Archive
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Chance to nominate community heroes
PEOPLE whose tireless work in Darlington makes them stand out in a crowd can be honoured as part of the Mayor's Community Awards scheme. Nominations are welcome for any group or individual whose selfless work makes a real difference in their local community
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Millie picks up Crufts win
A SCHOOLGIRL is celebrating after her dog scooped a top prize at Crufts. Kirsty Willis, 14, of East Law, near Consett, took her boxer dog, Millie, to the show in Birmingham at the weekend. Millie, whose show name is Avcol April Love, won Special Yearling
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Council faces bullying slur
WORKERS at Chester-le-Street District Council have made allegations of bullying and harassment. Terry Scarr, a regional organiser for union GMB, confirmed that a number of staff at the district council had come forward to make the allegations. He said
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Jobs fair to recruit staff for centres
AN event is being held this month to boost the region's growing call centre industry. For the first time in the UK, all the organisations involved in supporting the call and contact centre industry have come together in a jobs fair in the Tees Valley.
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Housing plan refused
A PARTIALLY built housing development has been refused planning permission for a second time because it is too close to existing homes. Construction company Bowey Homes were first granted permission to build 34 houses on the former Hardwick depot site
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Robson asks team to re-double efforts
SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night demanded extra effort from all of his stars in a bid to ensure Newcastle United's two major goals this season are achieved. The Magpies welcome Real Mallorca to Tyneside tonight in the UEFA Cup fourth round first leg, with
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No rum deal for Vaughan
THE Caribbean might be well known for its rum - but England will be hoping it's the runs that are flowing when the first Test against the West Indies gets under way in Jamaica this afternoon. After years of bowler-friendly wickets prepared especially
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Dragon digger helps Mayor launch wok on Chinese community site
A TOWN'S Chinese community is celebrating the start of work on a development. After years searching for the right site, the North-East Chinese Association (Neca) has chosen a corner of Middlesbrough to call home. Almost a year since the association bought
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Pupils' honour for keeping watch on village after arson
CHILDREN whose school was destroyed by arsonists have won an award for taking part in a junior Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Twenty-three pupils at Middleton St George Primary, near Darlington, joined the initiative, attending weekly meetings, after their
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Family's long wait for lift to be completed
A LIFT company has been accused of letting down a severely disabled boy by failing to complete a contract. DDA Lifts, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was featured on BBC's Watchdog programme on Tuesday evening after a couple from Kent contacted the
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Rahwaan enjoys a winning debut
CHRIS FAIRHURST'S game, front-running gelding Rahwaan routed the opposition to score a pillar-to-post victory on his hurdling debut at Catterick yesterday. "Rahwaan is a hard horse to pass and it'll be a case of mix and match from now on for him, his
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Eco-friendly homes thrown out in appeal
PLANS for an environmentally friendly housing estate have been rejected because of poor design. The decision to refuse permission for the 112 house estate, initially dubbed an 'eco-village', has been hailed as a victory by local people. The proposal for
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Dog-owner upset over lost pet
A WOMAN is distraught after losing her dog while she took it for a walk in Stewart Park, Middlesbrough. Bev Brown, of Wheatlands Park, Redcar, lost the black Scottie, called Molly, on Wednesday and believes it may have been stolen. She said: "We are demented
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Library's guided tours
AN award-winning library is offering guided tours of its services to help mark its second birthday. The Durham County Council-run Clayport Library, in Durham City, will also be asking its borrowers and visitors for their views on services and suggestions
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Town gala preparations approved
PLANS are under way for an annual town gala and funfair in summer. Members of Spennymoor Town Council this week supported arrangements for the aged persons' gala to be held on Saturday, July 3. Alongside the gala in Jubilee Park, a funfair will be held
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Spotlight falls on night of fashion
