Archive
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Flats plan dropped after road safety fears raised
AN application to build ten flats on a busy street has been withdrawn after fears were raised that they could compromise road safety. Easington District Council received an application for planning permission for the development in North Road East, Wingate
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Turner admits his interest in Lee
CHRIS Turner yesterday paved the way for a summer reunion with Graeme Lee. Former Hartlepool United boss Turner has a busy summer ahead as he rebuilds Sheffield Wednesday following their relegation from Division Two. Lee was named in the PFA Division
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Gulf gets fresh troops
THE Government has ordered nearly every soldier from Catterick Garrison to relieve battle-worn troops. Almost every operational unit based at the garrison will be flown out to the Gulf in July to take over from soldiers who fought the battles that toppled
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Series of walks points the way to healthier lifestyle
THOUSANDS of people are set to benefit from a programme of walks aimed at promoting healthier living. The Derwentside Doorsteps scheme will offer a range of walks across the district throughout the spring and summer. It follows a successful pilot scheme
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Postal vote succeeds
A NEW voting system for the local elections in Derwentside has proved a success. For the first time the district council introduced postal voting and, according to council chiefs, it has had a huge impact on turnout. Mike Bonser, the authority's returning
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Club pledge over arson
A VILLAGE cricket club is making contingency plans after suffering costly damage in a suspected arson attack. Fire crews were called to tackle a blaze which broke out in the scorebox of the former colliery welfare ground at South Hetton, County Durham
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Man admits spy base bomb alert
A HOLIDAYMAKER cut his way into the US surveillance base at Menwith Hill, in North Yorkshire, sparking a full-scale security alert, a court heard yesterday. He later phoned Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch to tell officers he had intended to plant
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Owners stay put as hotel gets new look
A 17TH Century hotel is to get a £500,000 facelift after its owners decided not to sell up. The Morritt Arms Hotel at Greta Bridge, in County Durham, was put on the market last November at a guide price of £1.25m. Proprietor Barbara-Anne Johnson and her
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Paul dives to the rescue
EIGHT-year-old Paul Basey has been feted as a hero after saving a girl from drowning in a swimming pool. Young Paul dived into the deep end to rescue Stacey Younger, eight, when he saw her floundering at the Consett Swimming Pool. This week Colin Sillett
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300 jobs axed as turkey factory closes
HUNDREDS of workers have lost their jobs just weeks after their company went into administrative receivership. Some 300 jobs were lost at the Brandons turkey processing plant at Dalton near Thirsk. The announcement follows a flood of imports into the
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Signed books
Author Bill Spence who writes as Jessica Blair will be signing copies of his latest novel, Time and Tide, at White Rose Books, in Thirsk, next Tuesday, at 11.00am. For more details or to reserve copies, call (01845) 524353.
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North-East TA soldiers join medics in Balkans
THREE North-East Territorial Army soldiers will join the organisation's first medical unit to be stationed in the Balkans since the Second World War. Chester-le-Street GP Captain Geoff Crackett, Willington transport manager Lance Corporal Anthony Hart
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Roadside checks used to encourage tyre safety
A CAMPAIGN to encourage drivers to make sure their tyres are safe has been launched in the region. Officers in the Durham, Cleveland, Northumbria and North Yorkshire forces are carrying out roadside checks with Tyre Industry Council experts during May
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£54,000 windfall for adult training
THE Northallerton-based charity Chopsticks has won a big contract to provide job-related training for 30 adults with learning disabilities. The £53,953 contract has been awarded through JobCentre Plus, which is co-financing the initiative with European
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Summer holiday comes early as theatre stars roll into town
FORMER pop star Suzanne Shaw joined her co-stars in a new musical and met some of her North-East fans yesterday. The ex-Hear'Say member is appearing in the musical Summer Holiday, showing at the Newcastle Theatre Royal this week. The 21-year-old plays
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Rangers target Magpies defender Caldwell
RANGERS are waiting to see whether Newcastle United defender Steve Caldwell wins an improved deal at St. James' Park. The Scottish Premier League leaders, whose skipper Lorenzo Amoruso is being linked with a move to Blackburn, are making contingency plans
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Man dies before appeal is granted
A BUSINESSMAN has succeeded in winning part of a planning wrangle - four months after his death. Brent Stephenson was already seriously ill when he appealed against a council's refusal of his application to replace three windows and two doors and install
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Puma report 'genuine' - wildlife expert
THE Durham puma has been spotted again - and the policeman tracking its progress believes he is getting closer than ever to proving the existence of big cats in Britain. Sergeant Eddie Bell, Durham Constabulary's wildlife liaison officer, recently received
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Hearings in the magistrates' court
THE following cases were heard by South Durham magistrates sitting in Darlington yesterday: GUILTY PLEA: Alexander Cargill, 23, of Wycombe Street, Darlington, admitted being drunk and disorderly in Hird Street, Darlington, on April 25. He was fined £50
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Mental health trust told to make changes
