Archive
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Residents tackle problems that afflict village life
THE picturesque image of Rosedale, the moorland village which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the North York Moors, hides a series of problems, according to residents. They are now carrying out a survey of life in the community to explore
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Soldiers get their own back but it's all in a good cause
SOLDIERS have been taking advantage of Children in Need to get their own back on some of their Army colleagues. Signallers from York yesterday took part in their own top secret operation to raise funds for the annual charity effort. Operation Splat was
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Hair-raising experience to raise cash for charity
A COUNCILLOR is to leave his barnet at the mercy of a villager who won the right to cut and dye his hair any way she chooses. Councillor Stuart Walton put himself forward to raise money for a play park in Sherburn Village, near Durham. The chance to wield
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Volunteers take to sea and stage for Children in Need
FUNDRAISING events, ranging from a mile-long swim in the icy North Sea to a mock missing persons operation, helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for Children in Need yesterday. In Durham, young actors stepped in front of the footlights for the
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Chance to see plans for new look town
PLANS have been unveiled for a multi-million pound seafront transformation. Options designed to turn Redcar's Coatham enclosure into a major tourist attraction include a leisure centre and pool, an eight-court sports hall and a ten-pin bowling development
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Police force addresses race issues
A NORTH-EAST police force has opened its doors to members of black and minority ethnic communities who want to comment or ask questions about race issues in policing. Northumbria Police's Chief Constable, Crispian Strachan, addressed concerns from members
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Fundraisers back Children in Need - even if it hurts
CHILDREN and adults, amateurs and professionals, pitched in to make the Children in Need appeal a resounding success on Teesside yesterday. The charity Popcorn recruited a number of professional skateboarders to demonstrate their skills on a temporary
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Bow jest
THE news that a bow-tie wearer is advertising his (or her) criminal tendencies must have come as a shock to supporters of Patrick Moore and the late Doctor Who actor Patrick Troughton. The little-known Radio 4 comedienne Linda Smith went as far as to
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A taste of India for children
AN entire school had a taste of ancient Indian culture, when they took part in a dance workshop. Sanchita Banerjee, second left, from the London-based Annapurna Dance Company, visited Bournmoor Primary School, near Chester-le-Street to teach children
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Shoppers aid profits rise
NORTH-EAST consumers are driving the growth of shopping centre company Land Securities Group. The group, which owns and operates The Gate leisure scheme in Newcastle, Retail World at Team Valley, Gateshead and The Bridges shopping mall in Sunderland,
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The day the President came to Sedgefield
THE US marine braced himself ready for the hurricane, knee bent forward to meet the gale, his hand holding onto his white cap. The downwash drenched him, buffeted him, tore at his clothes, hurled leaves and litter at his face. But he remained stock still
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Builders' day
A WORKSHOP for construction workers across the country is to be held in the region next month. The workshop, called Beyond Rethinking Construction, will be held at Judges in Kirklevington, near Stockton, on Thursday, December 4. Details and booking forms
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Boro keeper gets his kicks from Jonny's guru
THE man behind England rugby superstar Jonny Wilkinson's outstanding technique has helped Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer improve his kicking. Dave Aldred, who is with Clive Woodward's men this morning as they try to overcome Australia to lift
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Shearer sets sights on fourth spot
ALAN SHEARER last night conceded that Newcastle United's hopes of returning to the Champions League rest on a fourth-place Premiership finish. The Magpies' skipper admitted that the top three - Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United - are out of sight
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'Old lad' Clarke praises young guns
DARRELL CLARKE knows a thing or two about how Hartlepool United's young guns are feeling. Jack Wilkinson and Darren Craddock last week became the latest to be promoted to the first-team, joining an ever-growing list of teenagers to make their mark this