Catwalk glamour was a sell-out at a school last night. More than 100 pupils at Grangefield School, Stockton, designed their own clothes for their seventh annual clothes show. The theme was Insects and Body Armour and students modelled the outfits. Also
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More disruption on Metro system
PART of the Tyne and Wear Metro network will be out of action again this weekend. There will be no Metro trains between the Benton and Shiremoor stations on Sunday, until about 10am. The closure is to allow operator Nexus to carry out engineering work
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WRVS stalwarts call it a day
TWO women have retired from the Women's Royal Volunteer Service (WRVS) after clocking up more than 50 years service between them. Eden Maughan, of Chester-le-Street, is a volunteer with 40 years experience and Joyce Heel, of Birtley, has been with the
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Fresh row over plans to close sports centre
A BITTER war of words over the closure of a sports centre has been re-ignited after group users were told they had to leave by next month. About 70 people turned up to protest at a meeting in January when Richmondshire District Council first debated closing
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Pub wins weekend late night extension
A PUB has won a late night extension despite objections from university officials concerned about disturbing students' sleep. The Hogshead, in Durham's city centre peninsula, can remain open until midnight for live music and dancing. But the extension
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Dionne is a book star
Keen reader Dionne Hopwood had a lovely surprise when she went down to her local library. A giant bear was waiting to present the five-year-old with £100 worth of book tokens. Dionne, a pupil at the Pallister Park School in Middlesbrough, designed the
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Ex-PC who stalked girl spared jail
AN ex-policeman has escaped jail after he stalked a 14-year-old schoolgirl for three-and-a-half months. It was the second time disgraced former PC Keith Miller, 34, had left a teenage girl in terror following a campaign of harassment. Miller, who had
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Home scheme rejected by planning officials
A SCHEME to turn a former Second World War Women's Land Army base into a house was turned down by planning officials yesterday. Members of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee refused permission for the proposed five-bedroom house, with six
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Church launches bid for £300,000 organ
A CHURCH has launched a £300,000 appeal to buy a new organ. St Cuthbert's Church, in Darlington Market Square, has been struggling with an instrument installed in 1879, and church leaders want to replace it. "We reckon we need to find between £300,000
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Group to help child smokers
A SMOKERS' support group was launched at a Darlington school yesterday, to help youngsters quit the habit. Children as young as eight in the town are known to be trying cigarettes, with some teenagers becoming 20-a-day smokers by the age of 16. Darlington
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Experts to reveal secrets of rope trick
THE secret behind one of the most controversial feats in the history of magic will be revealed tomorrow. The Indian Rope Trick has baffled magicians and audiences alike since it was first performed in the 19th Century. It involves throwing a rope to the
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Fash taken in by the Takeaway two
TV favourites Ant and Dec returned to their roots for the latest stunt for their new show. The Geordie duo went undercover as a karaoke loving father and son to set up footballer John Fashanu. The prank took place in their home city of Newcastle for the
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Fire walk challenge taken up by Angela
A MOTHER-of-three is preparing to walk over 20ft of burning hot coals to raise money for charity next week. Angela Thomson, of Sandriggs, Darlington, decided to tackle the fire walk challenge in aid of St Cuthbert's Hospice, in Durham. She said: "My cousin
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Rising costs and weak dollar take a bite out of Nestl
SWISS food group Nestl blamed higher costs and the weak dollar for a challenging year during which net profits fell 18 per cent to 6.2bn Swiss francs (£2.66bn). Nestl, which makes Nescafe coffee, Kit-Kats, Rolos, Polos and other confectionery favourites
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Taboo, Darlington Civic Theatre
THIS is a difficult show to review. It's appealing because Boy George is a good songwriter and much of the music and lyrics are his. The singing is excellent, in particular Drew Jaymson as Philip Sallon, Stephen Ashfield as Boy George and Declan Bennett
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Villagers to fight turbine plans
FAMILIES living in a small village are joining forces to fight plans to install wind turbines on a hillside overlooking their homes. Residents of Sunniside, near Tow Law, have already started a petition and are forming an action group to protest against
