Archive
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Councils will take tough stand on injury claims
North-East council chiefs are hitting back in the war on compensation claims for so-called 'slips and trips'. The problem has been growing steadily in recent years with claims for injuries from broken and damaged pavements running into millions of pounds
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Poom is poised for international duty
SUNDERLAND goalkeeper Mart Poom, pencilled in as manager Mick McCarthy's new No 1, is set to miss the start of pre-season training. The Estonian is due to be on internatonal duty in the Baltic Cup when the relegated Black Cats return on July 2 to prepare
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'It's time for firefighters to work together'
A COUNCILLOR has called for firefighters to put the recent pay dispute behind them and work together to make improvements to the service. Councillor Gordon Tennant, who is stepping down as chairman of the County Durham and Darlington Fire Authority, said
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Show date boost for farming industry
FINAL preparations are being made for one of the biggest farming events of the year - and as usual there will be a lot more than just livestock on display. Last year, more than 125,000 visitors attended the Great Yorkshire Show, at Harrogate - the highest
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Captured ace of diamonds may lead to Saddam
American officials were cockahoop last night over the capture of Saddam Hussein's most trusted aide who might lead them to the fallen dictator and even his weapons of mass destruction, Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti - Saddam's presidential secretary, number
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Chief medical officer facing Neale inquiry
PROFESSOR Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government's chief medical officer, is due to give evidence to the Neale inquiry today. The UK's top health official is the highest-profile witness to attend the inquiry into the Richard Neale scandal since it started
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Rothmans closure 'a threat to 10,000 jobs'
UP to 10,000 workers nationwide could be affected by British American Tobacco's decision to close its last remaining North-East plant, it was predicted last night. The closure of the Rothmans plant in Darlington was revealed exclusively yesterday in The
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Newcastle on Konchesky alert
NEWCASTLE United and Liverpool are on alert after Charlton Athletic yesterday granted Paul Konchesky's transfer request. The full-back has already admitted he would leap at the chance of a move to St James' Park or Anfield as he looks to enhance his England
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As Large as life after heart swap
Comedian Eddie Large was recovering last night after undergoing a heart transplant. The 62-year-old, who lives in Bristol, became a household name in the 1980s with his Little and Large double act formed with long-term friend Syd Little. The star's spokesman
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Geremi's clouded future
GEREMI'S English advisors last night reacted with scepticism to claims that Manchester United are ready to sign the Middlesbrough target. Reports yesterday suggested that United, having agreed the £25m sale of David Beckham to Real Madrid, would meet
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North's leaders look for way out of crisis
NEWS of the closure was top of the agenda when economists met to discuss the region's manufacturing crisis. Leading figures from business, trade unions and the public sector met at Samsung, on Teesside, to unveil proposals aimed at helping beleagured
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Dad At Large
IT'S official - dads are the heroes of the world. I've always said it and now I've been truly vindicated. In a national Father's Day competition, children were asked to draw pictures of their heroes and give reasons for their choices. Nearly 40 per cent
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TV review
Ultimate Force (ITV1) EVEN we aren't just allowed to go and shoot people," declared SAS team Red Troop leader Henno Garvie. While hesitating to disagree with someone who's built like a brick wall, I must say that the evidence in the opening episode of
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Threat turns to a warning
Britain's biggest union yesterday threatened co-ordinated strikes by public service workers and issued a warning shot to Labour MPs that funding could be cut if they did not support its policies. Unison pulled back from slashing financial support to Labour
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The reluctant royal comes of age
HE'S rich, handsome, charming and - unless disaster befalls - destined for exaltation beyond measure. Others may be pretenders to the throne, but there's little doubt that Prince William is truly the most eligible bachelor in the world. A pin-up for much
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Actress tells of car ordeal
A young television actress yesterday urged drivers to be aware of the dangers of carjacking, after she described how she was left battered and traumatised in a violent attack. Ex-Emmerdale actress Adele Silva, 22, (pictured) suffered a head injury and
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18/06/03
CAPITAL OF CULTURE: THE last few days, since Newcastle-Gateshead was pipped at the post for the Capital of Culture title, have been a revelation. It's timely now to say a heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of thousands of people across the North-East
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Patch for better planning
