Archive
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Study tackles ageism
A GROUP supporting older people in Darlington is analysing the results of an age discrimination survey. A working group made up of members of Growing Older Living in Darlington (Gold) carried out the study. The group will now work with the council, Darlington
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Magistrates' Court Hearings
The following cases were heard by South Durham magistrates sitting in Darlington yesterday. VIOLENCE CHARGE: Darren Sheen, 24, of Haughton Road, Darlington, was charged with using or threatening unlawful violence and damaging a car windscreen. The case
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£70,000 cash raiders flee down little-known route
Masked robbers knocked a security guard to the ground and snatched more than £70,000 as he was carrying the cash into a bank in a market town yesterday. They struck quickly in the early hours after a Securicor van pulled up on a small darkened access
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Victorian mortuary opens to visitors
A trip to the mortuary may not be high on anybody's list of tourist attractions- but that is about to change. Some of the most unusual sites are about to throw open their doors to the public in a celebration of the region's heritage. Among the many highlights
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Roped in for a monumental task
STEEPLEJACKS are carrying out a detailed survey of a prominent North-East landmark. Stone masonry experts donned hard hats and used ropes attached to rings at the top of the 152ft Column of Liberty, on the National Trust's Gibside estate, near Gateshead
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A passion for puppets
THERE'S not a child who doesn't know the story of Pinocchio, the little puppet whose quest to become a real boy led him on a whole host of adventures. And it's a twist on that tale, of a little carpet puppet who will become a human if he follows advice
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Boy's parents compensated
The parents of a six-year-old boy who was crushed to death when a 5ft-high gravestone toppled on him have been paid £33,000 compensation, it was confirmed today. Harrogate Council has agreed the out-of-court settlement with the family of Reuben Powell
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Film premiere pride for the calendar girls
The real-life women who inspired the film Calendar Girls told of their pride yesterday at the screening of the heart-warming tale. The film is based on the Rylstone and District Women's Institute members who posed naked for a charity calendar - turning
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Mayor's praise for inquiry coroner
A MAYOR has called for an end to what he said was a "witch hunt'' against a coroner. Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough, said it was wrong for people to point the finger at Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield before a Government inquiry had been set up
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On the road to healthier living
PATIENTS are being encouraged to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle with a walking initiative. Step-O-Meters have been presented to a group of patients from GP practices in Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street, in a bid to help them improve
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Youth club opens after 30-year gap
THE first youth club to open in Hartlepool for 30 years will be launched on the Headland, tomorrow. The Abbey Street Project youth club has been built in the former Golden Anchor Hotel paid for with grants, including £440,000 from the Community Fund.
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Your chance to strike gold
LISTENERS to Durham City's radio station have a chance to strike gold. 107 DLR, in association with Bramwell Jewellers, is running its Search For Gold competition, with a first prize worth £100. Every day for the next four weeks, a clue to the whereabouts
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Help for rural job seekers
Libraries are playing a major part in a new service to boost employment prospects for people in rural areas. The aim is to provide unemployed people with an opportunity to receive specialist job-search help and advice without having to travel to a JobCentre
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Minister to visit housing project
HOUSING Minister Keith Hill is on a fact-finding visit to the region today. He will meet members of the newly-formed regional housing board to be briefed on housing issues facing the North-East. Mr Hill is to visit Easington, County Durham, and will look
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Demand for action to tidy up town cemetery
A BUSINESSMAN has criticised a district council for the state of a town cemetery. Cafe owner Sam Zair visits Bishop Auckland Cemetery, with his 80-year-old mother, Bernice, each week. But he said that in recent weeks the trip has become like an assault
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Council leader quits in role row
A North-East council's first-ever leader has resigned - claiming he has had no power and no real job to do. Councillor Phil Hughes, an Independent who describes himself as a part-time farmer, was voted into the newly-created position of leader of Teesdale
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Thieves could be banned from all shops
Retailers are declaring war on the shoplifters who plague their stores - by launching their own version of zero tolerance. Shopkeepers in Northallerton say the situation has reached crisis point and they are not prepared to tolerate it any longer. From
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South African performers with a sense of hope for the future
THE colourful and sometimes troubled history of South Africa is being brought to the stage. Umoja, which means spirit of togetherness, is a group of singers, dancers and musicians who are on a world tour. Until Saturday, they are at the Grand Opera House
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Contracts help Brammer
WINNING contracts with companies such as ICI has helped Brammer Industrial Services thrive in difficult market conditions. The group, which operates as Brammer Services in the UK, is the country's biggest distributor of industrial engineering products
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Education: right or privilege?
