Archive
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On the trail of the Incas
RESIDENTS of Crook's Leonard Cheshire Home, Bradbury House, will be following the progress of support worker Sian Myers when she takes a ten-day trek along one of the most famous routes in the world. Sian, aged 26, of Willington, is following the Inca
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Scottish & Newcastle to close Tyne brewery
Scottish & Newcastle will close its Tyne brewery in Newcastle and move operations to a new site nearby. Brewing will be moved two miles away to a site at Dunston which S&N is buying from the Federation Brewery for £7.2m. About 100 jobs are to
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Johnson's expert help
THERE aren't many disadvantages to having one of the most technologically advanced cars in British rallying. However, one downfall can be the technology itself. Just ask Shildon's Barry Johnson. He drives 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg's Subaru
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Harvest mice are making a comeback
Evidence continues to emerge which points to harvest mice surviving in parts of the North-East. The creature is extremely rare in the region, so much so that the creatures have been reintroduced in the Billingham area of Teesside. However, Ian Bond, the
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Dirty mystery
NEXT time you want some home improvements carried out, call the builders that Dirty Den uses to rebuild his nightclub. They're miracle workers. It hardly seems five minutes since he decided to rebuild the club, whose doors were shut after a serious blaze
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Firm halts bus services to town estate
A BUS company has withdrawn its services to a Darlington estate because it has become too dangerous for drivers and passengers. The Green Bus Company, which runs three services to the Red Hall estate, has withdrawn its buses after a string of incidents
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'Killer' heroin supply warning
POLICE were facing a race against time last night to find a batch of contaminated heroin that has already left ten North-East addicts seriously ill in hospital. Detectives on Teesside believe the same batch was responsible for all ten cases - and fear
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Brief barnet
Jonathan Creek actor Alan Davies admits he was worried about losing his hair in ITV series The Brief and having to wear a wig. But the stand-up comic soon learned to enjoy himself as a court barrister. Steve Pratt reports. MEDIAN turned actor Alan Davies
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Dad At Large: First match fiasco - result: frustration
NEVER again. No chance. Absolutely not. Hell will have to freeze over and the oceans run dry before I ever take the little 'un to another football match. He'd begged to go to his first "real" football match, arguing that he was nearly seven. I'd put it
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Stolen vehicle leaves trail of destruction in cemetery
A STOLEN vehicle ploughed through fencing into a cemetery, destroying more than ten headstones marking the graves of soldiers and members of their families. The Land-Rover Discovery careered through a wooden fence, uprooting a tree and mowing down the
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Thousands will get private ops for free
THOUSANDS of North-East NHS patients are to have their operations in the private sector at no extra cost, following a deal struck by the Government. Patients facing long waits for hip and knee operations from York to Newcastle will be asked if they are
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Kate's dates with the stars
Kate Bosworth is the Hollywood actress dating Orlando Bloom playing a girl who wins a date with a movie star. Steve Pratt reports. RISING Hollywood star Kate Bosworth plays a small town girl who wins a date with a Hollywood heartthrob in her new movie
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22/04/04
WHIPPETS: ON behalf of the multitude of whippet racers who travelled from all corners of Great Britain, making the long journey to partake in our sport's premier event, the Chudleys Classic English Whippet Derby, held on Easter Bank Holiday weekend, I
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'Gloves off' in fight over rail service cuts
PROTESTORS last night warned the "gloves are off" in the battle to save rail services. MPs and local politicians will today join representatives of the North-East Rail Passengers Committee at Darlington railway station as they step up the fight against
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McCarthy has no quarrels
MICK McCARTHY had no complaints about referee Phil Dowd's decision to send off Mart Poom in the first half of Sunderland's defeat at the hands of play-off rivals Crystal Palace last night. Poom was shown the red card after 20 minutes when, as the last
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Falcons duo quit
Newcastle locks Mark Andrews and Garath Archer have both announced they are retiring from the game. Andrews, capped 77 times by South Africa and a member of the Springboks' 1995 World Cup-winning team, will head home to Durban when his 18-month Falcons
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A fast food flop and a traumatic tale
Risking It All (C4); May 33rd (BBC1): NAZ and Mark have a vision: a fast food revolution in which the produce is fresh, the chips are made from real potatoes and the meal is healthy. All very commendable and, as they were a civil engineer and an industrial
