Archive
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Man, 20, facing jail over kidnap
A man is facing his first custodial sentence for a crime spree that included the kidnap of two people. Neal Richard Wilson, 20, was remanded in custody yesterday after he admitted robbery and burglary, as well as the two kidnaps. He will return to Teesside
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Man badly hurt in car park fight
A MAN who suffered serious eye injuries in a fight on Sunday night was still being treated in hospital yesterday. The fight broke out among five men in the Montpelier car park in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, shortly after midnight. One man suffered serious
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Businesses urged to join waste campaign
BUSINESSES are being urged to back an annual drive to make Hartlepool a cleaner and more attractive place. Officers from Hartlepool Borough Council want firms to show their support for Spring Clean Hartlepool, an initiative that runs throughout April
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30,000 flock to flower festival
ONE of the region's biggest horticultural events was yesterday hailed a success by organisers. More than 30,000 people visited Gateshead Spring Flower Show, held on Tyneside over the Easter weekend. Councillor John McElroy, of Gateshead Council, said:
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Vandals end dale's week without crime
A DALE'S crime-free spell ended over the Bank Holiday weekend with a spate of vandalism and the theft of two motorbikes. The Northern Echo reported last week how police in Teesdale, in County Durham, dealt with only one crime in a seven-day period - and
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Forest hosts top biking event
DEDICATED mountain bike enthusiasts from around the UK are expected to descend on the region at the end of the month for a top racing event. Round two of the English Race Series Downhill Event is being hosted by Descent Mountain Bike Promotions at its
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Documentary looks at lives of truckers
A SIX-PART television documentary about the lives of North-East truck drivers will begin tonight. Called Tales of the Road, the first programme will be screened at 11pm on Tyne Tees. It will feature drivers from the long-established firm Devereux, at
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Arboreal clues to royal events
A PARK needs trees, and Darlington's park has trees that commemorate royalty. Our Walk in the Park series has already looked at the pride of the park, the pair of sequoia giganteas, or giant redwoods, that stand impressively near the entrance. They were
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Forget the stairlifts...I'll have a Harley
LIFE begins at 40. What's more, it gets even better at 50. So why haven't advertisers cottoned on? For a start, the majority of new cars are bought by the over-50s - including most swish and sporty convertibles. But advertisers seem to think that as soon
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Behind the scenes look at estate
FARMERS and countryside enthusiasts are to visit the estate of a County Durham landowner to see how to successfully combine a commercial approach with a commitment to the environment. The 50 members of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (Rase)
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You don't have to be Barking Mad to work here, but...
ALISON LIDDLE gave up work in a busy call centre to be her own boss. She invested £12,500 in the Barking Mad franchise in November, covering the County Durham area, including parts of Sunderland and Darlington, and is already well on the way to recovering
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Specialist squad helps to reduce robberies
THE number of recorded robberies in part of the North-East has been cut by half since the introduction of a specialist squad, according to police chiefs. A seven-strong team of detectives, run by Detective Sergeant Ian Craig, from Middlesbrough CID, has
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North soldiers told: you're going to Iraq
SOLDIERS from Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire have been told to prepare to leave for Iraq by the end of the week. All leave has been cancelled for the soldiers, who will head for the Middle East on Friday. The Northern Echo can reveal that soldiers
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There are still barriers, but more women are pushing them aside
FEMALE entrepreneurs used to be a rarity. When Anita Roddick started The Body Shop in the 1980s, she seemed to be ploughing a lone furrow through the male-dominated world of business. Thirty years on, she is still one of only a select few at the top.
