Archive
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It was all up for grabs - and Kelly grabbed £1,000
A hairdresser picked up a cheque for £1,000 after winning a shopping centre competition. Kelly Waters, 20, scooped the cash during a Grab a Grand challenge at Darlington's Cornmill Centre, on Bank Holiday Monday. Throughout the day, shoppers entered a
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Vandals smash windows
FIVE homes in Stanley were targeted over the Bank Holiday weekend as yobs smashed windows. On Saturday, vandals lobbed a golf ball through a bedroom window at a house in Earl Street at around 7.50pm. Earlier the same day, at 3.45pm, two males and a girl
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Student dies after bridge fall
A UNIVERSITY student has died after plunging 40ft from a bridge. The 20-year-old man was seen by a woman falling from the Spa Bridge, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, at about 10.30pm on Wednesday. The man, a student at the University of Hull Scarborough
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Garden club puts down roots for growth
BUDDING gardeners are being urged to help transform overgrown land into a tranquil haven for people and wildlife. New members are invited to join Lingfield Wildlife Gardening Club, which will be based at Lingfield Farm Countryside Centre, Middlesbrough
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Footballer did not need full licence
NEWCASTLE United star Jermaine Jenas has up to two years to apply for his full driving licence from the date he passed his test, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said yesterday. The £5m player, who was fined and given penalty points after
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Network pledge to create hundreds of jobs
AN organisation dedicated to supporting the professional service sector in the region has pledged to create 400 jobs and 100 businesses in the next two years. Service Network, a membership group, will work with a number of regional partners in its quest
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Pub scoops award for third time
STEPPING inside the Victoria pub in Durham is a bit like being transported back 104 years. The first customers who stepped into the pub in 1899 would find few concessions to the 21st Century if they came back today. Real ale buffs reckon the hostelry
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75 pints, and he's still going strong...
We never know when we might need a blood transfusion, so we should be grateful to people like David Haswell, says Sharon Griffiths. GEORGE Best needed 40 pints... Simon Weston probably needed a tanker full... and even my old mum had half a gallon when
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Museum offers taste of seaside
CHILDREN are finding out why people in bygone days liked to spend their holidays beside the seaside as Kirkleatham Museum in Redcar opened its latest exhibition. The Seaside: Puffins, Paddling and Piers opened last week and youngsters from The Oak Tree
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PC riders as lawmen take to the road on Hell's Angels motorbike
EASY-RIDING police will be kings of the road when they get in the saddle of the country's only Harley Davidson police bike. PC Andy Johnston, of Northumbria Police, yesterday took delivery of the 1450cc Road King, in full police livery and fitted with
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30/05/03
COL TIM COLLINS: HOW dare an officer in an army with the record of the US complain about the actions of a British army battalion commander? He claims that Colonel Tim Collins mistreated a civilian and some prisoners of war. It is well-documented what
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Objection to hotel's plan to expand
A PARISH council has objected to a plan to extend a Listed hotel. Corus and Regal Hotels, owners of the Hall Garth Hotel and Country House, in Coatham Mundeville, wants to build a 54-bedroom extension. The main part of the hotel is Grade II-Listed, as
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Sophie impresses
A YOUNG ballerina has been presented with a bronze statue to celebrate her dancing achievements. Sophie Metcalfe, 12, of Aycliffe Village, who trains at the Born to Dance studio in Darlington, recently won first place in the Northern Ballet competition
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Youngsters get involved in sports day
PEOPLE of all ages took part in sporting activities at a Sports for All event in Wear Valley yesterday. Organisers 2D, a support group for the voluntary and community sector in Wear Valley and Teesdale, and the district council, aimed to promote Volunteers
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Tait sets challenge for Mellanby
Injury-plagued striker Danny Mellanby can bounce back stronger than ever next season, according to Darlington boss Mick Tait. The Bishop Auckland-born forward was restricted to only a handful of starts last season mainly due to a niggling back problem
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CJD victim's family angry over inquest
A PENSIONER at the centre of a hospital CJD scare has died days after her husband. Mary Russell, 66, of New Marske, near Redcar, east Cleveland, was described as being extremely fit before contracting sporadic CJD in late 2001. Her family - who believe
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Criminals delivered on a plate by system
A crime-fighting system is to be piloted in the region after trials elsewhere proved hugely successful. North Yorkshire, Cleveland and Northumbria police forces are among 23 across the country which will be using automatic vehicle number plate readers
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Film festival screened as drugs project is unveiled
DRUG-TAKING and its effects are the focus of a series of short films by young people showing today. Wasted, a short film festival featuring three films about drugs, takes place in the Lamplight Arts Centre, Front Street, Stanley, from 2pm. It includes
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Church stonework emerges from covering of dirt
THE dirt of centuries is being cleaned away to show the splendour of a Hartlepool landmark. Stonemasons have been cleaning the blackened stonework in the Gallilee Chapel at the front of the 12th Century St Hilda's Church on the Headland, to reveal the
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Man back behind bars
A FLEEING burglar who climbed on to a roof where he was followed by police and arrested was jailed yesterday. Nicholas Broughton, 26, was also carrying a lock knife when he was searched, Patricia Mancina, prosecuting, told Teesside Crown Court. A neighbour
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Safe care is on offer at home
WORKING parents can now have their children cared for in their own homes while they are at work. Under new arrangements in County Durham, home caring is to become a new form of approved childcare to assist employed parents, particularly those working
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Centre offers 'green' advice
THE Environment Centre in Stockton is aiming to tackle global problems on a local scale. The recently refurbished centre offers residents from across the borough the chance to do their bit for the environment and save money at the same time. Offers at
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Work of art inspired by working life
