Archive
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Bright idea for visually impaired
TRAIN doors on a light rail network are to be painted bright yellow, to help partially-sighted passengers. Bosses at Nexus, which operates the Tyne and Wear network, yesterday unveiled a £54,000, five-year scheme to make public transport more accessible
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Children get into the culture groove through African dance
CHILDREN swapped disco dancing for the rhythms of Africa yesterday. Primary school pupils performed African-influenced dance routines they had devised at Hartlepool Art Gallery. Parents watched as the nine and ten-year-olds danced in the gallery's main
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North-East prepares to rock to sound of new radio station
THE region's first radio station dedicated to rock music will be launched next week. Kerrang Radio will be on air for a trial period of four weeks, starting from Wednesday. It will be run by Metro Radio and Magic 1152, which are are based in Gates- head
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Victim's father vows to fight on
THE father of a young victim of a public school sex attacker may consider taking out a private court action after a bid to have the offender's sentence increased failed. The Attorney General said yesterday he would not be referring the case against the
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Air New Zealand chooses Rolls-Royce
ROLLS-Royce has won the first order for its Trent 1000 engine, which will power Boeing's 200-passenger 7E7 Dreamliner plane. Air New Zealand has chosen the Trent 1000 for its two Dreamliners and has also ordered Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines for its eight
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Mast plan causes upset
A COUNCILLOR has accused a Premiership football club of putting sponsorship deals before the needs of a village. Hurworth parish councillor Peter Foster made his comments in connection with a proposed mobile phone mast for Vodafone at Middlesbrough FC's
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Parade will mark double anniversaries
VETERANS stage a dual commemorative parade at a sea front location this month. The Royal British Legion (RBL) is marking its 75th anniversary in County Durham with a joint event to tie in with the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Ex-service groups and civic
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MP's relief as city stays in the running for jobs
DURHAM will not be overlooked when Government ministers consider relocating public sector jobs from London and the South-East, the city's MP claimed last night. Gerry Steinberg, Labour member for Durham for 17 years, has pushed the case for his constituency
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DLI told in 'Horrible History' style
WARTS and all stories of life for ordinary soldiers serving in a famous North-East regiment was launched by a best-selling local author. Terry Deary, famous for his off-beat Horrible History books, has given his own quirky treatment to 20 stories plucked
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Blackhall Express
THE Rawalpindi Express will steam in at Welfare Park tonight as part of Blackhall Cricket Club's 75th anniversary, writes Paul Fraser. Durham Dynamos, with Shoaib Akhtar in attack, have named a strong team to play the NYSD Premier League side and hopes
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I'm just putting you on hold...
I HAVE had it with those extremely irritating phone calls from people trying to sell me something I don't want. They pick the worst time to ring (between six and 9pm) and usually begin with: "Don't worry, this is not a sales call". The conversation that
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Anger over plans error
PEOPLE living next to a supermarket are angry they did not get to voice their concerns about a car park extension before the plan was approved. Sedgefield Borough Council granted outline planning permission for Asda Spennymoor to create an overspill car
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£1.4m centre opens
THE mayor of Darlington opened a new £1.4m community centre. Coun Roderick Francis cut the ribbon at Maidendale House in Firthmoor - a centre he campaigned to have built as a resident of the estate alongside Firthmoor Community Association. Coun Francis
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Tiny rocket's got the world at her feet
TRAMPOLINE star Maya Rockett bounced back from a car crash and defied doctors to win a major competition. The eight-year-old, of Burnopfield, near Stanley, suffered severe whiplash injuries when the family car was involved in a road smash on the Tyne
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Dalepak's performance provides high point for Northern
DALEPAK provided one of the few high points in a difficult and disappointing year for Northern Foods that saw the company's annual profits slump 12 per cent to £86m. The group, which includes Fox's biscuits and Goodfella's pizzas, suffered from high raw
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Plans for £33m college agreed in principle
PLANS to build a multi-million pound North-East college complex were approved in principle yesterday. Councillors agreed that Darlington College of Technology could build a £33m facility in Haughton Road - subject to a satisfactory wildlife survey. A
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County honours green designs
One of the top awards in this year's Durham County Council environment awards cheme went to Tim Sanderson for rebuilding St Nicholas Church Youth Centre in Durham City, using reclaimed slate for the roof. It was one of five projects that won an award
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Boxing club raises cash
A TOWN boxing club is helping the fight against cancer by raising £1,000. Spennymoor Boxing Academy coach Robert Ellis, and club medic Dr Andrew Herd, stepped into the ring at the club's annual show last month to ask for the support of guests. The 550
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Lawsuit over GSK drug for children
