Archive
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Writers' group in line for national award
A GROUP of Newton Aycliffe writers could be in line for an award after reaching the final of a national competition. The National Association of Writing Groups has recently drawn up a shortlist of potential winners for a competition which attracts thousands
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Lifeline break for children
A PARTNERSHIP between an artist, a Richmond pub and a North Yorkshire brewery will help more children from the stricken region of Belarus enjoy a break in North Yorkshire. The Richmond branch of the Chernobyl Children's Lifeline raises money each year
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Jane takes top childminder title
A NORTH Yorkshire childminder has been named the best in the country at the finals of a national competition in London. Jane Fisher, of Boroughbridge, was awarded the top prize at the Excellence in Child Care Awards by Minister for SureStart Baroness
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Newsletter launched
A NEWSLETTER offering a wealth of information has been produced for the visually impaired in Darlington. Volunteers with sight problems have completed the first edition of 4sight, which aims to keep people up to speed on developments affecting them and
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Parents and children learn skills together
PARENTS and children were rewarded for their efforts after learning computer skills at an after-school club in Darlington. The ten-week programme for adults and children was designed and run at Harrowgate Hill Junior School by Darlington College of Technology
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Kerbside recycling scheme launched
COUNCIL officials said yesterday that a new kerbside recycling scheme would be more convenient and accessible for Darlington people. The scheme will be phased in across the borough during September, October and November, and the first collection boxes
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Fight over biking dangers boosted
COMMUNITY leaders were last night celebrating a £45,000 cash boost geared at tackling the anti-social behaviour of off-road motorcyclists on public rights of way. The award from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund will pay for two off-road motorcycles for
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CD hope after Rose blooms in talent test
A NORTH-EAST pensioner is top of the pops after being crowned one of the country's most talented elderly popstars. Rose Bottomley, 64, from Saltburn, east Cleveland, came second in the Silver Stars Talent Contest, proving age is no barrier when it comes
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Carers receive awards for learning work
A GROUP of carers from Stockton Borough Carers Resource Centre have won an award. The 13 carers received the Adult Learner's Group Award for Stockton. Members gained the awards for progress as learners on a computer courses provided by Stockton Borough
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Primary care trust appoints new chief
Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) has apponited Peter Innes as chairman. Mr Innes will join the PCT from the North-East Ambulance Service NHS Trust, where he has been chairman since 1999. He led the trust through a merger to three-star status. Mr Innes
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Improvements backed
A COUNCIL has approved a multi-million pound scheme to "radically improve" its services. Sunderland City Council's cabinet voted for the first of several schemes in its four-year £35.72m Peoplefirst programme. The proposals include a network of centres
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Dietician offers advice to cancer patients
CANCER patients are being given a helping hand with their dietary requirements thanks to the appointment of a dedicated expert. Gateshead Health NHS Trust has taken another significant step in improving care for cancer patients by employing its first
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Parents' anger over drug litter
PARENTS have banned their children from playing near shrubs in part of Middlesbrough following the discovery of used needles and empty methadone bottles. An organised litter clean-up of St Aidan's Drive found more needles and bottles this week, reinforcing
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Bid to move homeless to North-East
PLANNERS in London want to move thousands of homeless people to the North-East. The plans have come to light after the Government ordered every borough in London to complete a housing strategy. Desperate London councils, which must find housing for 50,000
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Students get hands-on experience
TEENAGERS were given the chance to experience what it is like to be a medical student. A group of 36 pupils, aged 16 and 17, took part in the event at the University of Durham's Queen's Campus, in Stockton. The initiative is for students who are interested
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News in brief: Roads closed during festival
THERE will be temporary road closures in Stockton town centre from today until Sunday, due to the Riverside Festival. The High Street will be closed to traffic from 11.30am to 1.30pm today, and from 6pm to midnight tomorrow. The A135 Riverside Road will
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Sport club aimed at disabled
MORE than 60 young people with a disability or special needs have had the chance to try new sports thanks to Stockton's Sports Ability Club. Stockton Borough Council's sports development team set up the club six months ago to let young people with disabilities
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News in brief: Police issue warning
FARM workers have been warned to secure their machinery after a spate of thefts from rural businesses. Police are hunting the owners of a silver Vauxhall Astra, registration H870 DBK, that was seen in Acaster Malbis and Elvington. Two quad bikes, one
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Get your pet microchipped
THE animal welfare service in Stockton is offering pet owners the chance to protect their animals against theft or loss by expanding its microchipping service. The service is to hold a series of roadshows, where people can have their pet chipped, as well
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Robot Wars joy for creative youngsters
CREATIVE youngsters will come face-to-face with their mechanical monster heroes, after winning a design competition. The three boys and their parents won an all-expenses paid trip to see the filming of the next series of the hit BBC TV show, Robot Wars
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Survey brings boost for care trust service