COUNCIL landscape architect Kevin Johnson has designed a stained glass window illustrating the working life of local government. The Sunderland City Council employee came up with the design while studying for an MA in architectural glass at Sunderland
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Party marks college move
AN end of an era for a further education college is to be celebrated next month. New College Durham begins moving into its newly refurbished accommodation at Framwellgate Moor next month. The revamped college will take in all the existing higher education
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Comment: The privilege of privacy
FOLLOWING the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the media made a pledge to try to allow her sons space in which to grow into men. Apart from a few hiccups - one of them perpetrated by Prince Edward's own film company - that promise has largely been met
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Ballerina Sophie impresses boss
A YOUNG ballerina has been presented with a bronze statue to celebrate her dancing achievements. Sophie Metcalfe, 12, of Aycliffe Village, who trains at the Born to Dance studio in Darlington, recently won first place in the Northern Ballet Competition
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Air ambulance visit
TELEVISION weatherman Bob Johnson will launch Teesside's air ambulance service on Monday. The helicopter will be at the University Hospital of North Tees, one of three hospitals in the North-East that are able to receive patients by air. Children from
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Childcare on display
ORGANISERS of a Ferryhill roadshow are hoping their displays will help recruit more childminders in the town. Durham County Council's Childcare Information Service (CIS) will be holding the event at Ferryhill Library on Monday, June 9, from 10am to 3pm
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Policy discussions
OFFICERS have started working out a policy programme at a council after elections put three political groups in power. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will be run by a coalition formed by the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents after
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Mayor backs charity walk
FOUR supporters of the National Missing Persons Helpline met the mayor of Darlington yesterday as they set off on the next leg of their 650-mile charity walk. Councillor Ron Lewis met four supporters of the charity as they prepared to continue their walk
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Aid for people with visual disability
A LIBRARY will be offering help and advice to the blind and partially sighted later this month. An information display will be set up at Durham Clayport Library, Millennium Place, Claypath, Durham, on Saturday by the County Durham Society for the Blind
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Mixed fortunes for Gary
THE first wheelchair world pool champion Gary Nicholson suffered mixed emotions at a recent contest. The Guisborough father-of-three lost his title at the national wheelchair snooker championship at The Crucible in Sheffield. But the 40-year-old's disappointment
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Judge opens CCTV camera control room
A closed-circuit television (CCTV) centre was opened in Middlesbrough yesterday. Alan Brown, communities group director from Government North-East was joined by the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, and Chief Constable Sean Price, when he opened
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Police prepare for Test protest
AS police gear up to deal with the threat of political protest hanging over Chester-le-Street's debut Test match, town traders are preparing for record visitor numbers. The town will be the centre of world media coverage when the Riverside stages its
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News in brief: Traffic strategy debate begins
A consultation exercise is to be carried out to produce a traffic management strategy for Easingwold. Leaflets describing the options are being delivered locally and a two-week exhibition will be held at the Galtres Centre from next Friday. County councillor
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Fears over gas site homes scheme
ONE of the oldest firms of its kind in Europe fears plans for new housing could prevent it expanding in the future. Paint and varnish manufacturer T and R Williamson, of Ripon, was founded in 1775 and sells its products around the world. It has expressed
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Gay weddings on the cards
GAY couples look likely to be given the chance to 'marry' in Guisborough. Redcar and Cleveland borough councillors will discuss allowing same sex 'commitment ceremonies' at Guisborough Register Office and other venues, including Gisborough Hall. The issue
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No sweat with Botox
A CLINIC in Consett is using Botox - the celebrities' answer to wrinkles - to combat BO in the latest treatment for those too posh to perspire. Dr Alan Patterson, of Ponteland, near Newcastle, is using injections of Botox into the armpit skin to prevent
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Racing prospects
DARRYLL HOLLAND has vowed to chase Kieren Fallon all the way to the wire in the race for this year's champion jockey title. The southern-based pilot's quest means grasping every opportunity and today he travels to Catterick in the hope of bridging the
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Flight of faith - amazing courage as blind woman flies helicopter
A BLIND woman realised her dream yesterday when she flew a helicopter over Newcastle. Susan Gibson, 56, won a competition run by Darlington Lions in The Northern Echo to celebrate World Sight Day. Blind and partially sighted people in the area were asked
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Cancer unit turns to agency staff
AN acute shortage of radiographers has forced a North-East cancer unit to turn to agency staff to keep waiting times down. Bosses at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough decided to hire staff from an agency after shortages meant only three
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Burton's Bytes: Matrix - where movie and gaming merges
ENTER THE MATRIX, Publisher: Infogrames, Platform: Xbox, Gamecube, PS2, PC CD-ROM, Price: £39.99. BY the time you read this, Matrix Reloaded will have hit the cinemas and the nation will be gripped. True Matrix fans need know only one thing about this
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Parents call for school gas repairs
PARENTS are claiming their children's science lessons are being disrupted because their school has been without a gas supply for almost a year. The mains gas supply to the science block at Hummersknott School in Darlington was disconnected last summer
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Pensioners star in music competition
SILVER-HAIRED singers are to battle it out for an award as pensioners from all over the North-East take part in a national music competition. Contestants in the Yours Silver Stars Talent Contest have beaten off competition in towns and cities all over
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Hearing into publican's death opens
AN inquest into the death of a retired publican nine days after breaking up a drunken brawl at a County Durham club was opened yesterday. John George Lacy, 65, of Fryer Crescent, Darlington, stepped in to diffuse a fight at Haughton le Skerne Working
