-East, died when the driver of a car in which she was a passenger overtook a vehicle
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Museum gets its own caveman
VISITORS can come face to face with an ancestor from 20,000 years ago at a new museum exhibition. A member of North-East living history company Time Travellers has set up camp at the Hancock Museum, in Newcastle, for the next two weeks, taking visitors
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McClaren pleads with fans
Steve McClaren yesterday issued an appeal for fans to back Middlesbrough's ambitious plans to attract more top quality players in the summer and compete for trophies next season. The Boro manager has spent £35m reshaping the squad, but revealed he wants
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Blinking marvel
YOUNGSTERS can see the winking eye of the Gateshead Millennium Bridge in action over the Easter holidays. The bridge will tilt 12 times between tomorrow and Sunday, April 27. It uses a mechanism to open, turning on pivots on both sides of the river to
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Big names in music line up for holiday festival
SOME of the biggest names in dance music will have Tyneside bouncing in a major music festival starting this weekend. DJ Pete Tong and chart band Moloko head a bill of dance music stars and DJs, as well as indie favourites the Inspiral Carpets and reggae
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Work begins on renovation of defences
WAR historians will be able to check on the progress of work to restore former shoreline defences to their former glory. The Heugh Battery, on the Headland at Hartlepool, fired the first shots of the First World War from the British coastline during a
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Nutter' threat to Bell and daughter
NORTH-EAST child killer Mary Bell and her daughter should have lifelong anonymity because of the "nutter factor", the High Court was told yesterday. Christopher Knox, counsel for the daughter, who will be 19 next month, said that there was an alarming
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Thousands flock to retail park
A retail park has attracted about 61,000 shoppers - far more than expected - in its first four trading days. Dalton Park, at Murton, east Durham, which was opened by celebrity Tara Palmer-Tomkinson last Thursday, has drawn crowds of up to 17,000 shoppers
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Refuse collection fines bring angry protestations
HOMEOWNERS have criticised council officials after having fines imposed on them because they put out their rubbish too early. Darlington Borough Council has issued £50 fines to residents who leave their rubbish out more than 24 hours before collection
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Staff train to deal with Sars influx
HOSPITALS across the North are taking the precaution of training staff and ordering specialist equipment to deal with any influx of Sars cases. Dr David Chadwick, of the Infectious Diseases Department at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough,
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Cancer: Blame the Vikings
Vikings who invaded the northern shores of Britain 1,000 years ago may have left more than reminders of Scandinavian culture, scientists revealed last night. The raping and pillaging norsemen are thought to have planted faulty cancer genes in the population
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United get the better of Riverside starlets
MIDDLESBROUGH face an uphill struggle in their bid to lift the FA Youth Cup for the first time after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United last night. Over 8,000 turned out at the Riverside for the first leg of the final to witness Boro's young guns try to
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Police bid made for officers' funding
POLICE in County Durham could soon be getting back-up from community support officers. The force is seeking Home Office funding to put 27 of the new-style officers into three of its divisions. A team of ten has been operating in Darlington since January
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Author drops in to his local for launch
AUTHOR Jonathan Tulloch marked the launch of his latest novel at the weekend with a visit to his local bookstore in Thirsk. The event, at White Rose Books, involved Mr Tulloch, of Bagby, near Thirsk, reading excerpts from The Lottery. Set in Gateshead
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Scouts are given award for efforts
SIX Venture Scouts have been honoured by Redcar's Mayor for achieving the movement's highest award - the Queen's Scout award. The group includes four from the east Cleveland district - David Himsworth and Philip Williams from the 1st Loftus Ventures,
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Easter fun for all at farm
YOUNGSTERS are being invited to take part in a series of events celebrating Easter at a Teesside farm. A range of activities are on offer at Newham Grange Leisure Farm, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, during the Easter holidays. There will be a prize for
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Councillor quits the Labour Party
A stay-away councillor has quit the Labour Party. Keith Murray-Hetherington said he was tearing up his membership card in protest at the way fellow members had pursued his resignation from Durham County Council. Councillor Murray-Hetherington, who is
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Fire union votes for pay row peace talks
