Archive
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Landmark Captain Cook anniversary celebrated in style
OPERA singer Suzannah Clarke sang Happy Birthday to Captain Cook yesterday - to mark the 275th anniversary of the explorer's birth. Hundreds of people joined in her rendition at HM Bark Endeavour with Middlesbrough museums' assistant curator Ian Stubbs
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Town gripped by cup fever as minnows chase a dream
THE streets of a County Durham town were buzzing yesterday with the prospect of a mighty David and Goliath battle. Shildon residents were basking in the sporting spotlight after their football team earned an FA Cup clash with one of football's most famous
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Community's £1.3m centre is taking shape
RESIDENTS of a once run-down estate are a step closer to seeing the plans for a £1.3m centre on their doorstep become a reality. As it stands now, Firthmoor's new community centre is little more than a brick shell, hidden in part with scaffolding and
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Four jailed for kicking man unconscious in street attack
FOUR men were jailed yesterday for kicking a man unconscious during a violent attack in Darlington town centre. Teesside Crown Court was told that passers-by saw the attack on 32-year-old Andrew Glendenning in Northgate, on Saturday, August 24, last year
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Store closure not making way for project, say bosses
SUPERMARKET bosses have moved quickly to quash rumours one of their stores is to close to make way for a controversial redevelopment in the heart of Billingham. Hundreds of people have already objected to plans for a leisure, health, learning and cultural
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Op Ratcatcher launched in latest drive to tackle crime
A campaign to encourage people to inform on criminals has been launched across North Yorkshire. Operation Ratcatcher is a joint initiative between North Yorkshire Police and Crime-stoppers and is designed to get people to contact Crimestoppers with information
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A passionate woman, not the prude we thought
Looking For Victoria (BBC1): STATING that Queen Victoria is "something of a passion" for Prunella Scales is a bit of an understatement. To have the actress investigate her life and times at this particular moment seems strangely apt as yet another royal
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Job Search: Vacancies
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Electricians, Teesside and County Durham. £9.50 to £11ph, 40hrs pw, Mon-Sat. Required for domestic rewires. Must be conversant with BS7671, 16th Edition preferred
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Joy for staff as sports development team triumphs in award scheme
SPORTS staff were celebrating yesterday after beating off stiff competition from around the region to win an award. Hambleton District Council's sports development service triumphed over 21 other authorities to win the Yorkshire and Humber Sports Development
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Football manager presents awards to young bookworms
YOUNG Hartlepool bookworms, who completed a Summer Reading Challenge, received a reward yesterday. The town's library service ran the challenge as part of its commitment to raise literacy standards. Children were encouraged to continue practising their
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Job Search: Vacancies
Cook, Northallerton. £5ph, 37 hrs per week, 5 days, Mon-Sun, between 7am-2.30pm, inc weekends. Must have basic Food Hygiene Certificate with previous experience of a similar role within a hotel. Ref: NOE 20321. Site services officer, Dalton, Thirsk. £18,000
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Church bells get extra six ap-peal
THE bells are about to ring out again at a church dating back to Saxon times. A new bell frame and six bells arrived yesterday at St Andrew's Church, at Middleton, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, as the latest stage in the restoration of the building
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Cash boost gives youngsters the chance for half-term fun
A PACKED programme of activities is helping to keep youngsters occupied in a collection of former colliery communities over this week's half-term school holiday. POW! (Play Opportunity Works!) is a fun-packed series of events and outings. The project
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Parking charges scheme opposed
ALMOST 3,000 Durham University staff will have to pay to park at work under proposals being considered by their bosses. The university plans to introduce charging at its car parks to tackle a shortage of spaces, ease congestion and improve security. If
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Cadets take jet for fundraising haul
AIR cadets kept their feet firmly on the ground when they helped heave a fighter jet using nothing but muscle power. The youngsters took part in a sponsored pull of a Tornado at RAF Leeming to raise funds for the Meningitis Trust. The event was organised
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Ban robs Eddery