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Wellock's World: Timing is everything
TIMING is everything, whether you're batting, hitting golf balls or telling jokes. Although Bob Hope, who reached his century yesterday, was born in London he never played cricket because he moved to America 96 years ago and became a four-handicap golfer
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More pupils barred from school
THE scrapping of tough Government targets to cut the number of school exclusions has allowed headteachers to expel pupils without the fear of their decision being overturned, union leaders said yesterday. The unions spoke out as figures revealed that
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Talk helps fund get towards £2,500
THE total cash raised for The Advertiser's Stanley Burns Pit Disaster Memorial Appeal stands at nearly £2,500 after a successful fund-raising talk. The money will be used to erect a graveside tribute to 54 men and boys buried in unmarked mass burial trenches
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Blues festival will go ahead
THE Stanley Blues Festival will go ahead this summer despite the tragic death of its founder. The 11th annual festival - the region's biggest free blues event - will be held on Saturday, August 2, on Kings Head Field, organisers Northern Recording have
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Child injured by bike
A five-year-old child is in hospital after being knocked down by an off-road motorbike. The youngster was crossing Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough, at about 7.30pm on Wednesday when he was hit by the bike, which then left the scene. The boy was taken to Middlesbrough
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Steeped in history among the concrete and the clay
Claypath, once known as Clayport or Claypeth, is one of Durham's oldest streets. It is not the most picturesque of the older streets but it does have a few Georgian houses and there may even be remnants of timber-framed houses hidden among its buildings
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News in brief: Camper van protest plan
THE Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) takes to road on Tuesday for the start of the National No Star Wars Tour. Yorkshire CND worker Neil Kingsnorth will be travelling in a camper van for two weeks, meeting other campaigners at ten stops
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Talented footballer wins scholarship to US
A YOUNG footballer is heading off for a new life in America after winning a sports scholarship at an elite college. Mark Adamson is off to Lynn University Soccer Academy, Boca Raton, on Florida's Gold Coast. Over the last seven years Mark, now 18, has
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Village views are sought
VILLAGERS are being urged to take part in a consultation over controversial plans to merge two primary schools. In the next few weeks, people living in Sadberge will be sent a questionnaire asking for their opinions on plans to close their school and
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Timing is everything
TIMING is everything, whether you're batting, hitting golf balls or telling jokes. Although Bob Hope, who reached his century yesterday, was born in London he never played cricket because he moved to America 96 years ago and became a four-handicap golfer
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Library book 'on loan' for 55 years
LIBRARIANS were stunned when a customer returned a book - almost 55 years late. The novel, titled The Unnatural Behaviour of Mrs Hooker, was due back at Darlington Library on December 3, 1948. It had been lying in a battered old tea-chest gathering dust
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Working with Scouts is an award-winning family affair
THREE members of a family have earned their stripes in the Scouts for amassing a combined 120 years' service. 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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Family firm increases its workforce
FIFTY workers are getting factory jobs thanks to the national craze for drinking more bottled water. Family-owned manufacturing company Ebac, of Bishop Auckland, is taking on new production staff on the back of increasing worldwide sales for its new product
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Adult learners win awards
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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Amnesty calls for justice in Iraq
Amnesty International supporters have posted concerns about human rights in Iraq to Prime Minister Tony Blair. Campaigners asked shoppers in Darlington to sign postcards showing their support for Amnesty's stance on Iraq. The group is asking Mr Blair
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Bike trek raises charity cash
CHARITY cyclists have raised more than £1,500 for good causes in the North-East after biking from coast to coast. Members of Derwentside Round Table successfully completed the cycle ride from Workington, Cumbria, to Roker, Sunderland, a total of 135 miles
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Matrix - where movie and gaming merges
ENTER THE MATRIX, Publisher: Infogrames, Platform: Xbox, Gamecube, PS2, PC CD-ROM, Price: £39.99. BY the time you read this, Matrix Reloaded will have hit the cinemas and the nation will be gripped. True Matrix fans need know only one thing about this
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Champs' kits stolen
A JUNIOR American football team that won a national title this month is appealing for help after players' kits were stolen. Darlington's Eastbourne Cardinals, who were crowned this country's American flag football champions on May 17, need to raise £1,000
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Pals advice service a success
AN advice service for patients offering help with any aspect of local healthcare provision in parts of North Yorkshire is going from strength to strength. People are increasingly making use of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (Pals), which has been
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Children's video to have Quay premier
YOUNG film-makers will be showcasing their talents at an event in Hartlepool today. A Hartlepool Children's Fund video will be launched at a fun day, to be held in the Historic Quay from 10am. The 15-minute film is the result of four months' work by children
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Relic of diesel age takes enthusiasts down memory lane
A RESCUED relic of the diesel generation is to help take railway enthusiasts on a trip back to the pre-electric era next month. The Deltic Preservation Society (DPS) is recreating a run of a locomotive between Newcastle and London King's Cross, on Saturday
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News in brief: Call for abseil volunteers
Fundraisers are being offered the chance to abseil off the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, to raise money for blind and partially sighted children. The abseil will take place on the weekend of June 21 and 22. It costs £10 to register and
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Pals keeping active
A PROGRAMME helping the over 50s to stay well by taking more exercise has been extended to Tow Law. A Wednesday morning PALS (Physically Active Life Seniors) course has opened at Baring Court sheltered accommodation through a joint venture with Wear Valley
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Volunteer drivers plea for hospice