HEALTH inspectors have called for changes at a North-East mental health trust. The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) has asked County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust to reduce the number of patients who are cared for on mixed-sex
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Community group that offers support for all
STAFF at the Cockerton and Branksome Living Enterprise (Cable) are having a rare moment of quiet. The sun is beating down outside and the open door is allowing a flow of cool air into the office at Whitby Way, Darlington. It looks almost like a boarded-up
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Entrepreneur's hope
A YOUNG entrepreneur from Darlington will find out tomorrow if she has won a business award. Louise Cauldwell, 22, from Darlington, set up her logistics company, Freight Forwarding, six months ago and already business is booming. With several years of
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Grassroots: Crook
MUSICAL EVENING: The Cobweb Orchestra Cabaret Ensemble and Durham Scratch Choir will provide an evening of light orchestral music, songs and poetry directed by Andy Jackson, at Crook Library on Tuesday, May 20, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £2 and £1.50 for
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Boyfriend hit partner, court told
MAN who punched his partner in the face while she was in bed was given a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates yesterday. Mark Taylor, 30, attacked girlfriend Adele Learoyd after the pair had been drinking in Darlington, South Durham Magistrates
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Music contest winners
DARLINGTON'S Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College has held its annual Leschinski music competition, in memory of piano teacher Olga Leschinski, a Russian refugee in Berlin who was murdered by the Nazis. There were 12 entries with students performing a range
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Sports complex plan for wasteland
A BUSINESSMAN has revealed his dream to build a sports complex and create a wildlife haven on a piece of derelict land in the North-East. David Scott is proposing the development for a site close to Billingham Beck, at Billingham, Teesside - although
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Safe parking
A NORTH-EAST car park has been recognised for its high levels of security. The car park at Newcastle's Central Station is the latest in the region to win the Secured Car Park Award. The station won the award, which is given out by police, after making
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Campaign to keep grass area continues
A CAMPAIGN against plans that to turn an area where children play area into car parking spaces is being stepped up. People living in a cul-de-sac in Valley Road, Northallerton, have written letters of objection to Hambleton District Council in the hope
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Thief jailed after homes ransacked
THE victim of a burglary was so traumatised that she refused to return to her house, a court was told yesterday. Michael Robinson, 26, left such a mess behind that the woman did not want to go back, said Paul Cleasby, prosecuting. Robinson left behind
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Skills practice at open day
CHILDREN practised their football skills at the launch of a sports project. The Go Sport Conyers project held an open day at Conyers School, in Yarm, to celebrate the opening of its synthetic football field and to persuade people to get involved in sport
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Lottery backs sports scheme
DISADVANTAGED children in Middlesbrough are to benefit from an out-of-hours sports scheme which has been supported by £95,000 from the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund. The project is led by the town's Kings Manor School and Sports College, and
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Mental health specialist sought
A health trust is to appoint an occupational therapy consultant for adult mental health. Tees and North-East Yorkshire NHS Trust has been given permission by the Allied Health Professions Consultant Panel to start recruiting for the post. Occupational
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Shop worker admits £1,000 Lottery scratchcards theft
A SHOP worker pocketed more than £1,000 in lottery cash after discovering how to identify winning scratch cards. The scheme helped John Mazur, 22, supplement his income as assistant manager of Bells Store in Corporation Road, Darlington, with about £100
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Search is on for talented young musicians
tALENTED youngsters are being given the chance to make a career in music with the launch of the record label 6K Vision Records. The initiative is being run by a team of young entrepreneurs and their first bands are already being signed up. James Koppert
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Children find learning can be bags of fun
YOUNG children with learning difficulties are having bags of fun thanks to community groups. About 70 children aged up to three will be able to develop their skills using individually created Storybags. The project, which is funded by the Early Years
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Cat killed in illegal snare
A FAMILY pet suffered a terrible death after becoming trapped in an illegal snare at a beauty spot. The RSPCA was called after the body of a cat was discovered caught in the snare on the Carterway Heads side of the Derwent Reservoir, near Consett. A spokeswoman
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Second quality mark presented to school
Brierton Community School in Hartlepool has received its second quality mark for sport. The school has already held a Sportsmark, awarded by Sport England in recognition of secondary schools' out-of-hours sports provision and sports curriculum. But the
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Woman may lose an eye after attack
A WOMAN could lose an eye after she was kicked in the face during a night out. The 45-year-old, from Consett, County Durham, who has not been named, was attacked after an argument with two younger women on Newcastle's Quayside. The victim, out with her
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Display shows way to recovery