Pat Eddery missed a winning ride in the race named in his honour on his final visit to Leicester yesterday, but he still received a tremendous send-off from race-goers and the racecourse executive. The 11-times champion was serving the first day of a
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Toymaker given the nod by Chorion
BRAND management group Chorion, the owners of the rights to Enid Blyton's novels, has awarded the core toy licence for Noddy characters to manufacturer Golden Bear, of Telford. Chorion said the deal would result in a huge expansion of Noddy toys in shops
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Newcastle fans cry foul over 'fat cat' boardroom bonuses
NEWCASTLE United FC duo of Freddie Shepherd and Douglas Hall faced accusations they were "football fat cats" after details emerged of enormous bonus payments. The chairman and non-executive director are in line for bonus payments of £250,000 and £225,000
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Tait questions side's stamina
Darlington manager Mick Tait will be hoping his side can last the whole 90 minutes when they head to Third Division high-flyers Oxford United this weekend. The Quakers boss watched his side squander a golden opportunity to halt their recent slump against
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Protests urged as toxic fleet discussed
A PEACEFUL protest is being organised to show opposition to controversial plans to dismantle mothballed ships that are crossing the Atlantic on their way to the North-East. Environmentalists are being urged to join the demonstration outside Hartlepool
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Airport renaming may harm reputation
A Darlington businessman fears the re-naming of Teesside International Airport could cause more damage than good. Rob Maxey, head of Ernest Bennett and Co Ltd, an industrial saw blade manufacturer who employs 55 people at its factory based at Teesside
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Public asked to help shape new health service
Health officials are appealing for help as they develop a day unit which will allow people to be treated in their own homes rather than in hospital. The public has until November 14 to help Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) shape plans for the Hundens
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Making a case for the stiff upper lip
I FIND it interesting that, if you leave a gap of one letter, "therapist" changes into "the rapist". The accusation against unqualified and unscrupulous therapists and counsellors is more than justified. In more than 30 years as a parish priest I have
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Joy for club after planning threat is lifted
A CHILDCARE organisation that last week thought it had breached planning rules celebrated better news over the weekend. Workers at The Den on Crosby Road, in Northallerton, were horrified when it emerged that a facelift a year ago appeared to have breached
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Dunelm aims for top spot
THE social housing section of County Durham firm The Esh Group expects to become the fastest growing construction firm in the region next year. Dunelm Property Services, formed in summer last year, has projected turnover figures for next year of about
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Burrell defensive as books snapped up in North-East
FORMER royal butler Paul Burrell defended his controversial book on Diana, Princess of Wales, last night and pledged there were some secrets he would never tell. Copies of the book were snapped up by people across the North-East after it went on sale
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Barclays buys Gerrard for £210m
BARCLAYS Bank has three times as many customers after snapping up stockbroker Gerrard. The £210m deal will boost the banking group's presence in the wealth management sector. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will
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Cyclo hat-trick for Gary
Bishop Auckland's Gary Wearmouth made it three out of three when he won the latest round of the North East cyclo-cross league, staged by Teesdale CRC on the Hetton Lyons course. While it was a much closer race than the Cleveland Wheelers event at Guisborough
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Trucker terrified after abduction
A terrified trucker was taken on a 46-mile terror ride after being abducted by theives who escaped with a trailer full of whisky. The man was dumped on the outskirts of York after the hijackers struck on the A1. Police said the driver escaped unhurt,
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Office buy confirms loyalty to the region
THE company formed to carry on gas processing and power generation on Teesside after the collapse of Enron has bought new offices. Despite winning new business all over the UK and abroad during its first year of operation, px limited has pledged to stay
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North-East Workforce takes in S2S
RECRUITMENT specialists North-East Workforce is incorporating the Solutions to Staffing (S2S) agency into its business. S2S is the creation of its director, DAVID HOWES, who has extensive management experience in the warehouse and distribution trade.
