Archive
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Hotline for fireworks
PEOPLE are being urged to use a freephone hotline next week to help to combat the misuse of fireworks and associated anti-social behaviour. The phone line can be called from Tuesday until November 15 and will deal with information on people building bonfires
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Warehouse turned into an island home
The story of a curious corner of Darlington that was once an island in the river Skerne, and its links to a butcher noted for his culinary skills in ox-roasting... IN yesterday's NE magazine, which accompanied The Northern Echo, there was an article about
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Companies are losing out on deaf custom
BUSINESSES in the Darlington area are missing out on millions of pounds worth of business by failing to provide telephone access to deaf people, a survey has found. According to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), businesses in the town
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Beetling to church on that special day
ABBEY Wedding Wheels, a newcomer to the wedding car service in Darlington, has taken delivery of an unusual wedding car. The Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet, in ivory with a luxurious leather interior, is intended to make the day even more special. Abbey
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High marks for business complex staff
DARLINGTON'S commercial property market received another boost when the security at a business complex was ranked among the top in the UK. Security and reception service at the Lingfield Point business park is second to none, according to the national
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Police appeal after cat poisoner strikes again
A FAMILY have been left devastated after a cat poisoner killed their second pet this year. Wendy Harrison, of Ladysmith Close, Bishop Auckland, had to have her 11-year-old cat, Abby, put to sleep after it came home in distress on Monday. An investigation
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Pool suffer shoot-out agony after thriller
HARTLEPOOL United were knocked out of the LDV Vans Trophy on penalties last night. As at Cheltenham, when they lost in the Division Three play-offs two seasons ago, a spot-kick hitting the bar proved decisive. Unlike in the Carling Cup at Sheffield Wednesday
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Action pledged on services
A COUNCIL has introduced measures in response to a critical report of its environmental services. According to a report from the Audit Commission on the service provided by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, people are very dissatisfied with overall
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Chance to win a year of free swimming
YOUNGSTERS in Darlington can win a year's free swimming by coming up with the winning name for a new water slide at the Dolphin Centre. The centre, run by Darlington Borough Council, is holding a competition to find a name for the new water slide, believed
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Slimmer figures star on calendar
A group of slimmers were so thrilled after shedding the pounds that they decided to shed their clothes as well. Mandy Drake and her friends used to cover up their curves with baggy sweaters as they fought a battle against the flab. But after losing more
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Artistic commission created
AN ORGANISATION to represent the interests of creative industries in the region has been established. The Creative Industries Commission (CIC) is an industry-led group with membership drawn from the music and performance art business, through to digital
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Bitter workers criticise Blair
WORKERS leaving a North-East textile factory for the final time said the loss of 350 jobs had left them feeling bitter. As Sara Lee Courtaulds in Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland shut down last week workers accused Tony Blair of letting them down. They
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Export Club on shortlist
A NORTH-East company has beaten competition from across the UK to be shortlisted for the International Business Awards 2003. The Northern Offshore Federation Export Club has made it to the shortlist of the awards, which recognise and reward the efforts
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Centre's success applauded
LOTTERY managers have praised a newly built community centre as a shining example of how to be a success. The Jubilee Fields Community Centre, in Shildon, was a dream that people living on the Jubilee Housing estate fought hard to make a reality. A £450,000
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Body of engineer is flown home
SPANISH authorities have released the body of a North-East naval engineer who died in a shore leave accident in Tenerife. The body of 21-year-old John Hutchinson is expected to be flown to Newcastle Airport today, after Spanish police completed their
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Race fans are called to meet
AN ambitious new equestrian project could offer horse owners a safe place to train and could attract hundreds of visitors to the Wear Valley district. Supporters of harness racing have called a public meeting in Eldon Lane later this month to set their
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Race fans are called to meet
AN ambitious new equestrian project could offer horse owners a safe place to train and could attract hundreds of visitors to the Wear Valley district. Supporters of harness racing have called a public meeting in Eldon Lane later this month to set their
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15/10/03
