Archive
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Impartial wisdom of first town clerk
Echo Memories delves into the political turmoil of the late 1860s and manoeuvreings to break the stranglehold on Darlington held by the Pease and Backhouse families THE late 1860s made up the most torrid period in Darlington's political history. After
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Police tackle rogue builders
CLEVELAND police are cracking down on cowboy builders after a number of pensioners have been duped. Langbaurgh police revealed that three lone pensioners have been targeted by con men in the last four weeks. The bogus builders have offered to carry out
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Grand designs for the people in glasshouses
Echo Memories makes the connection between a Victorian villa and a thermometer landmark for rail travellers; plus more on the secret Second World War sites that fooled the German Luftwaffe. FOR decades, train travellers knew that they had reached Darlington
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Nightclub gets second chance
POLICE have withdrawn opposition to a new nightclub in Chester-le-Street. Plans to build a nightclub and cafZ bar on the site of a derelict bingo hall at South Burns, near the town centre, were originally knocked back by councillors at a planning meeting
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Millionaire cabbie reunited with 'lost' son
Cabbie Bob Frazer, who scooped more than £14m on the National Lottery, was last night re-united with his son. He met son Alan in London for the first time in five years after publicly promising to make him a millionaire too. Bob, 58, of Heaton, Newcastle
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Rookie police march into history
ROOKIE police made history last week when they staged the North's last ever passing out parade. The military-style parade is being scrapped in favour of a degree-style graduation ceremony, which chief constables in the north believe is more in keeping
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No soft option for teen thugs
FOR months, Claire Richards and her friend, Joanne Mafham, ran wild among the traders and shoppers of Darlington. Their confidence grew as their behaviour remained unchecked. Anti-social acts such as shouting abuse at security guards and shopkeepers escalated
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Home at last for a war hero
Every year, people in East Anglia commemorate the sacrifice of a County Durham soldier in the First World War. Now, nearly 90 years after his death, the hero's only surviving relative has discovered his remarkable story. Dan Jenkins reports. WHEN Thomas
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Bats force water firm to alter plan
A COLONY of bats nesting in a disused cottage forced one of the region's water companies to alter part of its £7m flood defence scheme. The protected species had been found nesting close to where Yorkshire Water was carrying out embankment improvements
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Alarm grows as BNP says: We'll triumph
FRESH warnings were issued last night about the need to stop far-right extremists from making their first major electoral breakthrough in the North-East. The warnings came as British National Party leader Nick Griffin visited the North-East yesterday
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No bridge too far for the unicyclist who's looking for challenges
FOR some people, being at the top of Teesside's Transporter Bridge would be enough to turn the stomach - even if you were standing still. But adrenaline junkie Kris Holm yesterday rode along the bridge on a unicycle. He described the 225ft-high landmark
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Walk back on track
A WORLD record breaking attempt that looked like it was going to the dogs has been saved at the 11th hour. Organisers of the Great North Dog Walk, which aims to bring the record for the world's largest dog walk back to the North-East, were about to pull
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Music centre scheme back on the agenda
PLANS to transform a disused music centre into a vibrant music academy are set to come alive if the council gives the go ahead. Darlington businessman David Cox wants to revive the Borough Road Music Centre, behind the Civic Theatre, and turn it into
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Bond anniversary celebration brings record numbers to centre
HIS name is Bond, James Bond, and his exploits have made billions and inspired a string of movies, songs and trivia quiz questions. Now the world's most famous secret agent is the subject of a month-long exhibition put together by a North-East film enthusiast
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Minster charge agreed to help raise £600,000
A LACK of voluntary donations has forced York Minster, one of the country's most popular and treasured tourist destinations, to introduce an entry fee. Despite attracting visitors from around the world, the Minster's voluntary donation system has failed
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ID line-ups go on computer
A NEW video suite that could speed up criminal investigations is to be created in Darlington police station. The hi-tech equipment, capable of staging an identification parade within two hours, is to be installed in the Darlington station as part of county-wide
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Quakers seek end to away-day blues
Darlington boss Mick Tait is backing his players to overcome their recent away-day jitters with victory at Bristol Rovers this weekend. Quakers have claimed just one win in their last 11 League trips and have recorded just one goal in their last six outings
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Figures shake-up sends crime soaring
CRIME has soared by almost a fifth in part of the North-East, according to new figures. But bosses at Northumbria Police say the rise, in Tyne and Wear, is down to a change in the way that crime is recorded. The number of reported offences in the force
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Bus stops rethink put before the public
IT could still be all change on the buses in Richmond, despite opposition to plans to relocate stops on the Market Place. A revamp of the town's roads originally included moving the bus bays from the town centre to Queen's Road. Traders with shops nearby
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'Walking bus' cuts school's car problem
PINT-SIZED pubgoers are helping to cut traffic danger outside their school by walking to classes from their local. More than half of the 89 pupils at St Chad's Primary, in Witton Park, head for the nearby Royal Hotel first thing in the morning and as
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Bid to outlaw cold callers
TRADING standards officials are backing moves to get cold callers banned after a survey showed people did not welcome them Last November, 15 trading standards authorities throughout the country, including Durham County Council, conducted a doorstep selling
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Henderson still haunted by miss
KEVIN Henderson admits he's had sleepless nights since Hartlepool United were promoted on Saturday. But his insomnia isn't from looking ahead to spending next season in Division Two, instead he is haunted by the miss which may prove so costly to Pool's
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ID line-ups go on computer
A NEW video suite that could speed up criminal investigations is to be created in Darlington police station. The hi-tech equipment, capable of staging an identification parade within two hours, is to be installed in the Darlington station as part of county-wide
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Balloon flies 1,500 miles
OFFICIALS thought a charity balloon race competitor was full of hot air when he returned a reply slip - 19 months after the closing date. But then they realised the helium filled balloon had been on its travels trapped in the Jet Stream for more than
