Archive
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Body in sea was missing hospital patient
A BODY found in the North Sea at the weekend has been confirmed as a hospital patient who went missing more than three weeks ago. A member of staff from Darlington Memorial Hospital has identified the body as John Pedelty, 59, who walked out of the Lambton
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In the name of normality
ONE of the most common complaints made against newspapers is that they publish too much bad news and not enough good news. It is a concern felt particularly strongly by young people who believe the public image of their generation is unfairly tainted
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Nurse hung himself
AN unemployed psychiatric nurse hanged himself after barricading himself into his bedroom. Graham Shelley left a note which included the line: "I cannot do with this any more.'' Deputy Teesside Coroner Gordon Hetherington told a Middlesbrough inquest
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Collingwood sets Durham landmark
PAUL Collingwood has become the tenth Durham-born cricketer to play in a Test match for England and the second since Durham achieved first-class status. Simon Brown made one Test appearance against Pakistan at Lord's in 1996 and he was the first since
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Thomas earns the Commando green beret
A 21-year-old soldier has completed the world's toughest military training course to earn the right to wear the coveted green beret of the Royal Marine Commandos. Thomas Hudson, from Willington, came through a gruelling test of endurance, strength and
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Speed cameras 'have picked up overwhelming support'
CONTROVERSIAL speed cameras have won overwhelming public support, it is claimed. Watchdog group Transport 2000 says six independent national surveys average out at 74 per cent backing for the cameras across the country. And on Teesside there is an additional
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Sex offender failed to notify police of address
A REGISTERED sex offender failed to notify police of a change of address when he moved to Scotland and then returned to his home town. Stefan Baronowski, 46, of Adelaide Terrace, Shildon, did not inform police of his whereabouts after moving to Scotland
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Public drinking ban 'is not total'
FOUR communities have been assured a tougher stand on alcohol-related crime will not mean a complete ban on drinking in public places. Ryedale District Council has agreed to the principle of wide-ranging Alcohol Restriction Orders in parts of Malton,
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Service launched to help patients
A SCHEME to improve NHS services for patients and their families has been launched in east Durham. The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (Pals) is a Government initiative. It provides confidential help, support and advice on national health services
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Bosses bury hatchet in bid for last eight spot
STEVE McCLAREN has promised there will be no repeat of his Riverside rumble with David Moyes when Middlesbrough take on Everton tonight for a place in the last eight of the Carling Cup. Boro boss McClaren and counterpart Moyes were involved in a furious
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Council joins network to stamp out doorstep conmen
ANOTHER North-East authority has joined The Northern Echo's campaign to stamp out doorstep conmen. Doorstoppers has the backing of the police, trading standards, politicians, utility companies and organisations which look after the welfare of the elderly
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Pupil scores top marks in GCSE exam
A STUDENT has scored the highest marks in the country in a GCSE examination. Andrew Leighton topped the ICT course for the CCEA examination board while studying at Hurworth School Computing and Maths College, near Darlington. The 16-year-old now attends
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Police relaunch murder investigation
Police have launched a fresh investigation into the murder of a North-East police constable killed in riots in north London more than 18 years ago, Scotland Yard said today. Pc Keith Blakelock was hacked to death during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham
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Charities get cheques after mayor's year
A FORMER mayor of Stockton presented cheques to her chosen charities this week. The money was raised throughout Councillor Jean O'Donnell's year as mayor last year, through events such as a dinner, cricket match, football match and coffee morning. Frank
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Two bands to play at school ball
Pupils at Bedale High School formed three rock bands which battled for the honour of playing at the Upper School Christmas Ball later this month. Lead Roses and Random Riffz from year 11 and Insyte from year ten were given the chance to impress the judges
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Criminals targeted in police operation
DRUG dealers and professional criminals will be the main targets of a police operation next week. Operation Bullseye aims to curb the illegal activities of regular offenders in Derwentside during the run-up to Christmas. Detective Sergeant Paul D'eath
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Awards for standard of healthy living
A CELEBRATION evening will be held for schools across the borough of Stockton after they achieved a health standard. Thirty-three schools will receive bronze, silver and gold awards at the National Healthy School Standard (NHSS) event at the Education
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Pizza cash will help restore church
