Archive
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Barn owl campaigner calls for breeding restrictions
A NORTH-EAST animal welfare campaigner has called for an end to indiscriminate breeding of animals. Peter Maughan, Gateshead borough councillor, chairman of the RSPCA, in Newcastle, and a trustee of the Exotic Animals Welfare Trust, made the appeal during
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Father's fears for vice girl daughter
A FATHER fears his daughter will never give up her life of prostitution - despite an order banning her from working every street in the country. Teesside vice girl Amanda Jane Riley became the first prostitute to have a Criminal Anti-Social Behaviour
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Woodgate in need of operation
NEWCASTLE UNITED are facing up to being without influential centre-back Jonathan Woodgate for two months. Woodgate missed last night's UEFA Cup success over NAC Breda and manager Sir Bobby Robson revealed the player is going to be ruled out with a double
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25/09/03
IMMIGRATION: AS politicians and businessmen know, every immigrant is a potential tax-payer and consumer, and should therefore be welcomed as a contributor to Britain's future economic growth and prosperity, and to the support of our growing army of pensioners
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John North: From wanton to wondrous
Its name my suggest immorality, but Rev Robert Cooper found Thorpe Thewles the ideal setting for writing a religious book. THE Rev Robert Cooper has moved to Thorpe Thewles, which might be neither here nor there - a couple of miles north of Stockton,
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Soap Watch: Dirty work
THERE'S a traffic jam on the road leading back into Soapland as former residents queue to regain entrance. Bet Gilmore and the McDonalds are hammering on the gates of Weatherfield, but have been overtaken by the father - godfather? - of all soap villains
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Pudding on the agony
ALL of us downtrodden dads need an escape from the noise, the pressure, the crushing burden of expectation. For me, it's golf. Every Sunday morning, me and two other ageing dads get up at the crack of dawn in the vain hope that all our dreams will come
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Bellamy at the double as Magpies hit form
PROGRESSING in the UEFA Cup may not be the perfect way to kick-start Newcastle United's own domestic campaign. But after last night's convincing 5-0 first-leg thumping of NAC Breda at St James' Park, hopes are now high that the Magpies can finally go
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McCarthy closing in on Smith deal
TOMMY SMITH has been locked in talks with Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy over a move to the Stadium of Light. Striker Smith is on the verge of a switch to Wearside after the Black Cats agreed a compensation package - believed to be £100,000 - with Watford
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Tour starts with Gala sell-out
NORTH-East band Lindisfarne will kick-off their 30-date national tour at The Gala Theatre. The band, chart-toppers in the Seventies, will play the 500-seater venue next Wednesday. The band's first visit to The Gala during their national tour last year
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A sobering lokk at alcoholism
One Life: Lager, Mum And Me (BBC1): "THIS is mum, who's going into detox next week to get off drink because she's an alcoholic or whatever it's called," says schoolgirl Nanza, introducing us to her parent. As you can tell from that quote, there were a
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Gough escapes cull
RUMOURS of Darren Gough's demise have proved unfounded. After retiring from international cricket, Gough's future in the first-class game with Yorkshire has been under scruitiny. But last night, Gough's game was not among the five first-teamers who won't
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Wind turbines to power homes
GIANT turbines will tower over the County Durham sky-line as part of a major wind power project in the next few weeks. Wind farm developer Powergen Renewables is erecting seven 100-metre tall turbines at three rural sites in County Durham and neighbouring
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Judge admits swearing at police in kebab shop fracas
A COUNTY court judge told magistrates that he swore at two police officers because he was shocked and frightened about being frogmarched out of a kebab shop. Deputy district judge and solicitor David Messenger, 49, said he could not believe what was happening
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Housing transfer plan
A COUNCIL is to apply to transfer its housing stock to a housing association. The Government has set a 2010 deadline to make all council housing meet a Decent Homes Standard. Sedgefield Borough Council will have enough resources to meet this minimum,
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Dirty work
THERE'S a traffic jam on the road leading back into Soapland as former residents queue to regain entrance. Bet Gilmore and the McDonalds are hammering on the gates of Weatherfield, but have been overtaken by the father - godfather? - of all soap villains
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Traffic lights will project memorial
TRAFFIC lights will be providing extra protection to a war memorial which has been involved in several incidents. The fencing around the memorial in Skelton, in east Cleveland, has been damaged in three incidents since April at the A173 Marske Lane Junction
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Chef Graham copies Mrs Beeton
SIXTEEN-STONE chef Graham Smith dressed as famous cookery writer Mrs Beeton this week to prepare lunch for 40 pensioners. Mr Smith wore an outsize white apron and mop cap, both made by his wife, Dawn, to cook the meal for Day Club members in a church
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Vice girls lured by bogus policeman
A MAN posing as a policeman to con free sex from prostitutes was caught out when stopped by genuine officers, a court was told yesterday. Police were questioning Michael Walton when the prostitute he was with told them: "You'll know him - he's one of
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Ex-council chief dies
TRIBUTES have been paid to a former council boss who has lost her long battle with cancer at the age of 54. Carole Hughes, who died peacefully at her home in Bishop Auckland, was executive director of Wear Valley District Council until November 2000.