IAIN DUNCAN SMITH: LET'S hold on a minute: misuse of public funds by virtue of employing a member of your family, an act not unfamiliar in Westminster, Brussels or the country at large. If wrongdoing is found, then yes, IDS should be disciplined according
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Addicts use empty pub
POLICE have urged the owners of an empty market town pub to take action following a claim that it was being used by drug addicts. The Black Lion, in Finkle Street, Richmond, closed in January following a dispute between the tenant and owners Pubmaster
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Court told how girl was stabbed to death over £30
A 12-YEAR-OLD girl who was taking a sick day from school was murdered when she caught her sister's boyfriend stealing £30 from the family home, a court heard yesterday. Natalie Ruddick was stabbed 25 times in the face, neck and arm. Ronald Pattinson,
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Intertech promises lucrative tie-ups
A MAJOR business event held in the North-East this week could lead to lucrative partnerships with US companies. American visitors to the two-day Intertech event in Durham were so impressed they want to hold a similar one in Mississippi. Representatives
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News in brief: Health website for teenagers
A HEALTH website designed by, and for, young people in the Durham Dales has been officially launched. The Talk4teens site, funded by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust and the Teenage Pregnancy Unit, aims to address their health needs and lifestyle concerns
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£1m doctor's surgery is a good tonic
A £1m doctors' surgery has opened, adding architectural know-how to the field of medicine. General practitioner Aiden Lavender spent months analysing practices around the country to come up with the perfect surgery for Parkgate, Darlington. The result
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Headteacher in line for award
A NEWTON Aycliffe headteacher is preparing for his big day at the profession's version of the Oscars ceremony. Steve Harness, head of Woodham Community Technology College, could win a prize package of cash and equipment worth over £25,000 if he triumphs
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Campaign calls for more affordable rural housing
PEOPLE in rural areas are being asked to support a call to build more homes at affordable prices. Durham Rural Community Council is sending out letters to households in Wolsingham and St John's Chapel, in Weardale, for a survey on housing needs. Recent
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Cocaine 'delivered to your door'
POLICE have uncovered a drugs home delivery service. Astonished detectives on Teesside found hundreds of newly-printed "don't delay, phone today" business cards with a haul of illegal drugs. They made the discovery in one of four simultaneous raids on
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News in brief: Health website for teenagers
A HEALTH website designed by, and for, young people in the Durham Dales has been officially launched. The Talk4teens site, funded by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust and the Teenage Pregnancy Unit, aims to address their health needs and lifestyle concerns
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Action urged to reduce youth nuisance on estate
RESIDENTS on a Darlington estate say they are being plagued by youths playing ball games outside their homes. People in Pilmoor Green, Firthmoor, say they feel intimidated by teenagers congregating on the green in front of their houses and kicking balls
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Arms trade protestors make point
'PROTESTORS calling for an end to immoral arms trading marched into the region yesterday. The North-East leg of the Control Arms Campaign was launched in Sunderland Market Square, with members dressed up as arms-dealing nations holding guns to the heads
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Electric blanket testing
FREE electric blanket tests, energy-efficient light bulbs and smoke detectors are on offer to people in Darlington. The offer by Darlington Trading Standards and Age Concern is running until Friday at the town's Age Concern centre. Last year, 193 people
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Stage group highlights leavers' choices
TEENAGERS at a Bishop Auckland school are weighing up their careers options after a visit from a group of actors. One of the country's biggest theatre companies, CragRats, called at King James I Community College as part of a six-week tour of schools
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Children raise voices to appeal for church
MORE than 50 children will sing to help a community's crusade for a new church. Pupils from Escomb Primary School and St John's Primary School, in Shildon, will join a festival of song at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church on Friday, at 6.45pm. The event
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Farmer keeping track of Trevor the turkey and Tommy the bullock
FARMYARD antics have gone slightly crazy in one corner of the region where an unlikely partnership has formed between a turkey, a bullock and a quad bike. Trevor the turkey has already showed off his abilities to walk the tightrope, jump through hoops
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Rejection likely for waste proposal
CONTROVERSIAL plans to operate a 24-hour waste treatment station in a small village look likely to be halted at a county council planning meeting next week. Councillors have been urged to refuse applicant David Coning planning permission for the proposed
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Drug dealer loses appeal
