Archive
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New post to keep people informed
A communications and marketing manager has been appointed to help promote an area and keep people informed of local affairs. Easington District Council and Easington Primary Care Trust (PCT) have jointly appointed Mike Lavender to the post. He was formerly
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Reducing falls among elderly
ELDERLY residents learned how to safeguard themselves against falls at an open day this week. The event was staged by community members at Primrose Court Sheltered Housing Complex, Blackhall, to highlight the risk of falling among over 65s. Residents
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Ex-nurse takes up key health position
A NURSE turned manager has been named as the new chief executive of Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) NHS. Jayne Barnes, who started out as a nurse at Leeds General Infirmary 25 years ago before climbing the rungs in NHS management
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News in brief: Level crossing shuts for work
Rounton Gates level crossing, north of West Rounton, Northallerton, is to close temporarily for maintenance. The closure will take place between Saturday and next Wednesday, although it is expected the work will actually be carried out between 10pm on
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Man accused of 'grooming' schoolboy
A 15-year-old schoolboy spent secret hours on the Internet visiting a gay teen chat room while his family slept, a court was told yesterday. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, arranged sexual liaisons with other youngsters in his area. But
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Vending machine proving to the taste of N-E workers
A DARLINGTON company marketing an innovative vending machine has signed a contract to supply 1,000 sandwiches a week to North-East workers. Hotbite, which installs machines that cook and serve fresh, hot toasted sandwiches, has signed a deal with Hartlepool-based
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On your bike in memory of brave Chris
THE parents of a brave teenager who died from cancer are urging cyclists to help them raise thousands of pounds in his name. Chris Lucas, from Wallsend, died in July 2000, aged 18, after contracting a rare form of cancer, called rhabdomyosarcoma, which
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Playing with Grace and showmanship
WILLIAM Gilbert Grace was the greatest cricketer who ever lived, and twice in his long and distinguished career he graced the ground of Feethams. The first time was exactly 130 years ago this month, when he was at the height of his prodigious powers.
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Sausage sales linked to £22.2m Cranswick profits
YORKSHIRE food producer Cranswick - which counts Thornaby company Lazenby's among its brands - has announced a 27 per cent increase in profits to £22.2m. The sausage plant continues to make a successful contribution to the annual results for the 12 months
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Airshow organisers promise crowd-thriller
A PACKED events programme is being lined up for the 15th annual Sunderland International Airshow. Organisers plan to announce the full itinerary next month, but have already confirmed that old favourites The Red Arrows will be back performing over the
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Comment: A lesson in pay bargaining
THE Fire Brigades Union general secretary Andy Gilchrist is adamant the 16 per cent pay offer he recommended for acceptance yesterday differs significantly from previous proposals. Others would beg to differ with Mr Gilchrist's interpretation. The offer
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Can anyone find a house worth £1m in Hartlepool? If so, Meatloaf wants it
ROCK star Meatloaf has proved he would do anything for love - including moving to a North East fishing town. The international superstar has instructed his advisors to look for a house in Hartlepool after falling in love with the town's football
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TV review
Ploughing the depths of centuries of depravity Hideous Crimes: Secrets From The Black Museum (five) Crash Of An Internet Porn King: Operation Landslide (BBC2) WHY, you might reasonably wonder, did police take so long to catch cat burglar Charlie Peace
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Lots of bricks for the walls
PINK FLOYD star David Gilmour, right, has told why he had donated more than £3m to a project aimed at creating a community of affordable housing and lifetime residences for the homeless. Homeless charity Crisis plans to build an urban village which will
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Crackdown on tyre safety
POLICE in the North-East are to launch a tyre safety campaign later this month. According to Kwik Fit, 11.5 per cent of drivers are daily taking their lives in their hands by driving their vehicles on tyres which fail to reach the minimum legal requirement
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Cancer cases up
THE number of North men admitted to hospital for skin cancer treatment has increased by more than 40 per cent in five years, according to a new report. Men from the North-East and North-West have the highest increase in admission rates in England, higher
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Howells' hollywood howler
ORGANISERS of the Cannes Film Festival dismissed claims by Tourism Minister Kim Howells yesterday that Hollywood stars were too scared to fly. Mr Howells said US action heroes did not have the "balls" to fly to Europe for fear of a terrorist attack. But
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Drug-dealers may lose their homes under new proposals
DRUG-DEALERS are to lose their homes under plans to combat the menace on North-East streets. Police have drawn up a tough policy aimed at driving out dealers who make thousands of pounds peddling drugs. Politicians are pressing the Government to give
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Row over language school policy on exam options
A ROW broke out last night after parents said children were being robbed of top grades at a flagship North-East school. Hummersknott School and Language College, in Darlington, has received a number of complaints from parents who say it is restricting
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Platt's plot
For months Martin Platt has been wandering around Weatherfield looking like a lost soul, only cheered up by knowing that his ex-wife, Gail the hamster, deserted him for a serial killer. At long last the Soapland scriptwriters have noticed that Martin