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Origin of Maiden's Arbour is lost in the mists of time
The street of Gilesgate is a continuation of Claypath, which leaves the market place on Durham's peninsula by a route that does not require the crossing of the River Wear. Claypath and Gilesgate are built on a long climbing ridge that overlooks the valley
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Soprano's award while ill in Korean hospital
DESPITE being seriously ill in a North Korean hospital, opera singer Suzannah Clarke came out top in an International Friendship Festival held in the country. The soprano, from Normanby, near Middlesbrough, competed against 1,000 people to take the gold
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Football clubs mark death of young referee
A MINUTE'S silence was held at all Northern League games at the weekend in honour of a league referee who died of a heart condition earlier this month aged just 37 years. Father-of-two John Challoner refereed his first game at St James' Park less than
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College imposes Sars quarantine
FORTY-TWO girls joined their headteacher in quarantine at a college yesterday as a precaution against the Sars virus. The students, all returning to North Yorkshire's Harrogate Ladies College from Easter breaks in the Far East, were met by Dr Margaret
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Police bid for back-up
POLICE in County Durham could soon be getting back-up from community support officers. The force is seeking Home Office funding to put 27 new-style law-enforcers into three of its divisions. A team of ten community support officers has been pounding the
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Bishop's ale and farewell
THE outgoing Bishop of Durham is giving away 500 bottles of his own 'Bishop's Brew' ale so that clerics around the county can raise a glass to his retirement. He has also signed and numbered ten of the specially designed labels carrying his own coat of
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Exhibition celebrates artist's life
THE life and talent of a County Durham artist who died last year are being celebrated in a vibrant exhibition of his work. The Man and His Mark, which is on show in the McGuinness Gallery at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, pays tribute to the late Ben Johnson
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Family fun race day
MASCOTS have been limbering up for a race with a difference next month. Sedgefield Racecourse will host a day of family fun activities to raise money for Butterwick Hospice Care. Among the events at the Butterwick Hospice Race Day, on Saturday, May 17
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School help retires
YOUNGSTERS from St Francis CoE Junior School, in Newton Aycliffe, pictured above, paid tribute to their favourite lunchtime supervisor who has been an important part of school life for 23 years. Dorothy Langley has seen generations of youngsters pass
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Mother's call over police speed
THE mother of a teenager who died when his car pulled into the path of a police car last night criticised official guidelines allowing patrol cars to break the speed limit. Karl Sutcliffe was thrown through the windscreen in the smash, which happened
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Funerals and two last requests
A GLOOMY note at Easter, but last week we attended two funerals, both for football men. Billy Bell was 71, carried from St Paul's church at Evenwood to the strains of Matt Monro singing Softly As I Leave You. John Challoner, just 37, was borne from an
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Cash windfall will highlight history and heritage
A £25,000 windfall will help a market town to celebrate its history and heritage. A series of town trails will be created around Bishop Auckland to encourage people to take an interest in the various elements of the town's history. Bishop Auckland Community
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Hundreds grieve for marine
TEARS were shed yesterday at the funeral of a Royal Marine who grew up in Guisborough and died fighting in the Gulf. Chris Maddison was described by his commanding officer as 'a tremendous man who gave everything in everything he did.' After a moving
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Comment: Vote to stop this evil threat
THE activities of the British National Party present a dilemma for newspapers. There is an argument that they should be ignored and denied the oxygen of publicity. The risk then is that public apathy allows a dangerous political party to sneak in through
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False alarm
Police received a number of calls after the burglar alarm at Heighington post office, County Durham, sounded on Wednesday at 8.30pm. It was found that a fault in the system had caused the problem.
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Successful start to postal votes trial
THOUSANDS of voters in Darlington have already taken part in the town's first all-postal elections. Ballot papers were posted to 76,000 residents in the borough on Monday, April 14, and so far 24,000 people have returned their votes. Darlington was chosen
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Tourism campaign launched
A MAJOR drive to show off the region's attractions to tourists began yesterday. The VisitEngland project aims to boost the flagging number of overseas tourists caused by the war with Iraq, as well as to showcase the region to people in the UK. A six-week
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Hunt for thief who tricked pensioner
POLICE are hunting a callous thief who tricked a pensioner into giving him £30 before stealing his car. The 82-year-old man returned to his Ford Fiesta, in the car park at Darlington Memorial Hospital, on Wednesday evening, to find a man standing next
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It's murder at the bar
LEISURE group Vimac has gained a foothold north of the border after the relaunch of its first venue in Scotland. The Boldon-based business, which also owns Durham nightspots Cafe Rock and DH1, along with the Crab Manor Hotel, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire
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Science labs bring lessons up to date
SCIENCE lessons are to be given a facelift thanks to a major building investment. Youngsters will be able to use the new, state-of-the art science laboratories at Bedale High School when they return after the Easter holidays. The purpose-built labs, which
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Video identity parades to speed up witness process
VIDEO suites are being installed in four County Durham police stations to speed up criminal investigations. The equipment will allow police to hold an identification parade within two hours of an investigation being launched. Durham Constabulary will
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Video identity parades to speed up witness process
VIDEO suites are being installed in four County Durham police stations to speed up criminal investigations. The equipment will allow police to hold an identification parade within two hours of an investigation being launched. Durham Constabulary will
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Fundraisers arrange floral demonstration
A BRANCH of a national cancer charity is inviting all-comers to a fundraising floral demonstration. Members of Cancer Research UK's Nevilles Cross committee, near Durham, promise an entertaining evening of flowers and fun, with a chance to win some of
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Guide Jungle Jenny offers virtual help
YOUNG visitors to Sunderland's Winter Gardens now have a virtual guide in the guise of Jungle Jenny. The inter-active CD-Rom character helps youngsters find out about plants in the ecological attraction. Cartoon plant explorer Jungle Jenny is based on