THIS Government has made a virtue of its policy of encouraging as many young people as possible to go into higher education. It does so, presumably, because it believes education is a worthwhile investment in the nation's future economic well-being. However
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Cooper's call saved the day for Strachan
GAVIN STRACHAN is making the most of his chance at Hartlepool United; a call from Neale Cooper saved him from the dole office and an uneasy future. Midfielder Strachan has impressed since signing a contract at Victoria Park on the eve of the new season
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TV review
At Home With The Eubanks (five) Hidden Treasure (BBC2) YOU don't have to be mad to star in your own TV reality show, but it helps. Ozzy Osbourne and his family proved that - and now snappily-dressed boxer Chris Eubank shares the secrets of his home life
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Woman unlucky after breaking her foot and then leg
Pregnant Deborah, 38, spent three weeks in hospital before surgeons delivered her baby six weeks before he was due. Two days later she fell and broke her ankle in the hospital car park after she was allowed to go home. After spending another week on the
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A fly-on-the-wall too far?
At Home With The Eubanks (five); Hidden Treasure (BBC2): YOU don't have to be mad to star in your own TV reality show, but it helps. Ozzy Osbourne and his family proved that - and now snappily-dressed boxer Chris Eubank shares the secrets of his home
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Film premiere pride for the calendar girls
The real-life women who inspired the film Calendar Girls told of their pride yesterday at the screening of the heart-warming tale. The film is based on the Rylstone and District Women's Institute members who posed naked for a charity calendar - turning
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First tenant welcomed
A YOUNG mother has become the first person to receive temporary housing and support under a £750,000 scheme to help homeless people in part of the region. Endeavour Housing Association, in Thornaby, near Stockton, paid £250,000 towards the scheme and
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School kitchen is shut over safety fear
A SCHOOL kitchen has been closed after it failed to meet stringent new safety regulations. Education chiefs admitted that St Andrew's Primary School, in Henknowle, near Bishop Auckland, might not be the only one affected by the change in rules. David
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Quartet to play at village church
FOUR prize-winning musicians will be performing string quartets by Haydn, Ravel and Mendelssohn at a village church. Students Rakhi Singh, Catrin Morgan, Polly Wiltshire and Elizabeth May, from the Royal Northern College of Music, will be playing at St
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Young mum benefits from new scheme
A YOUNG mother has become the first person to receive temporary housing and support under a £750,000 scheme to help homeless people in part of the region. Endeavour Housing Association, in Thornaby, paid £250,000 towards the scheme and Hambleton District
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Glittering prizes predicted for big screen version
The film is being touted as "the next Full Monty" and last night's world premiere in London of Calendar Girls marked the start of the bid by a North Yorkshire Women's Institute to conquer the movie world. It was their Northern exposure that started it
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Gun order holds promise of employment boost
PLANS to build the Royal Navy's next generation of naval guns could create hundreds of jobs in the region. More than 70 supply companies across the North-East have already signed up to join the supply chain of US company United Defence, which is bidding
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News in brief: Students' skills put on show
Students from Bishop Auckland College are showing off their skills at a two-week display in the Discovery Centre, in the Market Place. Exhibitors are all taking craft courses including patchwork, interior design, soft furnishing, ceramics, painting and
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Workshops showcase
GLASS jewellery created by visually impaired people is on show at the National Glass Centre, in Sunderland. All that Glisters is a display by groups from Sunderland and Middlesbrough and Manjeweller Colette Hazelwood, of Manchester. Workshops were held
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Teenager dies as car hits lamppost
A TEENAGER died after the car he was travelling in hit a lamppost in a week of tragedy on the region's roads. Lee Taylor, 19, from Conyers Avenue, Chester-le-Street, was a front seat passenger in a car which was involved in the accident on the A195 at
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Hundreds pay tribute to Enid Shaw
Hundreds of people packed into Richmond Methodist Church for the funeral of Enid Shaw, who died at the town's Friary Hospital on August 16 of cancer. Mrs Shaw, widow of builder George Shaw, was a founder member of the Ladies' Circle after her husband
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Digging for victory
HOUSING association tenants have been showing off their gardening skills. More than 20 gardens and displays were entered in the B and N (North-East) Ltd regional gardening competition. Organisers said the annual contest attracted a high standard of entries
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Police trade ideas with Indian colleagues
INDIAN police have come to Cleveland this week to see how their colleagues do the job in England. Superintendent Gupreet Singh-Toor, from the Punjab, spent time with ethnic minority liaison officer Brian Lindsay and community safety inspector Eric Robinson
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High-tech school caters for learning disabilities
A SCHOOL fitted with equipment for special needs students is to open its doors next week. Staff at the £20m Kings Academy, in Middlesbrough, hope the high-tech facilities will provide the key to individualised learning. A sophisticated sound system in