A HEROIN dealer who was logged having 133 visits to her home in a month, yesterday failed to win a reduction in her jail sentence. Kelly Armstrong, 25, of Lakeside Court, Spennymoor, was jailed for three years and nine months on February 14, at Teesside
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Miners' celebrations seen through film-maker's eye
ARCHIVE film footage looking at everyday life in the 1950s will be given a public showing next week. Durham's Clayport Library is hosting the screening of high quality 16mm colour film shot by miner's son Edward Roberts. His memoirs, Across the Green,
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Gang took caravan to order from farm
A GANG stole a £7,250 caravan to order, hours after it was moved from a secure compound to a farmyard, a court heard yesterday. Michael Hammond, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates that Brian Dale did a deal for the disposal of the caravan and moved
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N-E scientists welcome US cancer study
Scientists from the North-East have welcomed research which suggests men who develop prostate cancer may be genetically vulnerable to cancer-causing agents. Researchers from North Carolina, in the US, found that men with prostate cancer often had a different
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Stars fight racism
SUNDERLAND Football Club has joined forces with the organisation Kick it Out to promote a national week of anti-racism. The club will take part in a host of activities, culminating in an anti-racism day at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, when the Black
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Play project in line for national prize
A SCHEME to give children with disabilities and special needs the chance to take part in mainstream activities is in line for a national award. Derwentside Leisure's inclusive play project helped ten families enjoy its summer holidays programme. The scheme
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Travelling team of first aid teachers
A GROUP of six RAF personnel who recently returned from the Gulf are reviving their free first aid training service. The Heartstart service has been going for a number of years, but while Flight Sgt Vic Rose, based at RAF Leeming, and and his five colleagues
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From derelict pub to Star turn in seven years
A FORMER derelict pub was yesterday named as the nation's best. The Star Inn at Harome, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, was named Pub of the Year in the Good Pub Guide 2004. Owners Andrew and Jacquie Pern, who bought the 14th Century property seven years
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Historian seeks tales of city's wartime escape
EYEWITNESSES are being sought to help tell the amazing story of how Durham was spared from a devastating wartime bombing raid. In retaliation for RAF raids on Germany, Hitler ordered the Luftwaffe to attack the region's most historic city, and in the
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Gazza still weighing up Quakers switch
PAUL Gascoigne's agents last night admitted that the former England midfielder could be on his way to the North-East to link up with Mick Tait's Darlington. Grass Roots Management exclusively revealed to Northern Echo Sport that Quakers are among a number
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Gang took caravan from farm 'to order'
A NORTH-EAST gang stole a £7,250 caravan to order, hours after it was moved from a secure compound to a farmyard, a court heard yesterday. Michael Hammond, prosecuting, told Harrogate magistrates that Brian Dale did a deal for the disposal of the caravan
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Fly-past to mark arrival of bomber
A service has been held to mark the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the first Halifax bomber at Wombleton airfield, near Kirkbymoorside. The ceremony was held at a memorial to the men and women who served in the RAF and the Royal Canadian Air Force
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Fred's run inspired by his father
A VILLAGE is uniting behind a man who is running the New York marathon as a thank you for the hospital treatment his father received. Fred Atkinson's decision to run in the event, on November 2, has already brought hundreds of pounds pouring into his
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Meeting will press case for better roads
SCARBOROUGH MP Lawrie Quinn is holding a public meeting to press the case for upgrading roads leading to the Yorkshire coast. Last year, he and Ryedale MP John Greenway met Transport Minister David Jamieson to discuss the inadequacies of the A64 transport
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Retired John faces up to death
John Alderton was three years into happy retirement when the chance came to join the cast of Calendar Girls, back in his beloved Yorkshire. Then the veteren comedy actor discovered he'd been cast as the husband who dies and inspires the charity strip
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Job satisfaction
STARS Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron must feel as if they're on trial. They - and the other Americans involved in new heist movie The Italian Job - stand accused of taking a cult British film and remaking it in the style of Hollywood. In their defence
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Brit of a do
Alex Kingston switched the clinical stardom of US-made ER for the muddy fields of Romania to play her girlhood hero Boudica. To become the legendary queen, Kingston had to learn sword fighting and chariot driving. Steve Pratt reports. ER doctor Alex Kingston
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New breast screening unit opens
