Archive
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Headland scheme wins double accolade
A MULTI-MILLION pound project to improve understanding of one of the most important Christian sites in the country has won international acclaim. The Whitby Headland Project, in North Yorkshire, is the only scheme of its kind in the country to win the
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Tributes paid to newsagent
TRIBUTES have been paid to a Darlington newsagent, who has died at the age of 76. Ronald Gent, who ran a business in Geneva Road since 1967, died last Wednesday. He had been president of the Darlington branch of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents
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A best friend you can stake your life on
LIVING proof that a dog really can be a man - or a woman's - best friend is a big-hearted mongrel called Sacha. She's the constant companion of 41-year-old mother-of-three Michele Gatens, but is far more than just a cute pet. Mrs Gatens, from Scarborough
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Appeal over dead man
Police are appealing for help to formally identify a pensioner whose body was found in his home on Tuesday. Officers discovered the man at his home in Wycombe Street, Darlington, after neighbours said they had not seen him for some time. He is believed
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Joy as North is clear winner
ALL the fears of fan trouble and expulsion from the European Championships next year were gone in just five pre-match minutes. It became clear just before kick-off that England's appearance in the North-East would not be ruined like it was the last time
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Special order pleases firm
A DURHAM company is hoping overseas diplomacy will bring home luxury orders. Specialist manufacturer Hugh Mackay Carpets has made carpets for some of the plushest locations on the planet. Customers of the firm, which is celebrating its centenary, include
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More parents wanted for fun clubs
VOLUNTEERS are appealing for more help after setting up their own youth clubs. The two groups from the Watergate Estate in Crook and nearby Sunnybrow, say they cannot believe the response they have had since they started at the beginning of this year.
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Protests over car park plan
A CAMPAIGN has been mounted against plans for a multi-storey car park to be built as part of Darlington's new £45m shopping centre. About 200 people have complained to Darlington Borough Council that the development, which is part of the revamp of Queen
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Watching Brief: Southgate on points after early blow for Szil
GARETH Southgate's unusually out-of-sorts performance in his head-to-head battle with Middlesbrough teammate Szilard Nemeth was summed up in one brief first half moment at the Riverside last night. The two Boro stars, given a fantastic reception by the
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Judge praises scissors victim
AN off duty police officer who was stabbed with a pair of pocket scissors as he struggled to apprehend a youth was praised for his actions by a judge yesterday. At Teesside Crown Court, the 16-year-old admitted wounding Sergeant Philip Bromley on March
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German honour for ousted councillor
AN ousted North-East council leader has been presented with one of Germany's top honours. Brian Stephens, who lost his seat on Sedgefield Borough Council at the recent elections, has been awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic
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Rights recognised as union halts action
THE region's biggest union has halted legal action against a furniture firm after it agreed to recognise the representation rights of its staff. Ness Furniture had opposed moves by the General, Municipal and Boilermakers Union (GMB) to have members collectively
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Classic cars are back
VETERANS from a bygone era of motoring take to the roads for the 32nd Beamish Safety and Reliability Run on Sunday. Over 100 preserved vehicles, all at least 50-years-old, are expected to take part. The run is about 150-miles. This year the start and
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£2m work on water supply
IMPROVEMENT work to water supplies costing nearly £2m is being carried out in five moorland villages. The aim is to improve the quality and taste of the water, said a spokesman for Yorkshire Water yesterday. Householders in Lealholm, Egton, Westerdale
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Tributes paid to a key figure in education
TRIBUTES have been paid following the death of a former teacher who rose to become director of one of the region's largest education authorities. John Williams, who retired as head of education and community services in Sunderland last year, died at his
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M6 designer dies, aged 73
A civil engineer who was involved in the design of the M6 motorway has died, aged 73. Desmond Frederick Boon, who was born in Brompton and later lived in Northallerton and Scarborough, North Yorkshire, died in Malton Hospital from heart failure. He worked
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Teamwork puts Emma on the crest of a wave
Yachtswoman Emma Richards will be competing in a new Open 60 ocean racing vessel thanks to a Tyne-Yorkshire collaboration. International print and new media company G A Pindar and Son, of Scarborough, took advice from Newcastle solicitors Eversheds and
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Fire dispute finally ends
The long running firefighters dispute finally came to an end today when union leaders accepted a 16 per cent pay deal. The Fire Brigades Union decided to bring the nine month long row to a close, ending one of the most bitter industrial conflicts for
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Company gets contract for park revamp
A NORTH-EAST company specialising in project management and construction consultancy has been appointed to a scheme to recreate a Georgian landscape. Faithful and Gould is working on a project for Durham County Council to obtain Heritage Lottery Funding
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Comment: Bending to market forces
THERE is no close season in football any more. Last night's game at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium may, officially, have been the last kick of the 2002-03 season, but the build up to it was overshadowed by the Beckham soap opera - a soap opera that
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Change of pace for Andrea and Clair
TWO successful career women have changed direction to set up in business for themselves. Working mothers Andrea Fish and Clair Grimes are soon to open a 70-place children's nursery following business start-up guidance from the North East of England Business
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Detective locked up for attack on man
A DETECTIVE who left a man brain damaged when he felled him with a punch was jailed for 15 months yesterday. Father-of-three Graeme McMillan, 44, was knocked to the ground when he sprang to the defence of his wife following a comment made by a stag night
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Recycling centre plans approved
CONTROVESIAL plans for a waste material recycling centre have been given the go ahead despite objections from two councils. Members of Durham County Council's planning department last week backed the project, which will be built on the Hackworth Industrial
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Musical tribute composed in memory of dale legend