MONEY raised from sales of a pizza is helping restoration work on a village church. St Oswald's Church, Sowerby, near Thirsk, has been awarded £2,500 from the Veneziana Fund, which distributes proceeds from sales of the Veneziana pizza in PizzaExpress
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'Sales are vital to save arena'
FOOTBALL Club chairman George Reynolds says he has collected more than 800 signatures in support of his bid to hold car boot sales at the Reynolds Arena. The Darlington club boss believes he can gather at least another 9,000 signatures before his planning
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Council targets empty houses to provide more homes
A SCHEME has been set up to tackle the acute shortage of homes for let in scores of North Yorkshire villages. Ryedale District Council hopes its empty property strategy will bring houses back into use. Housing services manager Richard Etherington said
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Take off for partners as agents open
TWO travel agents have established a business in a former east Durham pit village. Nicola Evans, of Horden, in east Durham, and Karen Walton, of Sunderland, have more than 30 years experience in the industry between them. Having secured premises in Easington
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Sickness forces out chief executive
THE chief executive of a North-East council announced he was quitting last night after revealing his high-pressure job was making him ill. Colin Shearsmith is to retire at the end of the year as chief executive of Durham City Council, a post he has held
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Dame Kiri to receive honorary doctorate
ONE of the world's finest opera singers is to receive an honorary award from a North-East university. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa will be awarded an honorary doctorate of music by the University of Sunderland next Thursday for her contribution to the world of
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Collingwood sets Durham landmark
PAUL Collingwood has become the tenth Durham-born cricketer to play in a Test match for England and the second since Durham achieved first-class status. Simon Brown made one Test appearance against Pakistan at Lord's in 1996 and he was the first since
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Parents concerned as son is arrested in Iraq
The father of a British student held in Iraq said last night that his son was an adventurer and not a terrorist. Urslaan Khan, 21, has been arrested in Iraq, on suspicion of trying to join a terrorist group linked to al Qaida. The Manchester University
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Evening clinics speed up treatment
EVENING clinics at a North-East hospital will be hailed today for helping to increase the number of patients receiving speedy treatment. The annual report by Nigel Crisp, the NHS's chief executive, will praise the out-of-hours scheme introduced at the
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Are you listening to me, Tony?
TONY Blair invites us to bend his ear in a Big Conversation. Though a newspaper column is not among his offered earpieces - Internet, phone, txt msg, post - I feel sure he will listen nevertheless. So here goes: Pensions: The key bulwark against poverty
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TV review
The Christmas Show (ITV1) THE only way this daily, live seasonal show can hope to attract viewers is in the same way that people like to look at road accidents. In the twisted wreckage that is The Christmas Show, you will find Eamonn Holmes and Tess Daly
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Software firm bucks the market
ACCOUNTING software firm Sage has its sights set on a profitable New Year after an encouraging start to its financial year. The Newcastle company said turnover rose four per cent in the year to September 30, to £560.3m, during which pre-tax profits grew
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Restored site set to become nature reserve
A RUGGED area of land, which became an eyesore after having sand and gravel dug out of it, has been restored and is likely to become a nature reserve. An attractive pond and a flower meadow with rare plants, including lady's mantle, are being established
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A fiasco of a festive show
The Christmas Show (ITV1): THE only way this daily, live seasonal show can hope to attract viewers is in the same way that people like to look at road accidents. In the twisted wreckage that is The Christmas Show, you will find Eamonn Holmes and Tess
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S&N sees profits surge ahead
SCOTTISH & Newcastle has seen its decision to concentrate on the brewing side of its business vindicated after posting an eight per cent rise in half-year profits. Growth in all its key beer brands over the hot summer helped the group, based in Edinburgh
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Businessman dies after winning award for gardens
A BUSINESSMAN whose company won a national award two weeks ago for its work on the Duchess of Northumberland's famous garden has died at the age of 64. Trevor Atkinson ran his family landscaping firm from his home at Mickleton, near Barnard Castle, County
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Conlon backs boss
Darlington hotshot Barry Conlon has backed manager David Hodgson's search for a new striker. The Dublin-born forward, last season's top scorer with 17 goals, has found the net just five times this campaign. And Conlon, on target in Saturday's draw with
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Paedophile a target before activities known, say police
A MURDERED pensioner was a victim, preyed on by local people - well before his activities as a paedophile came to light, say police. Detective Superintendent Brian Dunn, the man leading the hunt for the killers of convicted paedophile Arnold Hartley,
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Keeping your cool at Yule
