Archive
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The real impact of Gummer's Clause
THERE is much joy in the Save The Countryside camp. The so-called "Gummer's Clause" has been torn up. Remember John Gummer, an owlish-looking acolyte of Margaret Thatcher, who survived into John Major's Cabinet? What might bring him to mind is the old
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McGrath's heading to New Road
The side strain which Anthony McGrath suffered on his successful Test debut at Lord's last week was much improved yesterday, leaving the Yorkshire captain optimistic over his chances of leading the NatWest Trophy champions in their fourth round clash
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Hospital queues 'getting longer'
MORE patients are waiting for admission at North-East hospitals than three years ago, according to Tory claims. In figures released by the Conservatives, five North-East hospital trusts had more patients waiting at the end of March compared with December
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How an Earl sparked a riot at the thumbing of his nose
THERE has been a King's Head in the centre of Darlington ever since the king lost his head in 1649. This week, though, the King's Head celebrates its 110th anniversary. Today's building - "a palatial hotel", "a temple of luxury" - opened on June 1, 1893
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Fraud trial man vanishes
POLICE are hunting a North-East businessman who has gone missing four months into a multi-million pound fraud trial. George Steen has not been seen since he gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court in London late last week. It is alleged the 54-year-old
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Pay jailed drugs man £3,400, say Euro judges
European human rights judges yesterday ordered the Government to pay a convicted drug trafficker £3,400 in costs and expenses after ruling that he was jailed on evidence from illegally-obtained tape recordings. But the court in Strasbourg said it was
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The race to conquer the greatest of all
The Race For Everest (BBC2) Holiday Airport (ITV1) I conquered Everest the easy way - by plane. Forty of us set off from a Kathmandu airfield at six in the morning for the flight along the mountain range known as the Himalayas. As we flew over Everest
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New theatres to cut ops list
WAITING times will be reduced at one of the county's hospitals with the installation of two operating theatres costing £1.5m. The theatres, which would increase the number from ten to 12 at York District Hospital, could be operational by the end of the
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News in Brief
VANDALS targeted five homes in Stanley during the bank holiday weekend. On Saturday, a golf ball was thrown through a bedroom window at a house in Earl Street at about 7.50pm. Earlier the same day, at 3.45pm, three people were seen using iron bars, to
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Theatre groups go national
TWO North-East youth groups have been chosen to perform at one of the country's most prestigious theatres. Groups from Ryton Comprehensive School, in Gateshead, and Stockton and Billingham Community College, beat off competition from more than 150 groups
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Gross indecency case adjourned
A man charged with four counts of gross indecency towards a child appeared before magistrates yesterday. Charles Thompson, 25, is also accused of using threatening behaviour. Darlington magistrates adjourned the case until June 17. He was granted bail
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Surprise Surprise...Cilla's sensational at sixty
SIXTY is the new sexy. Well, according to Cilla Black it is. She's 60 this week, looking good, feeling fine and determined to enjoy life. Instead of longing for her slippers and her bus pass she's dithering between treating herself to a Ferrari or a perfect
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Newey says no to Quakers deal
Darlington boss Mick Tait last night admitted defeat in his bid to bring Tom Newey to the club on a permanent basis. The Sheffield-born winger, who spent the last month of the season on loan from Leeds United, has turned his back on a move to Quakers
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Britain to block workers' rights
THE Government has vowed to stop the European Union deciding workers' rights in Britain following the latest proposals from the Convention discussing Europe's future. The plans unveiled in Brussels yesterday include making an existing Charter of Fundamental
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Rusedski suffers Paris blow
Greg Rusedski found a nine-month lay-off too much to overcome as he was dumped out of the French Open in the first round by 21-year-old Russian Nikolai Davydenko. The British number two had not played since he was defeated by Pete Sampras in the US Open
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Countryside business help
AN EVENT to encourage rural communities to start a business and existing businesses to diversify has been hailed a success. The Rural Enterprise Show 2003, held at Kirkley Hall, near Ponteland, Northumberland, at the weekend, aimed to provide business
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Serving up Chinese export advice
COMPANIES across the North-East have been given an insight into one of the world's biggest export markets - in China. Simon Rodwell, China business advisor for Trade Partners UK (TPUK) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), took part in a whistle-stop
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Nursery grants awarded
CHILDREN in the North-East will soon benefit from grants totalling more than £500,000 to create nine nurseries. The grants are coming from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund Building Better Nurseries programme, which aims to create quality
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C&W appoints Orange man
Telecoms group Cable & Wireless has enlisted a former founding director of mobile phone company Orange in the fight to revive its fortunes. Graham Howe, who was chief operating officer of Orange until earlier this year, is one of two new non-executive