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Market report
OIL stocks powered London shares beyond the key 4500 barrier yesterday as traders returned to their desks after Easter. Both BP and Shell recorded rises of more than two per cent on a day when the FTSE 100 Index closed 26.1 points higher at 4515.8. Market
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Dunlop can maintain grip on Nell Gwyn Stakes
JOHN DUNLOP can maintain his good record in the Nell Gwyn Stakes by taking the Group 3 event with Snow Goose (2.55) at Newmarket this afternoon. Dunlop, successful 12 months ago in the £50,000 contest with Khulood, follows the same route with Snow Goose
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Reynolds fights bankruptcy application
A former safecracker and one-time football club saviour from County Durham has begun a legal fight to prevent being declared bankrupt. Flamboyant entrepreneur George Reynolds, ranked in a Sunday newspaper's 2000 rich list as being worth £260 million,
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Bates urges ageing pair on
Davis Cup captain Jeremy Bates yesterday urged his ageing linchpins Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski to sweep aside Austria before ending two decades of failure on the global stage. Henman, 29, and Rusedski, 30, provided the backbone for the 4-1 victory over
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Dawn to champion training needs
A COUNTY Durham woman is taking over an integral role in construction training in the North East. DAWN WILKINSON, 38, from Leadgate, previously an office manager for an engineering company, has been appointed to the full-time position of Contractors'
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Port steals ships contract from under rival's nose
THE operators of Tees Port have pulled off a coup ahead of next month's expansion of the European Union by snatching a shipping contract with the Baltic from a rival. PD Teesport will open up previously untapped trade with Eastern Europe after it secured
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Puppy nappies help fund expansion bid
PET superstore chain Pets at Home is considering floating on the stock market within two years to help fund an expansion programme, it revealed this week. The Cheshire group, which operates 150 stores, unveiled its aim of more than doubling its number
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Robin Hood gets airport vote, but not James Cook
THE owners of Teesside Airport have being urged to reconsider naming the airport James Cook after changing Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Robin Hood. Peel Airports said it decided to name its newly-built £80m Yorkshire facility Robin Hood Airport after
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Philips posts a strong start to year after deal
DEMAND for flat screen televisions has helped Dutch electronics group Philips make a good start to the year. The company recorded pre-tax profits of £360m in the first three months of the year, compared with losses of £45m in the same period last year
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Dunlop can maintain grip on Nell Gwyn Stakes
JOHN DUNLOP can maintain his good record in the Nell Gwyn Stakes by taking the Group 3 event with Snow Goose (2.55) at Newmarket this afternoon. Dunlop, successful 12 months ago in the £50,000 contest with Khulood, follows the same route with Snow Goose
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Businesses urged to join waste campaign
BUSINESSES are being urged to back an annual drive to make Hartlepool a cleaner and more attractive place. Officers from Hartlepool Borough Council want firms to show their support for Spring Clean Hartlepool, an initiative that runs throughout April
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Subaru's grand designs should pave the way for sales success
ASK a British driver to name his favourite Subaru and he is likely to say the Impreza turbo, the road-going rally car that has become something of a cult hit for the PlayStation generation. Ask the same question of a driver in the US and the answer will
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How the survey led to an action plan
A SITE at Greatham, near Hartlepool, is the first Huntsman Tioxide plant in the world to use information from the survey to draw up a biodiversity action plan. Greatham is important because it has a number of migratory birds as well as saline ponds, one
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Juninho sets sights on top-six Premiership spot
JUNINHO last night told his Middlesbrough teammates to aim for a top-six Premiership finish. Boro's 3-1 destruction of Southampton at the Riverside on Monday lifted Steve McClaren's side to ninth place, the club's best Premiership finish five years ago
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Wildlife is safe in Huntsman's hands
A BIODIVERSITY report on a North-East chemical company's worldwide sites is to become the blueprint for other businesses across the globe. The study was prepared for Huntsman Tioxide, on Teesside, and details the wildlife and habitats on company land
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Police targeting bikers in a bid to reduce deaths