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MP to quiz police on use of vehicle stop and search powers
POLICE in Durham will be asked to explain why they used draconian anti-terrorism laws - allowing officers to stop and search cars - far more than most other forces in Britain. Home Office figures have revealed that no fewer than 235 vehicles in the Durham
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Bond Brooklyn well worth another gamble
BOND BROOKLYN bids to put his supporters back in clover at Redcar this afternoon following a slightly disappointing run at Southwell last time out. The heavy hitters had their fingers burnt at the Midlands track when the selection failed to justify 11
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Fan who nodded off accused of being drunk
A Middlesbrough fan who fell asleep during his team's 4-0 defeat against Arsenal will stand trial accused of being drunk at a football ground. Adrian Carr, 28, had hoped the case would be thrown out but he was told today at Teesside Magistrates' Court
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Op Ratcatcher launched in latest drive to tackle crime
A campaign to encourage people to inform on criminals has been launched across North Yorkshire. Operation Ratcatcher is a joint initiative between North Yorkshire Police and Crime-stoppers and is designed to get people to contact Crimestoppers with information
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Rise in laser eye surgery claims
NORTH-EAST lawyers have reported a surge in the number of claims for compensation over laser eye surgery which has gone wrong. John Hall, a solicitor with medical negligence specialists Tilly Bailey and Irvine, of Hartlepool, works for one of several
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Betrayal of the unfaithful retainer
After a week of revelation after revelation, former royal butler Paul Burrell published his book yesterday. Nick Morrison looks at the impact of his decision to go public - and what may lie in store for the monarchy. HERE he is opening the car door. There
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Draft plans for villages
villageRS have been urged to have their say on blueprints drawn up for each of their communities, or miss the chance to influence their future. The Countryside Agency awarded the A1 Corridor Community Investment Partnership £57,000 a year ago to prepare
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Victim speaks of knife horror
A MAN spoke yesterday of his miracle recovery after a drunken attack left him with a knife buried two inches into his head. David Siddle initially thought he had been punched by Scott Thompson during the attack outside a nightclub in Victoria Road, Consett
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The confit zone
The new family at the Smiths Arms in Carlton are keen by name and by nature, though they'd benefit from the warmth of a real coal fire. IT WAS a dark and stormy night, as Edward Bulwer-Lytton observed at the beginning of Paul Clifford, thus earning unending
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Priest charged with sex offences
A priest appeared in court today charged with a series of sex offences against young girls. Patrick Fitzpatrick, of Holycross Home, Etrrick Grove, Sunderland, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address during the brief hearing at Hartlepool Magistrates
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Mini fans rally for re-run of Italian job
A COUPLE who are driving from Scotland to Italy to take part in a reunion of cars which featured in a classic film made a stop-off in the region yesterday. Mike Robertson and Pam Byers spent time at Hartlepool United's ground Victoria Park before continuing
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Millionaire's life takes a dramatic turn
Duncan Bannatyne, a foundry worker's son, has made his millions. Now, he wants to be an actor, he tells Steve Pratt, though he's not daft enough to put any of his own money into films. SELF-MADE millionaire Duncan Bannatyne says he's "at a bit of a loose
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Job Search: Vacancies
Team members, Darlington, full or part-time available, required for customer service, cash handling and food preparation, no experience needed. Ref: DAE 36644. Catering concession (self-employed), Darlington-based, 45 hours per week between 6am and 10.15pm
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Praise rings in the ears of rookie PC
A PROBATIONARY police officer proved himself to be a determined detective weeks after joining Cleveland Police. PC Mark Ellis found a valuable diamond-encrusted ring under the seat of a car he had recently bought and set about finding the owner. His investigations
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Student returns to help
BUDDING DJs learned how to mix and blend the latest sounds at a special college workshop. Former art and design student at Darlington College of Technology, now professional DJ K.Delight, Chris Kay organised a workshop for youngsters keen to take a turn
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GVA Grimley buys landmark