A RAFT of ideas on how a town can shrug off decades of malaise will go on show at the end of the month. Although a popular tourist destination, Richmond's town centre has struggled commercially in recent years. With more facilities opening at the camp
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Blunkett urged to rethink support officers decision
Home Secretary David Blunkett is being urged to reconsider his decision to allow Cleveland Police to recruit only 20 additional community support officers. The force had been hoping that it would be able to have an extra 60 officers. Cleveland Police
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Minister visits falls unit
A HEALTH Minister was in the region yesterday to see a pioneering treatment for elderly people who suffer from unexplained falls or fainting. Jacqui Smith visited the falls and syncope service in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI). She met the
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Sheila, 55, in £300,000 deal for debut book
A GRANDMOTHER of eight has secured a £300,000 book deal for the debut novel she penned in her condemned council house. Sheila Quigley was astounded when, after a lifetime of dreaming and story-telling, her big break came at the age of 55. She has now
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News in brief: Woman hurt in road collision
FIREFIGHTERS cut a motorist free from the wreckage of a car involved in a four-vehicle crash. Cleveland Police believe the woman had stopped her Fiat Punto in a line of stationary traffic, behind a lorry, when a Vauxhall Omega car hit her from behind,
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Objectors meet to decide action plan
CAMPAIGNERS fighting two separate bids for a waste transfer station in a North Yorkshire village have organised a public meeting tomorrow to decide the next step of their battle. Northallerton-based waste management company Yorwaste is adamant it needs
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Region says goodbye to bishop
A GRATEFUL diocese said its goodbyes to the Bishop of Durham at a special service this week. The diocesan service at Durham Cathedral on Monday allowed both lay and clergy to say its fond farewells to the Right Reverend Michael Turnbull, at the end of
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Tax cuts considered as reward for recycling
Householders who recycle and compost their rubbish could see cuts in their council tax bills under plans being looked at by the Government. It is considering allowing local authorities to set up pilot incentive schemes which would encourage residents
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Country pub offers people the chance to surf and sup
LOCALS at a country pub are being given the chance to surf and sup at the same time after a cosy computer room opened yesterday. David and Susan Hawksworth, licensees of the Fox and Hounds, in Bullamoor, near Northallerton, have had four computers, a
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A day in the life of...
A FRIEND of mine who works as a school teacher asked me this week how I managed to cope with the uncertainties of an unstructured working day. This took me quite by surprise as I thought that I was actually quite organised. On Friday I decided to make
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Remember - money can't buy you love
THE price of a good woman is above rubies. Ah yes, but how much above? And how many rubies? Businessman Brian Maccaba has offered a young husband a million dollars to leave his wife, so that she can than go and live with Mr Maccaba. Or, as he says, she
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Safe parking
A NORTH-EAST car park has been recognised for its high levels of security. The car park at Newcastle's Central Station is the latest in the region to win the Secured Car Park Award. The station won the award, which is given out by police, after making
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WI and guild news
East Stanley WI: THE president Anne Stayman welcomed members to the meeting, held on Monday, April 14, and gave Birthday greetings to Una Swan and Rita Hall. Audrey Whitehead gave the theme on her favourite song and gave members an amusing talk on why
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Sailing chance for the blind
The Royal National Institute of the Blind has joined forces with the Royal Yachting Association to offer blind people the chance to go sailing. From May until August, clubs across the country will offer blind and partially sighted people the chance to
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Election results
Richmondshire District Council BARTON (1 seat) Amanda Adams (LD) 211 *Campbell Dawson (N/A) 285 BOLTON CASTLE (1 seat) *Wendy Morton (C) 384 John Weedon (LD) 144 BROMPTON ON SWALE and SCORTON (2 seats) *James Fryer (I) 417 *Michael Heseltine (C) 559 Leslie
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Echo Memories: Feethams' football glory days recalled
Echo Memories adds its voice to the farewell tributes to Feethams football ground, which has also hosted lacrosse and baseball during a chequered sporting career. IT would be inappropriate for this column, with its historical bent, to allow Feethams football
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Rare bird breeder may face legal action
CUSTOMS and Excise officers are taking legal advice after a convicted bird smuggler yesterday refused to hand over the last birds in his collection. Last week, parrot breeder Harry Sissen lost his appeal to win back 144 of the world's rarest parrots,
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07/05/03
FOUNDATION HOSPITALS: I ALWAYS thought that bribery was an offence for which you can be brought to answer before the courts. We have the Secretary of State for Health offering to put an extra £200m into hospital administration if any MP who is threatening
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Hammering the people who buy the houses of horror
Blood Under The Carpet (C4); Cutting It (BBC1) TO misquote Loyd Grossman in Through The Keyhole mode: "Who on earth would want to live in a house like this?". The properties in Blood Under The Carpet were very des res on the outside. But once you learned
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On the road for top award
NATIONAL transport award judges are to see how congestion has been cut in a city centre. Durham's toll scheme has already earned the county council an accolade for the community consultation before the charge was implemented. Now the county council has
