Archive
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Helpline 'thwarted by the MoD'
TWO men who set up a national helpline for bullying victims in the armed forces have accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of thwarting their efforts. Ged Walton and Malcolm Thorn, who have both served in the Army, launched the forces helpline a month
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Pub chain to boost town revival
A TOWN market place is set for a business boost with two of its biggest buildings expected to be occupied after months of standing empty. National pub chain JD Wetherspoon hopes to open a bar and restaurant in the former Hewitts solicitors offices in
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Cash pledged for footpath along the 'mad mile'
A NOTORIOUSLY dangerous stretch of road between neighbouring villages, known locally as the mad mile, is to be made safe with £100,000 of funding. After years of waiting for a footpath to be laid between Neasham and Hurworth, near Darlington, residents
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Road is closed at chemical complex
EMERGENCY crews wearing gas protection suits tackled an overheating container at a chemical plant yesterday. Firefighters closed the road outside the Lucite International plant, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, as a precautionary measure while they
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New venue is music to town's ears
A NEW music centre has opened in Darlington. The Forum is the brainchild of David Cox, a businessman passionate about music but frustrated by the lack of facilities for people. Mr Cox has spent £400,000 transforming a derelict council music school into
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Cows cause A1 chaos
A PAIR of cows destined for the slaughterhouse gave hundreds of rush-hour motorists a bum steer when they made a bid for freedom on Wednesday. The duo escaped onto the A1 after the trailer they were travelling in tipped over. Traffic ground to a halt
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Insurance workers 'devastated' by further job losses
WORKERS at two of the UK's largest insurers were reeling last night following news that nearly 1,350 jobs are to be lost. The majority of the redundancies will be at Norwich Union, which announced it was cutting 700 IT jobs - including 150 in York - and
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Budget carrier grounded before take off
A LOW COST airline has been wound up before it had even carried its first passengers. Now Airlines, based in Luton, was set up at the start of last year to challenge no-frills carriers such as easyJet and Ryanair. But a spokesman for the Official Receiver
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Public enquiry called to stop Forum demolition
Residents angered at the possible demolition of a much-loved theatre and leisure complex have called for a public enquiry in a bid to stop the plans going ahead. Hundreds of objectors attended a special meeting of Stockton Borough Council's planning committee
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Dawson the spin king
FIVE-WICKET hauls by spinners at Riverside are about as frequent as transits of Venus, and the rarity value yesterday was heightened by the fact that it came from Yorkshire's Richard Dawson. He took five for 40 as Durham were bowled out for 150, 181 behind
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Cows make freedom bid
TWO cows destined for the slaughterhouse gave hundreds of rush-hour motorists a shock when they made a bid for freedom. The two cows escaped on Wednesday, on to the A1 after the trailer they were travelling in tipped over. Traffic ground to a halt just
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The dangers of playing safe with our children
IF you have been to your local swimming pool recently, you may have noticed there are far fewer little ones splashing about in brightly coloured arm bands, and far more bored, goosebump-covered grown-ups hanging around the shallow end. This is because
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Warning to football thugs as police keep checks on airports
FOOTBALL thugs were issued a severe warning last night after an unprecedented operation swung into action to prevent them marring the European Championships. Police teams had the region's ports and airports under intense scrutiny as the run-up to England's
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Path wait nearly over
A DANGEROUS stretch of road between two villages, known locally as the mad mile, is to be made safe at a cost of £100,000. After years of waiting for a footpath to be created between Neasham and Hurworth villages, near Darlington, residents and parish
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Neighbourly invite to club
PARISH councillors are to seek a meeting with a Premiership football club after it was accused of being a bad neighbour. Hurworth Parish Council has agreed to send the request to chiefs at Middlesbrough FC, which has a multi-million pound training complex
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Love tangles
LOVE and marriage, so the song tells us, go together like a horse and carriage. That may well be true, but those living in Soapland know that someone has to follow the vehicle to clear up the mess on the road. Martin and Sonia have run away to get married
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Volunteers sought to help theatre
STAFF at an award-winning theatre are appealing for volunteers to come forward. The Georgian Theatre Royal, in Richmond, is run mainly by volunteers and since its re-launch in September last year, it has taken on a year-round theatre programme at the
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Angel in miniature as scientists show off their tiny technology
TWO of the North-East's biggest landmarks have also joined the ranks of the world's smallest objects. Scientists and engineers specialising in miniaturisation technology have reproduced the Angel of the North and the Tyne Bridge smaller than a pinhead
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Bridges determined to prove he is Premiership material
