Archive
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United's Mido link
MARSEILLE'S Egyptian forward Mido claims Newcastle are among a clutch of big-name clubs keen to kickstart his career. The 21-year-old from Cairo, who previously played for Spanish side Celta Vigo, is surplus to requirements at the Stade Velodrome after
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Pupils take part in arts projects
PUPILS at a Newton Aycliffe school are taking part in two art projects. The first, called Written in Stone, involves ten pupils from Greenfield School making field trips to Northumberland to look at prehistoric rock art and take part in a five-day archaeological
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Architect of transport company's success to step down
transport company Go-Ahead last night announced its chief executive was stepping down. Go-Ahead, which is based in Newcastle, said Martin Ballinger, 60, wanted to retire at the end of December. He has led Go-Ahead since 1982 and steered it through bus
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Contestants with a slither of a chance
THEY are not as fast as their namesakes, but Coe, Ovett and Bannister are determined to make a race of it when they take part in the Snail Derby next week. They are training hard in the hope of being the first to leave a slimy trail past the winning post
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Success for out-of-hours care service
HEALTH bosses in Darlington have hailed the introduction of a new out-of-hours medical care system as a major success. The scheme, which has been pioneered in the town and neighbouring Tees Valley, is said to have worked smoothly since its introduction
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ON TV last night...
It's a pig of a job for Jimmy Jimmy's Farm (BBC2) The British UFO Files (five) WHEN would-be pig farmer Jimmy Docherty said that the farmhouse "needs a bit of work", he was understating the case. It was derelict. Other drawbacks of the 90-acre farm in
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Hussey leaves Durham bowlers embarrassed
DURHAM and Husseys are ill-matched bedfellows. As if they hadn't suffered enough at the hands of Michael Hussey last season, an astonishing onslaught by his brother David yesterday wrecked all the excellent work of Mark Davies and Neil Killeen. With fellow
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Hospital bosses say sorry for stillbirth
HOSPITAL bosses have admitted they were at fault over the death of an unborn baby. Officials at County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust last night apologised to the parents of the girl. Two failures during her care had contributed to death
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Notorious prison within a prison
SINCE it was built in the 1840s, H-wing at Durham Prison has housed some of the most dangerous men in criminal history including Ian Brady, the Krays and the Great Train Robbers. But it is the infamous female inmates that has earned it the nickname "she-wing
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Military and steam nostalgia weekend
THE GOLDEN age of steam was combined with a display of military might at a County Durham visitor attraction over the weekend. Volunteer steam enthusiasts who run the Tanfield Railway, a revived stretch of line near Stanley, welcomed military vehicle owners
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Kyle's international nightmare continues
KEVIN KYLE'S international jinx has struck again but the Sunderland striker is even more determined to prove his critics wrong. The powerful front-man has been forced to miss Scotland's friendly with Estonia tonight with a niggling throat infection. It
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Hussey leaves Durham bowlers embarrassed
DURHAM and Husseys are ill-matched bedfellows. As if they hadn't suffered enough at the hands of Michael Hussey last season, an astonishing onslaught by his brother David yesterday wrecked all the excellent work of Mark Davies and Neil Killeen. With fellow
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Supersonic Ted Terrence shows he's made of the right stuff
A TEDDY bear with a taste for adventure has been travelling the world with a North flying squadron. Terrence Bruin has been adopted by the 100 Squadron at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance. He has already been
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Firm's warming gift