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Workshops are as smooth as silk
The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes has been full this week - which has meant a busy few days for Richmond artist Jill Clay. She has been leading seasonal silk-painting workshops for the past few years. She said: "It has been better than ever this week
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Cancer survivor boosts appeal
A WOMAN who survived breast cancer is raising cash to help others beat the disease. Fruit farmer Dotty Benson, from Lanchester, near Consett, was helped through her cancer by a Macmillan breast care specialist nurse, Antoinette Moffa. Mrs Benson, who
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Seasonal songs from the opera
REHEARSALS are nearing an end for Northallerton Operatic Society's latest production. Sing Something Seasonal opens at the Hambleton Forum, Northallerton, on Tuesday, April 29, and runs Wednesday, April 30, Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3, at 7.30pm
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Walk back on track
A WORLD record breaking attempt that looked like it was going to the dogs has been saved at the 11th hour. Organisers of the Great North Dog Walk, which aims to bring the record for the world's largest dog walk back to the North-East, were about to pull
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DIY shop plan looks likely to be refused
PLANS to change the use of a house in Eaglescliffe into a DIY shop look likely to be refused when councillors meet tomorrow. Members of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee will meet to discuss the plans for the property, which is located on
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News in brief: Experts meet for conference
EXPERTS from around the world are converging on Teesside in June for a three-day conference on the management and prevention of musculoskeletal conditions. The meeting is being hosted by the University of Teesside's school of health and social care. SCHOOL
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Park facelift
WORK got under way this week on a £30,000 restoration of a Darlington park. The Brinkburn Dene area of the town is being refurbished, with improved footpaths and facilities for visitors and local people. The work is being carried out by Darlington Borough
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Sewer collapse closes road
City of York Council has closed Carr Lane, York, to allow repairs to a collapsed sewer. The lane, between its junctions with Boroughbridge Road and Almsford Road, will reopen on Wednesday. During this period, a diversion will take motorists along Boroughbridge
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Pool's spiral slide unsafe
THE spiral slide at the Dolphin Centre swimming pool in Darlington has been shut after it was deemed unsafe. Experts examined the slide earlier this month during an inspection of the leisure centre. The slide, which was opened in 1986, failed a safety
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Police in drugs swoop
A MAN was arrested after an off-duty policewoman saw three people snorting lines of cocaine in a Darlington pub. The policewoman was in The Red Lion, in Priestgate, at 7.40pm on Wednesday, when she saw three people taking drugs in the main bar, in full
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Meditation advice
A DARLINGTON charity is celebrating 15 years of running meditation classes in the town. The Atisha Buddhist Centre, a registered charity in Milton Street, has been holding classes at the Darlington Arts Centre for 15 years. Organisers are holding a four-week
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Saint's day celebration
A TIMETABLE of events has been drawn up to mark St George's Day in Heighington. The free event, organised by local businesses and community groups, will be held on the village greens on Saturday, from noon. The festivities start with spit roasts. At 1.30pm
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Events to raise cash for new hall
A DALES community has launched a fundraising drive to pay for a village hall. A meeting was held in Wensley at the end of last year to find out what residents wanted for their community - and a versatile meeting place which could also be used by youngsters
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New director aims to drive project forward
EXCITING times lie ahead for a community resource centre as a new project director takes the helm. Robyn Holmes is looking forward to the challenge of steering the Four Clocks Centre in Bishop Auckland towards a vibrant future. The 39-year-old already
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Appeal for care over bottle bank
SHOPPERS are being asked to properly dispose of unwanted bottles after a gang of youths targeted a supermarket recycling area. The police were called after the youths were seen in the Asda car park in Whinbush Way, Darlington, on Wednesday, smashing bottles
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Horror attack on girl
A TEENAGER suffered a terrifying ordeal after a man leapt out at her from bushes and indecently assaulted her. The incident happened at about 9.15pm on Sunday as the 14-year-old was walking along Bishopton Road, in Stockton, near Newtown Methodist Church
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Ann's inspiration is just on her doorstep
FOR retired hairdresser Ann Flatman, painting the magnificent landscapes surrounding her dales home has become an obsession. Since she and her husband, Alan, a former miner, moved into a cottage above Frosterley, in Weardale, five years ago, she has found
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Downpor fails to dampen fun
SEDGEFIELD Community Association's Easter Monday picnic ended just in time to avoid a torrential downpour. But the storm left the village without power because of a fault in a main electricity cable. The picnic, in the grounds of Ceddesfeld Hall, was
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Scouts picked for top accolade
SIX Venture Scouts from the east Cleveland area are to be given the movement's highest awards. All six completed a series of projects ranging from expedition training to community involvement to be eligible for the Queen's Scout award. The six are: David
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News in brief: Police make attack appeal
Police are appealing for witnesses to an alleged assault at the McDonald's restaurant in Northgate, Darlington, on Wednesday. A 15-year-old boy said he was hit in the face with a bottle by a gang of four Asian youths in the restaurant at 6.30pm. Anyone
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News in brief: Police make attack appeal
Police are appealing for witnesses to an alleged assault at the McDonald's restaurant in Northgate, Darlington, on Wednesday. A 15-year-old boy said he was hit in the face with a bottle by a gang of four Asian youths in the restaurant at 6.30pm. Anyone
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Chance for young people to speak up
A NEW initiative, which aims to channel young people's energy into positive projects, is proving both popular and successful. Richmond YMCA was given a grant from the Local Network Fund for Children and Young People to launch Richmond Youth Focus. The
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Women's bail extended in death probe
TWO women have had their police bail extended as the investigation into the death of a 59-year-old man continues. Barrie Lee died following a late-night argument as he was on his way home from Langley Park Workingmen's Club, near Durham. Mr Lee, who had
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Another white-knuckle ride
CONTRA: SHATTERED SOLDIER Publisher: Konami Format: PS2 Price: £39.99 CONTRA needs no introduction to most of us. It's been around in one form or another since the dawn of console gaming on the NES. Continuing the non-stop excitement of the original NES