A hospital which helped to pioneer breast screening more than 30 years ago has opened an ultra-modern screening and assessment unit. Gateshead Health NHS Trust has chosen Breast Screening Awareness month to open a new £4 million Breast Screening and Assessment
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Mother sounds alarm bells after spinning toy injures baby
A MOTHER whose baby daughter was injured by a popular toy is warning other parents to be careful. Samantha Dixon claims her six-month-old baby Piper almost lost an eye after being hit with part of a Beyblades-style spinning top which her eight-year-old
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Newsplayer makes trip worthwhile
ANY doubts about risking the arduous 222-mile journey from Adlestrop in Gloucestershire were dispelled when Newsplayer waltzed away with the feature race at Sedgefield yesterday. Richard Johnson's mount jumped like a stag in the cantorindex.co.uk Handicap
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Maxim-um joy for model Emma
A NORTH-EAST model has spoken of her surprise at being rated among the top ten most beautiful women in the UK by readers of a lads magazine. Emma Nicholson, formerly Padfield, was voted ninth in Maxim magazine's list of the Top 50 Babes in the UK. Mrs
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Town centre tastes life in other parts
PEOPLE were given a glimpse of what life is like on other countries when they visited Darlington town centre at the weekend. Activities organised by the Campaign for Learning saw parts of the town turned into culture zones. The Railway Museum, Crown Street
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Hotel appeals for help
THE silence in a room once filled with the sounds of ticking clocks is a fitting tribute to one man. Bill Munro, a biochemist and head of science at Risedale Community College in Catterick, until his retirement, dedicated 15 years to the fascinating collection
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N-E marine honoured aboard warship
A private service has been held on board a Royal Navy warship in memory of a North-East marine killed in Iraq. Marine Christopher Maddison's family joined representatives of HMS Ocean for the service this morning, an MoD spokeswoman said. One of the ship's
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Please let it go right
SCOTTISH-born actress Simone Lahbib, best known as former Bad Girls prison governor Helen Stewart, has moved over to the dark side. At least, that's how she thinks of the character in the new London-set underworld drama Family. As Jacqueline, known as
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£22m programme to stop the yobs launched
OFFICIALS who fail to tackle yobbish behaviour should face the sack, Home Secretary David Blunkett said yesterday. His comments came as he announced a £22m crackdown on anti-social behaviour in the next year as part of a three-year, £75m programme. A
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The band that blew away
THE Tornadoes, that well known spelling mistake, blew briefly through last week's column. They were the 1962 group which had a number one hit with Telstar and two or three satellite successes thereafter. The only problem, as Alan Woods in Middlesbrough
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Woman aged 101 saved from fire
FOUR pensioners, including a 101-year-old, had a lucky escape after being trapped in their homes by arsonists. Three women, aged 66, 81, and 101, and an 88-year-old man were trapped by the fires on the porches of their homes in Columbia, Washington, Wearside
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Bidding war fails to dent profits
DEPARTMENT store Debenhams, which is in talks about opening a branch in Darlington, yesterday announced a 9.6 per cent rise in underlying profits. The chain, which has been at the centre of a takeover battle since May, reported the rise to £168.4m after
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When my legs turned to jelly
About two miles into a walk high on the North York Moors last weekend I came upon a pack of beagles. Three or four smartly-attired huntsmen stood at strategic points on the open moor. A pack of hounds forayed in two groups. And scattered here and there
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Food for thought for foolish mothers
LET them eat baked beans. Again. Let them eat stale bread, a mouldy cheese rind and the cold, congealed remains of last night's pizza. Let them realise - at a supremely vital moment - that they have run out of loo roll. It might remind them to get the
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Kidnap gang boss jailed
A MILLIONAIRE who masterminded the kidnap of two North-East businessmen was jailed for 11 years yesterday. German-born industrialist Volker Kappler recruited a gang of armed men to snatch John Wood and David Langhorne from a Hartlepool factory. They were
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Buses for all go into service
NEW wheelchair-friendly buses fitted with security cameras will be introduced in Darlington next month as part of a shake-up of public transport in the town. Low-floor buses, four of them owned by Darlington Borough Council, will be used on new services
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School plans ready
DESIGNS have been finalised for a secondary school to replace a cramped and oversubscribed building from the Sixites. If everything goes to plan, children from St Francis Xavier School, in Richmond, could transfer from the old premises to the new school
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Jobs lost as Angel builder struggles
THE company that built the Angel of the North was placed in administration last night, with the immediate loss of 38 jobs. But more than 50 further jobs are at risk unless Hartlepool Fabrication can find a buyer. Administrators called in by the company
