Archive
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Relegation fears put on temporary hold
Last weekend, the main topic of conversation among the lowest crowd of the season at the Reynolds Arena was the looming possibility of relegation. By the time the final whistle blew on Macclesfield's 1-0 victory, all the 2,920 fans - less the 50 or so
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Monkey matters and allot of merriment
CHRISTMAS Eve, and the suspense may be killing. So what about the poor old Hartlepool Monkey - hanged, quartered and now finally drawn as well? Few in these parts will be unfamiliar with the legend of the sailor-suited monkey, supposedly shipwrecked on
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Plan for interpreters to help hard of hearing
A HEALTH authority is backing plans for an interpreting service to help more than 200,000 people in the Tees Valley and County Durham areas with hearing impairment. The £157,000 scheme would involve health and social care professionals bringing together
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'The team should have been sorted out first'
Football fans in Darlington told of their dismay last night at the Quakers' financial plight. Paul Boyle, 38, said: "I am surprised, because you would think with the backing they had financially they would be in good shape - but obviously not. "The results
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What not to watch
Has Homer Simpson overtaken Mickey Mouse as the animated face of entertainment for our children this Christmas? TV writer Steve Pratt applies the spirit of BBC2's Trinny and Suzannah of What Not To Wear fame to establish 'the rules' of what makes a perfect
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Accident victim was at his 18th party
A TEENAGER who died when the car he was travelling in careered off a village road had been celebrating his birthday, it has emerged. John Gary Robson, of Coronation Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham, had met friends to celebrate his 18th birthday
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A great time -- if you've planned
IF you remembered to book your taxi in July, have reserved a place at the bar and have remortgaged your house to fill your wallet you are guaranteed a great New Year'e Eve. What used to be a low-key celebration with close relatives and friends has become
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Blakey to fight for his place
Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batsman Richard Blakey will go on fighting for a first team place, despite having been appointed second XI captain with special managerial responsibilities. Blakey, 36, the senior player on Yorkshire's books, was an almost permanent
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Breaking the £1m barrier
RETAIL chain Printing.com has broken through the £1m barrier for monthly sales. The group, based in Manchester, has 19 stores and 39 franchise operations across the UK, including operation in Newcastle, Bishop Auckland and York. The company said the performance
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Software specialist Sage buys US rival ACCPAC for £62.5m
BUSINESS and accounting software company Sage has bought US rival ACCPAC for £62.5m. ACCPAC is a subsidiary of Computer Associates International, based in California. The company is a vendor of a suite of business management solutions including accounting
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Northern Echo winners celebrate success
EIGHT Northern Echo readers will have a bumper Christmas this year after winning several prizes. The readers won in The Northern Echo's Christmas Wish competition, which has been running for the past two months. Winners include George Smart, from Chester-le-Street
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Bowyer setback ends Viana hopes of move
HUGO VIANA has been told he is going nowhere after Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson revealed that Lee Bowyer could be facing a hip operation and three months on the sidelines. Reports in Portugal yesterday claimed that midfield starlet Viana was on his
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Gadfly: Monkey matters and allot of merriment
CHRISTMAS Eve, and the suspense may be killing. So what about the poor old Hartlepool Monkey - hanged, quartered and now finally drawn as well? Few in these parts will be unfamiliar with the legend of the sailor-suited monkey, supposedly shipwrecked on
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Tributes paid to former mayoress and fundraiser
THE funeral of a woman who devoted her life to charity, raising more than £500,000, was held last week. Louise Hutchinson MBE, former mayoress of Darlington, died at the age of 82. Mourners gathered to pay their respects to Mrs Hutchinson - who was known
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Lambs due for abattoir die after road crash
FOUR fattened lambs destined for the slaughterhouse died as a result of a car accident. Police were contacted at about 2.30am yesterday by a motorist on the Sadberge to Sedgefield road, in County Durham. The driver said the road was blocked by sheep and
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Temporary ice rinks are closed
WINTER wonderland ice rinks in Darlington, Stockton and Middlesbrough have been closed a month early. No reason has been given for the sudden closure by Aria Ltd, the Redcar company that has been managing 15 Christmas ice rink projects across Britain.