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Rail village given £2m cash boost
A £2m cash boost will help make sure generations of visitors will be transported back through time to the birth of the railway. Shildon Railway Village was awarded the money from the European Regional Development Fund last week bringing the total investment
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Quality award for a GP surgery
MEDICS in Spennymoor are celebrating their new Quality Practice Award from the Royal College of GPs. Dr Andrew Sanderson and his partners provide care for over 9,800 patients from their two surgeries Adan House, in St Andrew's Road, and Byers Green. Staff
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Messenger set to return with good tidings
GERARD BUTLER has found another ideal opportunity to keep the cash tills ringing with his fast-improving three-year-old gelding Jazz Messenger (3.15) at Beverley this afternoon. Based at Blewbury in Oxfordshire, Butler is fully aware he must often travel
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Worker is trapped in clinker fall
A MEMBER of staff cleaning up a redundant cement works was trapped for an hour yesterday afternoon when his arm was buried by falling clinker. Father-of-two Tony Birnie, from Ireshopeburn, in Weardale, was able to walk free from his ordeal at Lafarge
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Young dancer lands musical role
A TALENTED young dancer is following in the footsteps of Jude Law and Billy Elliott star Jamie Bell by landing a part in a major production. Alex Nicholson will appear in the musical show Orvin with the National Youth Music Theatre at the Stephen Joseph
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Care award for nurse
A NURSE has been presented with an award in recognition of the care and compassion with which she treats patients. Practice nurse Carol Broadhead, from Framwellgate Moor Surgery in Durham, was presented with Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust's
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Frenchman facing task of uniting a divided company
IT is thought that Philippe Varin first came to the attention of Corus bosses while negotiating a £543m deal for their aluminium business. Mr Varin, then senior executive vice-president at French-owned Pechiney, was in talks with the struggling steelmaker
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Pensioner sees off girl trickster
DETECTIVES are hoping the actions of a pensioner who refused to open her door to a trickster will serve as an inspiration to others. Margaret Martin, of South Bank, was targeted by a lone female who knocked on her door. The girl asked Mrs Martin if she
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Police seek robbers
POLICE have released an e-fit of the man who terrorised an Iranian family at knifepoint. The robber was one of a gang of three who held up an Iranian man, his pregnant wife and young child in Redcar on Friday night. The gang ran off with a small amount
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Bats pull the plug on bridge lighting
A SCHEME to floodlight the arches of a river bridge has been abandoned - because it would disturb a colony of bats. They are said by ecologists to use the arches as a maternity wing to give birth to their offsprings. A sum of £4,000 had been put aside
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Sheriff sworn in
THE new High Sheriff of North Yorkshire can safely claim to be a genuine high flyer. Air Commodore Simon Bostock became the first military man to hold the position when he was sworn in at a ceremony in York Crown Court. The retired RAF staff officer is
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Durham soldier starts officer career
SECOND Lieutenant Stuart Bartles-Smith of Sherburn Hill, Durham, has successfully commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers after a tough year of training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The 42-week course of intense fitness training,
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Tourism campaign launched
A MAJOR drive to show off the region's attractions to tourists began yesterday. The VisitEngland project aims to boost the flagging number of overseas tourists caused by the war with Iraq, as well as to showcase the region to people in the UK. A six-week
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Shuttle bus will reduce congestion
HOPES are high that the shuttle bus service launched as part of a drive to reduce congestion in Durham city centre will make its mark as the summer approaches. The Cathedral Bus runs between the city's coach and car parks, and bus and railway stations
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TV star enters pub lights row
FORMER breakfast TV celebrity Selina Scott has joined a planning dispute between her parents and a country pub owner. Charles and Betty Scott are fighting a decision by the landlord of the Moors Inn, in the North Yorkshire village of Appleton-le-Moors
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Three cheers for Alma
A SCHOOL supervisor has said goodbye to pupils after 25 years' service. Alma Kilgour has retired after a quarter of a century serving at Shotley Bridge Junior School, near Consett. She was guest of honour at the school's Easter party and judged an egg
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Mumps fear as schools open again
HEALTH chiefs in a North-East town are concerned there will be a rise in mumps cases after the school holidays. Since January, there have been 81 notified cases of the disease in Darlington and 14 of these have been laboratory confirmed. The majority
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24/04/03
COUNCIL TAX: HOW many candidates in the May 1 elections have raised the question of council tax? Have we any assurance that they will strive to achieve value for money, and that they will seek to restrict all further council tax increases in line with
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Prison officer critical after attack
A PRISON officer was critically ill in hospital last night after being punched in the face outside a pub. The 35-year-old man, who was off-duty, was out with his wife in Durham City when the incident happened on Tuesday night. The couple were enjoying
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Moors fire warnings
STEAM engines run by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway have been replaced by diesel locomotives to prevent fires on the moor. The steam engines running between Levisham and Goathland will be temporarily replaced. A spokesman for the railway said: "Due
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United head Kluivert hit-list
NEWCASTLE United could head the list of clubs keen to bring Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert to the Premiership in the summer. Sir Bobby Robson is a long-time admirer of the Holland hitman, who now looks certain to head out of the door at Camp Nou following
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Families join workers in rally
THERE was laughter amid the chants at the mass protests outside Corus' Redcar works. Tight family groups mingled with steelmen in work clothes and it was children with whistles who were making the most noise. This was no angry picket during a long-running
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Stuart clocks up miles for charity
A KEEN cyclist is embarking on a gruelling journey from Lands End to John O'Groats. Stuart Hurst, from Chester-le-Street, aims to cycle the length of Britain to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care. He will set off from the town this Thursday for Lands
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Major boost to develop town centre
ONE of the country's major retailers is demonstrating its commitment to Bishop Auckland by giving its town centre store a facelift. High street chemist Boots is transforming its Newgate Street premises with a multi-thousand pound refit over two weeks
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Run is sure way to fun