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Baking? It's a piece of cake
SALES of home-baking ingredients have doubled in the past year as younger people revive traditional skills such as cake and bread-making, which have been in decline for 20 years. My husband is convinced a large proportion of these increased sales must
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Dogs learn new tricks
THREE dogs who faced an uncertain life at a rehoming centre have learned skills in obedience and agility. Inca, four, was classed as unsuitable for rehoming at the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, in Sadberge, near Darlington, because of her aggressive streak
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Pupils take on new tutoring role
PUPILS have been helping each other as part of a new scheme at Bullion Lane Primary School, Chester-le-Street. They have been taking part in cross-phase tutoring, whereby older children teach younger ones. Year 6 youngsters have been tutoring Year 2 pupils
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TV review
If... The Lights Go Out (BBC2) AS gloom and doom scenarios go, this comes near the top of the list. The scenario - the year was 2010 and nationwide power blackouts put Britain on the brink of disaster - was fiction, but the interviews and issues raised
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Invitation to businesses
Businesses will have the chance to get the region's brightest thinkers working on their toughest challenges. A series of workshops has been arranged by Knowledge House, which helps businesses connect to the skills, expertise and resources of North-East
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Darlington - Church sets organ target
DARLINGTON'S parish church needs more than £300,000 for a new organ. St Cuthbert's Church in the Market Place, has launched an appeal to try to raise as much of the cash it can. There are plans to apply to grant-funding bodies for some assistance. The
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Dark vision of a powerless world
If... The Lights Go Out (BBC2): AS gloom and doom scenarios go, this comes near the top of the list. The scenario - the year was 2010 and nationwide power blackouts put Britain on the brink of disaster - was fiction, but the interviews and issues raised
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Alasdair's accolade . . .
NORTH-EAST businessman Alasdair MacConachie said receiving an OBE at Buckingham Palace yesterday was a once in a lifetime experience. The managing director of the Sherwoods car dealership received the honour for his services to Darlington, where he is
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Market researcher Mori has new financial backer
MARKET research firm Mori has secured its future as an independent organisation after changing financial backers. The group, which employs 400 people in the UK and Ireland, has been supported by venture capital group 3i since a management buyout four
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Sage founder makes another acquisition
THE new business venture of Sage founder Graham Wylie is going from strength to strength with the announcement that it has made another acquisition. Technology Services Group (TSG) has bought IT services business, Orlando IT Ltd, of Manchester - one of
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FA Cup semi-final tickets
Sunderland AFC season ticket holders are guaranteed a ticket for the FA Cup semi final against either Tranmere or Millwall on Sunday 4th April at Old Trafford. Applications from season ticket holders will be accepted until 5.30pm on Wednesday March 17
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It's all smiles for Julia
Steve Pratt talks to British director Mike Newell about the controversial issues of tackling women's education in the 1950s and the unexpected challenges of working with Julia Roberts. SOME movie-makers might have been fazed if their leading lady introduced
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Whitley Cup agony as Cats are tamed
AN X-RATED Jeff Whitley challenge and a controversial refereeing display cost Sunderland dear on a night of high drama at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland may have extended their good run to just two defeats in 14 games against Preston, but this was a
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New To Rent
Love Actually (15, Universal Pictures Video, DVD £24.99/DVD box set with Four Weddings And A Funeral and Notting Hill £37.99/VHS £14.99) Starring: Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Gregor
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Pupils get in character
SOME of Walt Disney's favourite characters brightened up the day for primary school children as they celebrated World Book Day. Snowhite, Cinderella and Belle from Beauty and the Beast were joined by Spiderman, Buzz Lightyear and a Dalmation puppy at
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Finance group is poised to take control of the Quakers
THE finance group that loaned £4m to Darlington Football Club was last night poised to gain control of the Quakers - unless mystery businessman Ted Forster strikes a deal first. Administrators Wilson Field are drawing up a rescue plan that would allow