A NEWTON Aycliffe company came to the rescue of a local guide group by providing equipment for a camping trip. When Tracy Mounsey took over as leader of Newton Aycliffe Guides she discovered that there had been no camping trips for at least seven years
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Deadlock broken in Metro dispute
THE deadlock between bosses and workers on the Tyne and Wear Metro system looked to have been broken last night. Four unions representing staff on the light rail network have been engaged in a long- running dispute over pay and conditions with Metro operator
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Image of a perfect playtime
CHILDREN at a North-East school are the envy of the world after pioneering technology was used to cover their playground with playtime images. A pirate galleon, a treasure island and a jungle packed with wildlife are some of the digital images in the
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Thai society
The Black Horse at Ingleton is renowned for its authentic and idiosyncratic Thai food. THE "Barnard Castle and Richmond" ordnance survey map, about the price of two pints of premium lager but altogether better for the constitution, is somewhat misleading
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Yorkshire Water boosts Kelda
Yorkshire Water has helped utility group Kelda to a "very satisfactory" set of results. The group posted a 9.4 per cent rise in profits after Yorkshire Water maintained its supplies, despite one of the hottest and driest years on record. This contrasted
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Inquiry draws a blank
INVESTIGATORS have been unable to identify how food poisoning broke out at the University Hospital of North Durham. The inquiry into the salmonella outbreak last November concluded that it was 'highly likely' that the outbreak was linked with eating food
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Historical exhibition looks at village life
AN EXHIBITION exploring the history of five north Durham towns and villages has opened. Entitled Derwentside Then and Now, a Multimedia Extravaganza, it looks at life in the Derwentside communities of Blackhill, Medomsley and Leadgate, near Consett, along
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Five and live
Tens of thousands will have the chance to enjoy top national and regional performers as Middlesbrough Music Live swings into its fifth year. Viv Hardwick talks to event organiser Graham Ramsay about the £100,000 show. THE fifth year of Middlesbrough Music
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Taste of new culture
A SCHOOL that was praised in an Ofsted report has moved to tackle the one area inspectors said it needed to improve on, by staging a multi-cultural week. Greenland Junior School in South Moor, Stanley, invited the Caribbean steel band Juma Steel to the
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New bishop nearly barred
A Roman Catholic Bishop almost missed his enthronement ceremony after he was caught ticketless in front of hundreds of wellwishes. The Right Reverend Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, was caught empty-handed at Saint Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle
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Worker electrocuted after touching live thermostat
AN electrician was electrocuted doing a routine job at a Government office, an inquest heard. Mark Walker, 32, of Croxdale, County Durham, suffered a fatal shock when he handled a thermostat that was still live at the Department of Work and Pensions in
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Gran At Large
IT was supposed to be one of my husband's retirement projects: to sort out the heaps of old photographs we have tucked away in drawers and boxes all over the house. When our children were very small, we used to select the best pictures and put them in
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Glimpse of past at library
WARTIME ration books, recipes and plans of air raid shelters will be available to view in June. People in Darlington will be able to look up military records of their families using library resources as part of Local Studies Month and the BBC People's
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Extra home care planned for stroke sufferers
STROKE sufferers will soon be offered extra care to help them recover at home thanks to investment in community rehabilitation. Darlington Primary Care Trust is spending £70,000 to develop a community-based service of physiotherapy and other care, in
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What a disaster!