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Council leader quits in role row
A North-East council's first-ever leader has resigned - claiming he has had no power and no real job to do. Councillor Phil Hughes, an Independent who describes himself as a part-time farmer, was voted into the newly-created position of leader of Teesdale
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Murray heralds new era for Black Cats
A RELIEVED Bob Murray last night insisted Sunderland fans can look forward with optimism to a new dawn at the club after halving the Wearsiders' wage bill. Monday's closure of the transfer window was the end of a massive summer clear-out at the Stadium
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Cooling remedy for hot dogs
A DARLINGTON dog-lover has become the sole UK distributor for a canine cooler-bed. Debbie Purdy, who runs a website for owners of the rare Coton de Tulear breed of dog, approached the US manufacturer of the Canine Cooler pet bed to try to launch the product
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£70,000 cash raiders flee down little-known route
Masked robbers knocked a security guard to the ground and snatched more than £70,000 as he was carrying the cash into a bank in a market town yesterday. They struck quickly in the early hours after a Securicor van pulled up on a small darkened access
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From tree to Tyneside
Mark Stobbart talks to Steve Pratt about his varied roles to date and his return to the region PLAYING a tree in his first job out of drama school made Stockton-born actor Mark Stobbart wonder exactly what he'd let himself in for. The role may have been
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News in Brief
Top job: North Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent Gary Barnett, 46, who has spearheaded major emergency operations, has been appointed Durham's new assistant chief constable. Mr Barnett joined North Yorkshire in 1978. In the mid-Nineties he led the
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Irish hopes forced Kilbane out
KEVIN KILBANE claimed he had to leave Sunderland to keep alive his international ambitions. The 26-year-old joined Everton on Monday in a £1m deal and became the 16th senior player to leave the Stadium of Light club during the summer. And Kilbane also
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Weekend TV
Rosemary And Thyme (ITV1), Gladiator: Benn V Eubank (five), Diana Mosley: Adolf, Oswald And Me (C4), The Real Ned Kelly (C4) IT was only a matter of time before someone put two of TV most popular genres, gardening and detectives, in the same bed. But
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Counterfeit goods 'sold to pay debts'
A SHOPKEEPER turned his store into a miniature factory for producing illegal music, films and computer games to pay off credit card debts, a court heard. Trading standards officers targetted Asif Shamim, 31, of The Avenue, Middlesbrough, at his Welcome
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Ahoy, as ship comes in for tankard-makers
THE Hollywood blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean owes a debt of gratitude to a small North-East village workshop. For the swashbuckling epic starring Johnny Depp features a number of leather tankards made in County Durham. Some of the seafarers in Pirates
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March 21, 2014: Keep your head down
An asteroid about two-thirds of a mile wide could hit the earth in 11 years time. In fact, scientists have given a precise date for the possible collision - March 21, 2014. It has been classified as ''an event meriting careful monitoring'' by astronomers
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The seedy side of stardom
The Curse Of Blue Peter (five), Naked Celebrity Ambition (five): There are times you don't want to watch soaps, dramas about doctors or detectives, or serious documentaries. All you want to do is wallow in some trash TV, and this double bill from five
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Sharon Griffiths: A toast to breakfast
It may be the most important meal of the day, but how many of us take the time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast? National Breakfast Week could provide the perfect opportunity IT'S National Breakfast Week this week. Not to be confused with National Farmhouse
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Council scheme
A scheme has been set up for people to report alleged racial incidents in relation to council services. The scheme applies to incidents between staff and the public, or between members of staff at Richmondshire District Council. People living or working
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Desire to succeed still burns strong for Stewart
Alec Stewart will approach the final Test of his career insisting his desire to succeed has not diminished. The 40-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman will say an emotional farewell to an Oval crowd in the final npower Test of the summer to end a career spanning
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Conference line-up announced
The Royal Agricultural Society of England has unveiled the line-up for the Great North Meet conference. The conference, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland, takes place on November 7, at Camp Hill, Kirklington, near Bedale. National Farmers' Union
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Last-ditch bid to catch collie
TIME is running out to catch a four-legged fugitive which has been running loose on Sedgefield Racecourse for the past few weeks. With a meeting due on Friday, staff are worried that the elusive stray black and white dog could get onto the track and disrupt
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Account will help young people
DARLINGTON Building Society has found a way of helping disadvantaged young people on to the savings ladder. It has teamed up with Connexions Tees Valley to design an account - the first of its kind in the country- which will help young people take control