VOLUNTEER drivers are needed to help with car and minibus runs on behalf of a hospice charity serving the Durham area. Amy Farquhar, the new volunteer co-ordinator at St Cuthbert's Hospice, said car drivers are required to lend a hand on Wednesdays and
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Literacy scheme progress reviewed
A SCHEME to improve north-west Durham's poor record in reading, writing and arithmetic will review its progress next month. The number of adults in County Durham who do not have the basic skills to participate fully in everyday life is among the highest
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Fire cover fears as shake-up talks start
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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Volunteer drivers plea for hospice
VOLUNTEER drivers are needed to help with car and minibus runs on behalf of a hospice charity serving the Durham area. Amy Farquhar, the new volunteer co-ordinator at St Cuthbert's Hospice, said car drivers are required to lend a hand on Wednesdays and
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Computers installed at centres
A NEW £25,000 computer system, designed to ease booking at four of Hambleton's leisure centres, will be installed next week. The centres at Thirsk, Bedale, Northallerton and Stokesley will be fitted with the new Leisure Management System, to replace the
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Bitter sweet pill for medical plant
MEDICAL equipment company Ethicon is pushing more distribution work to its North Yorkshire operations as it scales down its manufacturing operations in Scotland. The firm will axe 850 jobs when it closes its surgical stitches and needle factories in Edinburgh
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Durham Memories: Steeped in history among the concrete and the clay
Claypath, once known as Clayport or Claypeth, is one of Durham's oldest streets. It is not the most picturesque of the older streets but it does have a few Georgian houses and there may even be remnants of timber-framed houses hidden among its buildings
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Up, up and away
A FRIENDS group is hoping that the sky is the limit for its fundraising bid. The Friends of St Benet's organised a balloon launch, pictured above, to raise money for St Benet's RC School, Ouston, Chester-le-Street. Last year, the organisation raised more
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News from the Guilds and WIs
St Joseph's Ladies Circle, Gilesgate Moor: JENNIE O'Hare chaired the May meeting, which began with prayers. Apologies were taken and the minutes of the previous meeting were read. Elizabeth Wilson was acting treasurer for the evening. Everyone was thanked
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Playing games of yesterday
YOUNGSTERS have been sampling toys and games of yesteryear as part of a half-term event. Playing in the Past has been taking place at Crook Hall, Durham, this week until Friday. Families are trying out a range of old-fashioned toys, including hoops, quoits
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Balloon race marks first year
A BALLOON race involving ten primary schools across Redcar and Cleveland took place last Friday to celebrate the first year of a road safety training and learning scheme. Redcar and Cleveland Mayor Norah Cooney was at Whale Hill Primary School, Eston,
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Day club to open
THE first dedicated drop-in centre in north-west Durham for people suffering from dementia and their carers, opens its doors next week. The Alzheimer's Society has transformed its offices in Trafalgar Street, Consett, into a day club and drop in, with
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Breaking down the information divide
It was with a sense of foreboding that I stepped onto the East Coast express train at Darlington station a few days ago. I don't mind visiting London as a tourist but I detest having to go to there on business. This trip would remind me exactly why and
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Trio make debuts in Headingley derby
DURHAM are to hand Liam Plunkett and Phil Mustard their championship debuts against Yorkshire at Headingley today. The match will feature a third debutant in Yorkshire's 26-year-old South African-born medium-fast bowler Pieter Swanepoel. With Ian Pattison
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Farmer puts himself out to pasture as cows milk themselves
Farmer Tim Gibson has put himself out of a job after teaching his cows to milk themselves. Mr Gibson, 23, used to spend nine hours a day in the milking parlour and had to get up at 5am to begin his work. Now he's the toast of the agricultural industry
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Tuffers gets test match call-up
KING of the jungle Phil "Tuffers" Tufnell was in the North-East yesterday to offer cricket fans the best seats in the house for the first Test match to be staged in the region. The former cricket star, who won the last series of ITV's reality TV show,
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Newcastle end interest in Southgate
NEWCASTLE UNITED have abandoned their pursuit of Middlesbrough defender Gareth Southgate. Sir Bobby Robson has instead made Tottenham Hotspur right-back Stephen Carr and Feyenoord's Brett Emerton his top two summer transfer targets. Newcastle manager
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Work of art inspired by working life
COUNCIL landscape architect Kevin Johnson has designed a stained glass window illustrating the working life of local government. The Sunderland City Council employee came up with the design while studying for an MA in architectural glass at Sunderland
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Court staff acclaimed for service
COURTS throughout the North-East are being acclaimed for the high levels of service they provide. Thirteen courts have received an independently assessed charter mark for making improvements such as baby changing facilities, open days and clearer signs
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Optimism over pair's business ventures
TWO aspiring entrepreneurs who embarked on an unusual challenge are well on their way to realising their dreams. Twelve people signed up to take part in Enterprise Island, an initiative launched by One NorthEast, which aims to show how anyone can set
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Readers' cancer care boost
CANCER care in the North-East has received a big boost - thanks to readers of The Northern Echo. Dr Jenny Skinner's arrival in the region a year early is a testament to the remarkable fund-raising campaign mounted by Macmillan Cancer relief with the backing
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MP joins the fun
DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn got on his bike last Friday to help to celebrate Eastbourne Comprehensive's school's new cycle park. The Health Secretary opened a bike shelter and safe cycling route, built to encourage pupils to pedal to school. Headteacher
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Wardens given new powers on parking
CAR PARK attendants are to be given powers to fine motorists £60. Parking wardens will use the extra powers to punish motorists who park illegally, from Monday. If the scheme, intended to free up police time, is a success, it will be introduced across
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Awards mark transformation