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60-year mystery solved as spy pilot's body found
A Second World War spy pilot whose death had mystified historians for more than 50 years, will finally be buried with full military honours The body of North-East-born Wing Commander Adrian Warburton DSO DFC was found in December when the wreckage of
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Injury blow for Durham's Dewald
DURHAM will be without Dewald Pretorius for three weeks after the South African paceman suffered a thigh strain in Monday's National League defeat by Lancashire. Vince Wells returns to the squad in the only change for today's C & G Trophy match at
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Woman assaulted by couple in taxi
A WOMAN was assaulted after getting into a taxi with a couple she did not know following a night out. The woman agreed to share a taxi home, to the Clavering area of Hartlepool. During the journey, on Sunday at 12.15am, a row began and the woman, who
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Face to face with nature
YOUNGSTERS Jason Ferry and Chris Robson got face to face with Daisy the cow on a trip to a working farm. The friendly Friesian gave the youngsters a gentle nuzzle as they enjoyed a tour of Cockle Park Farm in Northumberland. The visit was part of a 'bring
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Mum's scones prove a big hit
A WOMAN has rejoined the workforce armed with her mother's recipe for scones. Joanne Fleming's new venture - Farmhouse Tearooms - has proved a major attraction at Newham Grange Leisure Farm. Miss Fleming, who was out of mainstream work for some time,
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Orchestra and band in perfect harmony for musical title
TWO college bands have reached the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth for the second year running. About 70 musicians who play instruments in the concert band and jazz orchestra at Northallerton College, North Yorkshire, will be travelling
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Dancer having swinging time
HUGS DANCER can add to last year's thrilling success in the Ebor Handicap by taking this afternoon's £120,000 Chester Cup. One of the most improved staying handicappers in training during 2002, the performance of Hugs Dancer at York confirmed the opinion
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Steve sets his Psyche on Harvey Nics' style
A favourite haunt of the young and the fashionable in the North-East has undergone a revamp "to rival Harvey Nics". The opening of Steve Cochrane's Psyche store, in Middlesbrough, has created 40 jobs and offers more floor-space of shopping than Harvey
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Last Night's TV: Hammering the people who buy the houses of horror
Blood Under The Carpet (C4); Cutting It (BBC1) TO misquote Loyd Grossman in Through The Keyhole mode: "Who on earth would want to live in a house like this?". The properties in Blood Under The Carpet were very des res on the outside. But once you learned
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Can we build it? Yes we can
THE past few months have been busy ones for Yorkon, which has constantly proved there is more to portable buildings than those provided by its parent company, Portakabin. The business, which employs about 1,000 staff on a 60- acre site in Huntington,
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£1.5bn contract sent out
Royal Mail has signed a £1.5bn contract to outsource computer work to private companies in a move aimed at saving £250m over the next ten years. More than 1,700 Royal Mail information technology staff will transfer to Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC
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US gives go-ahead on controversial cancer drug
Drugs maker AstraZeneca has won approval from US regulators for its lung cancer treatment Iressa, aimed at patients who do not respond to standard chemotherapy. Iressa targets advanced cases of non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of lung
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Chrysalis finds the right groove
MEDIA group Chrysalis has announced that its television arm, the target of a potential takeover bid, has doubled its profits. Industry heavyweights David Liddiment and Steve Morrison have shown a keen interest in the operation, which produces the Richard
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Music festival encourages young talent
BRASS bands, choirs and aspiring young musicians from across the region will come together this weekend for a music festival. The Consett Music Festival starts in Blackfyne Community School, Consett, on Friday. It begins with a brass band contest judged
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Nissan's diesel drive into Europe
Nissan has launched a diesel version of its Sunderland-built Micra, in a bid to carve a bigger slice of the European market. The hatchback model will feature a direct injection 1.5 litre unit, supplied by Nissan's trade partner, Renault, and is intended
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News in brief: Star Wars peace talks
A public meeting and discussion on the future of the Star Wars programme is being hosted by Darlington for Peace at the Friends Meeting House, Skinnergate, Darlington, at 7.30pm tomorrow. The speaker will be Lindis Percy, from the Campaign for the Accountability
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Skidzone goal moves closer with £25,000 funding boost
A project to create an activity site looks likely to be realised next year after receiving its biggest cash boost to date. Coxhoe Community Partnership aims to establish Coxhoe Skidzone on a field in the village. Covering more than 2,500 sq m, the project
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Scheme seeks more drivers
A SCHEME that helps Northallerton residents get to their medical appointments and daycare facilities has seen an increase in users for the third year in a row. But the rising number of users has led to organisers struggling to meet demand and they are
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Birds have new homes
NATURE reserve birds have new homes thanks to a project to involve youngsters in looking after their environment. Young people from Quarrington Hill worked with Durham City Council's Single Regeneration Budget community team and Durham County Council's