Police who targeted born-again bikers in a bid to curb a growing death toll clocked up a ton of roadside warnings over the holiday weekend. Extra patrols stopped more than 100 motorcyclists on the country lanes of Weardale and Teesdale in a successful
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Assurance group's assets remain high
LIFE assurer Legal and General said it remained very strong under a changed accounting regime. The group said it had 4.7 times the capital it needed to cover its liabilities under the Financial Services Authority's new "realistic" system. The new regime
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Internet and texts key to assembly voting
IHAVE seen the North-East open up to a world of opportunity for international businesses. Over the past ten years, the North-East has attracted major companies such as IBM, easyJet, Siemens and ICL Fujitsu. Teesside for example, has undergone a huge transformation
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Animal-lovers begin hunt for sanctuary site
EVERY dog has his day and for strays in the North-East theirs will not be long in arriving. Animal-lovers have started to search for a site on which to open a sanctuary for unwanted pets - five years after launching an appeal. Various fundraising events
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Chinese web-surfers bidding to become eBay's biggest market
CHINA is forecast to become the biggest market for online auction house eBay Inc. Meg Whitman, chief executive of the company, predicted that China will overtake the US and become its biggest market. Mrs Whitman said she was upbeat about EachNet, a subsidiary
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Quarter-final still a 'timebomb', Robson
SIR BOBBY ROBSON has warned his trophy-hunting Newcastle United side that they are sitting on a UEFA Cup "timebomb'' when they face PSV Eindhoven at St. James' Park tonight. United held the Dutch champions to a 1-1 draw six days ago, but manager Robson
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Eurotunnel shares fall by tenth amid fears
SHARES in Eurotunnel dropped more than ten per cent last night amid fears that creditors were preparing to take control of the business. Analysts said speculation that the UK and French governments may urge banks to take control of the debt-laden Channel
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Chemical workers to learn fate
WORKERS at chemicals company DuPont's plants in the region should know by the end of this week if they will be affected by major job cuts. The US firm, which has operations on Teesside and in Darlington, announced on Monday that it was shedding 3,500
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MPs back colleges' funding demand
COLLEGES across the North-East have joined together to fight for a larger slice of Government funding. The colleges are calling for £120m extra funds to increase choice and opportunities for learners, to boost adult learning, modernise pay structures
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North-South difference in housing prices narrowing
HOUSE prices in the UK fell last month as the market experienced its traditional seasonal slowdown. But that was not enough to stop the annual pace of house price inflation, with average prices across the UK rising by 9.8 per cent, in the year to the
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Chance request from a neighbour paid off
SUSAN Stockdale stumbled into business almost accidentally when a neighbour gave her some unwanted babyclothes to sell at a car boot sale. She washed and pressed them, put them in plastic bags, and they sold in minutes. She said: "All the rubbish I had
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Children injured in theme park accident
AN investigation was under way last night after a truck carrying 18 people crashed and overturned into a river at one of the North-East's most popular tourist attractions. Passengers had a lucky escape when the all-terrain articulated vehicle at Diggerland
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Betts passes test a day after exam
ANDREW BETTS had other things on his mind when he finished as one of the highest North-East players in the Consort Travel Vulcan Trophy. The assistant professional at Hartlepool Golf Club had just taken his teaching exam for his PGA Diploma at the Belfry
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House price gap begins to close
THE North-South divide in house prices is narrowing, as the value of homes in the North-East continues to soar. According to figures from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the price of a home in the North-East has risen by 26.8 per cent in the
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Investors feather their nests with Easter egg sales
MOUNTAINS of Easter eggs are consumed in the UK, tempting investors to examine the UK's leading chocolate manufacturers. The religious significance of the Easter egg has given way to commercial sales of chocolate, and whether we like this or not, it is
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Contract at stately hall wins award for care