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It's now Arthur
Iain Johnstone is best known in the North-East for creating some of the best-loved pantos ever seen. Now he's back with a tale of King Arthur that is more Morecambe and Wise than Morgan le Fey and Wisdom. He talks to Viv Hardwick. FOR six years, Iain
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Trust set for station buy-out
THE organisation pioneering the campaign to rescue Richmond's old railway station has called an open meeting next week where the public will be asked to ratify a community buy-out. Owner Richmondshire District Council has offered the old farm and garden
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Musical competition puts talents to the test
A NEW competition is encouraging musical youngsters to hit the right note. Pupils aged seven to 11 from Pelton Community, Chester-le-Street CE andRedPrimary Schools in Chester-le-Street, and St Margaret's CE School in Durham, are taking part in a musical
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Peace declared at strike factory
STRIKE action at a North-East factory has been called off after union members accepted an improved pay offer. Employees of Schott Industrial Glass, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, staged the first walkout in the plant's 24-year history after failing
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Artists' work on show
UP to 40 artists are expected to display their skills at a free exhibition, in Easingwold. Sculpture, painting, glassware, pottery and textile work will be on show at the town's Galtres Centre later this month. The exhibition will also allow youngsters
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Summer school for wannabe popstars
WANNABE popstars are being offered places at a Fame Academy-style summer school. The ID Programme, run by Genius Entertainment, will give performers and musicians a chance to develop their talents and music industry knowledge. The free course will begin
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Couple find ideal spot for business venture
THE view from the office window might not be the first consideration for most business bosses, but for one enterprising couple it was enough to bring them hundreds of miles north to their new North-East home. Maurice and Carrie Graham-Weall are so pleased
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Choirs in unison for service at Minster
THE combined voices of six choirs will be singing in worship at the weekend. York Minster will be hosting the Northern Girls' Choral Festival Evensong on Saturday, at 5pm. The girls and men of the York Minster choir will be joined by girls and men from
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Theatre duties beckon
AN award-winning theatre is looking for volunteers interested in challenging theatre roles. The restored Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, needs three duty managers to supplement its permanent staff. Responsible for the running of the front-of-house
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Play area loses out on money
STAFF who run an award-winning play area claim they have been robbed of more than £100,000 that could have gone on improvements. Developers have been granted planning permission to build more than 340 homes in Delves Lane, on the outskirts of Consett.
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Kungsbacka Trio, All Saints Newcastle
THE Music in the Round series presented by the Sage Gateshead at All Saints, in Newcastle, was brought to a heady conclusion with a superlative performance from the Kungsbacka Trio. The audience may have been much smaller than usual, but this only added
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Peace declared at strike factory
STRIKE action at a North-East factory has been called off after union members accepted an improved pay offer. Employees of Schott Industrial Glass, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, staged the first walkout in the plant's 24-year history after failing
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Crucial 48 hours could hold key to solving kidnap case
DETECTIVES hunting a gang who kidnapped a businessman are concentrating on a crucial 48 hours. They believe that discovering where the abductors' van was in the hours leading up to the snatch will help them solve the case. Police also need to speak to
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An unlucky break that's snow joke
IT was going to be a carefree Sunday afternoon - meeting a friend down the pub to watch the Carling Cup final between Middlesbrough and Bolton. Kick-off wasn't until two so there was time for some fun in the snow first. "Who's coming sledging?" I shouted
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Album launch in home town
Barnard Castle musician and songwriter Andrew Yeadon will perform in the Witham Hall, Barnard Castle, on Saturday, April 3, to promote his latest album, called Timepiece. The album was recorded between August last year and January this year, at the Teesdale
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A mockery of justice