MICHAEL Bridges has pledged to "prove a lot of people wrong" after turning down a return to Sunderland to stay in the Premiership. Bridges signed a two-year deal with Bolton Wanderers yesterday to finally bring an end to over three years of injury heartache
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M-way chaos as cows escape
A PAIR of cows destined for the slaughterhouse gave hundreds of rush-hour motorists a bum steer when they made a bid for freedom yesterday. The duo escaped on to the A1(M) after the trailer they were travelling in overturned. Traffic ground to a halt
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Neonatal experts to attend conference
WORLD experts in neonatal care are heading to the region to share the newest techniques and ideas about the care of newborn babies including those who are born extremely prematurely and are poorly. South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust is again hosting the conference
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400 police swoop in purge on drugs
DETECTIVES last night hailed a major success in the region's war on drugs after a series of dawn raids involving more than 400 police. Officers wearing riot gear entered homes across Darlington yesterday morning. The swoops marked the culmination of Operation
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'Location is perfect for new business'
A FORMER salesman rejected a number of locations in favour of the rural beauty of a North-East dale to start a business venture. Colin Duckworth could have gone anywhere in the UK with Alarm Technologies, but a visit to the Wear Valley convinced him it
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Mendy's Boro blow
MIDDLESBROUGH transfer target Bernard Mendy is set to rebuff the Teessiders' advances by signing a new contract at Paris Saint Germain. The Frenchman was one of a number of right-backs being tracked by Boro boss Steve McClaren as he looks to bolster his
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Arch is eased into place
THE arch that will be the centrepiece of the new £757m Wembley Stadium was raised into place this week. The 133m-high arch will support the biggest single span roof structure in the world. The structure was made by engineering company Cleveland Bridge
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Advancing as slow as snails through a minefield of hazards
The Durhams D-Day Diary: Sgt Charles Eqagles, 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Part 10: Stepping on a shoe mine. THERE were about five million mines scattered around in Normandy and, as something of a specialist in their clearance, I'd been taught
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A sure-fire way of winning frinds
I SUPPOSE we all know what London's like - full of tourists, crowded, noisy, smelly. A dangerous place, where youths carry guns and pickpockets jostle you. An unfriendly, rip-off city. Walk around London with a toddler and it's transformed. On the Underground
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Drama can be a con
STEVE PRATT talks to actor Zach Lee about creating a play involving a fake charity for a dying child where truth and fiction can easily become blurred. A PUBLICITY photo shoot in York for a new play about a charity collection scam proved a real eye-opener
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College to hold its first music festival
A FESTIVAL of music is being held at a North-East college for the first time this weekend. The Ushaw Festival of New Music - at Ushaw College, near Ushaw Moor, County Durham - will take place on Saturday and Sunday featuring performances on the clarinet
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Kettley's recipe for a tasty summer
WEATHERMAN John Kettley - immortalised in a 1988 Top 40 song - has been signed up to predict lucrative barbecue weather for a North Yorkshire food company. Dalepak, of Leeming Bar, owner of the Ross Frozen Burgers brand, commissioned the BBC Radio 5 weather
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Pupils chill out with ice-cold drinks at school's new milk bar
YOUNGSTERS at a County Durham primary school are enjoying their new milk bar. Vane Road Primary School in Newton Aycliffe, near Darlington, is one of ten throughout the county taking delivery of a milk bar from farmer-owned dairy group First Milk and
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Dawson the spin king
FIVE-WICKET hauls by spinners at Riverside are about as frequent as transits of Venus, and the rarity value yesterday was heightened by the fact that it came from Yorkshire's Richard Dawson. He took five for 40 as Durham were bowled out for 150, 181 behind
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Industry boosted by recovery in factory output
MANUFACTURERS received a boost from official figures showing a better than expected recovery in factory output levels. The sector, seen as a drag on the UK economy following disappointing figures in recent months, showed a 0.9 per cent rise in output
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Northumbrian pledges to continue investment programme
NORTHUMBRIAN Water last night pledged to forge ahead with capital investment programmes in the North-East after its first stock exchange annual results. The utility company has benefited from agreed price rises by the industry regulator Ofwat that will
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Job opportunities in Wear Valley
Endless job opportunities are being created in the Wear Valley by an expanding company that relocated to the district this year. Reach Out Care, an agency for foster carers and support and training network for social and community services, moved to the
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Skaters aim to make grand entrance at show
SOME of Europe's top skateboarders and bike riders will be performing amazing stunts at an annual show. The Northern Urban SK8 Challenge will be held at the Great Aycliffe Show on Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20. The show will also feature a competition
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Be safe around water during the summer
