Archive
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Blaze man saved by new alarm
A MAN was pulled to safety from his blazing flat - just two weeks after a smoke alarm was installed. Neighbours were alerted by the sound of the alarm, which was fitted in the property in Essex Close, Redcar, east Cleveland, during a community safety
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Three peaks challenged by fundraisers
THE director of an opticians has completed a mountain challenge to save the sight of people in developing countries. Stephen Thomas, of Specsavers Opticians, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, along with a group of five friends, made up one of 30 teams
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Wife accused of killing husband
A WOMAN accused of murdering her husband appeared in court yesterday, alongside her co-accused nephew. Christina Button and Simon Tannahill are accused of killing council worker George Button, 53, who died two days after being found on a roadside verge
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Smart Kuqi's a winner
SUNDERLAND target Shefki Kuqi inflicted an embarrassing defeat on Newcastle in a see-saw encounter at Hillsborough last night. The Magpies came from behind to lead 3-1, but three goals in 11 second-half minutes earned Chris Turner's Wednesday a dramatic
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Anger over match cars misery
A PARKING system to ease potential misery for people living near Darlington Football Club's new stadium will not be in place for the start of the season, The Northern Echo can reveal. The club was obliged to fund a parking permit scheme for residents
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They're no angels
WITH monkey-faced Robbie Williams plastered all over TV at the moment there seems to be a strong counter-argument to week-long series Nobody Likes A Smartass (BBC2). My wife initially groaned at the idea of watching celebrity know-alls, but was soon hooting
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£300,000 damages for botched operation
A MOTHER-OF-TWO has been awarded £300,000 in damages after a hysterectomy operation went wrong. Julie Theasby, 36, of Hartlepool, received the money in an out-of-court settlement. Mrs Theasby complained she suffered pain and injury following the operation
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Blues event promises to be top weekend
A FORMER North-East pit town will take centre stage today as thousands of music fans head for its annual blues festival. The free event, at Stanley, in County Durham, is in its 11th year. Last year, it attracted a record 15,000 crowd to the marquee on
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Rail speed record joy for N-E firm
A COMPANY from the North-East has helped smash the UK rail speed record. The Channel Tunnel Eurostar train accelerated to 208mph on Wednesday, destroying the previous record of 162.2mph reached in 1979. That brought smiles all round to a team of engineers
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Gardening: The thrill of sitting in the big blue chair
NO one will know just how frightening yet exciting this week has been, except for myself and one or two very close people. It's not that I have been anywhere exotic and dangerous or taken part in gravity-defying sporting activities. I haven't deviated
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Store bequeathed to staff is put up for sale
A TRADITIONAL department store, whose late owner left it to his loyal workforce, is up for sale and could fetch £1.5m. Philip Hall's store in Fishergate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, was founded by Quaker John Phillipson Hall 53 years ago. He died, aged 87
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Onlytime Will Tell is fired up
Don't be surprised if 25-1 shot Onlytime Will Tell upsets his more fancied stable-mate Fire Up The Band (5-1) in this afternoon's Stewards' Cup. As usual, leading sprint trainer David Nicholls handler goes in mob-handed for the £100,000 feature, but it
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Ruthless Harper triumphs
Local Golf: JAMES Harper has revealed how a ruthless approach finally gave him his first head-to-head victory over close friend and Seaton stablemate Hugh Hamilton and earned him the coveted Durham County Matchplay Championship. Harper finally broke his
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Hero set to answer Test call
DURHAM were last night waiting to see whether Shoaib Akhtar would be put under pressure to return to Pakistan for a three-Test series against Bangladesh. After originally giving him permission to miss the series, the Pakistan Cricket Board have now asked
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Title contenders look to seize chance
Durham Coast League: There is a double programme during the weekend, giving the opportunity to the four leading contestants for the championship to pull away from their rivals. Murton have an eleven-point lead over Hylton and are 21 points in front of
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Rescue hero finds a growing interest
A PARTIALLY paralysed man, who was commended for his bravery in saving two lives, has spearheaded efforts to create a Japanese-style garden at a residential home. Dave Kirwan, of Darlington Lions Club, has devoted his time to creating the feature at Rockcliffe
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Fishwick to miss crucial Tudhoe clash
Readers' Durham County League: "Whoever loses today's game will almost certainly be out of the race for the championship," claimed Tudhoe secretary David Linford ahead of the visit of Kimblesworth. "We have played the same number of matches and are five
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Just like old times at Swan Hunter
THE first ship to be built on the River Tyne for a decade was named yesterday, in front of thousands of people celebrating the return of shipbuilding to Tyneside. Lady West, wife of First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Alan West, performed the honours at the rejuvenated
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Shoaib rockets Durham to a stunning success
TWO blistering spells by Shoaib Akhtar yesterday bowled Durham to their most extraordinary win in first-class cricket. The Rawalpindi Express accelerated out of the previous day's rickshaw mode with two electrifying bursts of four wickets in 15 balls.