ONE of the county's primary care trusts (PCT) has been ranked among the best in a national patient survey. Hambleton and Richmondshire PCT has welcomed the survey by the Commission for Health Improvement, which shows that its service is rated very highly
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Training helpline aims to ease parents' worries
PARENTS waiting anxiously with their children for this summer's GCSE and A-level results are being urged to contact a free telephone helpline if their children are unsure about what to do next. The Learning and Skills Council North Yorkshire has launched
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School on wrong site can remain
A £410,000 village school built in the wrong place can stay where it is, planners have decided. Members of North Yorkshire County Council planning committee granted retrospective planning permission for Grewelthorpe Church of England Primary School at
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Army called in to support floral campaign
TERRITORIAL Army soldiers from the 102 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), in Newton Aycliffe, are supporting Aycliffe Village's bid for success in the Britain in Bloom competition. The soldiers donated tubs, decorated in their
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Teamwork leads to a dramatic reduction in crime
PARTNERSHIP work is helping to reduce crime levels across a policing district. The Durham force believes the work of a multi-agency task force is starting to pay dividends in the Chester-le-Street and Durham City division. Figures for the year to March
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£1.1m bid for 25 wardens to patrol hot spots is a success
DOZENS more street wardens are to patrol a town's neighbourhoods and problem areas. Middlesbrough Council has won £1.1m in European funding to employ another 25 community wardens. It comes as Middlesbrough charity The Wise Group, which works with the
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Minister's pledge to elderly over winter cash
PENSIONS Minister Malcolm Wicks visited the region yesterday to talk to older people about keeping warm this winter. Winter Fuel Payments of up to £200 will go to eligible people aged over age 60 to help them with fuel bills. Mr Wicks pledged the Government's
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Bells are returned to blaze-damaged church
THE bells are ringing again in a village church which is gradually recovering from a mystery blaze. Restoration of St Brandon's Church, in Brancepeth, near Durham, has taken another step forward with the installation of eight bells. Five of the original
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Teenagers will get a 50p ticket to ride
BORED teenagers living in isolated parts of east Durham will be able to visit friends and family in neighbouring villages thanks to a pilot scheme. Durham County Council is launching the Friday Night Youth Bus for 13 to 16-year-olds in Thornley, Wheatley
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Teba sets off on run to London
CHARITY runner Teba Diatta set off from York Minster to the sound of deafening thunder yesterday. The 21-year-old student, who lives in Acomb, York, braved the threatening conditions to start her run to Westminster Abbey, in London, as part of a drive
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Award winner makes debut
A CLASSICAL Brit Award winner is making her North-East debut this week during a Symphony by the Sea event. Teenager Chloe Hanslip will be appearing at Seaham Hall, on Saturday, along with the English Philharmonic Orchestra, to raise money for sick children
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Teamwork leads to a dramatic reduction in crime
PARTNERSHIP work is helping to reduce crime levels across a policing district. The Durham force believes the work of a multi-agency task force is starting to pay dividends in the Chester-le-Street and Durham City division. Figures for the year to March
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'Aid package is not illegal'
THE chairman of troubled power company British Energy predicted yesterday that the European Union would approve a multi-billion pound government aid package. Adrian Montague brushed aside warnings that the bail-out was illegal and told shareholders at
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Ricketts' slow start
Michael Ricketts made a return to full training yesterday but still faces the possibility of missing the start of the season. The Middlesbrough striker is back with the squad after achilles problems but may not be fit in time to play in the two remaining
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Teamwork will guarantee an ice-cool summer
TWO North Yorkshire firms are working together to ensure the ice cream flows this summer. Laser engineering specialist Malton Laser has manufactured components for 5,000 ice cream dispensing machines for Richmond Ice Cream, of Leeming Bar. Malton Laser
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Cleaning is a six-hour chore
A survey for British Gas website house.co.uk has found that North-East people spend more than six hours a week cleaning on average. But they would like to cut that to three so they have more time to relax and enjoy themselves. If they could afford it,
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Hero's welcome for cyclist
SOLO cyclist Jeff Snell has completed a round Britain trip of more than 2,000 miles after being inspired by his father's battle against cancer. Mr Snell set off from his parents' house in Shildon, in the middle of June to cycle to John O'Groats and Lands
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MoD protest leads to lake plan refusal
THE Ministry of Defence has won a planning battle to prevent birds threatening aircraft at two North-East bases. The MoD successfully tabled strong objections over a scheme to create four fishing lakes close to Dishforth Aerodrome, near Ripon, and RAF
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Fundraisers blaze Gurkha trail
A TEAM from the region successfully completed an infamous challenge set by Gurkha soldiers at the weekend. Alex Phillips, Alex Collins and Rachel Carter, all from Richmond, North Yorkshire, along with Leanne Brown, from Bishop Auckland, County Durham,
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Launch of rural economic revival report
A BLUEPRINT for the economic revival of a dale hit hard by job losses was unveiled last night, almost a year after the closure of a major employer. Residents will be given a summary of the Integrated Rural Development Plan for Weardale, County Durham,
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Franchise has world in its sights