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Second surgery for vets' practice
A DARLINGTON veterinary practice has expanded its business by opening a second surgery in nearby Middleton St George. Stanhope Park Veterinary Practice, in Stanhope Road, Darlington, opened its second surgery at The Square, Middleton St George, last week
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Patients pioneer cancer treatment
PATIENTS from the North-East have helped pioneer a scanning technique which allows doctors to watch cancer tumours being attacked by drugs. The technique, which uses a new scanning process called positron emission tomography (Pet), should help doctors
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Campaign pays dividends as children's play area is opened
RESIDENTS reaped the rewards of a four-year campaign when they celebrated the opening of a £120,000 play area. The Park House Play Area, in Lanchester, came about after local people joined the parish council in raising money for community facilities,
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Food and drink firms get a taste of the future
A VENTURE aimed at helping small food and drink manufacturers in the North-East to expand their businesses is being launched by Durham Business School. The project is being run to ensure the businesses have the knowledge and expertise to develop and change
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Young offenders aid environment
YOUNGSTERS aged between ten and 17 who have been in trouble with the police have teamed up to work with a conservation group. The Youth Offending Team (YOT) in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, which helps youngsters avoid re-offending, are working with Bilton
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Midwives back safety drive
MIDWIVES are working to reduce the risk of cot death by supporting this year's national Baby Safety Week. The campaign runs until Saturday and midwives in York Hospital have put up displays in the maternity unit and hospital corridors. The posters highlight
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Gadfly: You just can't help believing in Ian
ELVIS Presley, for reasons which someone may recall, only once stepped foot on British soil. It was at Prestwich airport in Ayrshire and the journalist whose contacts got him the good old fashioned scoop - a world exclusive, they'd call it nowadays -
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Corus bosses 'on parole' warns MP
THE House of Commons was yesterday told that management of ailing steel firm Corus were "on parole" following publication of its plans for the future of the Teesside works. Ashok Kumar, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, told fellow politicians
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City is spirited to top of worldwide most-haunted list
EXPECT your spine to tingle and the hairs on the back of your neck to stand on end as paranormal activity reaches a worldwide high in one of the region's most historic cities. Hundreds of wandering souls have remained in the mortal realm and made their
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Region receives £636m to boost jobs and businesses
PLANS to create more than 40,000 jobs across the region have been boosted by a cash injection of £636m from regional development agency One NorthEast. About £158m of the funding, known as Single Programme, has already been earmarked for projects in the
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Feethams' football glory days recalled
Echo Memories adds its voice to the farewell tributes to Feethams football ground, which has also hosted lacrosse and baseball during a chequered sporting career. IT would be inappropriate for this column, with its historical bent, to allow Feethams football
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Topping out sets the stage
CHAMPAGNE corks were popping at one of North Yorkshire's historic theatres, despite the latest setback. Chairman of the trustees Lady Crathorne led a topping-out ceremony at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, attended by representatives from all
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Shaking Nye's foundations
Tony Blair faces a massive backbench revolt tonight over plans to create a new type of hospital. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson looks at the issue which could prove to be Labour's equivalent of the poll tax - foundation hospitals. THE Government faces
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School's plea as vandals go on rampage
STAFF at a vandalised school are urging residents in nearby houses to help them catch youths who are causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. Youngsters smashed more than 30 windows at Greenlands Junior School, in South Moor, near Stanley, County
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Children help create tourist trail
CHILDREN from a small primary school are helping guide thousands of visitors around some of the region's most spectacular countryside. Pupils at Forest of Teesdale School and communities from across Upper Teesdale, County Durham, have helped produce a
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Plea over petrol station robbery
AN appeal was made last night to witnesses to a filling station robbery on Monday in which a cashier was assaulted. The man was punched in the face in the incident at the Jet station, on the A181 at Wheatley Hill, east Durham, at 6.25pm. Four men entered
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Boro's Geremi talks continue
MIDDLESBROUGH are set for further talks over the future of on-loan Cameroon star Geremi. Riverside manager Steve McClaren is still hoping to tie up a permanent deal for the Real Madrid man. But the proposed move appears to have reached an impasse, with
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Visitors lay siege to musuem as Civil War is re-enacted
THE lives of soldiers and civilians from more than three centuries ago were brought to life at the weekend. York Castle Museum was under siege over the bank holiday to relive the turbulent times in 1663 when the city was at war. Museum visitors were able
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Steam engine display held at museum
GUARDIANS of the bygone age of steam will gather in the North-East this weekend. Members of the National Traction Engine Trust from across Britain, Europe and the US will be at a training weekend and traction engine display at Beamish Museum, near Stanley
