Archive
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Simon says: 'kick him in the groin'
As the dark nights set in and the risk of being attacked in the street increases, a new book shows women everywhere how to defend themselves. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. IT'S late at night and you're walking out of the station when a menacing
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'At least one hospital will close' in health services shake-up
HEALTH bosses say at least one major North-East hospital should eventually close as part of a shake-up of services. The news that all parties in the Tees Services Review Steering Group appear to share the view that there should be two rather than three
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Cup tie signs earn town a yellow card
THE small North-East town that is following the FA Cup dream has been given the yellow card by its county council. Shildon Football Club has received a warning from Durham County Council for erecting signs on the side of the road advertising one of its
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Sandwich bar owners aim to draw the crowds in
TWO former draftsmen have swapped computers and calculators for kitchen utensils and aprons to open up a sandwich and coffee bar. Frank Spence and Tony Dobbin's venture, named Frankie and Tony's, opened for business in Ridley Place, Newcastle, yesterday
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Debate will discuss regional assembly
A debate to discuss whether an elected regional assembly would benefit the region's business community will be held later this month. The event, to take place next Tuesday at The Riverside, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, will provide an opportunity
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German companies outsource to North-East
THREE German companies based in the North-East have decided to outsource accountancy services to UNW chartered accountants in Newcastle. Accounts, bookkeeping, VAT and tax returns are all part of the service offered by UNW's Business Services team. Each
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Payroll firm is launched
A SPECIALIST payroll service is being launched to help businesses. 1st Choice Payroll, in Bedale, North Yorkshire, was set up by Lynne Davis and Shaun Puttock to provide effective payroll management at an affordable price. The pair have more than 25 years
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Firms warned to conclude agreements before deadline
A DARLINGTON law firm is advising businesses in the area to conclude lease negotiations before the end of November to avoid being hit by new tax laws. The Government's new Stamp Duty Land Tax comes into force on December 1, with tenants of commercial
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In memory of comrades
A FESTIVAL of Remembrance will be held in the Zetland Community Centre, Richmond, on Saturday, November 8, from 7.30pm. The show, presented by the Richmond Meet, will feature the Normandy Band and the Richmond Pipes and Drums. Over 100 people will be
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Edwards launches Christmas at centre
SHOPPERS at Gateshead's MetroCentre welcomed world-famous triple jumper, Jonathan Edwards to launch Christmas at the Centre. Jonathan leapt into action to transform MetroCentre's three and a half miles of malls into a dazzling display, with lots of vivid
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Morgan set to play at Revolution gig
A talented musician who has released his first CD will play at a Revolution gig later this month. Adrian Morgan Hopper has just released The Boy From Anywhere and is set to begin touring. His first stop will be at Revolution's Platform in Darlington,
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Support network finds chairman
JOHN McDougall has been named as the person who will take up one of the most influential positions in the region's business community. Mr McDougall has been selected as chairman of the North East Business Support Network Board after a search which attracted
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'At least one hospital will close' in health services shake-up
HEALTH bosses say at least one major North-East hospital should eventually close as part of a shake-up of services. The news that all parties in the Tees Services Review Steering Group appear to share the view that there should be two rather than three
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Turn back now
PRESSURE was growing on the US last night to halt obsolete navy ships heading to a North-East yard after the British Government said they should return home. Environment Minister Elliott Morley said the four rusting hulks - condemned by environmentalists
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Going favours Raphael
SOFT-GROUND specialist Raphael (2.50) rates a rattling good bet in Catterick's feature race, the seven-furlong Tote-sponsored £8,000 Showcase Handicap. The prize represents by far and away the best purse on offer at the track and considering the current
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Review: Michael Ball, Telewest Arena Newcastle
CHITTY Chitty Bang Bang sung to the tune of We Will Rock You! Only Michael Ball would attempt such a stunt as he celebrates the end of his run as Caractacus Potts in the West End musical (now sung by Gary Wilmot) and the launch of his new album, A Love