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Champions avoid a Durham link-up
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: South Northumberland are confident they can mount a successful challenge for the championship without engaging a Durham County player. Rules allow for a couple of players to be signed but South North have
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Engineers help 25 firms save a total
A TEAM of engineers helping boost manufacturing productivity in the region has saved the sector £1.6m this year. The engineers - seconded from companies including Black & Decker, Rolls-Royce, Nissan and TKA Tallent - have spent the past 12 months
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Millions 'to be wasted' on leaflets
ABOUT £2.5m of taxpayers' money is being spent on leaflets and adverts in an attempt to boost the turnout in October's regional assembly referendums, it was revealed yesterday. The Conservatives immediately condemned the "total waste and misuse" of money
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Healthy Easter treat
STEVIE Spears, 14, and Natasha Bennett, nine, were among scores of youngsters who were learning how to cook up a tasty, healthy and nutritious dish. Youngsters aged eight years and upwards descended on Maidendale House in Firthmoor, Darlington, for a
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Banner flies in Queen's honour
CELEBRATIONS for the Queen's birthday were in full swing in North Yorkshire yesterday with a banner flying for the first time and a 21-gun salute. At Knaresborough Castle, the new banner of the Duchy of Lancaster, which owns the castle, flew to mark the
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Property soars in railway town
THE REGION'S first national museum has helped spark a property boom in the former railway town where it is due to open later this year. Twenty years after one of the blackest days in Shildon's history, when the wagonworks closed, the railways are bringing
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Murton the team to beat
Durham Coast League: EXPECT defending champions Murton to set the pace again this summer. Despite losing prolific strike bowler Joe Dodd to Chester-le-Street, secretary Herbert King cuts a confident figure. Dodd was part of a three-man attack which shared
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Parish will re-examine sports plan
PUBLIC pressure has persuaded Heighington parish council to look again at plans for a controversial sports field. Despite objections from 109 people, Darlington Borough Council approved plans for a sports field suitable for football, a pavilion with changing
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Ideas sought to aid local economy
BUSINESSES involved in tourism found strength in numbers yesterday as they looked for new ways to boost the local economy. Wear Valley District Council brought together a range of organisations for its first tourism distribution day, in Crook Golf Club
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Councillors' fury at extra jobs decision
A COUNCIL that was forced to cut services and grants in its latest budget has been criticised for deciding to employ more people. Teesdale District Council yesterday heard how additional unbudgeted resources had been found totalling £275,173. The council
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Story contest judges draw up shortlist
THE judges in a short story competition launched in the North-East at the start of the year have drawn up a shortlist. Organised by Darlington-based Inscribe Media Ltd and backed by The Northern Echo, Orange and Darlington Arts Centre, The Short Story
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Uproar over chicken farm
Residents are contesting plans for thousands of free range hens in their village. Landowner Bill Spry has submitted proposals to house 12,000 birds at Derwent Oak Farm, in Hamsterley Mill, near Gateshead. The development would stand less than 350 metres
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There's gold in them thar dolls
A COLLEGE cleaner has struck gold with her knitting skills. Irene Davis, from Darlington, spends her evenings knitting dolls, the latest of which are to be awarded as prizes at national and international gold panning championships. Mrs Davis, who works
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Councillor backs call for better safety on danger road
A COUNCILLOR whose brother died at an accident blackspot is backing a call for safety measures on the route. Councillor Val Miller's brother was killed near Birk Brow, on the A171 - a main route from Teesside to the holiday resorts of Whitby and Scarborough
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Knitting skills put to good use
A WOMAN has put her hobby to good use, knitting thousands of blanket squares for charity. Janet Smith, from Easingwold, has knitted 5,000 seven- inch squares in the past 18 months alone. Yesterday, she was at the Oxfam shop in Thirsk Market Place with
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Row over location of village seat
A ROW has broken out over plans to move a seat from one side of the road to the other. More than 25 residents of Selby Gardens, The Grove, Consett, signed a petition agreeing the bench should be moved near to the bus stop. They say people could then sit
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Yorkshire bowlers make instant impression