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Flexible friends are bent on innovation
WHEN the Queen's Award for Enterprise was presented to DuPont Teijin Films, it was formal recognition for a company whose innovative work in developing polyester film for the growing smart card market has set new standards. Melinex Corel, a film coating
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Artist returns to N-E for launch
ARTIST Mackenzie Thorpe, who has spent the past two years carving a niche in the US market, returns to his native North-East to launch his latest work this weekend. Middlesbrough-born Mr Thorpe's distinctive but quirky style has already made its mark
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Woman may lose an eye after attack
A WOMAN could lose an eye after she was kicked in the face during a night out. The 45-year-old, from Consett, County Durham, who has not been named, was attacked after an argument with two younger women on Newcastle's Quayside. The victim, out with her
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DIY project brought the house down
A FAMILY has been left counting the cost after some bungled bank holiday DIY had catastrophic consequences. The owners of the property, in Quarry Lane, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, wanted to create a little extra living space in their basement and spent
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Judging panel is chosen for unsigned band prize
THE judging panel has been announced for The Northern Echo's competition to find the region's top rock or pop act. The Big Chance is being held in partnership with TFM Radio to find the best original unsigned act in the region. The winner will receive
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McCarthy 'has good future'
SUNDERLAND'S outgoing chief executive Hugh Roberts has claimed he will leave Mick McCarthy a golden legacy as the manager tries to plot a Premiership return. Roberts insists the new Academy of Light, and the club's new youth supremo Kees Zwamborn, will
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Villagers win planning fight
JUBILANT villagers celebrated after seeing off plans for new housing they said would destroy their community. Developer Dunelm Castle Homes applied for permission to build 12 homes on the Russell Close garage by the A691 bypass in Lanchester, near Consett
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Small business degree on offer
THE University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough, is to offer a Masters degree in small business management from September. It will be the first Masters-level course to be developed for small business advisors, consultants and market managers. Fees are £4,450
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Amy and Rebecca get a taste of life as VIPs
TWO children from Darlington got a taste of life as VIPs yesterday when they stepped into the mayor's shoes for the day. Amy McAlister and Rebecca Johnson, both 11, joined Mayor Doris Jones as she performed her civic duties, after winning the annual Junior
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Lottery cash support gives struggling pigeon club a lift
A TEESDALE homing pigeon club is hoping to revive its fortunes after receiving an unexpected cash windfall. The number of members of Evenwood Workmen's Club's Homing Society has been falling for several years. But officials are hoping that a National
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Knights to feature at fair
KNIGHTS and birds of prey will feature at the 33rd Sedgefield Medieval Fayre on Saturday, May 17. The day-long festival is organised by Sedgefield Community Association. The Knights of the Black Phoenix will show their skills and Ridgeside Falconry will
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Factory staff lead way on walk to health
MANAGERS at a Newton Aycliffe factory are leading the way for companies across the region by encouraging employees to walk their way to a healthier life. The 3M Aycliffe plant's health committee has identified a series of walks of up to 1.5 miles, two
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News in brief: Star Wars peace talks
A public meeting and discussion on the future of the Star Wars programme is being hosted by Darlington for Peace at the Friends Meeting House, Skinnergate, Darlington, at 7.30pm tomorrow. The speaker will be Lindis Percy, from the Campaign for the Accountability
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Journalists' award winner joins Echo
AWARD-winning journalist Jim McTaggart has joined The Northern Echo to report on events in the Teesdale area. The former editor of the Teesdale Mercury has returned to Barnard Castle from where he will write a weekly column reflecting the lives and views
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Paralympian Tanni takes to the roads
PARALYMPIC champion Tanni Grey-Thompson is revving up her training - thanks to Vauxhall. The British motor manufacturer - which celebrates its centenary this year - handed over the keys to a new Zafira to Ms Grey-Thompson yesterday. The athlete, from
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Potent force of the Prime Minister's argument
TONY BLAIR may be under intense pressure over today's Commons vote but that didn't stop him enjoying his 50th birthday yesterday - and joking that at least his picture had not been used to advertise problems of male impotency. Mr Blair told a lunch of
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Figures reveal drop in number of burglaries
HOUSE burglaries on Tees-side fell by more than 40 per cent last month with break-ins at other properties down by almost 20 per cent. Cleveland Police Chief Constable Sean Price said: "The message to our communities is simple. We and our partners are
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Double Gulf tour for Paul
A SOLDIER celebrating an early return from the Gulf will soon be on his way back - after a move to a new base. Colerne-based Army Staff Sergeant Paul Beattie had an agonising decision to make when he was offered an early return from the Gulf conflict
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Council election results
MAYOR Ross Hawkes was the most high-profile casualty as Liberal Democrats made gains on Spennymoor Town Council. The Labour councillor lost out in a five-way fight for four seats in the Middlestone ward. A full list of the results is published today,