WORK on a 17th Century stately home has won construction company Kier Northern an award. The company, which has operations in Durham and Boston Spa, carried out a £1.7m scheme to re-roof, re-wire and install new heating at Wallington Mansion, in Cambo
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A home from homelessness
SOME men drop in to have a bed for the night, others want to stay a few months to get their lives back on track and a few rely on the facility to save them when all else fails. Tom Raine Court, in Darlington, has transformed men with drug and alcohol
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Work/life balance is not just for the young
'Life feels a million times better.'' Interesting to have the thoughts of Alan Milburn on "spending more time with the family." "I couldn't have everything,'' says Darlington's MP, who famously ditched his high-profile role as Health Secretary to spend
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Walkers fight to save footpath
Walkers are drumming up support for a campaign to save a footpath from closure. The Chester-le-Street Group of the Ramblers' Association wants people to object to the blocking of a footpath from Crichton Avenue to the riverside. A public inquiry will
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Reynolds could be barred from stadium
GEORGE REYNOLDS could be made the subject of a court order banning him from the £20m Darlington FC stadium that bears his name. The Northern Echo understands that the Quakers' administrators, Wilson Field, will apply for an injunction this week to prevent
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A home from homelessness
SOME men drop in to have a bed for the night, others want to stay a few months to get their lives back on track and a few rely on the facility to save them when all else fails. Tom Raine Court, in Darlington, has transformed men with drug and alcohol
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Watchdog to quiz rail users over cuts
A RAIL watchdog is to consult passengers over controversial plans to cut a number of train services. The direct Tees-Tyne rail link between Saltburn, in east Cleveland, and Newcastle, using the East Coast Main Line, is being reduced from 19 services a
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Liddle fit to face Oxford
CRAIG LIDDLE looks set to hand Darlington boss David Hodgson a major boost by declaring himself fit for Saturday's crunch visit of Oxford. The influential Quakers defender is currently sidelined with a stomach injury. However after missing Saturday's
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Quarter-final still a 'timebomb', Robson
SIR BOBBY ROBSON has warned his trophy-hunting Newcastle United side that they are sitting on a UEFA Cup "timebomb'' when they face PSV Eindhoven at St. James' Park tonight. United held the Dutch champions to a 1-1 draw six days ago, but manager Robson
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Recovery plan unveiled to breathe new life into market
A RECOVERY plan for a County Durham town's market has been approved by a local authority. Chester-le-Street District Council has given the go- ahead for a £600,000 overhaul, that will reduce the number of stalls from 232 to 180. The extra space will be
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Students get insight on filming
CHILDREN got to grips with film-making yesterday - thanks to the reopened Tom Leonard Mining Museum at Skinningrove, east Cleveland. The 14 to 16-year-olds, from Freeborough College, based across three east Cleveland sites at Brotton, Skelton and Loftus
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Garden opens for charity
THE historic home of one of the region's most colourful characters is opening its gardens to raise money for a popular charity. Bobby Shafto's old mansion, Whitworth Hall, near Spennymoor, County Durham, is welcoming visitors to its grounds on Sunday
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Extension to housing office opening hours
A PILOT scheme offering council services on Saturday mornings has proved so successful in east Durham that it is to be extended. Easington District Council agreed to open its housing office, in Peterlee, at weekends for an experimental period following
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Fast fundraiser's 210-mile ride for hospice
A COASTGUARD has completed a coast-to-coast charity bike ride - in two days. Paul Waugh, Skinningrove Coastguard's deputy station officer, completed the marathon to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice after meeting the family of Jonathan Baker, 24,
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Police object to extension of pub hours
PLANS by a popular pub to extend its opening hours have sparked police objections. Hambleton District councillors will consider the application for a change in the public entertainment licence of the Black Lion, in Thirsk Market Place, on Friday. Licensee
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Roadshow helping youngsters cope with drug-related issues
PUPILS have tested a new drugs education roadshow that they helped design. Youngsters at Our Lady and St Joseph's RCVA Brooms School, Leadgate, near Consett, took part in a trial run of the Feel Good Roadshow. It is based around a number of stations,
