Archive
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Match trouble: man charged
POLICE attempting to trace a number of men caught up in trouble following this year's Sunderland-Newcastle derby match have made an arrest. Northumbria Police released pictures of five men said to have thrown missiles at officers following the match on
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Jailed officer speaks out as ex-colleagues are charged
A FORMER police officer who says he was jailed for a crime he did not commit broke his silence last night. He spoke after The Northern Echo exclusively revealed yesterday that three serving Cleveland Police officers are to be charged with conspiracy to
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Woman and child saved from blaze
FIREFIGHTERS have praised neighbours who rescued a pregant woman and her three -year-old niece from their burning home yesterday. The woman threw the child from the first-floor window of the house into the arms of Ernie Robinson when the fire broke out
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Repairs completed on the carriageway that cracked up
WORK has been completed on a busy dual carriageway which was brought to a halt when a crack appeared in the road. The opening, which was 2ft wide and 10ft deep, cut Sunderland off from the neighbouring town of Houghton-le-Spring. Experts believe it could
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Bone-shaking dedication of the penny farthing cycling Hussars
Echo Memories takes to its penny farthing and explores the development of the North of England's oldest cycling club. THERE is a Saturday column in this paper that often serves as an overspill section when this page is not quite enough. Last Saturday,
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Council may vet sex films
COUNCIL chiefs may insist on watching pornographic videos to be certain they are not too hot for patrons of a sex shop. Owners of a sex shop in Middlesbrough have applied for permission to screen samples of raunchy movies to customers before they buy
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It's thrill a minute at Headingley
Yorkshire Phoenix failed to qualify for the Twenty20 Cup semi-finals last night - but ended their involvement in the competition with a rip-roaring victory over Nottinghamshire Outlaws which had the 10,114 Headlingley crowd in a high state of excitement
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Charity charlady puts her feet up
A VILLAGE mayor came a cropper after offering her services as a charlady during a charity auction. Coun Linda Maddison, Mayor of Sedgefield, ended up with two broken bones in her foot and a strapped-up ankle after slipping on the grass. The accident happened
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Last Night's TV: Fergie and the serious business of rebuilding her life
Being Sarah Ferguson (five) ; The Trouble With Sleep (BBC1) SEVEN years ago Sarah Ferguson was depressed, overweight and on the verge of bankruptcy. Her HRH title was replaced with the label of the most-hated woman in the UK as her antics caused her to
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All action at Army day
STUNTS by the White Helmets motorcycle display team were among the highlights of the army open day at Catterick Garrison on Saturday. The Royal Signals team made its second visit to the annual event where the public has the chance to see some of the Army's
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Peace protestors fined
TWO women have been ordered to pay more than £800 each after staging an anti-war protest at a top-security air base. In March, Olivia Agate, 61, of Skipton, and Sylvia Boyes, 59, of Keighley, spent almost eight hours at RAF Leeming, campaigning against
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Iraq call for TA
TERRITORIAL Army soldiers from Northallerton are heading for Iraq in the first call-up of its kind for more than 50 years. Seven members of the Tyne Tees Regiment are undergoing military skills and fitness training before flying out to the Gulf in July
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Eviction of charities criticised
A CHARITY has criticised Darlington Borough Council for evicting community groups from one of its buildings. The Darlington and District Youth and Community Association (DDYCA) has leased the Gladstone Street activity centre at central house in the town
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Tait the persuader
Darlington manager Mick Tait made one last desperate attempt to keep Stuart Whitehead at the club last night - by urging the defender not to drop down a division and into non-league football. Quakers look set to miss out on the 26-year-old who has already
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Last fundraising for a trip of a lifetime
A GROUP of youngsters will jet off to Mongolia next month. Eight young people and two youth workers will be following in the footsteps of Genghis Khan. But first they must attend one of their last fundraising efforts to reach the £7,000 they need - a
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A tribute to region's real sporting heroes
THE stars of the world of disabled sport were honoured at a special ceremony yesterday. The inaugural npower North-East Disability Sports Achievement Awards were held at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside stadium at Chester-le-Street. Guest of honour
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In danger of being Euro trashed
TO Tony Blair it is "a good basis for future work'' - i.e. he doesn't like it but daren't say so. To Romano Prodi, president of the European Commission, it is "a gigantic step forward, enabling Europe to play its role on the world stage.'' The subject
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Copycat rapist jailed for ten years
A rapist who attacked a young mum in a copycat attack from a video nasty was jailed for ten years today. Stephen Riley, 22, broke into the 23-year-old's home at night and raped her as her two young children slept in the next room. Newcastle Crown Court
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Gadfly: The lord of the jungle and a right jammy devil
SEEDLESS and perfectly preserved, last week's column noted that on the day of his resignation as Health Minister, Tow Law lad Alan Milburn had jam and bread for his Whitehall lunch. "In my school days at Tow Law in the late 1930s it was considered a luxury
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Town leads Potter book sales
IT was the book launch of the year and had dedicated followers of boy wizard Harry Potter swamping bookstores across the region. And, following the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on Saturday, Darlington has been named as one of the
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Two balls leave a stain on Shoaib's big night
SHOAIB Akhtar's Durham debut added to the carnival atmosphere at sunny Old Trafford last night, but his personal fun was spoilt by two balls. The first was the final delivery of his four overs, which former Durham player John Wood pulled for six, and
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Shearer is sporting dinner's star guest