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Pub worker avoids prison after theft of £4,000
A RELIEF pub manager with a drink problem kept his own "personal float" from takings to supplement his income, a court heard. But it reached the stage where James Isaac French could no longer afford to pay back his borrowings from the till at the Turks
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Promotion the only option for McCarthy
MICK McCARTHY last night admitted he may not be in the managerial chair at the Stadium of Light if he fails to guide Sunderland to promotion within the next two years. The Black Cats have made a promising start to life in Division One with many supporters
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Going wild in the North
An unusual location was chosen when researcher Anna Jarvis auditioned for her first on-screen presenting role - a pet shop in Heaton. The makers of Home Jungles wanted to see how she'd cope with some of the unfamiliar creatures she'd be required to handle
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Hodgson learning the meaning of safety first
DAVID Hodgson has revealed that the new Quakers manager has become 'Hodgy mark two'. In his previous incarnation in the Darlington hot-seat, Hodgson admitted his aim was to impress the fans with stylish football and goals aplenty, building a squad which
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Blue Peter presenter goes 'on air' to celebrate century of flight
STARS from perennial television favourite Blue Peter have taken to the air - with the help of the Royal Air Force. A team from the ever-popular children's show travelled to RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York, to film part of an upcoming special. Presenter
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Star launches tree appeal
TV star Neil Pearson joined staff from St Teresa's Hospice to launch this year's Giving to Life Christmas Tree in Darlington's Cornmill Centre. The actor is appearing in Taking Sides at the Darlington Civic Theatre. For a suggested donation of £2 shoppers
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Cold storage depot scheme gives community jobs hope
WORK has started on a £10m depot that will bring 150 jobs to a deprived community. Yearsley Cold Storage and Distribution, which provides cold stores for the food industry, is building a base on the Fox Cover Enterprise Park at Seaham, County Durham.
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College to ease China's crisis
A COLLEGE principal is today flying to China as part of a mission to recruit students for the North-East. Stockton Sixth Form College is the only regional college in a UK consortium making a concerted effort to promote the British A-level system to the
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Youngsters enjoy a taste of Asia
A TASTE of Asia came to County Durham as pupils at a Teesdale school celebrated completing a family learning project. All the pupils in Bowes Hutchinson school contributed to a video called The Ocean of Friendship as part of a Connect Family Learning
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Freaky feats for Children in Need
ADULTS and children across the area got into the spirit of BBC television's Children in Need appeal yesterday and came up with some weird ways to raise money. Staff working at Orange, in Darlington, paid to have their feet massaged while they took calls
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Funky Feet Day
STUDENTS and tutors at Bishop Auckland College donned their most unusual footwear yesterday at the end of a packed week of fund-raising events in aid of BBC Television's Children In Need charity appeal. The college, which has 13,000 full-time, part-time
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17-year-old takes to the skies after helicopter pass
IF driving lessons get too much for teenager Andrew Atkinson he can ditch his car - and take to the skies in a helicopter. The 17-year-old received his provisional driving licence in the post days after passing his helicopter pilot test. Andrew, of Chester-le-Street
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Freaky feats for Children in Need
ADULTS and children across the area got into the spirit of BBC television's Children in Need appeal yesterday and came up with some weird ways to raise money. Staff working at Orange, in Darlington, paid to have their feet massaged while they took calls
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Workers equipped to show true grit
WHILE most of us spent the hazy days of summer thinking of sun, sea and sand, some people were preparing for frost, grit and snow. Now workers at the Highways Agency's Durham depot are ready to launch into action to keep the region's roads clear. Staff
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Going wild in the North