A HERITAGE centre and a community garden were recognised as enhancing the environment in an awards ceremony. Projects to restore the St Mary-le-Bow Durham Heritage Centre and Museum, and create a community garden at Brandon Allotments were among 17 to
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On yer bikes for Pedalling Picnic days
CYCLISTS from throughout the North-East are being encouraged to take part in a charity event. Pedalling Picnics - family fun days organised by the Sustrans charity - are coming to Gateshead and North Yorkshire. The activities are designed to allow families
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'No advantage to be gained by ditching our currency'
Teeside MP Ashok Kumar has argued why the North-East economy needs Britain to join the euro as quickly as possible. In reply, Peter Troy, chairman of the Darlington branch of the Federaton of Small Businesses explains why we should keep the pound. "THE
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Work on revamp of park to begin
THE first phase of a multi-million pound scheme to revamp a picturesque Darlington park will get under way next week. South Park is to be restored to its former Victorian glory in the £3.9m project unveiled by Darlington Borough Council. A full ecological
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Francis gives an aboriginal insight
AN Australian aboriginal elder entertained charity workers in Darlington this week. Francis Firebrace visited Mind, in Borough Road, to give a performance in celebration of Mind Week, an event honouring the work of volunteers, which takes place next week
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Inspector backs grandfather on private gipsy site appeal
A GRANDFATHER who accused the council of bias against the travelling community has won an appeal for a private gipsy site. Geoff Watson applied to Darlington Borough Council to use land at Oakwood Farm, Hurworth, as a site to accommodate his extended
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Super troupers raise cash and a cheer with fundraising display
A CHEERLEADING troupe raised their pom-poms for supermarket shoppers in Darlington yesterday. The Tees Valley Cheerleaders were at Safeway, in Victoria Road, raising cash for a trip to Scotland with the US flag football team they support, the Eastbourne
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Biography tells tale of battling brothers
A BIOGRAPHY of an heroic family - including the only pair of brothers who won the Victoria Cross in the First World War - will be launched next week. Author and retired headteacher Harry Moses will launch his biography of the Bradford brothers, The Fighting
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Computer to help residents surf the net
A COMMUNITY group has been given a computer to get residents surfing the net. The computer for the Cockerton And Branksome Living Enterprise, in Darlington, came from the BT community connections awards scheme. The computer will be available for everyone
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Charity leap from tower
DAREDEVILS are invited to take part in the annual charity abseil from St John's clock tower, in Shildon. The event takes place during the church fete on Saturday, June 28, from 10am to 3pm. Applicants must be over 16 and reasonably fit, and tuition will
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News in brief: Open verdict on man's death
A RAILWAY worker was found hanged at his partner's home days before the couple were due to go on holiday in Tunisia, an inquest heard yesterday. Brian Brighty, of East Raby Street, Darlington, was found by his girlfriend at her home in Brinkburn Road
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Staff team up to help Iraq troops
STAFF at a health centre have joined forces to improve conditions for troops still serving in Iraq. Nearly 20 shoeboxes packed with items have found their way to the Middle East, courtesy of primary care staff in Darlington. The parcels included several
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Plan for filling stationhousing
PLANS for houses on a former petrol station could get the go-ahead after four years. An application for houses on land at the former Broom Road filling station, at Ferryhill, was first submitted in 1999, but was turned down by Sedgefield Borough Council
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Pupils pick up a tidy amount
THIRTY youngsters did their bit for the environment last week by helping to clean up a Darlington park. The pupils, from Firthmoor Primary School, were joined in South Park on Friday by staff from fast food restaurant McDonald's. The firm has launched
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Postmistress inspires villagers to race for life
A VILLAGE postmistress who died of cancer three weeks ago has inspired a group of women to raise money for charity. Seventeen women and a girl from Eppleby will take part in this year's Race for Life in Darlington's South Park in memory of Pam Chapman
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Postmistress inspires villagers to race for life
A VILLAGE postmistress who died of cancer three weeks ago has inspired a group of women to raise money for charity. Seventeen women and a girl from Eppleby will take part in this year's Race for Life in Darlington's South Park in memory of Pam Chapman
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State of footpaths revealed
A RIGHT-of-way survey has been carried out in Stockton. The survey into the condition of the borough's Public Rights of Way network was carried out by Stockton Borough Council. It found a significant length of the 190km route was subject to unlawful ploughing
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Motorist who clocked up 13 bans is freed
A MAN banned from driving 13 times walked free from court yesterday after breaching his latest disqualification. Father-of-three Ralph Goodwin, 40, was spotted by police riding a moped along Crown Street, in Darlington, in February. Simon Crowder, prosecuting
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Store to add spark to shopping centre
LEADING store Marks and Spencer is planning a jobs boost for east Durham. The firm will open its outlet at Dalton Park, the shopping centre built on the former spoil heap at Murton, on Thursday, June 26. The company says the 9,400 sq ft shop will create
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One day you will fall off roof, burglar told
A BURGLAR who breaks into shops through the roofs was told by a judge yesterday that one day he would fall off and kill himself. Judge Michael Taylor told James Dobbing, 21, to stop his rooftop crimes as he jailed him at Teesside Crown Court. In November
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Gannin' along the road to see festival attraction
KEEPING the world-famous Blaydon Races painting in the North-East will be the focus of a festival in the town that inspired the work. The second annual Blaydon Festival, which starts this weekend, will feature a range of activities organised to celebrate
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Owners face jail sentences for mistreating their pets
TWO pet owners have been warned they could face prison in separate cases of severe animal cruelty. RSPCA inspectors found a rabbit that had starved to death but was so hungry it had eaten its own droppings and part of its cage before it died. The emaciated
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French dawn for new studio
SCENES of France will fill the region's newest art gallery when it opens this weekend. North-East artist David Welsh opens his new gallery and studio in Blandford Square, St James Boulevard, Newcastle, on Sunday at 1pm - displaying soft pastel and oil