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Health complaints
HEALTH watchdogs in County Durham dealt with 84 complaints about local services last year, according to a new report. Darlington and Teesdale Community Health Council's (CHC) annual report shows that the number of formal complaints received was up by
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Vice girls lured by bogus policeman
A MAN posing as a policeman to con free sex from prostitutes was caught out when stopped by genuine officers, a court was told yesterday. Police were questioning Michael Walton when the prostitute he was with told them: "You'll know him - he's one of
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Print error on ballot papers as parties join to fight BNP
VOTERS in a key North-East by-election have been sent unusable ballot papers, officials said last night. Hundreds of postal ballot papers have been sent to people eligible to cast their vote in Chester-le-Street's Chester North Ward by-election. But council
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No-go for log cabins
A PUB owner's application to build more accommodation has been turned down by planners. Members of the Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council rejected a scheme to build two detached log cabins for guests at the Crab and Lobster, at
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Court told carer hated bullying
A SENIOR carer accused of ill-treating autistic children at a residential unit told a court that bullying was against his ethos. Laurence Donkin, 44, faces seven counts of cruelty to children in his care over a period of about a dozen years at the unit
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£1,000 award for training group
A training organisation has been selected for a £1,000 award for improving adult basic skills. City Centre Training, in Riverside Park, Middlesbrough, was one of ten national winners chosen from 79 entries for the National Institute of Adult Continuing
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Kidnap trial
TWO North-East businessmen were kidnapped and tortured by masked gunmen who posed as Customs and Excise officers. The pair were told they would be executed - and their families murdered - unless they handed over £600,000. German-born Volker Kappler, 37
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Young gymnast has sights on Olympics
A YOUNG Darlington gymnast has high hopes of representing her country at the Junior European Championships. Amy Fossheim, 13, hopes the event will be a springboard to the 2008 Olympic Games. Amy, who attends Hurworth School Computing and Maths College
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Mistreated mastiff in need of a home
A NEW home is needed for a dog which was badly neglected by its owner. Jason, a bull mastiff, is now recuperating at the National Animal Sanctuary Support League in Darlington. He was found by police in an emaciated state in a flat in Hartlepool. Pauline
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Help at hand for gran, 80, scared of yobs
A COUNCILLOR has vowed to help a grandmother who is too scared to leave her house because of hooligans. Councillor Liz Fleming said she was appalled to hear of the plight of the 80-year-old grandmother of Dernby Close, Thornaby whose life has been made
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Jobs delight thanks to new store
A NEW supermarket in Stockton is a jobs success. The Tesco Extra store in Durham Road, which is set to open in two weeks, has created 522 jobs in the community from the petrol station and cafe to security and check-out personnel. Manger of the store,
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Charitable recycling idea
CALOR gas users can help a hospice by taking their old cylinders to a Bishop Auckland dealer. Spoors, in Railway Street, is giving £5 to the Butterwick Hospice for each empty cylinder that is returned. Calor is running a poster campaign to promote the
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Move to salvage old pub carvings
DESPITE pleas from a civic trust and strong opposition from councillors, one of Darlington's most unusual buildings is facing demolition. The Rise Carr pub stands out in the mainly industrial Whessoe Road because of the painted figurehead capitals, carved
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Community centre seeks helping hand
A RESIDENTS' group is seeking help to put the finishing touches to its new community centre. Chilton West Residents' Association has obtained the lease on two properties in Coleridge Road. Interior grilles have been fitted to downstairs windows but the
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Buildings get facelift grant aid
BUILDINGS in Darlington are benefiting from a £400,000 grant. Work has begun on improving properties in Northgate and High Northgate as part of the national Heritage Economic Regeneration scheme. Earlier this year, businesses in the area were told they
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Joyce-Loebl lands £2.84m rail security contract
ELECTRONICS specialist Joyce-Loebl has won a third major order in Portugal for its rail security system. The £2.84m export order is for the fitting of the company's closed-circuit TV security system to 347 refurbished rail cars, on two suburban lines