A BRITISH oven-cleaning firm is planning to expand overseas, with the help of a specialist North-East consultancy. The Franchise Company, of Darlington, is working with Ovenu to push the group into Ireland and mainland Europe. Its aim is to introduce
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Robinson wins Pool deal
NEALE Cooper last night signed his second striker of the close season with the capture of Paul Robinson. The former Newcastle and Darlington striker, 24, impressed since joining Hartlepool United on trial and Tuesday's goal at Berwick was his third in
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TV boss tipped to be agency chairman
A Television executive is favourite to be named today as the new head of the Government body tasked with regenerating the region. Margaret Fay, managing director at Tyne Tees Television, is the front runner in a three horse race to become chairman of
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'I had to find my brother's grave'
The brother of a soldier killed in the Second World War is nearing the end of a mission to have his bravery recorded. He tells Neil Hunter of the battle to mark his grave. THE legend on the headstone says simply: "A soldier of the 1939-1945 war. May,
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Environment award for caring couple
AFTER four decades of nurturing hill pastures in one of the most isolated spots in the country, it seems that the rest of the farming world has finally caught up with keen conservationists Maurice and Kath Toward. The couple proved that their home, Herdship
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Omnisoft joins Xbox incubator
A MAKER of computer games is going from strength to strength after signing a deal with one of the major players in the console market. Onisoft, of Teesside, set up last November, has been accepted on the Microsoft Xbox incubator programme. Aimed at an
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Golden gift
A DARLINGTON couple are using their golden wedding this week to help the town's Talking Newspaper. Bernard Hoare, 83, who is blind, and wife Annie, 93, have asked friends to give to the charity instead of buying them gifts. The couple, who married at
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Anti-crime project is commended
A NORTH-EAST project aimed at helping young offenders has been singled out for acclaim in this year's National Crime Awards. The Phoenix Project, nominated by Dr Gitika Banerjee, last year's High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear, was commended for its outstanding
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Cruelty case man can keep reptiles
A REPTILE collector has been allowed to keep his large collection of exotic pets despite being convicted of causing them unnecessary suffering by housing them in a "ramshackle barn". At the end of a trial that has cost £30,000, Colin Shaw was convicted
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Sorensen next out of Sunderland door
THOMAS SORENSEN was last night on the verge of a £2.25m move to Aston Villa as Sunderland's summer sale gathered momentum. With Jody Craddock expected to undergo a medical at Wolverhampton Wanderers today before completing a £1.75m switch, Sunderland
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When marriage is a rocky road
Honeymoons From Hell (ITV1): Love was in the air on the flight to Sri Lanka, as Jim said "yes" after partner Candace proposed over the plane's tannoy system. To add to the surprise, she'd smuggled their two young daughters and various relatives aboard
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Deluge halts Tykes bid
All the action was contained in the first 12 deliveries of Yorkshire's Championship match at Cheltenham yesterday where a cloudburst abruptly ended the first day's play with Gloucestershire on 33 for two from 11.1 overs. Rain the previous day left the
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Soap Watch: What a Cropper
ROY and Hayley Cropper have never been Soapland's most normal Mr and Mrs. He's a mild-mannered chap who wouldn't say boo to a goose and she's a transsexual formerly known as Harold. Now, as we know, Roy was given a date rape drug and taken to bed by that
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Move over Ms Caplin, girls need to have fun
CAROLE Caplin, the lifestyle guru who is supposed to have good taste in everything but men (remember Peter Foster?) has spoken out about her intimate relationship with Cherie Blair. She has been imparting pearls of wisdom to Cherie on matters ranging
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Hitch-hiking hound shock for tanker driver
TERRIFIED Ben the border collie hitched a 110-mile ride to the North-East after jumping on to an articulated tanker during a thunderstorm. He somehow managed to balance on an open platform behind the tanker cab for the whole of the three-hour journey
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Jail term for drug addict dealer
A DRUG dealer caught four times with amphetamines and Ecstasy was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday. Martin Jones, 37, was arrested on the streets of Bishop Auckland, Crook and Coundon, County Durham, with drugs hidden on his body, said Richard
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Airport strike threat grows with pay talks deadlocked
TALKS to avoid a strike by ground staff at the region's largest airport during the peak holiday period ended in deadlock last night. Up to 170 baggage handlers, check-in staff and despatchers at Newcastle Airport will vote within the next few days on
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Missing man is located
POLICE have found a 24-year-old man who went missing from home for almost a week. Daniel Mark Tuck, from Billingham, was located in a North hospital last night. Search teams spent six hours yesterday hunting for Mr Tuck at Wingate Quarry, in County Durham
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Young dancing champ
A YOUNG Darlington dancer has become an all-England champion in three categories. Anna Reed, seven, competed in front of hundreds of people at the Peacock Theatre in London's West End recently and became All England champion in the under-sevens age range
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Coroner calls jury inquest on tonsil op death
A coroner has ordered a jury inquest into the death of a young woman after a routine operation went terribly wrong. The family of Elaine Basham, 33, who died of complications after an operation to remove her tonsils and adenoids, have welcomed the unusual
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'I had to find my brother's grave'
THE legend on the headstone says simply: "A soldier of the 1939-1945 war. May, 1940." But it doesn't begin to tell the story of Private Thomas Rodgers, or the emotional quest his brother George has pursued since his death. Next year, the inscription is