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Comment: Seeking a fair deal for fans
WE shed no tears for Manchester United, the Football Association and the sports retailers who have been fined by the Office of Fair Trading. Total fines of £18.5m reflect the seriousness of the price fixing arrangements in which they were engaged. They
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The thrill of sitting in the big blue chair
NO one will know just how frightening yet exciting this week has been, except for myself and one or two very close people. It's not that I have been anywhere exotic and dangerous or taken part in gravity-defying sporting activities. I haven't deviated
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Wor Jackie's glory boots to go under the hammer
THE legendary boots that fired Newcastle United to three FA Cup final victories are to go under the hammer. Geordie hero Jackie Milburn wore the same battered pair throughout most of his career as a striker for Newcastle and England. The former coal miner
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Don't let grumpy grown ups tidy children away
An estimated 1,000 children in the region will be celebrating National Playday next week. A fun-packed day of outdoor activities is promised at Redesdale Court, Trimdon Grange, County Durham, on Wednesday. The theme for the event is Get Out and Play and
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Bargains for budget travellers
THE region's budget flight market has heated up with the launch of three services from Newcastle and the promise of more to follow. EasyJet routes from Newcastle to Paris, Prague and Bristol were launched yesterday, with travellers receiving a rousing
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Arriva back on track - in Wales
ARRIVA has been selected to run new services in Wales - the day after its successor for the Transpennine Express franchise was named. The North-East transport company is the preferred bidder for the Wales and Borders franchise, the Strategic Rail Authority
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At the cutting edge
North-East style is on its way to London as a hairdressing salon competes for a national award. Sarah-Jane Green and Darren Thacker, who own Evolution, in The Square, Sedgefield, County Durham, will attend the British Hairdresser of the Year event in
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Juninho masterminds Doriva arrival
JUNINHO'S value to Middlesbrough has been underlined by the arrival of long-time friend Doriva. The Brazilians are contemporaries from their early days in football in Sao Paulo. And it was Juninho's recommendation that brought about Doriva's initial spell
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Family doctor's porn shame
A FAMILY doctor has admitted making obscene pictures of young children. To his patients in an affluent suburb, Dr Peter Finklestone, 39, was a trusted and popular GP. He was known for his love of Doctor Who and spent his spare time restoring old episodes
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Stars out for village clash
MILES away from the pressures of the Lords Test match, some of the world's best cricketers have been bowling over village cricket crowds with a sparkling display. Six former internationals turned out for a game at Etherley Cricket Club to support the
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Project to make good citizens
A SCHEME to encourage young arsonists and other children to become model citizens is to be launched by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service. The brigade plans to hold training days later this year to teach young people firefighting skills
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Work to improve town centre given priority
THE continued enhancement of Spennymoor town centre is among this year's priorities for Sedgefield Borough Council's regeneration team. Improving conditions in the borough's disadvantaged neighbourhoods is also included in a list of schemes. The total
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Running to say thank you
A HEART attack victim is planning to take part in a charity race to raise money for the hospital unit that cared for him. Father-of-two Peter Stemmer was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after suffering a heart attack last Easter. He was transferred
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Football club in battle to survive
PLEDGES and donations have taken a football club's fundraising drive past the half way point. Evenwood Town could be dropped from the Northern League at the end of the month unless it can raise £4,000 towards the £40,000 cost of new floodlights. League
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Scheme to make good citizens
A SCHEME to encourage young arsonists and other children to become model citizens is to be launched by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service. The brigade plans to hold training days later this year to teach young people firefighting skills