COUNCIL bosses are urging people to make sure they are safe around water as the summer holiday season approaches. Hambleton District Council wants all youngsters to be taught to swim and, where possible, to take life saving courses. All leisure centres
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Plenty of time to vote in person
PEOPLE still have time to vote in the Euro elections today. Arrangements have been made in each council area of north Durham and Tyne and Wear to allow voters to drop in completed ballot packs. Staff will be on hand at the help points to act as "witnesses
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Residents warned over security issues
A MESSAGE to residents in Darlington to be more vigilant about their home security is being put out by the town's neighbourhood watch following a suspicious incident. On Tuesday evening a youth rang a doorbell and spoke to a resident at an address in
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Building up for festival
A TOWN'S summer festival promises to be bigger and better this year. Celebrate, which takes place in Chester-le-Street next month, aims to foster a stronger sense of community spirit. Entertainment will include comedy acts as well as a balloon artist
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Child sex assault man sent to hostel
A MAN who indecently assaulted a 12-year-old girl was sent to a hostel yesterday, so he could be treated in the community. Newcastle Crown Court was told at a hearing last month that Leslie Liddle "groomed" the youngster, but he said he was just "very
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Pioneering system promises to recycle all our rubbish
A REVOLUTIONARY waste disposal pilot scheme looks likely to point the way for the future of waste management in the UK. One NorthEast Chairman Margaret Fay declared the experimental In-Vessel Aerobic Digester plant at Thornley, in east Durham, as a national
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Youngsters ready to put on a show
YOUNGSTERS will perform their own production next week. Pupils from Belmont Comprehensive School, in Durham, and partner primary schools have put together Beautiful Mountain after working with Jack Drum Arts, of Derwentside. The performance, in Durham's
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Education for over-50s
PEOPLE aged 50 and over are being invited to get back into education in the Saltburn area with the setting up of a University of the Third Age (U3A.) The association is now looking for members to join the world-wide U3A movement. It encourages older people
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Beauty evening raises funds for charity
STAFF at a Sedgefield salon held an evening to showcase new beauty treatments and raise money for a worthy cause at the same time. More than 200 people attended the event in Sedgefield Parish Hall this week. Staff at the village's Evolution Hair and Beauty
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Gran At Large: A sure-fire way of winning friends
I SUPPOSE we all know what London's like - full of tourists, crowded, noisy, smelly. A dangerous place, where youths carry guns and pickpockets jostle you. An unfriendly, rip-off city. Walk around London with a toddler and it's transformed. On the Underground
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Chance to sing at family steel gala
YOUNGSTERS are being invited to take part in the annual Search for a Star competition, organised by Corus. The event, based on television's Pop Idol format, is open to youngsters from five to 16, who are part of the family of an employee of Corus or a
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Footballing production kicks off
A PLAY is being staged about life in Teesside's Sunday football league. Studs, written by Gordon Steel, of Teesside, has opened at The Arc, in Stockton. The story focuses on the Eston Bank Hotel team's aim to overcome life, their girlfriends and the council
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Still time to vote in European elections
PEOPLE in south-west Durham who have been unable or forgotten to post their ballot papers for the European elections have until 10pm tonight to deliver them in person. The elections to the European Parliament are being conducted by an all-postal ballot
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Children try taste of D-Day
YOUNGSTERS used to a modern day diet got a chance to try D-Day food as part of the recent commemorations. Children at Yarm Preparatory School worked with cooks dressed up in 1940s costumes to make a D-Day meal. The event was designed to bring home to
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Car park safety award
A SHOPPING area has won an award for its safe car park. Teesside Retail Park, in Stockton, was presented with the Secured Car Parks award yesterday. The award is an initiative by the Association of Chief Police Officers and is supported by the Home Office
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Still a chance to vote
LAST minute voters on Teesside will still be able to cast their vote in today's European Election. Despite reassurances from the Government that the experimental postal election, at both local and European level, would eradicate the need for ballot boxes
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Holiday representatives to visit region in tourism push
HOLIDAY companies and travel agents will visit Wear Valley and the Dale this month to see what the district has to offer to tourists. A showcase event will be held next weekend in a bid to put the district on the European tourism map and attract thousands
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Pub ready to re-open
AFTER five weeks' work costing more than £100,000, a pub near Darlington is ready to re-open on Friday. The Oak Tree Inn, in Middleton St George, has undergone a complete refurbishment, and now has a modern kitchen, stylish bar and comfortable restaurant
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South Durham Business Focus: Cherished memories kept safe in book
A partnership has been formed between two Darlington businesses offering people a book of remembrance they can cherish. A funeral parlour has struck a deal with a photography company to give families a new way to treasure old photographs and memorabilia