FOOTBALLER Alan Shearer is giving his time to help disadvantaged young people in the region. The Newcastle United centre-forward and former England captain will make a rare appearance as a guest speaker at a charity sportsman's dinner in aid of the Teesside-based
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Employers still recruiting despite uncertain outlook
DARLINGTON employers are still recruiting, despite a bleak national and regional outlook, according to the latest business index. The index for May, compiled by Clive Owen and Co Business Advisors, shows that company turnovers and numbers of employees
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25/06/03
SCHOOL CLOSURES: THE list of Durham schools to close has been compiled after a study into the declining birth rate (Echo, June 6). But it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If parents see their local school on the list of closures, they may well
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I stabbed my husband, but it wasn't murder, says wife
A FARMER'S wife admitted killing her husband when she took the stand in her murder trial yesterday. But Jayne Lovegreen, 34, of Greenfield Farm, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, denies it was murder. At the opening of her defence case
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Fergie and the serious business of rebuilding her life
Being Sarah Ferguson (five) ; The Trouble With Sleep (BBC1) SEVEN years ago Sarah Ferguson was depressed, overweight and on the verge of bankruptcy. Her HRH title was replaced with the label of the most-hated woman in the UK as her antics caused her to
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Bridge work starts in bid to stop floods
THE first stage of defence works to prevent further flooding in a town has been completed. An old bridge which impeded water flow through the beck at Romanby, Northallerton, has been removed and replaced with a temporary structure. The abutments of the
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Public art challenge for rail landmark
THE team behind the £10m Shildon Railway Village has announced a £90,000 commission to create a landmark public work of art at the new attraction. Backed by the European Regional Development Fund, and with a contribution from Arts Council England North-East
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Police get more community help
NORTH Yorkshire's first police community support officers took to the streets on Monday to help the regular force to tackle petty crime. During the recent consultation on the county's current policing plan, residents said they felt that one of the constabulary's
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News in brief: Woman's body found in river
POLICE were last night waiting for formal confirmation of the identity of a woman pulled from the River Nidd, in North Yorkshire. Knaresborough resident Audrey Atkinson was reported missing yesterday morning and a hunt began immediately for the 73-year-old
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'Atom bomb' ship was detained in North-East
A FREIGHTER seized in Greece with more than 600 tons of explosives on board was detained in the North-East last year. The Sea Runner was impounded at Seaham Harbour, County Durham, in August by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency after being judged unsafe
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bmibaby to announce flights plan
BUDGET airline bmibaby will today announce a number of new routes out of Teesside International Airport. The low-cost flyer announced earlier this year it was establishing a hub at the airport to complement operations in Cardiff, Manchester and the East
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Pool to snap up defender Nelson
HARTLEPOOL United are poised to land powerful Bury defender Micky Nelson. While chairman Ken Hodcroft nears a decision on who will lead Pool into Division Two next season, the club lodged a offer for the towering centre-half, which was last night accepted
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'Injured' pensioner was not attacked
AN elderly woman found on her kitchen floor surrounded by cooking utensils and with a total of 21 injuries on her body died of natural causes, a coroner has ruled. The body of Margaret Mulholland, 78, was discovered at her home in Valiant Way, Thornaby
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Boost for home care
TERMINALLY ill patients will get easier access to vital care in their own home thanks to a lottery grant of almost £1m. The Butterwick Hospice, Marie Curie and the Durham Dales and Sedgefield NHS Primary Care Trusts have joined forces to extend the home
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A sure start for all the family
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. Families have worked with staff to devise a programme
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Glass engraver's raffle gift
GLASS engraver Lawrence Staley is donating a piece of his work for a raffle at a craft evening at Lartington Hall, near Barnard Castle, on Wednesday, July 2, from 7pm in aid of cancer research. Artist Andy Beck will make sketches in the gardens while
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Glass engraver's raffle gift
GLASS engraver Lawrence Staley is donating a piece of his work for a raffle at a craft evening at Lartington Hall, near Barnard Castle, on Wednesday, July 2, from 7pm in aid of cancer research. Artist Andy Beck will make sketches in the gardens while
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News in brief: Recruitment day for carers
Anyone considering a career in caring is welcome at recruitment days in Ryedale next week. North Yorkshire County Council staff will be available to chat about the challenges and rewards of the profession, between 10am and 4pm on Thursday, July 3, at
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Helen aims to redress the balance with work on famous faces
WHEN art student Helen Conroy was looking for inspiration for her final year degree show, she did not have to go further than the top of her head. The 22-year-old redhead from Riccal, in York, came up with the idea of creating a book looking at the history
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Fire rescuers praised
NEIGHBOURS have been hailed as heroes after a pregnant woman and her three-year-old niece were rescued from their blazing home. The 20-year-old woman threw the girl into the arms of neighbour Ernie Robinson. Mr Robinson, 57, Ernie King, 41 and Daniel
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Pub opens doors to drinkers
A NATIONAL pub chain has opened its latest premises in the North-East. The Five Quarter, in Peterlee, takes its name from a coal seam at the nearby former Easington Colliery. Scenes from the heyday of the coal industry in east Durham are featured, as
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Register office is on the move
RIPON'S register office is to move from the Town Hall later this year. North Yorkshire County Council has agreed to move the office to the city's new library, where a waiting room can be provided and staff will be available to assist as clients arrive
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Repairs completed on the carriageway that cracked up
WORK has been completed on a busy dual carriageway which was brought to a halt when a crack appeared in the road. The opening, which was 2ft wide and 10ft deep, cut Sunderland off from the neighbouring town of Houghton-le-Spring. Experts believe it could