More than a quarter of women have had an unplanned pregnancy and nearly half were because of problems with contraception, according to a poll of more than 5,000 women. The results were released yesterday to mark the UK launch of a new contraceptive patch
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Missing dogs die on rail line
AN Aycliffe Village family is distraught after an appeal for the return of pedigree dogs ended in heartbreak. Dawn Myers made an appeal in The Northern Echo yesterday for the return of her German wire-haired pointer Spinner and her six-month-old puppy
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Players stage wedding show
Sedgefield Players present Strike Up The Banns, by Olwen Wymark, in Sedgefield Parish Hall, next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from Selections, society members, or on (01740) 620091. On Wednesday, July 9, the Spys, the
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Marathon effort brings cash bonus for Shelter
TWO executives from Darlington Building Society have raised more than £9,000 to help Shelter's work with homeless children. Chief executive Peter Rowley and his colleague David Dodd ran in the 2003 Flora London Marathon, their first attempt at the distance
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Council staff take cycle route to breakfast
COUNCIL workers were told to get on their bikes yesterday in order to win a free breakfast. Employees of Darlington Borough Council who opted to leave their cars at home were treated to food at Caf Caffae, in the Market Place. It was all part of National
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Pupils playing numbers game
PUPILS at a Darlington school are hoping their number comes up on the National Lottery after some research. Year nine pupils at Hurworth Comprehensive School took part in statistics-based workshops with a lecturer and students from Sunderland University
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Grant is awarded to advice centre
THE future of a centre helping the victims of domestic violence has been secured following a funding boost. The one-stop My Sister's Place advice centre, in Middlesbrough, has received a £57,802 Home Office grant. Set up 18 months ago, organisers saw
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Teenage attack victim set alight by youths
A 17-year-old has been left with second degree burns after a gang of youths attacked him and set him alight. The attack happened on Tuesday in a quiet street in Sacriston, near Durham. The teenager left his home in Highfield at about 1.15pm. He was confronted
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Sign language dictionary has US approval
A DICTIONARY created to help children learn sign language is to be used as part of an internationally-renowned learning pack. Cleveland Sign Resource Project, at Middlesbrough's Beverley School, has been using the Children's Sign Dictionary for many years
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Mystery of the £500 cheque
COUNCILLORS are puzzled after an envelope containing £500 was left in their town hall. Civic leaders at Thornaby Town Hall believe the money may have been left by a mystery benefactor. The envelope appeared on Monday, June 2. The council banked it for
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Found - the coin that marked a final sacrifice
THE discovery of a Dead Man's Coin has helped a family to solve the mystery of a relative who was killed on the Western Front. The coin, given to the families of those killed in the First World War, was found among family memorabilia left to County Durham
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Wartime pilot returns for third society talk
A wartime pilot will be making an unprecedented third visit when he addresses members of the Cleveland Aviation Society. During the Second World War, Captain Eric "Winkle" Brown assessed axis aircraft as a member of the Enemy Aircraft Evaluation Flight
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Hunt for child-contact stranger
POLICE are seeking help in tracking down a woman who has been approaching children in the Great Broughton area, near Stokesley. There have been two incidents in the village in the past two months. In the first incident, on May 27, at about 6.30pm, a woman
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Sappers prepare for quick return to Gulf duties
SOLDIERS from a North Yorkshire Army base, some of whom have just returned from a month's leave after fighting in Iraq, were packing their bags for the Gulf yesterday. A 200-strong field squadron from Ripon's 38 Engineer Regiment flew out to the Middle
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Institutional cover-up into Army deaths, claims Amnesty
DEFENCE chiefs are covering up the death of a young County Durham soldier at a controversial Army barracks, Amnesty International claimed yesterday. The human rights campaigners have joined calls by Geoff Gray's family for a public inquiry into his death
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Rise and fall of the king of the North-East tobacco industry
IN THE winter of 1976, an £8m cigarette factory opened in Darlington, bringing with it the promise of well-paid jobs and a secure future. The arrival of Carreras Rothmans was seen as a magnificent plus for the town, with people throughout the region trying
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Hodge returns to storm Durham's flimsy castle
ANOTHER Aussie old boy returned to haunt Durham last night as Brad Hodge's exhilarating strokeplay almost emptied the bouncy castle in the Twenty20 Cup match at Riverside. Following Simon Katich's recent century for Hampshire against Durham, Hodge again
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The best and worst of British exports