British pharmaceuticals company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) was hit with a multi-million pound lawsuit yesterday after allegedly misleading doctors about the safety of an anti- depressant drug for children. The lawsuit, filed by the New York State Attorney
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Councils row over rubbish strewn road
A ROW has broken out between two councils over whose responsibility it is to clean up a roadside strewn with rubbish. Durham County Council and Sedgefield Borough Council are in dispute over the clearing of garden waste and litter dumped near Sedgefield
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Farmer fuels city petrol price protest
THE fuel protesters who caused nationwide chaos four years ago are planning to bring a North-East city to a standstill next week. The hauliers and farmers who brought the UK to a halt in 2000 with a series of blockades have vowed to create havoc once
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Singer Anne-Marie takes triple honours
A singer is celebrating after winning a special prize at the Consett Music Festival. Anne-Marie Gardener, 26, of Greencroft, near Stanley, won three classes at the festival last weekend. She was also awarded the festival's special 80th anniversary prize
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Further to go for the NHS
DOCTORS found guilty of badly letting down their patients have featured prominently in this newspaper of late. Patients are required to place extra special trust in doctors and, when that trust is broken, disturbing headlines are guaranteed. It is therefore
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Vaughan on stand-by to face special delivery
Michael Vaughan's return to captain England in the second Test against New Zealand today could be interrupted by an emergency dash up the motorway to witness the birth of his first child. Vaughan's comeback after missing the opening Test victory at Lord's
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Doctor says unit could face closure
A SENIOR doctor has warned that an under-fire maternity unit could close unless it gets public support. Officials fear expectant mothers may boycott the new midwife-run maternity unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital after an incident in which a woman
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Vintage display and bike check-ups offered to children
YOUNG people have got on their bikes during the half-term holidays. Children had the chance to brush up on their cycling skills and to protect their bikes against thieves at an event in Hartlepool. Bike MoTs were offered at Hartlepool Historic Quay and
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Boro target Melchiot as Mills deal falls through
MIDDLESBROUGH are considering Chelsea's Mario Melchiot as a solution to the right-back slot vacated by Danny Mills. Mills, after a season-long loan at the Riverside, has returned to Leeds after failing to agree terms on a permanent deal with the Boro
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Team nets top title
A SCHOOL basketball team from rural County Durham overcame city opponents to claim national glory. The unlikely triumph has given Wolsingham School and Community College what is believed to be its first national sporting champions in its 390 year history
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Legion organises D-Day parade
VETERANS will stage a dual commemorative parade at a sea side town this month. The Royal British Legion is marking its 75th anniversary in County Durham with a joint event to coincide with the 60th anniversary of D-Day. Ex-service groups and civic leaders
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Chance meeting sets author on road to success
A NORTH-EAST student has set her sights on becoming the next JK Rowling. Amy Wilde, 21, from Skelton, east Cleveland, has always had a passion for children's books and has collected thousands of them over the years. Now she has written and illustrated
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Bright idea for visually impaired
TRAIN doors on a light rail network are to be painted bright yellow, to help partially-sighted passengers. Bosses at Nexus, which operates the Tyne and Wear network, yesterday unveiled a £54,000, five-year scheme to make public transport more accessible
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Banned from every hospital in Britain
A JOBLESS man with a bizarre fetish for surgical masks yesterday made legal history when he was banned from every hospital in the country. Over the years, Norman Hutchins, 53, has plagued hospitals, and GP and dental surgeries across the region, including
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Town pub picks up another prize
REAL ale enthusiasts have given an award to a Darlington town centre pub. Members of the local Campaign for Real Ale named The Quaker in Mechanics' Yard, their Champion Pub of the Year. It is the fourth time in five years that the pub, which was almost
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Future assured by £11m upgrade
CHEMICALS company DuPontSA is investing more than £11m to improve its Wilton plant's competitive edge in the global market. Ageing plant machinery was threatening to jeopardise DuPontSA's position in the market, prompting the company's action. The company's
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Banned from every hospital in England
HEALTH Secretary John Reid last night hailed a court ruling that made legal history by banning a jobless man from every hospital in the country. Over the years, Norman Hutchins - who has a bizarre fetish for surgical masks - has plagued hospitals and
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Robson may go for Govou
NEWCASTLE have sounded out Lyon striker Sidney Govou as they continue their search for a successor to Alan Shearer. The Magpies skipper will retire from football at the end of next season and Sir Bobby Robson is keen to have his long-term replacement
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Abandoned vehicles scheme
A PILOT scheme that has reduced the number of cars being set on fire is being extended across County Durham. The county's fire service and community safety partnerships have joined forces to remove old and abandoned vehicles likely to be targeted by arsonists