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Karl aims to carve his name on trophy
A 19-YEAR-OLD apprentice has won through to the national finals of a competition for cabinet-makers for the second year running. Reeth-based Karl Smith, who is still learning his trade at Northallerton College, will be one of six craftsmen who will be
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Extra swimming help available to pupils
A PILOT scheme to improve children's swimming before they start secondary school has begun in County Durham. The initiative, which is also being tested in Bristol, is based on the National Curriculum requirement that children should be able to swim at
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Extra swimming help available to pupils
A PILOT scheme to improve children's swimming before they start secondary school has begun in County Durham. The initiative, which is also being tested in Bristol, is based on the National Curriculum requirement that children should be able to swim at
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Grassroots: Yarm and Eaglescliffe
SCHOOL AUCTION: Lunch at the House of Commons, a signed Boro shirt and a VIP day for two to RAF Leeming are just some of the 100 lots on offer at an auction of promises organised by the Friends of Conyers School. The auction will be held at the school
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Shakespeare in the park
YOUNGSTERS soaked up the sunshine yesterday while they watched a schools gala performance of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The Chapterhouse Theatre Company performed the play in Ward Jackson Park, Hartlepool, as part of the town's week-long Youth Arts
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Funding boost for industrial estates
A regeneration scheme will aim to breathe new life into two industrial estates in Hartlepool. The money will fund two grant pots to support firms on the Longhill and Sandgate industrial estates, and also pay for environmental improvement work to make
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Music in the air at summer concerts
Air, the agency developing an arts strategy for Richmondshire, has announced dates for summer band concerts throughout the district over the next few weeks. Revitalising a musical tradition in the Dales, the concerts are planned on Sundays and on August
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Cushions marked by service
AFTER more than three years' work and an estimated six million stitches, a celebration is planned this weekend to mark the completion of a city's Millennium project. The Ripon City Stitchers had wanted to make a tapestry for the cathedral or the Town
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Fundraising continues in memory
A MAN who raised thousands for cancer charities has died. Ian Moore's family, from Coundon, have vowed to continue his fundraising crusade following his death in Bishop Auckland General Hospital this week. Mr Moore, who was 38, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins
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Union threat over care home staff treatment
A UNION is threatening to take legal action against Darlington Borough Council over the way it has treated care home staff in the run-up to the closure of the last-two public sector retirement homes in the town. Workers met officials from the public service
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It's that age-old problem again
OLDIES of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your image. Oh yes, and your chance of a job... Ageism is alive and well in the appointments pages. It's illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their sex, race, religion or even physical
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Rewarding the positive
One of the biggest reported weak spots in the North East is our low rate of start-up businesses and entrepreneurial spirit compared to other parts of the country: happily the mood seems to be changing. It's easy to see the roots of the problem, of course
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Pupils are helping to judge literary awards
PUPILS at a Newton Aycliffe school are to help select the winners of two nationally important literary awards. Greenfield School Community and Arts College is the only school in the country selected to shadow the judging for the Carnegie Medal and the
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News in brief: Officers seek attack witness
POLICE are trying to trace a man who is believed to have reported an assault from a public telephone outside an off-licence in Catherine Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, at about 4.30am on June 8. A man has been arrested and bailed in connection with the
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Race to restore banner in time for gala
A GROUP of women are facing a race against time to restore an old pit banner in time for next month's Durham Miners Gala. The banner for Thrislington Colliery, West Cornforth, has been paraded at the Big Meeting for years, although it was originally produced
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Elderly put area's health and social care under microscope
OLDER people made their voices heard yesterday at a meeting to discuss the state of health and social services in their area. A large group of over-50s attended the day-long event at Bedale Hall, which was organised as part of the Better Government for
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School leaders prepare to fight closure threat
PARENTS and church authorities are gearing up to fight the proposed closure of a small city centre school. St Oswald's Church of England Infant and Nursery School, in Durham City, is one of 23 schools that the Labour-run county council could shut in a
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Cases heard in the magistrates' court
THE following cases were considered by South Durham magistrates sitting in Darlington yesterday: DRIVER BANNED: Derek Philip Thomas, 57, of Castle View, Whitton-le-Wear, was fined £600, banned from driving for three years, and ordered to pay £60 costs
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Gardeners grow wild for radio favourite
A SMALL corner of Britain will forever be in bloom while a perennial listeners' favourite remains on the airwaves. BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time is still going strong in its 56th year, and is believed to be one of the longest-running shows in
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Sculpting a community from an old factory site
ON a wind-buffeted, barren mound on the outskirts of Darlington stands a poet, a sculptor, a countryside officer and a builder. In the brown fields below, where mechanical diggers carve the shape of roads out of mud, the beginnings of the biggest development
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News in brief: Life-saving police praised
TWO Darlington police officers have been honoured for their life-saving skills. PCs Emily Harrison and Angela Drasdo went to the aid of a man who had collapsed in his car with a suspected heart attack at Morton Park, Darlington, in November last year.