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Second phase released
THE North-East branch of national design practice P+HS Architects will see more than three years of design work come to fruition this month as Bellway Homes announces the release of the second phase of the Ochre Yard Development in Gateshead. Lead designers
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Multi-nationals mix with minnows at stadium event
FAMILY firms and global corporations will meet as equals at the launch of a collaboration between companies in the North-East chemical and pharmaceutical sector today. Sunderland's Stadium of Light is hosting the launch of the region's Pharmaceuticals
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Job Search: Vacancies
Manager, Darlington, 38 hours per week between 9am and 8pm. Some managerial or supervisory experience essential. Must have retain knowledge. Ref: DAE 36774. Care assistant, Barnard Castle, £4.80 per hour, 20 hours per week, between 8am and 10pm Monday
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Alternative energy will power all our futures
THE need to find alternative forms of energy to ensure industry keeps working and the lights keep burning in Britain's homes has never been greater. Experts predict that natural gas will run out in the next 35 to 40 years, and oil will be exhausted by
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Shildon recall days of tripe and pickled onions
The last time that we - that is to say, Shildon - were in the FA Cup first round was 42 years ago today, away to Oldham Athletic. The pint-sized programme, full of advertisements for pickled onion manufacturers and wholesale and retail tripe dressers
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Prescott unveils self-rule format
JOHN Prescott rolled through the North-East and North Yorkshire yesterday in a coach covered in "Great North Vote" stickers as he began the Government's campaign to generate interest in regional government. Next October, the three Northern regions - the
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SSL sells division
SSL International has completed the sale of its Marigold industrial gloves business for £22m. The group has sold the division to French group Comasec SAS. The deal includes assets worth £23m, including production facilities in Malaysia and Portugal. About
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Cruise ship couple glad to be coming home
A North-East couple on board a cruise ship struck by a serious sickness bug yesterday spoke of their relief at being on their way home. Ray and Elizabeth Duffy, both 63, from Northallerton are on the Aurora where more than 500 passengers and 17 crew have
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Job Search: Vacancies
Customer service supervisor, Thirsk. £10,000 to £15,000pa, dep on exp, 37.5hrs pw, 9am to 5pm, Mon-Sat. Must have experience in similar position, ideally in call centre. Should be computer literate with excellent telephone manner. Ref: NOE 20379. Hygiene
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Should we allow Ghost Fleet to dock?
Plans to scrap 13 former US navy ships in the North-East have split public opinion. Neil Hunter looks at the arguments for and against. The case for: Leading figures in the Tees Valley described the outrage over the Ghost Ships as "bandwagon-jumping and
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When playing the stock market, timing is vital
While the global stock markets continue their delicate recovery path, investors are still wondering if it is too late or even too early to join the party. In the past 12 months, we have seen many funds nearly double in value. BWD Micro Capital Growth
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'True action heroes' to be honoured for rescue
FOUR rescue heroes who saved a pick-up truck driver after his vehicle careered out of control and plunged into the River Tees are to receive bravery honours. The accident happened at 4.30pm on March 3 when a pick-up truck with a trailer ran out of control
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Energy initiative helps development to go green
A NORTH-EAST housing development is playing host to an energy initiative which is the first of its kind in the region. Twelve homes at Newcastle Great Park, Gosforth, on Tyneside, have been fitted with energy-generating photovoltaic cells, which convert
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Stress and the City
SOME readers write and ask this Yorkshire lad what it's like to be living down here in the middle of the great, wild and wicked City of London. Well, it's a lot of fun, but there are snags. Today, for example, the police - these are our local bobbies
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£10,000 grant for project
COMMUNITIES in the Developing World will be helped by a small wind turbine which generates electricity. Newcastle research and development company Network Energies has been awarded a £10,000 feasibility grant from Smart, the Department of Trade and Industry
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Autumn leaves no mark on region's train services
TRAIN services across the region avoided delays caused by leaves on the lines yesterday, despite a weekend of wet and windy weather. Spokesmen for GNER and Arriva reported that services were running "perfectly fine" and there were no problems so far.