CHILDREN have the chance to clown around and get fit at the same time during a family fun run next month. The run and fun day for all the family has been organised by Sure Start for Sunday, May 18, from 11am to 3pm. Jan Croudace of Sure Start donned her
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Victims' group tackles isolation
A SUPPORT group for victims of domestic violence has been launched. The Bridges scheme, based in Stanley, aims to provide support and advice for women who have been mentally or physically abused in the home by husbands, boyfriends or partners. It hopes
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Council confident of securing station cash
MULTI-million pound plans to regenerate a deprived former mining town have moved a step closer. Derwentside District Council is bidding for £39m to fund its ten-year programme to turn around Stanley's fortunes. Urban Renaissance Programme bosses at regional
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Council gives thousands to music group
A DERWENTSIDE music co-operative that organises two major festivals will get more than £48,000 from Durham County Council. Northern Recording Ltd, in Delves Lane, is best known as organiser of the Stanley Blues Festival, which celebrated its tenth anniversary
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Region rid of cloth cap, whippet image
The North-East has finally nailed the myth about cloth caps and whippets, according to a new survey. British tourists no longer believe it is quite so grim up North. Indeed, they are more likely to see the region as vibrant and go-ahead. The research
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Dad At Large: The fringe benefits of being a goalie
IMAGE is everything when it comes to football. These days, it's more important to look good than play well. That's why Jack, aged nine, went to football training in a damp Arsenal strip and a sulk on Saturday. Mum, displaying alarming misjudgement, hadn't
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Echo Memories: Grand designs for the people in glasshouses
Echo Memories makes the connection between a Victorian villa and a thermometer landmark for rail travellers; plus more on the secret Second World War sites that fooled the German Luftwaffe. FOR decades, train travellers knew that they had reached Darlington
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Rail strike to cause minimal disruptions
TRAVELLERS in the North-East should be relatively unaffected by the latest in a series of rail strikes planned for next month. Services will be disrupted on the routes of 12 train companies on May 6, 7, 27 and 28, when members of the Rail, Maritime and
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There ain't no place for a place called No Place
THERE is no place for No Place in a new dictionary detailing the origins of place names in Britain. The tiny settlement near Stanley, County Durham, which has one of the strangest names in the country, does not feature in the Penguin Dictionary of British
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Police call on public for help
DARLINGTON police's newest detective chief inspector has called on people to help to fight crime. Andy Reddick, 44, has been promoted back to the Darlington station after spending two years at Durham Constabulary headquarters. He has worked for the Durham
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North-East top of arts chart
PEOPLE in the North-East are the nation's biggest culture vultures with their love of art, a poll revealed. They spend £29.6m each year buying original artistic works, and were the most frequent visitors to museums and galleries. Nine out of ten people
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Seats of justice come under the hammer
ANYONE who fancies sitting in judgement on their family and friends should be sure to be at an auction next week. Padded chairs from Northallerton Magistrates' Court are among the 800 lots at and antiques sale at Tennants of Leyburn, North Yorkshire.
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The fringe benefits of being a goalie
IMAGE is everything when it comes to football. These days, it's more important to look good than play well. That's why Jack, aged nine, went to football training in a damp Arsenal strip and a sulk on Saturday. Mum, displaying alarming misjudgement, hadn't
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Forest fun on offer
FUN-seeking youngsters can have an adventure of their own if they set off to find a bounty of hidden treasure in an ancient wood. The Easter adventure has been organised by the Forestry Commission, which is inviting young children and their families to
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Election line-up
THERE are 83 candidates standing for 50 seats in elections to Sedgefield Borough Council next month. For the first time ever the elections are being conducted by postal ballot. Forms must be returned to the council by May 1 and the count will take place
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Mother to daughter
A SCHOOL secretary, retiring after 32 years, is handing over her job to her daughter. Dorothy Phillips, 63, started at Corporation Road Infant School, Darlington, as an auxiliary in 1971. Two years later she was school secretary. Mrs Phillips said: "I
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Theatre will become haven for film buffs
DURHAM'S Gala Theatre will be showing the latest film releases. Next month the £14m venue, run by Durham City Council, will screen 35mm films in the large screen cinema where it currently shows large format films such as Sacred Journey, the history of
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Bid made for nude bathing
NATURISTS are making a bid to have beaches designated for nude bathing. But the move by a group of naturists at Cayton Bay and Knipe Point, has been vetoed by Scarborough Council and the parish council at Cayton, North Yorkshire. Parish council clerk
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Toy banned
Trading standards officers in the North-East have welcomed the news that a controversial toy which can cause strangulation has been banned. Officers around the region have warned parents of the dangers of Yo-balls, fluid-filled coloured plastic balls
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Town park set to be a tourist trap
THE people behind a £3.9m revamp of Darlington's South Park said it was set to be a thriving tourist spot in the years to come. Work to restore the park to its former Victorian glory will start later this month and council bosses are confident of making
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Recruit tackles crime
A CARDBOARD policeman has been recruited to help to tackle a rise in sneak-in burglaries. The life-size cut-out is not the desperate move of a cash-strapped force low on real bobbies. Senior officers hope the six replicas of crime prevention officer PC
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Bali anguish goes on, says mother
THE mother of Bali bomb victim Ian Findley has spoken of the six-months of torment she has endured grieving for her eldest son. It was six months ago last Saturday when two explosions ripped through the Kuta Beach tourist resort on the Indonesian island
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Bishop's ale and farewell
THE outgoing Bishop of Durham is giving away 500 bottles of his own 'Bishops Brew' ale so that clerics around the county can raise a glass to his retirement. He has also signed and numbered ten of the specially designed labels carrying his own coat of
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Ex-factory worker trains for dream job
AFTER 20 years as a factory worker, father-of-two Dave Metcalfe feared he had left it too late to switch careers. But his life was changed three years ago, when the closure of his workplace, the Rothmans plant at Spennymoor, left him free to go to university
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Who will stop this trial by media?