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Fly past in honour of battle veterans
VETERANS of the country's finest hour will gather this weekend to remember those who gave their lives in defence of the nation. Bands will play and modern aircraft will fly in tribute at the annual Commemoration of the Battle of Britain at the Yorkshire
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Buyer interested in Sir John's £8m stately home
A MYSTERY buyer is in negotiations for a luxury stately home owned by property tycoon and former Newcastle United chairman Sir John Hall. Grade II listed Wynyard Hall, near Teesside, which has about 20 bedrooms and also includes 800 acres of parkland,
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Developers uproot protected trees in site-level mistake
TRIUMPH quickly turned to despair when residents who successfully fought to save trees in their cul-de-sac saw them ripped from the ground in a development error. Gaping holes and upturned soil are all that remains of the five mature rowan and oriental
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A toast to breakfast
It may be the most important meal of the day, but how many of us take the time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast? National Breakfast Week could provide the perfect opportunity IT'S National Breakfast Week this week. Not to be confused with National Farmhouse
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Footballers back donor card campaign
A football team is hoping for a good result from a donor campaign. Middlesbrough Football Club is hoping everyone will help by carrying a donor card, agreeing to donate life-saving organs in the event of their death. Sister Tracy Ryder, of the James Cook
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Teenager dies as car hits lamppost
A TEENAGER died after the car he was travelling in hit a lamppost in a week of tragedy on the region's roads. Lee Taylor, 19, from Conyers Avenue, Chester-le-Street, was a front seat passenger in a car which was involved in the accident on the A195 at
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Mayor's praise for inquiry coroner
A MAYOR has called for an end to what he said was a "witch hunt'' against a coroner. Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough, said it was wrong for people to point the finger at Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield before a Government inquiry had been set up
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The friend who took farmers for a ride
A CROOKED accountant plundered hundreds of thousands of pounds from farmers who trusted him to invest their foot-and-mouth compensation. Thomas Alder, 54, stole nearly £700,000 from clients' accounts - even though he had known some of them for 30 years
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Sir Bobby could lose again
NEWCASTLE UNITED boss Sir Bobby Robson looks set to lose his club-versus-country battle with Wales over the availability of striker Craig Bellamy. Bellamy was given the green light to resume training yesterday after Monday's independent scan in Sheffield
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Supple finds key to Jeepstar
WILLIE SUPPLE has finally found the key to getting the best out of Jeepstar, strongly fancied to take the opening Patrington Leisure Park Handicap at York today. Supple's sheer strength-in-the-saddle played a major part in Jeepstar's inaugural success
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Police appeal to trace dead boy's bike
DETECTIVES are appealing for help to trace a bike belonging to a teenager who was found hanging from a tree. Michael Gaffney, 16, of Finsbury Avenue, Newcastle, was found near the children's play area in Heaton Park, Newcastle, on September 4, 2001. An
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Skelton ready to conquer his nerves
WITH thousands of people watching him make his first tentative steps in Walker Cup golf, Middlebrough's Michael Skelton can be forgiven for feeling just a little nervous. The 19-year-old from Marske admits he is so anxious about his first shot at Ganton
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Jail for driver after 19th offence
A motorist who was caught driving while disqualified for the 19th time was jailed for 12 months yesterday. George Green, 44, from Middlesbrough, was caught driving near his home in June only three days after his latest disqualification, when he was given
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The friend who took farmers for a ride
A CROOKED accountant plundered hundreds of thousands of pounds from farmers who trusted him to invest their foot-and-mouth compensation. Thomas Alder, 54, stole nearly £700,000 from clients' accounts - even though he had known some of them for 30 years
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Footpath hopes move a step closer
VILLAGERS have been told they may soon get a long-awaited footpath linking two communities. Darlington Borough Council's highways department says it is considering details of a scheme to provide a footpath between Neasham and Hurworth, near Darlington
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Young footballers net tournament success
A NEW football tournament attracted hundreds of youngsters and raised £450 for a youth education project. More than 40 teams took part in the first five and seven-a-side competition at Bishop Auckland College on Saturday. The event was organised by Stephen
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Police use e-mail to issue crime alerts
POLICE are using technology to tell people about crime in their area. The scheme, which was launched yesterday, means daily e-mail bulletins will be sent to members of Neighbourhood Watch schemes across the town, telling them about incidents of crime
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News in brief: Students' skills put on show
Students from Bishop Auckland College are showing off their skills at a two-week display in the Discovery Centre, in the Market Place. Exhibitors are all taking craft courses including patchwork, interior design, soft furnishing, ceramics, painting and