A STIRRING hymn has been composed as a tribute to Jack Ellerton, the so-called Mr Music of the dales, who died recently after more than 80 years as a respected musician. Mr Ellerton began learning to play the trombone when he was nine, and became well
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Kvaerner reveals further job cuts
UP to 70 jobs are to go at the Teesside arm of Norwegian firm Aker Kvaerner. The group amalgamated three businesses under the single banner AK Engineering Services and is looking to strip out areas where staff duplicate work. It is the second time this
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Advice service gets cash boost
AN advice service has been boosted by almost £96,000 to help it meet costs. Easington District Council has agreed to donate £95,849 to Easington and District Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) for the current financial year. Along with funding from other sources
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Introduction to student life
A university is offering a free taster programme for people thinking of enrolling as mature students. The University of Durham Queen's Campus, in Stockton, will give potential students the chance to sample university life. The event, for adults, will
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Homeless charity seeks help
A CHARITY in Darlington is appealing for volunteers to help the homeless. Darlington Nightstop provides emergency short-term accommodation for 16 to 25 year olds. Volunteers give accommodation in their homes for up to three nights to someone who is homeless
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Blooming good start
FUNDRAISING efforts of the recently formed Ferryhill in Bloom committee are helping the appearance of the town. The committee, led by Doreen Barber and Zena Roddam, has raised £1,000 in three months. Ferryhill Town Council has provided the volunteers
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Work together to beat terrorist threat, delegates told
WESTERN society can no longer rely solely on Nato and governments to protect it against terrorism, a leading Nato official said yesterday. Speaking at a conference in Newcastle Nato special advisor Chris Donnelly called for strategies to deal with the
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Party stalwart snubbed
A LABOUR party stalwart says she was banned from attending Tony Blair's anniversary party for speaking out against the war in Iraq. Joan Smith, 80, says she was deeply wounded by the decision not to allow her to attend Saturday night's bash to mark the
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Just an ordinary teenager then?
IF Buckingham Palace is trying to convince us Prince Harry is just like any other teenager, they have done a pretty appalling job. Thanks to the latest photo shoot we all now know he uses Lynx deodorant, fancies Halle Berry and listens to the hip XFM
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Lorry driver held after fatal collision with gipsy caravan
A lorry driver was arrested yesterday after a father and son were killed when a 38- tonne tanker collided with their horse-drawn caravan. Stuart Nicholson and his son, six-year-old Connor, were killed when they were hit while travelling home from a horse
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Geremi desperate for Boro switch
WORRIED Cameroon star Geremi last night urged Middlesbrough to end his Real Madrid nightmare. The skilful African enjoyed a successful nine month loan spell on Teesside but has since returned to the Spanish giants and is waiting to see whether both clubs
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Sewage floods homes
TORRENTIAL rain caused flooding to homes in Tudhoe Colliery and Spennymoor on Sunday. Attwood Terrace in Spennymoor and around 20 houses in Front Street, Tudhoe Colliery, were affected. One house in Front Street has been flooded four times in two years
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The fears of a clown
Is it just a bundle of laughs being a clown, or is life in the big top harder than you think? Gavin Havery runs away to the circus to find out. 'LOOK kids, go and see the clown," an enthusiastic parent urges a group of wide-eyed youngsters. Forgetting
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Young fighters triumph
THREE young fighters proved they are among the toughest in Europe after medal-winning performances at a martial arts contest. Four fighters, all students at the Phoenix UK Tae Kwon Do Association, in Langley Park, near Durham, competed against youngsters
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Emergency jobs summit set for Wear Valley
An emergency jobs summit will be held tomorrow in a bid to stop the axe falling on more jobs in part of County Durham. Key figures will meet to try and find a way to turn around the fortunes of Wear Valley's economy which has suffered a series of blows
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Volunteers appeal for clubs aid
VOLUNTEERS are appealing for more help after setting up their own youth clubs. The two groups from the Watergate Estate, in Crook, and nearby Sunnybrow, say they cannot believe the response they have had since they started at the beginning of the year
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Actor pays debt to college that started him on road to stardom
Esteemed North-East actor Richard Griffiths has returned to his roots to repay the college that helped him on the road to success. Griffiths, best known as the chef in TV's Pie in the Sky and the predatory Uncle Monty in cult film Withnail and I, was
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Laura takes to concert stage
A ten-year-old pianist recently took part in a London concert. Laura Race, a pupil at St Margaret's CE Primary School, Durham, took part in a competition with the European Piano Teachers' Association. After winning her heat in Newcastle, she went through
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Catherine says thank you
A SICK girl took a break from hospital to thank shoppers, supermarket staff and toddlers for their donations. Catherine Readshaw, ten, from Ferryhill, is being treated for leukaemia at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle. It is the second time
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Housing estate extension proposal angers residents
PEOPLE are urging councillors to back them in their fight to stop builders extending plans for an executive housing estate. People living near the Bracks Farm development, being built on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland, are fighting a fresh planning
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Raiders target village twice in one night
BURGLARS took money and goods worth hundreds of pounds after two raids on a village in the same night. The gang broke into a garaged at the charity-run Leadgate Community Tea Rooms, in Leadgate, near Consett, overnight on Monday. They stole a petrol lawnmower
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Students welcome foreign visitors
TEACHERS and students from a Transylvanian school have been visiting Sedgefield as part of a project to study historical buildings. A group from Sedgefield Community College has already visited their counterparts in the town of Sibia, in Romania, and
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Colourful artwork marks nursery's move
THERE will be six fresh faces at a Northallerton nursery when it opens on a new site later this month. To mark the Looby Lou day nursery's relocation to premises in Finkills Way, members of staff and one of the children's parents have helped to create
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School choir to take part in music festival
A TEESSIDE school choir has been invited to take part in one of Europe's biggest music festivals of its kind. Ingelby Mill Choir, which was formed seven years ago when the school was built, is to play in the national Festival of Music for Youth 2003.