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Southgate's staying
STEVE McCLAREN has assured Gareth Southgate of Middlesbrough's ambitions and told his skipper that he is pivotal to the club's long-term plans. England centre-back Southgate has been persistently linked with a move, most recently to Newcastle United or
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Overhaul for school tests
CONTROVERSIAL tests for primary school children will be overhauled and performance tables reviewed under wide-ranging plans announced by Education Secretary Charles Clarke yesterday. The Standard Assessment Tests for seven-year-olds are to be less formal
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Councillor is expelled for poor record
A COUNCIL has confirmed the expulsion of a councillor for not attending meetings. Earlier this month, Durham County councillor Keith Murray-Hetherington, Labour member for Stanley, fell foul of the law requiring attendance of at least one meeting in six
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Court told of learner car crash
A MAN suffered horrific injuries after walking into the path of a car in rush-hour traffic, a court heard yesterday. Paul Alan Kefford is still recovering in hospital after he was hit by the Ford Focus, driven by unsupervised learner driver Philip Kelly
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£1.9m boost for Internet projects
EIGHT North-East council projects have been given a share of £1.9m to promote innovative e-projects. Local Government Minister Chris Leslie announced the partnership awards yesterday. The money has been awarded to projects which use the latest technology
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New supermarket could lead to hundreds of jobs
Hundreds of jobs could be created if plans to build a supermarket on the site of a manufacturing company goes ahead. Pickerings Lifts, based in Stockton, announced plans yesterday for a multi-million pound relocation to a new site, which would allow them
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Goater pleads with City for cut-price transfer
SUNDERLAND target Shaun Goater last night pleaded with Manchester City not to price him out of a dream move. The 33-year-old striker is on the transfer list at his own request, and Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy is understood to be ready to do business
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Teenager attacked by gang
THE mother of a teenager who was set upon by a gang in an unprovoked attack last night appealed for those responsible to come forward. Jason Ramsey, 16, was with a small group of friends in Smiths Dock Park, Normanby, Teesside, on Friday waiting for a
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Six months in jail for affair with 15-year-old
A FORMER school lab technician was jailed for six months yesterday after admitting having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Stuart Douglas Grey, 41, admitted two offences of sex with an underage girl, and one of indecent assault, all committed
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Have the fat cats been licked?
'FAT cat: applied derogatorily to someone who is privileged because of their wealth; latterly in Britain applied specifically to business executives who are unjustifiably highly remunerated' (Oxford Dictionary of Slang). The phrase may have been born
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Screen and stage star Paul Nicholas arrives in town for show
STAGE and screen star Paul Nicholas posed for photographs before his latest opening night in the region. The veteran performer, who has appeared in many successful shows, is featuring in Fiddler on the Roof, at Sunderland's Empire Theatre, until Saturday
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Sport Briefs: Pollock quits Brewery Field
SPENNYMOOR: Former Middlesbrough midfielder Jamie Pollock last night surprisingly quit as manager of UniBond League Spennymoor. Pollock took over from Tony Lee in January and, with the help of assistant Jason Ainsley, guided the club through a hectic
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Study links MMR injection with autism
THERE was a highly significant link between the MMR jab and autism compared with another triple jab given to children, US researchers said yesterday. UK groups campaigning for single vaccines said the study justified their concerns about the mumps, measles
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Learning to stomach a taste for tripe
WITH unalloyed thanks to the readers who make these columns perpetually possible, the Press awards went well again - but with a salutary note from Andrew Smith. Andrew's editorial director of Northeast Press operating in the Tyneside-Wearside area but
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Union's move to end fire dispute
AN END to the bitter firefighters' dispute was in sight last night after union leaders urged acceptance of a peace deal, nine months after the conflict started. The executive of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) voted to recommend that a final deal worth
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Talented singers hunted by judges
SINGERS from the North-East have the chance to enter a national contest to find new talent. The regional heat for Festival4stars will be held at The Thistle Hotel, Middlesbrough, on Sunday, June 8. A Festival4stars spokesman said: "We are not necessarily
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Tribunal into allegations at club adjourns
A TRIBUNAL investigating allegations of bullying and intimidation within Newcastle United's youth squad has been adjourned. The tribunal, set up by the FA Premier League, is examining complaints made by youngsters and their parents against Peter Beardsley
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Jailed - man who lifted railway line
AN AUDACIOUS conman set up his own maintenance company which hired unsuspecting workers to steal two-and-a-half miles of railway track worth £250,000. But yesterday, it was the end of the line for Glen Pendleton, who masterminded the scam to steal 350
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Terror threat closes British embassy
THE British embassy in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh will close to the public today because of an "imminent" terrorist threat, the Foreign Office said. The British consulate in Jeddah and trade office in al Khobar will also close. It is expected the offices
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Tykes new boy poised for debut