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CD hope after Rose blooms in talent test
A NORTH-EAST pensioner is top of the pops after being crowned one of the country's most talented elderly popstars. Rose Bottomley, 64, from Saltburn, east Cleveland, came second in the Silver Stars Talent Contest, proving age is no barrier when it comes
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Police plea over thefts in hospital
DETECTIVES have appealed for information following the theft of hundreds of pounds from elderly patients in a North-East hospital. One woman, who has not been named, had £800 stolen from her bedside locker in Ward 44 of Darlington Memorial Hospital, as
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News in brief: Free sessions for teenagers
Free salsa aerobics sessions for teenagers are taking place at Fuller Fitness, at Cooper Hall, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, every Wednesday, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. The sessions are for those aged 13 and upwards, but under-18s must be accompanied by
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Shopping centre sold
BISHOP Auckland's newly modernised Newgate Centre has been sold on to specialist developers in an £8m deal. The new owners are the Oakgate Group, of Wetherby, one of Yorkshire's fastest growing property and investment companies. They have exchanged contracts
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Universities in pledge to root out cheating
UNIVERSITIES in the region have pledged tough measures against cheating students after it was revealed that tailor-made essays could be bought on the Internet for as little as £10 a page. The Northern Echo has managed to negotiate the purchase of a 2,500
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Smitten by a balding poet
Love Again (BBC2): Roger Roger (BBC1): Creatures Of The Black Lagoon (ITV1): "It's like a French farce," said poet Philip Larkin as the three women in his life crowded round his deathbed. Funnily enough, that was the phrase I'd jotted down earlier while
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Children on the ball about ways to tackle bullies
YOUNGSTERS are being urged to tackle bullying through their love of football. Sunderland AFC's charity, SAFCommunity, is running a summer holiday programme for children in the west of the city. As well as learning soccer skills, the youngsters take part
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Jody is missed already
ALMOST gone, but certainly not forgotten. Jody Craddock's imminent departure from Sunderland was mourned by the club's fans last night as they got an unpalatable taste of life without the defender. As Tynecastle reverberated to chants of "There's only
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Playing field patrols urged
A RESIDENT who says vandals are destroying his neighbourhood is calling on police and community wardens to step up their patrols. Eric Leeming says Darlington police are not doing enough to deal with youngsters who daub graffiti on the pavilion at Abbey
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River project gets under way
A £5.2m initiative that will revitalise the River Wear and create new jobs was launched at the weekend. The Mineral Valleys Project will make some of the river's beauty spots more accessible to the public while improving conditions for wildlife and fishing
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Trial verdict awaited
THE jury in the case of a dancefloor death at a nightclub were sent home for the night after failing to reach verdicts yesterday. Steelworker Robert Aspery, 55, is charged with the manslaughter of Mark Thirsk, 40, by punching him at De Niro's nightclub
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Rail improvement package announced
A £260m improvement package for the region's railways has been announced by the new operator of the TransPennine Express rail franchise. British-based transport giant FirstGroup, and Keolis, the largest private rail operator in France, were the preferred
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Links with slapstick classic are revealed
THE inspiration behind one of Laurel and Hardy's most famous routines has been revealed for the first time. In the Oscar-winning 1932 movie The Music Box, Stan and Ollie play delivery men trying in vain to deliver a piano to a house at the top of a long
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Death of ex-leader 'natural'
FORMER council boss Rod Hills died of natural causes, it was revealed yesterday. The finding, revealed after a post-mortem examination, means it is unlikely an inquest will be held into the circumstances in which the 57-year-old university lecturer died
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Attacks on pensioner still mystery
DETECTIVES who spent nine days investigating three severe assaults on a pensioner admitted last night that they may not have even happened. Brian Sykes, a well-known character around Darlington, was admitted to hospital in a critical condition, but managed
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Gardener finds a slippery visitor
A GARDENER had the shock of her life when she opened a shed door to be confronted by an American corn snake. The middle-aged woman, from Billingham, Teesside, found the creature on Monday morning. She immediately locked the shed door and ran to her house
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Boss's anger at congestion bill
A PLANT hire boss has received a London congestion penalty fine - for a van which has never left the North. John Laverick, who runs Laverick Plant Hire, at Moulton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, received a penalty ticket for £40 for failing to pay a
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Village's £80,000 Lottery windfall
A LIFELINE has been thrown to a remote North-East community. A grant for £80,000 from the Community Fund, which shares out money from the National Lottery, means that villagers in Boosbeck, east Cleveland will be able to renovate their village hall. All
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A gifted child - who happens to be autistic
My Family and Autism (BBC2): "WE'RE an odd bunch, but for us this is ordinary life," said 14-year-old Luke Jackson near the end of this enlightening documentary. As viewers, we're so used to programmes about people with diseases and disabilities that
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News in brief: Football fans in joint talks
SUPPORTERS of Darlington Football Club have held what were said to be "very useful" talks with their counterparts from York City. Members of the Darlington Supporters' Trust held informal discussions with their opposite numbers from Bootham Crescent.