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Family's plea in hunt for father's attacker
THE family of a man left fighting for his life after a vicious attack pleaded last night for the public to help police catch the culprits. Mark Connorton, who has a nine-year-old son, was found unconscious with severe head injuries in Redcar, east Cleveland
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Fundraisers brave the rain to boost sports
FIFTY runners and walkers fought against heavy rainfall to complete the first Bedale Bash and raise more than £1,000 for sports facilities. Local entrants of all ages took part in the event and were sponsored for the number of 1.5 mile laps they managed
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Woman protests at lack of litter bins after fouling fine
ANGRY dog walkers have said they resent being fined for failing to clean up after their pets when the bin provided by the council is overflowing and practically inaccessible. Residents in Catterick Village are tired of seeing the dog waste bin on a popular
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Region picked for scheme to tackle unemployment rates
PEOPLE without jobs in disadvantaged parts of Middlesbrough are to benefit from a £3m pilot scheme to tackle unemployment, it was announced yesterday. The scheme will test a new approach of offering intensive support to residents, particularly in Thorntree
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Country night
A COUNTRY music night has been arranged at Guisborough Quoit Club, east Cleveland. Collette and Jive Beat will perform on Wednesday, from 8.30pm. Tickets are £4 in advance, and £5 at the door. To book, call (01287) 633041.
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Theatrical group takes to the stage again
MEMBERS of the Centre Stage Theatre Group are hoping to continue their tradition of family entertainment with their production of the musical Me and My Girl. The show will be staged at Egglescliffe Community Centre, in Durham Lane, Eaglescliffe, from
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Praise for campaign after jail sentence
POLICE celebrating a four-year jail sentence handed to a heroin dealer say their Dealer a Day campaign should take the credit. Mark Duffy, 24, was this week jailed at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to possessing 100 wraps of heroin, with a
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Market gold standard
THE farmers' market in Darlington is celebrating its first year of being a gold standard market. The market, one of 75 held across the country, has taken place every third Friday in the month since October 2000. It is the first in the North-East to achieve
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Voices raised in praise of estate
AN evening of music, drama and dance celebrating life on a Darlington estate took place this week. Residents of Firthmoor performed their own Oratorio at the town's Civic Theatre on Tuesday evening. The event was the culmination of a three-year arts project
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Appeal for action to curb village youth gang
VILLAGERS are appealing to parents to control their children after reports of a gang of youths terrorising people. At a meeting of Hurworth Parish Council, it was reported that a gang of youths has been gathering in a wooded area in the grounds of Hurworth
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Pet hurt by bike has to be put down
A PEDIGREE dog which was run over by an off-road motorbike has had to be destroyed. Five-year-old Flame, an Irish red setter bitch, suffered severe internal injuries, a chipped spine and a broken ankle after the bike ran over her near Green Lane, Whinfield
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Rugby club wins best community scheme award
A RUGBY team as been recognised for its work in the community. Newcastle Falcons won best Community Scheme at the Premier Rugby Marketing Awards. The Falcons' community programme supports schools and organisations through sporting or fundraising activities
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Appeal for witness
A PATIENT who saw thieves breaking into two cars parked outside a hospital is being urged to contact police. Thieves broke into a Daihatsu and Skoda Felicia parked outside Shotley Bridge Hospital, at about 4pm on Tuesday. A car stereo was stolen from
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Strawberry fair
THE Friends of Redcar's Stead Hospital are holding a summer fair and strawberry tea on Saturday, June 28, from 2pm in the hospital grounds. Admission is free.