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Call for strict scrutiny of waste composting scheme
A PARISH council is calling for a strict environmental assessment before plans for composting biodegradable waste are discussed. Eldon Parish Council has expressed concerns about the control of noise, dust and odour if proposals by Eldon Hall Farm are
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Top level backing for recycling campaign
PRIME Minister Tony Blair gave his support to a national recycling campaign during a recent visit to his Sedgefield constituency. Mr Blair endorsed the Rethink Rubbish campaign, which encourages people to recycle household waste. He visited residents
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Youngsters slap out justice to villain - with shaving foam pies
DETECTIVE work by a group of children led to a sticky end for the villain. Project worker Richard Townend found himself covered in shaving cream, launched on paper plates by young sleuths. They ambushed him after following a trail of clues to identify
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400 make pilgrimage to join fellowship's summer camp
HUNDREDS of people have made the pilgrimage to a North Yorkshire farm this week where the Hollybush Christian Fellowship is hosting its summer camp. Up to 400 people of all ages have been enjoying a programme which includes serious debate and discussion
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Pensioner admits sex assault
AN elderly man who befriended a schoolgirl and then sexually assaulted her walked free from court yesterday. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Donald Anderson, 70, tried to entice the 13-year-old to his home for sweets and drinks over a number of weeks.
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Model citizens scheme launched
A SCHEME to encourage young arsonists and other children to become model citizens is to be launched by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service. The brigade plans to hold training days later this year to teach young people firefighting skills
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I rest my case with the tummy Taliban
WANDERING around Britain in the summertime can set you to wondering whether the Taliban did, in fact, have something going for them. The Taliban, you may remember, were the Afghan regime that we hated until our venom was turned on Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath
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Market place discussions
THE market places in Pickering and Helmsley are coming under the spotlight of North Yorkshire County Council's highways department. At Pickering, a meeting will be held between police, the county council, Ryedale District and Pickering town councils and
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More cash for gully cleaning
THE 37,000 road gullies in York are to be given an additional clean each year after extra money was allocated to the highways department. An additional £20,000 will be added to the city council's budget to ensure that all the gullies along city centre
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New role for auction house
AN auction house will be taking on a larger role as part of a reorganisation within its parent company. Sotheby's has established offices in Montpellier Parade, Harrogate. From yesterday, the branch became the company's administrative centre for the North
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Limit set on bulk waste collections
A COUNCIL is about to introduce limits on the amount of waste that will be collected by its bulky waste collection service. The policy by Sunderland City Council, to take effect on September 1, will also set a ceiling on the number of bulky collections
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Grassroots: Chester-le-Street, Birtley and District
Jazz Night: Jazz fans will be entertained by the Vieux Carre Jazzmen from 8pm to 11pm on Thursday, at Birtley St Joseph's CMS Club and Parish Centre. Tickets are £2. Library Points: Birtley Library is holding a points means prizes summer challenge throughout
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Hotel celebrates
STAFF at a North-East hotel are celebrating its first anniversary. The Sleep Inn, an 84-bedroom hotel and conference centre, is located at junction 59 of the A1M at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. General manager Richard Summerfield said the hotel had
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Fair offers a trip into the past
A GEORGIAN country fair will be recreated in the North-East this month. The event takes place at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, next Saturday and Sunday. Typical early 1800s-style entertainers will be performing, including a fire-eater and a Northumbrian
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For Your Benefit: What will I be entitled to?
