Archive
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Boyfriend gets life for jealousy-fuelled attack
A JEALOUS boyfriend who launched a terrifying knife attack on a man in his home was jailed for life yesterday. Robert Thompson, 25, violently confronted Kevin Donkin because he thought he was getting too friendly with his girlfriend, Stacey Straughan.
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Doing the white thing
STAFF at a call centre dressed up in their whitest whites to raise funds for needy children. They took part in nationwide Npower charity day, raising £36,000 for ChildLine. Mummies, cricketers, doctors and nurses were the most popular choices for the
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Peng axed for Worcestershire clash
DURHAM have dropped Nicky Peng as they prepare to resume championship action after a month's break at Worcester tomorrow. With a top score of 37 in nine innings and an average of 11.5, Peng has to make way for Martin Love, who will be playing his last
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Woman jailed for attack
VIOLENCE broke out in a video shop after an assault victim sought refuge from his attackers, a court heard. Having been stabbed in an earlier incident outside the Blockbuster shop, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, the man was set upon by a woman from
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Samurai swords taken in shop raid
POLICE were yesterday hunting thieves who stole two samurai swords from an Army surplus store. The 3ft blades were stolen along with other weapons from Buckshees, in Guisborough, east Cleveland, at about 2.30am. The thieves broke down the front door of
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It's game, set and match to church boiler fund
FORMER Wimbledon umpire Malcolm Huntington dusted down his green jacket for the first time in eight years when two vicars faced each other over the net at the weekend. Nancy Eckersley, Anglican priest of Heslington, York, took on Methodist minister Graham
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Tributes paid to Ben
THANKS has been given by the parents of Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde to the dozens of people who have passed on their condolences to the family. John Hyde spoke of the number of letters, phone calls and flowers he and his wife had received following the
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Pros and cons of the at-home abortion
Proposals to allow women to have early medical abortions at home have provoked controversy. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. LORNA is a career girl, an ambitious young recruitment consultant who wants to progress as far as she can at work before
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Firefighters tackling factory fire
Firefighters are tackling a major fire at a County Durham factory. Thick black smoke could be seen for miles after the blaze broke out at the Henderson plant, at Bowburn, near Durham City, at about 10am. The factory makes garage doors and sliding door
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Accident victim Nana, 86, mourned
THE funeral of a mother-of-12 who died after being struck by a car was held yesterday. Betty Cooper, 86, died on June 8, moments after celebrating the 30th wedding anniversary of her son, Barry, and his wife, Patricia. The couple were helping her into
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01/07/03
IRAQ: WHY aren't the troops brought out of Iraq? I agree that Saddam had to go, but surely now the Iraqis are turning on the British. Is it going to be another Ireland or Vietnam? When will a halt be called? The coalition freed the Iraqis from Saddam
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News in brief: Area blueprint to be published
A BLUEPRINT for the economic survival of Sunderland is to be launched today. The city's Area Regeneration Committee said its 15-year regeneration plan for Sunderland represented the "most ambitious proposals in Wearside's history". It includes plans for
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HR service moves to N-E
MORE than 15,000 utility workers will look to the North-East for the answer to their employment queries from today. National Grid Transco has launched its new human resources service, ContactHR, at Norgas House, in Killingworth, Tyneside. The operation
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More borrowing on the cards for confident consumers
PERSONAL borrowing showed little sign of abating last month despite slower growth in mortgage lending, figures from the Bank of England have shown. The biggest rise in credit card borrowing for three years helped drive total lending to individuals up
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A lunatic licence, a comedy contrast, and a mayoral challenge
The recent news that more resources are going to be wasted on detection methods to find TV licence evaders made me cringe. It's stupidity piled on wastefulness and laced with idiocy. You'll gather that I don't support the move. The whole TV licensing
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Theatre calls for volunteers
AN HISTORIC theatre undergoing a £1.5m restoration opens its doors on Saturday to people who would like to be part of its future. Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal has not enjoyed the best of luck since it closed for refurbishment at the end of last year
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Bus stop bottle attacker in court
A MAN who insulted a woman and then attacked her husband with a bottle has been ordered to pay £2,000 compensation. James Farnaby, 20, attacked Dean Barratt, 30, at a bus stop in Hartlepool. As the men exchanged punches Farnaby picked up a bottle and
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At last... a show worth having your say about
Britain's Finest Stately Homes (five) CASHING in on public opinion polls is second nature these days to TV producers. It seems a programme can't be made without the general public being asked for their opinion first so some bizarre top ten can be complied
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Siblings rewarded for their sporting talents
TALENTED youngsters have received grant aid to improve their skills. Seventeen young people are getting a share of almost £5,000 from Hambleton District Council. Allertonshire School pupils Jessie and Douglas Roberts are keen athletes. Jessie, 13, has
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Conman plans bid for freedom
The North-East mastermind of an international fraud is planning a bid for freedom - less than a week after he was jailed for six years. George Steen's legal team are preparing to appeal against his conviction, which came at the end of a lengthy trial
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Vaulters to take a run at special title
YOUNG athletes from the across the region will scale new heights at an event this week. The North-East Pole Vault Academy, in conjunction with Darlington Harriers and Athletic Club, is staging a pole vault competition open to sportsmen and women across
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People power seals future of closure-threat post office
WHEN the post office was threatened with closure, the residents of Stillington did not lament the passing of another part of village life. They didn't even bother writing to complain or begging Post Office bosses to think again. Instead, in a remarkable
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Baby joy for couple who lost three children in house blaze
A MOTHER who lost three of her children in a house fire has given birth to a son. Two years ago, Judith Braine, 32, and her husband, Darren, 33, thought their world had ended when a fire swept through their home and killed all but one of their family.