David Beckham will not be the first Brit to try his luck abroad when he arrives at Real Madrid next month. Not everyone has found life away from home to their taste but others have prospered in foreign climes and gone on to achieve great success. Here
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MP praises airport plan
AN MP hopes that expansion plans at Heathrow airport could mean good news for Teesside. British Airways has suggested that if a runway is built at Heathrow, between 30 and 60 take-off and landing slots could be reserved for flights to and from regional
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Event celebrates carers
About 80 people attended a fun event organised by the Princess Royal Trust Sedgefield Locality Carers Centre for National Carers Week. The morning session at Spennymoor Leisure Centre included a series of talks on the theme of this year's week, opportunities
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Cafe setting for customer's marriage proposal
A special item was on the menu when two lovebirds went to lunch this week. Terry McGee produced a ring for partner Kath Clarkson and went down on one knee to propose in Caf Gulp, Priestgate, Darlington. Ms Clarkson immediately said yes and the couple
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Market report
London's leading shares maintained their recent surge today to finish the session above the key psychological barrier of 4200. The FTSE 100 index closed up 16.6 points at 4207, holding on to gains that had pushed it through the important 4200 threshold
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Paedophile crushed to death
A CONVICTED paedophile was crushed to death while working under his car. George Nicholson, who was on the sex offenders' register, was found in the garage of his home in Whickham, near Newcastle, yesterday. A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: '
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News in brief
A stowaway who died yesterday after jumping into the English Channel may have been an asylum seeker who mistakenly thought he was on a boat to Britain, coastguards said last night. In fact, the container ship was heading from Belgium towards the French
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The verdict from a grim workforce - it absolutely stinks
THE dark clouds that circled above the doomed Rothmans factory yesterday reflected the mood of the workforce below. Still reeling from the news that their jobs were being axed, a sombre procession of workers filed out of the factory gates on the journey
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The shutdown that's still hard to swallow
LIKE the mucky bits in Lady Chatterley, Sir Paul Nicholson grumbles - grumbles affably, it should be said - that everyone laying hands on his autobiography turns at once to chapter ten. It's the bit about the failed battle for Vaux Breweries, the loss
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Pupils get taste of hot-air balloon travel
A BALLOONIST dropped in at a primary school this week to teach children about the science of flying. Children at South Hetton Primary, in east Durham, were given the chance to see close up the hot air balloon flown by Christian Brown and Richard Turnbull
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Project team holds open day at centre
A PROJECT team that helps young people in council care will host an open day at its centre in Redcar tomorrow. The Target Leaving Care team and the young people for whom it caters will talk about the service in the Target Resource Centre at 16 Milbank
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Kickboxer wesley has british title in his sights
A kickboxer is hoping to win a national title when he fights next week. Wesley Paul Fagan, 21, of Dipton, near Consett, will take on Michael Johnson, of Sunderland, on Wednesday. The victor will be crowned the European Kickboxing Commission's British
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North-East airports taking off
TRAVEL agent Going Places says demand has surged for holidays departing from Newcastle Airport as North-East holidaymakers increasingly choose to fly from closer to home. The company has analysed demand across several of its stores in the region, with
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Upgraded barricade foils travelling families
A STRONGER barricade put up to prevent travelling people from getting on to riverside land with lorries and caravans has been hailed a success. Residents were delighted to see the Demesnes, a wide pasture by the Tees at Barnard Castle, had been kept clear
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Emergency information scheme to stay cool under pressure
BOTTLES containing lifesaving information have been prepared for an innovative scheme being launched across Hambleton this summer. As part of National Learning Disability Week, Mencap has helped members of the Hambleton Community Safety Partnership prepare
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Family celebrations after nursery rethink
THE family of a boy with special needs who faced a 12-mile taxi ride to nursery every day are celebrating after council officials agreed he could attend his village nursery. Three-year-old Isaac Cain, of Lanchester, near Consett, has been diagnosed with
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Recruits sought
Female recruits aged between 14 and 25 are needed to swell the ranks of the Richmondshire Rangers. An open evening will be held at St Aidan's Church Hall, at Catterick Garrison, at 7.30pm, tomorrow, when the Guiding organisation's aims and objectives
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Family and friends say final farewell to teenager
TWO white horses drew the carriage bearing the coffin of 17-year-old Chris Cave to his final resting place. The white carriage - brought from Dublin at the wishes of his mother, Theresa - was in keeping with a funeral organised to celebrate his life.