More people will be worrying about The Day After Tomorrow thanks to Dennis Quaid's movie about the effects of global warming. Steve Pratt reports on the appeal of complete disaster in a movie and looks back at some of the blasts from the past. DENNIS
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MS physiotherapy service launched
A specialist community physiotherapy service has been launched for people suffering from multiple sclerosis. The service has been jointly funded by the Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Anna Newell has
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Chorus prepares for stage debut
A NEWLY-formed chorus will be making its stage debut at the end of this month in a performance of the Handel opera Hercules. The Swaledale Festival Chorus is made up of 15 local singers and has been assembled for the production, at Richmond's Georgian
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Project was a success, says university team
A GOVERMENT-funded project to tackle problems affecting young people in rural areas has been largely successful, independent evaluators have found. The Ryedale Regeneration Partnership (RRP), led by the district council, used the funding to implement
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Hard luck story for Wynyard in Trophy
CLOSE but not close enough. That old adage certainly rang true for Christopher Mounter and Mike Fenwick in the Lombard Trophy North-East regional final yesterday. Having opened the competition, held at a sun-drenched Seaton Carew for the second consecutive
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Man charged over death of biker mum
A MAN appeared in court yesterday charged with causing the death of a mother-of-two. Leslie Lawrence, 35, was killed after her 600cc motorbike was involved in a collision with a Ford Fiesta on the A19 at Washington, on April 5. Ms Lawrence, of Cromwell
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Town council leader decides to step down
A TOWN council this week saw a shake-up in its control as its long-serving leader stepped down from the post after two decades. Councillor Bill Waters stood down as the leader of Spennymoor Town Council at Tuesday night's annual meeting, to be replaced
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Sex-swap millionaire is suing doctor after change of mind
A SEX-SWAP millionaire has told why he is suing a surgeon who changed him from a man to a woman Father-of-two Charles Kane, 44, became Samantha Kane in August 1997, but after three years, said he realised he had rushed into the decision and wanted to
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Fun day to promote fitness
A FUN day will be held next week to encourage people in Wear Valley to go into action to do voluntary work and improve their fitness. The volunteers in action day will be held at Parkside School and Community Association, in Willington, next Thursday
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Pupils share acclaim in award presentation
TEENAGERS from Chester-le-Street have helped win an award. Young Co-operatives, which helps school students run their own businesses selling Fair Trade products, won this year's Blandford Memorial Award. More than 900 delegates from the UK were present
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Cleaner makes fresh start
A FORMER cleaner who ditched her dusters to go back to school is taking the first steps in her new career. Single mother Elizabeth Cassidy, of Consett, decided to get back in the classroom after working at the town's Derwentside College as a cleaner.
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Gran At Large: The snag with being snap happy
IT was supposed to be one of my husband's retirement projects: to sort out the heaps of old photographs we have tucked away in drawers and boxes all over the house. When our children were very small, we used to select the best pictures and put them in
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Labour group vows to fight for threatened post offices
A COUNCIL is stamping its disapproval on plans to close four post offices in Middlesbrough. Its dominant Labour group says it will try to thwart plans to close post offices in Acklam Road, West Lane, Shelton Court and at the Palladium Buildings in Marton
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Firm to axe 160 workers
LYCRA manufacturer Invista last night announced it is to axe 160 jobs at its two Teesside plants. The company, which was sold by parent group DuPont to US-based Koch Industries on May 1, blamed the rising cost of raw materials and competition from overseas
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Young stars reach film finals
PUPILS were celebrating this week after the film they produced and starred in reached the finals of a national competition. The 20 children from Hummersea Primary School, in Loftus, were one of six groups who reached the finals of the national Roots and
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Buses company brings in changes
BUS company Go North-East will reschedule some of its services to improve reliability. The changes will affect services to and from Houghton-le-Spring, Washington and Chester-le-Street. Go North-East said changes were necessary because of increasing traffic
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'Hospital dash' mother ignored driving ban
A MOTHER admitted breaking the law as she made a mercy dash to a hospital in a bid to be at her daughter's bedside. Sharon Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and without insurance when she appeared before Bishop Auckland Magistrates
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Triple success for leaders
THREE Seaham men have taken on civic leadership roles, marking what could be a first for the town. Near neighbours and district councillors Bruce Burn and Charlie Walker have been selected for two of the senior posts. Councillor Burn, who represents the
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Tenants take a key position
A COUNCIL'S plan to transfer all its homes to an independent company have taken a major step forward, with tenants promised a key role. Sunderland Housing Group has been chosen by Sedgefield Borough Council to help with the delivery of its housing stock