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Tide alert as tourists are rescued
COASTGUARDS are warning people to be aware of incoming tides after three people became trapped at the weekend. A couple in their forties, from Wales, were caught out by the tide under Huntcliff, at Saltburn, east Cleveland, while out for a walk at about
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Artists get chance to brush with nature
ART lovers are being offered the chance to forage for inspiration and create their own masterpiece amid the splendour of a forest. The Forestry Commission is to hold its first series of Arty Parties in the 8,500-acre woodland of Dalby Forest, near Pickering
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Hunt for 'broken English' rapist
A YOUNG woman has been left severely traumatised after she was raped when walking home after a night out. The 20-year-old victim was attacked after she left her local pub and made her way along Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, before turning into Gresham
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Probus club celebrates 25th anniversary
A MEDICAL expert and life peer returned to his home town yesterday to help a men's club celebrate a landmark anniversary. Lord John Walton was guest speaker at Spennymoor Probus Club's 25th anniversary lunch, held in the Whitworth Hall Hotel, near Spennymoor
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Verbal abuse to police lands man in court
A MAN, who admitted being abusive to police as they tried to stop him banging on a woman's door, was given a 12-month conditional discharge yesterday. Michael Jackson, 24, of Helmsley Moor Way, Darlington, had visited an address in Longdale Street with
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Community centre is seeking to expand
A COMMUNITY centre that fulfilled a 50-year dream is looking to expand. The Jubilee Fields Community Centre, in Shildon, has been given a grant of £4,642 for a feasibility study. Manager Ephraim Bunting said the centre is running to capacity and extra
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Drug smuggling plot mother is spared jail
A MOTHER-OF-FOUR who was involved in a plot to smuggle heroin into a young offenders' institute has been spared jail. But Judge Les Spittle warned Sonia Ford, 39, she will be locked up if she gets into any further trouble. Ford was given an 18-month rehabilitation
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Fine for attacker who beat homeless man
A HOMELESS man was left beaten and bruised after trying to prevent drunken revellers taking his sleeping bag, a court heard yesterday. Darlington beggar Joseph Holmes was punched in the face and kicked by 24-year-old Jason Jackson, who had stopped in
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Youngsters attacking buses with stones
BUS companies serving a Darlington estate say children as young as five are throwing stones at their vehicles. The Green Bus Company and Stagecoach have reported children throwing stones at their vehicles on the Red Hall estate. Stagecoach says they also
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At last, a vegetarian burger that is good enough to eat
NOT so long ago, if you announced a plan to supply fast food chain McDonald's with an alternative to beef, people would think you were mad, or at best, deluded. But times have changed, and no one is more aware of that than McDonald's. As a result, Marlow
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Room opens at council for youngsters
A NEW-style council office is now also a meeting place for youngsters. The venue was created at Coxhoe Leisure Centre, home to Durham City Council's first "one stop shop". The council paid for alterations to create a youth room that will double as a meeting
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Hunt for 'broken English' rapist
A YOUNG woman has been left severely traumatised after she was raped when walking home after a night out. The 20-year-old victim was attacked after she left her local pub and made her way along Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, before turning into Gresham
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Visit to site where homes are planned
PLANS to develop redundant farm buildings into homes near Northallerton are to be scrutinised by councillors. There will be a visit to the site where two homes and garages are proposed, at Newsham Grange, in Ainderby Road. The plans also include changes
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Highlighting ring road safety issues
A SERIES of displays are being held to highlight safety proposals along the ring road, in Stockton. Consultants White Young Green have been appointed to draw up the proposals that include a new toucan crossing over the ring road, where there is a pedestrian
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Mystery of clothes found at fell lake
POLICE yesterday thanked a farming family who helped a search after a pile of men's clothing was found beside a moorland lake. Daniel Bell, 21, discovered the clothes at the side of a tarn on Cronkley Fell, a remote spot between High Force and Cow Green