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Mother pays tribute to daughter
A MOTHER has paid tribute to her teenage daughter who died hours after developing breathing difficulties. Fourteen-year-old Holly Williams will be buried today. Her mother, Karen, a nurse from Eagle Park, in Middlesbrough, said Holly came home sniffling
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Comment: He should go for the club's sake
IT is a sad day for Darlington Football Club. The dreams lie in tatters; the Quakers are in a mess. George Reynolds saved the club and built a superb new stadium. For that we have always given him enormous credit. But, with the benefit of hindsight, the
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Turbulent times on and off the pitch at troubled club
IT was a sodden night at Wembley on June 26, 2000. The rain was pouring through the roof of the grand old stadium, running in rivers down the concrete steps and on to the pitch. But it didn't matter to George Reynolds. Back then, he could walk on water
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Parents have a ball putting on a panto
PARENTS staged a pantomime for local children. Parents of children aged four and under, who attend Sure Start activities in the Branksome and Park East areas of Darlington, gave two performances of The Witch Who Stole Christmas, at Branksome Community
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Police issue warning
POLICE are warning people to make sure their doors are locked after four men were seen acting suspiciously. Darlington police received a number of calls from people in the Mowden area of the town on Monday night. All reporting sightings of the men. One
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When mishaps make memories
You may want to scream when the cooker won't work or the kids cause chaos, but relax - it's all part of why we cherish Christmas. CONGRATULATIONS! If you are sitting down reading this, it means either (a) you are wonderfully organised and have done all
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Roadshows help people stay healthy
MORE than 400 people from Sedgefield borough opted for a healthier lifestyle by taking part in a series of roadshows. The Your Health Roadshows were organised by a partnership between Sedgefield Primary Care Trust, Tees and Durham Energy Advice, Warm
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MP praises team behind recycled furniture scheme
EASINGTON MP John Cummings has praised the achievements of a national charity which works in partnership with an east Durham school. Green-Works, based in Peterlee, is a venture between Community Action Network and Shotton Hall comprehensive school, and
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Cataract op allows Lesley to see her family for Christmas
A MOTHER has received an early Christmas present after having an eye operation that allowed her to see her family clearly for the first time in 18 months. Lesley Whelan, 57, had a cataract operation at the new eye unit at York Hospital last week. She
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Living with health problems
PEOPLE with long-term health problems are being given the chance to improve their quality of life. Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust is holding a Living Well course in January at the Hambleton Forum in Northallerton. Living Well courses are
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Homeowners call for fairer deal over estate proposals
HOMEOWNERS on an estate earmarked for demolition have protested about the deal they are being offered to give up their homes. Plans have been drawn up to bulldoze and rebuild parts of the run-down Whitehill estate, in Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street
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Sister's kidney saves Wendy
FRIENDS can't believe it when they see Wendy and Kim out Christmas shopping. Laughing and joking in the crowded streets, the sisters are inseparable and full of fun. But only a month ago Wendy Risbrough, 39, was desperately ill and needed a kidney transplant
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Sailor gets award for his service
A BISHOP Auckland sailor has been honoured by the Royal Navy. The Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Warrant Officer marine engineering artificer John Pounder, 48, in recognition of more than 27 years of loyal service and good conduct. The award
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Attacker escapes prison sentence
A CARPET-FITTER who attacked a man with a pool cue during a fight in a pub has been spared Christmas in jail. Lee Evans, of Skelton, east Cleveland, hit the male victim over the back of the head with the cue, which broke in half from the force of the
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Authority releases details of members' allowances
DETAILS have been released of allowances paid to Richmondshire's district councillors in the past financial year. Each member of the authority receives £2,500, although additional responsibility payments are also made to the council leader, Councillor
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How getting lost led to charity donation
A RAMBLERS' group has taken a step in the right direction to help rescue workers. Teesside group the Rambling Roses presented the Cleveland Search and Rescue Team with a £415 cheque. The money was raised through a 50p fee donated each time the ramblers
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Initiative will improve the appearance of town centre
EXTRA money is to be made available to shops and businesses in a town as the drive continues to make it a better place to live and work. The Richmond Town Centre Forum has managed to fill almost half the empty shops in the town centre. A clothes shop,
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Bear necessities inspire pre-school youngsters
LIFE as a planning officer has its challenges - but few are more unusual than designing a home for The Three Bears. Children from the Scorton pre-school group were told the fairytale characters had decided to leave the forest - and they were asked to