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Last Night's TV: How Hitler was had
Time Flyers (BBC2): THE plan involved little more than a few lights and bonfires but saved many lives - and demonstrated that you shouldn't always believe what you see. Fooling Hitler told of the Second World War hoax involving the unlikely combination
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Happy valley offers capital welcome
FAMILIES are swapping hectic city lives in south London for a more peaceful existence in Wear Valley under a scheme to fill empty council houses. Five families have already moved to the district from the borough of Lewisham and 30 more have applied to
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Pepsi to help Unilever sell tea
CONSUMER firm Unilever hopes to widen the reach of its Lipton ice tea in the UK after agreeing on a joint venture with Pepsi. Unilever revealed its plans yesterday, which include using Pepsi's bottling and distribution network in an effort to gain access
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Burberry credits Bravo for raising revenues
UPMARKET fashion house Burberry has increased revenues by 17 per cent in the first half. Chief executive Rose Marie Bravo has been credited with reviving the brand's popularity since she joined the company, with initiatives such as the recruitment of
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Hotline to help rescue animals
THE RSPCA is appealing for new homes for the 269 animals the society seized from one address in its largest-ever haul. It took a team of 26 RSPCA officials two days to remove 244 dogs, 16 parrots, seven cats, a rabbit and a chinchilla from a house in
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Search for pair who visited child
POLICE have issued e-fits of a couple who fooled a little boy's mother into letting them into her home. The pair claimed to be a social worker and a plain-clothes police officer when they called at a house in Oakley Green, West Auckland, County Durham
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'Keeping your staff happy is the key to success'
A company is urging firms to keep their employees happy after figures showed the UK now works the longest and least flexible hours in Europe. According to the Trades Union Congress, one in six people now work more than 60 hours a week. Bibby Factors Northeast
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Soldier's tough battle
WETHERBY'S valuable £20,000 Rocom BT Hurdle has not surprisingly attracted raiders from all parts of the country, but hopefully the booty will remain in North Yorkshire courtesy of Virgin Soldier (3.30). The Melsonby-near-Richmond trained gelding, who
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Ex-football club boss admits bankruptcy
THE businessman once hailed as the saviour of a North-East football club admitted last night that he is bankrupt. Quantity surveyor Michael Peden took over the third division club in the summer of 1997. At the time, he promised to take Darlington Football
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Find rings in changes for clock
REDCAR'S clock is set to ring out once more. A turret bell, discovered in storage at Kirkleatham Museum, will be fitted to the clock, which lost its previous bell after hotel guests and residents complained it was disturbing their sleep. It currently
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IDS facing further probe into pay claims
CONSERVATIVE leader Iain Duncan Smith faces a further investigation into allegations that he improperly employed his wife. Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer's decision will come as a blow to Mr Duncan Smith. The Tory leader submitted
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How Hitler was had
Time Flyers (BBC2): THE plan involved little more than a few lights and bonfires but saved many lives - and demonstrated that you shouldn't always believe what you see. Fooling Hitler told of the Second World War hoax involving the unlikely combination
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Harness racing fans hope to set up circuit
AN ambitious new equestrian project could offer horse owners a safe place to train and attract hundreds of visitors to the North-East. Supporters of harness racing have called a public meeting in Eldon Lane, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, later
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Health care roadshow
A NEW partnership is preparing to provide a health care roadshow in the Sedgefield borough. The Your Health Roadshow will offer health information and advice, primarily for people over 50. The roadshow offers the opportunity to have a flu jab, free health
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Skipper Southgate fit to face Magpies
STEVE McCLAREN is relishing the prospect of sending fit-again captain Gareth Southgate into derby battle with Alan Shearer on Saturday. Southgate, 33, is poised to make his return to first-team action against Newcastle United after missing two games with
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News in brief: Health website for teenagers
A HEALTH website designed by, and for, young people in the Durham Dales has been officially launched. The Talk4teens site, funded by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust and the Teenage Pregnancy Unit, aims to address their health needs and lifestyle concerns
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Police appeal after accident
POLICE in Spennymoor are appealing for information following an alleged hit and run incident near the town's Co-op store. They are trying to trace a small red car, thought to be a Ford Fiesta, driven by a man with a woman in the front passenger seat.