Presenting Tyne-Tees's new wildlife show isn't a job for the squeamish. Anna Jarvis managed to overcome her fear of snakes - but spiders were almost too much to handle. An unusual location was chosen when researcher Anna Jarvis auditioned for her first
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Easy does it for Best Mate
FANS of Best Mate will once again have to be content with a strictly limited diet of their favourite thoroughbred. The dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero is scheduled to make just three ventures into the public domain this term. Just like last season, Henrietta
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At Your Service: Pull of the pulpit
For 18 years, the Methodist church in Darlington couldn't even get lay preachers. Now everyone's standing up to be counted. THE Methodists work to a plan, or possibly a Plan, which either way is more than can be said for most of us. The grand plan is
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Flu jabs alert as epidemic warned
RENEWED efforts are being made in the North-East to encourage elderly and chronically ill people to have a free flu jab. While take-up levels are already said to be high, there are concerns that some vulnerable people are still unprotected with a possible
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Grimes returns but Falcons rest Andrews
SCOTLAND lock Stuart Grimes is back in the Newcastle Falcons starting line-up at London Irish tomorrow, with the expected return of skipper Mark Andrews put on hold. Andrews has served his four-match suspension but is being given time to recover fully
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Boro keeper gets his kicks from Jonny's guru
THE man behind England rugby superstar Jonny Wilkinson's outstanding technique has helped Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer improve his kicking. Dave Aldred, who is with Clive Woodward's men this morning as they try to overcome Australia to lift
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It's hardly rock 'n' sausage roll
SOME sing of love or heartbreak, and others of brave deeds - but, for three North-East singers, it's sausage rolls. Martin Ash, Tom Burrows and Geoff Wagstaff play Bill, Ben and Bob in Richmond Operatic Society's production of Soiree D'Amour, at the town's
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Team wins award for work landscaping castle gardens
A FAMILY firm has won a major award for its landscaping work on the Duchess of Northumberland's multi-million pound gardens, dubbed the Versailles of the North. Staff from Trevor Atkinson's company, which he runs from his home at Mickleton, near Barnard
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A village divided by Bush supporters and protestors
THE usually serene County Durham village of Sedgefield was swarming yesterday as George Bush visited MP Tony Blair's constituency on the final day of his UK state visit. Families turned out in force to witness one of the greatest occasions in the close-knit
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Women's prisons re-think demand
PRISON is not working for female offenders according to a report. The study, carried out by an independent inquiry into women's experience of the criminal justice system, said that the number of women in prison is soaring and that the majority of women
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Jury hears of death disclosure
THE moment a murder suspect was told by a friend that he had killed a teenager was described to a jury yesterday. Gill Kent told Teesside Crown Court that Sean Matson, 20, had been inhaling containers of cannabis smoke in her home when his friend, Darren
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The message is simple: 'just win'
As the Australian press reach fever pitch in their attempts to use the 'boring' and 'arrogant' tags to demoralise Clive Woodward's side, rugby writer Tim Wellock agues that no England fan worth his salt will care how the World Cup Final is won - so long
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Visit aims to further links with Norway
NORWEGIAN business leaders visited the region yesterday to look at strengthening commercial links between the North-East and Scandinavia. Jostein Soland, chief executive of the Stavanger Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Bjorn Stangeland, head of
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Boro reaping rewards of rejuvenated Juninho
FROM Middlesbrough hero to zero and back again, Juninho is using the chastening experience of being dropped to spur him on to greater things. When Steve McClaren was looking for a scapegoat for Middlesbrough's disastrous start to the season, he took the
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Cold storage depot scheme gives community jobs hope
WORK has started on a £10m depot that will bring 150 jobs to a deprived community. Yearsley Cold Storage and Distribution, which provides cold stores for the food industry, is building a base on the Fox Cover Enterprise Park at Seaham, County Durham.
