Archive
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£120,000 bill for councillors' pay rises revealed
PAY increases being considered for county councillors in the North-East would cost the authority £120,000 a year. The Northern Echo revealed earlier this month that an independent panel was recommending that Durham County Council's 61 members receive
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Eden desperate to hang onto slim lead
NEWLY-INSTALLED leaders Castle Eden defend a single-point advantage when they line up against bottom-of-the-table Houghton - the only side yet to win. The leaders, though, cannot call upon Gerard Magee as they attempt to see off the challenge from nearest
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Bus safety move supported by tragedy parents
THE parents of tragic schoolboy Jamie Wells yesterday urged parents and teachers to warn their children about the dangers of misbehaving on buses. Colin and Trish Bingham spoke out at the launch of an initiative which aims to tackle unruly behaviour on
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All in the mind
THE main thing wrong with asking the question Are You Telepathic? (C5, Thursday) is the obvious response: You should know the answer already. Host Carol Vorderman wouldn't have liked what my wife was thinking. "She's lost all that weight and still got
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Reynolds backs Tait for success
Darlington chairman George Reynolds last night predicted a bright new future at the Reynolds Arena under newly-installed manager Mick Tait. Tait was officially confirmed as the new Quakers boss this week, eight months after taking up a caretaker role
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Burning desire for the Phoenix
THE agonising wait is over for millions of Harry Potter fans as the fifth book charting the adventures of the boy wizard finally hit the shelves. Pottermania was at fever pitch in the early hours of this morning as devotees swamped book stores, hoping
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Playing doctors and nurses
As BBC1's Casualty hits its 400th episode, Steve Pratt revisits some of the nation's favourite TV hospitals Blame it on Tessa Diamond, the TV continuity writer who suggested "something about doctors and nurses" to fill the empty 7.30pm slot on ITV back
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Minister's visit gives boost to future of steel-making
STEEL-MAKING on Teesside has a profitable future, according to a Government Minister. Patricia Hewitt, Trade and Industry Secretary, said that if management, unions and the workforce continued to pull together, there was no reason for Corus to fail in
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Union leader to condemn jobs loss
THE futures of thousands of workers, whose jobs could be affected by the shock closure of British American Tobacco's plant in the North-East, is to be highlighted at a top-level conference. Representatives of the Darlington factory's section of the MSF
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Walker Cup blow for Skelton
MIDDLESBROUGH Brass Castle teenager Michael Skelton has already admitted defeat in his bid to be included in this year's Walker Cup team. After starring for both Yorkshire and England last season, 19-year-old Skelton was widely tipped as a front-runner
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Boro fight City for Foe
MIDDLESBROUGH have declared an interest in Marc-Vivien Foe in a move that threatens Manchester City's hopes of sealing a deal for the Cameroon midfielder. Northern Echo SPORT understands that Boro, seeking two "top-quality'' midfielders, have enquired
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Delay over incinerator row as judge orders hearing
BOTH sides have claimed victory after a High Court hearing in London into a dispute dividing a small community. Protestors had hoped for an injunction against an animal incinerator at Charltons, near Guisborough, in east Cleveland. The judge, hearing
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Activities for families
A FUN day to promote a group set up to improve the quality of life for young families in north-west Durham takes place next weekend. Sure Start West Derwentside has invited parents and children from Annfield Plain, Delves Lane, Leadgate, Crookhall, Dipton
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Crash victim opposes road bid
A YOUNG man who was severely disabled in a car crash is objecting to plans to join two Teesside villages on road safety grounds. Tony Wells, 23, of Elton, fears youngsters in the village could be killed or seriously injured if the planned link road to