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Exhibition looks back at the 1950s
THE long-gone world of the 1950s is being brought back to life by experts and laymen alike. The Royal Pump Room Museum, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is hosting an exhibition of life as it was half-a-century ago. Alongside the exhibition, it is running
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Glass and ceramic artists are head and shoulders above the rest
WORK by glass and ceramics graduates is being showcased in an exhibition this month. The National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, is collaborating with the University of Sunderland to stage Fused and Fired, by this year's graduates from the glass, architectural
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Developer rethinks hotel site scheme
A DEVELOPER hoping to convert a Grade-II listed hotel into houses and flats has agreed to scale down its plans following overwhelming opposition from residents. Coast and Country, which owns Croft Spa Hotel, near Darlington, wanted to convert it into
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Many happy diamond memories
A SEDGEFIELD couple whose romance blossomed during the second world war have celebrated 60 years of wedded bliss. Army driver John Hill, originally from Warwickshire, was stationed in Sedgefield from 1941. At a camp dance he met local girl Rachel Stubbs
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PC's assailant gets 15 months
A TEENAGER who assaulted a police officer was locked up for 15 months yesterday. Police went to Brian Graham's home following reports of a man armed with a knife. They found Graham, 19, drunk and arguing with his girlfriend Gemma Allison. She was trying
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North's school fire attack shame
CHILDREN'S lives are being put at risk by a rise in the number of arson attacks on schools - with the worst rate in the North-East, according to a new study. The Arson Prevention Bureau (APB) has revealed that a third of arson attacks on schools are started
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Notes From Planet Zog: A whole other world
O is for other... as in other boys and other people's mothers. YOU know the mantra. You've heard it all their lives. It has provided a constant background to your dealings with your children. But by the time they get to 12 years old or so, the background
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Last Night's TV: One giant leap from baker to undertaker
Apply Immediately (BBC2) PAUL Hilton wanted to swap bread for the dead. After 30 years of rising at two in the morning to work as a baker, he fancied becoming a funeral director. And he wanted hands-on experience with dead bodies as an embalmer. "If I
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Riverside project prepares for launch
A DRIVE to promote North-East marine and offshore technology industries across the world will be launched later this month. The project will promote the River Tyne as a world-class centre of excellence for the marine engineering and offshore technology
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Drama group in search of props help
Chester-le-Street Theatre Group is appealing for Victorian shoes and boots to use in their production of the comedy Hobson's Choice. The play centres around boot and shoe maker Horatio Hobson and his shop. To give the show an authentic touch, the group
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Folk event brings musicians together
MORE than 300 musicians will converge on Durham for an annual folk event. The Durham Folkworks gathering will be held at the city's Gala Theatre, from July 31 to August 2. Over the three days, there will be five concerts, open air music and other folk-related
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News in brief: Police search for attackers
A WOMAN is recovering after she was attacked by two muggers. The attack happened as the woman, who has not been named, was on her way to the Pretoria Working Men's Club in Medomsley, near Consett, at 7.30pm on Saturday. The men approached her and demanded
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News in brief: Stolen car hits milk van
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a stolen car collided with a van being used to deliver milk. The accident happened at about 2am yesterday on the junction of Keith Road and Marton Burn Road, in Middlesbrough. The Vauxhall Cavalier was stolen five
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News in brief: Gipsy site plan is opposed
PLANS to use a paddock at Blackwell Moor Farm, Snipe Lane, Hurworth Moor, near Darlington, to house five gipsy caravans, one amenity block and associated works have been opposed by Hurworth Parish Council. Members of the council are opposed to the scheme
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Full steam ahead for rail village
WORK on a new £10m visitor attraction in Shildon will start within weeks. Construction of the Shildon Railway Village, which is expected to attract up to 50,000 visitors to the area a year, is about to start in time to open in late 2004. The new attraction
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French duo in demand at PSG
NEWCASTLE UNITED have made a renewed bid to sign Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho. The Magpies are understood to have bowed to Paris St Germain's demand and offered Frenchmen Olivier Bernard and Laurent Robert in exchange for the Samba star. The
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Piece created by maestro for brass festival
A MONTH-long brass festival begins with a champions' concert at the weekend. Northern regional champions the Ever Ready Brass Band will team up with Durham University Brass Band for the performance at Durham's Gala Theatre, on Sunday. As well as marking
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Future technology is simply brilliant
ENGINES powered by cups of hot coffee and organic televisions that roll up and fit in your pocket were some areas of university research on show this week. Research teams at Durham University exhibited their work at the Elvet Riverside Building on Monday
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Parking limit plan for town
VISITORS to a busy market town could be limited to a two-hour stay if proposed parking restrictions are approved. Stanhope parish council has asked Durham County Council to consider limiting parking in the village's Front Street to one or two hours. The
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Dishing dirt
AS plans are set for Dirty Den's return to Soapland, the question must be asked: is there room for a double dose of Dirty-ness in Albert Square? Dirty Den the Second, alias Dennis Rickman, is being bad enough for both of them in EastEnders (BBC1). Of
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Drummers go abroad
Drummers from a primary school will perform at their first international event next month. Pure Drumming, 15 pupils from Skerne Park Primary School, Darlington, has been invited to play at the fte de ville in Amiens, France, next weekend. The school was
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Artist's sculpture draws from life
WHEN Mackenzie Thorpe chose football as the theme for his latest work, he insisted it was as a metaphor for the challenges we all face every day. But the Middlesbrough-born artist has struck such a chord among those who are passionate about soccer, that
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Milburn quits to put family first
Health Secretary Alan Milburn quit the cabinet today - as Prime Minister Tony Blair began his long-awaited reshuffle. The Darlington MP, who today announced his shock resignation from the Government, is a staunch Blairite loyalist who had been tipped
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Family's plea in hunt for father's attacker
THE family of a man left fighting for his life after a vicious attack pleaded last night for the public to help police catch the culprits. Mark Connorton, who has a nine-year-old son, was found unconscious with severe head injuries in Redcar, east Cleveland
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Quarry death inquest
An inquest has opened into the death of a 22-year-old man who drowned in a quarry pool at the weekend. Police divers recovered the body of Andrew Cousins, of Wilson Street, Crook, County Durham, from water at Greenfoot Quarry, Stanhope. Yesterday, Mr