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Search on for Ozzy's owner
A GREY cockatiel is feeling blue after escaping from his home. Ozzy was rescued by a passer-by who found him in the street after apparently flying away from his owner's home or aviary. The young bird, thought to be male, was found in Addison Road, Toronto
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Showman is installed as town's new mayor
A SHOWMAN from one of the country's funfair families has been installed as Spennymoor Town Council's mayor. Councillor John Culine took over the chains of office from retiring Mayor Councillor Elsie Summer at the council's annual meeting. Councillor Christine
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Volunteer groups review
VOLUNTARY and community groups in the Sedgefield borough are to be given a say on future services. County Durham's Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) Network has been commissioned by Government Office North East to review the provision of support to
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Abandoned cars towed off in bid to stop arson attacks
A PILOT scheme that has cut the number of cars being set on fire is being extended across County Durham. The county's fire service and community safety partnerships have joined forces to remove old and abandoned vehicles that are likely to be a target
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School support
THE Conservatives' prospective Parliamentary candidate for Darlington has told of his support for a threatened school. Anthony Frieze spoke out after meeting Hurworth School, Maths and Computing College headteacher Dean Judson. Darlington Borough Council
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Bikers' wedding convoy
THE traditional wedding procession sees vintage cars elegantly transporting the happy couple to the altar. But things were somewhat different in Darlington on Saturday morning as bikers roared through the town centre to watch two of their number tie the
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Protests over youth centre plan approval
FURIOUS residents spoke of their disgust yesterday after a plan to open a youth centre on a Darlington estate was approved. Elm Ridge Methodist Church is to open the centre in September, to try to solve the problem of anti-social behaviour outside the
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Nursery where skills will blossom
A PLANT nursery was opened yesterday, after £50,000 was spent refurbishing it to provide training for adults with special needs. The Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Roderick Francis, performed the ceremony at the Nubeck Nursery. It will be used by adults
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Castaways seek funds for African adventure
STUDENTS raising funds for a trip to Africa during which they will renovate an orphanage have come up with an unusual way of financing the project. To raise cash for the visit to Malawi, they are holding a castaway party and are hoping for a big attendance
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Plea after man dies in bridge plunge
DETECTIVES are appealing for help in identifying a man who died after falling from a bridge yesterday. The man, believed to be in his 40s or early 50s, plunged from the west side of the High Level Bridge in Newcastle. He was found near the Sea nightclub
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Creation was no child's play
A FORMER model-maker's first attempt at a dolls' house will also be his last, making the creation something of a collector's piece. When Russell Lord, of Chester-le-Street tried his hand at building a miniature house he created it to a 1/16th scale, not
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Rail dodgers pay the price
RAIL inspectors caught 169 people riding the Tyne and Wear Metro without tickets last month. They have since been prosecuted through the courts and ordered to pay more a total of more than £22,795 in fines and costs. Their names have been added to "name
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Theme park employee is off the critical list
A THEME park employee who was struck by a rollercoaster ride and seriously injured was last night poorly but stable in hospital. Emrullio Akel suffered broken arms and chest and abdominal injuries in the accident at Flamingo Land, near Malton, North Yorkshire
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Young people show the way
A GUIDE to help police officers 'break the ice' with young people was launched this week. Teenagers have helped to produce the resource pack, Give Us a Chance, which contains advice to help the police to engage with the younger generation. It was drawn
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Pensioner will launch bus route
PENSIONER Doreen Cummings will put a new bus service into gear on Monday. Mrs Cummings, 82, a member of Esh Parish Council, will launch the South Derwentside Link 767 service. The service, between Stanley and Consett, started last year as a six-month
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Facing prison term
A man has been warned he could be facing jail after admitting a string of child porn charges. Iain Clarkson, 35, of Barningham Close, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to ten charges of making indecent photographs, one of distributing indecent photographs, one
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Horror in the killing fields of France
The popular perception of D-Day is of men landing on beaches but, as the Durham Light Infantry discovered, the landing was the easy bit. The fighting through Normandy proved to be brutal and bloody. Chris Lloyd reprots. D-DAY was a doddle for the Durhams
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Man who knifed neighbour in chest is jailed for a year
A MAN who stabbed a neighbour following a row over stolen food and cigarettes has been jailed. Michael Twamley, 36, was locked up for 12 months yesterday after he pleaded guilty to wounding former friend Kevin Mount last October. Twamley's partner, Julie
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Residents urged to 'shop' arsonists