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Extra work to keep the flags flying
MOTORISTS searching for this summer's must-have car accessory are set for disappointment. Thousands of drivers have attached small England flags to the roofs of their vehicles, to show their support for the England football team during Euro 2004. But
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Tonic for doctor and nurse at awards event
A NURSE and doctor working for the same North-East hospital trust have won two top honours at an awards ceremony. Dr Bill Lamb, a consultant paediatrician at Bishop Auckland General Hospital and Darlington Memorial Hospital, was named Hospital Doctor
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Back to reality for Drummond
The next stage of Scott Drummond's sporting life starts today when he sets out to show he can handle his new celebrity status. From the depths of 435th in the world and after seven missed cuts in his previous eight events, Drummond won the Volvo PGA Championship
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TV review
Imagine: Sitting For Lucian Freud (BBC1) World Weddings: Gay On The Cape (BBC2) IN these days of hype and PR spin, it's rare to come across a famous person who doesn't want to talk into a microphone or face a camera. Painter Lucian Freud is such a person
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Police vow to catch vandals
POLICE have vowed to catch vandals who attacked a primary school, damaging a pond and breaking 26 windows. Norton County Primary School has suffered £1,500 of damage after two attacks in less than a fortnight. Children from the school's year four class
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Wheels in motion for vintage vehicle fete
A HOSPICE is preparing to stage its annual vintage and classic vehicle fete in Sedgefield village. The event, organised by the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland, will be held on Tuesday, June 22. Vehicles are invited to be exhibited around the entire
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Campaigners bring obesity
THE battle against lazy lifestyles and obesity will begin in the North-East with a test campaign. Everyday Sport, a Government-backed and celebrity-endorsed campaign being run by Sport England, will be launched in the region tomorrow. A Have-A-Go Fair
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Friends take to bikes in push for funds
PARENTS put aside their Bank Holiday weekend to take part in a 140-mile cycle ride. Thirteen members of the Friends of St Mary's RC School, in Blackhill, Consett, spent three days cycling along the Coast to Coast route from Workington, in Cumbria to Tynemouth
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Nuclear power plant evacuated after leak
A GOVERNMENT investigation was under way last night into a North-East radiation alert which led to the emergency evacuation of 850 workers. The alarm was raised after more than 440 gallons of radioactive water spilled from a broken pipe at Hartlepool
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Wrong sort of smoke signals
IT is to John Reid's credit that he highlights the plight of young single mothers on council estates. Too often they are criticised unfairly, by the middle and political classes alike. It is refreshing to see a senior politician, a Cabinet minister no
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Work kicks off on new HQ
WORK has started on a building that will bring together two centres of sporting excellence in the region. Durham County Football Association's new £750,000 headquarters will be at the Riverside Cricket Ground, in Chester-le-Street. The three-storey steel
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Portrait of a private painter
Imagine: Sitting For Lucian Freud (BBC1) World Weddings: Gay On The Cape (BBC2): IN these days of hype and PR spin, it's rare to come across a famous person who doesn't want to talk into a microphone or face a camera. Painter Lucian Freud is such a person
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Five fun-filled days outdoors for pupils
SIXTY fun-loving youngsters are coming back down to earth after nearly a week of adventures above and below the ground. The year nine pupils from Bedale High School and Ripon College spent five days at Bewerley Park outdoor education centre, near Pateley
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Payments row still a threat to 999 responses
A ROW over meal break payments is still threatening to disrupt 999 responses by ambulances. There were hopes the dispute between crews and the North-East Ambulance Service could have been sorted out yesterday. However, details of an offer negotiated between
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Holland challenge hots up
DARRYLL HOLLAND is fancied to sustain his challenge for this season's Flat jockeys' championship by booting home Halicardia at Newbury today. Holland, who is lurking just behind reigning champ Kieren Fallon in the race for the title, was aboard Halicardia
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Under Milk Wood, Newcastle Theatre Royal
AN invigorating and amusing interpretation of Dylan Thomas's masterpiece is provided by the talented members of the Welsh Theatre Company. With no props and very little set, the small cast manage to capture the spirit and characters of an entire community
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Five go on a skydiving adventure
FIVE thrill seekers will take part in a tandem skydive to raise money for charity. Michael Hay, 26, who works in Darlington's main post office, in Crown Street, decided to organise the parachute jump to experience the adrenaline rush for a second time
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Rock concert for charity
ROCK and punk fans are in for a treat on Saturday when a charity concert is staged. Richmond's Zetland Centre will host the concert, which will feature local bands Take the Fifth, Eskimo, En-v and Furious Bottle. All proceeds will be donated to the Cancer
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Multi-million plan for 'boring' city unveiled