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Heart health team in line for award
A PIONEERING heart service has been shortlisted for a national award. Darlington Primary Care Trust launched its community cardiac rehabilitation programme in October 2001, and it has gone on to help nearly 300 people suffering from angina. The scheme
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A whole other world
O is for other... as in other boys and other people's mothers. YOU know the mantra. You've heard it all their lives. It has provided a constant background to your dealings with your children. But by the time they get to 12 years old or so, the background
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Counting down to Potter escapade
HARRY Potter fans can spend a magical night counting down the minutes until they hold JK Rowling's latest release. The air of excitement surrounding the launch of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has cast a spell on staff at White Rose Books
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Sunderland blameless over fans' snub
SUNDERLAND were last night defended by the Football Association after the North-East public snubbed the England Under-21 team. The Stadium of Light was more than three-quarters empty on Tuesday as a paltry crowd of 11,223 watched the vital European Championship
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Kiwi Fleming gears up for debut
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is set to make his debut for Yorkshire in their opening Twenty20 Cup match against Derbyshire at Headingley on Saturday. Fleming is due to arrive in England tomorrow and fly onto Leeds-Bradford airport before being
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Get-together aims to promote excellence in nursing
NURSES, nursery nurses, health visitors and nursing support staff gathered together yesterday for a pilot team building event. Easington Primary Care Trust held the first of three get-togethers for its nursing staff, offering them the chance to meet up
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Jobless rise catches analysts by surprise
THERE have been calls for action to stem the tide of job losses in the manufacturing sector after a surprise rise in unemployment figures. The biggest monthly increase for a decade in the number of people claiming benefit also led economists to reduce
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Fans lead the way on night of victory
NORTH-EAST football fans passed their big test with flying colours last night. The sell-out crowd at The Riverside in Middlesbrough heeded a police and FA warning and behaved magnificently. There were no repeats of the ugly scenes which marred the national
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Commons plea made for child service
A PLEA has been made in the House of Commons for a dedicated service to be established in East Cleveland for children in care or suffering from mental illness. Dr Ashok Kumar, the Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland, made the call in
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Fishermen's anger mounts
LEADERS of the region's ailing fishing industry reacted angrily last night as European ministers proposed less time at sea for their vessels. EU Fisheries Commissioner Franz Fischler told a meeting of Europe's fisheries ministers in Brussels yesterday
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Four-legged friends will prove they are top dogs
CROSSBRED dogs have their day on Sunday when the National Canine Defence League's Rehoming Centre at Sadberge, hosts the regional heat of the Pal Scruffts Crossbreed Dog of the Year Competition. Categories include the most handsome dog, the prettiest
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Appeal for crafters to enter show
ORGANISERS of this year's Great Aycliffe Show are appealing for entries for the craft competition. Highlights of this year's event, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, include motorbike stunts, aeroplane acrobatics, pedigree rabbits
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Noise warning over increase in air traffic
HUNDREDS of people living near Teesside and Newcastle airports could have their peace shattered by a surge in air traffic, says a study. The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has warned that huge swathes of countryside, including the
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£3m award to improve job skills
MORE than £3m of National Lottery funding has been earmarked to boost skills and employment in the North-East. The funding is to be pumped into deprived areas of Darlington, Stockton, Wansbeck and Blyth Valley over ten years, to improve the life of communities
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Freemasons hand over thousands to town charities
THOUSANDS of pounds were handed over to local charities last week. The Freemasons of the town presented nearly £6,000 to local charitable organisations. The presentation took place at a special dinner last Wednesday, at Freemasons' Hall in Archer Street
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Engineer earns distinguished title
AN engineer from Sedgefield has been made a fellow of a distinguished engineering institution. Paul Elwell has been granted a Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Mr Elwell was presented with his certificate by ICE president Adrian Long at
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Double act look to Hamilton
RICHARD FAHEY and his stable jockey Paul Hanagan are all set for a good day at Hamilton where the in-form combination have an outstanding opportunity of hitting the target with all three of their runners. The Malton-based duo shouldn't waste any time
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Anti-drugs unit aims to fight drug dealing
The region's leading drug-busters are coming together in a pioneering scheme to bring more dealers to justice. The hand-picked police team, named the Regional Drugs Intelligence Unit, will be tasked to monitor street trends and gather intelligence on
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Gardens open in aid of church
GARDENS in Gainford will be opening to the public to raise money for the parish church. St Mary's Church will benefit from the proceeds of the village's annual garden Sunday on June 29. Organiser Geoff Taylor said: "This year we are opening about a dozen
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Free bus helps rally visitors get there
A COUNCIL has put on a free bus for enthusiasts planning to visit one of the region's biggest vintage vehicle rallies. Anyone wanting to visit the Vintage Fire Engine Rally at Stockton's Preston Park will now be able to catch a free bus from the town
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Campaign plans drawn up to save schools
TEACHERS and governors at more than 100 schools lined up for closure and mergers are now drawing up plans to fight back. A series of meetings will be held in the coming weeks at affected schools across County Durham to put the case for survival. The local
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Five killed in M-way horror
Emergency services were last night clearing the mangled wreckage of vehicles involved in a horrific and deadly motorway smash. Tanks returning from the Iraq war killed five people and injured at least six more when they were catapulted across the busy
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John aims to cycle from sea to sea in a day
A DRIVING instructor is planning to swap four wheels for two and cycle coast-to-coast within a day. On an average Saturday, John Rouse can be found taking learner drivers through their three-point turns and parallel parking, but this weekend, he will
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Dismay over decision to close homes
MORE than 50 pensioners are facing upheaval following news that two nursing homes are to close. David Carr, who owns Whitfield Cottage and Rookstone Nursing Homes, both at North End, Durham, has written to residents' families informing them that they
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Work to start on store
A TOWN centre supermarket is to receive a £2m facelift and take on 50 extra staff to increase its appeal to shoppers. An extensive makeover of the Asda store in St Andrew's Lane, Spennymoor, starts this month in a bid to become more customer-friendly.