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Parents warned over teenagers' behaviour
PARENTS have received a warning to take control of their wayward youngsters or the police will step in. About 20 Stockton families received letters from Cleveland Police in the run-up to Christmas. Their teenagers were among 100 vandals caught last week
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New order follows buyout success
GRAPHIC arts and equipment supplier Inkland Ltd has been bought by a team led by managing director Steve Wilson. The management team celebrated their success by winning the company's largest equipment order, worth £250,000. Inkland, of Newton Aycliffe
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Residents urged to listen to fuel efficiency experts
HOUSEHOLDERS in Wolviston are being urged to listen to advice from fuel poverty crusaders. The village is the last of Stockton's 30 wards to be visited by the Stockton Warm Zone as the project approaches the end of its three-year lifespan. Assessors will
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Shoppers directed to safest car parks
EFFORTS to encourage more shoppers to visit Hartlepool have been stepped up with new signs directing motorists to the town centre's safest car parks. Officers from Hartlepool Borough Council are keen to ensure people are aware of the location of the town's
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Pupils learn home safety
YOUNGSTERS were told how to stay safe in the home when they were visited by a regional power company. Representatives from npower met 62 pupils from Marwood Infant School, Great Ayton. Youngsters, aged between four and seven, had a lesson from the education
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Doctor faces council on conduct charges
A FAMILY doctor who was cautioned for misconduct is to go before medical authorities again. Dr Nabil Naroz, who lives in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, but practises in South Shields, South Tyneside, was found guilty of serious professional misconduct
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Myson plays its part at musical centre of excellence
HEATING manufacturer Myson is hitting all the right notes putting its technology to good use in the region's international centre for music and musical discovery. The business, based in Gateshead, is providing its underfloor heating system to The Sage
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24/12/03
EUROPE: THE letters page (HAS, Dec 19) made very interesting reading on the subject of our membership of the EU. First, we have the usual combination of inaccurate name calling and weak and irrelevant quotes from those in favour of EU integration, then
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When mishaps make memories
You may want to scream when the cooker won't work or the kids cause chaos, but relax - it's all part of why we cherish Christmas. CONGRATULATIONS! If you are sitting down reading this, it means either (a) you are wonderfully organised and have done all
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The hot tickets ahead
Three top actresses highlight next year's theatre season at Newcastle while Sunderland's Empire has just announced a run of Miss Saigon for 2005. Viv Hardwick reports. A RETURN by British choreographer Matthew Bourne and dramas starring some of the country's
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From the heartwarming to the harrowing
Where The Heart Is (ITV1): Backpackers' Nightmares (five): A MAN who climbed Everest is crippled with arthritis. His student daughter arrives home pregnant. Worst still, the father is the person he blames for his son's death in a climbing accident. And
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Hooked again
Is it possible to make another version of Peter Pan? Yes, says actor Jason Isaacs who has taken the pantomine out of Captain Hook to make him a villain of all time. Steve Pratt reports. BRITISH actor Jason Isaacs has no worries playing the villain. He's
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PM pays a Christmas visit
PRIME Minister Tony Blair came North last week for a festive visit. Mr Blair and wife Cherie joined Darlington MP Alan Milburn for the official opening of a Sure Start centre off North Road. The £1m centre, for parents and children, was already playing
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Frumenty, Milly Boxes and the delicate issue of mistletoe
Full of festive nostalgia and the odd glass of mulled wine, Echo Memories muses on the childhood traditions of Bishop Auckland and the glories of snowy days past in Darlington's South Park. ACCORDING to a newly published booklet about the traditions of
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Desperate Reynolds hands over control
GEORGE Reynolds last night bowed to mounting financial pressure and called in administrators to save Darlington Football Club. Insolvency practitioners Wilson Field have taken over the running of the 120-year-old club and are seeking a way to prevent
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Susan takes break from the rat race with horse race gift
EVERY Christmas, Susan Timmins slaves over a hot stove to serve up a festive dinner. In fact, the 43-year-old mother of three does the household cooking all-year-round, while husband Michael barely lifts a finger. But Mrs Timmins, from Washington, Wearside
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'UK economy shows signs of recovery'
THE performance of the UK economy in the third quarter of the year proved stronger than expected after a second upward revision to gross domestic product (GDP) figures. GDP rose 0.8 per cent on the previous three months - higher than the 0.6 per cent
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Motorist escapes as car skids into river
A TERRIFIED motorist had an amazing escape when his car skidded on the icy banks of a river and plunged into the freezing water. Police said the car, believed to be a Jaguar XJS, slid into the River Ouse, in York, after architect Chris Cook tried to turn
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Testimony to chairman's drive, but was stadium too ambitious?