Q At 57 I will soon have to stop work because of arthritis. What can I claim? The system is a mystery to me. I have £18,000 in savings and will qualify for a works pension of about £2,000 a year. A Your savings are too high for you to get means-tested
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Family tied up by armed raiders
A FAMILY were tied up in their home by raiders who threatened them with a shotgun before stealing cash and jewellery. The middle-aged couple and their daughter were left very distressed in the second armed raid on people in their homes in North Yorkshire
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Young players prepare for cup final clash
YOUNG footballers are set to battle it out in Stockton Borough Council's community wardens' cup final next week. Rockcliffe Park, Middlesbrough FC's training ground at Hurworth, near Darlington, will play host to youngsters aged between ten and 14 from
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Congregation goes home at last. . .
A church congregation returns to its spiritual home this weekend for the first time since Easter. Contractors have been installing a new heating system and new wiring at the St Joseph and St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church, in Newbiggin, Richmond
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Advice at hand for crime-fear residents
HOUSEHOLDERS living in fear of crime are being urged to seek help by taking advantage of drop-in advice sessions. Victim Support project worker Chris Paul attends Belle Vue Community Sports and Youth Centre every Thursday, from 11am to 1pm, as part of
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Hamilton makes successful return
Yorkshire Day did not exactly turn out to be Yorkshire's day at Cheltenham yesterday but it was a memorable one for Gavin Hamilton, who was playing in his first Championship match for almost 14 months. A complete breakdown in his confidence as a bowler
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Royal award for village hall
THE Quaking Houses Village Hall Association has won a Queen's Golden Jubilee Award. A certificate signed by the Queen and commemorative piece of crystal were presented to committee members by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Sir Paul Nicholson. Honorary
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Mr Dale's Diary
WHEN Luke Casey was working for BBC's Nationwide in London while still living in the North-East, his colleagues in the capital would ask him, "what's it like up there?". He didn't mince his words. "I always said, 'it's dreadful, shocking, you don't want
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Whale of a time
Children are being guaranteed a whale of a time at the third Saltburn Swashbuckle annual event tomorrow, from 10am to 5pm. One of the attractions is an 18-metre inflatable whale to be situated in the town's Valley Gardens. Actors will play the parts of
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The roads to happy motoring
THE region's roads are simply smiles ahead when it comes to putting a grin on the face of Britain's normally frustrated motorists. For a survey to find the nation's favourite roads crowned the unclassified Buttertubs Pass, between Muker and Hawes, in
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Inquiry call over housing scheme
A CALL has been made for the district auditor to investigate a council's bid to transfer its 13,000 council houses to a newly-formed housing group. Middlesbrough Council chief executive Brian Dinsdale recently announced there would be no consultation
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Community wins £80,000 Lottery award
A community has been awarded a National Lottery grant of £80,000. Boosbeck, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, has received the grant from the Lottery's Community Fund. The money will be spent on refurbishing the community centre. Kathleen Jackson, from the
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Young actors given a grant aid boost
GRANTS are helping a group of young actors stage a show and get a new image. Willington Youth Theatre is the new name for the Willington Youth Project, which was founded in 1999. The group has also lowered its minimum age from 11 to eight. Grants of £8,590
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Nuisance neighbours evicted
NUISANCE neighbours were evicted from two council houses on the Branksome estate in Darlington yesterday. Council officers attended the homes in Malvern Crescent, off Jedburgh Drive, at lunchtime and evicted a family from one and a male occupant from
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In The Picture: Mr Dale's Diary
WHEN Luke Casey was working for BBC's Nationwide in London while still living in the North-East, his colleagues in the capital would ask him, "what's it like up there?". He didn't mince his words. "I always said, 'it's dreadful, shocking, you don't want
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Shop owner pens anthem to dale
MEMORIES of visiting and living in Upper Teesdale have inspired a businesswoman to write an anthem in tribute to its charms. Middleton-in-Teesdale shop owner Judith Owston wrote the music and lyrics of Song for Upper Teesdale, which has been unveiled
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Toddler sets house on fire
TODDLER Jak Reed proved big trouble comes in little bundles when he burned down his home a week before his second birthday. The youngster was in his playpen when his mother, Christina, left the room for a few seconds. He clambered out of the pen took
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Broadband campaign is successful
A CAMPAIGN to bring broadband Internet to Sedgefield and surrounding villages has been successful. More than 350 people have registered an interest in the service - the "trigger level" target set by BT before the Sedgefield exchange could be enabled.