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Students dig into history of campus
A TEAM of student archaeologists will be hoping to unearth some hidden secrets of the past during a series of digs taking place later this month. The team from Darlington College of Technology will be racing against time to uncover long-lost artefacts
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Pupils strike a chord to raise £1,200
YOUNG musicians have struck a chord with a charity by raising £1,200. Last month 60 pupils from Durham School performed in the annual Music for a Summer's Evening event in the school hall. They entertained around 200 guests, who also enjoyed wine and
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Widow is target of conmen
POLICE are hunting a bogus water company worker who conned his way into a widow's house and stole her purse. The 74-year-old was duped into letting the man into her home in Thorntree Road, Thornaby, Teesside, at about 2.30pm on Monday. She answered a
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Hydropower plan sparks objections
A BID to create a hydropower plant on a river in the region and sell electricity to the National Grid has prompted protests from canoeists. They are objecting to plans by a farming family to divert water from the River Ouse at Linton Lock, Nun Monkton
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Special welcome to the show
A HEAD TEACHER and 11 teenage pupils were given an extra treat when they went to see The Blues Brothers at Darlington Civic Theatre. Before the curtain went up on the show, the stars of the hit musical, Brad Henshaw and Mark Lawson, welcomed head teacher
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Playful Roly in search for a new home
ROLY, a playful, larger-than-life hound, is looking for a home. Deerness Kennels, in Langley Moor, is looking after the RSPCA dog. Roly is a medium-sized brindle crossbreed. Anyone able to give him a home must be able to indulge his love of playing and
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Thief, 13, left pensioner in shed
A schoolgirl robbed a 90-year-old wheelchair-bound pensioner, then dumped her in a shed, a court heard yesterday. The 13-year-old, who cannot be named, targeted terrified Amy Wall in South Shields town centre for just £5 in cash on April 12, Newcastle
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Country night
A COUNTRY music night has been arranged at Guisborough Quoit Club, east Cleveland. Collette and Jive Beat will perform on Wednesday, from 8.30pm. Tickets are £4 in advance, and £5 at the door. To book, call (01287) 633041.
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Flats project ahead of schedule
CONSTRUCTION of a supported accommodation development in Consett is well ahead of schedule, according to council leaders. Twelve flats will be build under the £730,000 scheme for Home Housing. The development is part of the Genesis Project, in which Dysart
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12/06/03
IRAQ: IF Mr Kelly (HAS, June 7) is so sure weapons of mass destruction exist in Iraq, why doesn't he phone Hans Blix and tell him where they are? This would save a lot of time and money. The real reasons for the invasion of Iraq were: firstly for oil,
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Gardens open
UP to 20 gardens in Hutton Rudby, near Yarm, will open to the public on Sunday, June 29, from 1pm to 6pm. The event is being organised by Hutton Rudby Garden Club in support of the village hall appeal. Entry to all the gardens will be £2.50. Entry is
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'Message in a bottle' life-saving scheme
AN INNOVATIVE scheme will see homes in Hambleton having their own life-saving "message in a bottle". Thousands are expected to take part in the project, which is designed to help the emergency services work more efficiently. People will be encouraged
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Quarry plan
AN abandoned quarry working near Ravensworth is to be reopened in another example of farm diversification. North Yorkshire planning committee gave conditional permission for sandstone to be extracted and processed at Greenbank Farm. It is proposed to
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Bumper entries recorded for show
CATTLE and sheep will be back in force at this year's 117th Malton Show. Chairman Ian Hamilton says the show, to be held at Scampston Park on Thursday, June 26, promises to be one of the best for many years, with more attractions and bumper entries. About
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Driver falls foul of toll road
A DRIVER said Durham's toll road system is too draconian after his van was damaged by bollards. Sean Kenny of Tow Law, said he was unaware that Durham's toll road, situated at the entrance to the Market Place, had become automated. When he approached
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Consultant launches bid to aid young diabetics
A DOCTOR raising money to buy insulin pumps for children with diabetes is hoping to set up a service for the whole of the North-East. Dr Bill Lamb, consultant paediatrician at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, County Durham, said he could wait no longer
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Objectors fail to block school plan
A two-storey teaching block is to be built at Richmond School, despite a host of objections. The proposal, which has been described as an "industrial shed" by a conservation group - was approved by North Yorkshire County Council. Councillor Heather Garnett
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Challenge issued as row on council spending erupts
A FORMER council leader has challenged a political rival to meet him in public after a row about the authority's finances. The challenge was made after Councillor Glyn Nightingale, of the ruling coalition at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said
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Tourism bid sees priory open longer
THE grounds of Gisborough Priory will be open seven days a week all summer. It is hoped the move will improve visitor numbers to Guisborough. Figures show the number of people visiting the Tourist Information Centre in the Priory, fell from 16,000 in
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NHS pay strategy piloted by trusts
TWO of the region's health trusts have been chosen to test the Government's pay modernisation strategy. As part of the deal, staff working for the North-East Ambulance Service and City Hospitals Sunderland are in line for an average pay rise of 12.5 per
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£2.5m water mains work unveiled
PLANS for a £2.5m upgrade of up to 80 miles of water mains in lower Wensleydale will be detailed next week. The work will involve Yorkshire Water engineers either cleaning, relining or replacing the mains network in Bedale and Masham and surrounding villages