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Profits hit record heights at Ryanair
BUDGET airline Ryanair last night threatened to cut some under-performing routes at the same time as announcing record profit growth. The Irish airline suggested some of its little-known French destinations and routes to Holland and Belgium were under
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Europe comes to the rescue of rural enterprise
European funding of £830,000 has been made available to help North-East rural businesses improve electricity supplies and install green energy schemes. The Energy for Enterprise Scheme was launched in October by North-West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong,
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Council concerned about suspension bridge plan
Plans to build the world's longest suspension bridge in the North-East have hit an unexpected snag. Teesdale District Council gave the £4.5m River Tees plan the go-ahead last week. But now Barnard Castle Town Council has expressed serious concerns over
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Bosses' top priority is to motivate their staff
MOTIVATING employees is seen as the key to improving business performance by more than half of bosses in York and North Yorkshire. Research launched to coincide with Investors in People Week, revealed that 51 per cent of employers believe that motivating
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Geordie duo's £6m US deal
GEORDIE duo Ant and Dec are about to conquer the US after striking a £6m deal with an American television company. The presenters hope to become American Idols when their hit show Saturday Night Takeaway is launched in the US. Declan Donnelly, 28, said
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Early bird catches the cheque
JOBLESS gardener David Wise got an early Christmas present at the launch of a Tesco superstore yesterday. Mr Wise, 43, waited from 6pm on Sunday night to make sure he was the first customer through the doors of the Tesco store in Newton Aycliffe. When
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UK's first green boiler
THE County Durham school which became the first in the country to generate power from its own wind turbine has now marked another environmental milestone. Cassop Primary School yesterday took delivery of the first environmentally-friendly boiler to be
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Large crowds flock to see fireworks display
ORGANISERS of an annual firework display held at the weekend have hailed it a huge success. It is estimated about 12,000 people converged on Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, to watch this year's display. Hartlepool Borough Council, which organised the display
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Pirate discs seized in car boot sale raid
HUNDREDS of pirate CDs and DVDs were seized during a raid at a Redcar car boot sale at the weekend. A joint operation between Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council trading standards officers and Cleveland Police targeted three stalls at Redcar Racecourse
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Motorists caught speeding at over 100mph face court
THREE men who were caught travelling at more than 100mph in separate incidents on the A66 appeared before Magistrates in Darlington yesterday. Terence Stephen O'Brian, 53, of Lansdowne Road in Middlesbrough, was caught on June 18 doing 113mph on the dual
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Ex-Army pilot opts to became life-saver
ARMY pilot Steve Beaumont has left the world of the military to become an airborne life-saver. The 40-year-old, from Thirsk, has been appointed as relief pilot with Yorkshire Air Ambulance, after serving for 22 years in the Army. He rose to the rank of
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Foreign students sample UK college life in cultural exchange
TWO students from Trinidad and Tobago have been coming to terms with the English winter as part of a cultural exchange to east Cleveland. Bassel De Graff, 18, and Ayanna Sylvester, 19, arrived in Britain last week as youth delegates to the Commonwealth
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Demolition company fined for dumping waste
A DEMOLITION company was yesterday fined £700 for dumping building waste on a farm and failing to keep accurate paperwork. Tyne Tees Demolition Limited admitted depositing timber recovered from a demolition site on unauthorised land and two counts of
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Town's first walking bus
PUPILS from a Middlesbrough school took part in the town's first walking bus yesterday in an attempt to cut down on traffic congestion. Youngsters from Ayresome Primary School made the journey to and from school on the imaginary bus, which had an adult
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Invincible prepares to leave North-East
THE Royal Navy's flagship leaves the region today after its latest visit renewing friendships in the North-East. HMS Invincible sails from the River Tyne at North Shields, North Tyneside, where it has been based during its five-day stay to maintain its
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TV review
Lifer: Living With Murder (C4) GWILYN battered his chronically sick wife to death with a cricket bat. She was, recalled the 81-year-old pensioner, a talkative women. "Many times I said I wish she'd shut up, now I wish I could hear her voice." The second
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Hodgson's first deal blocked by League
New Darlington manager David Hodgson completed his first day back at work yesterday - and was thwarted from making his first signing by a Football League ruling. Hodgson, in the Quakers hotseat for the third time, made an approach for Middlesbrough striker