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Final bid to avoid £450,000 grant loss
A FINAL attempt to retain a £450,000 grant for Newton Aycliffe is to be made next week. John Newbould was furious when Sedgefield Borough Council turned down his application for a nursery in the town. Planning officials said the proposed site in Horndale
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School celebrates year of triumph and tragedy
A YEAR of success inside and outside the classroom was celebrated by comprehensive school pupils at a presentation evening. Wolsingham School and Community College headteacher Mitch O'Reilly reported on triumph and tragedy in the school, which received
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Bridge safety fears are rejected
A FARMER is warning that a new bridge built for ramblers over the river Skerne could be dangerous for small children. Fred Welsh says youngsters could fall through a gap in the side of the structure, which is on his land at Preston West Farm, Preston-le-Skerne
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Coach vows he'll stay in the ring to fight for boxing club
A BOXING club coach has vowed to battle on despite the closure of the club and is urging people in Stockton to back him. The Impala Fitness Club, in Frederick Street, closed at the beginning of the summer holidays following a legal row with Stockton Borough
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'He wanted her to say she loved him'
Microsoft is closing down its Internet chatrooms but will it be enough to protect youngsters from paedophiles? Christen Pears reports. LIKE many other girls her age, 12-year-old Chloe Burns used to spend a lot of time on the Internet. She would tell her
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Homes plan withdrawn
CONTROVERSIAL plans to turn a famous North Yorkshire country pub into a housing development were withdrawn only hours before planners were to make a decision. But the plans for the Stonehouse Inn at Thruscross, near Pateley Bridge, in the Nidderdale Area
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Sleeping quarters for farm workers
SLEEPING quarters at a North Yorkshire mushroom farm can only be used by pickers and packers, planning officers have ruled. Officials imposed the condition when approving a retrospective planning application for prefabricated bedroom quarters to accomodate
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Residents must wait for final decision
residents protesting against a proposed housing development have won the first round of their campaign. Councillors have defied planning officers' advice and voted against the scheme to build seven homes at Gallows Hill, in Ripon. More than 80 people
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News in brief: Lotto joy for village halls
TWO communities near Whitby are celebrating after being awarded grants by the National Lottery for village hall schemes. The Robinson Institute, at Glaisdale, has been given £232,307 towards a refurbishment scheme, while residents at Hinderwell have received
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Optimism on the increase
NEARLY two thirds of UK manufacturers expect the economy to begin picking up by the spring, a survey commissioned by The Manufacturing Alliance revealed yesterday. About 63 per cent of those polled predicted no improvement until the spring, and 15 per
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News in brief: Royal day for special school
THE new Percy Hedley Senior School, in Killingworth, North Tyneside, was opened by Princess Alexandra yesterday, almost exactly 50 years after her mother, the then Duchess of Kent, cut the ribbon at the original school building for children with cerebral
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Reg Vardy buys Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships
CAR dealer Reg Vardy has confirmed it is buying a number of Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships from rival Dutton Forshaw. The announcement of the £9m deal - revealed in The Northern Echo earlier this month - came at the group's annual meeting yesterday
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Bus companies in title race
TWO of North Yorkshire's bus companies will be vying for awards at a ceremony in London. The shortlist for the eighth annual Bus Industry Awards was announced yesterday. They include First York and Harrogate and District Travel, which are both shortlisted
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Cash for cricket and funding for football
CRICKET and football clubs are invited to take part in funding workshops. Two workshops for clubs in Ryedale have been arranged in partnership with Yorkshire Cricket Board and the North Riding FA. The aim of the two evenings is to inform clubs of the
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Workers show team spirit
Council workers swapped their suits for football strips when they were asked to help raise money for the homeless. Staff at the Richmondshire district authority took part in the recent Strip 4 Shelter day to help national charity Shelter. Employees could
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Emma's new yacht ready to set sail
ROUND-THE-WORLD yachtswoman Emma Ric-hards will tomorrow launch her new racing yacht. Scarborough print and multi-media company Pindar has invested a six-figure sum in the yacht, to be named Pindar of Scarborough. It will be launched at Scarborough Harbour