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Potter fans get rare glimpse of her artistry
FANS of the beloved Beatrix Potter books will have the rare opportunity to see original copies of the author's work, courtesy of the National Trust. A collection of watercolours and drawings of Potter favourites, including Squirrel Nutkin and Samuel Whiskers
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Decision day arrives for Ronaldinho deal
NEWCASTLE United will discover tomorrow whether Brazilian target Ronaldinho will be plying his trade at Old Trafford next season. Representatives for the Paris St Germain star have been in talks with Manchester United chief executive Peter Kenyon, and
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Holiday fall teacher sues
Comedian Jim Davidson is being sued for more than £250,000 by a former teacher who claims she suffered severe back injuries in a fall at an entertainment complex run by the entertainer. Retired deputy headteacher Mary Kyne, 51, of Newcastle, claims she
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Lane closure
Motorists using the A1(M) are warned that the northbound MetroCentre turn-off, in Gateshead, will be reduced to single lane on Hollinside Road, from 10am today. It marks the start of the second phase of work on the road, which carries most of the traffic
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Samurai swords taken in shop raid
POLICE were yesterday hunting thieves who stole two samurai swords from an Army surplus store. The 3ft blades were stolen along with other weapons from Buckshees, in Guisborough, east Cleveland, at about 2.30am. The thieves broke down the front door of
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Prom event for students
PUPILS got a taste of the American way when they marked the end of a school era with a prom night. The year 11 group from Branksome Comprehensive School, in Darlington, enjoyed a night of glamour at the Blackwell Grange Hotel. Some turned up in limousines
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Artist will put you in picture
NORTH-EAST artist Barrie Ormsby will discuss his work at an illustrated talk at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, at 7.30pm next Tuesday. The talk launches an exhibition of the Tynemouth artist's paintings and drawings, including a landscape of Cornsay
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Driver's race to hospital ends in court
A WOMAN drove without insurance because she wanted to visit her mother in hospital, a court heard yesterday. Pamela Nadine Sanderson, 21, of Audrey Grove, Darlington, appeared before South Durham Magistrates in Darlington and admitted driving without
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Lottery cash bonuses
A HANDFUL of Darlington community groups have been granted funding awards from the National Lottery. Three associations in the town have benefited from the latest round of grants given out by the the North-East regional committee of the National Lottery's
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Hypnosis goes flat out to help Joshua
A HYPNOTIST'S record breaking attempt will help to raise vital money for a toddler suffering from a form of cerebral palsy. Well-known hypnotist David Knight will be attempting to put 40 people under his spell for a minute at Hambleton Forum in August
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Pupils' stately home musical date
Youngsters from Richmond School's bands will return to Kiplin Hall, Scorton, to perform at an open-air summer concert. Musicians from the swing band, wind band and school orchestra will be playing from 7pm on Wednesday next week while their audience enjoy
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Ex-patients urged to join fundraiser
SURGEONS at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital do not want to be caught out over a fundraising event. So they are making an early start in appealing to former patients to take part in a Friarage Hopalong around the town. It is hoped those who have had
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School appeals panel seeks members
PEOPLE in County Durham are being invited to play an important role in children's admissions to school. Last year, more than 420 parents appealed against the local education authority decision to refuse to admit their child to a the school of their choice
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Children go Dutch for ideas on regeneration of town centres
YOUNG people have helped to draw up a blueprint for the regeneration of town and village centres. A party of seven youngsters from east Durham went on a fact-finding mission to Holland to identify ways to improve urban and rural centres. Durham County
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Students unearth piece of the past
STUDENT archaeologists unearthed what is believed to be a Georgian coin when they dug two exploratory pits in Darlington at the weekend. The team of nightclass students dug the pits in the quadrangle garden and grounds of Darlington College of Technology
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Tributes to 'quiet' councillor
ERIC Close, who was proud to be a lone Liberal on Labour-dominated Durham County Council and was a long serving member of Teesdale District Council, has died aged 86. Friends paid tribute to him yesterday as a quietly-spoken gentleman who often got his
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Shoppers wooed back to rediscover city's delights
TRADERS are putting on a weekend of entertainment in a bid to woo shoppers back to Durham. Durham City Forum hopes the sixth Durham Summer Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, will attract local people who have turned their back on the city centre. Colin
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Newsagent raided twice in 24 hours
A MARKET town newsagent was broken into twice in just over 24 hours and thousands of pounds of stock was stolen. The first thieves who targeted Martins newsagents in Northallerton escaped with more than £2,000 of cigarettes and damaged windows and a kiosk
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Fun and games at Sure Start launch
CHILDREN and their parents enjoyed a party yesterday at the launch of a £1m Sure Start scheme. Children from Shildon and Newton Aycliffe were entertained by party games at Shildon's Civic Centre, as Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster launched the scheme
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Theatre seeks helping hands
A theatre undergoing a £1.5m restoration programme opens its doors on Saturday to those who want to be part of its future. The project to refurbish Richmond's Georgian Theatre Royal has been plagued with problems. But it is due to reopen in September
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Magistrates sound warning over street attacks