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Strategy to tackle waste unveiled
A NEW strategy to tackle the management of waste and Yorkshire's growing rubbish mountain was unveiled yesterday. Minister for the Environment Elliot Morley and Yorkshire and Humber MEP Diane Wallis spoke at a meeting to launch the first Yorkshire and
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Funding setback to hall campaign
THE refusal of a £2.5m grant to help restore a historic landmark has been described as a "bitter blow" by those fighting to save it. Regional development ag-ency Yorkshire Forward has said it will not be helping to fund the £14.5m restoration proposals
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Man jailed for arson attack
A man was jailed yesterday for an arson attack on a house that caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage. Antony Murphy, 24, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and admitted the fire attack at a bedsit in Peel Street in March. Rachel Hedworth, prosecuting
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Two hurt in glider crash
TWO people were taken to hospital yesterday after their glider crash-landed in a field and hit a stone wall. A man was cut from the wreckage by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Brigade. The glider came down in the area of Brimham Rocks, between Ripon
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Man locked up for child porn after tip-off from ex-girlfriend
A FORMER soldier caught with pornographic images of girls as young as five was jailed for 12 months yesterday. Trevor MacPherson, 29, was reported to police by his former girlfriend in North Yorkshire, who handed over his computer, which contained 550
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Paceman Hoggard on comeback trail
Matthew Hoggard begins the fight to win back his Test place by playing for Yorkshire Seconds in their three-day Championship match against Warwickshire Seconds at Walmley next Tuesday. It will be the Yorkshire and England fast bowler's first appearance
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Rail users attack plan to review line maintenance
RAIL campaigners in the North-East reacted angrily last night after proposals to slash maintenance on branch lines to enhance busier routes were revealed. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) believes maintenance - and therefore services - should be prioritised
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Lenders stand behind Corus
STEELMAKER Corus yesterday secured its immediate financial future after agreeing an £837m three-year credit facility with lenders. The long awaited deal will replace a £964m facility, which runs out in January, and will come as a huge relief to Corus
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At Yor Service: Whorlton and peace
WHORLTON appears to have gone downhill all the way. There are the ruins of a 14th century castle of the sort in which Lord Snooty and his pals once lived, the remains of a lovely old church to which a certain scandal is attached, and not much else at
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02/08/03
NEW LABOUR: BECAUSE of her left wing views, it came as no surprise when Clare Short left the Government, nor would it be surprising if she left the Labour Party. Miss Short would be far more comfortable in Arthur Scargill's Socialist Party. At the last
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Rivals battle for third
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: Sunderland and Stockton will be battling it out for the chance to finish the season in third position when they meet at Ashbrooke this morning. It looks as if the top two places are out of bounds since
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Girls guard baby seal for hours
TWO girls spent four hours on Redcar beach to protect a stranded baby seal from being hurt by dogs. Sam Clark, eight, and her sister Becky, seven, from Ely Crescent, Redcar, were walking on the beach near the town's Green Lane End with their older sister
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Student taps out title
A CLOG-dancing student has tapped her way to a top title in a folk competition. A-Level student Rebecca Metcalf, 17, from Ushaw Moor, won the Northern County Championships in clog dancing, which took place in Durham on Sunday. The championships, were