A MULTI-MILLION pound redevelopment plan to put Durham on a par with other historic cities, such as York and Chester, has been unveiled. Developers have given themselves 20 years to redefine one of the region's oldest cities and make it worthy of the
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Funeral to take place of former vicar, 89
ONE of County Durham's best known clergymen has died at the age of 89. The former vicar of St Giles, in Durham, the Reverend George Casey died peacefully in his sleep last Friday. Born in Wheatley Hill in 1914, he was the third of four sons to the Reverend
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'Lack of details about rail travellers'
RAIL bosses are failing to do enough to learn about train passengers, the North-East's rail watchdog has claimed. Previewing its annual report launched next week, the North-East Rail Passengers Committee (RPC) said it was alarmed and concerned at the
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The drug dealers who profit from other people's misery
OFFICERS who went undercover to crack a drugs ring in Darlington bought cocaine and Ecstasy worth at least £150,000. But even they were amazed when they bought a large quantity of cocaine from a Darlington dealer, which was delivered in an ordinary carrier
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Web of deceit moves players to new style
SEDGEFIELD Players are preparing to stage their latest production, a thriller titled Blood Money. The production will be at Sedgefield Parish Hall on Thursday and Friday, June 24 and 25, starting at 7.30pm each evening. There will not be a Saturday evening
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Brothel owner's prison term cut
A BROTHEL owner, who was jailed for a year for running a North-East prostitution racket, has had his sentence cut by three months. John Middleton, 61, employed up to 20 prostitutes at the Pleasure Zone sex shop in Darlington and in a caravan on the A1
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Daring Clary
Viv Hardwick talks to Julian Clary about why he's taking time out to write a book after resuming his role as Leigh Bowery in the Boy George musical Taboo, which runs at Newcastle's Theatre Royal for a week from Monday, June 21. BBC'S recent Celebrity
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Scoop up your dog dirt
DOG owners are being asked to take a pride in their environment by cleaning up after their animals. Wear Valley District Council will be launching the Pride in Wear Valley Campaign next week to coincide with the Dogs Trust National Poop Scoop Week. A
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Opera stars to raise funds for show
SIX leading opera performers will give a concert in a town on Saturday to help raise funds for a bigger production later in the year. Linda Craig, Brian Jordan, Susan Smith, Brian Artist, Ruth Lackenby and Ron Kemp, principal singers with Opera North,
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Lifestore creator packs his bags 'by mutual consent'
THE man who created Marks & Spencer's Lifestore concept has left the troubled high street retailer after just over a year with the group. Vittorio Radice left his job as director of home, clothing and store development by mutual consent. The flamboyant
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Council's proud boast after watching its waste line
RECYCLING is really catching on among environmentally-aware householders. Thinking green has helped the York area break its Government-set recycling target for the past year. Local people helped to recycle and compost 15.4 per cent of household rubbish
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Memorial to war-time bomb victims
VILLAGERS who survived a wartime bombing raid, thought to have been sanctioned by Hitler himself, will remember those who died in a poignant ceremony this weekend. Eight people were killed and more than 30 injured when a German bomber dropped its deadly
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Three-month dental delay
HEALTH chiefs say it could take up to three months to employ a new dentist, despite the fact that there are no practices offering NHS treatment to new patients in Chester-le-Street or Durham. It is part of an ongoing national crisis in the provision of
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Detective moves to region on specialist mission
A DETECTIVE who has worked on some of the country's most high-profile cases is taking up a role with the North Yorkshire force. Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Mann, who formerly served in Hertfordshire, is taking over as the head of specialist
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Mother's hug for her little hero after son's quick-thinking saves her life
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has been honoured for helping to save his mother's life. Denise Reay suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a rare muscle-wasting disease. The condition was diagnosed five years ago after she sprained her ankle, leaving her foot
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Man in court on weapon charge
A MAN has appeared in court charged with possession of an offensive weapon following an incident at a North-East horse fair. Thomas Watson was arrested in Copeland Road, West Auckland, County Durham, carrying two knuckledusters following the incident
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Pars still interested in Cooper
HARTLEPOOL United boss Neale Cooper continues to be courted by Dunfermline. The Scot, who steered Pool to the play-offs in his first season at Victoria Park, is among five names being considered for the vacant Pars job. It was believed their interest
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Kimtai's easy Blaydon victory
KENYAN Julius Kimtai won the Blaydon Race for a fifth time last night and claimed: "It was easy!" The 30-year-old course record holder, who picked up a prize of £1,000 for his efforts over 5.7 miles from the centre of Newcastle, clocked 27 mins 16 secs
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Hospital staff in the saddle