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Hospital housing protest hots up
PLANS to build houses, staff accommodation and a hotel next to Durham's main hospital have run into opposition. City councillors have now deferred a decision on the outline scheme until they have staged a site visit. Planning officials recommended that
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Better make the most of heatwave
THE North-East was basking in a mini heatwave yesterday - but more traditional weather is on the way. Hundreds of people flocked to the beaches to make the most of the warm weather as temperatures soared above those in tourist hot spots such as Tenerife
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Summer fun ahead in town playscheme
PLANS for this summer's playscheme in Hartlepool have been unveiled. The scheme, which is aimed at children aged five to 11, starts on Monday, July 28, and runs until Friday, August 22. This year there will be four venues - Bridge Youth Centre, Greatham
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Lapping up new watersports facilities
STUDENTS are hoping a watersports centre of excellence on Wearside will help them compete on a world stage. The new centre, at Sunderland Marina, will give students from the city's university access to top facilities and equipment for sports such as sailing
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News in brief: Call for abseil volunteers
Fundraisers are being offered the chance to abseil off the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, to raise money for blind and partially sighted children. The abseil will take place on the weekend of June 21 and 22. It costs £10 to register and
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Home rule vote backed by party
LIBERAL Democrats from across the North-East will gather tomorrow to add their voice to the call for regional government. The party holds a conference in Gateshead Civic Centre at 10am, to give their formal backing to the campaign for a Yes vote in the
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House fund plan to help young buyers
NEW methods of providing low cost housing in a national park are being explored to help people who have grown up in the area stay there. Rising house prices have taken their toll on communities in the Yorkshire Dales, with some people unable to buy properties
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PC riders as lawmen take to the road on Hell's Angels motorbike
EASY-RIDING police will be kings of the road when they get in the saddle of the country's only Harley Davidson police bike. PC Andy Johnston, of Northumbria Police, yesterday took delivery of the 1450cc Road King, in full police livery and fitted with
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On the run in the sun
Secret History: Costa del Crime (C4): The million package holidaymakers who headed for the Costa del Sol each year in the 1980s probably didn't realise they were mixing with crooks on the run having fun in the sun. This gangsters' paradise in the heart
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Spaniards ready to hand Flo a lifeline
REAL BETIS are leading the race to end Tore Andre Flo's Sunderland misery by taking the £8.2m misfit from Wearside. Betis, a mid-table Spanish League team, are willing to offer up to £3m for Flo - who Mick McCarthy wants to sell before next season. Betis
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Police crackdown targets false phone theft claims
A NORTH-EAST police force has begun a crackdown on bogus crime reporting in an initiative which could be expanded across the region. Cleveland Police say resources are being tied up by time-wasters reporting imaginary thefts in the street of items such
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Aboriginal insight for charity staff
AN AUSTRALIAN aboriginal elder entertained charity workers in Darlington this week. Francis Firebrace visited Mind, in Borough Road, to give a performance in celebration of Mind Week, an event honouring the work of volunteers, which takes place next week
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E-mail -- the office worker's nightmare
E-mail has revolutionised the way we communicate. Like the phone, fax, or text, it's instant. Equally, like the old fashioned letter, it can contain lots of information, directions, instructions, or requests -- and therein lies the difference: e-mail
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Childcare specialists lead way
A SPECIALIST service that won national acclaim for its work with children is to pass on its expertise to improve the plight of young people with mental health problems. Darlington Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, which was awarded Beacon Status
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Canon takes controls at turf-cutting ceremony
WORK to transform a secondary school in Hartlepool began yesterday. Canon David Whittington, director of education for the Durham Diocese, cut the first sod for the £10m project at St Hild's Church of England Voluntary Aided School. At present the school
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Bike trek raises charity cash
CHARITY cyclists have raised more than £1,500 for good causes in the North-East after biking from coast to coast. Members of Derwentside Round Table successfully completed the cycle ride from Workington, Cumbria, to Roker, Sunderland, a total of 135 miles
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Taking care of our own
After years of relying on neighbouring areas, County Durham finally has its own palliative care consultant. Health Correspondent Barry Nelson talks to Dr Jenny Skinner, the first of two Macmillan Cancer Care Specialists starting in the region. JENNY Skinner
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Cash helps rebuilding of industry
HUNDREDS of people will be trained to fill gaps in the booming North-East construction industry, after a £1.2m grant was announced yesterday. The cash will go to the Building Tyne and Wear scheme, which plans to train 800 people over the next two years
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New service aims to clear up debts
A SERVICE promising to banish people's debts within four years has been launched in Durham. The national debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has teamed up with Durham's Emmanuel Church to open a centre at Front Street, Framwellgate
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CJD victim's family angry over inquest
A PENSIONER at the centre of a hospital CJD scare has died days after her husband. Mary Russell, 66, of New Marske, near Redcar, east Cleveland, was described as being extremely fit before contracting sporadic CJD in late 2001. Her family - who believe
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Exhibits go on the road
A scheme to take museum artefacts into unusual venues has arrived in Thirsk. The World of James Herriot centre, in the town's Kirkgate, has taken charge of the Flying Showcase for the next six weeks. Staff have filled it with memorabilia and taken it
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Blind residents to have news on tape
A COUNCIL is working with a talking newspaper service to make sure its newsletter reaches everybody. Hambleton District Council's newspaper, the Hambleton News, has been recorded on cassette by the Richmond and Dales Talking Newspaper for the Blind Association
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Welcome banners