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News in brief: Fourth award for college
Darlington College of Technology has won a gold award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, for its health and safety record, for the fourth consecutive year. The college was one of a handful of educational institutions to receive the
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Yorkshire day tribute to explorer and most-loved hero
FOR explorer Captain James Cook, topping a poll to find Yorkshire's most-loved hero was plain sailing. The labourer's son from Marton, Middlesbrough, beat authoress Charlotte Bronte, pioneering Amy Johnson and Sir Len Hutton in the Millennium poll. Yesterday
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Teenager's death sparks battle for road crossing
THE grieving family of a 16-year-old girl who died after a road accident are campaigning for a crossing to ensure such a tragedy never happens again. Sarah Temple died in June, two days after being hit by two cars on the A167, near the Gretna Green pub
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Labour's disrepute charge in pay row
A Labour councillor who branded a £1,000 pay rise "immoral'' has been charged with bringing the party into disrepute. But Durham county councillor Paul Trippett, a friend and staunch supporter of Sedgefield MP and Prime Minister Tony Blair, says he is
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No letting up for Hood
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League: Captain Martin Hood claims Redcar are not getting carried away despite being hot on the heels of leaders Guisborough. Just eight points separate the teams as the Seasiders attempt to win the championship
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Council staff on award list
STAFF at a North-East council have been shortlisted for a national award. Darlington Borough Council's public relations team was praised for its campaign work promoting postal voting during the May local elections. A total of 38,000 people in the town
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Post office raider jailed for five years
A 23-YEAR-old man who took part in a post office raid was jailed for five years yesterday. Paul Solomon, who was linked to the crime by a finger-print he left at the scene, admitted robbery when he appeared for sentence at Durham Crown Court. Geoff Taylor
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Major works on A19 start Monday
WORK to resurface one of the region's busiest trunk roads starts on Monday. The work will be carried out on the A19 between Norton and the Parkway, Teesside, in as many as nine phases, some of which may only take a day or two to complete. In total, the
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Many happy returns for war-weary troops
THERE were some happy reunions at the British Army's largest garrison yesterday when about 100 soldiers returned home from Iraq. Gunner Zoe Wood of the Royal Artillery was among those reunited with her family, including daughter Sian, after six weeks
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News in brief: Man snared in porn swoop
A MAN who was snared by police as part of an international crackdown on child pornography appeared in court yesterday. Kenneth Elrick, 38, entered guilty pleas to 12 charges of downloading indecent images of children between May and December 2001. Newcastle
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Football shirts 'rip-off' gets boot
FOOTBALL fans were celebrating last night after the Office of Fair Trading signalled the end of deals which fix the price of replica shirts. The OFT yesterday handed out fines totalling £18.6m to a group of leading sports retailers, Manchester United
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Stately home away from home for pensioner Ena
HOLIDAY trends may come and go, but for pensioner Ena Boagey there is really only one place she would like to be. The delights of Spain, France or Florida may suite some, but when it comes to getting away from it all there is no place quite like North
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Tait delight as Quakers sign striker Robson
Darlington manager Mick Tait has secured his second signing of the summer with the capture of former Blyth striker Glen Robson. The 25-year-old has signed a one-year deal with Quakers after impressing on trial, scoring three goals in two appearances.