STAFF from a mental health care trust will be cycling to their new hospital in Darlington tomorrow as part of National Bike Week. The event has been organised by County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust to encourage staff to think about
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Carnivals and veterans given marching orders
Carnival organisers and war veterans have been given their marching orders because officials say they must pay for road closures for their events. New safety advice issued to carnivals, fairs and street parades means they are having to pay a professional
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Sir Bobby signs up to fly flag
ONE of County Durham's most famous sons is helping the region to fly the flag as England gears up for the European football championships. Former England manager Sir Bobby Robson handed over a cross of St George to Coun Alan Fenwick, chairman of Durham
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The story of a living reservoir
They have provided a place to live and work for centuries, but it was only 50 years ago that the Yorkshire Dales were designated a National Park. Harry Mead looks at how a new book charts the evolution of the park - and looks at what the future holds.
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Stars of tomorrow get their act together for theatre audience
Young dancers took to the stage last night with a rave review from an expert. Children from Middlesbrough's Holmwood School and second year A-level students from Middlesbrough College performed at the Middlesbrough Theatre. Their performance was the culmination
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Runaway fraudster tries to sell home
A FUGITIVE fraudster on the run in two countries has secretly tried to sell her home. Runaway thief Veronica Crouth's house in Cramlington, Northumberland, was due to be sold by auction at a guide price of £245,000 to £285,000. However, estate agent Keith
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Gran At Large
I SUPPOSE we all know what London's like - full of tourists, crowded, noisy, smelly. A dangerous place, where youths carry guns and pickpockets jostle you. An unfriendly, rip-off city. Walk around London with a toddler and it's transformed. On the Underground
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MP accuses dentists over private treatment service
AN MP has accused dentists of forcing patients to pay for private services after an acute shortage of NHS places was revealed in parts of County Durham. Health bosses have admitted the situation in Durham City and Chester-le-Street is a serious problem
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Wife's football fever leaves Douglas cross
SCOTSMAN Douglas Reid is preparing for a long summer, after his football-mad wife transformed their home into a shrine to England. Fanatical England supporter Julie Reid has painted a cross of St George on the front of the house in Pelaw Place, South
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Band hits highest note
ONE of the region's most famous brass bands is celebrating its best ever result in a major competition. The Reg Vardy Band, from Stanley, came third in the All England Masters' Championship in Cambridge. Previously known as the Ever Ready Band, its best
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Frankenstein takes bride for a charity ride
FRANKENSTEIN and his bride were among 180 people who took to the roads yesterday for a fancy dress bike ride. The event, organised by the North Riding Dales Licensed Victuallers Association (LVA), was held to raise money for local charities. Riders set
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Wheels in motion for vehicle fete
A HOSPICE is preparing to stage its annual vintage and classic vehicle fete in Sedgefield village. The event, organised by the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland, will be held on Tuesday, June 22. People are invited to exhibit vehicles around the entire
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Shoplifter stole to eat, court is told
SERIAL shoplifter Angela Palmer, who was trying to kick a drug habit, stole to eat and not to pay a dealer, a court heard yesterday. Palmer, 27, was arrested as she left a Harrogate supermarket with pasta, a cook-in sauce, mushrooms, a pie and yoghurt
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Fire in pub leads to evacuation
A TOWN centre pub had to be evacuated yesterday lunch time after a fire broke out in the ladies toilets. Firefighters were called to Humphry's, in Grange Road, Darlington, at about 12.30pm, after staff spotted smoke on the ground floor. About ten customers
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Police pledge to crack down on town's rise in car crime
POLICE chiefs in Darlington have pledged to crack down on car crime after Home Office figures revealed a growing problem in the town. The Government told police in 2000 that car crime in Darlington had to be cut by 30 per cent by 2005. But statistics
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Number's up for call box
A PHONE box which is being frequented by drug users is in the process of being removed. Councillor Cyndi Hughes has been campaigning on behalf of residents who want to see the phone box in Southend Avenue, Darlington removed. They say drug users were
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Free health checks for pet dogs
DOG owners in Stockton can take advantage of free health checks for their pets next week. The PDSA Petcheck vehicle will visit the Pets at Home store at Teesside Retail Park next Thursday to Saturday. Health checks for dogs will take place between 10am
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Dancers in the spotlight
AN award-winning break-dancing team is to perform in the region this weekend. The pupils from Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough, east Celeveland, will demonstrate their routines of twists and turns on the lawns of Gisborough Hall Hotel, as part of
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Trust appoints
A FORMER ICI employee has joined Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust's Board as a non-executive director. Father-of-three Ian Learman, of Rievaulx Way, Guisborough, east Cleveland, worked at ICI's Wilton site for 37 years.