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Railway move good for business
BUSINESSES are being urged to work together to take advantage of the railway returning to their Dales town after more than 40 years. Engines will once again be running along the Wensleydale railway line later this summer, pulling a regular passenger service
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Barclay brothers buy GUS for £590m
Argos-owner GUS has sold its home shopping businesses in the UK, Ireland and Sweden to the millionaire Barclay brothers in a deal designed to cut its debts. Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, who were estimated to be the 34th richest men in Britain
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Doctors take skills to Iraq
TWO doctors are planning to use their medical skills to help with the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Consultant anaesthetists Dr Steve Benford and Dr Karim Hussain, of the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, are flying to the country for
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Local firm wins deal to help Microsoft
WORLDWIDE computer systems firm Microsoft has turned to the North-East for the expertise to design and build a UK demonstration centre. Sx3, in Boldon, near Sunderland, was chosen to produce the unit where Microsoft can show customers how to use its latest
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Market report
Investors experienced a rollercoaster ride on the London market yesterday after a Wall Street-fuelled rally helped overturn earlier 60 point losses. Better-than-expected consumer confidence figures in the US sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average 100 points
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Cunningham's great Dane
HUTTON RUDBY'S Scot Cunningham heaved a sigh of relief as he watched Playful Dane, who he trains for his mother and father-in-law Ann and David Bell, win the amateur riders' maiden handicap under Michael Campbell at Redcar. And a delighted Cunningham
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Cash offer to new students of medicine
YOUNGSTERS hoping to study medicine at university this autumn could win £500 towards the cost of their education. The South West Durham branch of the British Medical Association is offering a student the cash prize towards their course fees, through an
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Champion flag football team in sponsorship plea
AN American flag football team who won a national title are appealing for sponsorship after their kits were stolen. Youngsters from Darlington's Eastbourne Cardinals need to raise £1,000 to travel to the Great British and European finals in Scotland next
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Gulf War diseases nightmare is forecast
AN expert in Gulf War Syndrome last night accused the Government of "gross neglect" as he warned of an onslaught of cancerous diseases among soldiers returning from Iraq. Professor Malcolm Hooper, chief scientific advisor to the British Gulf War veterans
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Candidate for Europe withdraws as party feud escalates
A CANDIDATE for the 2004 European elections in the North-East has withdrawn - despite winning his party's bitter nomination battle. Peter Troy won the chance to be the UK Independence Party's (Ukip) lead candidate in the elections, but stood down in the
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Surprise Surprise...Cilla's sensational at sixty
SIXTY is the new sexy. Well, according to Cilla Black it is. She's 60 this week, looking good, feeling fine and determined to enjoy life. Instead of longing for her slippers and her bus pass she's dithering between treating herself to a Ferrari or a perfect
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Cancer drug cuts harmful side effects
A NEW "smart" pill for advanced breast and bowel cancer which has fewer side effects than conventional chemotherapy will soon be made available to NHS patients. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), which vets new medicines, has issued
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Chance to win sports car
A THROW of the dice could win someone a sports car worth more than £15,000. To win the Mazda MX5 people have to throw seven sixes in a single throw. It costs £1 for two goes and the competition will be held at Captain Cook Square, in Middlesbrough, from
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Switching from planes to boats and trains
THOUSANDS of British travellers had to switch from planes to boats and trains yesterday as a strike in France caused flight chaos. The action by French air traffic controllers meant UK airlines had to cancel dozens of services. Many air passengers crowded
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'Hidden waiting list' for heart ops
THE NHS is covering up long waits for heart surgery, an angry husband claimed last night. While officials insist virtually no one in the region is waiting longer than six months, many heart patients are waiting much longer, according to the 70-year-old
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Anxious wait for fate of pet hit by off-road bike
A FAMILY whose pedigree dog was run over by an off-road motorcyclist was still waiting last night to find out if she would survive. Five-year-old Flame, an Irish red setter bitch, was hit on a bridle path near Green Lane, Whinfield, Darlington, by a youth
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Winnie the Pooh and tripe talk too
IT was Dick Emery, was it not, who coined the phrase "Ooooh, you are offal, but I like you." Much the same thought may have occurred to Mrs Doreen Johnston upon reading last week's musings on the tripe of a lifetime. Particularly we had recalled United
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Chernobyl lifeline spreads its wings
A CHARITY for young victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster hopes to set up a new group in the area. Chernobyl North-East, at Washington, Wearside, is part of the national concern Chernobyl Child Line established in 1992. It provides month-long breaks