THE two-year imprisonment, without trial, of the terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo Bay shows the United States in poor light. It also reflect badly on Britain, whose government has made only lightweight representations on behalf of its detained citizens
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Boxing pays price as riots lead to ban at centre
COUNCIL chiefs in a North-East town have announced that no more boxing events would be staged at its main leisure centre following riots at an event last week. About 40 rival fans caused mayhem at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, last Friday, throwing
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Father and son's shame over child porn hoards
A COUNCIL worker who downloaded sickening images of children being sexually abused was unaware his son was also looking at the pornography sites. Grandfather Alan Macadie, 56, collected 932 photographs of child pornorgraphy, some depicting youngsters
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Double Murder
Good murder mystery double acts obviously travel better in pairs. Thus, ITV1 launches both Murder In Suburbia and Murder City next week. Steve Pratt chats to Amanda Donahoe and Kris Marshall from Murder City and reports on Lisa Faulkner and Coroline Catz
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What a plot
The gun powder plot remains one of Great Britains's most exciting, and bloodthirsty, stories. Writer Jimmy McGovern puts his own spin on the tale and Robert Carlyle joins the cast later as James 1. Steve Pratt reports. FOR actor Robert Carlyle, research
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Deadly rivals
FASTEN your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride. Poisonous Janine is on the warpath, the equivalent of an uprising by the entire Apache nation in western terms. She's worried in EastEnders (BBC1) that Paul is getting up close and personal with Natalie
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Why did woman cry over toy bear?
A WOMAN was seen weeping at a beauty spot shortly before a teddy bear with a mysterious note pinned to it was found stuffed into railings. A dog walker saw the woman being comforted by a man in the car park at the Broken Scar picnic site, on the outskirts
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Saddled with scandal but fans defiant
Racegoing may be reeling from allegations of race-fixing and treachery but it has not put off punters at Catterick, North Yorkshire, as chief sports writer Scott Wilson discovers. THEY'RE a hardy bunch these horseracing fans. If you can survive a storm
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Hunt awaits decision
SUPPORTERS of fox hunting set off on the last event of the season hoping it was not to be the last ever. Membership of the South Durham Hunt, in Tony Blair's Sedgefield constituency, has doubled in the last year, making it larger than any of the surrounding
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John North: Adding a Tone of excitement
Tony Blair congratulated Ferryhill Town Council for being maned Britain's best and proved as popular as ever with locals. THE invitation had promised a "special VIP guest". Even before the police dogs started sniffing around the place, few had much doubt
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Sexual health texting service for young men
AN INNOVATIVE mobile phone text service will be launched on Monday to provide sexual health advice to young men. The service, funded by the County Durham Teenage Pregnancy Board, will be confidential and anonymous. Ady Davis, a young men's sexual health
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Store tours highlight healthy diet message
HEALTH experts are planning tours of supermarkets, to tell shoppers what to buy and how to cook it. Derwentside Primary Care Trust is holding tours of the Asda store in Stanley as part of its Why 5? campaign, which aims to encourage people to eat five
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Roller skating Elise wins sport accolade
A STUDENT who travels hundreds of miles a week to take part in her favourite sport has won an honour in her home town. Elise Hadgraft, 13, a member of the Durham District Roller Skating Club, in Shildon, travels to the town twice a week from her home
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Teenagers help pass on mental health message
HEALTH bosses have recruited teenagers to help as growing numbers of children and young adults are diagnosed with differing types of mental illness. National research shows more than ten per cent of children aged five to 15 years old in England, Scotland
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Inquiry opens into waste blueprint
A PUBLIC inquiry has started into Durham County Council's blueprint for waste management over the next 12 years. The County Durham Waste Local Plan aims to increase recycling and reduce the refuse material produced in the local authority's area that is
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Villagers to oppose wind farm scheme