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A fight to the death
HARTLEPOOL United supporters are in for a play-off fight to the death according to boss Neale Cooper. Pool hold the upper hand in the chase for a berth in the top six after Monday's 2-1 win at Wrexham, their third triumph in a row. The nine-point haul
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Young people have say on dale's future
YOUNG people in rural county Durham have been given an opportunity to help shape the future of Teesdale after meeting with key figures in the district. Nearly 50 young people, aged 13 to 19, took part in a consultation exercise over two days to put forward
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Cup winner seeaking clues to faces at football final of 1949
A FOOTBALL enthusiast recalling the glory days is hoping to trace some of the supporters and players pictured above 55 years ago. The photograph was taken following a game between arch rivals Crookhall and Medomsley at Kingsway, Bishop Auckland, County
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'Starting from scratch can be fraught with difficulties'
ONE of the leading independent franchise consultancies in the UK is The Franchise Company. Based in Grange Road, Darlington, it advises companies about franchising their operations. The consultancy was established in 1991 by Julie Waites and Stewart Booth
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Hospital's £5.5m revamp gets positive reception
A SERIES of public meetings have been held as a community hospital prepares to undergo a £5.5m refurbishment. Building work at the Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, is expected to begin by the end of the year, and the consultations
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Ejected drinker punched by man
A MAN thrown out of a bar for being drunk was punched to the ground by another drinker, a court heard yesterday. Charles Andrew Hollywood was drinking with friends in Darlington when the incident happened on March 29. Ciaran Grogan, prosecuting at South
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Mother's £5,500 plea to prevent deaths
A GRANDMOTHER is campaigning to help save the lives of others after losing her daughter. Mandi Blake, 32, died in November 2001 from an undetected heart problem. Now her mother, Margo Wright, 54, is raising funds to pay for the hire of a mobile screening
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It is time to put a stop to bullying
GOVERNMENT estimates show that about 13.5 million working days are lost annually as a result of stress, depression and anxiety. The estimates also suggest that about five million employees believe they are exposed to stress in the workplace. Bullying
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Keep your stairlifts - what I want is a Harley
LIFE begins at 40. What's more, it gets even better at 50. So why haven't advertisers cottoned on? For a start, the majority of new cars are bought by the over-50s - including most swish and sporty convertibles. But advertisers seem to think that as soon
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Taxi firm installs cameras to combat violence
A TAXI firm is taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of its drivers by installing security cameras in its 350 cabs. Boro Cars, the largest cab company in Middlesbrough, has taken the action in an attempt to combat escalating violence against drivers
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Woman raped
A 20-year-old woman was left severely traumatised after being raped as she walked home from a night out in Middlesbrough, police said. The victim, who said she was attacked by a man who spoke in broken English, was grabbed as she turned from Linthorpe
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Motorcyclist fights for his life after accident in Lakes
A MOTORCYCLIST from the North-East was last night fighting for his life after an accident in the Lake District. The 42-year-old, from Darlington, was airlifted to hospital after the crash, near Coniston, on Easter Monday. He was left in a critical condition
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Baggies clash is win or bust - Oster
SUNDERLAND midfielder John Oster last night admitted that Sunday's Stadium of Light showdown with West Brom is a "must-win" encounter if the Black Cats are to secure automatic promotion to the Premiership. Monday's 1-0 defeat at Ipswich has left Mick
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Bush acts to ease US fears over Iraq
US President George Bush has told the American people he will not be deflected from his goal of establishing a democratic government in Iraq as part of his drive for stability in the Middle East. In a televised address to the nation today, Mr Bush declared
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'I'll always have trouble with my weight'
WHEN you think of TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, athletic isn't really a word that springs to mind. Bubbly, funny and down-to-earth, yes, but sprinter she is not. Until now. On Sunday, a trim, toned and healthy Lorraine will be taking to the streets to