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News Brief
A body was last night being recovered from the main East Coast railway line at Northallerton station after a person was hit by the Newcastle-to-Birmingham train. A spokesman for British Transport Police said there were no suspicious circumstances. The
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Comment: Confusing fools and heroes
LIFE is often about taking risks. Two stories dominating the headlines at the moment are about very different men who took very different risks. One is the ambulance driver who sped down the clear A1 at 104mph in the early hours of the morning. In his
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Fundraisers take a break in the region
FOUR supporters of the National Missing Persons Helpline arrive in the region today as part of a 650-mile charity walk. Derek Burns, from West Lothian, Kevin Brown, from Dagenham, Greater London, Jackie Paling, from Windsor, and Mark Holmes, from Surrey
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Shoppers get up close and impersonal to robot heroes
FANS of the BBC hit TV show, Robot Wars, can get close to some of the programme's mechanical stars this week. The metal monsters, armed with pincers, claws, flame-throwers and saws, will be in the Gateshead MetroCentre's town square throughout half-term
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Court date for man charged with murder
THE man charged with murdering backpacker Caroline Stuttle will face a pre-trial hearing in September, an Australian court has ruled. Ian Douglas Previte, 30, will appear before Bundaberg Magistrates' Court for a four-day hearing that will determine if
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Prison assault
A prisoner in a North-East jail is recovering after he had his throat slashed. Northumbria Police last night confirmed that a man had been attacked in the exercise yard of Acklington Prison, in Northumberland, on Saturday.
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Attack 'could be racial'
A MOTORIST is recovering after an attack police believe was racially-motivated. The 44-year-old, who was with his wife at the time, had pulled up at a junction when the driver of the car in front got out, opened his door and punched him repeatedly in
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It's all about nostalgia as veteran musician charles drops in
A MUSICIAN who has played the accordion for more than 60 years entertained elderly residents yesterday. Charles Young started playing in the Army, performing more than 300 shows for troops. He progressed to North-East venues and supported Washington-born
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School chosen for creative project
A NEWTON Aycliffe school has been chosen to take part in a creative initiative. Greenfield School is one of only a handful in the Sunderland and County Durham areas chosen to participate in the Creative Partnerships venture. Pupils from the school will
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Magistrates' court hearings
The following cases were heard by South Durham magistrates sitting in Darlington yesterday: ASSAULT ALLEGED: A case against a woman accused of assaulting two children was adjourned until June 10. Carol Brown, 58, of Durham Road, Darlington, was not present
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Opera singers give concert at hospice
AN opera company gave a private recital to patients at a hospice in Darlington yesterday. Members of the English Touring Opera Company visited St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington, ahead of their performance last night at the town's Civic Theatre. Soprano
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Council cabinet approves pay rise
A LEADING council officer is to receive a pay rise of up to 32.5 per cent. The pay increase for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council chief executive Colin Moore could see his annual salary rise from about £83,000 to about £110,0000. He was awarded a pay
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Building work gets under way
THE main phase of a £10m project to transform a secondary school in Hartlepool begins tomorrow. A school is to be built to accommodate St Hild's Church of England Voluntary Aided School, which at present has sites on either side of King Oswy Drive. The
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Apology for heart lost in post
HOSPITAL bosses have apologised to parents whose dead daughter's heart got lost in the post. Staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Exeter, mistakenly used the first-class post service to send the heart for analysis in January. Months later, Kathy
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Top guitarists head for region
SOME of the most biggest names in guitar playing will appear at a festival in the region. The fourth Customs House International Guitar Festival will take place at the South Shields venue from Thursday to Sunday, July 17 to 20. Among the top names will
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Fun day of runing promises to be bigger and better than ever
A ROAD race expected to attract more than a thousand competitors from all over the North-East was launched yesterday. Darlington's annual 10km road run, along with a fun run and 3.5km race for youngsters aged 14 to 16, will take place on Sunday, August
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Teenage speedway prospect conscious after horror crash
A TEENAGE speedway star has regained consciousness after he was nearly killed in a high-speed crash. Ashley Johnson, 18, from Teesside, was thrown from his bike while racing at a speedway venue in Suffolk at the weekend. Doctors feared the teenager could
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Chance to have say on crime message
A SURVEY is being launched to see if repeated police crime prevention messages are getting through to the public. In one of the biggest operations ever commissioned, canvassers will doorstep people across Teesside and County Durham, asking them if crime
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Grassroots - Yarm and Eaglescliffe
PROPS HELP: Eaglescliffe's Centre Stage Theatre Group is asking for help to find props for its production of the musical Me and My Girl. The group is looking for a bath chair, tailcoats, black dresses and white-bibbed aprons. Anyone who may be able to