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Dad 1, Thomas The Tank Engine 0
IT'S official - dads are the heroes of the world. I've always said it and now I've been truly vindicated. In a national Father's Day competition, children were asked to draw pictures of their heroes and give reasons for their choices. Nearly 40 per cent
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Wind mast to help cement a new future
THE first step has been taken that could lead to a derelict North-East cement works being transformed into a renewable energy centre. Planners have approved the installation of a 150ft high wind-monitoring mast at the Blue Circle Cement works at Eastgate
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Housing fears
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep interest rates static amid fears a cut would reignite the housing market. Three members of the Bank of England's interest rate setting body kept up pressure for a cut in the cost of borrowing
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North's anti-arson scheme goes nationwide
A SUCCESSFUL anti-arson scheme pioneered in the North-East is to be rolled out nationwide. In its second annual report, published this week, the Arson Control Forum highlights the success of the scheme in Newcastle, featuring community partners working
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Job prospects to fall, says Manpower
JOB prospects throughout the North-East are forecast to fall slightly in the quarter ahead, according to recruitment and outsourcing group Manpower. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey (formerly the Manpower Quarterly Survey of Employment Prospects
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Quakers await Whitehead decision
On the day Darlington Football Club finally confirmed Mick Tait as their new manager, officials were last night locked in talks with defender Stuart Whitehead over a new deal. Tait was yesterday unveiled as Quakers' new boss, eight months after taking
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£500,000 mini-brewery is officially opened
A NORTH-East brewery hopes to roar to even more success - with its own Lions Den. The den, a purpose-built mini-brewery at Hartlepool's Camerons Brewery, is designed to let the company experiment with new brews and cask ales on a smaller scale. Officially
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Thousands pay the price of cutbacks
THE region's ability to compete at making products for the global market has been dramatically squeezed in recent years. More than 4,000 jobs - 3,400 in County Durham alone - have been lost to closures and relocations abroad by a plethora of established
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I saw mummy stab dad, says girl of 10
A TEARFUL ten-year-old described to a court yesterday how she told her daddy she would always love him as he lay dying after being stabbed by her mother. During an emotional 41-minute video interview played to a jury, little Jayne Lovegreen wiped her
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NTI Launched to improve competitiveness
A £5m initiative has been unveiled to improve the competitiveness of businesses in the North-East. The North-East NTI (New Technology Institute) is a collaboration of four universities and 11 education institutions. It has been set up to give businesses
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Nayef's perfect answer to critics
Nayef silenced his critics with a great performance under Richard Hills to win the Group One Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday. His victory earned him a 10-1 quote to complete the summer Triple Crown. The Marcus Tregoning-trained five-year-old
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N-E conference call to Blunkett
HOME Secretary David Blunkett could come face-to-face with the families of murder victims at a criminal justice conference being held in the North-East next year. The minister is the latest high-profile figure to be invited to address the North of England
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19/06/03
SCHOOL CLOSURES: THE recent decision by Durham County Council to close 23 schools is baffling. One of the schools marked for closure is Rosa Street School in Spennymoor. One of the (alleged) reasons why Durham County Council wants to close all these schools
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Contracts joy for rail station cabbies
TAXI drivers working at railway stations along the East Coast Main Line are being awarded contracts to run their own ranks after threatening to strike. Hundreds of cabbies planned a walkout last September, claiming poor treatment by Taxibank UK, the national
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Ultimate Force (ITV1)
EVEN we aren't just allowed to go and shoot people," declared SAS team Red Troop leader Henno Garvie. While hesitating to disagree with someone who's built like a brick wall, I must say that the evidence in the opening episode of the second series of
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Freedom a month away for Archer
Lord Archer was last night counting the days to his freedom - now only one month away. He was being granted parole at the earliest possible date, it was announced yesterday. The Parole Board said the disgraced Tory peer, who has served nearly two years