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Invitation to young musicians
TALENTED young musicians from the Tees Valley and South Durham area will soon be able to take advantage of a rare opportunity. A youth orchestra for players under the age of 19 and of Grade six or equivalent standard is being launched in Darlington. The
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Man in court on murder charge
A MAN appeared before magistrates yesterday charged with murder after the death of a man on a North-East housing estate. Sean Crone, 25, of Rhodesia Road, Red House, Sunderland, was remanded by Sunderland magistrates to appear at Newcastle Crown Court
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Reynolds lifts his ban on club fans
DARLINGTON Football Club chairman George Reynolds has lifted a ban on four fans. They include Scott Thornberry, editor of fans' website Darlo Uncovered, who last night welcomed the move, which is designed to unite supporters behind manager David Hodgson
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Son reunited with father he thought was dead
A son is to be reunited after 30 years with the father he thought was dead. Ian Campbell Elliot cried when his grandmother broke the tragic news to him of his dad's death in Australia. She even showed him a newspaper cutting detailing the demise of Ian
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Job Search: Vacancies
Care assistant. £4.50ph, 30hrs pw, 3 nights out of 7, 9pm to 8am. Must be 21-plus. Experience preferred with NVQ 2. Ref: DUR 37225. Transport fitter HGV. 55hrs pw, between 7am and 6pm, Mon-Sat. Must be time-served and hold appropriate certificates. Ref
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Review: ION by Param Vir and David Lan, Gala Theatre, Durham.
AN audience at Durham's Gala Theatre was given a treat of epic proportions when the premier of Param Vir's Ion rolled into town. Set in the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, the opera follows the emotional journey of a mother Creusa and son Ion as they rediscover
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Final blow for military museum
THE multi-million pound development of a National Army Museum will not be going ahead as planned, it was confirmed yesterday. The plug has been pulled on the project at Catterick, North Yorkshire, because of fears that certain legal requirements cannot
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Fans flock to see band's final gig
FANS from across the country travelled to Newcastle at the weekend for the final concert by North-East legends Lindisfarne. The band wrapped up their 34year career on Saturday with a farewell show at the Newcastle Opera House to 1,100 people who travelled
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Investing in staff
Two Castles Housing Association has received Investor in People accreditation. Chief executive Ian Richardson said: "We have used the Investors in People planning process to help address our needs. Our training and development programme will seek to ensure
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Interest rate rise 'is looking inevitable'
ANY lingering doubts that interest rates are poised to go up receded further as figures showed strong growth in the factory sector and on the high street. With the Bank of England's rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) widely tipped to increase
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Children learn Aboriginal culture from expert
PRIMARY school pupils took part in a session yesterday with an Aboriginal artist and storyteller. The youngsters from Middlesbrough's Breckon Hill Primary School took part in a workshop with Francis Firebrace at the town's Central Library, where they
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Breast way forward?
THOUSANDS of women have been left wondering if they have the right to breast-feed at work after a tribunal ruling. Helen Williams, 31, a flight lieutenant with the RAF, took the Ministry of Defence to an industrial tribunal claiming sex discrimination
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04/11/03
PAUL BURRELL: I DO think Paul Burrell was right and that he should have the right to write his book. Other people write memoirs of their lives and the people they work with and for, so why not him? I also think that we should have the right to know what
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After 50 years Arnold can proudly wear medal
A FORMER soldier will mark his proudest Remembrance Sunday this weekend when for the first time he wears the medal he should have received 50 years ago. Arnold Sanderson will be able to wear his medal after the Government finally honoured the "forgotten
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Quality of region's beaches improves
A record 98.4% of UK beaches and inland bathing areas met European Union quality standards this year, it was announced today. English bathing areas achieved a best-ever 98.8% pass rate, while Northern Ireland got a perfect score of 100% clean beaches,
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Shildon recall days of tripe and pickled onions
The last time that we - that is to say, Shildon - were in the FA Cup first round was 42 years ago today, away to Oldham Athletic. The pint-sized programme, full of advertisements for pickled onion manufacturers and wholesale and retail tripe dressers
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They'd like to teach the world to sing