Further fire strikes could not be ruled out last night despite union leaders voting for a compromise in their bitter pay dispute. The 250 delegates of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) voted 2-1 to recommend proposals by Professor Frank Burchill, the independent
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Dutch assassin gets 18 years
The man who confessed to killing Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was jailed for 18 years yesterday for the first political assassination in the Netherlands since the Second World War. "All considered, a sentence of life imprisonment would not be appropriate
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Audrey proves the perfect foster mother
AUDREY the bull mastiff stepped in to save the day when she adopted 13 newborn puppies after their mother died while giving birth. Staff at Kensington Veterinary Surgery, in Bishop Auckland, faced the daunting task of having to hand- rear 13 dogue de
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Kicked into the 21st Century
Vintage TV puppet Muffin The Mule is to make a comeback for his 60th birthday - and will be kicked into the modern era. BBC chiefs have bought a new series based on the character, which is expected to be shown in the next three years. In the new shows
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Double derby woe for Bobby
NEWCASTLE United are facing up to the prospect of having both Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert ruled out of the derby with Sunderland. Bellamy's personal hearing for using foul and abusive language to referee Andy D'Urso after the defeat to Middlesbrough
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Curran poised for GMB
GMB Northern regional secretary Kevin Curran was last night poised to replace veteran John Edmonds as leader of one of the country's biggest unions. Mr Curran, 48, is expected to be announced later today as the victor in the race to become the GMB's general
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Mileson's acquisition
SELF-made entrepreneur and former four-minute miler Brooks Mileson yesterday completed the acquisition of LAB Medical and Legal Services for his Albany RTA group, of Peterlee. A seven-figure sum was involved. Mr Mileson had previously held 51 per cent
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Fewer exams hinted at
The door to fewer compulsory exams was opened by School Standards Minister David Miliband yesterday as he acknowledged that sixth formers faced "a lot of testing". Pupils in England take exams at seven, 11, 14, 16, 17 and 18 and the Government has faced
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Double derby woe for Bobby
NEWCASTLE United are facing up to the prospect of having both Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert ruled out of the derby with Sunderland. Bellamy's personal hearing for using foul and abusive language to referee Andy D'Urso after the defeat to Middlesbrough
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Somerfield approach hots up stores takeover fever
Takeover activity in the supermarket sector developed on a second front yesterday after it emerged that Somerfield had received a tentative approach. News of the interest from an unnamed party came as rival Safeway detailed the impact of a five-way bid
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Iraqis draw up a plan to rebuild the country
Free Iraqis last night drew up a 13-point plan to rebuild their country from the rubble of war and decades of totalitarian rule. The first tentative steps towards replacing the tyranny of Saddam Hussein with democracy were taken at a meeting in a desert
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Mo is Mrs Motivation
FORMER North-East MP Mo Mowlam is Britain's most motivational political figure. Labour's former MP for Redcar was more than twice as popular nationally than Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, according to a survey. The survey of UK businesses was conducted
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Help on offer at arthritis advice day
A SUPPORT group for arthritis sufferers is inviting people to an exercise class and information day as part of arthritis care awareness week. Wear Valley Arthritis Care meets at Crook Business Centre on the second Tuesday of each month, from 10.30am to
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Moor blaze
FIREFIGHTERS spent eight hours yesterday battling a large moorland fire at Grosmont, which started by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway line. Ten fire engines from across the county attended the 30-hectare blaze. A brigade spokesman said they were unable
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Thieving postman faces jail
A POSTMAN has been warned he is facing a prison sentence for tampering with mail. Moez Dardouri, 35, stole £15 from one of five packages he opened, which had been intended for delivery. Dardouri, who was employed by the Post Office for more than five
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Area may be used to try out latest anti-crime initiatives
TEESSIDE could lead the way in fighting crime with a range of initiatives designed to tackle drugs and the problems of truancy and unruly behaviour. Members of Cleveland Police Authority are to be asked if they want the area to become a pilot site for
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Band plays for appeal
A CHARITY appeal concert is to take place at a Pelton school next week. Chester-le-Street Riverside Band will perform with Roseberry Youth Connection on Thursday, at Roseberry Comprehensive School theatre in Pelton. The event, which begins at 7pm, will