Yorkshire's under-prepared bowling attack showed plenty of promise when it creaked into action at Headingley before rain wiped out play with Essex on 128 for three in 43 overs. Putting their opponents in on a dreary day, Yorkshire stuck to their task
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Backing may lead to hundreds of jobs
STICKY business could create hundreds of jobs in the region. Two entrepreneurs, who have designed the SpanApplicator - a glue gun which they predict will revolutionise DIY - were originally looking abroad because they could not find suitable manufacturers
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Children may lose play areas
CHILDREN in small village communities could lose their only playground under a list of closures going to councillors next week. Officers from the Wear Valley District's community services department are recommending 32 closures at a special meeting next
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All change at the top as League looks West
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League: Chris West claims it is a 'fantastic honour' to have been elected league president and is looking forward immensely to the challenge. "I understand I am the first person from a club outside the Premier
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New approach to improve services to MS patients
A NEW approach to improving services for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been launched in Darlington. The Multiple Sclerosis Steering Group, consisting of healthcare professionals, patients, carers and social services, will meet monthly to ensure
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Tributes to committed councillor
FAMILY, friends and colleagues of a popular council leader gathered at his funeral yesterday to celebrate his life. Councillor Alan Gray, who died two weeks ago, aged 56, was remembered as a man committed to working for the community, but also a loyal
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Engineershelp 25 firms save a total
A TEAM of engineers helping boost manufacturing productivity in the region has saved the sector £1.6m this year. The engineers - seconded from companies including Black & Decker, Rolls-Royce, Nissan and TKA Tallent - have spent the past 12 months
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Inquiry into town council allegations
A GOVERNMENT appointed auditor is to investigate claims that equipment was misused at a parish council. Private auditor Emma Prince of HLB Auditors, has been appointed to look into the accounts of Thornaby Town Council, Thornaby, near Stockton. She has
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Tree planting will provide green energy
A POWER company has signed a £45m contract for a green energy project that will safeguard more than 800 jobs. The renewable energy scheme will also help the farming and transport sectors, and could create and safeguard hundreds more spin-off jobs. Sembcorp
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County leaders call last orders
TIME is being called on work-time drinking for council office staff and councillors. Last orders is being taken at the in-house bar at County Hall, Durham, during the working day. The decision is part of a new authority-wide policy on drugs, substance
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TV review
Risking It All (C4) May 33rd (BBC1) NAZ and Mark have a vision: a fast food revolution in which the produce is fresh, the chips are made from real potatoes and the meal is healthy. All very commendable and, as they were a civil engineer and an industrial
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Choir's sellout hopes
A CHOIR is hoping its annual concert on Saturday will be another sellout. The 40-strong Durham Constabulary Male Voice Choir will perform a wide-ranging programme including opera, musicals, religious pieces, traditional folk songs and pop songs, at the
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200 jobs could be created after approval given
PLANS to build a factory that could create up to 200 jobs were approved yesterday. Able UK received permission to build the units at its Graythorp site in Hartlepool. The factory would enable the manufacture of steel support legs for land and offshore
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More discussions to be held over plans for leisure sites
FURTHER consultation is to be carried out on a scheme to form a community trust to run Richmondshire's leisure facilities. Posters went up at Richmond's swimming pool, the tourist information centre and sporting venues over the weekend announcing the
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Farmer fined over pollution
SILAGE effluent seeped into a watercourse after running downhill from a farm, a court heard. The pollution, which found its way into the River Browney, a tributary of the River Wear, was traced back to Hill Top Farm, in Esh, County Durham. It led to farmer
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Tree planting will provide green energy
A POWER company has signed a £45m contract for a green energy project that will safeguard more than 800 jobs. The renewable energy scheme will also help the farming and transport sectors, and could create and safeguard hundreds more spin-off jobs. Sembcorp
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Aycliffe shows its metal
A fabrications company gaining a growing reputation for working with artists has completed a work of art in steel at Gateshead's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The hospital's artist in residence, Neil Canavan, designed the steel gazebo and worked with the