THE name leaves no one in any doubt who is responsible for the stadium, with marble floors, escalators and the much-vaunted automatic-flush toilets. Huge lettering on the sides proclaim it to be the Reynolds Arena. Only the more modest brown directional
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Epic trip out of this world for business
A NORTH-EAST company is playing a leading role in Europe's first solo mission to another planet. The workers from Northern Precision Engineering (NPE) will be holding their breath tomorrow when Beagle 2 , which they have helped to create, is expected
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Is it one fight too many for Reynolds the battler?
IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a man in possession of a small fortune, must be in want of a football club. From Chelsea's Roman Abramovich down, the game is littered with millionaires who have sought to transfer their success in business
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Go-ahead for health centre's £1.25m rebuild
A health centre in Darlington is to be rebuilt thanks to a £1.25m investment in primary care. The new Park Place health centre is to be built in the car park next to the existing building to minimise disruption to patients. Darlington Primary Care Trust
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Lightening our darkness
"In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." In his Christmas message to The Northern Echo, the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, explains the enduring significance of one of the best-known passages from the Bible.
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Why we must not demonise Maxine Carr
APPEARING on Christmas Eve, with double its usual shelf life, this column was meant to have a Christmas theme. One that would suit what we laughingly call the "seasonal festivities'' - today the panic last-minute shopping and gift-wrapping, tomorrow the
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Echo Memories: Frumenty, Milly Boxes and the delicate issue of mistletoe
Full of festive nostalgia and the odd glass of mulled wine, Echo Memories muses on the childhood traditions of Bishop Auckland and the glories of snowy days past in Darlington's South Park. ACCORDING to a newly published booklet about the traditions of
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Sister's kidney donation saves Wendy
FRIENDS can't believe it when they see Wendy and Kim out Christmas shopping. Laughing and joking in the crowded streets, the sisters are inseparable and full of fun. But only a month ago Wendy Risbrough, 39, was desperately ill and needed a kidney transplant
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It's wedding hells
CHRISTMAS is coming and the geese, along with Barry the most boring man in Soapland, are getting fat. In EastEnders (BBC1), Alfie Moon and Kat Slapper, sorry Slater, are preparing to say "We do" for a Christmas Day wedding in Albert Square. Except when
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Pantomime star Pee Wee's festive hospital visit is right on the button
PANTO star Pee Wee Price helped brighten up Christmas for youngsters forced to spend it in hospital. Pee Wee, who plays Buttons in Cinderella at Durham's Gala Theatre, visited the Treetops ward at the University Hospital of North Durham to spread some
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Smith issues warning
Darlington's most successful former player, Kevan Smith, knows all about the effects administration has on a football club, and last night he warned the Quakers' players and staff to brace themselves for a rough ride. Smith was assistant manager at Hull
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Bogus callers targeted by technology
BOGUS callers have been brought to book thanks to a North-East police force's number plate reader. The mobile Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was used by Northumbria Police to target cowboy builders, disreputable door-to-door salespeople and
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A Christmas wish for peace
IT has been a year dominated by the war against Saddam Hussein's rotten regime in Iraq; a year of suspicion, hatred, fear and bloodshed. But as 2003 draws towards its end, there are signs of hope. The discovery of Saddam down his coward's hole will, hopefully
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McCarthy praises Babb for work with youngsters
MICK McCARTHY has paid tribute to forgotten man Phil Babb for helping to steer many of Sunderland's rising stars in the right direction. Since Babb was told in the summer he could leave, his appearances in Division One have been sparse. In fact, he made
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Don't allow conmen to spoil your holiday
PEOPLE who answer their doors to strangers over the Christmas break have been urged not to let festive spirit cloud their judgement. The Northern Echo has joined forces with police and trading standards departments in the region in an attempt to stamp
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Chemical industry will gain from changes to aid criteria
THE North-East chemical industry is poised to benefit from changes in the rules governing applications for regional aid. The Government plans to overhaul its programme of Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants, following the failure of a series of
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Mourners gather for woman's funeral
HUNDREDS of people packed into a village church yesterday for the funeral of a young woman who died in a farm accident. Dozens of mourners had to crowd into the aisles and stand behind pews during the service for 20-year-old Kelly Pattinson at St Mary's