Steve Pratt talks to Carrie Grant, one half of the Fame Academy vocal coaching team. They brought the art of singing into our living rooms - and now they want us all to croon a tune. CARRIE Grant wants to teach the world to sing. She feels there's a good
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On the outside, but there's no happy ending
Lifer: Living With Murder (C4): GWILYN battered his chronically sick wife to death with a cricket bat. She was, recalled the 81-year-old pensioner, a talkative women. "Many times I said I wish she'd shut up, now I wish I could hear her voice." The second
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Planning reform roadshow
A SEMINAR tackling knock-on effects for property developers of the biggest reform of the current planning system will be held in the North-East next Tuesday. Following the introduction of a new planning bill to Parliament, the Planning and Compulsory
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Futures in the balance
THE future of 500 North-East workers remained in the balance last night. Staff at 25 Northern Electric stores across the region were sent home on Friday after the company went into administration. Administrators Richard Fleming and Julian Whale, of KPMG
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£30m bill for energy plant shutdowns
SHUTDOWNS at two British Energy plants will cost the financially troubled company as much as £30m. British Energy warned last week that the closures of Sizewell B, in Suffolk, and Heysham, Lancashire, would have a material impact on its finances. Yesterday
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Hornby to launch two-wheel sales drive
MODEL railway and racing car maker Hornby is hoping to add fuel to its sales revival with the launch of a Scalextric motorbike racing range. The toy manufacturer's new models will be based on the 990cc four-stroke prototypes that race in the MotoGP World
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Now Royal Mail must deliver
THERE is genuine affection among the British public for the Royal Mail, and a desire for it to do well. As such, there has been no clamour for its virtual monopoly to end. That, however, may change after the unofficial industrial action which has blighted
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Old church tower gets £50,000 grant
A £50,000 grant has been announced towards saving a church tower from decay. Trinity Church is in the shadow of Richmond Castle in the market place and has a history almost as long as the Norman ruins. The original building was a chapel for people who
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Strategy launched to tackle chemicals
THE Environment Agency has announced a strategy to tackle the harm done to the environment by everyday chemicals. Under the Environment Agency's strategy, Managing Chemicals for a Better Environment, it is investigating chemicals, including flame-retardants
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Key appointment will turn ideas into business
Peter Ashcroft, a 35-year-old commercial litigator with law firm Ward Hadaway, has been seconded to the regional development agency One NorthEast for the next year, having taken up the position of business liason manager on at the beginning of the month
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Waterstons in IT overhaul
A Durham firm is helping to overhaul information technology systems at Newcastle Airport. Technology and business process experts Waterstons has carried out a three-month review of the performance of IT systems at the airport. Waterstons director Sally
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LuaLua sets his sights on Africa
SIR BOBBY ROBSON was last night facing a massive striker headache after Lomano LuaLua confirmed he intends to play in the forthcoming African Nations Cup. With Craig Bellamy expected to be out for another three months with a knee injury, Robson is set
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Final blow for military museum
THE multi-million pound development of a National Army Museum will not be going ahead as planned, it was confirmed yesterday. The plug has been pulled on the project at Catterick, North Yorkshire, because of fears that certain legal requirements cannot
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Airport boss has no plans to sell the site
THE managing director of Teesside International Airport has reassured a business group there are no plans to sell the site. Hugh Lang was responding to concerns raised by the Teesside Airport Independent Landowners Group, made up of businesses based at
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Pool's young stars allow seniors to go out on loan
HARTLEPOOL United's impressive young guns are giving Neale Cooper the chance to revamp his squad. The Pool boss has allowed Paul Arnison and Marcus Richardson to go out on loan this season, while Kevin Henderson has completed a free transfer to Carlisle
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Passengers tell of cruise ship sickness
HOLIDAYMAKERS from the region have spoken of their horror abroad the P&O Cruise Ship struck by a contagious stomach bug. About 500 passengers and 17 crew caught the norovirus aboard the Aurora on its nightmare journey around the Mediterranean. And
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Rat charges to stay
CHARGES for pest control in Richmondshire seem set to stay for now, despite Richmond Town Council's claims they could be making the problems with vermin worse. Neighbouring Hambleton dropped fees, which were introduced earlier this year, when the local
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Review: Michael Ball, Telewest Arena Newcastle