GVA Grimley has acquired Sandgate House, a landmark building on Newcastle's Quayside, for its clients Credit Suisse Asset Management. The property has 30,000sq ft of office space and is opposite the Baltic Art Gallery. Sandgate House is let to Ward Hadaway
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Sharon Griffiths Meets... The write stuff
The latest book from the pen of Booker Prize winner Pat Barker is as dark, uncompromising and as firmly rooted in the North as its predecessors. PAT Barker is great company. Witty and sharp, she tells a good story, occasionally makes me laugh out loud
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People urged to rat on a criminal
A NEW campaign to encourage people to inform on criminals has been launched across North Yorkshire. Operation Ratcatcher is a joint initiative between North Yorkshire Police and Crimestoppers and is designed to get people to contact the confidential Crimestoppers
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28/10/03
GHOST SHIPS I HAVE always thought of myself as the sort of guy who could see the funny side of life and appreciate a good joke. The debacle of Hartlepool Council's attitude to the 'ghost ships' has all the hallmarks of a first class comedy in the best
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TV review
A passionate woman, not the prude we thought Looking For Victoria (BBC1) STATING that Queen Victoria is "something of a passion" for Prunella Scales is a bit of an understatement. To have the actress investigate her life and times at this particular moment
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Mature student denies murder of prostitute, 60
A PROSTITUTE was hit by a punter's car and plunged 20ft to her death after a Valentine's Day row, a court heard yesterday. Veteran prostitute Elizabeth Hedley, 60, had allegedly gone to Michael McKay's car to perform a sex act. She and McKay, a 50-year-old
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Action group fundraiser
AN auction and Halloween party is being held on Friday to help fund a fight to stop a waste transfer station being built near Barnard Castle. The Stainton Grove Action Group is holding the event at the Jersey Farm Hotel, Barnard Castle, from 7.30pm. Lots
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Success for countryside volunteers
COUNTRYSIDE volunteers in Sedgefield borough, who have been hard at work during the year carrying out several conservation tasks, are preparing to continue the good work next year. Work has included path maintenance, stile repairs, tree planting, habitat
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Drama groups to help fight doorstep thieves
AMATEUR drama groups are being urged to help in the fight against bogus callers. Durham County Council's trading standards department wants theatre groups to perform sketches to warn pensioners, who are the main target of doorstep thieves, about the dangers
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£4.2m teachers' educational training centre is launched
A £4.2m educational training base which is moving 100 jobs to Spennymoor was launched yesterday. Thousands of teachers from County Durham will attend courses in the new building, which will house a management development centre, a Sci-Tech centre and
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Grassroots: Crook
OPEN DAY: Glenholme Youth Centre and Boys Club in Crook is holding an open day tomorrow to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The centre will be open between noon and 3pm. There will also be a free pop art workshop, and a circus skills workshop from 7pm
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Charity shop well ahead of target
CHARITIES and good causes in Darlington can look forward to extra help as the Mayor's Charity Shop in the town is expected to exceed its annual fundraising target of £30,000. Half-year figures of £21,000 have been released, showing takings up on last
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Free bus offer to motorists
DRIVERS in Darlington can hang up their car keys and use the bus free for a day as part of a new scheme. Bus company Arriva is linking up with Eco-Schools, Europe's largest environmental programme for children, to launch a one-day car amnesty on November
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Library launches new children's cards
YOUNG bookworms in Darlington can trade their old library cards for a new one designed by local artist and illustrator Liz Million. The new cards, which were launched yesterday, aim to make visiting the libraries in Crown Street, Cockerton and the mobile
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Pupils learn to be good citizens
CHILDREN were given a lesson in citizenship when housing association staff visited their classroom for a community project. Pupils from the Blessed John Duckett RC Primary School, in Tow Law, passed the seven-week course with flying colours. Home Housing
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Halloween ride
Visitors to the Life Science Centre in Newcastle can have their nerves tested on a ghostly ride on Friday. The motion simulator ride, Dracula's Haunted Castle, takes people on a journey around the dungeons of the vampire's abode, where they come face
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Comments will help build area