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Husband cleared of raping lesbian wife
A husband was cleared yesterday of raping his lesbian wife who threw him out and moved in with her gay lover. The father of two, 38, from east Cleveland, who cannot be named for legal reasons,was found not guilty after a two-day trial at Teesside Crown
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Wave of beaches in awards success
TOURISM has received a boost with the announcement that 21 of the region's beaches have been granted a Seaside Award. In the North-East, nine resorts and three rural beaches will be flying blue and yellow flags, signifying clean sands and facilities in
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Staff want more bank holiday time
MORE than half the area's workforce is demanding extra bank holidays in line with Europe, according to a survey carried out by a Darlington recruitment firm. In the poll conducted by the Darlington office of LDS Recruitment, 63 per cent of employees felt
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Praise for pensioner who saw off thief
DETECTIVES are hoping the actions of a pensioner who refused to open her door to a trickster will serve as an example to others. Margaret Martin, of South Bank, near Middlesbrough, was targeted by a lone female who knocked on her door. The girl asked
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Payouts for women in sexual assault claim
A GROUP of women who accused one of the region's leading psychiatrists of sexual assault yesterday received thousands of pounds in an out-of-court settlement. The 16 women will each receive a share of a £300,000 payment agreed with the former Yorkshire
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Residents' anger over street work disturbing their sleep
RESIDENTS have called for curbs on overnight working by council contractors, which they claim deprives them of sleep. As part of a street enhancement scheme in North Road, Durham, work is carried out overnight to avoid disruption during busy daytime hours
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Last reminders of coal mining are washed away
THE chairman of English Nature has witnessed the transformation of the North-East coastline. One of Durham County's beaches was blighted by decades of mining but the £10m Turning the Tide project has changed that. A five-year clean-up has finally removed
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Heads roll as the daffodil destroyers strike yet again
SWAYING gently in the breeze, nodding their golden heads, caressed by the strong sunshine, the sight of fresh daffodils gladdens the heart at this time of the year. As one of the first flowers of the year, the appearance of daffs is a reliable pointer
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Mourners pay respects to crash victim
MOURNERS packed Westgate Methodist Church in Wear-dale on Monday for the funeral of Graeme Pears, 20, who died in a car accident earlier this month. Mr Pears, from Britton Hall, was born and brought up in Westgate. He was a pupil at St John's Primary
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Could you give Bambi a home?
BAMBI, a four-year-old cross-breed, is living with an RSPCA volunteer in Richmond, but needs a family to look after her. She was one of four dogs that came from the same owners who were unable to look after them and wanted the animals to be re-homed.
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Moped offer to be extended
A SCHEME providing transport so that youngsters living in rural areas can get to work has expanded its service. For a wear-and-tear fee of £2.50 a week, workers and job seekers in North Yorkshire have been using new mopeds as part of the Wheels2Work initiative
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Improved summer bus services
IMPROVED bus services on Sundays and bank holidays have been promised over the summer by Dalesbus. Service 805 provides connections from Hawes to Wharfedale, with buses leaving the Dales Countryside Museum, at Hawes, for Aysgarth, Buckden, Grassington
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Dealers praised for their honesty
DEALERS in second-hand goods across North Yorkshire have passed an undercover inspection mounted by trading standards officers to see if they were prepared to buy suspicious property. All nine second-hand shops put to the test passed with flying colours
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Broadcasters take to the air
TWO aspiring radio broadcasters have taken to the airwaves with Hartlepool's latest radio station. Suzanne Martin and Les Watts, both from Hartlepool, have joined the line-up at Pool FM 107.5 Sixteen-year-old Suzanne, who is studying for her GCSEs at
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Security stepped up to curb the vandals
SECURITY is being increased at a tourist attraction following a series of attacks by vandals. The Tees Cottage Pumping Station, in Darlington, has been attacked during recent weeks. Windows have been smashed, a fuel tank punctured and tyres slashed at
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Court hearings dealt with by magistrates
The following cases were heard by South Durham magistrates, sitting in Darlington. SOLDIER FINED: Darren Woods, 19, a soldier based at Helles Barracks, Catterick Garrison, pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and being drunk and disorderly following an
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A cut above . . .