CHITTY Chitty Bang Bang sung to the tune of We Will Rock You! Only Michael Ball would attempt such a stunt as he celebrates the end of his run as Caractacus Potts in the West End musical (now sung by Gary Wilmot) and the launch of his new album, A Love
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King Sturge enters N-E property market
A FIRM of international property consultants is to start selling luxury homes in the region. King Sturge, one of the biggest commercial property consultants in the UK, is entering Newcastle's residential market. The firm will work on behalf of developers
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Shildon recall days of tripe and pickled onions
The last time that we - that is to say, Shildon - were in the FA Cup first round was 42 years ago today, away to Oldham Athletic. The pint-sized programme, full of advertisements for pickled onion manufacturers and wholesale and retail tripe dressers
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Struggling town back on its feet
AN organisation set up to help to kick-start a market town's flagging economy is claiming it has made significant headway in its first 12 months. The new millennium began badly for Richmond, when the floods of 2000 washed away the town's Mercury Bridge
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First images of £800m park released
THE first images of one of the largest and most innovative business locations in the country have been released. It is hoped that more than 10,000 jobs will be created at Newcastle Great Park (NGP) when plans for the flagship business park are given the
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Go Padero makes Johnston joint top trainer
Robert Winston, deputising for the banned Joe Fanning, took the honours in the first division of the European Breeders Fund Maiden Stakes on Go Padero at Redcar yesterday. The victory put Mark Johnston on level terms with Mick Channon in the race for
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Randy ram baffled scientists
Scientists at top secret monitoring base GCHQ were left a little sheepish when they realised a mystery transmission that had been baffling them was a randy ram, it emerged today. The strange high-frequency noises, coming from the Scarborough signal station
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City watchdog announces changes
THE City watchdog has announced a wide-spread restructuring to enable it to cope with a massive increase in the number of firms it regulates. The Financial Services Authority (FSA) takes over regulation of mortgage lenders next year and insurers at the
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Blunkett accuses peers of trying to wreck crime Bill
HOME Secretary David Blunkett accused Tory peers of trying to wreck the fight against crime ahead of a crucial debate in the House of Lords today. The Government has suffered several defeats in its Criminal Justice Bill at the hands of Conservative peers
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Hodgson gets stuck into job
New Darlington manager David Hodgson completed his first day back at work yesterday - and was thwarted from making his first signing by a Football League ruling. Hodgson, in the Quakers hotseat for the third time, made an approach for Middlesbrough striker
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Gurkhas ready to join regiments
ANOTHER batch of Gurkhas are on their way to join units after completing their basic training at Catterick Garrison. The recruits began their induction into the British Army in January by learning English, but have since progressed to the basics in a
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Job search
MORE details about the jobs below are available from Jobseeker Direct on (0845) 606 0234. Care assistant. £4.50ph, 30hrs pw, 3 nights out of 7, 9pm to 8am. Must be 21-plus. Experience preferred with NVQ 2. Ref: DUR 37225. Transport fitter HGV. 55hrs pw
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Review: Scrooge, Newcastle Theatre Royal
IF you're one of the people who thought Tommy Steele was dead, you should have heard the cheer that went up when he appeared on-stage at the Theatre Royal. In character as curmudgeonly old Scrooge, it was all he could do to suppress the famous cheeky
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Cadets raise cash for winter sports
CADETS are to learn rock climbing and kayaking, after raising more than £400. Chester-le-Street Air Cadets raised the funds by collecting goods from family and friends that they then sold from a market stall in the town. The initiative raised £437 to
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Victoria Cross holder urges people to back poppy appeal
THE ROYAL British Legion (RBL) Poppy Appeal was given the support of a famous veteran yesterday. Captain Richard Annand, of the Durham Light Infantry, was awarded the Victoria Cross for outstanding gallantry in the face of the enemy during the retreat
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'Lack of parking spaces is killing trade in town'
SHOPKEEPERS in a north Durham town say a lack of car parking spaces is strangling their businesses. More than 170 small firms in Consett surveyed about facilities in the town centre said that the dearth of car parking spaces is killing trade - to the
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National accolade for book that sheds light on mining art
A BOOK written by two Bishop Auckland authors has won a national prize for community publishing. Shafts of Light, which was written by Bob McManners and Gillian Wales, took the runner-up award in the Raymond Williams Prize for Community Publishing. The
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Demolition company fined £700 for dumping