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'Intimidation' claim in airport pay row
AIRPORT workers threatening to strike over a pay dispute branded their employers "intimidating" last night after the company warned they could lose their jobs over the walk-out. About 170 check-in staff who work for ground handling agent Groundstar at
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Feathers fly as parrot thief strikes
A MASKED thief nearly met his match when he stole two parrots in a daring raid yesterday. The balaclava-clad man grabbed the African Grey and Orange Winged Amazon birds after threatening staff at Darlington Aquatics and Pets. But he reckoned without 60
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Rivals dance to the Rhythm
THIS season's top filly, Russian Rhythm (3.05), is impossible to oppose in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes on the final day of Glorious Goodwood, even though she is unproven over a mile-and-a-quarter. Sir Michael Stoute's charge opened her campaign with a silky-smooth
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Pool left to ponder Shearer's mastery
THE Master well and truly showed the apprentice a thing or three at Victoria Park last night. Newcastle United's legendary striker Alan Shearer grabbed a 36-minute first-half hat-trick to help the Premiership title contenders to a comfortable 6-0 victory
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Boy's funeral
The funeral took place yesterday of a 15-year-old boy who was pulled from a burning skip. Michael Temperley died hours after he was rescued by firefighters from the skip on the Team Valley Industrial Estate, Gateshead, last month. The funeral was held
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Street performer 'abused by US troops'
A British man arrested by US troops in Iraq while searching for his young daughter said last night he was treated like a terrorist suspect. At one point, Michael Todd, 33, said he thought he was going to be killed as the lights went out where he was being
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In My View: They're no angels
WITH monkey-faced Robbie Williams plastered all over TV at the moment there seems to be a strong counter-argument to week-long series Nobody Likes A Smartass (BBC2). My wife initially groaned at the idea of watching celebrity know-alls, but was soon hooting
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K Home Engineering gets highest calibre recruits
A TEESSIDE engineering firm is forging ahead with a major contract in the Middle East thanks to its partnership with a local recruitment agency. K Home Engineering, of Thornaby, was helped by Middlesbrough's Calibre Recruitment to sign up nearly 40 engineers
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Reunion joy for Chernobyl orphans
There was an emotional moment as two Chernobyl orphans were reunited after years apart. A cuddle and a kiss sealed the amazing get-together for brother and sister Slava and Tatiana Marcello, who thought they would never meet again. They were separated
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Constables' threat to quit in radios row
SPECIAL constables are threatening to leave a police force because they are being sent out on duty without radios. Some part-time officers said they were going into dangerous situations with only their personal mobile phones to call for help. Others said
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Burglars jailed as judge says thieves 'steal jobs'
A JUDGE struck a blow yesterday for businesses struggling to survive against thefts from their premises when he jailed three factory burglars. The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, said that the cost of providing security protection from thieves
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One sculpture went to mow . . .
AN exhibition set among the gardens of a visitor attraction in the North-East has opened to the public. Hidden in the walled gardens of Crook Hall, Durham City, are pieces of artwork that range from large wooden sculptures to small-scale clay items. The
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Recycling roadshow
A MECHANICAL rubbish bin and a huge aluminium can wrapped around a tree are part of council officials' efforts to raise awareness of an environmental scheme. Darlington Borough Council's Rethink Rubbish Roadshow will visit the Market Square on Monday.
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Former staff resurrect gym
A WOMEN-ONLY gym in Darlington which went into liquidation is to reopen under the management of two former members of staff. First Step 2 Fitness will occupy the former Peppermint Park gym in Victoria Road. Susan Spinks and Karen Kenney, former employees
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Soccer club's survival fight
PLEDGES and donations have taken a football club's fundraising drive past the half way point. Evenwood Town could be dropped from the Northern League at the end of the month unless it can raise £4,000 towards the £40,000 cost of new floodlights. League
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Village blocks of flats rejected
AN application to build two blocks of flats in a village near Darlington has been rejected by councillors. Clarion Homes' application for 18 flats in two three-storey buildings at the former Ernest Bennett factory, in Middleton St George, was refused
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Trust services praised
THE public have helped health chiefs improve local services by taking part in a survey. The first patient survey undertaken by Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) was sent to 850 people and almost half that number responded. The aim of the survey was
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Broadband campaign is successful
A CAMPAIGN to bring broadband Internet to Sedgefield and surrounding villages has been successful. More than 350 people have registered an interest in the service - the "trigger level" target set by BT before the Sedgefield exchange could be enabled.
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International drugs baron in jail at last as his luck runs out
THE charmed life of an international drugs baron and supergrass from the North-East is over. Brian Charrington, 46, has been jailed for seven years in Frankfurt, Germany, for conspiring to fraudulently evade the prohibition on the importation of cocaine
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School's upgrading nearing completion
NEW facilities are nearing completion at a Sedgefield school. The work will provide Sedgefield Community College with an information, communication and technology suite, a multi-gym extension and a new community entrance. The school, which teaches children
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News in brief: Fourth award for college
Darlington College of Technology has won a gold award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, for its health and safety record, for the fourth consecutive year. The college was one of a handful of educational institutions to receive the
