Archive
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24-hour strike at Land Rover
WORKERS at motor firm Land Rover are to stage a 24-hour strike in a dispute over pay, union leaders announced. Employees at the company's plant in Solihull, West Midlands, will walk out on January 26 in protest at a pay offer worth 6.5 per cent. The workers
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Job Search: Vacancies
Retail Manager, Consett, exceeds NMW, 39 hours per week, permanent. Must have experience and working references. Ref: CON 17048. Post CNC Operative, Consett, £5.94 to £6.46 per hour, 37 hours per week, permanent. Previous experience in an engineering
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Street care scheme on awards shortlist
A LITTER-busting scheme in the North-East has been so successful that the council behind it has been shortlisted for a national award. The campaign in Darlington, launched in January last year and backed by The Northern Echo, has seen 600 people fined
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Trekking together with bird of feather
A YOUNG woman has raised more than £2,800 for charity by going on a ten-day trek across New Zealand with TV celebrity Linda Robson. Rachel Butler, 18, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, raised the cash for The Children's Society, which works with some of the
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Sembcorp Utilities celebrates an accident-free milestone
A SERVICE company has recorded a world-class safety performance in the past year. SembCorp Utilities, based at Wilton, Redcar, has lost no production time due to injuries to any of its employees or contractors in more than 1.7 million man-hours of work
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Man in wheelchair dies after head-on collision
A North Yorkshire man has died after his electric wheelchair was in a head-on collision with a coach. Police have not named the victim, who is in his early 60s, but he is known to be from Catterick village. The accident happened on Monday when the man
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Cancer patient who sought new treatment dies
A CANCER sufferer, who spearheaded a campaign to bring a pioneering US cancer treatment to the UK, has died unexpectedly. Lenny Kirk, 48, of Ragpath Lane, Stockton, suffered from lung cancer and his friends and family raised more than £22,000 to pay for
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Bug kills super-fit gym instructor
A gym instructor died suddenly after catching a flu-like bug. Father-of-two Karl Bamberough, who was 26, prided himself on being at the peak of physical fitness. Yesterday his partner, Penny Taylor, told how Karl was struck down by the bug and died in
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Free checks by firefighters could save lives
MORE than 400 people are killed and 12,500 people injured in house fires each year in the UK. On average, 270 of those killed in fires did not have a smoke alarm. So having moved house it seemed like a good idea to take advantage of the scheme. The first
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Nemo animation boss to star
A NORTH-EAST university has landed another star billing for its animation festival. Mark Walsh, director of animation on the hit film Finding Nemo, is to speak at this year's Animex International Festival of Animation, to be held at the University of
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Trekking together with bird of feather
A YOUNG woman has raised more than £2,800 for charity by going on a ten-day trek across New Zealand with TV celebrity Linda Robson. Rachel Butler, 18, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, raised the cash for The Children's Society, which works with some of the
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Band calls out for new members
A VILLAGE band, that is beginning to make a big noise in the North-East brass world is appealing for fresh blood to ensure it starts the competitive year on a high note. Pittington Brass, which enjoyed a successful year in competition last year, would
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Car dealership sponsors junior golfers
A JUNIOR golf team has landed a sponsorship deal with a local car dealer. The Simon Bailes dealership has provided Romanby Golf Club Juniors, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, with more than £2,000 to spend on golf shirts. The junior section, which
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GNER boss in attack on rival trains
THE company which runs train services on the East Coast Main Line has launched a scathing attack on trains used by a rival operator. Christopher Garnett, chief executive of Great North Eastern Railways (GNER), described Virgin's trains, which operate
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13/01/04
GHOST SHIPS: WHATEVER is said or written about the Ghost Ships, the inescapable fact is that they are here and a decision must be made on their future. If they are as hazardous as is claimed then this decision should be made as soon as possible, not allowing
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'It was time to bid George goodbye'
THE departure of George Reynolds from Darlington Football Club last night marked the end of one of the most dramatic periods in the Quakers' 120-year history. But will the flamboyant former chairman only be remembered for the bad times? Steve Mangan,
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Comment from The Northern Echo: It's all over for George now
IT is the end of a colourful, bizarre, controversial, and ultimately very sad era in the history of Darlington Football Club. It began with optimism and wild promises. It ended in acrimony and an intimidating atmosphere. George Reynolds has left Darlington
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Mayor puts gym equipment to the test
THE Mayor of Darlington took a stroll on a treadmill to mark the opening of a gym's £400,000 extension. Councillor Ron Lewis opened the extension, which is expected to create jobs, at Bannatyne's Health Club, in Haughton Road. It houses fitness equipment
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Cinema could face demolition
A CINEMA complex once heralded as the most advanced in the UK looks set to close after 14 years in business. The owners of the Warner Village multiplex at Manors, in Newcastle, said yesterday that the site could be demolished for redevelopment. Vue Entertainment
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Flood-hit village could get £500,000 to improve defence
A FLOOD-HIT village could get £500,000 to improve its coastal defences. The small fishing town of Skinningrove was hit by disastrous floods in 2000, when 178 properties were affected by high water levels, and many residents had to be evacuated. Heavy
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Police issue skip warning after car accident
A DRIVER escaped serious injury after his car ploughed into the side of a house as he tried to avoid an unlit skip. The man, who has not been named, swerved off the road, in Copeland Road, West Auckland, to avoid the skip, which was on the main road.