A DEMOLITION company was yesterday fined £700 for dumping building waste on a farm and failing to keep accurate paperwork. Tyne Tees Demolition Ltd admitted depositing timber recovered from a demolition site on unauthorised land and two counts of having
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Police launch new initiative to combat anti-social crime
POLICE have revealed a blueprint to tackle anti-social crime and nuisance behaviour by youths. Thirteen community inspectors will oversee the fight against what is dubbed "low-level crime" in Darlington and County Durham. They will look at issues including
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Hospital's history related in book
THE history of Sedgefield Community Hospital has been recorded in a book launched at the weekend. Author Bob Abley visited the new hospital in the village yesterday to sign copies of the book which has taken a year to write. As a thank you for his work
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Drug dealer sent down
A DRUG dealer caught selling Ecstasy in a Sunderland city centre alleyway has been jailed for two years. Paul Crossley, 22, was spotted acting suspiciously by an off-duty policeman and a prison officer. They kept watch as a stream of buyers approached
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More community pods pondered
MORE community pods could be installed in areas of Darlington if they are found to be a success among the youngsters who use them. A group has been set up to measure the popularity of Darlington Borough Council's fleet of youth pods and if it is worth
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Police launch new initiative to combat anti-social crime
POLICE have revealed a blueprint to tackle anti-social crime and nuisance behaviour by youths. Thirteen community inspectors will oversee the fight against what is dubbed "low-level crime" in Darlington and County Durham. They will look at issues including
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Protestors angry at private school's plans for extension
A DISPUTE between a private school and more than 1,500 residents has blown up about school extension plans and school run parking problems. More than 1,500 residents from Norton, near Stockton, have signed a petition opposing Red House School plans to
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Revival in fortunes for town centre
AN organisation set up to help revive a North Yorkshire market town's flagging economy is claiming it has made significant headway in its first 12 months. The new millennium began badly for Richmond, when the floods of 2000 washed away the town's Mercury
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Councillors call for ban on growing GM crops in borough
MOVES are under way to try to outlaw genetically-modified foods in part of North Yorkshire. Next week, councillors in Scarborough will decide whether to declare their borough a GM-free zone. The motion is being proposed by Councillor Christine Davenport
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Tall order for steeplejacks
TWO steeplejacks proved their heads for heights yesterday when they scaled one of the tallest churches in York. The pair climbed to the pinnacle of the 154ft spire of St Mary's Church, in Castlegate, formerly the home of the York Story exhibition. They
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Demolition company fined £700 for dumping
A DEMOLITION company was yesterday fined £700 for dumping building waste on a farm and failing to keep accurate paperwork. Tyne Tees Demolition Ltd admitted depositing timber recovered from a demolition site on unauthorised land and two counts of having
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Moves to improve chess facilities
CHESS clubs at two schools in Eaglescliffe are to be expanded after they received a grant. The Links Primary School and Teesside High School have received a grant of £22,000 to develop the chess clubs which they operate between them. The grant, which
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Good library service will continue to get better, says report
RESIDENTS in Stockton enjoy a good library service which should get even better in the future, according to a report published today. A team of inspectors from the Audit Commission judged the service to be good, with promising prospects for improvement
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Geordie duo's £6m US deal
GEORDIE duo Ant and Dec are about to conquer the US after striking a £6m deal with an American television company. The presenters hope to become American Idols when their hit show Saturday Night Takeaway is launched in the US. Declan Donnelly, 28, said
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Home from home and the horrors of the Congo
Asylum seekers often provoke fear and resentment in the local community. But they have received a warm welcome in Darlington and are making great efforts to fit in. Women's Editor Christen Pears reports. HER eyes stare across the room to a future that
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I hope you get my message
Sting is one of the world's bestselling musicians but he has never forgotten his North-East roots. He recalls his early years in his autobiography published this week. Christen Pears reports. FROM the age of seven, Gordon Sumner helped out on the family
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Cup tie signs earn town a yellow card
THE small North-East town that is following the FA Cup dream has been given the yellow card by its county council. Shildon Football Club has received a warning from Durham County Council for erecting signs on the side of the road advertising one of its
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Mayor tells of poignant symbol