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Not addressing the real issue
UNDERSTANDABLY, there are concerns over the downgrading of the maternity unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. The admission that there was inappropriate care given to Andrea Harrison, who suffered a stillbirth, does not ease those concerns. The candid
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Controversial police chair's ally in race to succeed
The right hand man of a controversial police authority chairman is among the front runners to replace him in the job, it has emerged. Magistrate Ted Cox confirmed that he was seeking to replace Councillor Ken Walker at the head of Cleveland Police Authority
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Firefighters rescue fish
THREE fish were saved after an electrical fault in their fish tank caused a house fire. Firefighters were called to Wilton Avenue, Dormans-town, east Cleveland, on Tuesday, after a smoke alarm alerted the owners to the fire in an upstairs bedroom. Sandra
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GNER tracks silver surfers
THE power of the so-called grey pound has encouraged train operator GNER to showcase its latest on-board wireless Internet technology. GNER is the first UK rail operator to offer wi-fi Internet access on its trains. It is hoping more over-50s will take
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We got it wrong, says Army at MPs' inquiry on Deepcut
THE Army admitted for the first time yesterday that it increased the risk of suicide by young recruits at Deepcut barracks because of a lack of support staff. Lieutenant General Anthony Palmer told a Commons inquiry into the deaths of four soldiers at
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Residents to face bulldozers
DEFIANT residents are vowing to stay put in their homes despite plans to demolish hundreds of houses. People who live on Whitehill council estate in Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, say they will stand in front of bulldozers to stop their houses being
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Man faces camera ban after filming women
A man caught filming women's bottoms in a bustling city centre has been banned from carrying a camera in public. Jobless Andrew Mackie, 33, faces up to five years in jail if he repeats his actions of August 6, when -- at the height of last summer's heat
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Oh Danny boy
No sooner has the blood been washed from the cobbles after the street fight between Eileen and Gail the mad gerbil than a posh Porsche glides into Coronation Street (ITV1). At the wheel is Weatherfield's Mike Baldwin's nephew Danny, who bears an uncanny
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Time running out for award entrants
TIME is running out for nominations for awards showcasing the achievements of the region's businesswomen. The Women in Business Awards 2004, in association with The Northern Echo, will be held at the Thistle Hotel, in Middlesbrough, on Thursday, June
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Clubs call time on the brewery
WORKINGMEN'S clubs from County Durham have agreed to the sale of the brewery that has supplied them for more than 80-years. Delegates from 253 clubs voted in favour of the recommendation by the Federation Brewery board to accept a buy-out offer from Scottish
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GKN sells its half of helicopter maker
THE anouncement by engineering group GKN that it is poised to sell its stake in helicopter maker AgustaWestland for £1.06bn signals the withdrawal of the UK from helicopter manufacture. The company said it had agreed in principle to sell its 50 per cent
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Ex-Vodafone boss will take over at Glaxo
FORMER Vodafone boss Sir Christopher Gent was yesterday named by drugs group GlaxoSmithKline as the successor to chairman Sir Christopher Hogg. The 56-year-old will join the board of the Anglo-US group as deputy chairman on Tuesday, before stepping up
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Queen visits Yorkshire
The Queen enjoyed a 20-minute walkabout in Ripon's market square today. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh chatted to local residents and received gifts and bouquets of flowers from an appreciative crowd of several hundred. The Royal party were invited
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Euro candidate criticises ballot
A CANDIDATE for the Euro elections last night said printing problems were turning the postal ballot for the North-East into a shambles. UK Independence Party candidate Neil Herron said four authorities -Newcastle City, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and
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Son honours pledge to father over brother's unknown grave
AFTER relentless detective work, a North-East man has tracked down the resting place of a soldier killed in France 64 years ago. Next week, members of The Durham Light Infantry and buglers of the 2nd Battalion The Light Infantry will join relatives of
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Wood brings Boycott's reign to an end
Gold award winner Matthew Wood expunged Geoff Boycott from the Yorkshire record books yesterday with a blistering 160 against Devon in the third round of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at sun-blessed Exmouth. Boycott had held the county's previous
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Armed siege over ill terrier
A MAN who armed himself with a Samurai sword and an air rifle, and then broke into an RSPCA shelter in a desperate attempt to retrieve his dog, was jailed for 15 months yesterday. Paul Lovie, 47, held armed police at bay for more than an hour-and-a-half
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Brigadore is Ayr apparent
SCOTTISH air seems to suit the dashing sprinter Brigadore (4.30), a leading contender for today's Ladies Night Handicap at Ayr. Brigadore was very busy during 2003, running 17 times. However, despite going to the well on so many occasions, the only time
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Mills' Boro future in the balance