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Drugs firm secures agreement on sales
DRUGS company GlaxoSmith-Klineboosted its portfolio with a 453m euro (£297.5m) deal for two treatments of acute heart disease. The group has struck a deal with Sanofi-Synthelabo to buy the rights to injectable drugs Fraxiparine and Arixtra, which have
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'Cutting myself helped me survive'
FOR Jane Atkinson, self-harm has become a ritual. She lays out a towel on the table, sits down and rolls up her sleeves. She takes out her pen knife, wipes the blade and begins cutting into her arms. "At the time, it doesn't really hurt. You see the blood
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Passengers at record levels, says BAA
A RECORD number of passengers used BAA airports last year. The airport operator said 133.4 million passengers passed through its seven sites, six million more than last year. Among individual airports, Heathrow experienced a 2.1 per cent improvement as
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I'll always have trouble with my weight
WHEN you think of TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, athletic isn't really a word that springs to mind. Bubbly, funny and down-to-earth, yes, but sprinter she is not. Until now. On Sunday, a trim, toned and healthy Lorraine will be taking to the streets to
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M&S disappoints analysts
Marks & Spencer upset City analysts today by unveiling disappointing sales figures that cast new doubt on the retail group's recovery. Fresh from poor clothing sales over the Christmas season, M&S added to the gloom surrounding its recent performance
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Sharon puts her art and sole into shoes
IT is a well-known fact that women love shoes, but a Middlesbrough woman has turned her passion for footwear into a successful business. Sharon Williams first came across the T.Taylor range of Dr Scholl shoes in a newspaper article and was impressed by
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Woman paraglides into mountain
A tourist from the North-East who suffered spinal injuries after crashing into a South African mountain while paragliding was said last night to be ''bearing up''. Diane Miller, 34, from Newcastle, was taking a tandem flight when she slammed into a cliff
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A better class of behaviour
IT is nearly a decade since the then shadow education secretary David Blunkett was infamously chased by angry National Union of Teachers' delegates in Blackpool. And it is reassuring to see that the mood at this year's NUT conference in Harrogate has
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Company announces airport services to continue
LOW-FARE carrier Ryanair has clinched a deal that will allow the airline to carry on flying to and from Charleroi, near Brussels. The Irish no-frills airline's future at the Belgian airport was in doubt after a European Commission ruling. The EC ordered
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Taking the message to Europe
A COMPANY involved in the production of a new form of environmentally friendly fuel has spread the message of its success into Europe. Petroplus representatives addressed more than 100 oil industry delegates at the recent European Fuels Conference, in
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WH Smith to sell off its Pacific division
HIGH street retailer WH Smith will sell its Asia Pacific operations to focus on turning around its troubled UK business. The company, which issued a profits warning after disappointing Christmas trading, is likely to confirm the sale alongside results
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14/04/2004
EDUCATION: WE are told, by both Labour and Conservative alike, that we need lots of immigrants to fill the gaping hole we have for skilled workers. Yet thousands of competent, highly qualified and experienced tradesman have been made redundant because
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Rural dream hopes to attract city staff
WORK is nearing completion on the transformation of a former church and associated parish rooms into a business centre. The first tenant is signed up to take 2,500sq ft of the 6,500sq ft of available space at the former United Reformed Church, parish
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Community mourns council leader
Tributes have been paid to popular council leader and health service champion Alan Gray, who has died aged 56. Coun Gray, who died suddenly last week following a short illness, was also a committed family man who was looking forward to becoming a grandfather
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Pupils adopt a natural approach
YOUNGSTERS have been learning about the environment thanks to BP Cats. Northgate Junior School, in Guisborough, is working towards Eco-Status through projects aimed at encouraging, pupils, staff and governors to be more environmentally aware. Pupils are
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The universe and everything