A COMMUNITY is being urged to "shop" arsonists to the police and fire service. About 248 arson attacks were carried out in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, last year - most of the incidents involving vehicles. More than 80 per cent of Cleveland Fire Brigade's
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People asked for views on nurse services
RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on nursing services in north Durham. Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) will hold an open meeting next Wednesday, to look at how community nursing can be developed. Helen Tucker, the trust's head nurse, said
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Six-figure bonus for two out of three
THE boss of rail infrastructure operator Network Rail is in line for a six-figure bonus, despite the company failing to hit all of its performance targets. Chief executive John Armitt is expected to receive £112,320, while deputy chief executive Iain
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High pollution level revealed in report
THE centre of a traffic-choked market town is a pollution health hazard, according to a council report. Experts carried out scientific tests at Butcher Corner, in Malton, which showed that concentrations of nitrogen dioxide at the crossroad were likely
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Beastly time promised
YOUNGSTERS are being invited to go on a minibeast hunt as part of National Insect Week. Harrogate and District Naturalists' Society and the Killinghall Moor Conservation Group have teamed up for the event on Sunday, June 27. Teresa Marshall, who will
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Performers' acts of generosity
AFTER entertaining local people from the stage, a theatre group took centre stage again - to present the proceeds to local good causes. Ripon Charity Pantomime Group handed over the proceeds from their production of Cinderella during a ceremony in the
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New homes security project wins award for police team
A POLICE project to tackle domestic burglary by ensuring security measures are built into new homes was honoured yesterday. North Yorkshire Police architect liaison officers devised the scheme to impose the conditions when planning permission is granted
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Charity in the swim
LEISURE centres are gearing up for the annual Splash for Cash to raise money for a baby charity. Babies, toddlers and young children are sponsored to splash the width or length of the pools at Bedale Leisure Centre, Hambleton Leisure Centre, in Northallerton
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03/06/04
EUROPEAN ELECTIONS: THANK you for the recent leader on the importance of voting in the European elections this month. I feel emboldened to write as a member of the European Movement, which is multi-party in its composition, but fully endorses your view
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Lotto winner just in time to claim £226,555
THE North-East winner of an unclaimed £226,555 National Lottery prize has come forward in the nick of time. The Lotto player scooped the prize after picking five numbers and the bonus ball on a ticket bought in the Durham and Chester-le-Street area for
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In the footsteps of the fallen
'You have to remember that this road is appreciably wider than it was 60 years ago," says Major Ian English. He stands with his back against a tall, impenetrable hedge and looks across the lane to a stone wall, 8ft high and topped with shrubs. He continues
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New To Rent
Big Fish (PG, Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment, DVD £19.99/ VHS £12.99): Stars: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange. WILL Bloom (Crudup) is a journalist on a quest for the truth. He has spent his entire life listening to his gregarious
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Grim lives of the gypsy wives
World Weddings: Gypsy Child Brides (BBC2): ROMANIAN gypsy brides have a reputation for looking unhappy. This is hardly surprising. They face a lifetime of subservience or, as one observer put it, "a woman's role is that of a slave". They are expected
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Phant... tastic
Emmy Rossum isn't going to be able to avoid stardom when the movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera hits the cinemas at Christmas. Steve Pratt enjoys the opportunity to chat with the 17-year-old New Yorker who has already had a remarkable
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Funny peculiar
The man billed at the funniest Iranian, Omid Djalili, hopes to make it second time lucky for York's Comedy Festival having been forced out last year by illness. He talks to Steve Pratt about being a rare Arab face on US TV. EVEN if he's ill, comedian
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Ads scheme for walkway walls
A BUSINESSMAN is hoping he can rent the walls of a covered walkway to use as advertising space. Hush Leisure managing director Riaz Hameed wants to advertise his nightclub on the walkway, which has been put up under Middlesbrough Town Hall clock tower
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Company gives school £1,500 thank you
A school has received £1,500 from a housing contractor. Frank Haslam Milan has thanked Billingham Campus School for helping it to complete two modernisation programmes in the area by giving the school money to put towards a colour printer. When the company
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Youth assembly launch nears
A SERIES of presentations and workshops are being held to promote the launch of Stockton Youth Assembly in the Oakwood Centre, Eaglescliffe, tomorrow. The event will consist of a number of short presentations from guests including the Mayor of Stockton
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Team repairs mine buttress
VOLUNTEERS and engineers are working to mend part of a mine at the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, formerly known as the Tom Leonard Mining Museum. A crack has been found in the external wall buttress, or support, of the museum's North Drift, which