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Pubs open early for rugby's big party
PUBS across the region will open at breakfast time today to cash in on Rugby World Cup fever. The North-East may be a football crazy, but landlords and managers are hoping fans will want to watch the final between Australia and England on big screens
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Visits inspire pupils to show their creative side
CHILDREN were inspired by a visit to a river and beautiful museum grounds to create a series of songs, poems and pictures. Pupils at Holy Trinity CE School, in Stockton, spent eight weeks working with professional musician Dave Scott and poet Subhadassi
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Santa to launch town's festivities
SANTA will ride on a horse-drawn omnibus through Guisborough to celebrate the start of the town's Christmas festivities. The Christmas lights will be switched on at 4pm on Tuesday, December 2, and Santa will begin his parade at 5pm, accompanied by a group
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Information points set up to serve the public
A NEW electronic community information system has been launched in Derwentside. Community information points, based in libraries, community centres, schools and village halls, will mean that people can access a large range of information. Sixteen points
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Just dropping in to meet the folks
THEY may be used to seeing the Prime Minister on the village streets, but for the people of Trimdon Colliery, a visit by the world's most powerful man was a different experience altogether. Clusters of residents stopped their day-to-day activities and
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Sweethearts mark special anniversary
CHILDHOOD sweethearts have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. Gordon and Rita Holliday, 78, who live at Lowlands House, in Brandon, were joined by family members from as far as Bournemouth for a meal at a local pub. The couple, who until recently
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A local hero in your midst
LOCAL hero Laura Whitfield was back in action in the swimming pool yesterday - hours after being crowned The Northern Echo's Local Hero of 2003. Laura, 13, who has a condition called achondroplasia - otherwise known as dwarfism - received the award in
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Good news for couple beset by run of bad luck
A COUPLE who had their car stolen are back on the road, thanks to a policeman and a car dealer. Colin Banks, 67, and his wife Jean thought nothing more could go wrong after he suffered two strokes, was diagnosed with diabetes and was confined to a wheelchair
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Church ready to celebrate 75th birthday
PARISIONERS are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their church being opened. Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in Milton Street, in Saltburn, will hold an exhibition, including photographs, from tomorrow for a week. On Friday, November 28, Bishop John Crowley
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Driver could hold clues to fatal hit-and-run accident
A MOTORIST caught up in a road rage incident could provide vital clues to detectives hunting a hit-and-run driver who left a teenager to die. Police believe that only an hour before a teenager from Peterlee, County Durham, was fatally injured after he
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How to put yourself in the 'Know'
ALL you want to know is now available at the tap of a computer key on Teesside. More than 100 popular reference books have been put on an online database, their full text in electronic format. Schools, colleges and businesses can all tap into the bank
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The most expensive pub lunch in history
AS the two world leaders walked into the Dun Cow Inn, Tony Blair put an arm around George Bush and said: "Welcome to my local". About 80 people crammed inside the pub at the bottom of Sedgefield village for lunch with the US President. They started with
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Just dropping in to meet the folks
THEY may be used to seeing the Prime Minister on the village streets, but for the people of Trimdon Colliery, a visit by the world's most powerful man was a different experience altogether. Clusters of residents stopped their day-to-day activities and
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Teenage biker aims for sports accolade
SPEEDY teenager Rebecca Rennison is on the final lap of a contest to be named the best young sports star in Yorkshire. The 14-year-old Northallerton motorcyclist is pitted against three other finalists in the Yorkshire Sports Awards 2003. Sport England
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Band set to make a return for Christmas
A REJUVENATED brass band, back in action after a recent relaunch, has announced the date of its first public performance. Although it had £1,000 in the bank and more than a dozen instruments available for use, Leyburn Band faced being silenced forever
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Toy supplier is fined after pencils tested
A TOY supplier was fined £5,000 after coloured pencils containing excessive lead levels were found on sale in two shops. In the worst case, one grey pencil was found to contain more than ten times the permitted quantity of lead, Sunderland magistrates
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Students volunteer in record numbers
A TUTORING scheme is on the look-out for more youngsters to help after attracting a record number of volunteers. The one-to-one tutoring scheme run by Durham Student Community Action (SCA) attracted more than 150 new members through a successful recruitment