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Hospital outlines foundation proposals
A HOSPITAL takes its first step towards Foundation status later this week when it hosts a meeting to give local people a chance to have their say on the proposals. Leading members of the Harrogate community have been invited to Thursday's gathering at
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Town chosen to lead way
THIRSK has been selected as a new Beacon Town for England by the Countryside Agency. The Beacon Town award is designed to show how market towns can act as service centres for their residents and communities in surrounding rural areas. In Thirsk, Beacon
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Moves to ease town congestion
THOUSANDS of buses are being rerouted to prevent town centre traffic congestion. Public transport operator Nexus has changed pick-up and drop-off points to cut out Gateshead town centre from its routes. From this week, all its services will use a new
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Cataract patients get mobile treatment
PATIENTS in the region are to be treated in mobile operating theatres staffed by surgeons from South Africa as part of attempts to reduce waiting times. The controversial move has been ordered by Health Secretary Dr John Reid to speed up treatment in
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Anne joins disability forum team
A CHARITY for disabled people has appointed a campaign officer to help its fight to make Teesdale accessible for all people. The Teesdale Disability Access Forum's campaign officer, Anne Henderson, will work to raise the profile of the organisation and
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Fans and players reap the benefits of football funding
THE football team that made history when it became the first winner of the World Cup has been given a boost of almost £20,000. Players and fans at West Auckland Football Club are reaping the benefits of new turnstiles, terracing and public address system
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School praised in report
A SCHOOL and its teachers have been praised by Government inspectors. Ofsted inspectors have singled out headteacher James King and deputy headteacher Sue Picknett, of Berwick Hills Primary School, for praise in the progress of the Middlesbrough school
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Skills put to the test in agility stakes
TWO Teesdale women are celebrating their dogs' success at one of the most difficult dog trials in the country. Pat Brown, from Whorlton, and Hazel Barker, from Barnard Castle, qualified for the final of the Pedigree Agility Stakes, held during last month's
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Transport minister opens town's £2m bus station
A £2M bus station was opened yesterday by Transport Minister Tony McNulty. Mr McNulty spent a day on the buses in Harrogate beginning with the opening of the town's new terminal. The redeveloped bus station was built as a partnership venture with Blazefield
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Beacon status will promote town's community issues
THIRSK has been selected as a Beacon Town for England by the Countryside Agency. The Beacon Town initiative is designed to show how the country's market towns can act as local service centres for their residents and communities in the surrounding rural
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Marathon cash effort
DARLINGTON Building Society director David Dodd isn't content with run-of-the-mill New Year's resolutions. For the 46-year-old, of Melsonby, near Richmond, has pledged to complete 13 half marathons this year to raise money for Darlington St Teresa's Hospice
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Learning campaign aims to help more
PEOPLE who want to improve their chances of success in life are being urged to grasp opportunities on offer. Up Yours is the message from the Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley, which promotes the benefits of learning. Its new campaign calls on people
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The bride wore red and pink . . .