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Man told to pay damages after attack on girl's father
A FATHER who tried to take his daughter home after catching her drinking in the street was rounded on by a gang, a court heard yesterday. Youths surrounded James Morrison and knocked him to the ground after he ordered his 15-year-old daughter to get into
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Hospital heart op is first in UK
BUILDING site manager Paul McAleese is recovering today after becoming the first heart patient in the UK to undergo a pioneering operation. The 53-year-old, from West Cornforth, County Durham, is one of only 13 patients worldwide to have the new, low-risk
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Youngsters face date with sound of music
CHILDREN in east Cleveland could soon be learning Afri-can drumming and samba music thanks to an initiative coming to the area. A £650,000 nationwide scheme will help an estimated 5,000 primary schoolchildren, especially those from disadvantaged areas
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Counterfeit goods 'sold to pay debts'
A SHOPKEEPER turned his store into a miniature factory for producing illegal music, films and computer games to pay off credit card debts, a court heard. Trading standards officers targetted Asif Shamim, 31, of The Avenue, Middlesbrough, at his Welcome
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Apology from water firm boss
A LEADING member of Northumbrian Water publicly apologised yesterday for not responding to complaints properly. The production manager at the company, Dave Mitchell, was speaking at a public meeting about flooding in Hartlepool. The Hartlepool Environmental
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Police appeal to trace dead boy's bike
DETECTIVES are appealing for help to trace a bike belonging to a teenager who was found hanging from a tree. Michael Gaffney, 16, of Finsbury Avenue, Newcastle, was found near the children's play area in Heaton Park, Newcastle, on September 4, 2001. An
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Make-up artist plans fashion show launch
LEADING make-up artist Alison McKay is starting a new venture which will be launched with a fashion show. Ms McKay, from Hurworth, near Darlington, has set up AM Creative Production and is hoping that local businesses will make use of her expertise. She
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Backing expected for county's case for survival
DURHAM county councillors will tomorrow approve proposals for a new-style council providing all local services. If the North-East gets a regional assembly one tier of the county's local government - either the county or the seven districts - will be scrapped
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Help for pupils after sea tragedy
SCHOOLMATES of a boy who died after being swept out to sea are being offered counselling to help them come to terms with the tragedy. Children returned to St Helen's Primary School, in Hartlepool, yesterday for the first time since Jordan Moon's death
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Winning becomes a habit for Durham
WITH four wins in four games behind him since his return from injury, Durham vice-captain Paul Collingwood is ready for the challenge at Northampton over the next five days. After a poor start, Northants now look certain of promotion on both fronts, but
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Footpath hopes move a step closer
VILLAGERS have been told they may soon get a long-awaited footpath linking two communities. Darlington Borough Council's highways department says it is considering details of a scheme to provide a footpath between Neasham and Hurworth, near Darlington
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Bridge craze that took its toll
The 172-year-old Whorlton Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the country, is about to have a £90,000 overhaul. Chris Lloyd looks at how it came to be built at the height of a craze for erecting dangerous suspension bridges JUST finding Whorlton
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Supple finds key to Jeepstar
WILLIE SUPPLE has finally found the key to getting the best out of Jeepstar, strongly fancied to take the opening Patrington Leisure Park Handicap at York today. Supple's sheer strength-in-the-saddle played a major part in Jeepstar's inaugural success
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Need help? give me a call
LIFE could be a little easier for secretaries and personal assistants across the North-East and North Yorkshire with the help of a new liaison company. Suzanne Dawson, who is originally from the North-East but now lives in Harrogate, has launched me,
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03/09/03
HEALTH SERVICE: THE old saying 'lightning never strikes twice' is being severely tested in the case of current events at Hartlepool General Hospital. There is now a very distinct chance that this vital service is to be withdrawn from the people of Hartlepool
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Reasons for optimism on the jobs front
BUSINESSES in Darlington are upbeat about future employment prospects, according to a new survey. Research carried out by LDS Recruitment, in Darlington, has provided a positive picture for the immediate future. It showed that, although more than 80 per
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Southgate not ready to quit England
OVERLOOKED Middlesbrough skipper Gareth Southgate has vowed not to give up on his European Championship dream. The inspirational centre-back was omitted from the England squad when Sven-Goran Eriksson named his party on Sunday. And just yesterday Eriksson
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Single council 'best option for county'
DURHAM county councillors will tomorrow approve proposals for a new-style council providing all local services. If the North-East gets a regional assembly one tier of the county's local government - either the county or the seven districts councils -
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Hospital heart op is first in UK