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Traders want better signs
TRADERS, in what they claim is Durham's forgotten street, are calling for improved signs to point shoppers in their direction. Businesses in Claypath recently formed an association to promote the street and draw up ideas to improve trade. Despite being
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Serving up a learning menu
A FORMER Army chef is now cooking up treats of a different kind - using high-technology to feed the minds of local children. Keith Marshall retired last August after almost 30 years cooking for soldiers at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire. But as
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Plenty of time to vote in person
PEOPLE still have time to vote in the Euro elections today. Arrangements have been made in each council area of north Durham and Tyne and Wear to allow voters to drop in completed ballot packs. Staff will be on hand at the help points to act as "witnesses
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Leisure centre to close for facelift
SPENNYMOOR Leisure Centre will be closing its indoor sports hall during a £60,000 refurbishment. The hall is having its floor resurfaced and will be closed from Monday, June 28, to Saturday, August 21. The new surface consists of an Area Elastic Sprung
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Nuclear power plant leak
A GOVERNMENT investigation was under way last night into a radiation alert that led to a name check of 850 workers from a North-East power plant. The alarm was raised after more than 440 gallons of radioactive water spilled from a broken pipe at Hartlepool
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Cats new to area in search of home
A CAT and its kittens which were rescued by a long distance lorry driver are in need of a new home. The heavily pregnant cat, named Tazmin, was being fed and watered by workers at a depot in Burton-on-Trent, in Staffordshire. But without a permanent home
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MP urges extra cash for sufferers
AN MP is to press the Government for cash to help the army of respiratory disease sufferers in a part of the region. The Breathe Easy support group is presenting Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Labour MP Ashok Kumar with a petition calling for
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Take a look, objectors told
RESIDENTS have signed a petition against plans to create a school sports pitch just yards from their back gardens. People living next to Whinfield Junior School in Darlington, say the proposed games area will attract trouble from youths gathering there
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Sun shines on athletes
ENERGETIC athletes took to the Dales at the weekend for the annual Weardale Traithlon. Glorious weather conditions helped the event run smoothly for competitors who completed the 750m swim, 20k bike ride and 5k run at Stanhope. Sunday saw a great day's
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Band hits highest note
ONE of the region's most famous brass bands is celebrating its best ever result in a major competition. The Reg Vardy Band, from Stanley, came third in the All England Masters' Championship in Cambridge. Previously known as the Ever Ready Band, its best
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Spotlight on Footloose
STARS of musical favourite Footloose are entertaining audiences in the North-East with their dazzling dance moves and electrifying music. The production is running at Darlington Civic Theatre until Saturday and is already proving a hit with theatre-goers
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Cyclists in for tough ride
CYCLING enthusiasts Lee Gowland and Phil Jones aim to complete one of the most gruelling routes in Europe this month in aid of two local charities. The pair will spend their summer holidays cycling across the backbone of the French Pyrenees. In just ten
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Northumbrian pledges to continue investment programme
NORTHUMBRIAN Water last night pledged to forge ahead with capital investment programmes in the North-East after its first stock exchange annual results. The utility company has benefited from agreed price rises by the industry regulator Ofwat that will
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Veterans upset over parade
WAR veterans planning a town centre parade have been given their marching orders. A procession by the Royal British Legion in Consett, has been changed after organisers were faced with a large bill for road closures. The legion wanted to give its old
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10/06/04
EUROPE: I READ Gordon Adam's letter (HAS, June 1) about the benefits we are supposed to have got from EU membership with great amazement. All the benefits listed in his second paragraph could have been achieved independently of Brussels/Strasbourg bureaucrats
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Troublesome tenants told to expect 'zero tolerance'
A HOUSING association pledged yesterday that it was pursuing a policy of zero tolerance against troublesome neighbours, and vowed that none of its tenants would have to live in fear. The assurances came after a court action that saw a woman evicted from
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Preparing ground for park project
WORK on a road system for a huge urban development in the North-East is well under way. A £1.8m slip-road will mark the regional entrance to Newcastle Great Park, a 1,200-acre mixed-use project three miles north-west of Newcastle city centre. The road