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Writers' group in line for national award
A GROUP of Newton Aycliffe writers could be in line for an award after reaching the final of a national competition. The National Association of Writing Groups has recently drawn up a shortlist of potential winners for a competition which attracts thousands
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Sunshine hope for fun day
RESIDENTS on a Darlington estate are praying for sunshine for their first summer fun day. Lascelles Park Residents' Association has organised the event, on Saturday, August 14, for families on the estate. The event will take place between 11am and 4pm
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YMCA praised
A REVAMP of Richmond's YMCA building has rec- eived the district council's blessing. Former Richmond mayor and town and district councillor John Harris said: "This is a real investment for Richmond, for its future and for its young people."
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Protests at park scheme approval
COUNCILLORS were subjected to a torrent of abuse by outraged residents at a meeting yesterday to decide the future of Darlington's South Park. The atmosphere in the town hall council chamber became increasingly heated as proposals to build sports pitches
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Cash aid for Citizens' Advice recruitment
RECENT funding successes are helping Wear Valley Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) with a drive to recruit volunteers to train as advisors. The bureau is employing a training and recruitment worker funded by two grants, one of £14,739 from the Northern Rock
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School's fight for survival backed
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to lift the threat of closure from one of Durham's smallest schools have been given top-level backing. The Upper Weardale Task Force, which is working to reverse job losses in the area, is protesting to Durham County Council over
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Heritage days schedule
TICKETS are available for the fifth annual Darlington Heritage Open Days. The event, from September 12 to 15, includes tours of some of Darlington's landmark buildings, including the County Court, the Kings Head Hotel and Elm Ridge Methodist Church. In
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Couple scoop garden display prize
A COUPLE who are to marry soon have won a Darlington garden display competition. Kath Linskey and Lee Merritt won the first annual Victoria Embankment Front Garden competition, organised by the local Neighbourhood Watch team, on Sunday. The couple, who
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Grassroots: Crook
SUMMER ACTIVITIES: Crook Library has organised the following activities for children: Tomorrow - 1pm to 3pm, animation sessions with Steve Dales. Free. Tuesday - 2pm to 2-45pm, Harry Potter Magic Show with Martin Duffy, children under-five must be accompanied
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Firm fined £1,000 after waste enters sewer
A CIRCUIT board company was fined £1,000 yesterday after an "unfortunate accident" caused waste to filter through a public sewer. Faraday Printed Circuits, of Washington, Wearside, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to failing to comply with Northumbrian
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News in brief: Free sessions for teenagers
Free salsa aerobics sessions for teenagers are taking place at Fuller Fitness, at Cooper Hall, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, every Wednesday, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. The sessions are for those aged 13 and upwards, but under-18s must be accompanied by
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Blaze which destroyed disused factory 'suspicious'
A LARGE blaze which destroyed a disused caravan factory is being treated as suspicious. Specialist police and firefighting teams have mounted a joint investigation into the fire at the former Elddis works, in Delves Lane, on the outskirts of Consett,
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Mother's plea after alcohol tragedy
A MOTHER has backed calls for alcohol to carry health warnings after her son drank himself to death at 24. Craig Evans was taken to his local pub by his mother for his first pint - and went into terminal decline from that moment. The once-promising student
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Comment: Slow progress, could do better
FOR a man who has spent most of the past year under sustained attack, Tony Blair did not appear yesterday to be a man under mortal pressure. It must be the beaches of Barbados beckoning. With consummate ease, he dodged all the main questions, saying that
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Newcastle second in the money league
THE annual review of football finances by analysts Deloitte and Touche has painted a mixed picture for the North-East's sides. Newcastle United was the second most profitable club across all four divisions, based on accounts for the season 2001/2002,
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Appeal for youngsters to join run
CHILDREN'S charity Barnardo's, which runs 40 services in the region, is seeking people to join the Junior Great North Run. The event, on September 20, at Gateshead Stadium, will include a party with several top bands performing and will be filmed by Children's
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Anti-crime project is commended
A NORTH-EAST project aimed at helping young offenders has been singled out for acclaim in this year's National Crime Awards. The Phoenix Project, nominated by Dr Gitika Banerjee, last year's High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear, was commended for its outstanding
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Chloe in the hot seat as Jacques VIilleneuve's test car makes a visit
TWO firms celebrated their 21st anniversaries by holding a Formula One day for motor racing fans, while raising cash for a children's hospice. First Stop tyre dealer Town and Country Tyres, in Grangetown, put Jacques Villeneuve's BAR Honda test car on
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Jody is missed already