VILLAGERS are preparing to fight plans for a wind farm on the hillside above their homes. Residents of Sunniside, near Tow Law, have started a petition and are forming an action group against the plan. Power company Amec has applied to Wear Valley District
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Fans get Carling Cup close-up
FOOTBALL fans packed a Shildon pub to get a glimpse of Middlesbrough Football Club's first major trophy for more than 100 years. The Carling Cup was on display at the town's Royal George Tavern this week, as it started a tour of drinking establishments
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Introducing the rail boss
TEESSIDE'S new rail boss is Nadia Roche, who has been appointed Trans-Pennine and InterCity station manager, based at Middlesbrough. She will also cover stations in Northallerton, Thornaby, Thirsk and Yarm. One of few women station managers in the UK,
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Footpath trust steps in to improve rights of way
DEDICATED volunteers are stepping in and helping to improve rights of way. The Yorkshire Footpath Trust is a group that enjoys walking and working on the miles of rights of way that criss-cross North Yorkshire. It consults with county council staff on
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McCarthy seethes in silence
FURIOUS Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy kept his thoughts to himself last night in a bid to avoid an official rap. The Black Cats' pulsating 3-3 draw with Preston at the Stadium of Light was one to remember. But McCarthy's abiding memories will focus on
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Refuse team vows to clear junk backlog
A COUNCIL has promised it will try to clear up a 2,500-job backlog in its junk collection service by the end of this month. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council currently deals with 400 junk jobs a week, clearing bulky items such as old prams, pushchairs
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Reservoir dogged by silt to be restored
A RESERVOIR steeped in history is to be restored to its former glory thanks to volunteers who have secured £23,000 of funding. Blue Lake, at Hutton Lowcross Woods, Guisborough, was built in 1880 as a source of water to drive turbines at nearby Home Farm
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Slimline option for pastie lovers
PASTRY lovers could soon have the best of both worlds - chefs are working on a recipe for slimline pasties. North-East bakery chain Greggs is concocting a secret recipe for sausage rolls and pasties that will help battle the bulge. With national waistlines
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Pupil tutoring scheme hailed a success
PUPILS have been helping each other out as part of a new scheme at a Chester-le-Street school. Older children at Bullion Lane Primary School have been tutoring youngsters in year two. The tutoring takes place over a three-week period with up to four lessons
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Public inquiry starts over waste management plan
A PUBLIC inquiry has started into Durham County Council's blueprint for waste management over the next 12 years. The County Durham Waste Local Plan aims to reduce the amount of material taken to landfill and increase recycling. A four-day hearing began
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FA Cup semi-final tickets
Sunderland AFC season ticket holders are guaranteed a ticket for the FA Cup semi final against either Tranmere or Millwall on Sunday 4th April at Old Trafford. Applications from season ticket holders will be accepted until 5.30pm on Wednesday March 17
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Approval for A66 upgrade schemes
THE multi-million pound upgrading of two key sections of a road once dubbed the worst in Britain was given the go-ahead yesterday. Detailed design and consultation can now get under way with the two schemes for the A66 cross-Pennine route. The start date
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Fire walk ordeal for charity
A WOMAN is preparing to walk 20ft across hot coals to raise money for charity next week. Angela Thomson, 38, of Sandriggs, Darlington, decided to tackle the fire walk challenge in aid of St Cuthbert's Hospice, in Durham, after recently loosing a cousin
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Council tax rise of 7.9 per cent approved
A COUNCIL tax rise of 7.9 per cent for Darlington residents was approved last night, despite Conservative group calls for a reduction. Councillor John Williams, leader of the the Labour-controlled Darlington Borough Council, revealed the final figure
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Prince tours factory
PRINCE Andrew was in the region on Tuesday to check out what the North-East has to offer in terms of education and innovative industry. The Duke of York visited the Emmanuel College in Gateshead and Komatsu UK in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street. During
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Students hailed top team
A TEAM of visually impaired students have been named the Yorkshire and Humber Millennium Volunteer team of the year. Four students from Harrogate's Henshaws College won the regional award in the arts category for their organisation of college discos.