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Court hearings
THE following cases were heard by South Durham magistrates at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday: THEFT ALLEGATION: John Eeles, 25, of Appleton Road, Stockton, is charged with stealing a Ford Transit van worth £1,000 and driving without a licence
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Learning awards
A DARLINGTON school has nominated ten pupils for an award. The children from Beaumont Hill Special School have been nominated for the Celebration of Learning Awards. Among those nominated are 14-year-old Alan Wood, 15-year-old Isobel Webster, 15-year-old
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Tandem launch for women's poetry book
TWO women's poetry groups from opposite ends of the country are simultaneously launching an anthology of their work. The Vane Women Press will launch Rewriting the Map in Ottakars bookshop, in Darlington, tomorrow, with a similar launch taking place at
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News in brief: School fields sale ruling
A DECISION on the controversial sale of school playing fields in Darlington is expected to be made within 15 weeks of the borough council submitting its proposals to the Education Secretary. The local authority wants to sell part of the land at Longfield
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Man dies in horrific car crash
A man has died after the car he was driving crashed into a road sign this morning. His male passenger was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton with chest injuries which are not thought to be life threatening. The accident happened
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Out of Africa to enchant pupils
CHILDREN learned about African culture when a professional artist taught them drama, dance and tie-dying in a series of workshops. Artist Marie Coffi visited Bullion Lane Primary School, in Chester-le-Street, as part of the Small World Big Dream festival
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War medals on display
A hundred and one years after Private Thomas Henry Noble was awarded his medals for service in the Boer War, they are now safely in the Regimental Museum of the Green Howards, thanks to his granddaughter's generosity. Pte Noble died in Leeds, at the age
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Schools receive cash to boost sports teaching
THREE village primary schools in North Yorkshire are to benefit from improved sporting facilities thanks to a National Lottery handout totalling more than £283,000. Hundreds of pupils and community users will soon be able to make use of sports halls which
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Show stars make a perfect match
A HUSBAND and wife have teamed up to play the lead parts in a production of Hello Dolly! in Northallerton later this month. David and Janet Miles will be stepping in to the roles of Horace Vandergelder and Dolly Levi and taking to the stage at the Hambleton
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Sporting volunteers
VOLUNTEERS will gather to show they can really make a difference to sporting activities in their community. The MADD About Sport event takes place in Crook Business Centre, on October 25, between 2pm and 4pm and 6pm to 8pm. It has been organised by volunteer
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Cash grants provide extra jobs
MORE than 60 new jobs are to be created in Darlington after business leaders handed out £12,000 worth of grants. Businesses in the tourism, sales promotion and manufacturing sectors will benefit from the cash windfall. The money has been provided by the
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Woman aged 101 saved from fire
FOUR pensioners, including a 101-year-old, had a lucky escape after being trapped in their homes by arsonists. Three women, aged 66, 81, and 101, and an 88-year-old man were trapped by the fires on the porches of their homes in Columbia, Washington, Wearside
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Hats off to shop venture
A MILLINER who has worked for some of the world's most famous designers has opened a shop in Durham. Elena Lewis has made hats for some of fashion's biggest names, such as Gianni Versace, Dolce and Gabanna and Rifat Ozbek, but her real ambition was to
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Funding agreed to improve security at crime-hit flats
SECURITY is being upgraded at three blocks of flats in Hartlepool after a series of break-ins. Funding of £4,300 has been approved for a block in Fraser Grove and two in Elderslie Walk, on the Owton Manor estate. The move follows a number of incidents
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Mayor warns of council tax rise due to cash shortage
A mayor has warned that a big rise in his town's council tax is inevitable in the coming years. Stuart Drummond, the mayor of Hartlepool, made his comments on Monday at a borough council cabinet meeting to discuss next year's budget. He told his cabinet
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Curry king Mohammed seeks to cook up a national triumph
WHEN it comes to a hotly contested culinary competition, curry chef Mohammed Sultan reckons he has the recipe for success. The head chef at the Massala Restaurant, in Middlesbrough, is on a shortlist of seven national finalists to win the title Curry