STREET attacks in the centre of Harrogate, which threaten the town's good name, will not be tolerated, magistrates said yesterday. After seeing video footage of an early morning confrontation outside a nightclub at the junction of King's Road and Cheltenham
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Hospital is on right route
GUIDES have been recruited to make sure staff and patients do not get lost in a redeveloped hospital. Health bosses are concerned that with dozens of new wards and departments opening at the James Cook University Hospital in the next two months, patients
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Workshop to reduce risk of accidents
A COUNCIL wants to cut the number of slips, trips and accidents in catering workplaces. Middlesbrough Council's business partnership, Middlesbrough Catering Forum, holds a free workshop today, showing businesses how to carry out risk assessments and how
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Snack boost
THE snack habits of local police officers have helped schools in a North-East town obtain additional books. Officers at Redcar police station, east Cleveland, have collected 125 tokens from Walkers crisp packets. Their achievement will enable extra books
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'I used to be a glamour girl. Now I'm just plain mum'
Model Emma Padfield was once a favourite with tabloid editors but has now swapped the high life for marriage and children in County Durham. She talks to Women's Editor Christen Pears. VIEWERS of the Big Breakfast will recognise Emma Padfield as one of
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Tourist passport scheme expands
MORE visitor attractions have signed up to join a passport project run by Hambleton District Council, 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
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£600 award to aid wildlife
AN allotment association in the Wear Valley has been awarded a £600 grant to improve a wildlife area. The Shell Better Britain Campaign has given the cash to the Rosedale and Victoria Allotment Society to make further improvements at its award-winning
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Snack boost
THE snack habits of local police officers have helped schools in a North-East town obtain additional books. Officers at Redcar police station, east Cleveland, have collected 125 tokens from Walkers crisp packets. Their achievement will enable extra books
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Fitness fanatics out in force to break record
FITNESS fans have taken part in an event which they hope will earn them a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Bishop Auckland Market Place was the venue for a weekend workout which has generated thousands of pounds for charity. The event was repeated
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Fitness fanatics out in force to break record
FITNESS fans have taken part in an event which they hope will earn them a place in the Guinness Book of Records. Bishop Auckland Market Place was the venue for a weekend workout which has generated thousands of pounds for charity. The event was repeated
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Police patrols crack down on drug dealing
POLICE say drug use is not rampant in Seaham, despite complaints from residents. People in the former mining town said they have seen users inject themselves near the new £1m police station, and that drug deals are made openly in nearby streets. They
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Court is told of machete attack
REVENGE was the motive behind a machete attack that left a man bleeding and mutilated in a pub car park, a court heard yesterday. Simon Baxter, 29, suffered severe injuries in the attack, including an 8in-deep stab wound when the machete entered his buttocks
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MP welcomes ban on 'rapist's dream drug'
A NORTH-East MP has welcomed the banning of a date rape drug which can render victims unconscious in minutes. GHB, also known as liquid Ecstasy, was outlawed by the Government at midnight when it was reclassified as a Class C drug. Dealers will face up
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Tournament for footballers is a huge hit
A SOCCER tournament for disabled players has scored a success on Teesside. Teams from the north of England took part in the competition at Middlesbrough Football Community Centre. Squads represented Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Rotherham
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Tramp defiant after £400 fine for neglect of spaniel
A WELL-TO-DO tramp was fined for neglecting one of his dogs yesterday - but left court boasting he would still have £50,000 left in a savings account. Mel Bird spends most of his days holding court in the market shelter in Leyburn, North Yorkshire, and
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Farmers in rush to sign as stewards
HUNDREDS of North-East farmers have agreed to help improve the countryside by applying to join the Government's Countryside Stewardship Scheme. A further 240 applications have been received from farmers keen to join the scheme. Countryside Stewardship
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Cheers to an organic idyll
An organic feast turned out to be just what the doctor ordered, especially after a bout of illness. THE Boss has been bad. Even worse than normal. Old deputy doc, the Sabbath medic on the distant end of a telephone, preposterously supposed it to be a
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News in brief: Thieves caught on photograph
A WOMAN grabbed a camera and photographed three thieves who were stealing hubcaps from a neighbour's car, a court was told yesterday. She gave the film to police, who arrested Christopher Robson, 27, said John Gillette, prosecuting. Robson, of Cornwall
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Summer of workshop fun
AN arts activity programme in museums across Hambleton and Richmondshire is proving popular. Places are being booked on the Active8 scheme, featuring a summer programme of 11 workshops. Professional artists will be running taster sessions covering aspects
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Coping with sensory loss
AN exhibition will be held in Hartlepool to help people who are hearing or visually impaired. There will be about 40 stands, including charities and manufacturers of devices that help people with sensory loss. The exhibition coincides with the launch
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Hot dogs... and the food's not bad either
IF life's cynical synopsis is that you can't win them all, it should at once be said that a night at Pelaw Grange dog track proved entirely predictable. Losers included every greyhound we backed, except for Race 9 which mercifully was declared void because