DANNY MILLS is in danger of missing out on a return to Middlesbrough. The Leeds right-back, on loan with Boro last season, was the subject of an unsuccessful £1m bid by the Teessiders in January. Boro boss Steve McClaren admitted he was hoping to revive
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'Now I know how it feels to cry'
In a harrowing autobiography just published in English, China Keitetsi relates the horrors of her life as a child soldier in Uganda. She talks to Sarah Foster. A CHILD wanders down the road, lost and bewildered, until she sees a bright light shining up
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Horticulture in artistic spotlight
VISITORS to a North-East museum can explore the relationship between plants, people and art in an exhibition this summer. Plantmania at Sunderland's Museum and Winter Gardens celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Royal Horticultural Society and includes
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Smokers urged to count cost of habit
SMOKERS in the North-East are spending £281m a year on tobacco products, despite all the health warnings. Figures from the anti-smoking Don't Give Up Giving Up campaign show that the average smoking household in the region spends £1,021 per year on tobacco
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Row over bill for airport's new signs
A POLITICAL leader has vowed to fight plans to make taxpayers pay towards road signs designed to help an airport change its name. Teesside Airport is to change its name to Durham Tees Valley and the airport's owner wants the public purse to cover some
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Singh hot on Tiger's trail
Vijay Singh thanks Ernie Els very much for calling him the best golfer in the world right now. But the Fijian will only be content when the official world rankings say the same thing - and he hopes to take another step in that direction with victory in
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27/05/04
IRAQ: THE abuse of detainees at American prison camps, we are told, is the work of rogue elements within America's armed forces. Yet, not only is there increasing evidence that these atrocities began in the American camps in Afghanistan, but that these
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Healthier outlook as Henman finds his form
For a man with a mystery illness, Tim Henman's tennis game looked in the rudest of health at the French Open yesterday. Whatever the doctor ordered - and Henman did have an ECG which ruled out any heart problems after his five-set struggle in the first
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Row over bill for airport's new signs
A POLITICAL leader has vowed to fight plans to make taxpayers pay towards road signs designed to help an airport change its name. Teesside Airport is to change its name to Durham Tees Valley and the airport's owner wants the public purse to cover some
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The snag with being snap happy
IT was supposed to be one of my husband's retirement projects: to sort out the heaps of old photographs we have tucked away in drawers and boxes all over the house. When our children were very small, we used to select the best pictures and put them in
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It's a pig of a job for Jimmy
Jimmy's Farm (BBC2); The British UFO Files (five): WHEN would-be pig farmer Jimmy Docherty said that the farmhouse "needs a bit of work", he was understating the case. It was derelict. Other drawbacks of the 90-acre farm in Ipswich included no running
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Welcome for new rail link
HIGH-SPEED trains are to stop at Chester-le-Street station, giving travellers a direct rail link to the South-West of England. The station, which narrowly escaped closure during the Sixties, was granted Intercity status on Monday. Slow local trains will
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Bakers reopens after fire
There were smiles of relief all round as those with a passion for pasties welcomed the re-opening of Peter's The Bakers chain of shops. Production at the thriving company, which has a total of 71 outlets was brought to an abrupt halt when fire ravaged
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Unemployment falling
UK unemployment fell by 48,000 in the three months to March, taking the figure to its lowest since records began. The Government's preferred jobless measure, the so-called ILO figure, fell to 1.41 million, Office for National Statistics data showed. Meanwhile
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Meningitis fears after youngster falls ill
A PRIMARY school pupil has been admitted to hospital with a suspected case of meningitis. The youngster, from Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, is being treated for possible meningococcal septicaemia. People in close, prolonged contact
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Sacked pair win cash
TWO security guards who were unfairly dismissed have been awarded compensation. Bill Kerr, 58, and Peter Kneeshaw, 46, worked for Chubb providing security at Cummins in Darlington. They were sacked after Chubb's acting area manager Paul Wilson visited
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National praise for scheme
AN internet scheme that is helping to tackle bullying at a Darlington school has attracted the attention of the Government. The Guardian Angels initiative at Eastbourne Comprehensive School, is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country
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Crowning of a queen
Stunning Natalie Smith was crowned the first Miss Durham in an event of high emotion. The 19-year-old of Chester-le-Street, wowed the judges with her good looks, poise and personality during the contest at Sedgefield Racecourse. Natalie will now go forward
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'Job losses will ensure Invista is competitive in the future'
Transport company PD Logistics, in Billingham, shed 30 jobs earlier this month, blaming a downturn in chemical production on Teesside. In March, Eastman Chemicals moved production to the US and closed its plant in Hartlepool with the loss of 75 jobs.