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Taxi promotes seatbelt use
SHOPPERS were shown the importance of wearing a seatbelt when a taxi that had been involved in a crash went on show this week at the Asda store, in Hartlepool. Two people in the taxi were seriously injured and the driver of the other car died. Neither
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Falklands project for Grant
TEENAGER Grant Sowerby is flying to the Falkland Islands to help expand its tourism industry. The County Durham student is one of five volunteers who have been chosen to go to the South Atlantic by Gap Activity Projects. The educational charity places
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News in brief: Royal day for special school
THE new Percy Hedley Senior School, in Killingworth, North Tyneside, was opened by Princess Alexandra yesterday, almost exactly 50 years after her mother, the then Duchess of Kent, cut the ribbon at the original school building for children with cerebral
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Hundreds pay respects at funeral of retired clergyman
HUNDREDS of people packed a church near Darlington yesterday for the funeral of a retired clergyman. The village of Hurworth was brought almost to a standstill for the service for Canon Leonard Piper, who died last week, aged 94. Police directed cars
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Warning after bogus callers take cash
RESIDENTS in Stockton are urged to be on their guard after bogus callers conned an elderly woman out of money. The incident happened last week, when three men called at the victim's home in Stockton. One, claiming to be from a water company, asked the
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Prize for internet effort
A BUSINESSMAN'S efforts to bring Broadband to Shildon have netted him runner-up spot in a national competition. Colin Devonport campaigned for the Internet facility to be brought to the town through his company Shildon Net. His move was supported by British
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College earns a first
A DURHAM college has been named as a centre of excellence thanks to its travel and tourism training. New College Durham is one of only seven colleges nationally to have received Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) status in Travel and Tourism Services
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Scheme set to reduce teachers' workloads
A COUNTY Durham school is leading the way in a new initiative designed to reduce the workload of teachers. Woodham Community Technology College in Newton Aycliffe is one of the first to take part in the School Remodelling Programme launched by the DfES
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Christie brightens up the sleepy Riverside
The Riverside Stadium has witnessed many a glorious cup night in its eight-year existence but last night wasn't one of them as Middlesbrough stuttered their way into the third round of the Carling Cup. Boro, League Cup runners-up twice in the last six
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Club golfers show champion form
BLACKWELL Grange were singing in the rain when they beat Hartlepool 3 and 2 to lift the Clark Cup at Durham City on Saturday. Having reached the final of the Durham County scratch competition for the first time in their history, Blackwell's team of captain
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Public backs plans for daffodil field of hope
A CANCER care charity has reported a good response from the public over plans to plant a field of hope. Marie Curie Cancer Care will be planting thousands of daffodil bulbs in late autumn in Durham, each of them sponsored in memory of someone who died
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Councillors vote for a £40 allowance rise
COUNCILLORS who cut employees wages by £50 have voted themselves pay rises of more than £40. Wear Valley District Council increased its basic allowance for councillors from £47 a week to £86.69 following a review by an independent panel. Leader Olive
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Money raised to care for injured girl
A FUNDRAISING event to help a North-East couple care for their injured daughter in Greece has raised £3,700. Ashleigh Stephens, 13, from Brinsley Court, Coundon, is undergoing extensive surgery in Athens after being hurled from the back of a moped through
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Kidnap trial told of chilling death threats
TWO North-East businessmen were kidnapped and tortured by masked gunmen who posed as Customs and Excise officers. The pair were told they would be executed - and their families murdered - unless they handed over £600,000. German-born Volker Kappler, 37
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FA to hit Gunners' title hopes for six
Arsenal's title challenge is set to be seriously undermined by suspensions potentially totalling more than 20 games after being hit by the full force of the Football Association's disciplinary might. Arsenal are accused of failing to control their players
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Dad At Large: Pudding on the agony