As Christmas approaches, it may be tempting to panic but don't let yourself be swayed by consumer cons. The countdown to Christmas starts here! Well actually, no it doesn't. They're trying to panic us, aren't they? Everywhere I turn, there are people
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Historic coaching inn collects another title
AN award-winning 18th Century coaching inn has collected another title. The Rose and Crown, in Romaldirk, County Durham, is Les Routiers National Hosts of the Year 2003 and North- East Hosts of the Year. The newly-published Les Routiers Guide 2004 describes
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Nurse hung himself
GNER has announced the second phase of its station improvements programme to modernise facilities for passengers at key stations along the East Coast Main Line. The improvements will vary from station to station, but will include improved customer information
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Quarrelsome Irish and the fight for souls
MIDDLETON St George was like a Wild West goldrush town 150 years ago. People knew that there was iron in them thar Cleveland Hills, and they came from miles around to seek their fortune, to drink their ale and then to fight and brawl. Middleton Ironworks
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Dairy eyes capital market
PLANS to build a £5.2m milk depot in County Durham are progressing satisfactorily, according to Robert Wiseman Dairies. The London-listed group expects the development, at Chester-le-Street, to significantly increase capacity. It is scheduled to open
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Lack of proof in murder case - QC
A JURY was told yesterday that there was not a shred of evidence to link Christina Button with the murder of her husband. In summing up at the end of the three-week trial, defence barrister Alistair Webster, QC, said there was no direct proof that the
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Offender failed to register address
A REGISTERED sex offender failed to notify police of a change of address when he moved to Scotland and then returned to his home town. Stefan Baronowski, 46, of Adelaide Terrace, Shildon, did not inform police of his whereabouts after temporarily moving
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Schools merger is backed despite objections
Darlington Borough Council's cabinet approved the amalgamation of Whinfield Infant and Junior schools last night, despite objections from governors. A vacancy for the post of headteacher at Whinfield Junior School has brought about the council's proposals
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Community hospital to close in trust shake-up
A CRUMBLING community hospital is due to shut next year under plans to modernise care for elderly and infirm south Durham residents. A shake-up in services will follow the closure of Homelands Hospital, near Crook, which was agreed by County Durham and
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Construction activity helps to keep confidence buoyant
BUSINESS confidence in Darlington continued to rise in October. Turnover, employee numbers and business confidence all continued to increase, maintaining the positive trend set in September, thanks to a variety of big construction projects that are poised
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Sadists decapitate rabbits with spade
PET owners are being warned to keep their animals indoors after three rabbits were deliberately killed at the weekend. Two hutches were broken into in Northallerton on Saturday night. Two rabbits were decapitated with a spade, while another was savaged
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A snappy Christmas ban for shoppers
AN altogether unfestive note, several Christmases past have been marked by the column's complaints about the singing Santa in the Cornmill Centre in Darlington. Happily, the egregious old lad seems to have changed his tune. While not yet choir of angels
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Meeting to hear of crime fall
A police team is having a real impact on local crime and it is to reveal the facts to prove it. A team of six officers, one sergeant and five constables, has been based in the Hetton area of County Durham for almost a year. During that time, the number
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Flats tenants living in fear over arson attacks
PEOPLE living in council flats targeted by arsonists twice this year said last night that they were living in fear of their lives. Three people had to be evacuated from Rockcliffe House flats, in Scargill, Lascelles Park, Darlington, late on Monday, after
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Campaign to stop Christmas misery
PEOPLE in Hartlepool are being urged to take steps to avoid the risk of Christmas heartbreak at the hands of burglars and thieves. Victim Support workers in the town are concerned that many people who do not have bank accounts are keeping large sums of
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Residents' dreams may soon be realised
A SKATEBOARD park and music and arts centre are high on the wish lists of residents in east Durham. Thanks to a newly launched Business Link County Dur-ham project aimed at boosting the number of community based enterprises in the area, the hopes may
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Coalfields revival team pays a visit
A Government team visited east Durham to assess how well it has survived the wholesale closure of its mining industry. The Government's Coalfields Regeneration Select Committee travelled to the Easington district. First stop was the Glebe Centre, in Murton
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Support urged for conservation day
COUNTRYSIDE wardens in Hartlepool are urging members of the public to support their efforts to look after one of the town's beauty spots. They are staging a conservation day on Sunday, from 11am to 2pm, at Seaton Dunes and Common Local Nature Reserve.