A STYLIST has proved she is a cut above the rest after being one of ten in the country picked for a scholarship. Kirsty Wood, 31, from Saks in Chester-le-Street, has been picked by the national hair and beauty chain to join the group's first Art Team
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Funeral of pony and trap driver
THE family of the pony and trap driver killed in a hit-and-run incident are to bury their loved one tomorrow. Wayne Walker, 33, of Springwell Village, Washington, Wearside, died in a collision with a Honda Accord car on the A182 Washington Highway on
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Area may be used to try out latest anti-crime initiatives
TEESSIDE could lead the way in fighting crime with a range of initiatives designed to tackle drugs and the problems of truancy and unruly behaviour. Members of Cleveland Police Authority are to be asked if they want the area to become a pilot site for
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Judge rejects councillor's quarry ban claims
A JUDGE yesterday dismissed a councillor's claim that he was unlawfully banned from a meeting discussing the future of a North-East quarry. North Yorkshire Councillor Paul Richardson claimed he was barred from a key council meeting to discuss gravel and
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Walker Cup is Walker's aim
Former Durham County champion Richard Walker hopes to strengthen his chances of Walker Cup selection by successfully defending his German title in Cologne next week. Walker goes to Germany in a rich vein of form having won the Portuguese Amateur championship
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NON-LEAGUE
Spennymoor moved into second place in the UniBond League First Division after coming from behind to win at Workington last night. The home side took the lead after 12 minutes through Andy Johnson, but Moors got back into the game after 52 minutes when
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£1m plan for huge family fun centre
A PLAN to build a £1.1m indoor children's play centre - the biggest in the country - has been unveiled. Entrepreneurs Scott and Victoria Hilary are seeking planning permission to build the leisure facility at the former Thornaby Airfield site on Teesside
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Sandra and team go back in time
FORMER history teacher Sandra Charlton has compiled a fascinating insight into the life and times of her home town. It took Mrs Charlton and a small team of volunteers nearly three years to complete the task of producing Just Us 2000, a history of Wolsingham
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Pioneering minor surgery unit due for launch
TWO specialist GPs have been taken on in a pioneering move to improve public access to minor surgery and skin treatment. Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) has become one of the first in the country to employ doctors in the role. Tim Cunliffe, a GP at
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Bellamy to face court after -race insult' row
NEWCASTLE United star Craig Bellamy is to appear in court charged with a public order offence arising from an alleged racist incident. Officials from the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed last night that the £6m striker will appear in court sometime
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GNER to cut journey times
Rail company GNER has promised to slash train times after completing a £30m three year project to refurbish its high speed fleet. The East Coast Mainline operator says work to upgrade its fleet of 31 electric class 91 locomotives will "dramatically improve
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100 years of happy motoring
A CAVALCADE of classic cars is coming to the North as part of a celebration of 100 years of British motoring. Vauxhall is to recreate the 1,000-mile trial of 1900 with a range of cars to mark its centenary this year. They include the 1911 Prince Henry
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Monument adds weight to Mowden's Cup charge
DARLINGTON'S hopes of emulating Mowden Park's feat of a hat-trick of Durham Cup wins is under threat from their neighbours' greater strength in depth tonight. In a repeat of last year's final, which Darlington won 34-22, the teams clash in a delayed first
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Village may benefit from homes plan
A VILLAGE is likely to receive thousands of pounds for improvements if a housing estate is built. Developers want to build on Hadley's industrial site, in Middleton St George. Because it is a brownfield site it is anticipated to be granted planning permission
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Garages' green fuel pumps are accurate'