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Children join crucial crews
MORE than 1,800 east Cleveland schoolchildren are to take part in a Cleveland Police Crucial Crew project about how to avoid danger. The project, also organised by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, schools and other community organisations, is targeted
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Falcon swoops on region's drug dealers
A POLICE chief has vowed there will be no let up in the war against organised crime. Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price said: "There will be no place in Cleveland for those who bring misery to our communities." He was speaking on the second day of Operation
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Scheme puts villages online
A Derwentside District Council scheme funded by the Government has been taking computer technology to isolated rural communities across the district. The Electronic Village Hall scheme allows people living in Craghead, Burnhope, Langley Park, South Moor
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Funds granted to get cycle schemes on track
SEVEN schemes to encourage schoolchildren and workers in the North-East to get cycling have been announced after Government funding was guaranteed. Transport Minister Kim Howells said the region will get nearly £135,000 to build bike sheds in schools
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Charity bike ride hailed a success
ALMOST 1,500 cyclists pedalled for charity when they took part in the 20th annual Great Yorkshire Bike Ride. The event is now on its way to raising its second million and the riders braved sweltering temperatures during their 70-mile ride from Wetherby
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Schools link-up scheme boosted
A JUNIOR school has succeeded in its bid for extra funding to help strengthen links with a nearby independent school. An existing partnership between Holy Trinity CE School, Ripon, and Malsis School, near Keighley, has been awarded a further £39,000 as
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Tune in to Airwave
THIS afternoon the curtain comes down on another fabulous five days of top-class action at Royal Ascot, but not before Airwave (3.45) bids to confirm her position as Europe's leading three-year-old sprinter in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes. After
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Murder trial: 'No sign of Illness'
A WOMAN accused of stabbing her husband in front of their ten-year-old daughter showed no clinical signs of psychiatric disease, a doctor told Teesside Crown Court yesterday. Jayne Lovegreen 34, denies murdering her estranged husband, John, at his cottage
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How gardens echo through the ages
I WONDER if any of the gardens that I have designed or had a hand in creating will still be around in 100 years from now. Will anyone say 'oh yes, that was one of Brigid's'? Do my signature curving borders have staying power, or will they be bulldozed
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Duncan scoops top award
THE man who took the fitness industry by storm has stolen the show at this year's Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Duncan Bannatyne was crowned North's Overall Entrepreneur of the Year. He will go on to contest the overall title in the
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20/06/03
ALAN MILBURN: IF Mr Emett wanted to attack Alan Milburn (HAS, June 18) why didn't he have a go at him for what he has done, or not done, as Secretary of State for Health? At least these would have been political attacks which Alan Milburn, as an elected
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Air base protestors are fined
TWO women have been fined more than £800 each after staging an eight-hour anti-war protest at a top-security air base. Olivia Agate, 61, and Sylvia Boyes, 59, broke into RAF Leeming, in North Yorkshire, taking what they described as "direct action" to
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How the wheels of history turn
THERE must have been gangs of them on every street corner. Men in plus-fours perched high on the top of giant penny farthings, grooming their long handlebar moustaches and causing such a nuisance to the passers-by beneath that Sir Robert Peel's government
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Just when you thought things couldn't get worse...