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News in brief
About £4,000 worth of jewellery has been stolen in a raid on a County Durham home. Thieves escaped with the haul, including gold and silver watches, after breaking in through the back door of the house in Dale Road, Chilton. Detective Constable Dave Robinson
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I'll prove I'm innocent of sex charges, vows Leslie
TV presenter John Leslie vowed to clear his name yesterday after being charged with sex offences following a lengthy police investigation. The former host of ITV's This Morning programme was charged with indecently assaulting the same woman on two occasions
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Joey, one of life's true gentlemen
JOEY Brown-Humes will affectionately be remembered in legal circles: J E Brown-Humes it said on the brass nameplate in Bishop Auckland Market Place, though everyone called him Joey. He also had a perhaps unsurpassable claim to local government fame, chairman
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Rock star sued for divorce
Supermodel Rachel Hun-ter has filed for divorce from Rod Stewart, four years after separating from the rocker. New Zealand-born Hunter cited irreconcilable differences in papers filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court. The couple will share custody of
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Sport briefs
BOXING: Audley Harrison has been fined twice as much as Herbie Hide following the disturbances which followed Harrison's defeat of Mathew Ellis last month. The British Boxing Board of Control yesterday fined the Olympic gold medallist £1,000 for his part
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No euro fudge, says Brown
Chancellor Gordon Brown insisted last night that there would be "no short-cuts and no fudge" in the process of deciding whether Britain is ready to join the euro. In his Mansion House speech in the City of London, Mr Brown emphasised that his famed five
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Double Attraction
MIDDLEHAM maestro Mark Johnston continued his love affair with Royal Ascot yesterday when he landed a superb double. Johnston has enjoyed a number of successes at the Royal meeting over recent years and yesterday Attraction and Pearl Of Love obliged.
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Family violence law changes plan
Home Secretary David Blunkett yesterday signalled the biggest shake-up of domestic violence law for 30 years with the publication of a range of new measures to protect victims. Mr Blunkett said he was determined to crack down on the "evil crime" of domestic
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Ward completes Turner's Pool hat-trick
GRAEME Lee last night bid farewell to Hartlepool United - and insisted a reunion with his former boss was an opportunity he couldn't turn down. Lee and Paul Smith had been expected to move to Hillsborough after rejecting new deals at Victoria Park and
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Farmer supports link road scheme
A FARMER and his son are backing plans for a link road between two villages because they say it will keep slow-moving agricultural vehicles off the A66. Russell and Alastair Coulthard, of Smith House Farm, near Elton, are in favour of the proposal to
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Record entry in story contest
AMATEUR writers turned out in force to show off their talents in a short story competition. More than 400 people entered the annual Sid Chaplin Short Story contest, making it the biggest ever turn out in its 16-year history. Ed Turley, from Wolsingham
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Primary school pupils compete in mini-Olympics
PRIMARY school pupils shared sporting success at a mini-Olympics with students from Bishop Auckland College. The students, Liam McGannon, James Sewell, Paul Land, Philip Castling and Jonathan Johnson, who are all on a Sports Science course, organised
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Facelift project for town centre
A TOWN centre is to be given an extensive renovation to revitalise it as a shopping venue and improve the environment for visitors. Residents are being urged to share their views on the ideas for Spennymoor, which have been drawn up by Sedgefield Borough
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School team qualifies for sports finals
YOUNG athletes from a Darlington school have qualified for regional and national athletics finals this year. The athletics team from Carmel Technology College went through to the Northern regional finals of the National Schools Athletic cup by winning
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Health chiefs signal start on dental clinic
HEALTH officials announced a double tonic for the people of Darlington yesterday. They revealed that work on a dental clinic, due to open later this year, is about to begin. In addition, a public consultation exercise to find out which services should
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Reformed civic trust attracting interest