BUILDING site manager Paul McAleese is recovering today after becoming the first heart patient in the UK to undergo a pioneering operation. The 53-year-old, from West Cornforth, County Durham, is one of only 13 patients worldwide to have the new, low-risk
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Team strikes a deal
One of the region's most successful women's rugby teams have been given a great start to the new season. The Thirsk Sharks have secured a major sponsorship deal with locally-based specialist vehicle manufacturers Multidrive Ltd. "This is fantastic for
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Ahoy, as ship comes in for tankard-makers
THE Hollywood blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean owes a debt of gratitude to a small North-East village workshop. For the swashbuckling epic starring Johnny Depp features a number of leather tankards made in County Durham. Some of the seafarers in Pirates
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Pest charges may be scrapped after increase in rats
CHARGING for pest control has led to a 50 per cent fall in call-outs and an increase in rats in parts of North Yorkshire. Councillors in Hambleton are considering scrapping the charges amid fears that infestations are going unreported and poor baiting
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Church urges voters not to support BNP
CHURCH leaders in the region have joined together to urge voters not to back the British National Party (BNP). The BNP is fielding a candidate in the forthcoming Newcastle City Council by-election in Walker. The Reverend Leo Osborn, chairman of the Newcastle
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Career advice on work and study options
YOUNG people in North Yorkshire who are still trying to decide on their career options are being offered help. They can contact the Learning and Skills Council's free Learning Helpline to find out about Modern Apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are at record
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News in brief: Skateboarding views sought
COUNCIL officers in Hartlepool are to consult with skateboarders and residents about introducing a skateboard park to the town. Members of the borough council's culture forum recently visited a mobile skate park in Spennymoor, County Durham. Now, skateboarders
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Success in fight to stop arson attacks
ARSON attacks have dropped on Teesside thanks to a multi-agency approach. Delegates at a seminar tomorrow will be told that property arson is down by 22 per cent on this time last year. Les Jones, Cleveland Fire Brigade's community fire safety manager
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Sports plan cash
A campaign to create a sports area in Middleton Tyas has received a £1,000 boost. Villagers want to create a multi-use sports area, with the help of a £100,000 grant from the lottery-run Opportunities Fund. The plan includes changing rooms and equipment
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News in brief: Gardens event draws 15,000
MORE than 15,000 people visited the fourth Garden Pride exhibition in Scarborough. The display, called The Borough in Bloom, showcased the gardening expertise that saw the council's parks and countryside services team win honours at this year's Great
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Buyer interested in Sir John's £8m stately home
A MYSTERY buyer is in negotiations for a luxury stately home owned by property tycoon and former Newcastle United chairman Sir John Hall. Grade II listed Wynyard Hall, near Teesside, which has about 20 bedrooms and also includes 800 acres of parkland,
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Ash can bounce back, Tait
MICK TAIT is backing out-of-favour midfielder Ashley Nicholls to bounce back stronger than ever. The 21-year-old has failed to rediscover the form which made him a hit with the fans last season, and Quakers' boss Tait dropped him for the last two games
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Gun order holds promise of employment boost
PLANS to build the Royal Navy's next generation of naval guns could create hundreds of jobs in the region. More than 70 supply companies across the North-East have already signed up to join the supply chain of US company United Defence, which is bidding
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Date
The friend who took farmers for a ride
A CROOKED accountant plundered hundreds of thousands of pounds from farmers who trusted him to invest their foot-and-mouth compensation. Thomas Alder, 54, stole nearly £700,000 from clients' accounts - even though he had known some of them for 30 years
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Victorian mortuary opens to visitors
A trip to the mortuary may not be high on anybody's list of tourist attractions- but that is about to change. Some of the most unusual sites are about to throw open their doors to the public in a celebration of the region's heritage. Among the many highlights
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Views sought over scheme to demolish estate homes
THE fight to save more than 200 homes from demolition starts next week for families living on a Bishop Auckland housing estate. Residents will get the chance to air their views on the proposed demolition of 248 houses on Woodhouse Close Estate during
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Knowles is a Wembley winner
A company in Billingham, Teesside, has been chosen to work on the development of the new national stadium. Knowles Capital Projects will provide construction, technical design monitoring, risk management, financial and commercial advice for the £750m
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Rail crime figures cut
TRANSPORT police are pleased with efforts to crack down on railway trespass over the summer holidays. The region was said to be one of the worst in the country for so-called routine crime in figures released earlier this year by Network Rail. But police
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Workshops showcase
GLASS jewellery created by visually impaired people is on show at the National Glass Centre, in Sunderland. All that Glisters is a display by groups from Sunderland and Middlesbrough and Manjeweller Colette Hazelwood, of Manchester. Workshops were held