Murder In Mind (BBC1) LIFE wasn't going well for Tom Robbins. He wasn't so much having a bad day as several months of bad days. He'd lost his business and was having to work for the man who bought it. He'd lost his wife and daughter. He'd lost his home
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Experts go to ground and find rarities among plants
A rare plant once said to hold the secret of eternal youth has been discovered in the North-East. Jim McTaggart reports. ONCE upon a time it was looked upon with awe because of its supposed magical restorative powers. The Lady's Mantle held a special
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How gardens echo through the ages
I WONDER if any of the gardens that I have designed or had a hand in creating will still be around in 100 years from now. Will anyone say 'oh yes, that was one of Brigid's'? Do my signature curving borders have staying power, or will they be bulldozed
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Shafto of light
LEST the Trades Description Act be invoked, it should at once be admitted that today's At Your Service column is written without ever having been to the church which is at its centre. The journalistic need to make bricks out of straw has arisen just once
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Manhunt after girl evades abductor
A TEENAGE girl escaped an abduction bid after breaking free from a would-be kidnapper in a daylight struggle on an industrial estate. Police have appealed for information from witnesses to the incident, near the Barbour factory on the Bede Industrial
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'You might as well have put Madonna on stage eating spaghetti'
World-famous playwright Alan Ayckbourn tells Viv Hardwick about his latest play and why he's not keen on Madonna WORLD famous playwright Alan Ayckbourn is proving true to his threat that he is seriously considering boycotting London's West End theatres
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Rail firm to withdraw from UK production
UP TO 1,900 jobs are under threat after a leading engineering company announced it was to stop making trains in the UK. French firm Alstom said production will cease at its factory in Birmingham after its current contract to build tilting trains for Virgin
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The real magic of Harry
WITH the possible exception of Senor Beckham, Harry Potter has had more headlines than anyone else in the past week. Tony Blair and George W Bush simply can't compete with the boy wizard when it comes to generating publicity. The build-up to the biggest
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Blackhall look to cash in on weakened Darlington
Blackhall, too near the bottom of the Premier Division for comfort, will hope to cash in on Darlington fielding a weakened side this afternoon. A big blow to the chances of the Feethams side is the unavailability of opener Neil Pratt, who scored another
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Youth hostels gain funding to back cycle-friendly push
FUNDING has been secured for a scheme designed to encourage more holidaymakers in North Yorkshire to take to two wheels. The money will be pumped into a project which will also promote "green" tourism. The Youth Hostel Association plans to spend £66,600
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Love's labour lost as Durham suffer defeat
DURHAM'S dreadful luck with overseas players continued yesterday when Martin Love was called up for Australia's two home Tests against Bangladesh next month. They had barely had time to digest the news when they made a dreadful start in their Twenty20
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Playing doctors and nurses
As BBC1's Casualty hits its 400th episode, Steve Pratt revisits some of the nation's favourite TV hospitals Blame it on Tessa Diamond, the TV continuity writer who suggested "something about doctors and nurses" to fill the empty 7.30pm slot on ITV back
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Church raises funds with music marathon
A CHURCH is holding a day of fund-raising today for its plans to build a parish hall. The building proposed for St Mary Magdalene Church in Belmont, Durham, will cost more than £500,000. So far £140,000 has been raised, including £96,000 given by the
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Disabled children to enjoy fun day
DISABLED youngsters have the chance to enjoy themselves at a fun day in Durham tomorrow. The Children's Network Family Fun Day will take place between noon and 4.30pm at County Hall in the Aykley Heads area of the city. Attractions include a free fairground
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Tragic baby's father is locked up
TWO hospitals failed to spot the broken bones caused by the father of a newborn girl. Steven Butler's sickening treatment of his daughter, Sarah Anne, was only discovered after she died. But he could not be charged with killing her because the exact cause
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The finest China
China boasts wonders such as its Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors, as well as stunning scenery ansd friendly people. No wonder it took John Dean's breath away IF you are lucky, a holiday yields one or two sights - true wonders of the world - which render
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New store blamed for floods problem
A SUPERMARKET has been criticised for failing to deal with flooding problems arising from the building of a store. People in Trimdon Village are delighted with their £760,000 supermarket, which has been developed in a partnership between North Eastern
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Blue chips are focus of city's attention