THE murder of popular TV presenter Jill Dando provoked a wave of revulsion and despair across Britain and an understandable desire for the killer to be caught. A jury subsequently decided Barry George was the killer, but I have to say I had my reservations
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Credit union saving service expands
DURHAM'S credit union will open a new collection point in the city centre next week. The collection point at St Nicholas Church, Market Place, will be open on Fridays between 12.30 and 2pm from Friday, May 2. It will be the Durham City and District Credit
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New home for Tricki-Woo
IN real-life they were among James Herriot's most engaging customers; endearing and infuriating in almost equal measure. The well-to-do Mrs Pumphrey and her impossibly cosseted pet Tricki-Woo were among the public's favourite characters in the books and
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Late flurry of wickets gives Durham hope
WHAT had threatened to be a dreadful first day of championship action for Durham at Taunton was turned around with the help of Marcus Trescothick. Other than a fighting 78 by skipper Jon Lewis - seven more than his top score last season - there was little
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Housewife receives demand for poll tax
HOUSEWIFE Kerry McElderry has received a poll tax demand - more than ten years after the controversial charge was scrapped. The 31-year-old mother-of-two got the bill for £343.31, stating she still owed North Tyneside Council cash from April 1990 - and
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Why Winona's had a really hard time of it
The Real Winona Ryder (C4); Desert Darlings (C4) SHE came, she stole, she left" was how a witness summed up two-time Oscar nominee Winona Ryder's shoplifting spree in Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills in December 2001. Her trial provided endless
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Sort rubbish, council warns
COUNCIL chiefs in Hambleton are getting tough on householders who send contaminated waste to compost sites. They have been conducting spot checks after several loads of green waste containing plastic sacks and other rubbish were nearly dumped. The local
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Sewage reeks, says parish
RESIDENTS are complaining that a sewerage works near their homes cannot cope with the number of people who live in the village. According to the parish council the increase in the number of houses in Middleton St George means the nearby sewerage works
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Departing boss was paid £1.4m
FORMER Telewest boss Adam Singer received compensation of £1.4m after quitting the debt-laden cable operator last year. Mr Singer, who left after the company's board called for a change in management style, enjoyed a £600,000 salary and a two-year notice
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Go now, boss told
THOUSANDS of angry steelworkers lay siege to Corus plants across Europe on Monday in the face of a renewed threat to their jobs. At the Corus steel plants at Redcar, Lackenby and Hartlepool hundreds gathered with symbolic red cards for chairman Sir Brian
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Community centre facing cash crisis
A COMMUNITY centre that has reopened after being gutted by fire is facing a financial crisis, because of a lack of interest from residents. Stanley Community Centre, in Tyne Road, Stanley, suffered about £750,000 of damage in a blaze in March last year
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Teenagers find place to shelter
YOUNGSTERS fed up of being moved on by police hope to have solved the problem - they have bought a youth shelter. The teenagers from Gilesgate, Durham, have spent the last two years raising £14,000 and on Friday, May 2, the shelter will be officially
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No legal move on Enron deaths
THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it will not prosecute power firm Enron over an explosion that killed three men. The families of the men who died at the Teesside power station at Wilton, near Redcar, in August 2001, were told the news
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Darlington to get a new shopping centre
A new multi-million pound shopping complex is to be built in Darlington town centre. The centre will replace the Queen Street Shopping Arcade, which was built in the 1960s. Details of the venture will be announced later today, and borough council officials
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Jobs will be safe, says developer
THE developer behind plans for a retail park says jobs will be created and safeguarded. Sunniside Properties and Mono Containers want to build on 100,000 sq ft of land in Dragon Lane, Dragonville, Durham. The development would feature stores selling bulky
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Refuge in doubt as plan rejected
A VETERINARY nurse could lose her home and be forced to close her animal sanctuary if a council decision is upheld. Wendy Lacy has been refused planning permission for her caravan on a seven-acre smallholding, where she cares for abandoned animals. Ms
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United effort to stamp out shop crime
POLICE and traders have teamed up to stamp out crime and anti-social behaviour in their town centre. Spennymoor Police are the first in the Sedgefield division to launch Shop Watch, an initiative similar to the Neighbourhood Watch scheme, in Spennymoor
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National award for health service team
A BONE fracture team has won national recognition for its work to improve patient care for the elderly. Services to prevent Darlington people suffering broken bones, and treating them when they have, are among the best in the country thanks to an overhaul
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Police launch operation to crack down on car crimes
POLICE have launched an operation in response to the hundreds of car break-ins in Darlington over the past two months. Operation Caraway aims to catch the hard-core of opportunist thieves who are targeting vehicles in the town. In this month alone there
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Parents warned over bike pests
PARENTS are being urged to check on their children's whereabouts after complaints about off-road bikers causing a nuisance. Police in Darlington received numerous calls over the Easter holidays about youths riding motorbikes on wasteground around the
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John North: The hard shell
An unseemly scramble for attention spoiled egg jarping expert Roy Simpson's slot on national television. FORMER ICI executive Roy Simpson, out to convince the world that egg jarping is everything it's cracked up to be, has been doing the hard shell on
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Nissan leaves its debts behind
CAR manufacturer Nissan has wiped out its debts after recording operating profits of £3.9bn for the past year. The figures represent a remarkable recovery for the Japanese car manufacturer, which has moved from the edge of bankruptcy, wiping out debts
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Youth play for charity
A concert will take place at Roseberry School in Pelton next week. Chester-le-Street Riverside Band will perform with Roseberry Youth Connection on Thursday, April 24, at 7pm to raise money for charity. Chairman of Chester-le-Street District Council Bill
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How the Major's show could run and run
WHY, oh why couldn't the dreadful Major Charles Ingram and his wife Diana have attempted to steal old ladies' handbags or snatch mobile phones from cars instead of trying to get their greedy hands on £1m from conning a quiz show? Then the judge may have
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Recruits sought for committee