ALL of us downtrodden dads need an escape from the noise, the pressure, the crushing burden of expectation. For me, it's golf. Every Sunday morning, me and two other ageing dads get up at the crack of dawn in the vain hope that all our dreams will come
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Pearl to string rivals along
TRY stringing along with Pearl Pride (3.00) in the Porters Lodge Fillies Nursery for a profitable afternoon at Pontefract. On her latest outing at Beverley, Pearl Pride made a determined effort to get off the mark, setting a furious gallop which had all
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Reg Vardy buys Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships
CAR dealer Reg Vardy has confirmed it is buying a number of Jaguar and Land Rover dealerships from rival Dutton Forshaw. The announcement of the £9m deal - revealed in The Northern Echo earlier this month - came at the group's annual meeting yesterday
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News in brief: Woman wants to trace family
A woman is trying to trace members of her extended family, who she believes are living in Ferryhill. Michelle Barnett is trying to find members of the Bibby family related to, or who knew Andrew Scobie Ford or Martin Laird Ford, husband of Charlotte Cochrane
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'Blair clique led Britain into war'
A CLIQUE around Tony Blair drove Britain into war in Iraq after hiding the truth from Parliament and the people, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy will claim today. In his most outspoken attack yet on the events leading up to war, Mr Kennedy will
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Store staff bare all for charity calendar
SUPERMARKET workers are baring all in a calendar to raise money for charity. The men and women from Asda have posed behind strategically placed melons, beer and Christmas presents for the calendar, which was launched last Thursday. In a project that mirrors
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Union hits out at £637m for new rail operator criticised
THE Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) will hand over £637m in subsidies over the next eight years to the operators of the new Transpennine Express franchise. The figure was revealed on the day the authority signed an agreement with FGK, a consortium of First
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Holiday rep's jail threat over sex act shame
CLUB 18-30 rep Zara Goodwin could face prison over her sexy antics in a Greek tourist resort. Ms Goodwin was one of five reps who resigned after they were caught on camera performing sex acts in front cheering holidaymakers. Yesterday, it was revealed
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Farmer fears gap in bridge is unsafe
A FARMER fears a newly built bridge for ramblers over the River Skerne could be dangerous for small children. Fred Welsh says youngsters could fall through a gap in the side of the bridge, which is on his farmland at Preston West Farm, Preston-le-Skerne
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City 'ideal' power base
DURHAM has emerged as the firm favourite to host the North-East's own parliament, should the public vote for an elected regional assembly. The region's historic capital could prove the modern power base if voters opt for regional government in a referendum
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Fine for man shot with plastic bullet by police
A CHEF who became the first person in a North county to be shot by police firing plastic bullets has been fined £100. Chef Steven Evers was brought down by a baton round, which is more commonly known as a plastic bullet, as he brandished two knives in
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Review goes on despite results
TROUBLED steelmaker Corus yesterday confirmed it is to press ahead with a review of its operations on Teesside, despite the plant playing a major role in stabilising its UK business. The Anglo-Dutch group posted half-year pre-tax losses of £89m, compared
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New bridge across Tees
A NEW £4M pedestrian and cycle bridge is to be built across the River Tees at as part of a massive regeneration project and residents are being urged to have their say on the final design. Over the next week people will be able to view and vote on five
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At last! Bellamy on target in big victory
PROGRESSING in the UEFA Cup may not be the perfect way to fianlly kick-start Newcastle United's own domestic campaign. But after this convincing 5-0 first-leg thumping of NAC Breda at St James' Park, hopes are now high that the Magpies can finally go
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Bus firm tries to improve service
A BUS company has introduced an emergency timetable to try to combat service problems in the Wear Valley. The move by Go North-East comes after complaints from residents in the area about being stranded at bus stops after last minute cancellations. Natalie
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Nurse explains the marvel of maggots in modern medicine
PEOPLE will be able to find out about the medical benefits of maggots at a health trust open evening. The bugs play a crucial role in the innovative work of biosurgery and are used at Harrogate District Hospital to remove unhealthy tissue from wounds.