CHILDREN in Darlington are learning about the importance of Remembrance Day from the town's mayor. Darlington Borough Council Mayor Councillor Ron Lewis is presenting British Legion poppies to more than 8,000 pupils attending primary schools throughout
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'Hearing' theatre ready for operation
THE region's first voice-controlled operating theatre is ready for action. Advanced technology means that surgeons will be able to control cameras and lights during surgery by giving commands through a headset. The laparoscopic theatre at Wansbeck General
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Appeal for funds to save dog's life
THE owner of a puppy which is plagued by poor health is appealing for help to fund a life-saving operation. Esme, an eight-month-old King Charles spaniel, was taken in by Karen Anderson, of Horden, near Peterlee, because her previous owner was no longer
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Roman empire gets bigger every year
A FACTORY extension at a County Durham shower manufacturer has been the catalyst for substantial growth over the past two years. Business Correspondent Jonathan Jones visited Roman Ltd to find out more. SHOWER manufacturer Roman Ltd has undergone tremendous
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Police reveal blueprint to tackle anti-social behaviour
POLICE have revealed a blueprint to tackle anti-social crime and the yob culture across a force area. Thirteen community inspectors will oversee the fight against what is dubbed "low-level crime" in Darlington and County Durham. They will look at issues
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When the joking had to stop
The spectre of imminent death and the thought that he had nothing to leave his children, prompted North-East comedian Bobby Knoxall to write his amazing life story, he tells Steve Pratt. LYING in a hospital bed, unsure whether he was going to live or
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Museum nominated for award
THE North of England Lead Mining Museum in Killhope, County Durham, has been shortlisted for a national award. The museum, in Weardale, is one of five in the country nominated for the Guardian's Family Friendly Museum Award 2003. The others are Falmouth
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Expertise close to hand for equine patients
A VET will be able to offer racehorse trainers a new service after receiving financial support from Business Link North and North Yorkshire. Simon Stirk will open a surgery at Middleham's Equine Pool and Therapy Centre this month thanks to a grant from
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Taking the message to the top
THE man who leads efforts to help North-East businesses increase profits through energy efficiency has taken his message to the top. David Lacey, the manager of the small to medium enterprise (SME) section of the Government-backed Action Energy programme
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Beautiful berry bounty
AUTUMN is well advanced now. Many of the flowers have disappeared from the borders and the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees. The colour emphasis in the garden has moved from the painter's palette towards coordinated camouflage. Straw-like strands
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Call for end to 'postcode punishment'
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for an end to "postcode punishment" after a report revealed major differences in how children are dealt with in court. Young criminals are 28 times more likely to be sent to jail in one part of the country than in another, figures
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I was nailed by Mills, claims disgruntled Naylor
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS defender Lee Naylor last night claimed Danny Mills elbowed him during Saturday's bad-tempered Premiership encounter at the Riverside. A day after Paul Ince called Mills "an idiot", Middlesbrough right-back Mills was still waiting
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Brace yourselves for some fiscal fireworks
Remember, remember, the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. Well, we saw the treason and plot last week, with the ousting of Iain Duncan-Smith and the very swift upgrade to Michael Howard's position in the Shadow Cabinet. This week is the turn
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Discrimination legislation may provide a few headaches
Employers have just over a month to prepare for the latest batch of anti-discrimination rules which are due to come into force in December. The new rules - the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations and the Employment Equality (Religion
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Ban ships from our waters - council
THE toxic ships sailing for a North-East port face another hurdle today - after local planners called on the Government to send them back to America. Four rusting hulks from the US Naval Reserve fleet are en route to the Able UK yard at Hartlepool where
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Downing not down
STEWART DOWNING wants to use his loan spell at Sunderland to help him muscle Holland star Boudewijn Zenden out of the Middlesbrough team. Downing, 19, became reconciled to the prospect of having to leave Boro on loan to find regular first-team action
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When the laughing had to stop
LYING in a hospital bed, unsure whether he was going to live or die, made it easy for Bobby Knoxall to think about writing his autobiography. "People coming in to see me or sending me cards made the memories come flooding back. I was putting it down on