BUSINESSES and shops in Hartlepool's New Deal for Communities (NDC) area are being urged to comment on proposals which aim to support their growth and development. During the next few days, each will be sent a questionnaire asking for views on key aspects
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Public opinion to shape scheme
THE public can have another say on draft plans for the devel-opment of Redcar's Coatham Enclosure from today. The plans for revitalising the 35-acre site - turning it into a visitor attraction, including a swimming pool and housing - will be on display
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Residents fight pub's bid for longer opening hours
OPPOSITION is growing to plans by a Northallerton pub to extend its opening hours. Gary Newson, licensee of The Durham Ox, in the High Street, wants the pub to stay open until midnight from Thursdays to Sundays. But his application to Hambleton District
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Drug dealers 'making life miserable on estate'
DRUG dealers, vandals and gangs of rowdy youths are making residents' lives a misery on a Teesside estate. People living on the Church Lane Estate in Eston will hold their third public meeting tomorrow to discuss the problems which they claim have made
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Shock as 1,100 jobs hang in balance
THE jobs of almost 1,100 workers hung in the balance last night after a frozen food manufacturer went into receivership. Workers at Hibernia Foods in Stockton and Hartlepool were told the news as they started work yesterday morning. The announcement came
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Alternative ceremonies
NEW commitment ceremon-ies are being introduced for devoted couples in Sunderland. They are aimed at people, including gay couples, who want to demonstrate the strength of their partnership. The register office ceremonies, which have no legal standing
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Victim speaks of knife horror
A MAN spoke yesterday of his miracle recovery after a drunken attack left him with a knife buried two inches into his head. David Siddle initially thought he had been punched by Scott Thompson during the attack outside a nightclub in Victoria Road, Consett
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Why marrying into The Firm isn't a right royal lark
Speculation is mounting that North Yorkshire-born businesswoman Amanda Staveley is to tie the knot with Prince Andrew but the future isn't particularly bright for commoners who marry into the Royal Family. Christen Pears reports. SHE'S a glamorous former
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Cafe celebrates health award
A CAFE set up in a community hall has gained an award for its healthy menu. The Heartbeat Award was presented yesterday to Pelton Fell Community Cafe, run in the village hall, near Chester-le-Street. It is the first community cafe in the trust area to
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Eating Owt: The confit zone
The new family at the Smiths Arms in Carlton are keen by name and by nature, though they'd benefit from the warmth of a real coal fire. IT WAS a dark and stormy night, as Edward Bulwer-Lytton observed at the beginning of Paul Clifford, thus earning unending
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Jones sings Gazza's praises
FORMER Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Gascoigne has earned a glowing tribute from Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Dave Jones as he battles back to fitness, writes Steven Baker. Gascoigne, 36, is training with Wolves with a view to making a dramatic comeback
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Talks start on snooker tournament
COUNCIL bosses are to lead four-way talks in a bid to keep a money-spinning snooker tournament in the region. The UK Snooker Championships, due to start at York's Barbican next month, is into the final year of its three-year contract with the city. Fans
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Lottery grant aids would-be bowlers
YOUNGSTERS in Billingham have been given the chance to learn how to bowl thanks to a National Lottery grant. Bowls coach Brian Peart secured £1,007 from the Awards For All scheme to buy specialist equipment for Billingham Forum. Six sets of coloured bowls
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New era in low cost flights takes off
A NEW era of cheap flights has started at Teesside International Airport. Low-cost airline bmibaby has started its daily services to Belfast, attracting passengers from Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Leeds, Whitby and York. The first flight left
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Riverside regeneration plan yields surprise jobs boost
DEVELOPERS of a £200m riverside regeneration project say the scheme will create three times as many jobs as first anticipated. Branmore Investments originally thought plans to transform derelict dockland at East Holborn, in South Shields, would generate
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West Brom to rescue Cort