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Planners back down as food chain threatens legal action
PLANNERS have backed down after an international fast food chain threatened legal action over opening hours at a North-East restaurant. Despite objections from some members of Darlington Council planning committee and from residents nearby, KFC will now
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Race for home hots up at base
PEOPLE are preparing for a battle to be first to snap up a former Army home. The Ministry of Defence is selling off three and four-bedroomed houses on Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, prompting would-be buyers to flock to the camp. Many pitched tents
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£45m town centre shops plan approved
THE go-ahead for Darlington's £45m shopping complex was given by councillors last night. The development by St Martins Property Group will see hundreds of jobs created and more big name retailers attracted to the town. But the scope of the development
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Review goes on despite results
TROUBLED steelmaker Corus yesterday confirmed it is to press ahead with a review of its operations on Teesside, despite the plant playing a major role in stabilising its UK business. The Anglo-Dutch group posted half-year pre-tax losses of £89m, compared
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VA Tech unveils plan for headquarters
AN engineering firm has pledged its future to the region after unveiling plans for a multi-million pound headquarters. Switchgear maker VA Tech Reyrolle sparked fears that it was to leave the area when it struggled to find a site on which to build a centre
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Leaning tower will be restored to glory
THE North-East's own version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is to be straightened, thanks to a £4m National Lottery grant. Work began on Monday on the first phase of a multi-million pound scheme to restore eighteenth century parklands to its former glory
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School is cleanest in town
AYCLIFFE Village Primary School is celebrating after claiming the title of Sedgefield's Cleanest Primary School 2003. The school was the first in Sedgefield borough to take part in a new council recycling scheme and has won itself a £2,000 grounds makeover
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TV review
One Life: Lager, Mum And Me (BBC1) THIS is mum, who's going into detox next week to get off drink because she's an alcoholic or whatever it's called," says schoolgirl Nanza, introducing us to her parent. As you can tell from that quote, there were a lot
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Schools team 'good'
DURHAM County Council wants to improve below average performance in GCSE exams, say inspectors. An Ofsted team says Durham is a 'good' education authority with a 'strong record' and is committed to raising achievement. The percentage of pupils getting
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Letters
IMMIGRATION AS politicians and businessmen know, every immigrant is a potential tax-payer and consumer, and should therefore be welcomed as a contributor to Britain's future economic growth and prosperity, and to the support of our growing army of pensioners
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Joyce-Loebl lands £2.84m rail security contract
ELECTRONICS specialist Joyce-Loebl has won a third major order in Portugal for its rail security system. The £2.84m export order is for the fitting of the company's closed-circuit TV security system to 347 refurbished rail cars, on two suburban lines
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News in brief: Coffee events to aid charity
FORMER Darlington mayor Councillor Tony Richmond will be supporting the World's Biggest Coffee Morning event in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief tomorrow. He will be holding a coffee morning in his home, 47 The Headlands, Darlington, from 10am to 1pm, in
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Mother's praise for club after it kept her son on the straight and narrow
A MUM said her unruly son's behaviour has been turned round by his attendance at a boxing club. Tracey Poskett is full of praise for Spennymoor Boxing Academy, in the County Durham town, after coaches took her 15-year-old son, Ben, for training. Mrs Poskett
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Learning in action
GERMAN students visiting Darlington have been getting their hands dirty whie improving their language skills. A group of 14 fifth formers from Bremen are spending two weeks, gaining work experience with local businesses. Student Kevin Rtzel is working
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Have a cuppa and show you care
ENERGY workers will be taking a coffee break with a difference, for the Macmillan Cancer Relief's World's Biggest Coffee Morning tomorrow. Npower staff will be raising cuppas at centres across the UK, including Teesside. Elaine Midwinter, npower's Health
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Incinerator for animals can be built
PROTESTORS pledged to continue their fight after a council gave permission for an incinerator to burn large animal carcasses. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council granted Ted Noddings a licence yesterday to burn farm animals at his knacker's yard at Charltons