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Council shortlisted for national award
NORTH Yorkshire County Council is in the running for three national awards for the way its staff and councillors manage risk. The council has been shortlisted for awards by Alarm, the national forum for risk management in the public sector. Initiatives
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Estate poised to get adult learning base
A CENTRE dedicated to adult and community learning is to open in Darlington. The borough council announced plans last night to build the centre on the site of the proposed Skerne Park Primary School. The £430,000 project will be funded by a £385,000 grant
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No confidence vote is strike's bitter legacy
ANGRY firefighters have issued a vote of no confidence in their bosses for failing to back them fully during recent strike action. Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in Durham and Darlington say they have no faith in the leadership of chief fire
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Youngsters celebrate their new-found skills
YOUNG people celebrated their newly-acquired skills yesterday. St Mary and St Peter's Community Project, in Springwell, Sunderland, was the venue for activities promoting local youngsters' work as part of the Keyfund scheme. The event included displays
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Testing out banners
BANNERS portraying the last century decade-by-decade will be displayed at the start of the region's first Test cricket match. Sixty primary schools in the region entered a competition to win a place in a guard of honour just before play on the opening
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Storage expansion brings a jobs bonus
EIGHT jobs are expected to be created in Darlington as a textiles company expands its warehouse by 30,000 square feet. Coats Crafts UK, at Lingfield Point Business Park, will use the extra space as a distribution centre for its sister company, Rowan Yarns
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Marathon award for building society boss
A BUILDING society chief executive in Darlington has received an award as best charity group fundraiser in the London Marathon. Peter Rowley, chief executive of Darlington Building Society, received the award from the Building Societies' Association (
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Index shows confidence taking a knock
BUSINESS confidence in Darlington fell last month, according to last month's business index. Figures for April were not as encouraging as earlier in the year, following increases in January, February and March. For businesses in Darlington, turnover and
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Learning about other cultures
CHILDREN took part in a multicultural art workshop yesterday. This week, the New Deal for Communities (NDC) in Hartlepool is running workshops to help residents forge closer links with people from different backgrounds. Activities taking place include
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Poet Laureate pays visit
THE Poet Laureate will open a village library and meet schoolchildren tomorrow. Andrew Motion is visiting the library at Strensall, near York, for the opening of the building, which has been the subject of a £130,000 modernisation and expansion project
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Donation helps fundraising effort
A CHARITY trying to raise £850,000 to buy land and premises has had its appeal boosted by £7,000. The latest cash for Northallerton-based Chopsticks has come from the local branch of Mencap. It was raised from a sale of Christmas cards and gifts from
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Time running out for town's picture postcard trees
A ROW of cherry trees which form a famous avenue across a well-used footpath could soon be for the chop. When in full bloom, the blossoms on Harrogate Stray have regularly featured on picture postcards and calendars. However, the trees, which were planted
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Scheme leads to huge fall in crime
A CRIME-fighting partnership has achieved one of the region's most dramatic falls in burglaries in a former mining community. Over the past year, house burglaries fell by more than 30 per cent in the Easington district compared with the period 2001 to
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Hunt for van driver witness to
POLICE are appealing for help tracking down a witness to a fatal accident in the region last month. Gary Neal, a 33-year-old from Hertfordshire, was killed on April 1 when his white Mercedes Sprinter van collided with a lorry and a bridge barrier before
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Vodafone chief announces his retirement
RETIRING Vodafone boss Sir Christopher Gent is to leave the group on a high note after strong growth in his final year in charge. Underlying profits, which strip out accounting charges, rose 36 per cent to £8.43bn, while turnover increased by 33 per cent
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28/05/03
LAW AND ORDER THANKS largely to the current state of law enforcement, we now live in a society where old people are afraid to go out at night, where even in their own homes they are at serious risk of violence, where indeed all of us are guaranteed being
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Promoting charity walk
THE Wizard of Oz's Dorothy met wildfowl park ducklings when she arrived to promote a charity walk. Dorothy, accompanied by Courage the Lion, visited the Washington Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, on Wearside, on one of its Downy Duckling Days, ahead of
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One lucky reader will drive off in a fantastic new car
ONE lucky reader will drive away their dream car courtesy of The Northern Echo and Suzuki Stoneacre, in Durham. The top prize in our competition, which starts today (see below), is a new Suzuki Ignis, a car boasting power steering, electric windows, central
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Is it time for a vote on Europe?