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MP gives backing for fair trade campaign
MIDDLESBROUGH MP Ashok Kumar met people campaigning for world justice and fair trade at a family fun day in Guisborough at the weekend. They asked him to support their cause, before the World Trade Organisation's ministerial meeting in Mexico later this
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Date is set for open-air music festival
Organisers of an open-air rock concert last summer have announced they are to stage a follow-up event. Rock in the Quarry, at the old workings next to the A1 close to Barton, near Darlington, last July was a small-scale affair, attracting about 200 people
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Four are charged over shop break-ins
THREE adults and a youth have been charged following a series of police raids across the region. Police in North Yorkshire and County Durham joined forces to investigate a spate of break-ins at high street shops in five towns. The crime spree began in
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Sheep and Shakespeare at the Richmond festival
STUDENTS from Richmond School will play a major role in the town's summer festival this weekend. Youngsters will perform in a number of events between Friday and Sunday. An open-air performance of the school's version of A Midsummer Night's Dream will
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Still long way to go in Neale probe
OFFICIALS heading the inquiry into disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale said they still have a large amount of evidence to shift through. The oral stage of the inquiry, which is taking place in York, will be completed at the end of the month, when officials
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Rail firm drops legal action over route bid
First Group, one of the contenders for the trans-Pennine express (TPE) franchise, has dropped a court action against the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), with an announcement on who will run the route imminent. First, which has teamed up with French transport
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Club class luxury flight for cello of note
THERE are strings attached to a maestro's visit to Britain - the cherished cello of musician Mindaugus Backus must fly club class. The cellist is flying to Teesside from Lithuania, to play at festival of classical music at Kirkleatham, near Redcar. A
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Collision leads to chaos during morning rush-hour
A two-vehicle collision led to traffic chaos on the A1(M) and surrounding roads in County Durham today. The northbound stretch of the Durham Motorway, between Carrville and Chester-le-Street, junctions 62 and 63, was closed for around five hours after
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Correction
WE would like to point out that the King's Arms pub, at Redmire, North Yorkshire, which is the subject of a dispute over plans to be converted into a house, was not used as the fictional Drover's Arms in the television series All Creatures Great and Small
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National rail strike fear as 2,000 jobs go to slash costs
THE crisis on the railways deepened last night as union leaders threatened to resist thousands of job cuts with crippling nationwide strikes. Unions reacted angrily after Network Rail, which has taken over from Railtrack, unveiled a "recovery plan" that
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Police find suspected drugs den
POLICE believe they have accidentally stumbled across a drugs factory during a routine house search. Officers found the bedrooms of a house in central Middlesbrough stripped of all furniture, the walls painted white, specialist lighting installed, irrigation
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News in brief: Girl, 12, victim of sex attack
A 12-year-old girl was indecently assaulted in bushes at the top of a bank near the Oval, in Walker, Newcastle. A police spokesman said that although it was not known what precise time or date the assault took place, it was believed to have been about
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Widow of hero pilot attends ceremony to mark sacrifice
THE widow of an airman who died when his plane crashed seconds from a North-East town 22 years ago will remember her brave husband at a service tomorrow. Tina Matthews will be among the guests paying tribute to more than 100 aviators who have died on
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Environmental awards for wildlife work
TWO conservationists have been honoured with national environmental awards. Henry Morphet, from Ingleborough, in the Yorkshire Dales, and Richard Chapman, from South Hylton, Sunderland, will receive the English Nature awards at a celebration lunch at
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No eviction for Stanley
The Little House on the Prairie will still be home to football - and to Stanley United - next season. Months of uncertainty over the future of one of the region's oldest and best known clubs have ended with a fair bit of furniture shifting but with United's
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Farming couple in award final
A COUPLE who take special care of the wildlife on their Pennines farm have reached the national final of a conservation competition. Maurice and Kath Toward's 574-acre Herdship Farm, at Harwood, in Upper Teesdale, County Durham, is one of six finalists
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Liberation that has turned us into slaves
The "gay Bishop" of Reading furore should not be regarded as a single and simple controversy. Our whole attitude to sexual morality and mores has gone awry and is becoming more and more destructive every day. The so-called sexual revolution began in the
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Survival of small businesses threatened by 'lawlessness'
MORE than half of all small firms have fallen victim to crime in the past year, according to new research. Retailers have been hit hardest, with 74 per cent reporting their business has been adversely affected by lawlessness. This compares with 53 per
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Hunt for dog after attack
POLICE hope the public may be able to help trace the owner of a dog that bit a three-year-old girl hard enough to break bones in her hand. The terrier was outside Towlers shop in Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, at lunchtime on Saturday. The dog
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Leading banker praises region
THE North-East has been given a resounding vote of confidence as an excellent place to do business, by Lord Stevenson, chairman of HBoS. The head of the UK's third largest bank supported the region's efforts for self-improvement during a visit to open