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Pupil support agency to close for five weeks
A PUPIL support agency will be temporarily closed while refurbishment work takes place. Stockton Borough Council's pupil and student support section will close for five weeks from Monday, July 7, to enable building work to be carried out in its reception
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Bike-riding fundraiser's Oz swan song
FATHER-of-three Mike Prendergast is to cycle 3,200 miles across Australia to raise money for the Scarborough's St Catherine's Hospice and the children's ward at the resort's main hospital. Mr Prendergast, 49, of Greencroft Gardens, Cayton, Scarborough
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Sports clubs get £14,500 grants boost
SEVEN sports groups have been awarded a share of almost £14,500 in grants from Hambleton District Council's Voluntary Sports Organisation. The cash will be used for everything from work on a clubhouse and buying cricket nets, to helping pay for football
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50-pitch caravan park wins support
PLANNERS are giving their backing for a 50-pitch touring caravan site at a former railway station last used by passengers 72 years ago. The scheme at the former Masham station, near Ripon, has also been backed by Mashamshire Association of Tourism and
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Coolbox to aid athletes with asthma
A businessman has come up with a solution to a problem faced by many asthma sufferers. Tony Talbot designed the Coolbox - a container for inhalers - which allows the medicine to be carried anywhere. The container has a pop-up lid and comes with a grip
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Pam's trip of hope
THE family of a woman fighting cancer for the second time has launched a cash crusade to send her on a 5,000 mile trip for treatment. Pamela Aston, 46, of Upper Church Street, Spennymoor, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and after a mastectomy
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Stars of the stage help to raise cash for stars of Northallerton
STARS of the West End musicals and Northallerton businesses have been donating items for a grand fundraising auction. The auction is due to take place in Northallerton Town Hall on Wednesday, July 2, at 7.30pm, and has been organised by Northallerton
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Bike crackdown
OFF-ROAD motorcyclists in the Eston area of Middlesbrough were targeted in a police operation at the weekend. Officers stopped eight riders, who were reported for a number of offences. Two of the machines were seized as suspected stolen vehicles.
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Gardeners grow wild for radio favourite
A SMALL corner of Britain will forever be in bloom while a perennial listeners' favourite remains on the airwaves. BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time is still going strong in its 56th year, and is believed to be one of the longest-running shows in
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Families evacuated after anti-tank shell found
BOMB disposal experts were called to a sleepy North-East village after a live Second World War shell was found. Police were also called in to evacuate families in part of the road running through Well, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, after the recovery
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Orange boss sets tough new targets
MOBILE phone operator Orange plans to team up with European rivals in an attempt to drive up profits. Orange, which is majority owned by France Telecom, said it is to join forces with Telecom Italia Mobile, Spain's Telefonica Moviles and Deutsche Telekom's
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'You pay for a Ferrari and get a Reliant Robin'
Last week John Prescott announced that the people of the North-East will get a chance to vote on setting up a regional assembly. Today Neil Herron, campaign director of North-East Against a Regional Assembly, puts the case for voting no. FINALLY the jumping
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Sir Liam promises to aid inquiry
BRITAIN'S most senior doctor arrived at the Neale inquiry last week and said he wanted to assist in every way possible. Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government's chief medical officer, is a witness at the inquiry into the way complaints about disgraced gynaecologist
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School governors think again on name change
GOVERNORS have announced a re-think on controversial plans to change the name of their village school. Parents in Middleton St George, near Darlington, were furious at proposals for a new £3m school to be named St Andrew's and St Laurence's Voluntary
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Talks held on closure of tobacco factory
COUNCIL officials have met with British American Tobacco (BAT) to discuss the closure of its plant in the North-East that could cost thousands of jobs. Yesterday, Darlington Borough Council met with the company to express concern over the wider impact
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Fun for everyone
FAMILIES and exhibitors turned out in force last weekend to make this year's Great Aycliffe Show one of the best yet. Every corner of the showground, near Oakleaf Leisure Centre, Newton Aycliffe, had something to offer people of all ages and interests
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Row rumbles on over new homes plan
A COMMUNITY is appealing to council planning chiefs to refuse planning permission for seven new homes in a village. Residents of Edmundbyers, in Weardale, fear that if planning permission is given for the new homes, the neighbourhood will become grid-locked
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Volunteers cook up cash
VOLUNTEERS have helped a nature trust set up what could be a lucrative sideline fuelling a season of summer barbecues. People from Durham and Northumberland joined staff from the Durham Wildlife Trust on a two-day charcoal burning project in remote Baal
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Girl of 17 took lethal drugs concoction, inquest hears
A TEENAGE girl's life was cut short after she took a lethal concoction of drugs, a Teesside inquest heard yesterday. Lilli Brown, 17, took a lethal cocktail of heroin, methadone and alcohol during a New Year's Day party with three other drug users in
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Carnival fun for the weekend