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Steve joins the festival performers
SEVENTIES rocker Steve Harley will perform at a music festival this month. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) is one of Britain's most played pop songs - almost 30 years after it was recorded by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. It has been a top 40 hit
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Driver fined
A DISABLED man narrowly avoided a driving ban being imposed by magistrates in Darlington yesterday. Paul Olding, 22, of Vine Street, Darlington, admitted speeding at almost 40mph in North Road, Darlington, which has a 30mph limit. South Durham Magistrates
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Groups get Lottery boost
COMMUNITY groups across the Wear Valley and Sedgefield are sharing in a £500,000 National Lottery giveaway announced for the North-East yesterday. The latest round of Awards for All National Lottery grants have benefited 135 school projects, sports clubs
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Embroidered church banner is labour of love
A REDCAR woman has combined two of her passions to create a processional banner for her church choir. Elizabeth Fletcher was so pleased to be singing for the choir at Christ Church, in Coatham, she has spent £1,500 on embroidery materials over the past
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Entrepreneur's hope
A YOUNG entrepreneur from Darlington will find out tomorrow if she has won a business award. Louise Cauldwell, 22, from Darlington, set up her logistics company, Freight Forwarding, six months ago and already business is booming. With several years of
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Working tribute to region's Railway heritage
VISITORS experienced a working example of the North-East's railway heritage over the bank holiday weekend. Darlington's Railway Centre and Museum gave tourists the chance to ride in the guard's van of a Peckett steam engine. Visitors were also able to
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Charity in need of a treasurer
A charity committee is looking for a voluntary treasurer. The Richmond branch of Yorkshire Cancer Research needs someone who is able to look after its finances. Members meet three times a year and gatherings are kept as brief as possible. The branch raises
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News in brief: Digital training day arranged
People can try digital imaging software, create their own art work and get involved in the demonstration of a digital city, when the BBC and the University of Teesside team up for a training day on Friday. Those interested are asked to go to the BBC Bus
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Residents in protest at noise from rail maintenance work
RESIDENTS are planning to take action after being kept awake by rail line maintenance. One couple with three small children said the noise, at rail lines running through Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, was so disruptive that they moved into a hotel for an
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You just can't help believing in Ian
ELVIS Presley, for reasons which someone may recall, only once stepped foot on British soil. It was at Prestwich airport in Ayrshire and the journalist whose contacts got him the good old fashioned scoop - a world exclusive, they'd call it nowadays -
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Success engineered at academy awards
FOUR of the region's forward-thinking companies are updating their technical and business skills after receiving training awards from The Royal Academy of Engineering. Degussa Fine Chemicals, of Middlesbrough, Energy Solutions International, of Stockton
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Comment: Will it all end in tiers?
REFORM is vital to the National Health Service's survival. The architects of a system created half a century ago did not envisage the changing needs of the 21st century. The involvement of private investment and giving more freedom to local hospitals
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Heather's special award
THIS Year marks the golden jubilee of lollipop men and women. And Heather Rabjohns, had cause for double celebration when she picked up a special award for her 30 years service to Michael Sydall School in Catterick Village. In North Yorkshire more than
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The gift Blair lacked on his birthday
TONY Blair's 50th birthday yesterday came and went without gifting him his most wished-for present - weapons of mass destruction. Of course, Mr Blair's got plenty - with a button to press to fire them should he feel inclined. Not contemplating that, at
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Remember - money can't buy you love
THE price of a good woman is above rubies. Ah yes, but how much above? And how many rubies? Businessman Brian Maccaba has offered a young husband a million dollars to leave his wife, so that she can than go and live with Mr Maccaba. Or, as he says, she
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Tories take the vote
PEOPLE turned out in their thousands last week to redraw the local Government map in the biggest vote since the General Election in 2001. Labour had been expected to suffer considerable losses, but it was thought that the blow might be softened by victory
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Neale inquiry opens
THE long-awaited inquiry into the Richard Neale scandal began behind closed doors last week. Alan Milburn, Health Secretary and MP for Darlington, ordered the inquiry into how the NHS handled multiple complaints against Mr Neale. The former Northallerton
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Rebel MPs given dire warning on NHS
PRIME Minister Tony Blair and Health Secretary Alan Milburn were last night desperately trying to head off a rebellion by Labour MPs over plans to establish foundation hospitals. Half-a-dozen of the 130 MPs who signed a House of Commons motion opposing
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Pedestrian survived double attack by driver
A PEDESTRIAN was mown down by a driver twice but managed to survive, a court has heard. Andrew Jobling, 29, drove a Vauxhall Cavalier into Ian Barron and then reversed over him, Newcastle Crown Court was told. The jury heard how Mr Jobling had been aiming