WHEN Christiana Taylor walked down the aisle to marry William Roberts in November 1849, she wore a gown that would probably seem startling to a modern bride. Her bold red and pink striped silk damask dress is now on show at an unusual wedding exhibition
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Disabled anglers issue members appeal after setting up club
DISABLED fishing enthusiasts have started an angling club and are seeking members. The Leadgate Fishing Club for Disabled and Able-bodied Anglers was started by keen fisherman Dave Waters, of Leadgate, County Durham, after he was confined to a wheelchair
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Lloyds jobs will still go to India, despite critical report
BANKING group Lloyds TSB last night vowed to press ahead with the closure of a North-East call centre, despite a report which said moving jobs to India would lead to a poorer service for customers. Lloyds announced last year that 980 jobs were to be axed
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Patients to receive quicker service under new scheme
A scheme will make pharmacists the first point of call for some patients from the Derwentside area of County Durham. Pharmacy First has been developed by Derwentside Primary Care Trust and local pharmacists to treat patients who are suffering from minor
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Collectable gets Pete's stamp of approval
HE'S best known as a music entrepreneur and judge on TV's Pop Idol, but the great passion in Pete Waterman's life is something altogether different. Waterman is a railway fanatic who, over the years, has invested millions of pounds into his hobby. He's
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You win in the end, sports fans are told
Sports fans will eventually end up on the plus side if Richmond Sports Centre is closed because two new centres are planned, council officials say. Richmondshire District Council says that closing the sports centre would save £28,500 a year. But people
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Killer Shipman found dead in cell
Killer doctor Harold Shipman died today after being found hanging in his cell at Wakefield Prison, the Prison Service said. He was found at 6.20am and despite the efforts of staff who immediately attempted resuscitation, he was pronounced dead by a doctor
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Building support for ban on 'cowboys'
A CAMPAIGN to introduce legislation to outlaw cowboy builders moves to Westminster next month. Policy-makers will hear from consumer watchdogs and doorstep crime experts when a seminar is staged by the Trading Standards Institute and Leeds MP Paul Truswell
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Eating Owt: Outside the big smoke
The column enjoyed clean air and pleasant fare at the North-East's first entirely no-smoking pub, The Lambton Arms, at Eighton Banks, Gateshead. DUST to dust, ash to ashes, the North-East has its first entirely no-smoking pub. We had hoped to take lunch
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McClaren wants 'more fight' from Massimo
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren is demanding "more fight'' from Italian striker Massimo Maccarone to justify his place in the team. Boro's £8.15m record signing showed a glimpse of the spirit McClaren is calling for when he fought off teammate Danny
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Kidney transplant patient Alex will ski for Britain
FIFTH-FORMER Alex Crawley was the toast of his school yesterday after he was chosen to ski for Britain in the World Winter Transplant Games. The 16-year-old has been given a week's leave from Teesdale Comprehensive, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, to
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Rescuers need people to join team
A RESCUE team that covers part of the North-East is looking for recruits. Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team, based in Barnard Castle, covers County Durham and parts of the North Pennines, including Cross Fell, the highest point in the Pennines
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Salsa spirit is going down well
A MARKET town is experiencing an explosion in Latin spirit with Salsa classes becoming increasingly popular. Laucinda Holland and Gareth Roberts set up Salsa dance school Encuentro Latino in Northallerton at the start of 2003, and since then it has gone
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Slowdown in house prices
HOUSE prices fell by 1.1 per cent during November to take the average cost of a property back below the £160,000 threshold, Government figures showed. The fall contributed to a drop in annual house price inflation, with prices rising by 9.7 per cent during
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Drought forecast by university team
FEARS of potential drought conditions developing later this year were aired by North-East university meteorologists yesterday. It follows record low rainfall recorded last year by Durham University's geography department. Not only was 2003 the driest
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Zealous set for hat-trick
JOHN UPSON'S Sedgefield specialist Over Zealous (1.40) is fancied to rack up a third course and distance win at the track today. Perhaps it would be going slightly overboard to suggest Over Zealous is improving at the grand old age of 12, but there's
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Minister highlights innovation as 'the key'
INNOVATION is likely to be the key to Britain playing a leading role in the global market place, Lord Sainsbury told business leaders yesterday. Addressing a conference organised by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, the Science Minister told
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Pool boss aims to strengthen defence
NEALE Cooper is seeking an end to Hartlepool United's away day blues by making his move in the transfer market. Despite seeing his side move into sixth place in Division Two, the Pool boss is on the hunt for new faces to strengthen his defence. Pool have
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'Effect of dumping may be catastrophic'