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Officer is praised for saving mother
A POLICE officer who saved the life of a mother-of-two has been praised for his actions. PC Ellis Hutchinson has also been thanked by the woman's family after he foiled her attempt to kill herself last December. He was on routine patrol early one afternoon
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Entertainment night nets £1,500 for charity
A BRANCH of the child care charity NSPCC has benefited from an evening of entertainment. The boost follows the annual Chairman's Charity Evening staged by Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council, which covers a collection of villages in the Deerness valley
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'Management buyout was the best option'
ABOUT 60 jobs have been saved in the region after an offshore wind farm company announced it had been sold to its management team. Mayflower Energy, in Middlesbrough, a subsidiary of the Mayflower Corporation, will keep all of its 60 staff in the region
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Johnny follows in Billy's dance steps
IT is a case of life imitating art. In scenes reminiscent of Billy Elliot, young Johnny Stephenson was teased mercilessly when other youngsters found out he was learning ballet. The ribbing became so intolerable that he kept his passion a secret, not
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Prostitute 'robbed and threatened'
A MAN held a fake automatic pistol to a prostitute's head and threatened her after she refused to hand back a payment he had given her for sex. Teesside Crown Court heard that Graeme Nichols followed April Akhtar from his house in Middlesbrough before
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Stranglers' guitarist to play acoustic set
STRANGLERS' guitarist Baz Warne will play a fundraising concert in the North-East next month. The Sunderland-born member of the Eighties band will play an acoustic set at the Atlantic club, in Duke Street, Darlington, on Friday, May 7. Proceeds from the
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Stars honour football legend
STARS from the football world will mix with fans, friends and family at the funeral of Middlesbrough legend George Hardwick tomorrow. The 84-year-old, known as Gentleman George, was one of only two Boro players to have captained England. The other, current
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Dancers benefit diabetes charity
A COMMUNITY has come together to help a charity that trains midwives and nurses in dealing with diabetes in pregnancy. The Footloose dance groups from Borrowby and Knayton put on a show at Knayton Primary School recently and raised £170 for the Midwifery
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Activity group moves to school
AN activity scheme for young people with learning or physical disabilities has moved. On Track, which was organised by Sunderland Youth Development's Inclusion Project, was based at the YMCA at Fencehouses, near Chester-le-Street. It has now moved to
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Focus falls on Dad's Army forerunners
EARLY 20th Century forerunners of the Dad's Army home defence force will be discussed in a talk on Saturday. Author and historian Dr Bill Mitchinson will look at contingency arrangements put in place before and during the First World War, in case of German
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Sunderland crash as Poom sees red
MART POOM became the 11th Sunderland player to be shown the red card this season as Mick McCarthy's men suffered a night they will want to forget. The Black Cats slumped to their third successive defeat at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace strengthened
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From The Fairway: Ferrie seeking repeat show
KENNETH FERRIE returns to the scene of his finest hour this week as he bids to continue his rise up the PGA European Tour Order of Merit. The Ashington golfer's first and only win on the Tour came in the Canarias Open de Espana 12 months ago. Ferrie will
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Backlog coroner appealing to police for help
A coroner, under fire for having an inquest backlog, is appealing to police chiefs for help. But, The Northern Echo, can today reveal that Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield, whose performance has been the subject of an inquiry ordered by Lord Falconer
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Decorator cleared of thefts after fraud case revelation
A DECORATOR convicted of stealing £57,000 worth of jewellery has had his conviction quashed because the alleged victims were under investigation for fraud at the time of his trial. Anthony James Cormack, 38, of Deona Court, Darlington, was found guilty
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Shearer desperate to end the 35-year wait
LOCAL hero Alan Shearer is desperate to rewrite history by leading Newcastle United to their first major trophy for 35 years. Bob Moncur was the last United captain to lift silverware - and Shearer wants to be the next. The Magpies, who tonight host Olympique
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Food and drink festival draws huge crowds
A three-day festival, which can already boast crowds of around 18,000 people just two years after its launch, is hoping to expand even further over the coming Bank Holiday weekend. The Leyburn Festival of Food and Drink in the heart of Wensleydale in