PREPARATIONS are almost complete for Darlington's annual community carnival. Community groups and schools have been making costumes and masks. The fun starts on Saturday at noon when the Mayor Ron Lewis will lead a procession from the Arts Centre. There
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Mixed reaction to home rule
NORTH Yorkshire and the North-East will be the first to cast their votes in a referendum on home rule. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said there was enough interest for the two regions to vote for their own assemblies by autumn 2004 - with the first
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Jobs fair success as hundreds seek career opportunities
HUNDREDS of people flocked to The Northern Echo's job fair. The event, in its ninth year, included exhibits by 26 employers, recruitment agencies and training organisations. Interview rooms were made available at the venue, the Blackwell Grange Hotel,
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Town centre celebrations
STUDENTS teamed up with traders this week to show what their town centre has to offer to shoppers this summer. Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum held a fashion show in the Town Hall last Wednesday and raised £350 towards a performing arts programme for
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Tragic cycle team raises £10,000
A GROUP of cyclists who pledged to continue with their charity ride following the death of one of their team have raised about £10,000. Ian Abberley, 40, was part of a team of five that was cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in aid of the neonatal
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Recycling firm folds
THE owner of a kerbside collection firm has accused Darlington Borough Council of putting him out of business. Michael Grey, who owns Treesavers, said he had been forced to sell the firm's premises and make his 11 members of staff redundant after councillors
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Competition watchdog gives impetus to Morrisons bid
THE odds on Morrisons winning the battle for rival Safeway were slashed by City bookmakers following a letter from a competition watchdog. While the Competition Commission has yet to make any decision on offers for Safeway, the letter raised concerns
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Guardian angels will help protect against bogus callers
THOUSANDS of elderly people are to be allotted guardian angels in a drive to shut the door on doorstep conmen. A new scheme launched by Cleveland Police in Middlesbrough allows elderly or vulnerable people to nominate a friend or neighbour to check out
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Helen aims to redress the balance with work on famous faces
WHEN art student Helen Conroy was looking for inspiration for her final year degree show, she did not have to go further than the top of her head. The 22-year-old redhead from Riccal, in York, came up with the idea of creating a book looking at the history
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Centre re-opens after £2.5m refit
A SHOPPING precinct re-opens this week after a £2.5m face-lift which aims to breath new life into a town centre. The long-awaited refurbishment of The Newgate Centre, in Bishop Auckland, will be officially unveiled tomorrow. The mall has been renovated
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Rude awakening awaits school's teenage arsonists
LESS than a week ago, the two teenagers who set fire to Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, would have been free to play football in the sunshine with their friends, catch the bus to school or simply lie around at home playing computer
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Troops killed in Iraq clashes
AN urgent investigation was launched by British commanders last night after six Royal Military Police were killed and eight soldiers injured in two clashes in Iraq. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told the Commons that the bodies of the six military police
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Students' double triumph is just the business
A TEAM of 13 pupils showed no sign of bad luck yesterday when they returned to their school with two trophies and £100 after triumphing in a business ideas contest. The seven girls and six boys were cheered by classmates as they showed off their prizes
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Businesses lacking on green issue
MANY smaller businesses in the North-East are failing to take action to protect the environment, a study has revealed. The study, commissioned for the NetRegs environmental legislation advice website, found that of 1,400 small and medium-sized businesses
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Damages for Jimmy Nail over article
ACTOR and singer Jimmy Nail has accepted substantial damages over a newspaper allegation that he had behaved like an uncooperative prima donna during the filming of the new series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet. His solicitor, Keith Schilling, told Mr Justice
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Handcuffs are used to stop bridge suicide
POLICE handcuffed a man to the railings of a bridge to prevent him jumping to his death. He had climbed on the parapets of the Valley Bridge, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, past fencing put up ten years ago to deter suicides. Acting Sergeant Martyn
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School friends reunited
THE first intake of pupils at the former Darlington Grammar School is to be reunited next month. The event will be held at the Blackwell Grange Hotel on Saturday, July 19, and organisers are hoping to contact as many ex-pupils from the class of 1952 as
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It's that age-old problem again
OLDIES of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your image. Oh yes, and your chance of a job... Ageism is alive and well in the appointments pages. It's illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their sex, race, religion or even physical
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200 tons of plants grown to order at town's reputation spreads
IT is known the world over as the birthplace of the railways, but the North-East is now forging a name for itself in a slightly quainter industry. More than one million plants grown at Darlington Borough Council's Woodburn Nursery are being transported