MORE pressure is being put on the Government to protect British plastic makers from foreign competitors who ignore international trade laws. North-East MEP Stephen Hughes has written to Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt urging her to back proposals to
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Takeover expected to trigger retail price war
SHOPPERS are likely to see a fall in prices during an expceted supermarket price war. Competition sparked by the takeover of Safeway by Morrisons may save consumers £1bn this year, retail analyst Verdict said. This will mean about £40 off the average
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Job Search: Vacancies
Support Worker, Thirsk, £6.15 per hour, 37 hours per week, 9-week rota working 5/7 days covering 24 hours, permanent, must have experience in a care environment. Ref: NOE 20884. Exhibition Stand Fitter, Thirsk, £8-£8.50 per hour, 37 hours per week, permanent
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Durham Prison praised for action to stop cell suicides
THE men's section of a jail where ten inmates have killed themselves in two years has been praised for its efforts to tackle the problem of prison suicides. Inspectors say the section at Durham Prison carries out work to stop inmate suicides "to a high
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Outside the big smoke
The column enjoyed clean air and pleasant fare at the North-East's first entirely no-smoking pub, The Lambton Arms, at Eighton Banks, Gateshead. DUST to dust, ash to ashes, the North-East has its first entirely no-smoking pub. We had hoped to take lunch
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Linda, the businesswoman
LINDA Barker was a businesswoman before she was a TV personality, working as a self-employed designer, and that side of her has never been more apparent. Sitting in the comfortable surroundings of Notting Grill, the London restaurant of her friend Antony
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Woman is jailed for £26,000 theft from company
A WOMAN who helped keep a small company's books almost made it bankrupt by giving herself regular extra payments. Barbara Crewe, 54, who had no previous criminal record, was yesterday jailed for nine months after she admitted stealing £26,220 from Darlington
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Flying ace reunited with propeller blade
A PROPELLER blade from a Second World War fighter plane has been found after 60 years - thanks to readers of The Northern Echo. RAF expert Ken Chester appealed for help from readers to locate the Spitfire blade, signed by North-East flying ace George
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Euro singer Tom takes stage
A TEN-YEAR-OLD singer who won the hearts of people across the world is hoping to inspire North-East youngsters to match his success. Tom Morley, the UK's representative in the first Junior Eurovision Song Contest, is visiting the region for the talentSTAR
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Loving politics
John Hurt was the best man for the job when it came to playing real life romeo MP Alan Clark. Hurt won a glowing endorsement from Clarke's wife Jane. Steve Pratt reports. ACTOR John Hurt has never been one to shy away from controversial characters. Roles
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Woodgate the man for England, Dyer
KIERON DYER last night insisted that Newcastle teammate Jonathan Woodgate is the man to fill Rio Ferdinand's England boots at Euro 2004. With Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand set to serve an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test, Woodgate is
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Minister highlights innovation as 'the key'
INNOVATION is likely to be the key to Britain playing a leading role in the global market place, Lord Sainsbury told business leaders yesterday. Addressing a conference organised by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, the Science Minister told
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'Effect of dumping may be catastrophic'
MORE pressure is being put on the Government to protect British plastic makers from foreign competitors who ignore international trade laws. North-East MEP Stephen Hughes has written to Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt urging her to back proposals to
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Cinema could face demolition
A CINEMA complex once heralded as the most advanced in the UK looks set to close after 14 years in business. The owners of the Warner Village multiplex at Manors, in Newcastle, said yesterday that the site could be demolished for redevelopment. Vue Entertainment
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Playwright leaves school to work with Emmerdale story team
CHILDREN at a North-East school will loan their favourite writer to a television soap for three weeks. Carina Rodney, writer-in-residence at Peases West Primary, Billy Row, Crook, County Durham, has won a competition to work with the story team of Emmerdale
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TV review
Wall Of Silence (ITV1) Nazi Grand Prix (C4) JAMIE Robe made the fatal mistake of being a little bit drunk and making casual insulting comments to youths in the street late at night. They beat him to death with fists, feet and sticks. This horrifying story
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Trawler not spying -- inquiry
A TRAWLER which sank in mysterious circumstances with the loss of all hands was not spying, an inquiry heard yesterday. Attorney General Lord Goldsmith told a public inquiry into the sinking of the trawler Gaul that there was no evidence that the ship
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Drinkers still driving
DRINK-driving is continuing to worry the police, despite a drop in the numbers caught. Eighty-five drivers failed breath tests during the Christmas and New Year drink-driving clamp-down in North Yorkshire. The campaign ran from December 12 until January
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Job Search: Vacancies
Kitchen assistant, Darlington, £4.50 per hour, 11.30am to 2.30pm Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri, 11.30am to 3pm Sat. Experience not required. Ref: DAE 37701. Assistant cook, Darlington, £4.72 per hour, 37.5 hours per week between 8am and 6pm on rota. Must have two
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The bride wore red and pink . . .