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Railway archive to record changes
A PROJECT aims to create a permanent reminder of railway heritage with a £49,700 National Lottery grant. A sound archive will be made of the past 50 years of North Yorkshire's railways and will help examine the demise of "railway families", where communities
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Youngsters enjoy exotic visitors
YOUNGSTERS got the chance to handle some weird and wonderful beasts as part of Easter break activities. Children aged five to 14 had the chance to learn all about the creepy crawlies belonging to interactive animal workshop Zoolab. About 28 children from
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Modest Tracey is the people's Olympian
'HERE comes the next Tracey Morris," joked a neighbour as I pounded the lanes round our way one evening this week. I wish. As someone who came in a pathetic second last in a ten mile run this time last year, closely, and rather humiliatingly, followed
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Maintenance contract given to council team
THE future of a local authority housing repairs workforce has been safeguarded after months of unrest over contract talks jeopardised their jobs. Wear Valley District Council has awarded the contract to carry out maintenance of its housing stock to its
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Behind The Wheel: Johnson's expert help
THERE aren't many disadvantages to having one of the most technologically advanced cars in British rallying. However, one downfall can be the technology itself. Just ask Shildon's Barry Johnson. He drives 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg's Subaru
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Ben's family says thanks
THE parents of a teenager who was killed in a car crash have thanked their local community for its support since their son's death. Individuals and groups in Chester-le-Street have raised more than £3,000 in memory of Ben Ellison. The 17-year-old apprentice
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First match fiasco - result: frustration
NEVER again. No chance. Absolutely not. Hell will have to freeze over and the oceans run dry before I ever take the little 'un to another football match. He'd begged to go to his first "real" football match, arguing that he was nearly seven. I'd put it
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Abuse policy adopted
HEALTH chiefs are considering withholding treatment from violent or abusive patients to protect staff. A new report on behalf of six primary care trusts outlines the steps being taken to provide a safe environment for employees and patients. The report
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Hodgson hoping to open contract talks
AFTER steering the club to the brink of Football League safety, Darlington boss David Hodgson has now set his sights on opening negotiations with the club's out-of-contract stars. With three games remaining Quakers are six points clear of the relegation
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15ft-fall boy makes miracle recovery
TODDLER Evan Bates fell 15ft from a fire escape on to concrete and escaped with only cuts and bruises. The two-year-old lay unconscious for 24 hours in intensive care as his parents kept a bedside vigil. Just as doctors began to fear the worst, the youngster
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Musicians compete for prize
YOUNG musicians in Chester-le-Street are to have 15 minutes of fame when they perform a piece in the hope of winning a local music competition. The Rotary Club of Chester-le-Street has been working with the James Etherington Trust for Young Musicians,
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Call to keep 'corpse' walk club alive
A CALL has gone out for all dirgers, witches and masters of misery to come together to re-form an historic club. For the uninitiated, these are all roles associated with the original Lyke Wake Club, which was set up by Bill Cowley in 1955 to mark the
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Uplifting experience at Sadie's
TELEVISION clean-up experts had an uplifting experience when they visited lingerie expert Sadie Ayton yesterday. Filming a new TV series titled Too Posh to Wash Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie sought out the services of the woman better known as Sadie
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Hospital restaurant hit by salmonella outbreak
HEALTH officials said last night that salmonella was responsible for a food poisoning outbreak that infected ten people at a North-East hospital restaurant. Those affected, including two who needed hospital treatment, were staff and visitors who had eaten
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Tribute to fun loving teenager
A FAMILY friend paid tribute last night to the "mischievous, fun loving" youngster who died after falling into a swollen river. Christopher Grant, 13, was playing with friends at the River Derwent, near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, when tragedy struck. His
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Former manager criticises plan to close chocolate firm
FOR five generations, members of the same family gave their name to one of the region's most famous companies. Terry's of York sold their chocolate products across the world, with household names such as Chocolate Orange and All Gold leading the way.