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Play soccer for peace? Don't make me laugh
'PACK it in, pack it in, we're not playing in the Premiership now," shouted the referee as tempers frayed on the pitch during my ten-year-old's Sunday morning football match. Even watching from the sidelines, things can get pretty heated in our little
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Councils consider link-up of services
BETTER environmental services at no greater cost could be produced by a link-up of three district councils. Durham City, Easington and Sedgefield councils are working on a concordat to jointly provide services such as refuse collection, street cleaning
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Bridge safety fears are rejected
A FARMER is warning that a new bridge built for ramblers over the river Skerne could be dangerous for small children. Fred Welsh says youngsters could fall through a gap in the side of the structure, which is on his land at Preston West Farm, Preston-le-Skerne
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Bus emergency timetable to tackle shortfall in services
A BUS company has introduced an emergency timetable to try to combat service problems in the Wear Valley. The move by Go North-East comes after complaints from residents in the area about being stranded at bus stops after last-minute cancellation of services
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Terror of knifepoint robbery
A WINDOW cleaner last night relived the moment a gang of youths threatened him with a knife to steal only £11. Albert Wathen, was in bed when he heard a knock at his front door. He answered it and was confronted by a gang of four youths who forced their
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Proposal may lead to cuts in council tax for pensioners
COUNCIL tax discounts could be available for pensioners living in North Yorkshire. The county authority's ruling Conservative group will present the plan to a meeting of the governing executive on Tuesday. If it wins a majority vote, North Yorkshire County
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News in brief: Royal day for special school
THE new Percy Hedley Senior School, in Killingworth, North Tyneside, was opened by Princess Alexandra yesterday, almost exactly 50 years after her mother, the then Duchess of Kent, cut the ribbon at the original school building for children with cerebral
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Date
News in brief: Royal day for special school
THE new Percy Hedley Senior School, in Killingworth, North Tyneside, was opened by Princess Alexandra yesterday, almost exactly 50 years after her mother, the then Duchess of Kent, cut the ribbon at the original school building for children with cerebral
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Store delivers cash boost for playgroup
A PLAYGROUP has been given a boost through a donation from a new supermarket. The manager of Chester-le-Street's new Tesco store, Matthew Feather, visited Middle Chare Pre-School in the town, to hand over a £500 cheque. The pre-school, situated within
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Opinions sought over council's performance
RESIDENTS in Derwentside are being asked for their opinions on the performance of their district council. The authority has launched a survey which will provide feedback on the level of satisfaction of residents with the services it provides. The survey
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Drive to cut fire deaths
AN initiative has been launched to reduce the risk of death and injury in house fires. The Richmondshire Community Safety Partnership and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have devised a potentially life-saving programme. The scheme will see smoke
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Topping up the tan at RAF base
THE sun will always shine at RAF Leeming now that the base has a solarium suite. Station commander Group Captain Brian Bates opened the suite, which is the latest addition to the activities run by the Service Institute Fund (Sif). Fund president Squadron
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University media centre completed
A NORTH-EAST university has received the keys to its £9m media centre . Sunderland University's Media Centre will form part of a centre of excellence for the arts. The building has studios, workshops and edit suites, as well as facilities for TV and radio
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Open day held to improve access to services
REPRESENTATIVES from several agencies met the public at their local library yesterday. The event, at Ripon library, was staged to encourage people to make use of the services available in libraries. The county's executive member for libraries, Carl Les
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Making play safe for estate children
RESIDENTS are putting their backs into creating a safe play area for children in the neighbourhood. A workforce has been recruited from the ranks of unemployed residents on the Park End estate, Middlesbrough. The workers have all received training and
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Grassroots: Yarm and Easglescliffe