BLUE-CHIP stocks will be back on the radar of City analysts next week when a clutch of companies issue results or trading statements. Electrical retailer Dixons will draw the line under a difficult year on Wednesday when it reports results for a period
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Barbecue safety tips at market
SHOPPERS were given the chance to sample some free food yesterday and learn more about safe barbecuing. Visitors to the farmers' market in Darlington town centre were invited to watch a demonstration organised by Darlington Borough Council's public protection's
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Six-millionth stitch marks end of project
IT has taken four years of work, but a dedicated team of nimble-fingered handiworkers have completed almost six million stitches in a marathon project. The expertise of Ripon's "Stitchers' Army" has produced a series of Millennium cushions for worshippers
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£4m to satisfy demands for better rural health services
AN EXTRA £4 million is to be invested in health services that residents and health professionals in rural County Durham want improved. Durham Dales Primary Care Trust will use the cash to offer better access to services, carry out more operations and
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Mental health charity enjoys early success
MENTAL health charity Rethink celebrated the recruitment of its 100th member in County Durham by holding a promotional event. Shoppers watched as 100 balloons were released in Darlington town centre to mark the progress made by the charity in just one
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London duo eye Gray
CHARLTON Athletic and Fulham are chasing Sunderland skipper Michael Gray in the hope of clinching a cut-price £1m deal. The Black Cats, anxious to ease debts of over £26m following relegation last season, are willing to sacrifice Wearsider Gray. The 28
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Churchgoers ruled out of Millie investigation
Detectives investigating the murder of 13-year-old Amanda Dowler have finally ruled out any connection to a church where a mystery DNA link was discovered. The Surrey schoolgirl, also known as Milly, disappeared on her way home from school in Walton-on-Thames
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Scots in 'raid' for N-E teachers
TEACHERS in the North-East are being targeted by education officials seeking to overcome shortages in part of Scotland. Aberdeen City Council begins a four-day recruitment drive across the North of England, in County Durham, on Monday. Education officials
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First win gives Norton taste for success
Norton visit Benwell Hill this morning with renewed confidence after celebrating their first win of the season last week. "The side gave a very good performance and showed plenty of commitment even when we struggled early on for runs. They stuck in and
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21/06/03
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: THE woefully inadequate legal system in our country is once again in the headlines. A frightened, sad old man, Tony Martin, is robbed by two persistent offenders then jailed when he reacts in, many would say, an understandable way. To
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UNCOMMON VALOUR. Publisher: Just Flight. Format: PC CD ROM. Price: £29.99
DO you remember Panzer Commander? If you do, then you've obviously been playing video games for an awful long time. For the uninitiated, Panzer Commander was a strategy game that scooped a trophy cabinet full of awards in the early days of PC gaming.
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It's worth a flutter on Snow in June
SNOW BUNTING (2.55) is worth a speculative bet in the day's big race at Redcar, the £14,000 Tote Scoop6 Handicap. Rookie Middleham handler Jedd O'Keeffe has been very slow out of the blocks this season, but Snow Bunting showed the tide might be about
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Stone Coda take their Big Chance
ONE of the region's top unsigned acts has taken a further step towards stardom after winning this year's Big Chance competition. Stone Coda, featuring Leroy Buckley, Aly Buckley and Jason Panudy, won the competition in front of an audience at The Georgian
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You're never too old to be a litter lout
STREET litter is an interesting concept. Everyone's against it, everybody insists they never drop it, yet it appears on a daily basis. The frustrating thing is that vast resources are wasted clearing up the totally needless mess. If people were just a
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Footballer Paul pays credit to supergran Shirley over England call-up
A BUDDING football star chosen to play for England has put his success down to the support of his biggest fan - his grandmother. "Supergran" Shirley Henderson, who has brought up 16-year-old Paul Henderson by herself, recognised his talent from an early
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After 74 years, Jack's still committed to the Scouts
Despite 74 years of good deeds, camp fires and knot-tying 82-year-old Jack Stannard is still a boy Scout at heart. He was eight when he joined the Cubs in Barnard Castle, County Durham, and started enjoying weekly get-togethers with his friends in an
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Time to put bikes to use, says council
LESS than two per cent of Sunderland residents get on their bike to work - despite the fact many live within easy cycling distance. Now the city council hopes to increase that figure by developing a cycle strategy to encourage more people to take up pedal