A GROUP which aims to protect Darlington landmarks and conservation areas has attracted nearly 70 members since reforming this year. Darlington Civic Trust was relaunched in March following concern about the loss of old buildings in the town to housing
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Disability group puts taxis to the test
WHEELCHAIR users in Darlington have been testing taxis designed to help disabled people travel in comfort. The vehicles are being tested by members of Darlington Association on Disability (Dad) for Station Taxis, which wants to include more wheelchair-friendly
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Boxers demonstrate against club closure
YOUNG boxers and officials protested yesterday at the closure of their boxing club. Stockton's Impala Fitness Club, which has been training boxers for more than 30 years, will close next Thursday. The closure follows a protracted legal fight with Stockton
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Emmerdale star's fair visit
Emma Atkins, who plays Charity in Yorkshire Television soap Emmerdale, will be among the visitors at the Great Northern International Antiques and Collectors' Fair next month. The actress will attend on the first day of the event, which is open to the
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Concern mounts as search for town clerk goes on
POLICE are continuing to search for a council official who disappeared at the weekend. Terry Robson, 55, town clerk and solicitor for Spennymoor Town Council, has not been seen since 7.30am on Saturday when he left his home in North Close, Kirk Merrington
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Open verdict recorded
A WOMAN who took medication to terminate a pregnancy died of shock after suffering severe internal bleeding, an inquest heard yesterday. Tracy Smith, 31, and her brother, Karl, were playing pool at Riley's in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, when Miss Smith
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Police appeal for help in murder probe
A MURDER inquiry was launched yesterday after the death of a man who was found unconscious in the street. Mark Connorton, 37, from Marske, east Cleveland, died in hospital after fighting for his life for more than a week and police are appealing for more
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Villagers await ruling over plan for animal incinerator
A DISPUTE which has divided a small village in a North-East beauty spot is to go before a High Court judge in London today. The row centres on a plan to operate an animal incinerator to replace a slaughterhouse at Charltons, near Guisborough. Villagers
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Nature reserve visitor
CHILDREN are being introduced to the wonders of the insect world by a ladybird. Lucinda Ladybird, alias Middlesbrough wildspace officer Sue Antrobus, is visiting nature reserves to foster an understanding of insects and their role in the eco-system. She
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Ship returns to celebrations
HMS NEWCASTLE will be sailing up the Tyne this morning to begin celebrations of the 25th anniversary of its commissioning. Built by Swan Hunter on the Tyne in 1978, HMS Newcastle will be berthed at Spillars Wharf for the start of a busy weekend. The crew
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Thanks for saving Harry
A MOTHER has thanked her friend and the emergency services for saving her toddler's life after he was found unconscious in a garden pond. Becky Cross, 25, yesterday relived the moment her 22-month-old son stopped breathing for six minutes after being
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Disused rail lines 'in need of care'
THE routes of disused rail lines across North Yorkshire should be formally protected in the long-term hope that they can eventually be put back into service, according to a new report. The restoration of such lines becomes far more difficult and costly
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Art project unites young and old
ARTWORK produced by children as part of a project to brighten up a village has been of such a high standard that it is to be turned into a calendar. Fishburn in Bloom is a project funded by regional development agency One NorthEast and Age Concern. It
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Video shows for villagers
A video tape featuring local murders, coal mining, coke ovens and railways will be shown with three animated stories to residents of Butterknowle, near Barnard Castle, today. They will be screened in the village school, where they have been produced as
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Three on assault charge
THREE men appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday in connection with an alleged assault. Carl Ian Atkinson, 18, and Ronald Neil Hallimond, 22, both of Coronation Gardens, Staindrop, are accused of assaulting Martin Alexander on Friday
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A habit stubbed out by health fears
THE sight of workers puffing furiously on cigarettes outside their office or shop would have been unimaginable just a few decades ago. But the increasingly comprehensive ban on smoking at work is indicative of a huge change in attitude towards cigarettes