The first question Yorkshire asked their new overseas star Yuvraj Singh when he finally arrived in England yesterday was: "Do you feel fresh enough to play in the Championship match against Glamorgan?" And the answer they got back from the fit and enthusiastic
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21/05/03
TONY BLAIR: I FEEL compelled to write to you after reading Alan Benn's letter (HAS, May 7). He made reference to the Blair Bashers having more than their fair share of space in your columns. It could be, of course, that there are more of them. I can only
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Sausage sales linked to £22.2m Cranswick profits
YORKSHIRE food producer Cranswick - which counts Thornaby company Lazenby's among its brands - has announced a 27 per cent increase in profits to £22.2m. The sausage plant continues to make a successful contribution to the annual results for the 12 months
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Granada in the black by £65m
BROADCASTER Granada announced the start of an ITV fightback yesterday after seeing half-year underlying profits surge 35 per cent to £65m. The company, which holds seven of the ITV licences, including Tyne Tees, said the network was benefiting from better
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£20,000 of stolen property recovered
ABOUT £20,000 worth of property stolen from across the North has been recovered by police. Car stereos, a security video recorder, computers, sim cards from mobile phones and an industrial drill were seized during raids in Middlesbrough on a suspected
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£1m bid set to complete rail repairs
Council chiefs are launching a bid for £1m of Government cash in a move which will go a long way towards ending the region's railway bridges scandal. North Yorkshire County Council will ask for the money which would finish off its long-running programme
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Last night's TV - Ploughing the depths of centuries of depravity
Hideous Crimes: Secrets From The Black Museum (five) Crash Of An Internet Porn King: Operation Landslide (BBC2) WHY, you might reasonably wonder, did police take so long to catch cat burglar Charlie Peace as he was so recognisable - a stunted, seven-fingered
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Market report
ITV company Granada was riding high on the FTSE 100 Index yesterday as London's leading shares staged a partial recovery after Monday's gruelling session. The index - which slid 107.7 points on Monday - recovered from early wobbles to close 30.3 points
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Anne gives a Gurkha greeting
The Princess Royal used the traditional Gurkha namaste greeting yesterday as she met relatives and soldiers from the 2 Signal Regiment, at Imphal Barracks, York, after their return from the war in Iraq. Princess Anne, Colonel in Chief for the Royal Corps
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Inflation stays above 2.5% target
HIGHER council tax bills meant the underlying rate of inflation remained well above the Government's 2.5 per cent target during last month. The rise in housing costs offset falls in petrol prices as the annual rate, which excludes mortgage interest payments
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Justice in the hands of the Lords
THE self-confessed killer of a North-East mother could soon face justice after a landmark vote in the House of Commons. Billy Dunlop admitted killing Billingham pizza delivery girl Julie Hogg after he had been acquitted of her murder. But because of the
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New acts showcased
A MONTHLY music event to showcase new acts is being launched. The Junction will be held at the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace, Darlington. Tickets are £2.50, available from Williams music shop, The Arts Centre, Fourth Chamber, Vinyl Junkies, and at the
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Springbok Pretorius gets Test call-up
PACEMAN Dewald Pretorius returns to the Durham team for the match against Derbyshire starting at Riverside today, but will be available for only two more championship matches before teaming up with the South Africa squad. He has been named in both the
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Springbok Pretorius gets Test call-up
PACEMAN Dewald Pretorius returns to the Durham team for the match against Derbyshire starting at Riverside today, but will be available for only two more championship matches before teaming up with the South Africa squad. He has been named in both the
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Woman held at knifepoint wins dismissal case
A mother-of-two who was held at knifepoint during an armed robbery has won a case for constructive dismissal against her employers. Sharon Watson was assistant manager of the Spar shop and sub-post office, in Haughton, Darlington when the premises was
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Power firm sponsors schoolchildren to burn up energy
AN electricity and gas supplier encouraged Teesside youngsters to burn up their own energy yesterday by sponsoring two sporting events. Npower hosted the 2003 Tag Rugby Festival in Middlesbrough and the Cricket Power Day team visited a Yarm school to
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Meter reader is hailed a blaze hero
A METER reader has been hailed a hero for his prompt action in stopping a fire spreading to neighbouring homes. Tim Lovell was reading meters in Middlesbrough when he saw smoke coming out of a house in Magdalen Street. He called the fire brigade and went
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Dales' car parks provide income boost
INCOME from car parks in the Yorkshire Dales national park suggests tourists have been returning in the wake of the foot-and-mouth crisis. Total income over the past financial year has increased to £338,900, indicating as many as 25,000 more visitors
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Daisy days are here again for the over-50s
A SCHEME providing free activities for over-50s in Darlington has a packed programme for the summer. Darlington, Active, Independent, Staying Young (Daisy) offers the chance to meet people and develop skills. Events run until October and include jewellery-making
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Performers promise a feast of fun
A PACKAGE of summer entertainment has been unveiled. Tony Peers Productions, together with Kay Carmen and Howard Layton Productions, will return to the Scarborough Spa following their success last year. Tony Peers will provide six shows a week at 8pm,