ALMOST gone, but certainly not forgotten. Jody Craddock's imminent departure from Sunderland was mourned by the club's fans last night as they got an unpalatable taste of life without the defender. As Tynecastle reverberated to chants of "There's only
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Judges are impressed by church
A CHURCH in Hartlepool has reached the final of a national competition. St Hilda's is one of 12 churches to make it through to the final of the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group's (EIG) national Search For A Church competition. The competition was open to
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More work on link road
THE latest disruption to the A66 caused by work on the South Stockton Link road will begin next Thursday. The second stage of the major roadworks programme began last January and future works will affect the A66 between the A135 Yarm Road Interchange
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New course established for the blind
A NEW course for people who are newly diagnosed as blind or partially sighted is available in Stockton. Independence Plus looks at all aspects of coping, as well as giving information on benefits and finance. The course is run by the physical and sensory
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News in brief: Free sessions for teenagers
Free salsa aerobics sessions for teenagers are taking place at Fuller Fitness, at Cooper Hall, Witton Gilbert, near Durham, every Wednesday, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm. The sessions are for those aged 13 and upwards, but under-18s must be accompanied by
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News in brief: Roads closed during festival
THERE will be temporary road closures in Stockton town centre from today until Sunday, due to the Riverside Festival. The High Street will be closed to traffic from 11.30am to 1.30pm today, and from 6pm to midnight tomorrow. The A135 Riverside Road will
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Armed police find toy after gun alert
ARMED police surrounded a house yesterday after reports that an armed squatter was inside, but six hours later they found the home empty except for a toy gun. Police went to the house in Burtonstone Lane, York, at 11.40am after receiving reports about
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Safety scheme views sought
THE people of Thirsk are being consulted about a scheme to improve road safety in the town centre area. The project involves Finkle Street and the area in and around the Market Place where there have been 17 personal injury accidents in the past five
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Move over Ms Caplin, girls need to have fun
CAROLE Caplin, the lifestyle guru who is supposed to have good taste in everything but men (remember Peter Foster?) has spoken out about her intimate relationship with Cherie Blair. She has been imparting pearls of wisdom to Cherie on matters ranging
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Robot Wars joy for creative youngsters
CREATIVE youngsters will come face-to-face with their mechanical monster heroes, after winning a design competition. The three boys and their parents won an all-expenses paid trip to see the filming of the next series of the hit BBC TV show, Robot Wars
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Festival-goers get into the carnival spirit
PERFORMERS from across the world are heading to the region for one of Britain's biggest arts events of the year. The second phase of the 16th Stockton International Riverside Festival opens today with street performers, musicians and artists ready to
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Mayor speaks against plan
THE Mayor of Ripon spoke out on behalf of protesting residents who have petitioned and written letters opposing a controversial plan to demolish 22 garages and replace them with seven homes. Councillor David Parnaby was given special permission to address
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Approval for waste disposal plant
AN 800-name petition has failed to stop controversial plans for a waste management site. Richmondshire District Council's environment and planning committee gave the go-ahead for the site at a meeting on Tuesday. The facility will be built on an area
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John North: The finest fare - and no porky pies
PALATES refreshed after a short and voluntary abstinence, Durham County Halliers Niall Benson and Phil Mill have again got their teeth into The Good Pie Guide, a website close to the column's heart. Consider, they suggest, the extraordinary success of
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Shopping centre boss in the chair
THE manager of a shopping centre has taken over as chairman of a civic and trade promotion body. Richard Toynbee, manager of Durham's Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, has been named as the chairman of the Durham City Forum. He was introduced to members
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Practice makes perfect at Severfield-Rowen
STEELWORK group Severfield-Rowen is undertaking a £2.4m trial run in preparation for building the roof of Terminal Five, at Heathrow Airport, near London. The trial is taking place at its headquarters at Dalton Airfield Industrial Estate, near Thirsk,
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Villagers help to fund play area
YOUNGSTERS will soon be able to have a place to play after villagers rallied round to raise almost £50,000 for a new park. The small community of Stanley Crook pulled together to raise £46,432 to provide somewhere safe for the village children to play
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Council warning
THE number of homes repossessed fell by more than a third during the first half of the year. But the Council of Mortgage Lenders warned there was no room for complacency, with consumers taking on increasingly high levels of debt and interest rates expected
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Treble chance for Johnston
THERE'S no getting away from Mark Johnston's dominance at Glorious Goodwood, where he has once again proved to be the punters' pal over the past couple of days, leading the trainer's table with three winners. Never a man to rest on his laurels, it is