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Views sought on town centre facelift
A TOWN centre is to be given an extensive facelift 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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Making a drama out of a family crisis
IT was a real family affair last night when the curtain went up on Darlington Civic Theatre's latest production. Ray Cooney's hospital farce, It Runs in the Family, starring husband and wife team Jeffrey Holland and Judy Buxton, is showing until Saturday
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Trip to US brings fresh hope for ill mother
A North-East mother who flew to the United States in an effort to beat a crippling medical condition has returned with fresh hope. Ann Teasdale was in the depths of despair before a massive fundraising campaign in her home town of Newton Aycliffe, County
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Campaigners launch petition in support of jailed jockey
A PETITION in support of an appeal for a jockey jailed for murdering a North-East father has been launched at Westminster. The family of Christy McGrath are hoping the Court of Appeal will re-examine the case of the murder of former footballer Gary Walton
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bmibaby announces destinations from Teesside
bmibaby has announced which three European destinations it will fly to from Teesside Airport from October. The initial three routes will be a daily service to Belfast (International), and Geneva and Malaga, which will be served with weekly Saturday flights
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A bridge too far in 34-year ramblers' fight
A COUNCIL has considered hiring a specialist helicopter to fly in a missing bridge in an attempt to settle a long-running right of way dispute. The Skewkirk Bridge over the River Nidd, in North Yorkshire, was demolished in 1969 by the former West Riding
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Edu arrives for Boro transfer talks
MIDDLESBROUGH have switched their attentions to Arsenal midfielder Edu after being unable to snap Real Madrid star Geremi up on a permanent basis. Boro boss Steve McClaren is seeking two top quality midfielders before the start of next season and the
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Shoplifters could face civil action
SHOPLIFTERS could find themselves hit hard after police and retail chiefs launched an anti-shoplifting campaign. County Durham has been chosen to take part in a scheme which could see offenders facing civil action as well as criminal prosecution. Durham
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Kennels open
People are invited to visit Deerness Kennels, at Langley Moor, on Wednesday, July 2, from 11am to 4pm. The family day, which aims to promote good dog ownership, is being held in conjunction with Durham City Council's environmental health department.
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New headteacher for independent school
Taking over the headship of Darlington's Polam Hall School is a task that Bolton-born Marie Green is planning to tackle with huge enthusiasm and an impressive track record. She succeeds Helen Hamilton, who died in April, after 20 years at the school.
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New headteacher for independent school
Taking over the headship of Darlington's Polam Hall School is a task that Bolton-born Marie Green is planning to tackle with huge enthusiasm and an impressive track record. She succeeds Helen Hamilton, who died in April, after 20 years at the school.
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'Brownfield sites do not cause disease'
THE Government last night hit back at fresh claims of a link between former industrial brownfield sites and disease in humans. A report in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) said building homes on such sites posed a potential threat to health because land
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Hoping for extra help after fair
A VOLUNTEERS' organisation is hoping to attract more recruits following the success of a recent fair. Earlier this month, the work carried out by volunteers in Durham was recognised at a Volunteers Fair, in Millennium Place, Durham. Among those receiving
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Pupils' lessons in water safety
A PILOT scheme to improve children's swimming before they start secondary school has begun in County Durham. The initiative, which is also being tested in Bristol, is based on the National Curriculum requirement that children should be able to swim at
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Villagers will fight to avert school closure
VILLAGERS aim to show their school is at the heart of their community to prevent it closing. Aycliffe Village Primary School is one of 23 being considered for closure by Durham County Council in a £300m education shake-up. The council says it needs to
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Woman and child saved from blaze
FIREFIGHTERS have praised neighbours who rescued a pregant woman and her three -year-old niece from their burning home yesterday. The woman threw the child from the first-floor window of the house into the arms of Ernie Robinson when the fire broke out
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School's young performers add a touch of animal magic to play
Pig's heads were created by artistic school pupils for their latest production. Year seven and eight youngsters at The Mount School, York, made the headwear in design technology classes and then used them during performances of George Orwell's classic
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Lit cigarette blamed for blaze tragedy
A PENSIONER who fell asleep on a sofa with a lit cigarette died in a house blaze, an inquest was told. Wilfred Swindon, 79, tried to make his way outside but when he opened the front door the blast or air turned his home in Cotswolds Crescent, Billingham
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Match trouble: man charged
POLICE attempting to trace a number of men caught up in trouble following this year's Sunderland-Newcastle derby match have made an arrest. Northumbria Police released pictures of five men said to have thrown missiles at officers following the match on
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Network of police chaplains growing
A WIDE network of clergy working as chaplains in police stations is almost complete in North Yorkshire. But the man who has helped to spearhead the spread of dog collars among the men and women in blue, said they do not descend on police stations to preach