WHEN Christiana Taylor walked down the aisle to marry William Roberts in November 1849, she wore a gown that would probably seem startling to a modern bride. Her bold red and pink striped silk damask dress is now on show at an unusual wedding exhibition
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McClaren calls for 'more fight' from Maccarone
MIDDLESBROUGH manager Steve McClaren is demanding "more fight'' from Italian striker Massimo Maccarone to justify his place in the team. Boro's £8.15m record signing showed a glimpse of the spirit McClaren is calling for when he fought off teammate Danny
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Tales of outrage and obscurity
Wall Of Silence (ITV1): Nazi Grand Prix (C4): JAMIE Robe made the fatal mistake of being a little bit drunk and making casual insulting comments to youths in the street late at night. They beat him to death with fists, feet and sticks. This horrifying
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Woodgate ready to step into Rio's boots
KIERON DYER last night insisted that Newcastle teammate Jonathan Woodgate is the man to fill Rio Ferdinand's England boots at Euro 2004. With Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand set to serve an eight-month ban for missing a drugs test, Woodgate is
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Arts Minister gets to test interactive model of river
ARTS Minister Estelle Morris yesterday launched an indoor water-play gallery designed for children, during a visit to the North-East. Play Tyne, an interactive gallery featuring the River Tyne with working models of its landmark bridges, is one of four
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Dog was left tied to centre's gates
STAFF at a rehoming centre are caring for a young dog that was left tied to its gates. Darlington Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre staff have named the border collie-cross Loner. He was taken to the centre in Sadberge, on Friday by a man who said he had found
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New rector 'has music will travel'
A RECTOR with eight churches and only one choir is forming a mobile choir to boost the choral presence in a scattered rural area. Robert Sellers, newly-appointed Rector of Fountains, near Ripon, wants to establish the group so they can sing at major festivals
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Sex and suitable schooling
Following the announcement that Durham University's only all-women's college is to admit male students, Women's Editor Christen Pears looks at the debate on single-sex education. WHEN I visited St Mary's in 2002, the college was celebrating its 50th anniversary
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Supermarket bans pupils during school lunch break
PUPILS have been banned from shopping in Darlington's Asda supermarket during their lunch break in an attempt to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Children from Haughton Community School must not enter the supermarket between 12.20pm and 1.20pm on
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Dead backpacker's brother at hearing
THE brother of a North Yorkshire backpacker who was thrown off a bridge in Australia was at a pre-trial court hearing today to see a man charged with her murder. Ian Previte, 31, is accused of pushing Caroline Stuttle of York off a bridge to her death
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Appeal for help as thieves target town
POLICE are appealing for information after a spate of car thefts. A J-registration Ford Orion was stolen from Hundens Lane, Darlington, overnight on Sunday. An 02-registration silver Renault Megane was stolen from Wooler Street on Sunday evening and an
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Pilot is banned from driving
A VINTAGE aircraft pilot's attempt to rescue his stranded girlfriend in his car ended in disaster - with the car written off, the couple injured, and a court appearance. Peter Gosling, a 52-year-old pilot at Sheffield Airport's Yorkshire Vintage Flying
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Equipment stolen
A HANG-GLIDING enthusiast has been left stranded after burglars made off with equipment worth hundreds of pounds. The victim, a 43-year-old man, discovered the break-in on Friday at a shed in the back yard of his home in the village Satley, two miles
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Airport's expansion bid on show
RESIDENTS living next to the region's biggest airport will have the chance to study its plans for expansion later this month. Newcastle International Airport is holding a series of public meetings as part of a consultation exercise, before the launch
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Woods rescue
SEVENTEEN members of Cleveland Search and Rescue located a man who had fallen off his bike in the Belmont area of Guisborough Woods, east Cleveland, injuring his leg. The man, from Whitby, was taken to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, by
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Man in court for allotment fires