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Rescue attempt as fish battle for life
THE Environment Agency has stepped in to save hundreds of fish left struggling in a pond after a drop in water levels caused by the drought. Conservationists who look after the Hookstone Woods nature reserve, in Harrogate, spotted dozens of fish by the
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Grant clears way for pottery event
A MUSEUMS trust has been awarded almost £100,000 to display its world-class collection of ceramics in a major exhibition. Select pieces from a collection of thousands of pots will feature in the display, which will be open to the public at three museums
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Violent crime rise blamed on recording rules change
A SENIOR detective has said that a North-East police force is making inroads against town centre violence and disorder, despite figures which suggest a rise in violent crime. Cleveland Police crime manager Detective Chief Superintendent John Kelly said
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Donations pour in to aid young burns victim
KIND-HEARTED people are raising money to ease the plight of a young Romanian burns victim. Seven-year-old Mariana suffered serious burns when she was doused in petrol by thugs and set on fire. Her plight has shocked people who are sending donations into
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Season of mellow fruitful colours
WITH 85 acres of trees and shrubs from all regions of the Earth, the changing of the seasons never looked as stunning as at Thorp Perrow Arboretum. Visitors to the tourist attraction, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, are savouring an explosion of colour
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A tale of Elizabethan achievement
THE rise to prominence of a family who became significant statesmen during the Elizabethan era will be outlined next week. An illustrated lecture, The Early Cecils, will recount the achievements of William Lord Burghley and his son Robert, Earl of Salisbury
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News in brief: Substance alert follows theft
A WARNING has been issued after a briefcase containing three bottles of potentially lethal adrenaline was stolen in Redcar. The case was taken when thieves broke into a Vauxhall Corsa, in Aske Road, and stole the case with three clearly-marked bottles
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Groomer's top dog skills
A DOG groomer is travelling hundreds of miles for some top training in pampering pooches. Caroline Bruce, 25, from West Pelton, has worked at Groomers in Chester-le-Street for the past two years, but is making the journey to Scotland to gain some of the
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News in brief: Health website for teenagers
A HEALTH website designed by, and for, young people in the Durham Dales has been officially launched. The Talk4teens site, funded by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust and the Teenage Pregnancy Unit, aims to address their health needs and lifestyle concerns
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News in brief: Service at war museum
A service commemorating the 15,000 British men and women killed in Palestine between 1939 and 1948 is taking place at the cenotaph at Eden Camp War Museum, Malton, on Saturday, at 12.45pm. Veterans and their families can get in for free. For further information
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Tough talk for tough times
IN the run-up to the Labour Party conference, former Health Secretary Alan Milburn told this newspaper that the Government was in danger of losing its sense of purpose. The war against Iraq had been a huge distraction, the Hutton Inquiry made matters
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Selling N-E to the movie men
THE region's stunning scenery and varied landscape could be the key to bringing A-list movie stars to work in the North-East. Bosses at Newcastle-based Northern Film and Media, the people entrusted with attracting big budget movies to the region, have
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Downfall of the dreamer whose bubble finally burst
MIKE Peden, the wealthy new owner of Darlington Football Club, certainly hit the ground running when he took over in 1997. With his first breath, he pledged to bring 'excitement and adrenaline' to the club's Feethams ground, based on ambitious plans for
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New hope for wasted space
A STRIP of land has been nominated for the title of the worst waste of space in Britain. Residents say views from the derelict site on Kilton Lane, in Brotton, are some of the best in Britain and have nominated it as part of a nationwide campaign by the
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Girls on Film
Steve Pratt talks to Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie and director Nigel Cole about the challenges of bringing to life the true story of Yorkshire WI members who cheekily stripped off for charity and ended up in Hollywood. Sensitive shooting was required to
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Pictures of Matchstick Men
Steve Pratt talks to the son of South Shields Ridley Scott about his reasons for taking on character-based movie Matchstick Men after forging a reputation on blockbusters like Alien and Gladiator. NEWLY-knighted Sir Ridley Scott is used to observers expressing