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Gardening time on the radio
ONE of radio's longest running programmes came to the region to record two shows. Great Smeaton village hall welcomed four panellists who fielded inquiries for BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time. The first programme, broadcast on Sunday, May 11, will
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School quarantines students from Hong Kong
A top public school is continuing to quarantine a number of its Far East students until fears over the deadly Sars virus subside. Polam Hall in Darlington has confirmed that a number of students and staff who were among the last to arrive back after Easter
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Forum gives companies a voice on local issues
A FORUM has been set up to increase companies' influence in east Durham. The East Durham Business Forum (EDBF) was launched by Easington District Council's chief executive, Paul Wilding, and Tom Maxfield, owner of Seaham Hall and Oriental Spa, at Seaham
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Service economy remains uncertain
BRITAIN's service economy reversed the decline seen in March to rise marginally last month. But despite the improvement, data from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) showed that uncertainties about the short-term economic outlook
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Remember traditional industries
HEADLINE-grabbing figures detailing tens of thousands of jobs being created with the help of hundreds of millions of pounds of investment are good for our region. They are indicative of success and prosperity - both attributes the North-East is desperate
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Museum turns into miniature theatre of war
WAR enthusiasts kept a keen eye on the enemy and drew up battle plans as the tanks and the infantry arrived at the weekend. The table-top battleground was awash with miniature figures and fighting machines as part of the annual Battlegroup North Wargames
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Widow of Roy Castle aids dance initiative
A DANCE workshop for special needs children is holding a fundraising event with the help of Roy Castle's widow. Charity Productions runs dance workshops for children with special needs to introduce them to the fun and freedom of self-expression of dance
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Two hunted after rape in bus shelter
DETECTIVES hunting two man who attacked a woman in a North-East bus shelter are trying to trace a white van seen in the area at the time. The 24-year-old woman was dragged into the brick bus shelter in Victoria Road East, Hebburn, South Tyneside, between
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Fearless youngsters celebrate Viking art
FEARSOME beasts designed by children were turned into pavement works of art in a city square, on Monday. The children, who all attend schools around York, have spent weeks creating pieces of Viking art, which feature dragons, snake and horse-like creatures
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Airport advisors deal takes off
CONSULTANTS Lamb and Edge has won a three-year deal with Newcastle International Airport to advise on property matters. Having formed a strategic partnership with Copenhagen Airport in May 2001, Newcastle has reached a key point in its development. The
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Imperial delivers record profits
CIGARETTES company Imperial Tobacco has delivered record half-year operating profits of £497m after integrating German acquisition Reemtsma. The figure, which represented a leap of 56 per cent on a year earlier, comes 12 months after Imperial completed
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Factory staff lead way on walk to health
MANAGERS at a Newton Aycliffe factory are leading the way for companies across the region by encouraging employees to walk their way to a healthier life. The 3M Aycliffe plant's health committee has identified a series of walks of up to 1.5 miles, two
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News in brief: Electric blanket catches fire
A 59-year-old man could have been killed when his electric blanket caught fire while he was asleep. Brian Metcalfe, of Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall, York, woke at 7am on Monday to find his room filled with smoke. Sub-officer Carl Vinand, of York fire station
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Excellent move as Bob takes over the hot seat
BOB Coxon has been instrumental in changing the fortunes of the region and, in particular, the Tees Valley. As chief executive of Synetix, he was head of a world-renowned catalyst business, building it up to employ more than 1,000 staff, including 400
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Appeal over club attack
A MAN is in hospital after he was attacked with either a bottle or a glass at a Hartlepool nightclub. Police are appealing for information and any witnesses after the man, from County Durham, was attacked while in the town for a night out. He was with
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Officers offer help in keeping children safe
PARENTS are going back to school to pick up tips from police officers in an attempt to protect their children from potential dangers. Following successful sessions for children at Grindon Infants and St Cuthbert's Primary schools, in Sunderland, PCs Steve
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Brickmaker spends £300,000 on kiln
A brick-making company has celebrated its 15th anniversary by spending thousands of pounds on equipment. The York Handmade Brick Company, at Alne, near Easingwold, has installed a £300,000 kiln in its factory. The computer-controlled kiln is the latest
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Travelling back in time to the days of war
RAILWAY visitors cast their minds to military matters as part of a themed event. Tanfield Railway held a military weekend from Saturday to Monday. As well as running its normal train service, it staged an exhibition of old vehicles including lorries,
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Grassroots: Derwentside
Centenary Concert: The centenary concert of the Annfield Plain Gleemen with guest stars Valerie Reid and Graeme Danby will be held at 7pm on Saturday, in the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley. Return To Life: The Diocesan Youth Mission Team is staging a