THE dreaded f-word may have been taken out, but the 148-page document has not lost its capacity to offend. Replacing 'federal' with 'community' may have been designed to make the new European Constitution more palatable, but it has not diminished its
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Boateng eyes double Euro target
MIDDLESBROUGH'S George Boateng has already set himself a double European target for next season. The self-proclaimed midfield destroyer has just finished his first season with the Teesside club, which left him with mixed feelings. The 27-year-old suffered
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'Bit stupid' explorer rescued off floating ice
British polar explorer Pen Hadow was rescued from the North Pole yesterday after being stranded for eight days - and came in for criticism from his rescuers. It was "a bit stupid" to have set out to become the first person to reach the geographic North
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The race to conquer the greatest of all
The Race For Everest (BBC2) Holiday Airport (ITV1) I conquered Everest the easy way - by plane. Forty of us set off from a Kathmandu airfield at six in the morning for the flight along the mountain range known as the Himalayas. As we flew over Everest
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Rachel makes trampolining top grade
A TALENTED trampolinist is flying high after qualifying for national championships. Rachel Ayre, 11, who trains with the Cowgate Trampoline Club, in Newcastle, will compete in the under-13 section of the British National Championships, at Birmingham's
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Shop ready to bring in charity cash
A POPULAR shop is to open its doors once again for a week of frantic activity. The outlet in Middleton, near Pickering, opens regularly for the area's charities. From Monday, it will be the turn of Pickering-based charity The Wilf Ward Family Trust. The
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News In Brief
YORK Crown Court is closing its doors for four weeks this summer so that workers can move in. All cases due to be heard at the Georgian courthouse next to Clifford's Tower, from August 4 to August 29, will instead be heard at Leeds Crown Court. While
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Working with the Scouts is a family affair
THREE members of a family have earned their stripes in the Scouts for amassing 120 years' service between them. Fred Gettings, his twin sister, Freda, and her husband, Dennis Ford, have received awards for their long service with Cleveland Scout Council
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Blues festival goes ahead as tribute to founder
THE region's biggest free blues festival will go ahead this summer despite the tragic death of its founder. The 11th annual Stanley Blues Festival will be held in the County Durham former pit town on Saturday, August 2, organisers Northern Recording have
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Sport Briefs
MOTOR RACING: Michael Schumacher believes the risks are worth taking to keep the Monaco Grand Prix in the world championship. The German insisted ahead of this weekend's race on the streets of Monte Carlo that Formula One's jewel in the crown should remain
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Stitch-up protestor's vow to die
AN Iranian Kurdish refugee who stitched up his eyes, lips and ears in protest at the Home Office's handling of his asylum application, said yesterday he was prepared to give his life for the human rights of others around the world. Abbas Amini, 33, began
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Patient's offer to pay in ambulance case
THE recipient of a life-saving organ transplant last night offered to pay any fine or legal costs of an ambulance driver charged with speeding after a 104mph mercy dash. Mike Ferguson, who said yesterday he was only doing his job, was allegedly clocked
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In Brief
SHIPPING line Cunard is selling its Caronia vessel to over-50s holiday company Saga. The last passenger ship to be built on the Tyne, the 24,000-ton vessel has been in service since 1973. The 668-passenger ship will complete its 2004 season with Cunard
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Building for the future
JOBS prospects in the North-East have been boosted with the announcement of £1.2m of funding for the Building Tyne and Wear scheme. The project plans to train 800 people during the next two years so that they are qualified to fill vacancies in the construction
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GPs in plea to early callers
DOCTORS' surgeries in Darlington have issued a joint plea for patients to stop making non-urgent calls early in the morning. Eleven practices in the town say their switchboards are jammed each day between 8.30am and 10.30am with requests for prescriptions
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Cuddly boas just looking for a home
TWO exotic reptiles found yards from each other in a North-East park will go on display this weekend, in a bid to find their owners - or find them new homes. Police found a 5ft Columbian rainbow boa constrictor in Fatfield, Washington, Wearside, on May