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Library exhibition brings artist's work to home town audience
ARTIST Miranda Petersen is holding her first exhibition on home soil. A display of her paintings and decorated mirrors are on show in Chester-le-Street Library. The artist, who is based in the town, said: "I've exhibited my paintings in Newcastle before
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Managers vent anger at referee
BOTH managers united in criticising referee Ray Olivier after last night's draw between Sunderland and Wigan. Mr Olivier sent two men off - one from each side - in controversial circumstances as both sides had to settle for a point. First Julio Arca was
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Miller has sights on World Cup finals
TOMMY MILLER hopes his first international call-up will lead to him fulfilling a boyhood dream of playing in the World Cup finals. The former Hartlepool United midfielder was named in the Scotland future squad - otherwise known as the B team - for their
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New move for mechetronics
A company has marked its commitment to south-west Durham by opening a new £500,000 factory. Mechetronics, which specialises in solenoid technology, has moved from its base in St Helen, Auckland, to South Church, near Bishop Auckland. It had been leasing
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£150,000 cash aid to help rural economy
UP TO £150,000 is available to help revitalise the economy of rural County Durham by re-using empty buildings. The Redundant Building Grant scheme was set up to convert disused buildings for business purposes. The money comes from the regional development
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'A sound of distant thunder, then she sank'
A manuscript which describes the final hours of the Titanic by the most senior officer to survive the sinking was auctioned yesterday for £8,400. Christen Pears looks at our enduring fascination with the world's most famous ship. The Titanic's first officer
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King's Bounty to keep Easterby run going
Tim Easterby, who had four winners over jumps last week, can be on the mark at Catterick this afternoon with King's Bounty in the Document Express Limited Anniversary Chase over three miles and one furlong. A dual winner over fences last year, the seven-year-old
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Weather means more delay as US vessel waits offshore
A FOURTH US "ghost ship" will have to spend at least another day offshore after bad light and tidal conditions prevented it docking in Teesside yesterday. Three ships are already berthed at the Able UK yard, near Hartlepool, and the cargo vessel Compass
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Conlon backs boss
Darlington hotshot Barry Conlon has backed manager David Hodgson's search for a new striker. The Dublin-born forward, last season's top scorer with 17 goals, has found the net just five times this campaign. And Conlon, on target in Saturday's draw with
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Keeping your cool at Yule
As Christmas approaches, it may be tempting to panic but don't let yourself be swayed by consumer cons. The countdown to Christmas starts here! Well actually, no it doesn't. They're trying to panic us, aren't they? Everywhere I turn, there are people
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Arson suspected as club concert room is damaged
FIRE investigators believe a blaze that badly damaged a club's concert room may have been arson. Three Durham City fire crews fought the fire in the single-storey room at Brandon and District Social Club, Commercial Street, Brandon, at 5.30am yesterday
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Gadfly
AN altogether unfestive note, several Christmases past have been marked by the column's complaints about the singing Santa in the Cornmill Centre in Darlington. Happily, the egregious old lad seems to have changed his tune. While not yet choir of angels
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Union vows to fight Aviva plan to export 2,350 jobs
UNION leaders last night vowed to fight plans by the country's biggest insurance firm to export 2,350 UK jobs to India. The Amicus MSF union denounced the move as deplorable, adding that it would aggressively campaign to save the jobs. The union, which
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Cats claw way back after Arca dismissal
JULIO ARCA and Jason de Vos both saw red on a night of high controversy at the Stadium of Light. Both Sunderland and Wigan Athletic had to settle for a point in a fixture between two sides who have their eyes set on promotion. But it was not the opening
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Club's support welcomed by family
THE family of a long-serving football club official has thanked the club for its support after his death. Robert Hardman was the safety officer at Darlington's Feethams ground for several years before leaving to start his own company, All Events Security
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Snub to airport name change
THE controversial re-naming of Teesside International Airport took a fresh twist last night when councillors in Redcar rejected the proposed new name. At Redcar and Cleveland council's cabinet meeting, eight members voted to keep the existing name, with
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S&N sees profits surge ahead
SCOTTISH & Newcastle has seen its decision to concentrate on the brewing side of its business vindicated after posting an eight per cent rise in half-year profits. Growth in all its key beer brands over the hot summer helped the group, based in Edinburgh
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Newcastle chief defends schedule
NEWCASTLE UNITED chairman Freddy Shepherd has hit back at criticism of the decision which saw Newcastle play two games in 40 hours. Striker Alan Shearer labelled it "ridiculous" to play a televised clash at Wolves on Saturday lunchtime after Thursday's
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Virgin pulls some trains out of service
Virgin has pulled a number of its Voyager trains out of service today as it carried out safety checks on the entire fleet. Maintenance workers discovered a problem with the transmission systems on the undercarriages of some of the trains last night. Lee
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'I wanted to throw police off the scent'
SOHAM accused Ian Huntley admitted yesterday it was inexcusable to tell Kevin Wells that he hoped his daughter, Holly, would return home safely when he knew she was already dead. Huntley acknowledged at his Old Bailey murder trial that he had told lies
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Giles' three-wicket burst
Ashley Giles turned around the opening day of England's Test series in Sri Lanka but warned against a false sense of security. The left-arm spinner finished with figures of 10-4-13-3 to signal a change in personal fortunes as the hosts closed on 138 for
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A snappy Christmas ban for shoppers
AN altogether unfestive note, several Christmases past have been marked by the column's complaints about the singing Santa in the Cornmill Centre in Darlington. Happily, the egregious old lad seems to have changed his tune. While not yet choir of angels