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Fired-up Kirby inspires Yorkshire to Taunton victory
Red-haired firebrand Steven Kirby achieved Yorkshire's best match figures in 36 years at Taunton yesterday as well as completing his own career-best return of eight for 80 in the ten-wicket Championship triumph over Somerset. The last time a Yorkshire
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Probe after raid
DETECTIVES are questioning two teenagers about a ram-raid on a North-East shop. Police were called to Motor World, in Redcar High Street, at about 3am yesterday, by a neighbour who heard a car crashing through the front window of the shop. Stuart Bell
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Help offered to get people back in work
JOB-HUNTERS have been able to get help at an open day. The West View Employment Action Centre, in Hartlepool, held the day to highlight everything the centre has to offer, including free Internet sessions and advice on completing CVs and application forms
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Crew on a mission to raise cash at centre
THE crew of one of the Royal Navy's newest ships will visit a North-East shopping centre this weekend on a mission to raise cash for children's wards at two hospitals. HMS Bulwark, a landing platform dock ship, is under construction at Barrow-in-Furness
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Bid to remove charity trustees
TRUSTEES of a North-East mining charity are facing removal following an investigation into alleged unauthorised payments. The Charity Commission, which regulates the running of charities, has announced it plans to remove all ten trustees of the Durham
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Manager's task to improve rail line
A DEVELOPMENT manager has been appointed to improve part of the North-East rail network. The Esk Valley Railway Development Company hopes Tony Smare will turn the Middlesbrough to Whitby line into a showpiece railway. They aim to make it the first locally
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Chernobyl children visit
A PARTY of 26 youngsters from the area surrounding the former Chernobyl nuclear plant, in Belarus, were given a guided tour of Sunderland's National Glass Centre at the weekend. The visit was one stop on a month-long annual visit to the region, organised
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Paragon buys subsidiary
TROUBLED insurer Britannic Group is selling its mortgage lending subsidiary to Paragon for £18.7m. Britannic is selling Britannic Money, based in Epsom, to specialist lender Paragon Group of Companies. Paragon said it would seek substantial cost savings
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DJ's present to club after show
A US disc jockey surprised a North-East club's owner by paying for equipment for his nightclub. Garage producer Kerri Chandler, of New York, who is well-known on the international club and music scene, was so impressed by Darlington's Atlantic nightspot
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Park on the right track
HORSE feed costs a pretty packet these days, but the owners of Karminskey Park cannot complain because she has been earning her corn with a string of consistent performances so far this term. Opportunities to top up the kitty have been rare over the past
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Co-op takes on Balfour chain
THE Co-operative Society has continued its run of retailing acquisitions with the £30m purchase of the Balfour chain of convenience stores from venture capital firm 3i. The deal includes 76 convenience stores and 35 newsagents, taking the Co-op's number
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MPs vote for total ban on hunting
MPs voted overwhelmingly last night for a total ban on fox-hunting with dogs in England and Wales. In a free vote, the House of Commons rejected a Government plan which would have allowed some fox-hunting under licence while banning stag-hunting and hare-coursing
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Revolt over WPP boss's contract
ADVERTISING guru Sir Martin Sorrell was yesterday at the centre of a major revolt by shareholders over the length of his contract. The rebellion by shareholders in global advertising group WPP, which is run by Sir Martin, attracted almost half of the
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Spanish side clear the way for McClaren's Brazilian bid
CELTA VIGO have paved the way for Middlesbrough to land Brazilian Doriva on a permanent basis. The Spanish side are keen to finalise a deal with the Teessiders for the player who spent five months on loan after arriving in the North-East in January. Celta
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Comment: Still running into the buffers
THERE was some hope that the demise of Railtrack would herald an era of progress for our railways. Britain may have been the birthplace of the railways but, as we entered the 21st century, our network was near breaking point because of decade after decade
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Firms invited to tame 'Lion City'
AN ORGANISATION which opens foreign markets to North-East companies has set its sights on Singapore. Trade Partners UK is offering the region's firms the chance to secure a roaring trade in what has been dubbed "Lion City". Singapore, one of the UK's
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Artist will put you in picture
NORTH-EAST artist Barrie Ormsby will discuss his work at an illustrated talk at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery, at 7.30pm next Tuesday. The talk launches an exhibition of the Tynemouth artist's paintings and drawings, including a landscape of Cornsay
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Eating Owt: Hot dogs... and the food's not bad either
IF life's cynical synopsis is that you can't win them all, it should at once be said that a night at Pelaw Grange dog track proved entirely predictable. Losers included every greyhound we backed, except for Race 9 which mercifully was declared void because
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Appeal for award left in back of a cab
A NORTH-EAST radio presenter won an award at a national competition - and then lost it. After a night of festivities, Saffron Oddy woke up in the morning to realise she had left her award in a Newcastle taxi. Ms Oddy, Galaxy 105-106's mid-morning presenter
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Region's top acts battle it out for stars of talent title
YOUNG singing and dancing wannabes stepped out on a professional stage on the last leg of their bid to land a regional talent title. The best 25 acts chosen from a long-running live audition process gave it their best shot in the final of talentSTAR.