VISITORS to the Test match will be welcomed with banners made by a sewing group and adults with learning difficulties. The eye-catching panels have been created by adults with learning difficulties from Empower in Chester-le-Street and a sewing group
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Home rule vote backed by party
LIBERAL Democrats from across the North-East will gather tomorrow to add their voice to the call for regional government. The party holds a conference in Gateshead Civic Centre at 10am, to give their formal backing to the campaign for a Yes vote in the
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News from the Guilds and WIs
South Moor WI: THE May meeting was opened by the president Dora Moore. Doreen Pearson read a humorous poem, The Phone. The president introduced Anne Stayman, of East Stanley WI, who explained the resolutions that were voted upon for the forthcoming annual
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Move over Darwin
While the original Beagle searched for the origins of life on Earth, its successor Beagle 2 has its sights set a little further afield. Nick Morrison looks at the mission to find life on Mars. IT'S only a few feet across, weighs a paltry 30kgs, and when
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Estate residents set to make a song and dance
AN evening of drama, dance, film, animation and art celebrating the regeneration of a Darlington estate will take place next month. The Firthmoor Oratorio at the Civic Theatre, at 7.30pm on Monday, June 9, is the culmination of a threeyear arts project
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Scratchcard scam shopworker jailed
A SHOPWORKER who stole hundreds of pounds of National Lottery money after discovering how to identify winning scratchcards was jailed for four months yesterday. John Mazur was told by magistrates in Darlington that he had cheated the public, threatened
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Shop Talk: French? Buy the book
We find the phrasebooks which pay - and discover when it's better to say nothing at all. GOING abroad for your hols? Speak the lingo do you? Probably not. We're not the world's best linguists - not helped by the fact that the rest of the world seems to
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Court may seize drug couple's £30,000 jewels
A DRUG dealer and his wife could lose jewellery worth more than £30,000 after he admitted supplying cannabis. Police recovered jewellery worth more than £30,000 from unemployed Jason McElderry and his wife Diane, a part-time supermarket worker. Their
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Warning as Bogus Barman strikes
PUB landlords are being warned that one of the country's most plausible tricksters - who is wanted by 14 police forces - is at large. Known as the Bogus Barman, he is a distinctive looking thief who talks his way into a bartender's job, then vanishes
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Breaking down the information divide
It was with a sense of foreboding that I stepped onto the East Coast express train at Darlington station a few days ago. I don't mind visiting London as a tourist but I detest having to go to there on business. This trip would remind me exactly why and
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Theatre will echo with the sound of brass
MUSIC lovers from throughout the region are expected to descend on Durham for its third brass festival. Running throughout June and July, the festival features concerts with brass musicians from a variety of traditions. It includes rising jazz superstar
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Work begins on flood defences
WORK has started on a £7.8m scheme that will protect two villages from future flooding. More than 400 homes and businesses in South Church and West Auckland were washed out when the River Gaunless burst its banks in June 2000. Many people lost everything
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Pupils make the most of their left-overs
WASTE-conscious pupils are celebrating after their school was the only one to be recognised in county environmental awards. The Ferryhill Interact club, based at Ferryhill Comprehensive School, was among eight recipients of 2002 Environment Awards at
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Football festival success
HUNDREDS of young soccer stars took part in the Darlington Primary Schools Festival of Football. Twenty-six schools took part in the annual cup final and there was also a girls' competition and league champions final. North Road school beat Hurworth Primary
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Town's a tough test for new kit
STANLEY has been chosen as the venue for a six-month trial of new police uniforms - because of the town's weather extremes. About 40 officers in the town have been selected to test the new kit. It includes a waterproof high visibility blouson jacket,
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Florists reap bronze award
TALENTED florists have come up smelling of roses in their first ever trip to the country's top flower show. Shildon Flower Club has landed a bronze award at the Chelsea Flower Show. For the first time in its 23- year history, the club was represented
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Police hunt conmen
AN E-FIT description of a bogus caller who preyed upon two elderly women this week has been released by police. Two men escaped with a quantity of cash after conning their way in to the homes of their victims by claiming to be waterboard officials. Both
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Cameras fitted on buses to curb troublemakers
CAMERAS are to be installed on buses in a North-East town to combat a spate of vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Officers from Hartlepool Borough Council have ordered the move on the 505/555 service after vowing to get tough with troublemakers targeting
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Last Night's TV: On the run in the sun
Secret History: Costa del Crime (C4): The million package holidaymakers who headed for the Costa del Sol each year in the 1980s probably didn't realise they were mixing with crooks on the run having fun in the sun. This gangsters' paradise in the heart
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Council makes history
A TOWN council made history as it met for the first time without any Labour representatives. It is the first time that Shildon Town Council has met since the May 1 elections when all Labour councillors lost their seats. The town has had a Labour council
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Pay rise for top man
A LEADING council officer is to receive a pay rise of up to 32.5 per cent. The pay increase for Colin Moore, chief executive of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, could see his annual salary rise from around £83,000 to about £110,0000. He was awarded
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Teesdale Talk: Mrs Field, her Rolls and that blaring horn
MENTION here last week of Olive Field brought back vivid memories for some traders in Barnard Castle. They recalled that the swashbuckling lady had a habit of sitting outside shops in her chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce and blaring the horn until assistants
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Cricket tickets sell well
TICKETS are selling well for Chester-le-Street's first-ever Test match. Seats for next Saturday's session, which organisers have named Fancy Dress Day, are virtually sold out. The ground will be capable of holding more than 12,000 fans. Ticket sales for