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Horse fair changes are made
THOUSANDS of people are expected to gather for an annual horse fair this weekend. It will be the fifth year that the Seagrave Horse Fair is held on private land at Checker Leazes, on the outskirts of West Auckland, County Durham. The event is held from
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Region's MPs attack racism in open letter
SEVERAL North-East MPs have signed an open letter condemning racism in the run-up to next month's local and European elections. The MPs have joined forces with the TUC and representatives from the business community to express concern about an "active
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Offensive against yob culture hits the road
NEWS of a police force's all- out offensive against the yob culture is being spread via a county's road network. Durham Police's StreetSafe drive to reduce anti-social behaviour, which blights communities across the county, was announced by Prime Minister
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Record number of hooligans banned from football contest
RECORD numbers of football troublemakers have been banned from travelling to Portugal for next month's European Championships. Latest figures reveal that more than 100 hooligans from the North-East and North Yorkshire are barred from going to domestic
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Housing boom continues
The UK's housing boom is showing no signs of weakening, according to the Nationwide building society. The mortgage lender has now admitted there is a risk its forecast of 15% price growth this year may be too low. Its latest survey shows house prices
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League bosses examine Quakers' deal
The Football League is scrutinising the rescue package to save Darlington FC. Bosses are poring over the details of the Sterling Consortium's bid to take control of the Quakers. An 11th-hour settlement was reached with creditors on Tuesday, paving the
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Give me hi-tech reassurance every time
WHEN I was heavily pregnant, one of my friends gave birth in the comfort of her own living room, in a birthing pool in front of a roaring log fire, surrounded by scented candles while listening to soothing music. It sounded wonderful. But I wasn't tempted
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New To Rent
Cheaper By The Dozen (PG, 94 mins, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment): Stars: Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Piper Perabo, Hilary Duff, Tom Welling, Kevin Schmidt, Alyson Stoner, Jacob Smith, Liliana Mumy, Morgan York, Forrest Landis, Blake Woodruff
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She-Wing closing in jail shake-up
DURHAM Prison's controversial female centre, dubbed She-Wing, is to close in a regrading of the jail. The once notorious wing, which has housed infamous inmates including Moors murderer Myra Hindley and Rose West, is expected to be wound down by the end
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John North: A mostly happy story
Theirs was one of the longest engagements in history, 35 blissfully happy years. Now Judith Kent and Roderick Burtt have fianlly tied the knot, though behind the wedding day smiles lay a terrible sadness. ALMOST 35 years after she accepted his indefinite
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Wizard of death
The third Harry Potter movie is creating just as much excitement as the previous two. The Prisoner Of Azkaban includes the exitement of Harry Potter facing Sirius Black who has been blamed for the death of Harry' s parents. It's a role made for Gary Oldman
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Ships to battle it out
AN epic mock sea battle will mark one of the region's biggest historical re-enactment dates of the year. This year's Hartlepool Maritime Festival will feature a mock battle between full-sized replicas of Captain Cook's ship HMS Bark Endeavour and Tsar
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Ravaged bakery fires up its ovens
PRODUCTION was under way last night to ensure a family bakery's chain of shops are fully stocked for reopening today. All 71 Peter's the Bakers shops, from Northumberland to North Yorkshire, will be up and running only a month after fire ripped through
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Smiles and snarls in the beauty stakes
TWO weeks ago, I set out to escape life as I know it by donning high heels and glossy lipstick. I became a girl with her sights set on being crowned Miss Durham. Not one to shy away from a challenge - or an evening of glitz and glamour - I submitted my