A MAN was fined £500 by magistrates after admitting he had illegally burned controlled waste on his allotment. Stanley Thexton, 53, of Main Street, Witton Park, pleaded guilty to depositing and disposing of commercial waste without a licence. Magistrates
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Public forum to take place on economic plans
A PUBLIC meeting is to be held next week to allow residents to give their views on the planned economic regeneration of Stockton town centre. Consultancy company Drivers Jonas has spent three months consulting groups in the town centre, and has identified
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Skip warning issued by police after car accident
A DRIVER escaped serious injury after his car ploughed into the side of a house as he tried to avoid an unlit skip. The man, who has not been named, swerved off the road, in Copeland Road, West Auckland, to avoid the skip, which was on the main road.
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Bid to transform community
PLANS are under way to transform a community into a vibrant urban village and cultural hotbed. The Lower Ouseburn Valley, between Jesmond Dene and the Tyne River bend, in Newcastle, is already home to artists, businesses and residents. Plans to revitalise
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Crackdown on crime results in 45 arrests
POLICE have arrested 45 people during a successful operation in Redcar. Operation Feast, which ran from November 30 to January 5, was launched to tackle shoplifting and retail crime over the festive season. Police, including the mounted section, worked
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Companies bid for £34m homes cash
FOUR housing providers have joined forces for a multi-million pound facelift in the North-East. Enterprise 5, Endeavour Housing, Newcastle and Whitley Housing Trust and Tynedale Housing are to bid for Government funds for a £34.3m development programme
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Undercover inspection team catches illegal alcohol sales to children
A WARNING has been issued to off-licences in Hartlepool in a bid to crack down on sales of alcohol to to children. It follows an operation last month involving volunteers, all aged 14, who were served with multi-packs of lager by three shops without having
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Cheer for industry as factory prices rise
MANUFACTURERS benefited from improved margins in December after figures showed that factory prices rose at their fastest pace in eight years. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) said its core output price index improved 0.3 per cent between November
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Sound of silence to help charity
YOUNG and old are gearing up for a sponsored silence in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief. The Big Hush takes place on Friday, February 13. Last year, the event raised nearly £300,000 for the charity. In Northallerton, Macmillan is raising money to fund
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Airport's expansion bid on show
RESIDENTS living next to the region's biggest airport will have the chance to study its plans for expansion later this month. Newcastle International Airport is holding a series of public meetings as part of a consultation exercise, before the launch
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Warnings over bogus charity collections
PEOPLE in Stockton are being urged to be on their guard when donating to charity. Last weekend, Stockton Borough Council received complaints about unapproved people collecting in pubs in the town. David Kitching, the council's trading standards and licensing
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People needed to join health watchdog team
AN appeal is being made to recruit residents to join health watchdogs. More than 40 people have successfully applied to join one of the independent Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forums being set up in the area, to monitor health services. A PPI
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Adecco to delay release of accounts
STAFF recruitment group Adecco warned that a probe into potential accounting problems would delay publication of its accounts. Adecco said its audit committee had appointed a lawyer to investigate "material weaknesses in internal controls" that the group
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New Nestle boss dispenses with the sweet talk
THE new boss of Nestl Rowntree has told his senior management team to either motivate their staff or quit. Chris White told divisional managers at the York plant they needed to sell more chocolate at higher prices to re-establish the company as a prime
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Authority breaks links with tourist board to join rival
A COUNCIL is breaking links with a tourist board it said has made it feel like a poor relation. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will drop associations with Northumbria Tourist board and join forces with Yorkshire Tourist Board from April. Middlesbrough
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Why the BBC is guilty of double standards