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Warning sounded over teeth brushing
BRUSHING too hard and for too long with an electric toothbrush could cause permanent damage, a new study has found. Researchers at Newcastle University have issued a warning to the millions of people using electric brushes. While electric toothbrushes
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Blazing a trail into the world's moving markets
BRITISH American Tobacco's production lines produced about 777 billion cigarettes last year, destined for smokers worldwide. The equivalent of 38.85 billion packets, the epic scale of BAT's operations reflects the global market attraction of its products
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Forest backdrop for Jools and Quo
ONLY a few tickets remain to see music legends Jools Holland and Status Quo who will be playing in one of the region's forests this weekend. Thousands of fans are expected to travel to the Adderstone area of Dalby forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire
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High-level summit draws up plan to save 175,000 jobs
LEADERS from all types of business came together yesterday to thrash out a plan to save 175,000 manufacturing jobs in the region. The sector accounts for one-fifth of the North-East economy and yet is beset by redundancies and cutbacks. The high-powered
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Information pack aims to stop violence
A RESOURCE pack for schools hopes to avert domestic violence. The teachers' guide by Wearside Domestic Violence Forum aims to promote caring relationships between young children, in the hope they will adopt such behaviour for the rest of their lives.
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Daredevil horsemen to star in show
EUROPE'S largest touring equestrian show starring the world's finest daredevil Russian horsemen is coming to the North-East. Featuring 30 horses, the production includes Arabians, Friesians, Lusitanos, Shetlands and Shires. The riders' skilled horsemanship
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Spotlight on revival of arts centre
THE revival of a troubled arts centre finally got under way yesterday. Bosses at Stockton's Arc announced that they have been given a licence to use the building, which paves the way for the centre's transformation. It is hoped that the venue could reopen
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Children's art given school gallery show
A PRIMARY school became an art gallery when children had their work displayed professionally. Pictures by children at Bullion Lane Primary School, in Chester-le-Street, were professionally framed and hung in a temporary gallery in the school hall. Pupils
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Art of weaving celebrated
A FOREST of large, willow and hazel sculptures goes on display this week. Artist Valerie Pragnell has created the structures as part of the Weaving Stories exhibition, which opens at the Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead, tomorrow. Helen Joseph, the gallery's
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Comedian Phil joins abbey show line-up
THE voice of Terry Wogan echoed around the ruins of an abbey this week, although the Irish broadcaster was probably still winding down after his Radio 2 breakfast show in London at the time. The presenter's dulcet tones were mimicked by stand-up comedian
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Final fundraiser for Mongolia-bound trippers
A GROUP of youngsters are about to follow in the footsteps of the legendary warlord Genghis Khan. Eight young people and two youth workers will be jetting off to the wilds of Mongolia next month. But first they have to attend one of their last fundraising
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Business brief
Premium attraction Savers poured a record £1.1bn into Premium Bonds during May, nearly double the previous highest total, according to National Savings & Investments. More than 240,000 people invested in the bonds during the month, dwarfing the previous
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Bands battle it out for festival place
Rock band Fude are through to the play-off final in a battle of the bands. At the Hartlepool Youth Arts Festival event, the Darlington band will compete with Teesside outfit Rayne for a day's recording session and a live performance in the town's Victory
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Children go bananas for fruit
CHILDREN at a Loftus primary school have been learning about the benefits of healthy eating this week. The 170 children at St Joseph's RC Primary School had a fun day learning about fruit and vegetables. Pupils joined with nursery schoolchildren to take
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School's rapid rise to success
A SCHOOL that was branded as under-achieving has turned its fortunes around in only two years. An inspection in 2001 by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, said Greencroft School, in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, was under-performing and had
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Thief steals money raised by children