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Health trusts to explain high op costs
SIX health trusts in the region will be asked to explain why their operations cost the taxpayer more than the average, in a new Government crackdown. Four hospitals and two ambulance services in the North-East and North Yorkshire may be wasting cash through
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Football club mast plans criticised
A COUNCILLOR has accused a Premiership football club of putting sponsorship deals before the needs of a village. The row over a proposed mobile phone mast for Vodafone at Middlesbrough Football Club's training ground, Rockliffe Park in Hurworth Place,
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High court bars City law firm from M&S takeover
THE battle for Marks & Spencer took a new twist last night after the retailer won an injunction against potential bidder Philip Green's legal team. The ruling at the High Court temporarily bars legal firm Freshfields from advising on Mr Greens's proposed
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World's top writers visit region's resorts
THE North-East proved it had the "write stuff" in entertaining some of the world's top travel journalists. Up to 50 writers from Holland, Belgium, the US and Hong Kong have all recently visited the North-East in trips organised by the One NorthEast Tourism
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Police take legal advice over BNP leaflet claims
FAR-RIGHT activists could face prosecution, after police concerns that their election campaign leaflets are racist. Northumbria Police yesterday announced it is consulting with the Crown Prosecution Service over the content of the Newcastle Patriot Election
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ON TV last night...
World Weddings: Gypsy Child Brides (BBC2) ROMANIAN gypsy brides have a reputation for looking unhappy. This is hardly surprising. They face a lifetime of subservience or, as one observer put it, "a woman's role is that of a slave". They are expected to
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Aiming back in time
VISITORS to a museum are being asked to come armed with their memories on Sunday for the regional launch of a BBC project. The Yorkshire Air Museum, in Elvington, near York, is hosting the free BBC exhibition called People's War. The ongoing project aims
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Hundreds grounded at Newcastle Airport
Hundreds of fed-up passengers were grounded at Newcastle Airport yesterday as after a major computer failure stalled flights across Britain. Excited passengers turned up to Newcastle International Airport to be told their planes were to stay on the tarmac
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Hitting back
SOAPLAND welcomes back several familiar faces in the coming week. Mind you, Leanne Battersby is hardly recognisable. Father Les certainly has to look twice at the girl lapdancing in a local bar. He, of course, had only popped in for some change for the
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Navy crew earn place in history
A naval crew yesterday manned a field gun and fired a Royal salute for the first time in more than 100 years to mark the anniversary of the Queen's coronation. Four Royal Navy seamen from HMS York and 12 gunners from the 40th Regiment of the Royal Artillery
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Weekend taxi strike threat
DURHAM taxi drivers say they may strike over plans to shake up their trade. The Liberal Democrat-controlled Durham City Council has angered taxi drivers and taxi firm owners with plans to lift the limit on the number of Hackney Carriage licences, plans
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Removing the stain of guilt
IMPORTANT lessons have been learned in our house this week - lessons about telling lies and apportioning blame. We first noticed the purple stain - stretching from floor to ceiling on the kitchen wall - while we were making breakfast. Tucked away in a
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Tragedies drove brother to pull knife on salesman
A GAS company salesman was left shocked when a householder pulled out a knife and warned: "Don't smirk at me, I mean it, I'll cut you." The official fled down the path but council house tenant John Bailey also terrorised a passer-by when he demanded money
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Helping pet owners to bear their loss
A PET cremation business has major expansion plans that will see it grow beyond its County Durham base into Scotland and Teesside. The Pet Crematorium is opening £1m premises in Larkhall, Lanarkshire, making the company the leading provider of pet cremation
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Views sought on trains
THE public are getting a chance to have their say on one of the trains of the future. In two years time, the Desiro will be a commonplace sight on the TransPennine routes across the region. But an early look is possible after the unveiling of a full-scale
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Pressure is on for cast of musical
A COLLEGE will stage a musical put together with just 24 hours of rehearsals. The show at Northallerton College, which will feature professional musicians, is being billed as the 24-hour Musical Challenge. Based on the Little Shop of Horrors, it will
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Crier gears up for challenge
A TOWN'S 'municipal mouthpiece' will be extolling its virtues against rivals from across the globe in coming weeks. Chester-le-Street's town crier Marjorie Dodds is limbering up her larynx for a busy month ahead as she takes part in both world invitational
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On your marks, get set
THE tension was high in the grandstands yesterday as the competitors in the final race took to the start line. Despite a number of false starts, a steward's inquiry into a suspect collision and the possibility of a doping scandal, the winner slipped past
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Delivery man killed as van rolls back over him
A DELIVERY man died when he was run over by his own van. He was delivering wet fish in St Mary's Close, Shincliffe Village, near Durham City, on Tuesday afternoon when the Mercedes van rolled over him while he was standing behind it. Police named him