OK, so whom do you want to criticise? The Church of England? Fine - go ahead and insult any parson or lay person you fancy. Maybe you'd like to have a go at freemasons, or foxhunters, or wearers of fur coats; or Tories, Americans, Israelis - oh feel especially
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Caravan group increases investment
CARAVAN park group Parkdean Holidays plans to double its annual investment in improving facilities at its leisure parks. The announcement came as the Newcastle-based group reported a 162 per cent rise in pre-tax profits, to £8.98m in the year to October
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Eating Owt
DUST to dust, ash to ashes, the North-East has its first entirely no-smoking pub. We had hoped to take lunch there with the admirable Mr Brooks Mileson, who goes rather heavy on the Lites, but unfortunately he was bad in bed and thus unable to get things
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Vardy group opens new dealerships
THE Reg Vardy motor group today announced it has completed a deal to open two new dealerships in the east of Scotland. Sites in Livingston and Sighthill will take the Sunderland firm's number of dealerships in the area to 15 and across the UK to 84. *
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Reynolds quits the Quakers
GEORGE REYNOLDS quit as chairman of crisis-hit Darlington Football Club last night, ending the most extraordinary chapter in the Quakers' 120-year history. The 67-year-old severed all ties with the club, resigning as chairman and a director, after a torrid
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Hodgson underlines his debt to Reynolds
Darlington manager David Hodgson last night thanked George Reynolds for giving him his best year in football, and admitted he felt partly responsible for his departure. Reynolds yesterday resigned as chairman, three weeks after saving the club from a
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When the Vicar's boss watered Kingsway pitch
Hot from the press and with a direction to turn to Page 11, we have been sent a copy of the post-war history of St Cuthbert's church, Darlington. Page 11 is about the Rev George Holderness, St Cuthbert's Vicar from 1948-55 and Darlington cricket club
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North-East to benefit from tax reforms
HOUSEHOLDERS in the region could be big winners if plans to reform the council tax are pushed through. Mounting resentment at soaring bills has forced ministers to examine other options to the charge - such as local income tax and a new system of business
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Zealous set for hat-trick
JOHN UPSON'S Sedgefield specialist Over Zealous (1.40) is fancied to rack up a third course and distance win at the track today. Perhaps it would be going slightly overboard to suggest Over Zealous is improving at the grand old age of 12, but there's
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McCarthy eyes USA striker
SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy has invited USA striker Clint Mathis for a three-day trial. Mathis, who can play in midfield or up front, is a free agent at the end of his contract with New York-New Jersey Metrostars in Major League Soccer. The 27-year-old
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Work gets under way on £3.1m project
WORK is under way on an international business centre being built on Tyneside. Bowey Construction, one of the region's largest building contractors, was chosen to build the Gateshead International Business Centre (IBC). The building was designed by Gateshead
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Inquiry into sinking of the Gaul
A public inquiry was opening today into the sinking of the trawler Gaul, which was lost off the coast of Norway in 1974. Mystery has surrounded the loss of the Gaul for almost 30 years with some theories even suggesting the ship may have been involved
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Can Kilroy-Slick get out of this one?
He is the super-slick charmer who always gets what he wants, but this one may prove too tricky even for Robert Kilroy-Silk. Nick Morrison looks at the downfall of the king of daytime TV. DOES your big mouth keep getting you into trouble? Ever feel that
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Let women have a laugh
IT was a definitely a happy new year for me with December 31 spent disguised as Daisy Duke at a fancy dress party with friends. But if latest reports are to be believed I should be hanging my head in shame, along with the rest of female population, for
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Singers' gift travels afar
singers have helped to bring festive good cheer to Russian youngsters suffering from Downs Syndrome. North Yorkshire's Harp Singers raised more than £900 from carol singing and programmes of Christmas music. And the cash will now be forwarded to the charity
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Threat of industrial action hangs over Metro system
METRO passengers on Tyneside face travel problems this weekend as industrial action threatens to disrupt timetables. Metro operator Nexus said it had pulled out of a deal to give staff a reduced working week after union leaders gave notice that members