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Finding a fish's voice
Comedy sitcome star Ellen DeGeneres admits she couldn't face eating fish after voicing the character of Dory in the latest Pixar animated adventure Finding Nemo. The US actress even had to come up with whale-speak for the part. Steve Pratt reports NO
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Smoking ban at fight
THE region's young boxing talent will strike a blow for anti-smoking campaigners when they star in a showpiece tournament at the weekend. More than 50 teenage hopefuls, who will compete at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, on Saturday, in front of 500 people
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Smoking ban at fight
THE region's young boxing talent will strike a blow for anti-smoking campaigners when they star in a showpiece tournament at the weekend. More than 50 teenage hopefuls, who will compete at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, on Saturday, in front of 500 people
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Order that brings yobs to heel
For PC Shelley Watson, the crime-fighting weapon of choice is the Asbo and she has no doubt that it works. Introduced four years ago and revised recently so they can now be granted through both criminal and civil courts, the Asbos - Anti-social Behaviour
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Ships row hits more choppy waters
A ROW broke out last night over claims that condemned US warships heading to the North-East to be scrapped could be left to wallow in heavy seas if storms or bad weather delay their entry into the Tees. Durham County Council said the ships would pose
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Gadfly: The band that blew away
THE Tornadoes, that well known spelling mistake, blew briefly through last week's column. They were the 1962 group which had a number one hit with Telstar and two or three satellite successes thereafter. The only problem, as Alan Woods in Middlesbrough
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Girl's horror at finding murdered sister
A 15-year-old girl ran screaming from a bedroom after finding the blood-stained body of her sister, a court heard today. Emma Ruddick told how she walked into the bedroom of her sister, 12-year-old Natalie, to be confronted by an horrific sight. The jury
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England 0, Turkey 0, thieves £24,000
THIEVES stole a diamond-encrusted £6,500 Rolex watch as part of their haul in a £24,000 house burglary, police said yesterday. The raid in Darlington took place while people were in the grip of football fever as England played Turkey in the Euro 2004
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N-E is one of the safest places to live
The North-East is one of the safest places to live in the country, new crime figures have revealed. Levels of serious crime in both Northumbria and North Yorkshire police force areas are significantly lower than the national average. Though violent crime
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Echo Memories: Warehouse turned into an island home
The story of a curious corner of Darlington that was once an island in the river Skerne, and its links to a butcher noted for his culinary skills in ox-roasting. IN yesterday's NE magazine, which accompanied The Northern Echo, there was an article about
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Stubborn City keep Cats off top spot
SO much, then, for Sunderland's hopes of three home wins in a week, which would have catapulted them to the top of the Nationwide League. Confronted last night by a resolute Cardiff City side that can harbour realistic hopes of reaching the play-offs,
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New £110,000 skills centre
A £110,000 resource centre to provide better adult learning will be launched on Saturday. The East Thirsk Community Learning Resource Centre will be opened by executive director of the Learning and Skills Council North Yorkshire, David Harbourne. Work
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Quest for footballers with potential
A COACHING course is being run to find young footballers with potential. Les Shaw, director of Coerver Coaching, is running training sessions for children at the Riverside Stadium in Chester-le-Street at half-term. The course runs from October 27 to 30
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Food for thought for foolish mothers
LET them eat baked beans. Again. Let them eat stale bread, a mouldy cheese rind and the cold, congealed remains of last night's pizza. Let them realise - at a supremely vital moment - that they have run out of loo roll. It might remind them to get the
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Classical clowning
HUGE animal characters were the centrepiece of a production from Britain's leading touring puppet masters at Spennymoor Leisure Centre yesterday. The Presto Puppet Theatre created a make-believe land where humans were clowns and animals told stories in
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Dictating the will of God
He played a pivotal role in the collapse of Communism, but to critics he is a dictator who has helped spread misery and disease. As Pope John Paul II marks 25 years as the head of one billion Catholics, Nick Morrison looks at the impact of the most recognised