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Delivery man killed as van rolls back over him
A DELIVERY man died when he was run over by his own van. He was delivering wet fish in St Mary's Close, Shincliffe Village, near Durham City, on Tuesday afternoon when the Mercedes van rolled over him while he was standing behind it. Police named him
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MP in probe call over finances
AN MP claimed last night that his local council had failed to collect £1m in charges for removing business rubbish. Gerry Steinberg, who is retiring as Durham City's Labour representative, is calling on the watchdog for council finances to look into his
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Curry and cursesy
SO many people believe in the curse of the Blue Peter presenter that five made a TV programme on the subject and the recent death of Caron Keating brought fresh speculation. One man who fronted the long-running BBC children's series from 1986 until 1990
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Crash family lucky to escape
POLICE said yesterday that a family were lucky to escape serious injury after a road crash that killed an elderly woman. The woman was the front seat passenger in a Citroen ZX, which collided with a Rover 400 carrying a family of four on the A64 at Barton
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Strathtay good enough
STICK with Patrick Haslam and his promising two-year-old Strathtay (3.10) in the six-furlong Ben Raceday Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes at Hamilton this afternoon. Precisely 12 months ago Haslam picked up the self-same race with Kinnaird, who went on
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Woman hailed a hero after tenant is rescued from blaze
A WOMAN was yesterday hailed a lifesaver after her actions saved a tenant from burning to death. Paula Pinkerton, concierge for two council-owned apartment blocks in Gateshead, reacted quickly after a smoke alarm went off in a second-storey flat in Warwick
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High court bars City law firm from M&S takeover
THE battle for Marks & Spencer took a new twist last night after the retailer won an injunction against potential bidder Philip Green's legal team. The ruling at the High Court temporarily bars legal firm Freshfields from advising on Mr Greens's proposed
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Opera North: Eight Little Greats, Newcastle Theatre Royal
OPERA North has, for 25 years, been the national opera company for the North of England, informing, challenging and educating young and old alike, and introducing opera to people who think it's for toffs. This programme consists of eight mini-operas -
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John North
IF someone in these parts is said to be "in Bishop" he's usually a patient in the town's General Hospital, just as "in Sedgefield" meant Winterton psychiatric hospital. Being "in Durham" is something else entirely. "Durham" is Her Majesty's Prison, Durham
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Rainforest haven in school corridor
A RAINFOREST teeming with butterflies and insects and the sounds of wildlife has been recreated in a school corridor. Key Stage Two pupils at Bullion Lane Primary School, Chester-le-Street, completed the project as part of their environmental sciences
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Butt the answer to defensive problems
THE best players do not always make the best team and, for that reason, Sven-Goran Eriksson must resist temptation and restore Nicky Butt to his starting line-up for next week's Euro 2004 opener against France. The England boss would love to play Frank
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Gunfire so intense that it scythed through the corn
This week and next, The Northern Echo is serialising the story of Sergeant Charles Eagles, 79, from Sunderland, who landed at Normandy on D-Day. Part 4: Saving Lieutenant Williams THE cornfield was triangular, and we were to advance through it towards
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Doctor's wife died in crash near her home
A RETIRED GP's night out with his wife ended in tragedy on a country lane near their home, an inquest heard yesterday. As Dr Ian Brown drove his wife's Ford Ka towards the couple's home in Burton Leonard, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, after a social engagement
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Milk money
The legacy of Dylan Thomas lives on with a touring version of Under Milk Wood coming to Tyneside. But director Michael Bogdanov talks to Viv Hardwick about the torments of bringing the great work to the stage. THE 50th anniversary of the radio broadcast
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Mother making it eighth race challenge
A MOTHER-OF-TWO is to run a charity race for the eighth time next month - raising hundreds of pounds in the process. Roberta Bowman, 51, a newsagent from Houghton-le-Side, Heighington, near Darlington, takes part in Race For Life each year to raise money
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New ambulance appeal continues
AN appeal to buy new ambulances for County Durham's St John Ambulance has been boosted. The Friends of Durham Hospitals handed over £5,400 to Commander Hank Doolan at a ceremony at the charity's county headquarters in Meadowfield. The £250,000 Wheels
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Woman tells court of terror as boyfriend 'set fire to bedroom'
A YOUNG woman told a court yesterday she feared for her life after her drunken boyfriend set fire to the bedroom of their home. Anthony Moroney, 40, is alleged to have started more than six fires before leaving the room and closing the door on terrified
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Saved from the sea
A TEENAGER who was swept out to sea has hailed the family friend who rescued him a hero. Ryan Curran, 13, and David Farrar, 43, were minutes away from death after a huge wave knocked the teenager into the North Sea, and Mr Farrar dived in after him. Ryan
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Who's pumping up the prices?