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Get close to nature on college courses
A NORTH Yorkshire agricultural college has linked up with the UK's first field centre on military land to offer wildlife enthusiasts a range of educational courses this summer. Run in association with Askham Bryan College, the sessions at the Foxglove
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Restoration grant
The Richmond branch of the Royal British Legion has been awarded a grant to help cover the cost of restoring railings which surround the Green Howards memorial, at the foot of Gallowgate. North Yorkshire County Council has agreed to contribute £975. The
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Firm backs the fight on crime
A NORTH-EAST firm is fuelling the fight against crime by funding a countryside neighbourhood network for the next 12 months. Bayford and Co will cover the operating costs of the Daleswatch scheme in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale for at least the next year
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Ambulance staff's dedication recognised
AMBULANCE crews from Darlington have been presented with long-service awards. Staff from Darlington ambulance station were among colleagues from across County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland who were honoured at a ceremony at Gateshead Civic
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Families featuring in video documentaries
Six families taking part in a video-recording project in Teesdale are getting ready to screen their first short film for their friends and neighbours. They will show it in the village school at Butterknowle on Thursday, June 19. Other residents will be
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Sequel plan as young film-makers honoured
WOULD-BE film-makers of tomorrow have shown they already have what it takes to make their mark in the world of television. Youngsters aged 13 to 18 took part in the first Thirsk Young Film-Makers Festival, at the town's voluntary-run Ritz Cinema. After
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Transfer payout to move growers
ALLOTMENT holders will be offered a compensation and transfer package as they make way for the construction of homes. The plots in Scott Street, Shildon, are in the middle of a building site for 100 semi-detached and detached properties. The area has
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End of shop that did its best for generations of Scouts
FOR generations of children there was only one place to go for a woggle. The Scout and Guide Shop in North Bailey, Durham, has supplied uniforms to tens of thousands of children in the region for the past 70 years. Known affectionately by Scouts as Number
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Inmate wrecks chance of freedom
A top-security prisoner ended his chances of early parole by threatening to kill a guard and his family, a court heard yesterday. Keith Pringle, 33, was jailed for 15 years in 1992 after holding his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint in her Darlington home for
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Warming up for fundraising aerobathon
AN aerobics instructor and her ten-month-old son helped launch an aerobathon yesterday. Baby Sol Tones' imminent arrival prevented his mother Helen Stockport from taking part in the first aerobathon, in Sherburn, last year. This year, he took centre stage
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Body of missing woman found at beauty spot
POLICE confirmed yesterday that a body pulled from a river at a Dales beauty spot was that of a woman reported missing on Monday. Lynda Brown, 49, was from Congleton, Cheshire but was staying in a cottage in Grassington, North Yorkshire. Her family alerted
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Walk to school campaign launched
PARENTS in Hartlepool are being urged to support a campaign that aims to improve safety outside schools and promote healthier lifestyles for pupils. Officers from Hartlepool Borough Council want parents to walk to school with their children whenever possible
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News in brief: Baby killed in dog attack
French police are investigating after a British baby was killed by a Belgian shepherd dog. The two-month-old child was being looked after by friends of the parents, who live in the village of Holque, near Calais, when it was attacked. French reports said
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Long wait is over as school gets special needs nurse
PUPILS with special needs have finally got their own school nurse - after an 11-year wait. Parents and staff at Villa Real School, in Consett, have been campaigning for more than a decade to get a dedicated, on-site nurse. Their wish came true after Durham
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Coroner raises concern on death
A DRUGS user died after he was given the heroin-substitute methadone, an inquest heard yesterday. The Durham inquest heard that Gary Foster, 40, of Moorside, Consett, County Durham, was admitted to hospital last June after police found him wandering in
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1,500 people in the queue for 70 jobs at store
A TOTAL of 1,500 people have applied for 70 jobs at a new store in Bishop Auckland. Workers are queuing up to fill the posts at the Wilkinson home and gardens store in Bishop Auckland, which will not open for three months. The company is taking over the
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Worldwide dance tour pays a visit
A WORLDWIDE tour by young dancers stops off in Darlington tomorrow. The Transitions Dance Company will be performing four works especially commissioned from six choreographers for the tour at Darlington Arts Centre. The group has toured extensively to
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Newly established girls' football team nets county cup title
A TEAM of female footballers achieved instant success in their first season. Framwellgate School under-14 girls' team was set up at the start of the academic year, with no great expectations. But they rounded off their season as Durham County champions
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No headpine
Guns spreading 'like a cancer' GUN crime is spreading across Britain like a cancer, police chiefs were told yesterday. The Association of Chief Police Officers' annual conference was told by the organisation's firearms spokesman: "It's coming your way
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News in brief: Assault charge is dropped