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Scheme is on success trail
MORE of North Yorkshire's visitor attractions have signed up to join a passport project, which is to be extended after a successful trial. Visitors who carry the passports have them stamped at member locations and qualify for two-for-one admission to
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Membership milestone
A SPORTS centre is celebrating another milestone thanks to Angharad Roberts. The five-year-old has become the 2,000th member of Hartlepool's Brierton Community Sports Centre, which opened last October. To mark the event, staff at the centre have given
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Tie designs earn pupils silk reward
YOUNGSTERS who designed and made paper ties as part of a hospital fundraising event have had their designs recreated on silk. Marie Thompson and Kimberley Salisbury, from Bishopsgarth School, Stockton, designed the ties as part of a Loud Tie Day earlier
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News in brief: Chefs put curry skills to test
Curry chefs will be putting their skills to the test during the East Cleveland Curry Chef competition today. Chefs from four Asian restaurants in the area will have an hour to prepare food during the competition, which will be held at Redcar's Green Gates
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Parkdean anticipating seasonal cheer
HOLIDAY parks operator Parkdean is looking forward to a fruitful summer on the back of an 11.5 per cent rise in advance bookings. The next six months is a key trading period for the firm and was described by the company's managing director John Waterworth
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38-year-old man faces drug charge
A MAN is due to appear before magistrates charged with conspiracy to supply controlled drugs. The 38-year-old Middlesbrough man was arrested by officers from the Cleveland Police Organised Crime Unit and Durham Police, at Teesside Airport yesterday as
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School's tribute to late abbot
FAMILY, friends and admirers of the late Cardinal Basil Hume attended the unveiling of a bronze bust in his memory. The work stands on a plinth at Ampleforth, where he was a former abbot, outside Hume House, a boarding house for boys and girls. The bust
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Shearer is sporting dinner's star guest
FOOTBALLER Alan Shearer is giving his time to help disadvantaged young people in the region. The Newcastle United centre-forward and former England captain will make a rare appearance as a guest speaker at a charity sportsman's dinner in aid of the Teesside-based
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Supermarket staff celebrate 20th anniversary
SUPERMARKET staff celebrated 20 years of trading in Bishop Auckland with a party. Workers were treated to a large buffet and anniversary cake as Asda celebrated at its new store in South Church Road. Shoppers were also able to join in the celebrations
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Guild's efforts produce wizard tableau
A HARRY Potter tableau made by a Darlington townswomen's guild has gone on display in the town centre library. The Salutation Guild won a competition to create a book title design with their interpretation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
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The lord of the jungle and a right jammy devil
SEEDLESS and perfectly preserved, last week's column noted that on the day of his resignation as Health Minister, Tow Law lad Alan Milburn had jam and bread for his Whitehall lunch. "In my school days at Tow Law in the late 1930s it was considered a luxury
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Pupils are helping to judge literary awards
PUPILS at a Newton Aycliffe school are to help select the winners of two nationally important literary awards. Greenfield School Community and Arts College is the only school in the country selected to shadow the judging for the Carnegie Medal and the
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Comments invited on council's care home plan
PEOPLE are being invited to have their say about a reorganisation of County Durham's old people's homes. Under Durham County Council modernisation plans 16 homes will be closed and and extra-care homes built. Geater efforts will be made to care for pensioners
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N-E soldiers among Iraq dead
Two North-East men have been named among the six Royal Military Police killed in southern Iraq. 21 year old Corporal Simon Miller from Tyne and Wear and Lance Corporal Benjamin John McGowan Hyde, 23, from Northallerton were included in the list of six
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Villagers try to halt homes scheme
VILLAGERS are urging councillors to refuse permission for seven homes. Residents of Edmundbyers, near Consett, fear that if the plans are approved the community will have problems with too many parked cars. They also feel it would be out of character
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Cases heard in the magistrates' court
THE following cases were considered by South Durham magistrates sitting in Darlington yesterday: DRIVER BANNED: Derek Philip Thomas, 57, of Castle View, Whitton-le-Wear, was fined £600, banned from driving for three years, and ordered to pay £60 costs
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Natalie steps out to help grandad
A YOUNGSTER from Thornaby has taken part in a sponsored walk to help raise money for cancer treatment for her grandfather. Natalie Witterick, eight, took part in the 12-mile walk from Thornaby to Stokesley to raise money to send Harry Baldwin to Mexico
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Dog cruelty pair banned by court
A COUPLE have been banned from keeping dogs for three years after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their pet. Angela and Mark Anthony Walker, from Ridgeway, Darlington, were also ordered to pay £1,436.80 costs at Bishop Auckland Magistrates
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News in brief: Life-saving police praised
TWO Darlington police officers have been honoured for their life-saving skills. PCs Emily Harrison and Angela Drasdo went to the aid of a man who had collapsed in his car with a suspected heart attack at Morton Park, Darlington, in November last year.