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Kitchen designer to expand her business
A WOMAN is finalising plans to expand her kitchen design showroom and take on staff - four months after setting up the business. Lesley Maddison-Stokes launched LJM Bespoke Kitchens, in North Road, Darlington, in January. She is also planning to expand
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Bay heads for Ripon
ACCORDING to the experts a heat-wave is imminent so some of those horses requiring a bit of give in the ground are heading post-haste to Ripon this evening where conditions remain on the easy side of good. One such individual is Beluga Bay (8.10), who
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Whiter than white - persil, the albino squirrel
STAFF at an animal rescue centre are going nuts over their latest arrival - a rare albino squirrel. The five-week-old animal beat odds of 100,000-to-one to be born completely albino, experts said yesterday. The squirrel, which is called Persil, was found
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Shortlist unveiled for top N-E post
THREE of the region's leading business figures have been shortlisted for the post as head of regional development agency One NorthEast. The Northern Echo has learned that Bob Coxon, Margaret Faye and Alistair Balls all made the final round of interviews
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More US troops killed in Iraq
TWO US soldiers were killed in a firefight in Iraq yesterday after being attacked by men armed with grenades and small arms. Two of the assailants also died in the battle in the troubled town of Fallujah, 30 miles west of Baghdad. The clash came after
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In Brief
SHIPPING line Cunard is selling its Caronia vessel to over-50s holiday company Saga. The last passenger ship to be built on the Tyne, the 24,000-ton vessel has been in service since 1973. The 668-passenger ship will complete its 2004 season with Cunard
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Initiative to promote care work
THE Wear Valley Carers Initiative has organised a series of events to promote Carers' Week 2003, starting with an information day for carers in Bishop Auckland Town Hall, from 10am until 3pm, on Monday June 9. Events arranged with the Durham Dales Primary
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Mother's delight at treatment success
A DOCTOR treating a North-East mother's crippling condition says she is making remarkable progress. Ann Teasdale is in the US to receive treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS). She has had to have a leg amputated and could lose the
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Winnie the Pooh and tripe talk too
IT was Dick Emery, was it not, who coined the phrase "Ooooh, you are offal, but I like you." Much the same thought may have occurred to Mrs Doreen Johnston upon reading last week's musings on the tripe of a lifetime. Particularly we had recalled United
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Cabbies speak of fears after armed attack on 72-year-old
TAXI drivers in a North_East town have told of the dangers of their job after a second cabbie in a fortnight became the victim of a terrifying armed robbery. Ronnie Wood, 72, was working the early shift in Middlesbrough when he picked up a fare asking
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Durham stars ordered to miss Riverside clash
DURHAM have stood by their plans to leave Andrew Pratt and Danny Law out of their one-day side for today's C & G Trophy fourth round tie against Lancashire at Riverside. Michael Gough has also been sent with the second team for the four-day match
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Euro aid for rural post offices
A MULTI-MILLION pound aid package to prevent the closure of rural post offices was approved by the European Commission yesterday. About £150m will be invested in each of the next three years to maintain sub-postmasters' incomes, fund services such as
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Wardens given new powers to crack down on parking
CAR park attendants are to be given powers to fine motorists £60. Parking wardens in east Cleveland will use the extra powers to punish motorists who park illegally, from Monday. If the scheme, which is intended to free up police time, is a success, it
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Magpies target Husin
NEWCASTLE UNITED are back on the trail of Dinamo Kiev midfielder Andriy Husin. The Magpies watched Husin in action at Sunday's Ukrainian cup final between Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk. Sir Bobby Robson was interested in the 30-year-old during the transfer
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Threat of prison for child porn man
A MAN faces jail after police raided his home and found more than 2,000 indecent images of children on his computer. Michael Richards, 49, was caught during the worldwide child pornography investigation, Operation Ore. He was arrested after US police
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Police hunt nightclub pair
A man suffered head injuries in a sustained attack in a packed North-East nightclub. The 22-year-old, who has not been named, was in Ikon, in New Bridge Street, Newcastle, on Sunday. Shortly after midnight, two men attacked him. He was hit in the face