Police last night confirmed they would not be pressing charges against a Darlington pub landlord accused of indecent assault. Glittering Star landlord David Pointon was due to answer police bail on Monday after being arrested on suspicion of indecent
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Justice group landmark
PEOPLE are being invited to celebrate a ten-year stretch with a difference. The Teesside Justice Support Project was set up a decade ago in an attempt to cut juvenile crime rates, through working with young people. The project which achieved a 36 per
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News in brief: Boro coaching for youngsters
YOUNG football fans have the chance to learn from qualified Premiership coaches during the school holidays. Middlesbrough Football in the Community half-term courses are being held for children next week, with nine courses to choose from. Sessions are
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Bungalows with royal connections
AS CARS whizz out of Darlington in their mad dash along the A66 towards Middlesbrough, they pass a handful of brick bungalows low down on the left-hand side. The semi-detached bungalows probably are not worth a second thought to most drivers as the battle
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Sharon Griffiths
THIS is a real Challenge Annika... Annika Sorenstam is to be the first woman golfer for 50 years to play the men at their own game. Tomorrow she's competing on the men's professional circuit. No one 's expecting her to do brilliantly. If she does respectably
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Taking on role as police crime chief
A CRIME manager has been appointed at Stockton police station. Detective Superintendent Steve Ash, 37, has taken on the role vacated by Brian Dunn, who is now senior investigating officer at Cleveland Police headquarters. Det Supt Ash, who joined the
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Joint bid to reduce biker casualties
RENEWED efforts are being made to make the roads of North Yorkshire safer for motorcyclists. A campaign has been launched to drive home the message to bikers to cut down on their speed. The Hambleton Community Safety Partnership has joined forces with
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News in brief: Vandals leave clues at centre
Vandals have smashed windows and daubed graffiti at a community centre. The youths attacked Stanley Day Centre, in Wear Road, Stanley, overnight on Sunday, May 11. They wrote the names Kim, Vicki, Sheep and Melanie C on the building. The following night
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Kingscross can steam to Trophy win
HISTORY is set to repeat itself at Goodwood this afternoon where Kingscross (2.10) has a terrific chance to retain the Baker Tilly Trophy. Exactly 12 months ago Kingscross lifted the silverware in the six furlong handicap when partnered by Jimmy Quinn
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Road honours lifeboat tragedy victims
A LIFEBOAT tragedy which claimed nine lives has been immortalised with the naming of a road. The accident happened in 1962, when the George Elmy lifeboat set out into stormy waters off the coast of Seaham, east Durham, to answer a distress call from the
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Football star backs charity
FOOTBALL legend Peter Beardsley launched a drive to raise cash for the region's premature babies yesterday. The former Newcastle, Liverpool and England striker is backing the Black and White Party taking place in Gosforth Park Hotel, Newcastle, next month
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MP Baird opposes reform of jury laws
A NORTH-EAST MP has spoken out against Government law reform plans. Redcar's Vera Baird voted against Home Secretary David Blunkett's proposals to allow judges to sit without juries in complex fraud cases. Mrs Baird, a QC, is one of 50 Labour backbenchers
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Experts meet to tackle child porn trade
EXPERTS are meeting tomorrow to discuss ways of combating the sick trade in Internet child porn. A mini summit is being held in the North-East, organised by children's charity Barnardo's. The conference, being held in Middlesbrough, will explore the latest
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Cricket talks go on as 'war and mayhem' is declared
CRICKET authorities in the North-East were still hoping last night to reach a compromise with pro-democracy protestors prior to the region's historic first Test match - to be played in a fortnight. Durham officials called for further talks with the Stop
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New drug in fight against heart disease
ANOTHER weapon in the fight against heart disease is available in the North-East. New drug Ezetrol could help patients who have difficulty in reaching safe levels of cholesterol, even though they are already on medication. The move has been welcomed by
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Store chain loses ham battle
THE Asda supermarket chain lost its legal battle yesterday to carry on selling Italian Parma ham - because it is packed and sliced in Britain. European judges ruled that the meat must be packed and sliced in Parma to be marketed with its name of origin
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No summer of rest for Owen
ENGLAND: Michael Owen has warned Liverpool that they face a ''big summer'' to arrest the club's slide out of the Champions League. Owen was at least able to take one considerable positive from the past season, missing just two games due to his well-documented
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Musical picnic cutback blamed on the council
THE scaling-down of a popular annual music event because of a funding crisis has been blamed on a lack of support for rural music by Darlington Borough Council. The annual Musical Picnic in the Park, in Hurworth, near Darlington, which attracted more
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People urged to get running for cancer charity
WOMEN from across the region are being asked to walk, jog or run 5km to raise money for Cancer Research. The Northern Echo is supporting this year's Race for Life, in Darlington, which aims to raise thousands of pounds for charity. Yesterday, the race
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I can get best from Bowyer, says Bobby
SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night broke his silence on Newcastle's move for Lee Bowyer and promised that a switch to St. James' Park would rehabilitate the midfielder's career. The controversial Bowyer is understood to have agreed terms with the Magpies on