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Top musician seeking six young cellists
CELLIST Julian Lloyd Webber is playing in the North-East and wants six young musicians from the region to perform with him live on stage. His show, Music From the West End and Broadway, takes place at the Tees Barrage, in Stockton, on July 19. He will
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£5,000 prize to win
THE North Eastern and Cumbria Co-op is running the Taking a Stand awards scheme to recognise people who have made a difference in tackling anti-social behaviour. A prize of £5,000 is on offer. Application forms are available at stores.
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Tragedy family's law change bid
THE family of six-year-old Rebecca Sawyer, who was killed by a man in a stolen vehicle, will today urge Home Secretary David Blunkett to tighten the law. Rebecca was killed on December 31, when banned driver Ian Carr jumped red traffic lights and crashed
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Last Night's TV: At last... a show worth having your say about
Britain's Finest Stately Homes (five) CASHING in on public opinion polls is second nature these days to TV producers. It seems a programme can't be made without the general public being asked for their opinion first so some bizarre top ten can be complied
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College to share in £175,000 windfall
A SPORTS college is to benefit from a share of £175,000 in funding from the National Lottery. A £57,500 grant from the New Opportunities Fund means a modern makeover for Laurence Jackson's sports hall in Guisborough, east Cleveland. John Downs, deputy
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Landowner's harassment claim over missing bridge
A LANDOWNER locked in a feud with his local council over a right of way and a missing bridge has accused the authority of harassing him. The Northern Echo reported last week how ramblers and villagers had fought for 34 years to replace the missing Skewkirk
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Town celebrates its twinning ties in style
FIFTY years of cultural links between Darlington and its German twin town were celebrated yesterday. Civic dignitaries from Mulheim an der Ruhr made the journey to the North-East to sample local hospitality and present gifts to the people of Darlington
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Stars take to the stage for show
A TROOP of amateur thespians are performing Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida this week. St Augustine's Repertory Society - known as Stars - is staging the production, a musical about the early days of feminism, from tomorrow until Saturday in the parish
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Checks find safety problems on taxis
A SERIES of vehicle checks across North Yorkshire resulted in three taxis and nine goods vehicles being taken off the road. The first checks, carried out on Friday afternoon and evening, involved 11 taxis in Northallerton and Stokesley being pulled over
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Students set out to dig up the past
ARCHAEOLOGISTS found evidence of a major fire when they excavated part of the Darlington College of Technology site in Catterick. The team of student archaeologists from Darlington College of Technology raced against time to uncover long-lost artefacts
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Church tower abseil
A VICAR and a policewoman were among more than 20 volunteers who abseiled down a church tower for charity. Father Raymond Cuthbertson, of St John's Church, Shildon, was joined by Shildon PC Mandy Lawton, who had to conquer her fear of heights to take
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Conservation area home bid debated
A REVISED plan to build a house in the grounds of a dilapidated 19th Century building is expected to be approved by councillors in Darlington tomorrow. But permission for the two-storey detached home will only be granted if money is made available to
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Teachers enjoy a trip out of Africa
SCHOOLS in the North-East have been urged to be more outward-looking and forge greater links across the globe. The message emerged from an unlikely meeting between five headteachers from the Gambia, in west Africa, and a former Durham pitman, who is now
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News in brief: Area blueprint to be published
A BLUEPRINT for the economic survival of Sunderland is to be launched today. The city's Area Regeneration Committee said its 15-year regeneration plan for Sunderland represented the "most ambitious proposals in Wearside's history". It includes plans for
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News in brief: Bettys wins tea award
BETTYS Cafe, in Northallerton, has received an Award of Excellence from the Tea Council after being picked out from more than 100 nominated around the country. The accolade was presented after the High Street tea rooms were given top marks from undercover
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Sir Terry to give architecture lecture
ARCHITECT Sir Terry Farrell will be returning to his adopted city of Newcastle on Thursday. He will speak at Northumbria University as part of an event entitled Making Space and Culture Work Together, organised by the North East England History Institute
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Pupils put on a moving performance
CHILDREN will be making their theatrical debut today, in dance shows they helped to choreograph. Youngsters at South Pelaw Infants School, near Chester-le-Street, have spent weeks rehearsing their own show, based on the story We're Going on a Bear Hunt
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Drugs company seeks wind turbines power