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A different perspective on art
DOZENS of children chuckled yesterday as they looked at 21 colourful toilets designed by well-known artists. The children were then asked to use clay to create their own versions, at the unusual workshop, which formed part of a fun day at the Bowes Museum
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Roadshow for boards, bikes and blades
A TWO-DAY boarding, biking and blading roadshow is coming to Darlington. The event, at the Eastbourne Sports Complex, will offer young people in the town the chance to use mini-ramp and street course equipment. Participants will also be invited to use
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Scheme for £8m village bypass taking a step forward
THE long-awaited bypass for Chilton village is expected to move a step nearer to reality this week. Planning officials at Sedgefield Borough Council will discuss plans for the £8m bypass at a meeting on Friday. The proposal, which was first mooted in
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Signs are good as Garry lands job
A DEAF man has found work as a lorry driver after passing his test with help from a sign language interpreter. Garry Ellis, 45, of Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, was helped through the theory and practical driving test by Malcolm Pyle. As Mr Ellis is profoundly
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New weapon against crime
FARMERS in the Darlington area have revealed a new weapon to combat crime. Darlington Rural Watch (DRW) has started using a rapid texting system, the Midentity system, which allows information about suspicious behaviour, including that supplied by the
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Soap stars take on the legends
SOAP stars will be competing with well-known North-East ex-footballers and local league players in a charity competition at the weekend. The fun football tournament will see members of the cast of the Yorkshire-set series Emmerdale taking on Century Radio's
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Estate jobs scheme has 50 successes
A SCHEME to find work for residents of a Darlington estate has proved a big success. More than 50 people have landed jobs since Firthmoor Into Work, run by Morrison Enterprise Trust, was launched at the start of this month. The project, based in Brignall
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Armed attack on pensioner
A pensioner is recovering after she was robbed at knifepoint. The 80-year-old woman was walking in St George's Way, in Sunderland, at about 12.25pm on Monday, when a man threatened her with a small knife, then grabbed her handbag. The woman suffered shock
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DJ duo win big radio chance
BUDDING DJs Alan Bennison and John Walsh are to introduce the region to their sound after winning a radio competition. The students at Gateshead College were selected to broadcast their house music set live on Galaxy 105-106. It follows a competition
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Group clears first hurdle in town council campaign
EFFORTS to form a town council in Billingham took a step forward yesterday. Last year, Colin Pollard and Frank Crosby joined forces to form a pressure group collecting signatures for a petition to create a town council. Needing at least 2,800 signatures
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Police hunt robber
POLICE are appealing for information after a woman was robbed in a car park. The attack happened at about 3pm on Friday behind the Safeway supermarket in High Street, Yarm, near Stockton. A 53-year-old woman, who had moments earlier parked her car, had
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Youngsters face challenge
TEENAGERS are taking part in a youth centre version of the hit TV show I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here. Twelve youngsters are taking part in a series of tests at Grove Hill Youth and Community Centre, Middlesbrough, today. The tasks they will face
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Oldest working mill for sale
THE oldest working windmill in Britain is up for sale. Outwood Windmill, in Outwood, Surrey, is an English Heritage Grade I-listed building which produces flour for sale. The Post Mill is on the market along with a bungalow, stables, outbuildings and
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Walk will be doorway to fame and sponsors' cash
AS a child, Brian Walker watched his father carry a door four miles from a builders' merchants to the house he was working on. Now, more than 25 years later, the builder hopes to stroll into the record books by walking 860 miles from Land's End to John
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Fears over fire cover as review heralds shake-up
PLANS to carry out a fire risk assessment for Teesside have prompted fears for future emergency cover in the area. Cleveland Fire Brigade is pledging to consult widely on plans to develop an Integrated Risk Management Plan, the most radical change to
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Regulars tee off for cancer cause