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Residents' recycling fears allayed
RESIDENTS concerned that they might not be able to recycle refuse from home over the summer have been reassured that collections will continue. Last week Treesavers, a com-pany that has carried out kerbside recycling in Darlington for six years, said
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Volunteers needed
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help run a coffee shop at the magistrates' court in Middlesbrough. The shop raises funds for the Butterwick Children's Hospice and is staffed at present by former Women's Royal Voluntary Services members. Sharon Cuthbert, volunteer
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New blow as glass firm cuts 99 jobs
THE region's economy suffered another heavy blow last night with the announcement that a further 99 jobs are to go. Workers at glass processing company Solaglas have been told that the firm is to close its domestic appliance department at Bishop Auckland
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Mayor's year breaks record
THE money raised for good causes by last year's Mayor of Northallerton was a record £7,000. Hospice Homecare and Northallerton Silver Band have both been presented with cheques for £3,500. Former mayor Jack Dobson organised coffee mornings in the town
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News in brief: Officers seek attack witness
POLICE are trying to trace a man who is believed to have reported an assault from a public telephone outside an off-licence in Catherine Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, at about 4.30am on June 8. A man has been arrested and bailed in connection with the
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News in brief: Chefs put curry skills to test
Curry chefs will be putting their skills to the test during the East Cleveland Curry Chef competition today. Chefs from four Asian restaurants in the area will have an hour to prepare food during the competition, which will be held at Redcar's Green Gates
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Witnesses sought to hit-and-run
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a Middlesbrough man was apparently deliberately run over, leaving him in need of hospital treatment. The incident happened on Monday night in Bournemouth Road, Middlesbrough, at its junction with Ravendale Road
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Court hearing date on £1.1m
A COURT hearing which could end a £1.1m legal battle between local authorities will begin at the end of July. Durham County Council was ordered to pay £2.2m and £1.1m interest to Darlington Borough Council earlier this year. The county council is disputing
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Village unites to save school
VILLAGERS will prove their school is the heart of their community in a bid to prevent its closure. Aycliffe Village Primary School is one of 23 in the county which has been earmarked for possible closure in a £300m education shake-up. Durham County Council
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Comment: War claims more victims
THE list of victims of the war in Iraq is growing. Our thoughts go out today to the families of the six British soldiers killed in ambushes. These are the country's first losses since May 1 when the combat was declared over. That combat proved something
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Nursery continues to grow
A NURSERY is to offer extra places and is poised for expansion after a good start. The Bright Buttons Nursery, in Fishburn, now has a full set of staff, with manager Debbie Sams and deputy managers Rebecca Drake and Tammy Kinaou joining the team. Ms Drake
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Carnival time brings the community together
COMMUNITY spirit was overflowing in Willington at the weekend thanks to a two-day carnival. Throngs of people lined the streets on Saturday as Willington Monarchs Jazz Band lead the parade through Colliery Road and High Street to a new venue. The band
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Dynamic partners plan to excell
AN innovative approach to learning for adults and children has helped establish a successful partnership between the Tees Valley and India. Two workers from Excell-Soft, of Mysore, India, have spent the past six months sharing their experience and expertise
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Travel firm goes on tour in region
BUS firm Go North East is to hold a number of public surgeries in a bid to improve passenger services. Go North East staff are to visit ten towns and cities in the region and will encourage people to share their views on bus travel. An easy-access bus
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Easterby's touch of class
MICK EASTERBY'S Top Dirham (3.35) has the class to win the Carlisle Bell with the minimum of fuss this afternoon. Well into is seventies, but still as sharp as razor, Mick landed a colossal "touch" with Top Dirham at Thirsk in May, the five-year-old gelding
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York Moors race is on
THE threat hanging over one of the region's biggest sporting events has been lifted and it will now go ahead after all. A week after the closing date for entries for the annual Lyke Wake Race across the North York shire Moors, organisers say the moors
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Cushions marked by service
AFTER more than three years' work and an estimated six million stitches, a celebration is planned this weekend to mark the completion of a city's Millennium project. The Ripon City Stitchers had wanted to make a tapestry for the cathedral or the Town
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Students demonstrate against closure plans
HUNDREDS of students have held a protest at their university's plans to close departments and axe courses. About 200 students gathered on the steps of Old Shire Hall as Durham University's senate approved an £8.7m investment plan that will see money channelled
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Extra £4m to be spent on health
AN EXTRA £4m will be pumped into the health services in rural County Durham. Durham Dales Primary Care Trust will use the extra cash to offer better access to services, carry out more operations and cut waiting times. The trust's annual budget has been
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Echo Memories: Bone-shaking dedication of the penny farthing cycling Hussars
Echo Memories takes to its penny farthing and explores the development of the North of England's oldest cycling club. THERE is a Saturday column in this paper that often serves as an overspill section when this page is not quite enough. Last Saturday,