CHECKS have revealed that garages selling a greener vehicle fuel are not conning motorists. Durham County Council's consumer services department carried out checks on 17 dispensers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the county. All were found to be within
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Caught in a trap, but Elvis is back
BRAVE cat Elvis managed to drag himself into the backyard of an animal lover's home after his leg was caught in a metal trap. He was found in an extremely distressed state with the trap - which would have weighed the same as his body - still attached
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Director takes up university challenge
A CONSORTIUM of North-East universities is stepping up its efforts to increase the number of people going into higher education, with the appointment of its first executive director. Helen Pickering, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Teesside
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Council leader denies he has been voted out
A COUNCIL leader had denied he has been ousted following a row about an alleged breach of election rules. Councillor Ivor Morgan, chairman of Thornaby Town Council, insists he is still the elected leader. But a full council meeting this week, held in
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No gamble on better tests
DESPITE the fact that cervical cancer tests save lives, many women still find the examinations too traumatic and gamble with their own health. It is, therefore, vital that the tests are made more accurate and less of an ordeal, so more women are encouraged
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Hotel owner seeks 36-room extension
A BUDGET hotel at Teesside International Airport is hoping to double in size, under new plans. An application has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council for a 36-bedroom extension to the Stanwick House Hotel. The hotel, which used to be the crew
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Fish returning to their home lake
DOZENS of fish will be returned to their home waters today after a year's absence - and they could be forgiven for failing to recognise their surroundings. As well as repairing the surface of the lake at Newcastle's Leazes Park, workers have transformed
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Man sold illegal fireworks from home
A MAN who illegally sold fireworks to customers from the open kitchen window of his home appeared in court yesterday. Teesside magistrates were told how a team from Middlesbrough Council's trading standards department saw Michael Waite supplying constant
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YOUNGSTERS CLOWN ABOUT while getting fit for fun-run
CHILDREN have the chance to clown about and get fit at the same time during a family fun-run next month. The run and fun day has been organised by Sure Start in east Cleveland, and will be on Sunday, May 18, from 11am to 3pm. Yesterday Jan Croudace, of
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Don't panic' over flu killer
SENIOR public health doctors are urging people not to panic after it was revealed that suspected cases of the Sars virus are being investigated in the region. Dr Vivien Hollyoak, a specialist from Health Protection Agency North-East, said no probable
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Police wait to interview knife attack victims
DETECTIVES hope to interview two victims of a knife incident soon. The men, aged 28 and 25, suffered severe slash wounds when they were attacked by a knifeman outside Club Etc in Bede Way, Peterlee, County Durham, early on Monday. Both lost large quantities
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Steel pipe crushes workman
A WORKMAN was crushed to death by a steel pipe yesterday. David Applegarth, 39, was loading a lorry at Finley Structures, on the Newton Aycliffe industrial estate, County Durham, when the accident happened at about 6.15am. Mr Applegarth, of Crosby Street
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Club first to sign up to scheme
AN after-school club in Stockton has become the first in Teesside to join a new national network of clubs for 11 to 16-year-olds. Grangefield Study Centre offers children the opportunity to improve their maths, English and general study skills outside
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DEGREE FOR DENNIS AT 77
GRANDFATHER Dennis Wilson is proof that you are never too old to learn. When he retired six years ago, the Hartlepool pensioner had no intention of taking things easy. At the age of 77, he now has a Bachelor of Science degree and is studying for other
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Would you really want to know when you die?