WEST BROMWICH ALBION are poised to rescue Carl Cort from his Newcastle United nightmare. They could also give him the chance to dent Sunderland's promotion charge. The Division One leaders are confident of capturing Cort on loan after their Carling Cup
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Centre offers technology in rural base for business
A NEW business centre in County Durham will give rural entrepreneurs the benefits of urban technology without having to move out of the countryside. The i-Space at Enterprise House, Barnard Castle, hopes to stem the migration of talent and skills from
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Police pledge of 'a bobby on every beat'
A POLICE chief has pledged to make sure every community in his force area has a bobby on the beat who keeps in touch with locals via mobile phone. Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price wants to put a dedicated officer in each of the 90 wards on Teesside
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Tait questions side's stamina
Darlington manager Mick Tait will be hoping his side can last the whole 90 minutes when they head to Third Division high-flyers Oxford United this weekend. The Quakers boss watched his side squander a golden opportunity to halt their recent slump against
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Cadbury announces further job losses
CHOCOLATE and sweets group Cadbury Schweppes has warned further job cuts are likely to its 7,000-strong UK workforce. Cadbury said it may axe jobs and close plants in the UK on top of the 550 job losses and two factory closures announced a fortnight ago
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A millionaire's life
SELF-MADE millionaire Duncan Bannatyne says he's "at a bit of a loose end". He can afford to be. The Darlington-based entrepreneur, worth an estimated £115m, admits that he need never work again. "I can live comfortably for the rest of my life because
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Surgery for fireworks burn boys
A MOTHER has spoken out about the dangers of fireworks after her son and his friend had to have plastic surgery. The two 14-year-olds were in hospital last night with severe burns after the fireworks went off in their hands. Police were called to Eston
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Expert's fears for ancient henges
A TV archaeologist has accused a council of destroying the landscape around one of Britain's most important prehistoric sites. Thornborough Henges, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, has the greatest concentration of late Neolithic and early Bronze Age henges
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Riverside regeneration plan yields surprise jobs boost
DEVELOPERS of a £200m riverside regeneration project say the scheme will create three times as many jobs as first anticipated. Branmore Investments originally thought plans to transform derelict dockland at East Holborn, in South Shields, would generate
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Norway boost for Myhre
THOMAS MYHRE was last night told he could revive his international career by quitting Sunderland on a permanent basis. Myhre, currently on a month's loan at Crystal Palace, made his first senior appearance for almost 12 months against Gillingham on Saturday
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If you go down to the woods tonight . . .
HALLOWEEN is fast approaching and something spooky is stirring deep in the heart of the forest. Ghosts, owls and bats will be on the loose as the Forestry Commission marks the date with a spectacular bash on the dark side. They are hoping to tingle the
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Teenagers make a dramatic impact on theatre world
TEENAGERS will stage a production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at a leading theatre after producing the Bard's classic on their own. The 20 Stockton youngsters have worked for more than a year after being inspired by attending a Royal Shakespeare Company
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Ex-Tory leader is A-list speaker
GIVEN the current difficulties of the Tory leadership, it all seems plain sailing for its former incumbent William Hague. The Richmond MP, who resigned as Conservative leader two years ago, was yesterday identified as being among the most in-demand after-dinner
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Builders say 'yes' to sale of gardens
HOUSEHOLDERS won the battle to save their gardens from disappearing under a major Northallerton housing development. Residents in Bridge Terrace had faced losing their gardens, leased from Allerton Engineering, when the company sells the site to Persimmon
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Barnes' stormer
Shildon's Garry Barnes is in the running for a national award after starring in Saturday's FA Cup fourth qualifying round against Stocksbridge Park Steels. Barnes netted a hat-trick as Shildon progressed to the first round proper for the first time in
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Unsavoury lure of royal secrets
THE British are a wonderfully contradictory race. Most people seem to believe that Paul Burrell, Diana's former butler, has sold his soul for 30 pieces of silver. He has betrayed her memory by selling her secrets. Mr Burrell compounds his crime by hinting