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Unity under a flag of peace
LET us be clear that the perpetrators of the bomb attacks in Basra yesterday morning are not freedom fighters. They are terrorists motivated by hatred, not nationalism. That can be the only explanation for bombers who are intent on destroying soft targets
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New to rent
SWAT (12, Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment, Buy DVD £19.99/VHS £12.99): Starring: Colin Farrell, Samuel L Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Michelle Rodriguez, Ll Cool J . INSPIRED by the popular 1970s US TV series of the same name, the screen is filled with
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Chops away
Steve Pratt interviews Uma Thurman and the other stars of Kill Bill about the fight scenes for Quentin Tarantino which left them battered and bruised and tunes in to the US for a chat with the director. THE actors in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill suffered
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Driver who drew pistol sent to jail
A North-East motorist pulled a pistol on a lorry driver during a terrifying road rage incident. Lewis Lamb calmly pulled the fire arm from from its case and pointed it at a lorry driver as the pair of them drove up the busy M1. And yesterday he was jailed
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Good show crowds predicted
A BUMPER attendance is being forecast for Harrogate's Spring Flower Show, which starts today at the Great Yorkshire Showground. The event, which runs until Sunday, attracted a record attendance of 59,600 last year, and officials from the North of England
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Officer is praised for saving mother
A POLICE officer who saved the life of a mother-of-two has been praised for his actions. PC Ellis Hutchinson has also been thanked by the woman's family after he foiled her attempt to kill herself last December. He was on routine patrol early one afternoon
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Three sacked for printing swear words on Aero bars
THREE chocolate factory workers have been sacked after they printed a rude message on thousands of Aero bars. The workers at Nestle Rowntree's York factory altered the sweet wrappers so a swear word appeared where the best before date and code should
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Gospels appeal nears target
FUNDRAISERS are nearing their target to secure an important memento reflecting part of Chester-le-Street's rich history. Chester-le-Street Heritage Group wants to buy a copy of the Lindisfarne Gospels to display permanently in the town. The group believes
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John North: A swansong of steam
Special services will mark the 50th anniversary of the Wensleydale railway line's closure at the weekend, but it may not yet have run out of steam. THE train now standing at Hawes station is going nowhere whatsoever. Old Faithful reached the end of the
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Big Ron quits in racism shame
Football pundit Ron Atkinson has resigned from ITV Sport after making a racist comment off-air after last night's game between Chelsea and Monaco, a spokesman for the channel said last night. "Big Ron" was said to be "devastated and very sorry" for any
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Big Ron quits in racism shame
Football pundit Ron Atkinson has resigned from ITV Sport after making a racist comment off-air following Tuesday's game between Chelsea and Monaco, a spokesman for the channel said last night. Atkinson was said to be "devastated and very sorry" for any
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Rush hour bombs horror 'won't stop handover of power in Iraq'
The handover of sovereignty in Iraq will not be "derailed" after suicide bombers in Basra left 68 dead and more than 200 injured, the Government vowed last night. Both British and local Iraqi officials pointed the finger of blame at al Qaida after a series
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Twice bitten, still not shy
Former Newcastle MP Piers Merchant has twice been at the sharp end of a tabloid scandal, but, as Political Editor Chris Lloyd discovers, he's determined to bounce back - again. PIERS Merchant is putting his head back into the lion's mouth. Last time,
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Baby units 'overstretched'
Services for critically-ill newborn babies are severely understaffed and could soon be stretched even further by restrictions on doctors' working hours, it was claimed today. Researchers in Yorkshire based their findings on the number of transfers of
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Medieval ruins linked with legend of worm may be sold
A CHURCH ruin at the centre of local folklore, which inspired one of Britain's greatest storytellers, could be sold. The Church of All Saints, at Sockburn, near Darlington, is a scheduled ancient monument dating from early medieval times. The site is
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Rail link to 'haywire' house prices
THE railways are bringing prosperity to the region once more in the form of a property boom. Twenty years after one of the blackest days in the history of Shildon, County Durham, with the closure of the wagon works, property prices in the town are seeing