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TV's Cheggers wins apology
ENTERTAINER Keith Chegwin accepted a public apology yesterday over a newspaper claim that he hatched a plot to bribe a police officer. Chegwin brought libel proceedings in London's High Court over a front-page article in The People in January. His solicitor
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Hairdressing friends set up HQ
THREE former workmates have joined forces to open a business following a chance meeting. When Paula Turnbull, Anthony Longstaff and Deborah Sutton saw that the hairdressers where they once worked as a team, in Crook, was up for sale they could not resist
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Granada in the black by £65m
BROADCASTER Granada announced the start of an ITV fightback yesterday after seeing half-year underlying profits surge 35 per cent to £65m. The company, which holds seven of the ITV licences, including Tyne Tees, said the network was benefiting from better
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Sceptical response on manslaughter Bill
GOVERNMENT plans to publish a new offence of corporate manslaughter in a draft Bill drew a sceptical response yesterday. Home Secretary David Blunkett said there was "great public concern at the criminal law's lack of success in convicting companies of
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Garden designers grow for gold at this year's Chelsea
THERE were gold, silver and bronze awards yesterday as 17 North-East and Yorkshire local authorities, companies and individual entries took the world's greatest flower show by storm. A rainswept 81st Chelsea Flower Show saw golds awarded to the Fir Trees
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Teacher pardoned by Malawi President
A BRITISH teacher who was jailed for 12 years with hard labour in Malawi for molesting street children has been pardoned by President Bakili Muluzi. Richard Edward Hayles, originally from Teesside, will be deported from the southern African country. He
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Vaughan bags another honour
Michael Vaughan yesterday capped an extraordinary 12 months as an England player by winning the prestigious Vodafone Cricketer of the Year award. The Yorkshire batsman won the vote after hitting seven centuries during the year, including three against
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Thief takes pensioner's bag
A THIEF snatched a pensioner's handbag as she did her shopping. The 66-year-old was walking down the rear of Cresswell Street, Walker, Newcastle, at about 2.30pm on Monday, when he grabbed her shopping bag from her shoulder. He was aged 18 or 19 and was
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Business Brief: Poor Easter for Thorntons
CONFECTIONERY maker and retailer Thorntons said that sales of Easter eggs had fallen, prompting it to cut full-year profit forecasts. Thorntons, of Alfreton, Derbyshire, sells about 1.6 million eggs during the three-week Easter period, which represents
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CASE STUDY: 'I am frightened of being mugged'
EIGHTY-year-OLD Joan Naylor always makes sure her doors are locked and almost never ventures out at night. Mrs Naylor complains that, despite putting up with trouble from local youths, she has never seen a police officer patrolling the street. A widow
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Closed Marina toilet block at centre of tourist wrangle
A TOWN'S efforts to establish itself as a top tourist attraction are being hampered by a lack of basic facilities, it was claimed last night. Councillors say visitors could be driven away because the public toilets near Hartlepool Marina are always closed
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Flying the flag in Norway
A BUSINESSMAN is promoting the North-East in Norway in a bid to attract investment. Mike Pedersen, who has 20 years' experience running IT companies in Norway and the UK, is acting as an ambassador on behalf of regional development agency One NorthEast
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Amec to improve Serbian oil refinery
INTERNATIONAL engineering services company Amec has won a multi-million pound contract to improve an oil refinery in Serbia. The firm, which has a base in Darlington, will provide project management and engineering services for NIS, the Serbian state-owned
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Fat cat pay to be scrutinised
THE Government has pledged to continue monitoring moves aimed at tackling fat cat pay-offs as unions stepped up demands for further action. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said, in the wake of Monday's shareholders' vote at pharmaceuticals
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Two-year investigation into scrapbook's link with Carroll
PICTURES from the earliest days of photography are casting a new light on church figures in the mid 19th Century. And, to add to the fascination, the fading sepia images may even have been taken by one of the era's most famous literary names. The pictures
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CJ Bowlby, a man truly ahead of his time
AS a trainee reporter almost half a century ago, one of my tasks was to meet people who called in at the front office. Usually they wanted publicity for some forthcoming event, like a church "Fayre", or a family success, perhaps a son or daughter gaining
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M&S off the rack and back in vogue
MARKS and Spencer has revealed annual profits at the top end of expectations. Britain's biggest clothing retailer said yesterday that group pre-tax profits rose 11.5 per cent to £721.3m in the year to March 29, with UK clothing sales rising by ten per
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Take the woman on... if you dare
THIS is a real Challenge Annika... Annika Sorenstam is to be the first woman golfer for 50 years to play the men at their own game. Tomorrow she's competing on the men's professional circuit. No one 's expecting her to do brilliantly. If she does respectably
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Assault soldier allowed to walk free
A SOLDIER walked free from court yesterday so that he can fly out to Iraq next month. Private Graham Moody, 21, of the First Queen's Lancashire Regiment, who admitted causing grievous bodily harm to a civilian outside Harry's bar, in Catterick Garrison
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Man jailed for officers' deaths