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Demolition of town centre 'blot' backed
PLANS to demolish a "blot" on Darlington town centre's landscape to make way for a four-storey office block have been approved. North-East Property Holdings has been granted permission by Darlington Borough Council's planning committee to demolish the
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System failed prison inmate
AN INQUEST jury has found that failures in a prison system contributed to an inmate's death. Now Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield is to write to the governor of Holme House Prison, in Stockton, spelling out his concerns and asking for assurances that
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Man has lived in his car for 18 months
WHEN Peter Frost's life collapsed two years ago he was left with no wife, no job and no home. The former construction superintendent was too proud to beg or borrow - and has lived for the past 18 months in a car in the middle of a North Yorkshire forest
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Charity concert at Empire
A TEENAGER has raised £2,500 to put on a night of Christian music and worship in aid of a children's charity. Neil Milligan, 18, of Medomsley, near Consett, has organised the Fill the Gap event while on a gap year, before going to study Music Education
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Orchid lovers display their stems
SPECTACULAR displays of orchids were on show over the weekend attracting hundreds of enthusiasts. Members of the Darlington and District Orchid Society staged their third annual Orchid Show, with breath-taking floral arrangements and advice from specialists
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11/03/04
CYCLISTS: IN reply to Christie Sproat, concerning cyclists riding on footpaths, if she looks into the Highway Code she will see that cyclists riding on footpaths can be fined £500. It is up to the police to enforce the law. People who ride on footpaths
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Council vows to improve after criticism
A COUNCIL has pledged to improve its service after damning criticism from the Audit Commission. The performance of Chester-le-Street District Council between 2000 and 2003 was described as 'poor' in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment, released last
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Plea to care for young disabled
A RECRUITMENT campaign is under way to provide short breaks for disabled children. Children's charities Barnardo's and National Children's Homes (NCH) have been contracted by North Yorkshire Social Services to manage the scheme. They want to hear from
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Play centres joy for protest group
HUNDREDS of young families are celebrating after councillors safeguarded the short-term future of their after-school play centres. It followed a march through Scarborough to the town hall to present thousands of signatures against the borough council's
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Cancer centre to offer advice and support
THE first centre dedicated to offering support and advice on issues surrounding cancer is to open in Derwentside. The Cancer Information Centre will open in Shotley Bridge Hospital, near Consett. It aims to provide a non-clinical, friendly environment
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Workers make the most of training centre
MORE than 120 workers at the LG Philips Displays plant, at Belmont, near Durham, are taking advantage of the company's new training resource centre. Twenty have signed up for Learning and Skills Council (LSC) initiatives to improve literacy, language
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Revised plan gives centre a bigger pedestrian heart
A PEDESTRIAN heart at the centre of a North-East town is likely to be bigger than first imagined, it has been revealed. Consultants working on the design for Darlington Borough Council have unveiled plans that take in more of Darlington centre than originally
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Boxing pays price as riots lead to ban at centre
COUNCIL chiefs in a North-East town have announced that no more boxing events would be staged at its main leisure centre following riots at an event last week. About 40 rival fans caused mayhem at the Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, last Friday, throwing
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Close is relishing fresh start
DARLINGTON new boy Brian Close has spoken of his disappointment at failing to make the grade at Middlesbrough. The 22-year-old joined Quakers on a free transfer last week after being told by Boro boss Steve McClaren that his contract would not be renewed
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No rum deal for Vaughan
THE Caribbean might be well known for its rum - but England will be hoping it's the runs that are flowing when the first Test against the West Indies gets under way in Jamaica this afternoon. After years of bowler-friendly wickets prepared especially
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Strongmen put their strength to the test
MUSCLES flexed, stretched and strained as some of the region's strongest men put their bodies to the ultimate test at the weekend. Hundreds of spectators cheered the men on as they began their challenge towards the title of Britain's Strongest Man. The