As petrol prices continue to rise and the threat of fuel protests looms, Christen Pears looks at how the events rocking the oil industry are effecting the price we pay at the pump. THERE may have been doubts about the justifications for war with Iraq,
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Twin towns' double party
SEDGEFIELD Village Twinning Association's bi-annual visit to its German twin town, Hamminkeln, coincided with celebrations to mark the 750th anniversary of the founding of the town. Among the invited guests at the event was the Mayor of Sedgefield, Councillor
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£2m deal is struck for sale of mart
SHAREHOLDERS in one of the North-East's oldest livestock marts have accepted an offer to sell the site to a national building company. The deal to develop the six-acre site, owned by the Tow Law Auction Mart Company, is expected to be completed shortly
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Volunteers help to tidy nature areas
LITTER-pickers were at nature reserves in Darlington yesterday as part of Green Week. Darlington Borough Council staff and Tees Forest Volunteers joined forces for litter picks at Cocker Beck, Drinkfield Marsh and Brinkburn local nature reserves. The
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Football skills on show
BOYS and girls have been showing off their football skills at the Darlington Primary Schools Football Festival. More than 400 pupils have taken part in the competition, at Longfield Comprehensive School, in the past fortnight. The winner of the Boys'
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Tidy-up team makes neighbourhood a better place to live
MORE than 100 youngsters and their parents have taken part in a clean-up of their run-down neighbourhood. Residents in South Moor, near Stanley, rolled up their sleeves to join Fire Busters, yesterday. Teams cleared back yards of fly-tipped rubbish and
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Advice bus starts tour
PENSIONERS in Wear Valley could be missing out on vital funding because they do not realise they are entitled to it. County Durham Partners Against Poverty has revealed that 25pc of pensioners in receipt of housing and council tax benefit living in Wear
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Comedian raises a laugh and £5,000 for charity
A TEESSIDE comedian has raised £5,000 at a fundraising night held in memory of a friend who died from breast cancer. Chris McGlade, who once streaked across Wembley for charity, organised a comedy night to raise money for research into the disease and
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Residents urged to give views on yob culture
PEOPLE are being urged to attend a meeting on plans to tackle so-called yob culture in Durham City. Residents will have the chance to hear about the police's county-wide StreetSafe campaign, launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair, which is aimed at issues
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Consultant singled out for his fundraising efforts
A CONSULTANT who took up charity running to buy vital medical equipment for children has been singled out for national praise. Dr Bill Lamb, a consultant paediatrician at Bishop Auckland General Hospital was so frustrated at the lack of NHS funding to
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Strathtay good enough
STICK with Patrick Haslam and his promising two-year-old Strathtay (3.10) in the six-furlong Ben Raceday Maiden Auction Fillies' Stakes at Hamilton this afternoon. Precisely 12 months ago Haslam picked up the self-same race with Kinnaird, who went on
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'Do not fall foul of dog dirt laws'
DOG owners have been urged not to fall foul of dog dirt regulations applied to public areas across a council district. The warning was made after the prosecution of a woman for failing to pay an on-the-spot fine imposed by an Easington district environmental
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Gough's early warning
Darren Gough hogged the spotlight with a wicket from the third ball of the day at Chelmsford yesterday. But after that he was reduced to playing a secondary role as Yorkshire hit back with a century from Phil Jaques before Pakistan leg-spinner Danish
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Plea for clues to identity of man
RELATIVES of a man who died at a bus stop have been urged to come forward. The man was at the stop at the junction of West Dyke Road and Blakey Close, in Redcar, east Cleveland on Tuesday, at 1.40pm when he collapsed. He was taken to James Cook University
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Sixth of all voters return ballot papers
ABOUT a sixth of all voters in a North-East city have returned their ballot papers for next week's all-postal election. Returning officer Ged Fitzgerald yesterday confirmed the number of voting papers returned for Sunderland by 4pm as 34,965, or 16.6
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Warning as roadworks start