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Wardens take to their bikes
A TWO-man anti-vehicle crime team will be keeping an eye on shoppers' cars in Darlington over Christmas. The motorbike-riding uniformed wardens have increased their presence in the town centre during December, particularly around the council-run car parks
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Outrage at council decision to allow mobile phone mast
PEOPLE are accusing Darlington Borough Council of double standards after it passed proposals for a mobile phone mast just weeks after a similar mast on the same road was refused. Residents of Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, are furious that the council's
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Getting ready to make a splash for charity
HARDY souls are planning to brave the icy shores of the North Sea on Friday for Europe's biggest Boxing Day Dip. More than 800 dippers who took part in last year's event, at Seaburn in Sunderland, helped raised £38,000 for local charities. There is an
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Calendar celebrates memories
FORMER patients now living in the community have produced a calendar of artwork about their time living in a hospital. The calendar, Our Lives, Our Futures, reflects the memories and experiences of 36 people with learning disabilities who lived at Earls
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Church gives rewards to young people
THE first Christmas Giveaway at a Newton Aycliffe church was an opportunity to reward more than 60 young people. Young people aged between seven and 11-years-old received gifts at the Christian Life Centre's Planet Kids initiative for their outstanding
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Shops face ban after under-age drink sales
THREE shopkeepers in north-west Durham face losing their alcohol licences after selling drink to under-age teenagers during a police operation. Police sent youngsters aged 14 into all 34 off-licences in the Consett area, with instructions to try to buy
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Nursery expands its facilities
A LARGE extension has been built at a Newton Aycliffe nursery. An additional 26 places have been created at the Playday Nursery, in Simpasture Gate, as part of the New Opportunities Fund Building Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative. Building work is complete
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Work commences on play areas demolition
WORK has started on removing equipment from play areas in Newton Aycliffe before they are demolished. A report has highlighted 21 play areas that have inappropriate surfaces. Some also have problems with fencing. Sedgefield Borough Council commissioned
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Town's traders see glimmer of hope in festive trading
A TOWN centre at the heart of a campaign to champion the cause of local shopping is enjoying a boost in trade this Christmas. Traders in Bishop Auckland are looking forward to the New Year with renewed hope that the town can once again become the thriving
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Rural communities discover computing
A MOBILE computer suite which aims at encourage adults to learn has been hailed a success by education bosses. Backed by the BBC, North Yorkshire County Council's Discovery Bus has been visiting towns and villages across Richmondshire, offering residents
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Gambling tax too high, says company
PLANS to build a £150m casino in the North-East will not go ahead unless tax laws are changed, a company has said. US gaming company MGM Mirage has bought land next to Newcastle United Football Club's home, St James's Park, in a £5m deal. But bosses at
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Youngsters have designs on Christmas
THREE youngsters will see their artwork in print after winning a Christmas card competition. The contest was open to 600 members of the Durham County Council Children's Network, a support group for young people up to the age of 18 with disabilities. Entrants
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Northern sells tinned food operation
NORTHERN Foods has agreed to sell its Irish baked bean and tinned food operation to a consortium including the Bank of Scotland for £66.8m. The group, based in Hull, said it was selling Northern Foods (Ireland) and its subsidiaries to Maiden Acquisition
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Cooper hails Boro skipper
GARETH SOUTHGATE has been hailed as the inspiration behind Middlesbrough's chase for a Premiership record. Resolute Boro need to keep an eighth successive clean sheet at Blackburn on Boxing Day then stop Manchester United from scoring for 35 minutes at
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Lingfield welcomes Cardew
COMMUNICATIONS company Cardew has opened an office at one of the region's newest business parks. Cardew Communications Ltd, a retailer of BT products and services, has taken office space in the refurbished Lingfield House, on the Lingfield Point business
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People plant 7,000 bulbs to bring colour to area
PEOPLE showed how much they care for their area by turning out in force to plant thousands of bulbs. A group of more than 30 people wrapped up against the cold to plant the 7,000 bulbs along Cleveland Road and on the corner of West View Road, in Hartlepool
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Mathematics students win awards
EIGHT sixth form students have won awards in the annual UK Senior Maths Challenge, which attracted 60,000 entries nationwide. First-year students at Stockton Sixth Form College, Kathryn Hutchinson and David Johnson, and second-year students Matthew Lambert