SO now they can tell you how you will die - but do we really want to know? Gene research is now so advanced that for £600 you can now get a genetic reading on what the future holds. Like palm reading, only more reliable and not so much fun, it can pinpoint
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Pool on USA trip
Hartlepool United's new youth coach Paul Stephenson is on international duty with his new charges this week. The midfielder is ending his playing career after recently being appointed assistant youth team coach at Victoria Park and is currently in charge
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Gifts are sent to soldier in the Gulf
STAFF at a County Durham care home have rallied round to support a colleague's son in the Gulf. Workers and residents at Stansfield House, Stanley, have collected goods to send to Sergeant Craig Wattam, who is serving in the Royal Artillery in Basra.
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Would you really want to know when you die?
SO now they can tell you how you will die - but do we really want to know? Gene research is now so advanced that for £600 you can now get a genetic reading on what the future holds. Like palm reading, only more reliable and not so much fun, it can pinpoint
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Date
Gifts are sent to soldier in the Gulf
STAFF at a County Durham care home have rallied round to support a colleague's son in the Gulf. Workers and residents at Stansfield House, Stanley, have collected goods to send to Sergeant Craig Wattam, who is serving in the Royal Artillery in Basra.
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Farmers promised animal disposal help
The Government said yesterday it would initially adopt a "light-touch approach" to new regulations banning the burial and burning of dead livestock on farms. New European regulations come into force on May 1 preventing farmers from disposing of fallen
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The Deer stalker
Weighing up which conditions suit which horses the best is the main consideration when it comes to assessing any race. One mile and one furlong on fast ground are ideal requirements for Mark Johnston's Desert Deer - and he can prove the point by taking
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Refuse collection fines bring angry protestations
HOMEOWNERS have criticised council officials after having fines imposed on them because they put out their rubbish too early. Darlington Borough Council has issued £50 fines to residents who leave their rubbish out more than 24 hours before collection
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Steel plant's new chief forecasts prosperous future
THE man who has saved a crisis-hit North-East steelworks from the industrial scrapheap yesterday pledged a bright new dawn for the 140-year-old plant and its workers. Businessman Les Graham, whose Tyneside company has bought Weardale Steel at Wolsingham
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Corbett a cut above, Maddison
Midfielder Neil Maddison has hailed Darlington loan star Jim Corbett and believes the Blackburn Rovers striker is a class above in the Third Division. The 22-year-old has made an instant impact with the club since arriving at the start of March. And despite
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Funding helps children in class
A FUNDRAISING event has helped two Ferryhill children improve their quality of life at school. Ferryhill Rosebank Special School applied for a grant from Just for Kids, Metro Radio and Magic 1152's children's charity campaign, to help buy specialist chairs
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Race to free 30 entombed by Saddam
FRANTIC Iraqi's were last night battling a race against time after discovering up to 30 people cemented in to an underground vault by Saddam Hussein. The find, made a day ago in Amara, eastern Iraq, has seen hundreds of local men trying desperately to
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Monument adds weight to Mowden's Cup charge
DARLINGTON'S hopes of emulating Mowden Park's feat of a hat-trick of Durham Cup wins is under threat from their neighbours' greater strength in depth tonight. In a repeat of last year's final, which Darlington won 34-22, the teams clash in a delayed first
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Market report
LONDON'S benchmark FTSE 100 Index moved closer to the 4000 barrier after taking a positive lead from trading in New York. Blue-chip shares were initially driven higher by overnight gains across the Atlantic and eventually ended the day ahead by 67.4 points
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Enron sale safeguards jobs
HUNDREDS of jobs have been saved and many more may be brought to the region after a buyer was found for a major Teesside energy company. Enron Teesside Operations Limited (ETOL) was yesterday bought by Singapore energy company SembCorp Utilities for £83m
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Mourners pay respects to Marine
Hundreds of mourners gathered today to pay their last respects to a Royal Marine killed in Iraq. Christopher Maddison, 24, was killed after being ambushed on a river patrol on the Al Faw peninsular near Basra last month. Today's service at St Mary's Church