ANYONE interested in monitoring the activities of county councillors can apply to become a member of the standards committee. A member of the standards committee would: * Promote good decision-making by members of the council. * Approve, monitor and provide
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Couple in pledge over failed firm
A HUSBAND and wife who were directors of an architectural ironmongers business that failed with estimated debts of £261,000 have given undertakings not to hold directorships or take any part in company management for four years and two years, respectively
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Couple in pledge over failed firm
A HUSBAND and wife who were directors of an architectural ironmongers business that failed with estimated debts of £261,000 have given undertakings not to hold directorships or take any part in company management for four years and two years, respectively
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Allotment holders are abusing plots - residents
ANGRY residents say allotment tenants are abusing their plots and the council will not do anything about it. George Eastwood, of Laverick Terrace, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, says he has been campaigning for a year to get rid of a scrapyard on allotments
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Parents make park life a reality
VILLAGERS are preparing for the grand opening of a new play area, which will become a new focal point for their community. The completion of the £120,000 Park House Play Area in Lanchester, is the culmination of four years of hard work and fund raising
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Bid made for nude bathing
NATURISTS are making a bid to have beaches designated for nude bathing. But the move by a group of naturists at Cayton Bay and Knipe Point, has been vetoed by Scarborough Council and the parish council at Cayton, North Yorkshire. Parish council clerk
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Youngsters' recycling concerns addressed
YOUNG waste watchers were taken on a tour of a £1m environmental facility this week. Members of Investing in Children's environmental team learned how the revolutionary aerobic digestion plant in Thornley is reducing the county's annual waste mountain
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Soldiers were attacked while on night out
A LOCAL man set upon a soldier enjoying a night out in Harrogate, the town's magistrates were told yesterday. Catherine Silverton, prosecuting, said the soldiers were standing at the junction of Oxford Street and Cheltenham Parade early on the evening
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Team from region save firm millions with innovation
A MANUFACTURING company is saving millions of pounds a year thanks to the work of an international team based in the region. The team was set up at LG Philips Displays' Durham plant last summer after a record 0.25 per cent of the plant's output of tubes
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Video equipment to speed up criminal investigations
Video suites, which could speed up investigations, are to be created in four County Durham police stations. The equipment, capable of staging an identification parade within two hours, is to be installed as part of a countywide move. Durham Police Constabulary
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News in brief: TV guest at antique evening
A mystery guest from the BBC's Antiques Roadshow and Adam Schoon, of Tennants of Leyburn, will present My Favourite Antiques, at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, next week. For £5, visitors to the Nurses' Recreation Hall can take an item for valuation
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Support for ban on cold calling grows
TRADING standards officials are backing moves to get cold callers banned after a survey showed people living in the county did not welcome the sellers. Last November, 15 trading standards authorities throughout the country, including Durham County Council
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Election 'first' for councils
PIONEERING machinery which will electronically count the votes in three council elections was unveiled in County Durham this week. Data Research Services (DRS), which is behind the technology, demonstrated it at the Civic Centre in Chester-le-Street,
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No return to Boro for Carlos
CARLOS MARINELLI will seal a permanent move to Torino from Middlesbrough when his loan deal expires at the end of the season. The Italian Serie A strugglers took the Argentine youngster on a short term deal in January. Marinelli has impressed during his
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News in brief: Dogs rescued from blaze
FIREFIGHTERS rescued two labrador dogs after a cooker fire broke out in a bungalow in Washington Road, Hylton Castle, Sunderland. The kitchen was badly damaged and the occupant was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. BRIDGE CLOSURES: Lane restrictions
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News in brief: House fire investigated
A terraced house in Cross Street, Easington Colliery, was severely damaged in a fire which started just after midnight yesterday. No-one was inside at the time. The cause of the blaze is being investigated. HOMES PLANS: Two planning applications for homes
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Safety at home
Health workers in Horden will be holding an awareness day on Thursday, May 1, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Horden Welfare Club, to make pensioners aware of the dangers of falling in the home
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Unwanted pet in search of a new home
A LOVABLE dog who is good with children and other pets needs a home. Benson, a greyhound boxer cross, has been left homeless after his owner's circumstances changed. The eight-month-old pet is being looked after by the National Animal Sanctuary Support
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Players are ready for classic show
PERFORMERS of all ages are taking to the stage in a production of The Snow Queen. Members of St Teresa Parish Productions (Stepps) in Darlington start their performance of the show tonight. The show, featuring performers aged from eight to 66, will be
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New director aims to drive project forward
EXCITING times lie ahead for a community resource centre as a new project director takes the helm. Robyn Holmes is looking forward to the challenge of steering the Four Clocks Centre in Bishop Auckland towards a vibrant future. The 39-year-old already
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There ain't no place for a place called No Place
THERE is no place for No Place in a new dictionary detailing the origins of place names in Britain. The tiny settlement near Stanley, County Durham, which has one of the strangest names in the country, does not feature in the Penguin Dictionary of British
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Ann's inspiration is just on her doorstep
FOR retired hairdresser Ann Flatman, painting the magnificent landscapes surrounding her dales home has become an obsession. Since she and her husband, Alan, a former miner, moved into a cottage above Frosterley, in Weardale, five years ago, she has found
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Downpour fails to dampen fun
SEDGEFIELD Community Association's Easter Monday picnic ended just in time to avoid a torrential downpour. But the storm left the village without power because of a fault in a main electricity cable. The picnic, in the grounds of Ceddesfeld Hall, was
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Irish fare on the menu
AN IRISH chef is bringing a taste of his home country to a quiet corner of rural Durham. Kieran Burke, 31, is the new chef at the recently re-opened restaurant at the Wardle Bridge Inn in Holmside, near Consett, which is run by Maggie and Bill Smith.