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Teatime in the cells as police back hospice fundraising appeal
POLICEMEN have joined forces with volunteers to raise money for a local hospice. Organised by Stockton's Butterwick Hospice, the Tea at Three campaign asks for donations for tea breaks at work or from people having tea parties. Inspector Eric Robinson
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Commons plea made for child service
A PLEA has been made in the House of Commons for a dedicated service to be established in East Cleveland for children in care or suffering from mental illness. Dr Ashok Kumar, the Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland, made the call in
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Nkosana gets ready for big apple
A TEESSIDE student is to run the New York Marathon in aid of charity. Nkosana Mpofu, 38, aims to raise £900 for Get Kids Going!, and is looking for sponsors. A former information officer with the British Council in Zimbabwe, he is studying at the University
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Suspended jail term for fraud woman
A 46-YEAR-OLD woman who illegally received more than £16,000 of benefits was given a nine-month jail sentence suspended for two years yesterday. Christine Watson, of Wellbeck Avenue, Darlington, admitted three charges of dishonestly making false representation
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News in brief: Gipsy site plan is opposed
PLANS to use a paddock at Blackwell Moor Farm, Snipe Lane, Hurworth Moor, near Darlington, to house five gipsy caravans, one amenity block and associated works have been opposed by Hurworth Parish Council. Members of the council are opposed to the scheme
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Boundary Commission rejects change to constituencies
Proposals to radically alter the political make-up of several key North-East constituencies have been rejected by a Government body. The Boundary Commission for England visited Darlington in January to hear views on its recommendations to change the political
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News in brief: Police search for attackers
A WOMAN is recovering after she was attacked by two muggers. The attack happened as the woman, who has not been named, was on her way to the Pretoria Working Men's Club in Medomsley, near Consett, at 7.30pm on Saturday. The men approached her and demanded
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One giant leap from baker to undertaker
Apply Immediately (BBC2) PAUL Hilton wanted to swap bread for the dead. After 30 years of rising at two in the morning to work as a baker, he fancied becoming a funeral director. And he wanted hands-on experience with dead bodies as an embalmer. "If I
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News in brief: Police search for attackers
A WOMAN is recovering after she was attacked by two muggers. The attack happened as the woman, who has not been named, was on her way to the Pretoria Working Men's Club in Medomsley, near Consett, at 7.30pm on Saturday. The men approached her and demanded
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Millennium Volunteers apply therapeutic art
A COLOURFUL mural will be the first thing youngsters see when they wake up after an operation. The mural, featuring animals and flowers, has been painted in the paediatrics recovery area at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The work was carried out by a team
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Release of balloons heralds cycle path network launch
A network of cycle paths linking communities and providing access to a nature reserve opened yesterday. The Kyo Greenways Project in the Great North Forest has been completed after three years' work. The project, which is part of the River Team Revival
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News in brief: Stolen car hits milk van
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a stolen car collided with a van being used to deliver milk. The accident happened at about 2am yesterday on the junction of Keith Road and Marton Burn Road, in Middlesbrough. The Vauxhall Cavalier was stolen five
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Soap Watch: Dishing dirt
AS plans are set for Dirty Den's return to Soapland, the question must be asked: is there room for a double dose of Dirty-ness in Albert Square? Dirty Den the Second, alias Dennis Rickman, is being bad enough for both of them in EastEnders (BBC1). Of
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10,000 invited to pamper day for carers
THOUSANDS of unsung heroes who care for their loved-ones are to get a much-needed pamper day. Unpaid carers across Hartlepool will be able to enjoy a free pamper day at the town's Grand Hotel tomorrow, from 11am to 9pm, as part of celebrations to mark
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Olympic team gets a special send-off
FIVE athletes with learning disabilities had a special Olympic send off this week. The competitors, who all attend County Durham Care's day care services, visited Coun Alan Fenwick, chairman of Durham County Council, at County Hall before they flew on
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Tiny pub picks up a big award
A SMALL Darlingtonpub has been named the town's champion pub 2003 by the Campaign for Real Ale. The Quaker Ale and Coffee House in Mechanics' Yard, off High Row, was presented with its award as Darlington Champion Pub of the Year 2003. It is the third
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Rugby club wins best community scheme award
A RUGBY team as been recognised for its work in the community. Newcastle Falcons won best Community Scheme at the Premier Rugby Marketing Awards. The Falcons' community programme supports schools and organisations through sporting or fundraising activities
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Captain fantastic - Owen to the rescue
WITH the sense of occasion that one would expect from the greatest goalscorer of his generation, Michael Owen brought up a half-century of caps by extricating England from the depths of Euro 2004 despair at the Riverside. Just when his country needed
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Fundraisers see progress
CHURCHGOERS are succeeding in their drive to preserve a distinctive building on Durham's skyline. A shroud has gone round the tower at St Cuthbert's Church in North End, as contractors begin restoring the rotting 150-year-old structure. Faced with a bill
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WestLB pulls support for AWG deal
GERMAN Bank WestLB has withdrawn its support for a potential bid for water group AWG after four months of takeover wrangling. WestLB, which was acting on behalf of consortium Bream Investments, first approached AWG, parent company of Hartlepool Water,
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Glass and ceramic artists are head and shoulders above the rest