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Drive to draw more tourists
HOLIDAY companies and travel agents will visit Wear Valley and the dale this month to see what the district has to offer to tourists. In a bid to put the district on the European tourism map and attract thousands of visitors to the area, a showcase event
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Lloyds call centre staff informed of closure date
WORKERS at a Lloyds TSB call centre were last night told the centre will close by the end of November. The contact centre, in Newcastle, is closing with the loss of nearly 1,000 jobs as Lloyds opens a centre in Mumbai, India, employing 1,500 staff. The
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Biker makes final journey in fitting style
A MOTORCYCLE enthusiast took his final journey on Tuesday in fitting style - carried in the world's only custom-made sidecar hearse. Leslie Maddison, 78, had a passion about sidecars and his son, Ian, who is a funeral director, thought it only right he
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City ready for 170th regatta
ELITE oarsmen and women from across the country, and even the Atlantic, are heading to Durham for the city's 170th regatta. Non-stop racing will take place from 8.30am until 5.30pm, on Saturday and Sunday, over 700-metre and 1,800-metre courses on the
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Plenty of time to vote in person
PEOPLE still have time to vote in the Euro elections today. Arrangements have been made in each council area of north Durham and Tyne and Wear to allow voters to drop in completed ballot packs. Staff will be on hand at the help points to act as "witnesses
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£3.3m to be spent on area's schools
EDUCATION bosses are trying to breathe new life into schools, large and small, across the county. The county council is spending close to £3.3m on scores of primary and secondary schools to try to improve the provision for the county's children. The projects
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Tragedy of rail stalwart who won't see his dream realised
A MAN who has helped pioneer the return of rail travel to a Northern dale after an absence of more than 50 years has died only weeks before the first train is due to run again. Gil (Gilbert) Chatfield had suffered from cancer for some time. He was 70.
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Man hurt in fall
A man was taken to hospital after falling from ladders on to a garage roof while carrying out repairs at his home in Woodlea Close, Hetton-le-Hole, on Wearside, yesterday. The 66-year-old man was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital suffering cuts to his
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Firm offers fire reward
A FAMILY bakery firm has put up a substantial reward after learning that arson is suspected as the likely cause of a fire which gutted its Durham factory. Peters Cathedral Bakers is offering £10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction
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Holland challenge hots up
DARRYLL HOLLAND is fancied to sustain his challenge for this season's Flat jockeys' championship by booting home Halicardia at Newbury today. Holland, who is lurking just behind reigning champ Kieren Fallon in the race for the title, was aboard Halicardia
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Neonatal experts to attend conference
WORLD experts in neonatal care are heading to the region to share the newest techniques and ideas about the care of newborn babies including those who are born extremely prematurely and are poorly. South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust is again hosting the conference
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New To Rent
Something's Gotta Give (12, Warner Home Video, also available to buy DVD £15.99/VHS £12.99). Stars: Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves. PERENNIAL bachelor Harry Sanborn (Nicholson) has never dated a woman his own age. He suffers a heart attack
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Flower festival boosts community appeal
CHURCH volunteers hope a flower festival and concert at the weekend will have raised £1,000 towards community improvements. Harrowgate Hill Methodist Church in Darlington, needs to raise £375,000 to demolish and rebuild its hall, lounge and annexe and
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Success is a drag
Both Nia Vardalos and David Duchovny are looking for successful vehicles to follow high-profile roles in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and The X Files respectively. Steve Pratt reports on the pair playing comedy lovers, where Vardalos is a woman playing a
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Pupils on track to link with artists
YOUNGSTERS with a passion for art and drama are being encouraged to make tracks for Darlington Railway Museum at the weekend. The popular Train Tribe workshops are being held on Sunday, from 10am to noon. Local artists Liz Million and Robin Ellwood will
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John North: Mayor from the fair
He may live in a caravan and come from a showground family, but John Culine is more than dedicated as a mayor. THE mayor's parlour is in a caravan at the far end of an industrial estate, next to a domestic waste disposal site and to a place selling tyres