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Action group victory
Auction mart bosses were reconsidering their options after their plans to move to a greenfield site were thrown out by local councillors. To the jubilation of people living close the intended site on the edge of Northallerton, Hambleton councillors were
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News in brief: Ryanair hits new heights
AIRLINE Ryanair is celebrating a monthly passenger record. The budget flights operator carried 2.14 million passengers last month - the highest number of passengers it has carried in one month in its 18-year history. To celebrate, it is offering 2.14
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Last Night's TV: A fly-on-the-wall too far?
At Home With The Eubanks (five); Hidden Treasure (BBC2): YOU don't have to be mad to star in your own TV reality show, but it helps. Ozzy Osbourne and his family proved that - and now snappily-dressed boxer Chris Eubank shares the secrets of his home
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Success in the light
Bridie O'Donnell has won her own personal battle coming out top in her exams despite the drama of having her husband at war. Mrs O'Donnell, 27, of Brompton-on-Swale, took night classes in English Language at Darlington College at Catterick, and studied
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Martyn aims to fire Tykes to first double
Australian newcomer, Damien Martyn, will be trying to help Yorkshire achieve their first Championship double of the season in the match against beleaguered Somerset which begins at Headingley today. Somerset chairman Peter Anderson has already warned
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News in brief: Man accused of assaults
John Webster, 31, of North Marine Road, Scarborough, was charged yesterday with two counts of indecently assaulting a girl under the age of 14. The case, heard by South Durham Magistrates, sitting in Darlington, was transferred to Teesside Crown Court
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Ash tree under threat from plan
A mature tree has had its days numbered as developers look likely to win a battle to have it felled to allow for industrial expansion. Planning officers have recommended that a lone ash tree should be felled to make way for a proposed expansion at Leyburn
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Harry Mead: Lord Woolf's burglars' charter
Most people who deal with victims of crime recognise that burglary is among the most traumatic of offences. Many burglary victims never get over having their homes violated. Left with a permanent feeling of unease, they become less willing to go out,
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Fears for safety of fans crossing A66
POLICE are urging supporters to be careful when using a busy road close to a football ground. Darlington Football Club's next fixture at the Reynolds Arena is on Saturday, against Carlisle United. Although there are parking spaces available at the ground
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Housing market is still going strong
HOUSE prices rose by 1.3 per cent during last month as activity in the market showed signs of picking up again. Britain's biggest mortgage lender Halifax said the increase, which was in line with the previous month's rise, showed the market was still
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Minister to visit housing project
HOUSING Minister Keith Hill is on a fact-finding visit to the region today. He will meet members of the newly-formed regional housing board to be briefed on housing issues facing the North-East. Mr Hill is to visit Easington, County Durham, and will look
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Letters
HEALTH SERVICE THE old saying 'lightning never strikes twice' is being severely tested in the case of current events at Hartlepool General Hospital. There is now a very distinct chance that this vital service is to be withdrawn from the people of Hartlepool
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Church urges voters not to support BNP
CHURCH leaders in the region have joined together to urge voters not to back the British National Party (BNP). The BNP is fielding a candidate in the forthcoming Newcastle City Council by-election in Walker. The Reverend Leo Osborn, chairman of the Newcastle
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Plan to enhance village centres
PROPOSALS are being drawn up to enhance two village centres. Durham County Council is putting together an environmental improvement scheme for Bearpark, in conjunction with Durham City Council, and the village's parish council. A similar package, which
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Green group voices concern over ships
PRESSURE is mounting on a North-East firm which has won a contract to recycle a fleet of obsolete American warships. Friends of the Earth has joined Teesside community group IMPACT to voice its concerns about the 13 vessels that are expected to cross
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Crashed paraglider airlifted to hospital
A Paraglider had to be airlifted to hospital after a dramatic rescue. Bill Bankes-Jones, 45, crashed on a hillside near Addlebrough, in Wensleydale, after accidentally releasing his emergency parachute. Rescue teams had to abandon their vehicles and set
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Firms warned to register for VAT or face crackdown
BUSINESSES in the region have been set a deadline by which to register for VAT - with Customs and Excise threatening to "crack down hard" on those which fail to do so. Firms with a taxable turnover of more than £56,000 a year have less than a month to
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Group 'upbeat'
Leisure group Whitbread was upbeat about its prospects after seeing an "encouraging" sales performance across its hotels, restaurants and health clubs. The group reported solid like-for-like sales growth across its businesses, with only its hotels chain
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Is the sky the limit for low cost airlines?