A JILTED lover was jailed for life yesterday after he was found guilty of murdering one police officer and unlawfully killing another by deliberately ramming their car during a high-speed pursuit. Leayon Davi Dudley, 39, drove straight at the car at more
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Jeff heads tourism taskforce for North
A TASKFORCE has been created to boost tourism in the region. The interim Regional Tourism Forum (iRTF) is headed by the former chief executive of the British Tourist Authority, Jeff Hamblin, and brings together experts in the fields of hospitality, skills
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Lawyers in amicable split
A NORTH-EAST law firm is restructuring to create two new practices. Jacksons Solicitors, which has offices in Stockton, Gateshead and Leeds, hopes to add to its 130-strong staff. Bosses decided that their two core areas of business, insurance and commercial
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Drug-dealers may lose their homes under new proposals
DRUG-DEALERS are to lose their homes under plans to combat the menace on North-East streets. Police have drawn up a tough policy aimed at driving out dealers who make thousands of pounds peddling drugs. Politicians are pressing the Government to give
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Sir Liam called to Neale inquiry
THE Government's chief medical officer is to give evidence at the Richard Neale inquiry, it was confirmed last night. Lawyers representing the inquiry panel have asked Professor Sir Liam Donaldson to attend the inquiry in York to answer questions. Sir
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Action urged to make Dales
NATIONAL park chiefs are hoping the organisation's 50th anniversary next year will prove to be the catalyst which ensures its survival. Research indicates that the majority of people who make regular trips to the Yorkshire Dales are white, able-bodied
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Simmons sets his sights on former steel plant
A BUSINESSMAN who hoped to build a factory at a redundant cement works - creating 135 jobs - has switched his attention to another site. Terry Simmons wanted to open a building board plant at LaFarge's Blue Circle Cement works, in Eastgate, Weardale,
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Row over language school policy on exam options
A ROW broke out last night after parents said children were being robbed of top grades at a flagship North-East school. Hummersknott School and Language College, in Darlington, has received a number of complaints from parents who say it is restricting
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Crime fears keep elderly indoors
THE elderly are becoming increasingly afraid to venture on to the streets as their fear of crime grows, Age Concern has warned. A report by the charity found many pensioners condemned to a life within four walls because they feel vulnerable to attack
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Soldier's trial delayed after overseas post
THE trial of a soldier accused of criminal damage has been delayed until the end of the year because he is serving abroad. Neal Holdsworth, a soldier based at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, denies destroying a glass panel worth nearly £300 at
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Gadfly
WITH unalloyed thanks to the readers who make these columns perpetually possible, the Press awards went well again - but with a salutary note from Andrew Smith. Andrew's editorial director of Northeast Press operating in the Tyneside-Wearside area but
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Victorian bridge back in use
A BRIDGE dating back to the Victorian era has been totally refurbished at a cost of more than £300,000. The imposing structure at Myton on Swale, near Boroughbridge, has been restored thanks to a team effort involving the county council, the Heritage
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Lee still in Newell's plans
GRAEME Lee could yet line up next season for Hartlepool United. The classy central defender is out of contract and is believed to have rejected two offers from Pool to sign a new deal. After making his debut in 1996 and making 252 appearances for the
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Shooters go wild to raise £35,000
Two charities will benefit from more than £35,000 raised by volunteers from commerce and industry in the region. Teams took part in the spectacular Really Wild Clay Day, at Hovingham Hall, near York, yesterday. Twenty seven teams of guns shot more than
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Jail term for woman who escaped police custody
A PRISONER who escaped from the clutches of the police during two separate incidents was jailed for 15 months yesterday. Elizabeth Todd, 24, went on the run after being granted bail while appealing against a four-month prison sentence imposed by magistrates
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MS physio to attend Swiss seminar
A PHYSIOTHERAPIST is to address an international conference tomorrow after an inviation by the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. Serena Hartley is travelling to Switzerland after the society asked her to be a guest at the seminar. The all-expenses paid
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Bogus callers target two elderly women
TWO elderly women have become the latest victims of bogus callers pretending to be from water companies. A quantity of cash was stolen from one of the pensioners, who live at opposite ends of Tow Law, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Last night, police
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Police foil theft of stone roofing slates
Two thieves who fled over fields to escape police, leaving behind a lorry load of stolen goods, were being hunted yesterday. The pair were driving an old Ford tipper truck when police in a patrol car spotted them on a road near Woodland, at 1.20am. The
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Learning the art of making talking books
THIRTEEN members of Darlington's Crown Street Reading Group for the Visually Impaired and five helpers will find out what is involved in creating a book for visually impaired people today. The group will be joined by staff from the main library on a visit
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Mark writes his way to history prize
AN essay on the Industrial Revolution has won Mark Richardson the James Barningham essay competition at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington. Twelve students entered the annual competition. Mark, from Woodham, won the first prize of £50.