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Blighted lives of burglar's victims
AN 81-YEAR-old disabled woman whose home was ransacked as she slept has had her life blighted by the crime, a court was told. A second elderly woman was also left nervous after confronting a burglar at a Darlington charity centre where she worked. Yesterday
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Inquest verdict on Heartbeat car driver
A MAN who died while transporting a vintage car used in the ITV1 series Heartbeat was seen slumped over his steering wheel seconds before he crashed, an inquest heard. John Norton Harrison, 63, died six months ago from the injuries he sustained when his
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Council solicitor takes up chairman's reins
SEDGEFIELD Borough Council solicitor Dennis Hall has been appointed chairman of the Law Society Local Government group. Mr Hall, who has been with the council since 1983, was born in Stockton, where he attended Grangefield Grammar School and Stockton
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Mansion statues damaged after thieves' raid is foiled
irreplaceable statues at a North-East country mansion have been vandalised beyond repair. The three figures at the Grade II star-listed Lartington Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, had their heads removed and taken away. A large vase was also
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Villagers rally round to restore war memorial
VILLAGERS aged from 16 to 60 in Witton Gilbert, near Durham, rallied round when it was decided the cenotaph in Sacriston Lane was in need of restoration. Fearing it would deteriorate further if they waited and went through the proper council channels,
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Gone for £16,450 - a 19th Century fiver
A 19th Century £5 note from the North-East was sold for more than £16,000 at auction yesterday. A Newcastle branch of the Bank of England opened in April 1828 and notes were issued from there until the start of the Second World War. A spokesman for auctioneers
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Rape charge
A 34-YEAR-old man appeared in Teesside Crown Court yesterday charged with the rape of an 87-year-old Redcar woman 14 years ago. David Grady, of The Wynd, Marske, made a brief appearance in court and spoke only to confirm his name. Mr Grady is also facing
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Riding the length of Britain for charity cash
A CYCLIST is gearing up for a journey from Land's End to John O'Groats. Stuart Hurst, from Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, aims to cycle the length of Britain to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. He will begin his journey tomorrow from Land's End
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Requiem Mass in honour of Margaret
ONE of Ferryhill's oldest residents has died just short of her 101st birthday. Margaret Bowtell lived in her home in Barrington Terrace for more than 65 years, until her death on Friday. Born in Tudhoe, Spennymoor, in 1902, Mrs Bowtell moved to Ferryhill
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Pupils send out safety message
CHILDREN hope to make the streets of their neighbourhood safer by helping produce a road safety leaflet. Pupils at Howden-le-Wear Primary School have provided the artwork for a pamphlet to be distributed to homes in the village. Durham County Council's
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Owners fined £50 after dogs foul streets
FIVE people have been fined £50 for allowing their dogs to foul the streets and parks of Darlington. The on-the-spot fixed penalty notices were issued by the borough council's team of uniformed wardens as part of a continuing crackdown on litter louts
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Board meetings end in celebration
A GROUP of youngsters have won their campaign for a skate park. The youngsters, from Whitby, have claimed victory after meetings with local councillors and education officers. Following the meetings, it has been agreed that a skateboard centre will be
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Banned motorist fled from police
A 30-YEAR-OLD man with 20 previous convictions for driving while disqualified was jailed yesterday after admitting more motoring offences. Teesside Crown Court was told that Wayne Johnson, of Edgemore Road, Darlington, had a string of motoring convictions
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Man accused of taking vehicle
A NORTH-East teenager has appeared in court accused of taking a car without consent and other driving offences. Philip Kelly, 18, of Hundens Lane, Darlington, is accused of taking the Ford Focus on March 6. The car was involved in an accident involving
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Charges dropped in gipsy trial
THE trial of National Gipsy Council president Hughie Smith and his nephew Charlie Smith - charged after police were called to a travellers' site they run in Knaresborough - came to a dramatic halt yesterday with a question mark hanging over North Yorkshire
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£1m plan for huge family fun centre