Low cost airlines have revolutionised air travel and created a new genertaion of frequent flyers. As Ryanair announces record passenger numbers, Nick Morrison looks at the rise of the budget airlines - and asks how much higher can they go? FANCY a trip
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Roped in for a monumental task
STEEPLEJACKS are carrying out a detailed survey of a prominent North-East landmark. Stone masonry experts donned hard hats and used ropes attached to rings at the top of the 152ft Column of Liberty, on the National Trust's Gibside estate, near Gateshead
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Eyesore gets a facelift
Television presenter Andy Kluz offered to lend a hand during National Volunteers' Week in the historic town of Richmond. He and a dozen volunteers rolled up their sleeves to attack a graffiti-covered yard leading off Richmond Market Square. The clean-up
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Lucky escape for teenager
A TEENAGER had a dramatic escape when he was swept out to sea off Scarborough's Royal Albert Drive by heavy seas. The 14-year-old boy, who has not been named, was with another boy of the same age. Both were believed to have been dodging the waves, which
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Two listed bridges damaged by lorry
A COUNTRY road has had to be closed to traffic after a lorry caused severe damage to two bridges. The two Grade II-listed structures were damaged when a Dutch articulated lorry travelled over them despite a 13-tonne weight restriction. Both Buttercrambe
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Fears for safety of fans crossing A66
POLICE are urging supporters to be careful when using a busy road close to a football ground. Darlington Football Club's next fixture at the Reynolds Arena is on Saturday, against Carlisle United. Although there are parking spaces available at the ground
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Last-ditch bid to catch collie
TIME is running out to catch a four-legged fugitive which has been running loose on Sedgefield Racecourse for the past few weeks. With a meeting due on Friday, staff are worried that the elusive stray black and white dog could get onto the track and disrupt
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Casting an expert eye on museum
A GROUP of 80 delegates from museums as far away as Iceland and Estonia toured a North-East museum to pick up some tips yesterday. The visitors are attending the European Open Air Museums Conference, which is being held in Glasgow, but took time out to
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Accused man facing trial
A DRIVER accused of being in a car crash in which two women died has been committed for trial at Crown Court. Stephen Dack, of Litchfield Avenue, Walker, Newcastle, denied driving without due care and attention and aggravated vehicle-taking at South Durham
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Casting an expert eye on museum
A GROUP of 80 delegates from museums as far away as Iceland and Estonia toured a North-East museum to pick up some tips yesterday. The visitors are attending the European Open Air Museums Conference, which is being held in Glasgow, but took time out to
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Green group voices concern over ships
PRESSURE is mounting on a North-East firm which has won a contract to recycle a fleet of obsolete American warships. Friends of the Earth has joined Teesside community group IMPACT to voice its concerns about the 13 vessels that are expected to cross
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Footballers back donor card campaign
A football team is hoping for a good result from a donor campaign. Middlesbrough Football Club is hoping everyone will help by carrying a donor card, agreeing to donate life-saving organs in the event of their death. Sister Tracy Ryder, of the James Cook
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Town's MP pays visit to transformed site
DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn will visit a revamped brownfield site in the town tomorrow. Owner of Lingfield Point, the Marchday Group, has carried out a £16m redevelopment and revitalised the area as a business centre with up to 200,000sq ft of office space