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Snow tracks led way to takeaway robber
A REGULAR customer carried out an armed robbery at a Chinese takeaway restaurant when he was desperate for cash. Neil Nixon, 31, who had a replica handgun, stole £120 after threatening to shoot an assistant at the New Kyo Chop Suey House, in New Kyo,
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Show to have tree that put the pip in pippin
A 300-YEAR-OLD piece of apple tree that helped put a village on the map will be taking centre stage at a show later this year. Knaresborough Town Council has agreed to lend the glass case containing a piece of wood labelled Ribston Pippin, which is on
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Uplifting experience at Sadie's
TELEVISION clean-up experts had an uplifting experience when they visited lingerie expert Sadie Ayton yesterday. Filming a new TV series titled Too Posh to Wash Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie sought out the services of the woman better known as Sadie
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Church to stage emotive music tribute
A TEAM of musicians, choir members and soloists will be performing the powerful story of Christ at church near Darlington this weekend. Born For This uses music and poetry to echo the emotions associated with Jesus' last days on earth. It was written
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Website charts life and times of explorer Cook
A WEBSITE documenting the life of a North-East town's most famous son was launched yesterday. The website dedicated to explorer Captain James Cook, who was born in Marton, Middlesbrough, contains one of the earliest accounts of his life, published in
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Parkinson's group given official status
A PARKINSON'S disease support group representing 400 people has been officially recognised for its work. Since its launch two years ago, the Darlington Support Group has worked with Parkinson's sufferers in south Durham. It has now been approved as an
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Smoke ban in public is debated
RESEARCH has been undertaken by a council to gauge how popular a ban on smoking in public places would be. Chester-le-Street District Council, in County Durham, is bidding to become the first smoke-free zone in Britain. The move follows Government plans
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Rhyme is set in stone
A BUDDING bard has had his work immortalised in a sculpture at park's popular wishing stone. Thomas Rowland, 11, of Consett Junior School, Consett, received the lasting accolade after winning a competition for the best rhyme, to go alongside the wishing
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Support for new mums
A SUPPORT group to promote the benefits of breast-feeding is to be set up in the Sedgefield borough. The fortnightly group, which will meet in Trimdon Grange Clinic, is aimed at new mothers in the Trimdon villages, Fishburn, Sedgefield, West Cornforth
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Shortage of volunteers affects riding for disabled
LESSONS are having to be cut back at a riding centre for the disabled because of a critical shortage of volunteers. The shortage is hitting classes and revenue at the Unicorn Centre, in Hemlington, near Middlesbrough. Chairman Julie Elphee said: "We have
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Decade of helping teenagers
A TEAM which works with teenagers is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The Justice Support Project is marking the decade with the gift of a bench to be installed near South Bank war memorial, next month. Pat Sergeant, central services manager with the
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Water devices successful
AN attempt to save water by giving out free save-a-flush devices is proving a success. Organiser Jackie Taylor has given out 100 free packs of crystals in Saltburn, east Cleveland, which save water by swelling up in toilet tanks. She has ordered 100 more
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Success breeds for Andrew after grant awarded for flock
A TEENAGER who rears sheep in a field he rents from his uncle has been awarded a grant to help him expand his flock. Andrew Stephenson, 16, grew up on a farm that had more than 1,000 livestock, until his parents separated and he moved into a terraced
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Anger at plans to build on cycleway
A STORM of protest has erupted over plans to build houses on a national cycle route and to direct the route on roads through the middle of the estate. Planning officers have recommended that Derwentside district councillors today approve the plans in
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Out-of-hours care system under fire
HEALTH chiefs have defended a new out-of-hours system amid patients' claims that they have already been let down. People living in Upper Wensleydale were assured at a meeting in March they would hardly notice the difference when GP surgeries relinquished
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Beginners celebrate after completing IT courses
A GROUP of students are celebrating after they went on a journey of discovery, and received certificates to prove it. They have all attended sessions on North Yorkshire County Council's Discovery Bus and been introduced to information technology (IT).