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Gang attack couple near their home
A DARLINGTON couple have spoken of their terror after being attacked outside their home by a gang of youths. The 37-year-old husband was beaten so badly in the attack on Monday evening that he has been forced to take time off work with bruised ribs, a
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School wins accolade for health work
STAFF and pupils have been rewarded for making their school a healthier place to work and learn. Hurworth House School, near Darlington, has been awarded the Healthy School accolade for its efforts in catering for children aged five to 18. It was presented
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Cabbie angry at licence delay
A TAXI driver yesterday criticised council bureaucracy that left him unable to work for three weeks. Andrew Kelly went to Darlington Borough Council to renew his private hire taxi licence, which expired on May 8. But because of a speeding conviction last
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Student research will set agenda
A GROUP of teenagers is leading the way in efforts to provide a youth centre for their town. They have been travelling far and wide to gather information for a feasibility study which will be presented to officials in Northallerton later this summer.
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Good causes receive £1,000 in grants
THE first round of a grant scheme saw £1,000 given to good causes. A total of £800 was allocated to organisations and £200 to talented individuals by the Starbeck Community Fund. Harrogate Boxing Club, at Provincial Works, Starbeck, received £400 to go
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Row over authority budget deepens
THE row between Cleveland Police Authority and the force's chief constable over a £7.3m "black hole" in its budget has taken another twist. The Northern Echo has discovered that a letter sent to the authority from District Auditor David Parkin on April
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Police call for witnesses after man attacked
POLICE are keen to speak to a group of teenagers after a 21-year-old Newton Aycliffe man was left with severe head injuries. The injured man has no memory of the vicious assault on him, which took place between 6pm and 7.45pm on Sunday. He had been walking
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Appeal for photos to remember the 1940s
PEOPLE are being asked to raid their photograph albums as Bishop Auckland plans a nostalgia trip. Bishop Auckland's Town Centre Forum is appealing for memorabilia from the 1940s to help with a month of events being planned to celebrate the decade. The
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Residents targeted by rogue traders
TRADING standards officers are warning householders about a company that is cold-calling at homes to offer damp-proofing. It follows complaints from people in the Scarborough area who have been contacted by a company claiming to be carrying out work for
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Young stars reach film finals
PUPILS were celebrating this week after the film they produced and starred in reached the finals of a national competition. The 20 children from Hummersea Primary School, in Loftus, were one of six groups who reached the finals of the national Roots and
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Bosses at racecourse fined for waste fire
BOSSES at the region's biggest racecourse have apologised after being fined £12,000 for dumping and burning waste. High Gosforth Park Limited, operator of Newcastle Racecourse, pleaded guilty at Gosforth Magistrates' Court to three charges under the Environmental
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Homeowners pledge to fight company's demolition plan
DEFIANT residents have vowed to stay in their homes despite plans to demolish hundreds of houses. People who live in the Whitehill estate in Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, say they have lived there for years and spent a lot of money improving their
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Appeal issued over burglaries
A BURGLAR is targeting elderly people in daylight raids on their homes. The man, aged 25 to 30, was seen knocking on doors in the Leam Lane and Lingey Lane area of Gateshead on Monday, between 11am and 12.30pm. He broke into three houses while the elderly
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Muggers target mum
TWO men snatched a woman's handbag and a bracelet belonging to her newborn daughter in broad daylight. The woman was walking with her nine-year-old son and ten-week-old daughter in Ropner Park, Stockton at 4.45pm on Tuesday when she bent down to tie her