Hawking (BBC2): THE picture most of us have of Stephen Hawking is of a man with a wide grin in a wheelchair who speaks, and this isn't meant to be funny, like a tired Dalek. But his story is a remarkable one and it was only a matter of time before someone
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Crash baby remains critical
A FIVE-month-old baby girl injured in an accident on the A19 on Saturday remains in a critical condition in the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. The accident, on the south bound carriageway shortly before 6pm, involved one car, a grey
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Post Office is ready to put its stamp on loan market
How many of us are likely to grab a £5,000 loan when we go to the post office for a book of stamps and a few groceries? The question is about to be answered by the Post Office's decision to dive into the personal loans market. With Britain knee-deep in
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TV review
The universe and everything Hawking (BBC2) THE picture most of us have of Stephen Hawking is of a man with a wide grin in a wheelchair who speaks, and this isn't meant to be funny, like a tired Dalek. But his story is a remarkable one and it was only
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Little Bo Beeps have lost their sheep . . . to rustlers
FIVE sisters have been left devastated by the theft of six pet lambs on Easter Sunday. The Tindale family were shocked to discover that the animals, some only days old, had been taken from a stable at their smallholding in Brancepeth, near Durham City
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Man forged ex-wife's name on DIY loan
A MAN forged his ex-wife's signature in an attempt to obtain £5,000 to carry out home improvements, a court heard yesterday. Keith Downie, 40, of North Road, Darlington, dishonestly countersigned a loan application to Central Trust Plc using Alexandra
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Home is where the art is . . .
AN artist from Billingham is to display his work in the town's art gallery. Laurie Peacock was born in Billingham in 1932 and graduated from West Hartlepool College of Art in 1952, before winning a place to the Royal College of Art, in London. His paintings
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Thief who gave false name to police is jailed
A MAN who gave an old school friend's name when he was arrested for breaking into a car has been jailed for a year. Teesside Crown Court was told how Kevin Taylor's bid to beat the law landed his former classmate behind bars. But yesterday, justice caught
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I'll spend like Julia, says jackpot mum
A MOTHER-OF-FIVe who won £16.7m in the biggest EuroMillions jackpot yesterday promised to go on a Los Angeles shopping spree - just like the Pretty Woman character in her favourite film. Marion Richardson, 57, has, however, more domestic issues to address
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Two deny affray at fast-food restaurant
TWO men terrified the occupants of a car by smashing it up with a baseball bat and claw hammer during a row at a fast-food restaurant, a court heard yesterday. Kamin Atar, 47, and Atsh Kaya, 36, are also alleged to have attacked a motorcyclist who chased
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Richard steps into supporting role
RICHARD Craddock has joined The Alchemists as part of the Government's Interchange Initiative. Mr Craddock joins from Government Office North-East, where he worked in the business group as regional development agency sponsorship team leader. Mr Craddock
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Shops revamp views sought
RESIDENTS on a housing estate are to be given the chance to help transform a rundown parade of neighbourhood shops. Sometime ago the Edenhill ward of Peterlee was singled out by the Home Office for a Government initiative, known as Policing Priority Areas
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Warning after concrete attack on paramedics
AMBULANCE crews could refuse to treat patients in the North East if their own safety is put at risk. The warning comes days after paramedics narrowly escaped injury when a missile was hurled at their vehicle. Ray McDermott, Unison branch secretary for
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Bike lets Josh have fun with his family
KIND-hearted parents have raised £220 to help buy a trailer bike for a severely disabled three-year-old boy. The money was raised at Romanby Primary School during the infant classes' nativity play in December, when parents made donations to Joshua Peacock
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Police efforts make county one of safest
COUNTY Durham and Darlington are two of the safest places in the country, according to the area's police chief. Durham Constabulary has released figures showing overall recorded crime has fallen more than five per cent in the past year, from 51,188 to
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Woman altered prescription
A WOMAN changed a doctor's prescription in an attempt to get more medication, a court heard yesterday. Mary Susan Vine, of Binchester Croft, Newton Aycliffe, increased the amounts of four drugs on her prescription before handing it to Rowlands Chemist