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Striker Robinson wins Pool deal
NEALE Cooper last night signed his second striker of the close season with the capture of Paul Robinson. The former Newcastle and Darlington striker, 24, impressed since joining Hartlepool United on trial and Tuesday's goal at Berwick was his third in
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Friends raise charity cash
A GROUP of friends who raise hundreds of pounds for charity every year have handed over their latest donation to a service supporting children with special educational needs. Just Friends are 20 women from the Spennymoor area who get together because
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Firm fined £1,000 after waste enters sewer
A CIRCUIT board company was fined £1,000 yesterday after an "unfortunate accident" caused waste to filter through a public sewer. Faraday Printed Circuits, of Washington, Wearside, pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court to failing to comply with Northumbrian
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Village gets set for its 150th show
A VILLAGE show that almost folded two years ago because of the foot-and-mouth crisis will reach a milestone next month. Sedgefield celebrates its 150th show on Saturday, August 9, at the Robert Brown Showfield in West Park. Volunteers have been working
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Contest sows seeds of success
A COUPLE who are soon to be married have won a Darlington garden competition. Kath Linskey and Lee Merritt won the first Victoria Embankment front garden competition, organised by the Neighbourhood Watch team. The couple, who plan to marry on September
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Going back to the roots of medicine
FOR thousands of years, knowledge of the medicinal uses of plants was prized and people who held the knowledge were thought special, even magical. Before the development of modern medicine, the sick had nowhere to turn for practical help except to the
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Lucky 13th for charity golfer
THE 13th anniversary of a charity golf match proved lucky for one player, who sunk the competition's first ever hole-in-one. Golfer Craig Donaldson achieved the rare feat at the WaterAid Pro-Am charity golf match, held recently at Castle Eden Golf Club
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Welcome for the first lady
SURFING expert Alix Gladders has decided to work with a different kind of board. The 20-year-old has become the first female joinery apprentice with Coast and Country Housing. Ms Gladders, runner up in the Saltburn Ladies Open, is one of six joinery apprentices
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What a Cropper
ROY and Hayley Cropper have never been Soapland's most normal Mr and Mrs. He's a mild-mannered chap who wouldn't say boo to a goose and she's a transsexual formerly known as Harold. Now, as we know, Roy was given a date rape drug and taken to bed by that
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Tide favours North-East as shipyard names date ...
THE first ship to be built on the Tyne for almost a decade is due to be officially named tomorrow. The Swan Hunter shipyard, in Wallsend, North Tyneside, has completed work on the 22,000-tonne Royal Fleet Auxiliary Largs Bay amphibious landing craft.
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Appeal for youngsters to join run
CHILDREN'S charity Barnardo's, which runs 40 services in the region, is seeking people to join the Junior Great North Run. The event, on September 20, at Gateshead Stadium, will include a party with several top bands performing and will be filmed by Children's
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TV boss tipped to be agency chairman
A Television executive is favourite to be named today as the new head of the Government body tasked with regenerating the region. Margaret Fay, managing director at Tyne Tees Television, is the front runner in a three horse race to become chairman of
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Flyover death crash driver was three and a half times drink limit
A MAN who died together with his half-sister after driving on the wrong side of a dual carriageway on to the closed off section of a flyover, was more than three times over the drink-drive limit, an inquest heard yesterday. Karl Bowes, 30, who also had
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£4.5m scheme to create 800 jobs
A MULTI-million-pound investment in a former shipyard could create up to 800 jobs in the region, it was revealed last night. English Partnerships (EP) is investing £4.5m in the former shipyard at Haverton Hill, near Billingham, Teesside, safeguarding
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New hospital specialist appointed
The first of a new type of non-medical hospital specialist has been appointed in the region. Atle Karstad has become the North-East's first consultant physiotherapist. His elevation to consultant status at the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust is part
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Village's £80,000 Lottery windfall
A LIFELINE has been thrown to a remote North-East community. A grant for £80,000 from the Community Fund, which shares out money from the National Lottery, means that villagers in Boosbeck, east Cleveland will be able to renovate their village hall. All
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Joiner walks 860 miles with door on his back
A JOINER has become the first - and probably the last - person to walk the length of Britain carrying a door. Brian Walker made the 860-mile journey from Land's End to John O'Groats with the 40lb pine door strapped to his back. His journey was inspired
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Muchall knuckles down to his task
UNDER threat from the return of Martin Love, Gordon Muchall battled hard yesterday to hang on to his Durham place. With Love due back from Australia tomorrow and expected to play in Sunday's National League game, Muchall scored 65 on a truncated first
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Sorensen next out of Sunderland door
THOMAS SORENSEN was last night on the verge of a £2.25m move to Aston Villa as Sunderland's summer sale gathered momentum. With Jody Craddock expected to undergo a medical at Wolverhampton Wanderers today before completing a £1.75m switch, Sunderland