WORK by glass and ceramics graduates is being showcased in an exhibition this month. The National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, is collaborating with the University of Sunderland to stage Fused and Fired, by this year's graduates from the glass, architectural
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Thieves steal match balls
MORE than 200 youngsters turned out for their weekly football league games to find thieves had stolen their match balls. Managers at Shildon six-a-side Scheme Juniors Football Club were left trying to find enough footballs to carry on with the scheduled
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Thief, 13, left pensioner in shed
A schoolgirl robbed a 90-year-old wheelchair-bound pensioner, then dumped her in a shed, a court heard yesterday. The 13-year-old, who cannot be named, targeted terrified Amy Wall in South Shields town centre for just £5 in cash on April 12, Newcastle
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Councils vow to find cash for law enforcers
Council bosses have pledged to find the cash to keep new-style law enforcers on North-East streets once Government funding runs out. The region was the first to introduce teams of uniformed officers to work alongside police to target burglars, persistent
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Teenager accused of rape faced mob of 20
AN angry mob laid siege to the home of a teenager accused of raping a 14-year-old boy, a court was told yesterday. Paul Thomas, 19, was arrested on suspicion of a sex attack, while his family were on holiday in Scotland. Stephen Ashurst, defending, said
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Accident victim faces surgery
A DISABLED man involved in an accident with a bus was recovering in hospital last night. Alwyn Woodcock, 64, who has the rheumatic disease ankylosing spondylitis, suffered a broken neck in the accident in Woodland Road, Darlington, on Tuesday. His wife
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Horseplay at quarry ends in tragedy
A GRIEVING mother has spoken of her loss after a young man drowned after he jumped into a quarry pool to cool off. Andrew Cousins had gone to Greenfoot Quarry, Stanhope, to celebrate one of his closest friend's 22nd birthday. Their high spirits and horseplay
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Gospels books donated to region
THE British Library is to donate 1,750 books on the Lindisfarne Gospels to the region. Copies of the latest publication on the historic gospels, Painted Labyrinth: the world of the Lindisfarne Gospels, by Dr Michelle Brown, will be given to schools, libraries
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Towering challenge
A VICAR has swapped his pulpit for a hard hat and safety equipment to abseil down his own church tower. Father Raymond Cuthbertson, of St John's Church, Shildon, has volunteered for the task in a bid to raise money for charity. Both he and Shildon councillor
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John North: When a dead rabbit was just the ticket
Going on the buses is more than a way of getting about for some omnibus enthusiasts... it's a way of life worth recording. THE Beverley Sisters, whom fortune so wonderfully has preserved, were in a red Jaguar on Stockton High Street in the early 1960s
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Police officers off on the charity trail
EIGHT police officers are getting on their bikes for charity. The Durham Constabulary officers will travel more than 280 miles over three days from Gretna Green, in Scotland, to Flint, North Wales, crossing the Pennines twice via Leyburn and Holmfirth
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School wins praise from Ofsted team
A NEWTON Aycliffe school has received a glowing report from inspectors. The Office for Standards in Education report for St Francis CE Junior School describes it as "a good school which provides a high standard of care for pupils". The report says: "Teaching
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School to mark war diarist's birthday
FERRYHILL Comprehensive School is to join others across the country in thinking about the moral courage of individuals and society. Today is Anne Frank Day, commemorating what would have been the 74th birthday of the teenage wartime diarist. Her diary
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Pupils win accolades for problem-solving
YOUNGSTERS have shown their ability in maths and problem-solving by achieving honours in a competition. Children from Sunderland primary and secondary schools took part in a pilot project by Sunderland Local Education Authority (LEA), to encourage participation
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News in brief: Publicans join charity ride
ABOUT 200 publicans and bar staff joined the 17th North Riding Dales Licensed Victuallers Association Charity Cycle Ride yesterday, following a route from Hawes to Leyburn. Money raised through this year's event will be donated to local doctors' surgeries
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Sven hails his super striker
A RELIEVED Sven-Goran Eriksson last night paid tribute to captain fantastic Michael Owen for keeping England in the driving seat to qualify for Euro 2004. Following Turkey's 3-2 win over Macedonia earlier in the evening, three points was a necessity at
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Council HQ is given a little art appeal
SCULPTURES by internationally renowned artists have gone on display in and around a county council's headquarters building. As part of a two-year public art programme at Durham County Council's Aykley Heads site, three different installations will remain
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Carillion in line for £80m deal
Construction and civil engineering group Carillion is celebrating after securing preferred bidder status for an £80m NHS contract. The company is poised to sign a joint venture contract with development specialists Prime to build and provide facilities
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Cancer race is a family affair
A YOUNG mother-of-three who was diagnosed with cancer last year is joining forces with her family to raise money for charity. Michelle Loverance, 30, discovered a lump in her breast when she returned to work as a theatre staff nurse in October following
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World conservation experts view N-E sites
DELEGATES from wildlife and conservation organisations from across Europe will be converging on the North Pennines next week to find out more about the area, its wildlife and the conservation initiatives under way. Representatives from as afar afield
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NHS pay strategy piloted by trusts
TWO of the region's health trusts have been chosen to test the Government's pay modernisation strategy. As part of the deal, staff working for the North-East Ambulance Service and City Hospitals Sunderland are in line for an average pay rise of 12.5 per