Roadworks get under way on a busy dual carriageway in the region this weekend. The section of the A1231 Sunderland Highway, between the A19 and A195 junctions, will be closed on Sunday, from 7am to 7pm. A diversion will be in place. It is the first of
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Spotlight on cash crisis at trouble-hit theatre
THE troubleshooter hired to save a £14m theatre has revealed the backstage chaos that contributed to disaster. Only days after it was opened by the Queen, the Gala Theatre, in Durham, collapsed with mounting debts. Durham City Council cancelled the three-year
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Dad At Large: Removing the stain of guilt
IMPORTANT lessons have been learned in our house this week - lessons about telling lies and apportioning blame. We first noticed the purple stain - stretching from floor to ceiling on the kitchen wall - while we were making breakfast. Tucked away in a
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Youngsters battle for pop career
A GIRL band tipped to make it to the top of the pop music charts is coming to north Durham this weekend. Scottish group Lemonescent will perform at Consett's Empire Theatre on Saturday, as part of the talentSTAR tour. The five-piece group will headline
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Team repiars mine buttress
VOLUNTEERS and engineers are working to mend part of a mine at the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum, formerly known as the Tom Leonard Mining Museum. A crack has been found in the external wall buttress, or support, of the museum's North Drift, which
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Tall, Darko and handsome
Jake Gyllenhaal tells Steve Pratt that he wants to be like megastar Tom Hanks and be always watchable and have something to say. Not bad for a 23-year-old action man. THE first question you want to ask young American actor Jake Gyllenhaal is "what's a
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Frigate calls in at the Tyne
ROYAL Navy vessel HMS Argyle visits the region today. The Type 23 Frigate, which is on international exercises in the North Sea, will berth at Tyne Commission Quay, in North Shields, North Tyneside at lunchtime. For the past six weeks, the crew, under
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Details of Iraq murder
A FAMILY tortured by their soldier son's death in Iraq have revealed for the first time graphic details of a leaked post-mortem examination report. A copy of the report has reached the family of Redcap Paul Long, 24, who died at the hands of Iraqi mobs
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Kit cash windfall boosts McCarthy's war chest
MICK McCarthy's summer spending plans have been given a significant boost following Sunderland's announcement of a new six-year kit deal with Diadora. The Italian manufacturers will produce Sunderland's new home and away kit as part of a deal worth "a
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School celebrates European links
THE family of Euro MP Stephen Hughes have visited a north Durham school to celebrate its links with other nations. Cyndi Hughes and her children, Amelia, six, and James, four, visited Greenland Community Infant School, in South Moor, Stanley, for its
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School site homes plan
ONE of two schools that have been replaced by an academy is to make way for a housing estate. Planning officials in Middlesbrough are recommending that Middlesbrough Council's executive back a scheme to demolish Coulby Newham School and replace it with
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John North: The friendly face of jail
The Durham Jail visitors' centre, run by NEPACS, extends a sympathetic welcome to inmates' families. IF someone in these parts is said to be "in Bishop" he's usually a patient in the town's General Hospital, just as "in Sedgefield" meant Winterton psychiatric
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Fresh team takes the helm
THE TEAM that will spearhead a council's continued revival bid has been put in place. Key appointments among senior members of Chester-le-Street District Council were confirmed at its annual meeting. The council, criticised earlier this year by the Audit
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County refuse to confirm Clarke bid
DEFENDER Matt Clarke could start next season with Darlington despite interest from Third Division rivals Notts County. Relegated County last night confirmed that Clarke is among their list of summer targets. However, County boss Gary Mills has scotched
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Viewers dump Big Brother
The latest series of Big Brother is proving a turn-off for viewers, figures confirmed yesterday. The show won an audience of only 3.2 million on Monday, leaving it trounced in the ratings by the ITV's reality rival Hell's Kitchen, which was watched by
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Studs, Arc, Stockton-on-Tees
AWARD-winning Teesside writer and director Gordon Steel has hit the back of the net once again with this hilarious, bitter-sweet drama. Set against a backdrop of Sunday league football, Studs is authentic working-class Teesside through and through - from