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Appeal after conman calls on woman, 84
A CONMAN attempted to burgle an almost blind woman, after talking his way into her home. The 84-year-old victim, who lives on her own and is registered blind, noticed a man waving at her from outside the rear gate of her bungalow in Blackhall, east Durham
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Blaze which destroyed disused factory 'suspicious'
A LARGE blaze which destroyed a disused caravan factory is being treated as suspicious. Specialist police and firefighting teams have mounted a joint investigation into the fire at the former Elddis works, in Delves Lane, on the outskirts of Consett,
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Sounds of the Sixties
"Only connect" said E M Forster, and this week's connection came between two events over 250 miles apart, in Eaglescliffe and Knightsbridge. Last Friday, I had the very pleasant task of compering the awards ceremony for NETA at Eaglescliffe's Oakwood
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Mother's plea after alcohol tragedy
A MOTHER has backed calls for alcohol to carry health warnings after her son drank himself to death at 24. Craig Evans was taken to his local pub by his mother for his first pint - and went into terminal decline from that moment. The once-promising student
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Juninho gives Millmoor masterclass
Juninho tormented First Division Rotherham as Middlesbrough stepped up their Premiership preparations at Millmoor last night. Rotherham simply couldn't handle the Brazilian, who scored the opening goal and created another for Doriva with a marvellous
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Prison policy changed after man's death - inquest is told
A system of caring for prison inmates recently removed from suicide watch has been abandoned after the death of a prisoner found hanged from his cell window. An inquest heard that the circumstances surrounding 20-year-old Bryan Totton's death prompted
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Minister's pledge to elderly over winter cash
PENSIONS Minister Malcolm Wicks visited the region yesterday to talk to older people about keeping warm this winter. Winter Fuel Payments of up to £200 will go to eligible people aged over age 60 to help them with fuel bills. Mr Wicks pledged the Government's
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Searches costing some househunters dear
HOUSEHUNTERS in some areas of the North are having to pay more than in others for local searches, research has shown. Fees levied by borough and district councils vary by more than 75 per cent in the region. Law firm Gordon Brown Associates, of Chester-le-Street
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Slow progress, could do better
FOR a man who has spent most of the past year under sustained attack, Tony Blair did not appear yesterday to be a man under mortal pressure. It must be the beaches of Barbados beckoning. With consummate ease, he dodged all the main questions, saying that
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News in brief: Clifftop home on the market
THE former fog-horn station at Whitby, North Yorkshire, which became a private residence in the 1990s, is on the market for £395,000. Perched on the clifftop, the property is complete with swimming pool and paddock. "This is a unique property likely to
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Three held by police over heroin find
POLICE recovered "a substantial amount" of heroin and £2,500 in cash after stopping a vehicle in the North-East. A 35-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were arrested and charged with drug supplying offences following the incident in Redcar, east Cleveland
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Pinafore ahoy to launch theatre season
THE ruler of the King's navy, in the guise of singer Mark Siney, arrived in full costume to help launch the arts season for Darlington's Civic Theatre and Arts Centre. Mark, and Carl Rosa Opera Company soprano Lesley Cox sang extracts from HMS Pinafore
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Reckless Mellanby spoils win
Darlington striker Danny Mellanby's return to action did not go according to plan last night. The 24-year-old was substituted on the advice of referee Paul Nicholson following a reckless lunge on Dunston defender Andy Snaith in the 72nd minute. Quakers
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I'll win back trust of Britain, vows Blair
Tony Blair admitted yesterday that he must win back the public's trust in the wake of the Iraq intelligence row which led to the death of Government scientist David Kelly. The Prime Minister faced tough questions over the war and Dr Kelly's suicide at
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Cruelty case man can keep reptiles
A REPTILE collector has been allowed to keep his large collection of exotic pets despite being convicted of causing them unnecessary suffering by housing them in a "ramshackle barn". At the end of a trial that has cost £30,000, Colin Shaw was convicted
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Competition prize is just dandy for budding cartoonist
BEANO comic artists are to teach an 11-year-old cartoonist tricks of the trade. Ben Nightingale, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has won the chance to work with artists from two children's comics, the Beano and the Dandy, after he submitted a cartoon
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31/07/03
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: I READ with great interest your comment on the Tony Martin case (Echo, Jul 29). I wholeheartedly agree that it is the criminal justice system and poor law enforcement which is letting us all down. In a smaller vein, the problem with
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Last Night's TV: A gifted child - who happens to be autistic
My Family and Autism (BBC2): "WE'RE an odd bunch, but for us this is ordinary life," said 14-year-old Luke Jackson near the end of this enlightening documentary. As viewers, we're so used to programmes about people with diseases and disabilities that