A PLAN to build a £1.1m indoor children's play centre - the biggest in the country - has been unveiled. Entrepreneurs Scott and Victoria Hilary are seeking planning permission to build the leisure facility at the former Thornaby Airfield site on Teesside
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Thugs rob youngsters
A GROUP of school friends have been robbed by three older youths. The five friends, aged 14 and 15, had a mobile phone, a camera and a video camera stolen in Woodcock Woods, Flatts Lane, Normanby, near Middlesbrough. The boy whose phone and camera were
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Banned motorist fled from police
A 30-YEAR-OLD man with 20 previous convictions for driving while disqualified was jailed yesterday after admitting more motoring offences. Teesside Crown Court was told that Wayne Johnson, of Edgemore Road, Darlington, had a string of motoring convictions
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Drinkers help egg collection
PUB regulars have had a cracking collection of Easter eggs. Drinkers at The Glittering Star in Darlington were encouraged by relief manager Peter Humble to donate 109 eggs to The Eggstravaganza Appeal. The appeal asked people in Darlington to buy an additional
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Storytime favourite in school visit
LITERATURE came to life for a group of Darlington schoolchildren when they met one of their favourite characters. Pupils at Polam Hall junior school enjoyed a visit from Willy Wonka, created by children's writer Roald Dahl, as part of the school's Book
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Drivers offered help with parking in town
MOTORISTS will be given more information about available parking spaces in Darlington this Easter. A £160,000 variable messaging system, which aims to reduce traffic congestion and queues for car parks, has been installed in the town. Five signs on the
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Rival fans in football event
FOOTBALL rivalries will be played out by colleagues from a store group's distribution depot at a charity fun event on Saturday. A team of Sunderland-supporting Asda staff play a challenge match against Newcastle United fans from the workforce at the depot
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Two-year feud led to struggle with neighbour
A NEIGHBOURHOOD feud ended in a struggle after a householder entered his neighbour's home and threatened violence, a court was told yesterday. Keith Cooper, 46, of Marrick Avenue, Darlington, entered the home of his neighbour, David Pigg, through the
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trip back in time for priory visitors
FIFTY years have passed since Mount Grace Priory was first opened to the public - and to celebrate staff have returned to those unsophisticated times, with 1950s-style ticket machines. The 600-year-old Carthusian monastery, near Northallerton, was once
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Residents say farewell to nursing home
Elderly residents who challenged a council decision to close their home through a judicial review have said a final goodbye to their surroundings. The last resident at Stoneleigh Nursing Home in Barnard Castle moved out this week leaving the way open
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Inquisitive foal rescued by firefighters
A WEEK-OLD foal had to rescued by firefighters yesterday after it fell over a river bank. The foal was with other horses in a field on the Thornaby side of the River Tees behind Preston Hall Museum, near Stockton. It is thought he had gone to explore
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Horror as -treatable' people are helped to die
The Government is abdicating its responsibilities towards vulnerable members of society by failing to implement laws on assisted suicide, it was claimed yesterday. The Voluntary Euthanasia Society said that by not introducing legislation, it was "inevitable
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Pipeline sets a green precedent
A pipeline has been commissioned making a direct connection to a treatment works and boosting Tees Valley environment and business. The £200,000 "green vein" pipeline is carrying liquid waste from Vopak Teesside on the north bank of the River Tees at
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Police sergeant's Cup Final honour
A POLICEMAN who hit the headlines when he ran the line at a Premiership clash while on the sick is to round off the season by officiating in the FA Cup Final. Sergeant Nigel Miller has been chosen as one of the two linesmen in the showpiece occasion next
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Dinky toy sold for world record price
A Dinky toy lorry achieved a world record price when it was sold by Teesside Auction house Vectis for £12,000 including commission. The maroon eight wheeled Foden chain lorry made in the early 1950's would have originally cost 19/6d - nineteen shillings
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Murdered PC's son a hero just like his dad
The policeman son of murdered PC Keith Blakelock has been officially honoured by his North-East force for bravely tackling a knifeman. PC Lee Blakelock had "followed in his father's footsteps", his proud mother said last night. Lee received a commendation