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Premier Commentary: Time is running out on Gerard's faltering Reds revolution
WHEN Gerard Houllier was handed sole responsibility at Anfield following the resignation of Roy Evans one of the things he was promised by the Liverpool directors was patience. Five years and vast amounts of money later and such patience is being tested
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Health trust publishes new magazine
A HEALTH trust has published a magazine to keep people informed about its services. Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust's (PCT) publication, Your Local NHS, gives information on how it is performing on issues such as reducing waiting times
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Residents urged to back recycling drive
HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to support a recycling campaign launched yesterday. Recycling banks for plastic bottles have been set up in Malton and Norton-on-Derwent following requests by residents. The message to recycle plastic bottles will be spread
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Factory finally wins agreement on move to new home
PLANNERS have given the go-ahead for a multi-million pound housing scheme to be built on the site of an engineering factory in North Yorkshire. Persimmon Homes is being allowed to construct 61 homes on the site of Allerton Engineering, on Romanby Road
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Bright future predicted as JJ signs five-year deal
NEWCASTLE United skipper Alan Shearer last night joined manager Sir Bobby Robson in forecasting a glittering England future for Jermaine Jenas. The 20-year-old midfielder, exactly 50 years Robson's junior, yesterday signed a new five-year deal tying him
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For Your Benefit: Eligible for extra money
Q My husband died in August 2001 when I was 57. My Social Security Office tell me I can only get benefit if I am sick or register for work. As I am fit but not free to take a job I have to manage on £107 a month from my late husband's works pension. Is
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We are ready to prove critics wrong, Woodward
Clive Woodward delivered the pre-World Cup final message that every Englishman wanted to hear: ''We are ready.'' England tackle holders and host nation Australia at Telstra Stadium this morning in a dream final of monumental proportions. The sport's ultimate
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McCoy can guide Tarxien to Cup triumph
WHITE-KNUCKLE ride Tarxien (2.10) will be taking no prisoners in his bid to scoop today's big race at Ascot, the £60,000 First National Gold Cup. It is often a case of lighting the blue touch paper and letting this fellow rip, such is Tarxien's exuberance
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Hodgson learning the meaning of safety first
DAVID Hodgson has revealed that the new Quakers manager has become 'Hodgy mark two'. In his previous incarnation in the Darlington hot-seat, Hodgson admitted his aim was to impress the fans with stylish football and goals aplenty, building a squad which
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Gardening: Leaves worth lingering over
THE autumn leaves have given us a fantastic display this year. The beech trees in particular have been absolutely stunning. The colours have ranged from brilliant lime green to golden yellow and through to deep coppery brown. In contrast to this, the
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The life and times of a Doctor
It was 40 years ago that the world's most famous doctor made his first appearance. Childhood fan Nick Morrison looks at how a Time Lord captivated a generation. DUMBA-DE-DUM, dumba-de-dum, dumba-de-dum, diddly-dum. It was tea-time on Saturday, November
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Seventy years of discussions over site could be at an end
A 70-YEAR-OLD planning wrangle could be at an end next year if an application is approved. Semi-derelict land behind shops west of the market place in Ripon, North Yorkshire, is mainly used for parking. However, after protracted negotiations with planning
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'Why we held demonstration over Guantanamo detainees'
President Bush's visit has been dogged by protests, and his trip to the North-East was no exception. Tony Marsh, a member of Durham Amnesty International, explains why campaigners hoped to make their point and the problems they encountered. YESTERDAY,
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Children capture history of factory site
YOUNGSTERS are working with writers, poets and filmmakers on a series of creative tasks. The children will see their projects turned into a publication, a performance, an exhibition, film screenings and a weekend of live radio programmes in the summer
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Author is horribly popular
YOUNGSTERS learned about the world's most disgusting experiments when author Nick Arnold launched his latest Horrible Science book. Year four children from North Road and Alderman Leach primary schools, in Darlington, met the author at the launch of his
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School praises top performers
PUPILS have been rewarded for their sporting and academic achievements at a school's annual presentation evening. More than 200 pupils and 300 parents gathered at Longfield Comprehensive School, in Darlington, to recognise individual and team successes
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22/11/03
PRESIDENT BUSH AND AMERICA: GLEN Reynolds (Echo, Nov 17) must have a short memory when he suggests the terrorists who are threatening us every day are the innocent and the US is the villain. I would rather trust the protection of this nation to the Americans