SPORTING youngsters have been left heartbroken after they held a fundraising event for their club, only to have the money stolen. The children, members of Consett Squash Club, at the town's Belle Vue Leisure Centre, raised £250 for equipment through a
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Stadium event encourages green thinking
A shanty town and a virtual village displaying the latest environmentally-friendly technology will help demonstrate greener ways of living on Sunday. The Action Packed Futures event at the Riverside Stadium, Chester-le-Street, aims to help people find
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Johnston's choice
In an exclusive Northern Echo SPORT interview Middleham maestro Mark Johnston raved about ATTRACTION ( ) which obliged in the Gr 3 Queen Mary Stakes and PEARL OF LOVE (11-10) which came hom in the Listed Chesham Stakes. Here's what Mark had to say about
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Scheme to keep Harrogate a conference leader
WORK has started on a £4.2m expansion scheme aimed at keeping Harrogate firmly in the premier league of the conference and exhibition trade. The district lies third behind London and Birmingham in the lucrative market. The development will turn two exhibition
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Bitter blow that shook a community
ONLY a few years ago, a job at Spennymoor's Rothman's plant was a prize for any school leaver looking for a steady career. The company was more than a good employer, it was a generous friend to the town, helping schools, charities and a host of other
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Timetable for future of road network
A TIMETABLE has been agreed for consultation on the future of Leyburn's road network. North Yorkshire County Council has set aside £25,000 to cover the cost of research into the public's views on how traffic flow around the town could be improved. At
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Researchers join waste study team
TWO researchers are leading a study into waste management as part of a university project. Drs Christopher Johnson and Derek Johnson are the first appointments to a research group set up by Durham University in 2001 to explore sustainable waste management
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Grants to help cut bikers' deaths
HIGHWAYS officials have confirmed they will be spending Government grants on a drive to cut the number of bikers killed on the county's roads. North Yorkshire County Council has had some success with its recent road safety campaigns - particularly with
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Children given a taste of rural life
THOUSANDS of youngsters from across Yorkshire have been given a true glimpse of rural life. For the third year running, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society is holding Countryside Days for children at its Harrogate showground. Held for the first time in
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Duo renew Royal rivalry
MR DINOS and Mamool renew their rivalry in this afternoon's £250,000 Ascot Gold Cup having occupied the first two places in the Queen Vase at the Royal meeting 12 months ago. On that occasion it was Frankie Dettori's partner Mamool who got the better
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Comment: Don't shoot the messenger
THE Northern Echo was criticised on radio and television yesterday by senior managers of British American Tobacco for publishing a wholly correct story about the imminent closure of the Rothmans factory in Darlington. One BAT manager said he was "very
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Blair defends reshuffle against Tory onslaught
Tony Blair was forced yesterday to defend his reshuffle against charges that it was the "most botched, bungled and damaged in modern times". The Prime Minister defended his constitutional changes in the Commons against an onslaught from Tory leader Iain
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The hard work starts here for Milburn
IN spite of my admiration for Alan Milburn's decision to walk out on high office and all hope of a Prime Ministership for the sake of his family, I couldn't help feeling a little sorry for his partner Ruth Briel. While she looked happy in all the photographs
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Mike Amos writes...
LIKE the mucky bits in Lady Chatterley, Sir Paul Nicholson grumbles - grumbles affably, it should be said - that everyone laying hands on his autobiography turns at once to chapter ten. It's the bit about the failed battle for Vaux Breweries, the loss
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Terror target number nine
Britain is the ninth most likely country to suffer a terrorist attack in the next twelve months, a leading risk analyst warned yesterday. The UK was said to be more likely to be targeted than traditional hotspots such as Algeria, or Kenya, which was recently
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Judge: Ann Summer jobs ban irrational
An official ban on Ann Summers, the sex toys and lingerie chain, advertising for staff in Government job centres was yesterday condemned by the High Court as "irrational and unlawful". A judge also ruled the policy behind the ban "does not stand up to