HARVEST CELEBRATIONS: St Mary Magdalene Church, Yarm, will hold its harvest festival service on Sunday, October 5, at 10am. On the same day, a harvest lunch will be held in Yarm Fellowship Hall, following the harvest thanksgiving service at Yarm Parish
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Reviewing years of achievement
HARTLEPOOL people have been reviewing the efforts being made to make the town a better place. The Hartlepool Partnership annual event, at the town's Middleton Grange shopping centre, attracted more than 100 residents. The partnership, chaired by MP Peter
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'Expert' patients will offer others support
PEOPLE with long-term medical conditions are being recruited as expert patients to help fellow sufferers. An Expert Patient Programme starting in Weardale follows successful projects by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, in Bishop Auckland and Barnard
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Opera group's base hangs in the balance
AN amateur operatic group must wait until next month to discover the future of its headquarters and rehearsal rooms. Ripon Amateur Operatic Society applied for outline planning permission to convert its hall at Water Skellgate into housing. Planning officer
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Last Night's TV: A sobering look at alcoholism
One Life: Lager, Mum And Me (BBC1): "THIS is mum, who's going into detox next week to get off drink because she's an alcoholic or whatever it's called," says schoolgirl Nanza, introducing us to her parent. As you can tell from that quote, there were a
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Call for fur trade ban
NORTH-EAST Conservative MEP Martin Callanan has joined Euro MPs in a fresh call for an outright ban on the cat and dog fur trade. Last year, nine agriculture ministers from member states formally asked the European Commission to ban the import, export
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New face joins project to revitalise area
THE company in charge of a £1.5bn regeneration programme has made a new appointment. Tees Valley Regeneration has taken on chartered surveyor Neil Graham as project director. The 42-year-old has joined the company from regional development agency One
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Pop contestant boosts water campaign
POP Idol contestant Aaron Bayley visited his old school yesterday to take a lesson in healthy living. The Newcastle-born singer was launching a Northumbrian Water initiative to encourage children to drink more water by making water coolers available to
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Students help sing on charity release
STUDENTS from Stagecoach schools across the North-East have helped produce a single to be released on Monday. The students were among 3,000 youngsters at Stagecoach schools from across the UK who came together in the audience at a charity concert at the
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Relic that may have changed the North
A RELIC of the British motor industry has returned home almost 100 years after it was built. And had the prototype found favour with those early motorists, it could have changed the shape of North-East manufacturing for ever. The North, and not the Midlands
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News in brief: Youngsters take to pitch
Hundreds of children are expected to take part in the fifth annual Teesside Soccability Festival next month. The Middlesbrough Soccability Club, in partnership with the North Riding County Football Association, is holding the festival at Middlesbrough
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Brave Len's hat-trick of sea rescues
STRONG swimmer Len Richardson scored an unexpected holiday hat-trick when he plunged into the Mediterranean to rescue a drowning tourist. For remarkably, saving the elderly holidaymaker from the waters off Minorca marked the third successful sea rescue
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Pearl to string rivals along
TRY stringing along with Pearl Pride (3.00) in the Porters Lodge Fillies Nursery for a profitable afternoon at Pontefract. On her latest outing at Beverley, Pearl Pride made a determined effort to get off the mark, setting a furious gallop which had all
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A threat to our children
IT is a sad fact of life that the minority often spoil things for the majority and Internet chatrooms are another example. The Internet is wonderful. It has opened up avenues of communication which were unimaginable a generation ago. Millions of decent
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Mother's plea as medics accused
THE mother of a North-East tourist who died on the holiday island of Rhodes made an emotive plea for justice yesterday. Christopher Rochester, 24, from Chester-le-Street, bled to death in hospital after falling from a balcony - due, it is alleged, to
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Campaigners' bid to halt closure talks
DEMONSTRATORS have vowed to pack out an NHS meeting to protest against talks over closing their town hospital. The campaigners will attend the North Tees NHS Trust's annual meeting, at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, at 12.30pm on Friday. NHS managers