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Shake-up may force post office to shut
A CHESTER-le-Street sub-post office is facing closure as part of a national shake-up of the service. Post Office Ltd is carrying out the restructuring because it says there are too many branches in many towns and cities for the amount of business there
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Girls' soccer team are debut champions
A TEAM of young female footballers scored an instant hit in their first season of competitive matches. FramwellgateSchool's under-14 girls' team was only set up at the start of the academic year, with no great expectations, but they rounded off their
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£1,265 for toy soldier box - without the toy soldiers
A CARDBOARD box has fetched a world record price at a North-East auction. The empty box from the turn of the century once contained a set of British toy soldiers. It fetched £1,265 when it was sold by Teesside auction house Vectis on May 21, as part of
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Don't let the rivers claim another life
POLICE and safety campaigners urged summer bathers to beware of treacherous river currents yesterday after the death of a 12-year-old North-East Army cadet. Liam Robinson drowned while playing with friends in a river. He is believed to have been fishing
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Video vigilante mum takes on drug dealers and prostitutes
A mother has turned video vigilante in a bid to catch drug dealers and prostitutes on Teesside. Janet Scott says she is fed up with standing by helpless while criminals cruise the streets of Middlesbrough. The 45-year-old, of Emerald Street, has filmed
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Phillips trail sees Boro cool on Boateng
MIDDLESBROUGH'S chase for Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has cooled Steve McClaren's interest in young Ghana star Derrick Boateng. Boateng is one of the hottest properties in African football and has made a big name for himself with Greek side Panathinaikos
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Bid to keep youngsters out of trouble
PLANS to cut youth offending in two deprived former mining communities was unveiled this week. The scheme by Youth Inclusion Programme workers will list 50 youngsters, aged ten-15, who are most at risk of offending in Catchgate and Annfield Plain, near
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Views sought on service development
PEOPLE are being asked for their views about how to develop local services . The Government wants to see all the organisations that serve communities working together and prepare community strategies, which must recognise that even very local services
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Joiner Lee can cut it
DOZENS of young apprentices have been battling it out for the chance to represent their country in an international contest. A regional heat of Skillbuild was staged at Darlington College of Technology involving apprentices from all over the North of
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Town was Roman hub, says academic
A RETIRED archaeologist claims all roads led to Chester-le-Street in Roman times - after finding six ancient routes into the town. Author, pilot and archaeologist Raymond Selkirk has been researching the Roman origins of the region with the Northern Archaeology
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On your blocks ladies, please
WOMEN from all over County Durham are being asked to walk, jog or run five kilometres to raise money for Cancer Research. Our sister paper The Northern Echo is supporting this year's Race for Life in Darlington, which aims to raise thousands of pounds
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Gannin' along to see festival's attraction
KEEPING the world-famous Blaydon Races painting in the North-East will be the focus of a festival in the town that inspired the work. The second annual Blaydon Festival, which starts this weekend, will feature a range of activities organised to celebrate
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Anne's text books date with Becks
FOOTBALL-mad youngster Anne Houghton had her dream come true when she met her sporting hero. Anne, from Pickering, North Yorkshire, won the once-in-a-lifetime chance to go training with Manchester United superstar David Beckham in a competition run through
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Reincarnated Marconi to axe jobs
NEWLY-listed Marconi Corporation, the reincarnated telecoms equipment company, plans to axe another 500 jobs as it forecast further falls in volumes and sales for this year. Marconi, which ran up billions of pounds of debts in an acquisition spree at
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Musicians praised
JUDGES praised the high standard of entries at the 79th Consett Music Festival, held recently. Emily Barker, of South Moor, near Stanley, delighted the audience at the final session with her exciting piano performances. Young singer Sarah Kelly won several
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School earns praise
A SCHOOL in an area hit by the twin blows of foot-and-mouth and major job losses has been given a glowing report by Government inspectors. Wolsingham School and Community College in Weardale, is a successful school, said an Ofsted team who visited last
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Tapping into a sweet market
SWEETS firm Cadbury Trebor Bassett wants to establish the UK's premier confectionery gift service from a base in North Yorkshire. The chocolate-to-Liquorice Allsorts company has enlisted Hemingways Marketing Services to oversee the e-venture. The North
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Cash boost will help to steer cycling lessons
MOUNTAIN bike enthusiasts have secured £10,000 in grants to bring their sport to schools in the North-East. Hamsterley Forest-based Descend Mountain Bike Promotions is pressing forward with a pioneering scheme that will eventually see schools set up their
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Vicar jailed for affair with 13-year-old bullying victim
A VICAR began an affair with a 13-year-old schoolgirl who turned to him for help after being bullied at school. Married Kevin Conway, 37, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after a court was told the girl's plea for support turned into a "boyfriend-girlfriend
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Burglar in Ibiza instead of court
A BURGLAR sunning himself in Ibiza yesterday when he should have been sentenced by a court will have a rude welcome home arranged by the judge. Christopher Thompson's girlfriend contacted Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday to say he was in the Spanish
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Teenagers locked up for theft of phone
Two boys who used a screwdriver as a weapon as they robbed a teenager of his mobile phone were locked up yesterday. The 15-year-olds who cannot be named for legal reasons were tracked down by the victim and his father. They then alerted the police, Deborah
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Mayor says thanks
THE new Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Council wants to raise funds for the unit that cared for her granddaughter when she was ill. Four-year-old Emily Cooney was at James Finegan Hall, Eston recently to see her grandmother, Coun Norah Cooney, installed