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Regional: Inquest into crash death
AN inquest into the death of Colin Brown, 43, of Edith Street, Consett, was opened and adjourned by north Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle yesterday. Mr Brown was riding his motorcycle south along the A691, west of Durham, when it collided with a Rover at
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Rejected gipsy caravans site scheme resubmitted
A PLAN to turn a paddock into a travellers' caravan site has been submitted to Darlington Borough Council for the third time. James Mounsey first asked the council for permission to create the gipsy park for members of his family in July 2001. The application
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Non-Labour council starts new political era
A TOWN council has made history by meeting for the first time without any Labour councillors. It was the first time Shildon Town Council has met since the May 1 local government elections when all Labour councillors lost their seats. The town has always
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Disabled man in court for assault
A DISABLED man grabbed his neighbour by the throat after their friendship turned sour, a court heard yesterday. Kenneth Frid, 55, had helped Lianne Cain move into the flat opposite his in Inverary Close, Darlington, and lent her money. But he became angry
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Letters
TONY BLAIR I FEEL compelled to write to you after reading Alan Benn's letter (HAS, May 7). He made reference to the Blair Bashers having more than their fair share of space in your columns. It could be, of course, that there are more of them. I can only
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Adult learners help college mark anniversary
PEOPLE who have grasped a second chance to learn helped Bishop Auckland College mark 11 years of commitment to a national education campaign. A record number of candidates were nominated for this year's Adult Learners Awards evening, held in the Ken Handley
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'Cowardly' thieves hunted by police
Detectives are searching for a "cowardly" youth who left an 83-year-old woman badly shaken after snatching her handbag in a Barnard Castle street. She was walking in Birch Road, near the junction with Newgate, when the robber rode up to her at speed on
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Drawing on blossoming skills
A PRESENTATION is being held later this week for youngsters in Hartlepool who have won prizes for their art. Students from schools across the town took part in the town's heat of the annual Northumbria In Bloom children's calendar painting competition
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Ruin rescue complete
A holiday retreat in North Yorkshire, with one of the finest views in the county, is set to open its doors for holidaymakers next year. The Ruin, which stands at the head of the 112-acre Hackfall Woods, at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, came within a whisker
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Tenants 'get better deal on repairs'
COUNCIL tenants are getting a better deal on repairs say Government inspectors, who hailed improvements to a housing service as "a real success story". Sedgefield Borough Council's £4m-a-year homes and maintenance service was criticised by the Audit Commission
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Airshow organisers promise crowd-thriller
A PACKED events programme is being lined up for the 15th annual Sunderland International Airshow. Organisers plan to announce the full itinerary next month, but have already confirmed that old favourites The Red Arrows will be back performing over the
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Following in footsteps of a champ
A TEAM of young boxers are hoping to follow in the footsteps of world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis after fighting off the threat of the Sars virus. Spennymoor Boxing Academy officials were considering cancelling a trip to Toronto because of the virus
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Smuggler gets nine years for conspiracy
A SMUGGLER who helped set up a bogus company to ship more than £1m worth of cannabis into the UK was jailed yesterday. The firm, Andalusite UK, in Sunderland, used a front of importing minerals from South Africa for industrial use. Newcastle Crown Court
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Councillors to discuss plan for skate park
PLANS to create an outdoor skateboarding park will be discussed by councillors this week. Members of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee have received an application to change the use of an industrial unit in Martinet Road within the Thornaby
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Geldof's Ethiopia aid visit
MUSICIAN and campaigner Bob Geldof will visit Ethiopia with the charity Unicef. He will make a five-day trip to the country later this month to visit projects and meet aid workers. Recent Unicef figures suggest that 14 million Ethiopians are dependent
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Pioneering help for the homeless
HELP is on the way for a group of homeless people in North Yorkshire, thanks to a pioneering partnership. Hambleton District Council has joined forces with the Endeavour Housing Association, on Teesside, to provide a £750,000 housing and support scheme
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Father's anger as he visits spot where son died
THE parents of a North-East soldier who died in suspicious circumstances have made an emotional visit to the spot where he was found dead. Private Geoff Gray, 17, of Seaham, County Durham, was discovered with two gunshot wounds to the head at Deepcut