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Hospital provides back-up for GPs
HEALTH chiefs are planning to develop a dedicated out-of-hours medical centre at a hospital in Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust (PCT) will invest £250,000 to provide round-the- clock care so residents do not have to travel to the out-of-hours
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Homes service draws on children's help
YOUNGSTERS in the Hambleton district are being urged to put pen to paper this Easter. The district council's housing team want children to enter a competition that will help to promote the homelessness service. Children are being encouraged to design
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Youngsters come face-to-face with rare animals
YOUNGSTERS in Hartlepool came face-to-face with some of Britain's rarest creatures yesterday. About 25 young members of Hartlepool Borough Council's Beck Buddies and Dragonflies nature clubs enjoyed a talk from small mammal expert Ian Bond, who maintains
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Home Office veto for funding bid
THE Home Office has refused a funding bid for security cameras in Kirkbymoorside. The Government Office in Leeds informed town clerk Robert Horne that it would not pay for the cameras as funding was already provided for the Ryedale Community Safety Partnership
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Trust makes appointment
A NEW board member has been appointed to join the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust by the NHS Appointments Commission. Heather Limbach has accepted the post of non-executive director. A resident of Sowerby, near Thirsk, Mrs Limbach is a
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Deadline nears for business
THE deadline is fast approaching for entrants for an awards ceremony dedicated to the achievements of the region's businesswomen. Hardwick Hall Hotel will host the Women in Business Awards Ceremony 2003 on Friday, May 9, presented by Enterprise Event
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Burglar tied up in garage after raid
A HOUSEHOLDER tied a burglar to a lawnmower after catching him in his garage. Ian Fairwood was woken at dawn by a phone call from his neighbour, who said someone was in his garage. The 52-year-old civil servant, of Helperby, near Easingwold, North Yorkshire
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Parks to form part of housing plans
THREE new housing estates for north-west Durham will not have play areas - but cash set aside for them will go towards new parks. Derwentside District Council's development control committee approved plans for 245 new homes in Consett and Stanley. Under
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Prison officer in critical condition after assault
A prison officer remains in a critical condition after being punched in the face outside a pub. The 35-year-old man, who is married with a young family, is described as critical but stable in the intensive care unit at Newcastle General Hospital. He remains
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WI turns jewels into cash
WOMEN'S Institute members added a sparkle to some lifesaving fundraising when they collected sacks full of jewellery for heart research. WI members have hunted their unwanted or broken jewels to turn them into cash for the National Heart Research Fund's
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New fear over court closures
THE closure of court houses is causing concern for coroners who are facing increasing difficulty finding suitable venues to hold inquests. North Yorkshire has already seen ten of its court houses close in the last seven years and a question mark hangs
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Bad, bad boy
WHO'S a naughty boy then? Soapland enthusiasts like nothing better than a bad boy. And when he's the bastard offspring of Dirty Den, so much the better. Gunned down Dennis Watts was last seen sinking to the bottom of Walford Canal in EastEnders (BBC1)
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Search for region's top girl band begins
The search is on to find talented girls with attitude for a new North East band. Genius Entertainment, based in Stanley, County Durham, is looking for feisty female singers, drummers, guitarists and keyboard players, for an all-girl group in the style
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Bishop's ale and farewell
THE outgoing Bishop of Durham is giving away 500 bottles of his own 'Bishops Brew' ale so that clerics around the county can raise a glass to his retirement. He has also signed and numbered ten of the specially designed labels carrying his own coat of
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News from the Guilds and WIs
Gilesgate Evening TG: THE chairman Jennie O'Hare welcomed members to the April meeting in the St John Ambulance Hall. The speaker was Stewart from 'Gourmet House' stall in Durham Indoor Market, who brought a display of goods from Easter Eggs to chutneys
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Durham leads the way in providing for children
MOVES are underway to create fully integrated children's centres - delivering high quality early years education, care and health facilities - in the most deprived areas of the county. Durham County Council wants to take full advantage of the Government's
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Rotary collects unwanted specs
A FAR-SIGHTED campaign by fundraisers has resulted in more than 6,000 pairs of discarded spectacles being sent to the third world. Chester-le-Street Rotary Club has collected 6,322 pairs of glasses in the last nine months and is now preparing to despatch
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Team in bid to ease bed blocking
A GOVERNMENT task force has been drafted in to the battle against hospital bed-blocking in the North-East. The arrival of the specialist Department of Health team is part of County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority's Local Delivery Plan
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Islamic school opens
The North-East Muslim community has raised more than £500,000 to open the region's first Islamic school. Muslim leaders are hoping to turn former NHS buildings on the corner of Western Avenue and Grainger Park Road in Fenham, Newcastle, into an independent
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Tanker crewman impaled by ledge after fall on ship
A CREWMAN had to be evacuated from a tanker after he suffered horrific injuries to his groin. Teesmouth all-weather lifeboat took a doctor to the ship three miles north of Redcar, where 34-year-old Koushik Battacharjee was given emergency treatment. The
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Guild and WI news
Hutton Lowcross, Guisborough THE talk for the April meeting was billed as 'Monkish Habits', causing much discussion as to what the topic would be about. It turned out to be a very interesting and informative talk covering the daily lives of the Benedictine
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Reward in hunt for statue vandals
THE owner of a stately home is offering a £3,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of vandals who smashed a stone lion which has guarded the gates of the country house for more than 100 years. It is thought thieves may have been
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GPs will run new minor surgery unit
TWO specialist GPs are involved in a move to improve public access to minor surgery and skin treatment. Darlington Primary Care Trust is the first in the country to employ doctors in this specialist role. Tim Cunliffe, GP at Denmark Street surgery and
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Teenager locked up after farm petrol bomb attack
A DISTURBED teenager who petrol-bombed a barn, causing £35,000 of damage, has been locked up for nearly four years yesterday. Leonard Elmore, 19, targeted Pearl House Farm at Howden-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, which was the home of a
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Candidates and voters geared up for May 1
RESIDENTS of Darlington go to the polls by post for the first time in this year's local government elections. Dozens of hopeful candidates are seeking election to the borough council - and will know their fate when the count is made at the Dolphin Centre
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Connolly in line to fill Phillips' boots
IN-FORM striker David Connolly is being lined up as a replacement for Sunderland hot-shot Kevin Phillips by manager Mick McCarthy. Newly-promoted Portsmouth are the latest club to be linked with a move for Phillips, who looks sure to be one of the first
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The man who took a bath with a disembowelled deer
The Real Texas Chainsaw Massacre (C4): AMERICAN Robert Kleasen described himself as "an average sort of guy". Others would not agree. Certainly not Marie Longley who discovered that she had married not a CIA agent and war hero, but a convicted killer
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Tunnel stays near foot of safety league
THE Tyne Tunnel is still one of the worst in Europe for driver safety, according to a study published today. The tunnel, on the busy A19, is labelled the third worst in Britain and ranks 18th out of 25 tunnels tested across Europe. Inspectors found it
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Residents angry and afraid as daffodil destroyers hit town
VANDALS are cutting the heads off daffodils with scissors before displaying them in elaborate patterns on lawns in Guisborough. The problem began three weeks ago and is now widespread across the town with incidents occurring every few days. One resident