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Heroin led to drinker's death
A HEAVY drinker died of an accidental overdose while taking heroin following a booze binge last November, an inquest was told. Unemployed design technician, Adrian Nisbet, 26, of Hartington Road, Middlesbrough, had a history of alcohol abuse dating back
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Teenager backs case against windfarm
THE brother of a teenager who died from a brain tumour, joined forces with Redcar MP Vera Baird to campaign about a proposed windfarm. Robert Puckrin, the brother of 16-year-old Adele Puckrin who died in November of a brain tumour after a two-and-a-half-year
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Work to begin on North-East dance centre
WORK on a £7.5m dance centre for the North-East will begin today. Dance City, the national dance agency for the North, will begin construction of its new headquarters on Tuesday. The centre will be in the Grainger Town area of Newcastle. It has been designed
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Winning bins designed by children installed at school
LITTER bins designed by children were installed at their school yesterday. Pupils of St Mark's Elm Trees Primary School had lobbied Stockton Borough Council to have more bins for their school. Then they held a design competition for the bins, eventually
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Salon will focus on male grooming
THE region's first salon dedicated to male grooming will open this summer. The Locker Room, in Newcastle city centre, aims to provide a one-stop shop for body-conscious North-East men. It will offer traditional barber shop services, along with a range
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Horticulture in artistic spotlight
VISITORS to a North-East museum can explore the relationship between plants, people and art in an exhibition this summer. Plantmania at Sunderland's Museum and Winter Gardens celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Royal Horticultural Society and includes
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Laura laughs
Soap fans have just seen Hannah Waterman make her big exit from EastEnders as downtrodden Laura. She talks to Viv Hardwick about TV fame and why she hopes her famous actor father will watch The Vagina Monologues. DEATH has come as a blessed release for
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Home-made recipes on radio menu
A RADIO station is going local in the evenings by pulling the plug on regionally-networked programmes in favour of home based programmes. The move is part of BBC Radio Cleveland's bid to capitalise on the station's improved performance over the past 12
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Fire-busters to blitz arsonists
A COMMUNITY blighted by vandalism and petty arson is pulling together to clean up its streets. South Moor, near Stanley, has one of the highest rates in County Durham for street arsons - known as secondary fires. Fire chiefs have launched a pilot project
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Team effort will ensure charity fashion show will go smoothly
STUDENTS will step out on the catwalk tonight to showcase the latest summer fashion creations from high street stores. The charity fashion show has been organised by staff and students from New College Durham's hair, beauty and sports therapy department
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Praise for PCs who saved man from house fire
TWO police officers have been praised for their bravery after entering a smoke-filled building to rescue a man trapped inside. Officers were called to Davis Terrace, Easington Colliery, late on Tuesday after reports that a man was repeatedly banging on
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Buses company brings in changes
BUS company Go North-East will reschedule some of its services to improve reliability. The changes will affect services to and from Houghton-le-Spring, Washington and Chester-le-Street. Go North-East said changes were necessary because of increasing traffic
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Vandals paint school building shocking pink
School staff saw red after midnight vandals went on a pink paint spree and redecorated a mobile classroom. Teachers arriving for school were stunned to see the once dull prefab was suddenly a new, vibrant shade of shocking pink. Police were alerted and
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Architect of transport company's success to step down
Transport company Go-Ahead last night announced its chief executive was stepping down. Go-Ahead, which is based in Newcastle, said Martin Ballinger, 60, wanted to retire at the end of December. He has led Go-Ahead since 1982 and steered it through bus