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Young scientists' experiment produces silver and bronze
FIVE A-level chemistry students have proved they are among the best in the country. They have received national awards in the International Chemistry Olympiad run by the Royal Society of Chemists. James Silk, from Guisborough, won silver, while Benjamin
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Tribute to teenage athlete
AN annual athletics meeting held as a memorial to a 13-year-old schoolgirl who died when swimming was even more poignant this year. Promising sprinter Anne-Marie Readshaw was pulled unconscious from the pool at Spennymoor Leisure Centre in September 2001
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Captain Humphreys leads from the front
RITCHIE Humphreys is leading Hartlepool United's play-off assault from the front. The midfield has been handed the captain's armband in recent weeks in the absence of Micky Barron and responded with his best display of the season in last Saturday's win
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Club waits to hear of league deadline
HARD-UP Darlington Football Club was last night waiting to hear if one of the game's governing bodies will impose its own deadline for the Quakers' fate to be decided. Administrators Wilson Field have contacted the Football League to ask if it will set
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Lightweight Letters can deliver
MAN OF LETTERS (3.20) can take full advantage of his lightweight by winning the Jaguar Handicap at Beverley. According to my calculations the Official Handicapper has dropped an almighty clanger by allotting the Mark Johnston-trained raider just 8st 4lb
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Spotlight turned on conservation
An open day looking at wild-life conservation at the Gibside Estate, near Stanley, takes place on Sunday, from 1pm to 4pm. Staff will showcase projects such as the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, and other methods of habitat management to enhance wildlife
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Can Evenwood make it three in a row?
The Readers Durham County League: Last season the championship was not decided until the final minutes of the last day when any one of four teams could have finished in pole position - this year's contest could be just as exciting. Evenwood aim to clinch
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Smoke ban in public is debated
RESEARCH has been undertaken by a council to gauge how popular a ban on smoking in public places would be. Chester-le-Street District Council, in County Durham, is bidding to become the first smoke-free zone in Britain. The move follows Government plans
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Investors confident in Biofuels flotation
A COMPANY planning to build the largest biodiesel plant in the world, creating 275 jobs, has announced plans to float on the alternative investment market. The Biofuels Corporation, which starts building its £30m complex in Seal Sands, Teesside, next
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Councillor in the doghouse over 'shock' sign
A TORY councillor who hung up a sign to shame errant dog owners has been criticised for his use of language. The notice fixed to Jim Ruck's garage door in one of Darlington's most affluent areas says: "Please remove your dog sh**". Police last night condemned
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Grants keep Teapottery in region
A European business grant has ensured a business will stay in the region - safeguarding 18 jobs. The Supporting Innovations Service (SIS) was launched yesterday, offering grants of up to £3,500 to companies in rural areas of the UK that employ fewer than
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Staff get in training as cancer charity's annual race launched
WOMEN in the region are being urged to take part in a charity race. Cancer Research UK's Race for Life, which takes place in Darlington's South Park on Sunday, June 20, was launched yesterday at the Tesco store in Catterick, North Yorkshire. Thirty-five
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Stepping out to aid school
TEACHER'S wife Chris Glover plans to walk part of the coast-to- coast route to raise money for the junior department at Polam Hall School, in Darlington. She began walking when her son, Nathan, decided to raise money for Darlington Gym Club, in Eastbourne
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New 'circus bar' for town
THE circus is coming to town with a new brasserie and wine bar in Darlington's market place. Les Mooney, owner of Caf Gulp in Priestgate, Darlington, is hoping to create another thriving business in the town, called the Circus Bar. He has taken over the
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Landlord will celebrate 25 years of success with beer festival
A DURHAM pub is celebrating a quarter century of being the toast of real ale fans. The Half Moon, one of the city's last old-style watering holes, is holding a month-long beer festival to mark its 25th consecutive appearance in the Good Beer Guide produced
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Bowyer has big part to play
NEWCASTLE United boss Sir Bobby Robson has told Lee Bowyer he can end a season of torment with a glorious flourish. Bowyer is poised to step back on to the European stage tonight when United face Olympique Marseille in their UEFA Cup semi-final first
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Appeal for civic memories
Loftus Town Council is holding a reunion next Thursday in an attempt to find out more about its history. Former councillors, employees and users of Loftus Urban District Council services have been invited to turn up from 10am until 2pm. Any memorabilia
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Peng shows class at rain-hit Riverside
JUST when Durham's home-grown talent was suppressing the imported enthusiasm of Nottinghamshire a Cornishman took two wickets to leave a truncated first day evenly balanced at Riverside. Gary Pratt and Nicky Peng had put on 87 for the fourth wicket when
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Abuse policy adopted
HEALTH chiefs are considering withholding treatment from violent or abusive patients to protect staff. A new report on behalf of six primary care trusts outlines the steps being taken to provide a safe environment for employees and patients. The report