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Grassroots: Weardale
SOCIETY AWARD: The Weardale Society will be presenting its annual award for community spirit at a social evening in the Methodist Schoolroom, Stanhope, on Monday, at 7.30pm. HISTORY NIGHT: Witton-le-Wear History Group is posing the question "What was
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National martial arts successes
MARTIAL arts competitors from County Durham won 66 medals at a national contest. Members of the Darlington and District Kim Chung Do Kwan Taekwondo clubs competed in the English Taekwonmudo Academy Championships. The contest was held in Sheffield and
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Pavilion a step nearer
PLANS for a pavilion on a village sports field have taken a step closer to being realised. Proposals for the pavilion, in Heighington, include changing rooms, public lavatories, facilities for officials, a refreshment area and storage. The chairman of
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Parish council precept may rise £1,200
A PARISH council precept could rise by £1,200 next year. Heighington Parish Council is considering setting its precept at £7,300, compared with £6,100 for this year. Despite the proposed rise, members at this week's council meeting heard that each band
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A visit most welcome
THERE has been some criticism of the estimated £1m bill for President Bush's four-hour visit to the North-East. However, in terms of promotion alone, the cost represented excellent value for money. There was live TV coverage across the globe as a helicopter
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Bright future predicted as JJ signs five-year deal
NEWCASTLE United skipper Alan Shearer last night joined manager Sir Bobby Robson in forecasting a glittering England future for Jermaine Jenas. The 20-year-old midfielder, exactly 50 years Robson's junior, yesterday signed a new five-year deal tying him
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History is made in rural County Durham
ON Sedgefield village green, in the shadow of the 13th Century church of St Edmund's, the protestors were furious. Their faces were contorted with rage, their posters were covered in blood (apart from the quintessentially English one that read: "Mr Bush
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Fanzine celebrates birthday
A FOOTBALL fanzine is today celebrating its 15th birthday, making it the longest running fans' magazine in the North-East. There will be a commemorative edition of Fly Me To The Moon, written by Middlesbrough FC fans, as the team takes on Liverpool. In
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Pull of the pulpit
THE Methodists work to a plan, or possibly a Plan, which either way is more than can be said for most of us. The grand plan is a quarterly document, listing preachers and preaching appointments in a circuit - what goes around, comes around - and is characterised
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Still adding strings to his bow
He may be almost 60, but the incredible Sting Band's Robin Williamson is still going strong, he tells Barry Nelson. IT seems appropriate that no less a figure than the Archbishop of Canterbury recently declared his admiration for the work of prolific
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Arts workshop celebrates 2003 with exhibition of images
AN arts centre is celebrating the work of artists over the past year with an exhibition. The Old School Arts Workshop, in Middleham, North Yorkshire, is holding an exhibition of paintings from eight invited artists. Recent works by Josie Bezant, Daphne
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The day the President came to Sedgefield
THE US marine braced himself ready for the hurricane, knee bent forward to meet the gale, his hand holding onto his white cap. The downwash drenched him, buffeted him, tore at his clothes, hurled leaves and litter at his face. But he remained stock still
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Rival bid threatens EMI music deal
A RIVAL bidder is threatening plans by music group EMI to take over US media group Time Warner's recorded music division. EMI reported yesterday that Time Warner had announced it was considering a possible alternative proposal. Although EMI and Time did
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Takeover offer expected soon
SUPERMARKET chain Wm Morrison could put in a bid for rival Safeway in a matter of weeks. Competition authorities have set out conditions for the takeover, which could see Morrison's make an offer before Christmas. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has
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Leaves worth lingering over
THE autumn leaves have given us a fantastic display this year. The beech trees in particular have been absolutely stunning. The colours have ranged from brilliant lime green to golden yellow and through to deep coppery brown. In contrast to this, the
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Environment Agency denies U-turn over stance on ships
WITH just four days to go before the second pair of Ghost Ships arrive in the North-East for a temporary stay, the Government agency at the centre of the storm appears to have backed down. When the Environment Agency realised the correct permissions were
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Tennis team beats odds
YOUNG tennis players have won through to the finals of a national competition, despite their school's struggle to secure decent sports facilities. Sarah Harding, Mia Robinson, Ruth McKenzie Katie Pears and Rachael Jackson, all students at Durham Johnston