A DRUGS company wants to build two wind turbines to generate power for its factories. GlaxoSmithKline is applying for planning consent to erect the turbines next to its factory in Barnard Castle. The company has submitted the detailed proposals to Teesdale
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College to share in £175,000 windfall
A SPORTS college is to benefit from a share of £175,000 in funding from the National Lottery. A £57,500 grant from the New Opportunities Fund means a modern makeover for Laurence Jackson's sports hall in Guisborough, east Cleveland. John Downs, deputy
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Playground to be given an upgrade
PLANS for a £50,000 upgrade of a Hartlepool playground look set to be approved. Old equipment at the play area, at the southern end of the Town Moor next to the bowls pavilion, needs to be replaced. A survey by the Royal Society for the Prevention of
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Environmental awards for wildlife work
TWO conservationists have been honoured with national environmental awards. Henry Morphet, from Ingleborough, in the Yorkshire Dales, and Richard Chapman, from South Hylton, Sunderland, will receive the English Nature awards at a celebration lunch at
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£1.7m project for affordable homes will be discussed
PLANS to spend more than £1.5m on redevelopment in a part of Billingham will be discussed by councillors later this week. Members of Stockton Borough Council's cabinet will consider plans for a proposed social housing development at Low Grange Court.
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Diner idea could get the go-ahead
PLANS for a bar and diner in Hartlepool will be discussed by councillors tomorrow. Birotex Limited has applied to Hartlepool Borough Council for permission to change the use of Bovis House, Victoria Road, into a bar and diner. The council has received
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News in brief: Area blueprint to be published
A BLUEPRINT for the economic survival of Sunderland is to be launched today. The city's Area Regeneration Committee said its 15-year regeneration plan for Sunderland represented the "most ambitious proposals in Wearside's history". It includes plans for
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Conservation tours
FARMERS concerned for the environment are invited to join a series of walks highlighting landscape and wildlife preservation projects. The walks have been organised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' (Defra) Rural Development Service
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School appeals panel seeks members
PEOPLE in County Durham are being invited to play an important role in children's admissions to school. Last year, more than 420 parents appealed against the local education authority decision to refuse to admit their child to a the school of their choice
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Chernobyl children visit
A PARTY of 26 youngsters from the area surrounding the former Chernobyl nuclear plant, in Belarus, were given a guided tour of Sunderland's National Glass Centre at the weekend. The visit was one stop on a month-long annual visit to the region, organised
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Surgeon speaks at inquiry
DISGRACED gynaecologist Richard Neale gave evidence last week at a private inquiry into the way the NHS handled complaints made against him. Neale spent the day giving evidence to a panel of three people, in the final part of the inquiry. "He has expanded
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Teenager glassed in unprovoked attack
A TEENAGER suffered severe facial wounds after being glassed in an unprovoked attack. The 17-year-old was attacked just after midnight as he and a friend were walking home after a party in Redcar. He felt a tap on his shoulder and when he turned around
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Defendant ordered to compensate victim
A MAN was fined and ordered to pay his victim compensation yesterday after admitting an assault in a Richmond pub in April. Magistrates were told Barry Pittaway was out with friends in The Fleece, in Victoria Road, when Stephen Sam-ways confronted him
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Art students' controversial creations go on display
ART students have been putting the final touches to a controversial exhibition which includes a blood-soaked gown which was created by a vegan. Other works on display at Stockton Sixth Form College include an Ascot hat of autumn leaves, a series of night-through-day
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Strongman launches world title bid on a high
STRONGMAN Eddie Ellwood has set his sights on world glory after becoming England's best. The 39-year-old is flying to Zambia in September for the World's Strongest Man competition. The Hartlepool gym owner goes into the event in fine form after an amazing
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Warning over missing pills
POLICE are concerned that pills missing from a stolen handbag may get into the hands of children and be potentially dangerous. A packet of Prozac tablets, used for treating depression, was taken from a woman's handbag that was stolen and later recovered
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Musicians tune up for concerts
YOUNG musicians from across the county will be performing at two special concerts this month. The North Yorkshire Schools' Big Band will be working with world famous jazz trombonist, composer and musical educator Scott Stroman and his Jazz Band, from
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Job Search: Vacancies
Manager, Northallerton. £14,000pa, 43hrs pw, 5 days from 7 days, evenings and weekends. Must have driving licence and own transport and managerial experience in similar position. Ref: NOE 19422. Kitchen porter, Staddlebridge. 6-10.30pm, Mon-Fri; 10am
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Sports centre study delayed