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Pupils awarded for work
HOLLYOAKS star Alex Carter presented pupils with awards in the first ceremony of its kind recognising work-related achievement. The teenage actor, who plays Lee Hunter in the Channel Four soap, was a guest at the recent event at East Durham and Houghall
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Campaign targets walk-in burglaries
IT'S open house for burglars in areas of Teesside - literally. Walk-in burglaries account for nearly half of all burglaries in Middlesbrough and so a campaign has been launched to persuade residents to get into the habit of always shutting and locking
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Cash found to keep late night bus services
EXTRA cash is being made available by North Yorkshire County Council to retain "Night Out Buses" in the Harrogate area. For the past three years, the services have been funded by a grant from the Countryside Agency to the Harrogate Rural Locality Partnership
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The sounds of summer
The sound of tennis ball on racquet, the roar of the crowd and Dan Maskell going "Oh I say!".... it takes me back to when I was little, coming home from school during Wimbledon fortnight. My mum, normally in perpetual motion and possessing boundless energy
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Beach boost for Burnmoor
Burnmoor, with three successive victories, have moved quietly up the league and now sit ominously in second place, 20 points behind leaders Horden. They will benefit today by the return of pace bowler Des Beach although his colleagues have bowled well
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Plain talk from Carr
Annfield Plain's league form is in sharp contrast to their performances in the cups and fixture secretary Kevin Carr is concerned about their chances of getting sucked into a relegation fight. "It is unbelievable, really that we are so near the bottom
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'Don't file me under G for Goofy'
Despite the occasional flop, Jim Carrey is unchallenged as Hollywood's top funny man. North-East Arts Writer of the Year Steve Pratt meets the man behind the mask. PLAY back the tape of the interview and a man's voice can be heard whispering "I like you
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All in the mind
THE main thing wrong with asking the question Are You Telepathic? (C5, Thursday) is the obvious response: You should know the answer already. Host Carol Vorderman wouldn't have liked what my wife was thinking. "She's lost all that weight and still got
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"It's ova, it's ova, it's ova"
IT'S high time Wimbledon opened the ladies' singles with Roy Orbison singing: "It's ova, it's ova, it's ova." There are 15 players already in the women's first round draw whose surnames end in ova, while a further nine won their first round qualifying
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Scientists investigate the secrets of human attraction
THE secrets of sexual attractiveness are to be explored by researchers at a scientific event next month. Scientists from Newcastle University, who are studying the underlying genetic mechanisms that determine attraction, have been invited to take part
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Tudhoe hoping to stay out in front
The game of the day is between leaders Tudhoe and reigning champions Evenwood, who are again in a challenging position. "It is another big match for us. There is not much between the five leading clubs but we are out in front and it is up to us to stay
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MP gives backing to save sub-post office from closure
THE fight to save a closure-threatened post office has been backed by North Durham MP Kevan Jones. The sub-post office in Picktree Lane, Chester-le-Street, is scheduled to close in August, as part of a national shake-up of the service. Nationally, the
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Agency bids for larger N-E role
THE agency tasked with bringing blockbuster movies to the region is hoping to get a greater slice of the industry cake. Northern Film and Media (NFM) has set out plans for how to put the North-East more on the media map. Nationally, the film and media
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Town centre parade
STUDENTS teamed up with traders this week to show what their town centre has to offer to shoppers through summer. Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum held a fashion show in the Town Hall on Wednesday and raised £350 towards a performing arts programme for
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Sure Start gives new lease of life to hall
A FORMER Salvation Army hall has been transformed into an activities centre for families. The old hall in Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, officially opened as a Sure Start Centre for the Dene Valley villages. Local families have worked with staff to devise
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Bite-sized samples of learning on offer
COLLEGE staff are hoping to spark an interest in learning by offering free bite-sized courses for adults of all ages. Darlington College of Technology is running the courses as part of a Learning and Skills Council campaign to inspire people to return
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Canon to preach at Royal events
A COUNTRY rector from North Yorkshire is to be made a Chaplain to the Queen and a member of the Royal household. At a rare ceremony at Buckingham Palace next month, the Queen will present Canon Richard Cooper, the Rector of Richmond, with a Royal Warrant