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Saddled with scandal but fans defiant
Racegoing may be reeling from allegations of race-fixing and treachery but it has not put off punters at Catterick, North Yorkshire, as chief sports writer Scott Wilson discovers. THEY'RE a hardy bunch these horseracing fans. If you can survive a storm
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Ideal time to spark off a Ferdy revival
GREEN IDEAL'S consistency can help steer Ferdy's Murphy's stable back on the road to recovery at Carlisle today. Even though the majority of his horses have been under the weather over the past couple of months, Green Ideal (3.50) has helped keep the
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Ideal time to spark off a Ferdy revival
GREEN IDEAL'S consistency can help steer Ferdy's Murphy's stable back on the road to recovery at Carlisle today. Even though the majority of his horses have been under the weather over the past couple of months, Green Ideal (3.50) has helped keep the
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Blair's Commons attack on solicitors
TONY Blair stepped up the pressure on solicitors who plundered compensation for sick and crippled ex-miners, by insisting the money must be paid back. The Prime Minister threw his weight behind an investigation into firms that have been accused of fleecing
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Balfour profits from Tube
CIVIL engineering group Balfour Beatty said £1.2bn of contracts from London Underground had helped it boost annual pre-tax profits by ten per cent to £130m. Balfour said its order book grew by 14 per cent to £5.8bn last year, mainly due to two Public
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Defects found in Wembley structure
Engineering giant Cleveland Bridge will have to re-think the lifting of the iconic arch feature of the new Wembley Stadium after defects were found in the steel. But the North-East firm has pledged that any delays will not stop the stadium being completed
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Event hits target
A world class sportsman put his reputation on the line to raise funds for charity, at the White Rose Bowling Club, Catterick Garrison. Darts' world number two, Kevin 'The Artist' Painter challenged contenders to games of 701. Each had an opportunity to
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Weekend with a Jag is star prize
GUESTS at a charity fundraiser are hoping to get their hands on a Jaguar. The Children's Hope Foundation is holding a ball at Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, a week tomorrow. The star prize is the use of a Jaguar X-type saloon for a weekend
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Every shroud has a silver lining
THE black humour of a Channel 4 television comedy about an American funeral home has led to a wave of job inquiries, an undertaker has said. The North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op Funeral Service said the role of the undertaker had been brought into the
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Oil company boss picks up £3.3m
THE chief executive of BP received an inflation-busting eight per cent rise in his pay packet after steering the oil group to record profits last year. Lord Browne of Madingley picked up £3.3m in pay and bonuses for a year in which BP outshone rivals
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Kidnap victim: 'I feared for my life'
A WEALTHY businessman who was kidnapped at gunpoint by a gang told last night of his "hellish nightmare". Tony Pattison was held hostage for 30 hours before being set free when a substantial ransom from his family was handed over. The 45-year-old Teesside
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Dad At Large: An unlucky break that's snow joke
IT was going to be a carefree Sunday afternoon - meeting a friend down the pub to watch the Carling Cup final between Middlesbrough and Bolton. Kick-off wasn't until two so there was time for some fun in the snow first. "Who's coming sledging?" I shouted
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Rising costs and weak dollar take a bite out of Nestl
SWISS food group Nestl blamed higher costs and the weak dollar for a challenging year during which net profits fell 18 per cent to 6.2bn Swiss francs (£2.66bn). Nestl, which makes Nescafe coffee, Kit-Kats, Rolos, Polos and other confectionery favourites
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Ehiogu's 'play us' plea to Sven
MIDDLESBROUGH defender Ugo Ehiogu last night urged Sven Goran Eriksson to play him alongside teammate Gareth Southgate at this summer's European Championships. Ehiogu has been capped four times by his country, but his last international appearance came
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Filtronic set to increase production
wireless telecommunications specialist Filtronic has strengthened its position in the third generation (3G) mobile phone revolution by agreeing a major supply contract. The wireless telecommunications specialist has been given the go-ahead for full production
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Factory cleared after health scare
A MUNITIONS factory where a worker was found with Legionnaires' Disease has been given the all-clear. The Royal Ordnance factory in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, was forced to shut a shell plant after it was confirmed that a member of staff had the