A study into the building of a sports centre and athletics track in the Malton and Norton area has been delayed. Ryedale district councillors have yet to decide how the study will be funded. Councillor Elizabeth Shields wanted up to £50,000 to be set
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News in brief: Thieves caught on photograph
A WOMAN grabbed a camera and photographed three thieves who were stealing hubcaps from a neighbour's car, a court was told yesterday. She gave the film to police, who arrested Christopher Robson, 27, said John Gillette, prosecuting. Robson, of Cornwall
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Job Search: Vacancies
Commis chef. 44hrs pw, 5 days from 7, shifts, 9am to 2pm and 6-10pm. Would suit newly qualified chef currently attending catering college. City and Guilds 706/1 and 2 or NVQ 2 and 3. Ref: DUR 36450. Bar person. £4.20ph, 8hrs pw, Mon-Sun. Oown transport
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Hunt for best grandparent
NORTH-EAST nominations are being sought for Age Concern's national Grandparent of the Year award. Grandchildren have until August 13 to nominate their grandparents, who could win a weekend break in London as the North-East finalist. Judging takes place
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Glider pilot fights for life
A WOMAN is fighting for her life in hospital after sustaining serious injuries when her glider crashed into a field. The 50-year-old pilot had to be cut from the wreckage by rescue crews attending the crash in North Yorkshire and she was airlifted to
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Signs of success as author's pub path is waymarked
AN author and columnist for The Northern Echo has received one of the best accolades a guidebook writer could ask for. Mark Reid, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has had his long-distance, circular route around the North York Moors signposted by the
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Pupils learn about life in India
A SCHOOL has been helping students to unravel some of the mysteries of the Eastern culture. Richmond School - which won Government approval to develop as a centre for the performing arts earlier this year - enjoyed an enthralling two-day study of Indian
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Surveyors repeat warnings about skills shortage
SKILLS shortages in building and plumbing are causing problems at a time when the UK construction industry is increasingly healthy. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has said warnings that went unheeded a few years ago are now having a
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Policy holders denied a remedy
AN INVESTIGATION into the near collapse of Equitable Life has rejected calls from disgruntled policyholders for compensation. The findings of the report, conducted by Parliamentary Ombudsman Ann Abraham, cleared City watchdog the Financial Services Authority
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Job Search: Vacancies
Live-in housekeeper, Darlington, flexible hours. Experience an advantage, mature applicants welcome. Ref: DAE 35144. Cable layer, Darlington, 30 hours per week over six days, required to lay cables on BT network. Self-employment. Driving licence and NRS
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University to lead the way in Croatia
A programme helping businesses in Croatia find their feet after years of war and economic turmoil is being run by Durham Business School (Dubs). Using knowledge built up while working with North-East companies, the university's Biz-KIT project has won
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Coroner lists 40 for baby's inquest
FORTY witnesses may be called to give evidence at an inquest into the death of a nine-month-old girl. Paramedics, police officers, pathologists and relatives of Abbie Jade Hughes will be at the hearing in Hartlepool, Teesside. Hartlepool coroner Malcolm
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A new world - and a cheaper one
The speed of new services from Teesside Airport is becoming quite breathtaking with BmiBaby (still British Midland to me) adding to the goodies from Ryanair. The news that BMI are starting flights to Belfast (daily) and Geneva and Malaga (weekly on Saturdays
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Tait stays calm over return
Darlington manager Mick Tait last night refused to be drawn in on speculation linking former Feethams favourite Marco Gabbiadini with a return to the club. The Quakers boss is keen to add weight to his attacking options, although a move for 35-year-old
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'Invisible' couples fight to be seen
Yesterday the Government unveiled proposals to give gay and lesbian couples the same legal rights as married couples. Nick Morrison looks at whether this is a long overdue move towards equality, or a threat to the very fabric of society. JUDITH and Irene
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World's best carpenter
A JOINER from Leyburn has won the WorldSkills title. Lee Fawcett, 21, scored gold in the Makita WorldSkills 2003 competition in Switzerland. Against worldwide opposition, Mr Fawcett, a member of the 31-strong British team, brought all his skills to bear
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Locked up for kicking handicapped woman
A CARER and her boyfriend who kicked and punched a mentally handicapped woman were both put behind bars yesterday. The judge told the pair that the attack on the woman, who has a mental age of seven, was appalling. She was left with cuts to her head and
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Lane closure
Motorists using the A1(M) are warned that the northbound MetroCentre turn-off, in Gateshead, will be reduced to single lane on Hollinside Road, from 10am today. It marks the start of the second phase of work on the road, which carries most of the traffic