PUB customers will be fearful of a hole in one on the golf course as they could be in for a big round back at their local pub. Sixteen teams of golfers from the Glendenning Arms, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, are taking part in the charity event at Newton
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Buses to make life easier for disabled
New easy-access buses are to be used in the Hambleton district. Abbotts of Leeming will take over the bus services 80 and 89, which run from Northallerton to Stokesley and Coulby Newham, via Romanby, Brompton, Osmotherley and Hutton Rudby, from Sunday
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In the saddle to help North-East charities
CHARITY cyclists have raised more than £1,500 for good causes in the North-East after riding from coast to coast. Members of Derwentside Round Table completed the cycle ride from Workington in Cumbria to Roker in Sunderland, a total of 135 miles. The
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Courses disrupted as training centre closes
STUDENTS who were taking courses at a community training centre which has closed, will be sent letters explaining how they can continue their studies. Late last week, the Richard Hind Centre, in Stockton, went into administration, with the loss of ten
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Rock band are battling well
NORTH-EAST rock band Fude are through to the third round of the national Battle of the Bands contest. Jack Hardwick, Sam Cull and Adam Austin, all 17, and 16-year-old Matthew Roberts, who all attend the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington,
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Is Big Brother a big turn-off?
AUDIENCE ratings for the new series of Big Brother have plummeted despite action hotting up inside the house. Nearly seven million viewers watched Friday night's opening episode, a record for the Channel 4 show. But by Sunday that figure was down to 4.2
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Newton's Irish smile
Cycling: Chris Newton, Stockton's world points race champion, saw off a strong Scandinavian challenge to win the FBD Milk Ras, the eight-day Tour of Ireland stage race. Newton won two stages and took the points title decided on daily placings in last
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Medicines amnesty is hailed a success
PATIENTS at a doctors' practice have followed their GPs' call to clear out their medicine cabinets. In an attempt to remove unwanted and frequently out-of-date pills and potions from circulation patients at a surgery in Brandon were asked to hand in disused
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In praise of walking
PUPILS from a Stockton school will take part in a fancy dress parade. On Thursday, June 12, the youngsters from Holy Trinity School will be joined by pupils at Rosehill Infant School, as they take part in the parade to show how walking to school can be
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Turner Reddy to make triple move
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY are poised to make a bid for Sunderland striker Michael Reddy. Wednesday manager Chris Turner confirmed last night that he is set to move for Reddy, who spent three months on loan at Hillsborough this season. Turner said: "Michael
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Best feet forward in charity toddle
YOUNGSTERS will put their best feet forward to raise money for a children's charity next month. Throughout June, toddlers from across the country will take part in the Foresters Big Toddle, in aid of Barnardo's. Now in its seventh year, the event aims
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Teesside Brief
Motorists could face disruption and delays while roadworks are carried out in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, from today. Traffic lights will be in place at the junction with Gunnergate Land and Gypsy Land, and at the Marton Road-Captain Cook Crescent junction
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Drummers prepare for biggest event yet
THE ear-shattering noise of 3,000 drums will form the spectacular centrepiece of one of the country's largest youth festivals. Even dustbins will be used as makeshift percussion instruments for the record-breaking attempt at North Yorkshire's Youth Arts
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Beat goes on for the boy who disappeared
ONE of the region's enduring legends will be replayed next weekend when the Drummer Boy goes marching once again. Nine-year-old Richmond schoolboy Sam Rawson will take the role of the tragic youngster who disappeared underground. The public will be able
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New jobs blow as lighting factory axes 95 workers
THE region's manufacturing industry suffered another blow yesterday with news of almost a hundred job losses at a County Durham factory. Lighting company Thorn has confirmed that it is to cut the 787-strong workforce at its only UK production site, in
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Marching orders as Harry takes charge
PRINCE Harry took charge of a 48-strong parade of military cadets at Eton last night, fuelling speculation that he may opt for a military career. Harry, 18, was appointed Commander of Eton's Combined Cadet Force's formal trooping of the colours. The Prince
