Archive
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Parkdean Holidays remains upbeat despite rising losses
HOLIDAY park operator Parkdean Holidays forecast a satisfactory outcome to its financial year, despite reporting rising losses. The Newcastle company, which has 15 parks in Scotland, South Wales and Cornwall, said the results were in line with expectations
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Tragic soldier 'just a bit of meat'
The heartbroken mother of a British soldier killed in Iraq yesterday hit out at Prime Minister Tony Blair and Defence Minister Geoff Hoon. Rose Gentle, 40, said her son Gordon, who died in Basra on Monday, was nothing more than "a bit of meat" to the
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Waste site decision
THE local government watchdog has upheld a controversial decision to site a waste depot next to a North-East housing estate. Ombudsman Patricia Thomas said that both Durham County Council and Teesdale District Council acted properly in dealing with the
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Trucks scam pair had done it before
A FATHER and son being hunted by detectives after fleeing their North-East business with customers' cash may have carried out the same scam in the South, The Northern Echo can reveal. Gary Upson and his son, Ryan, disappeared last month with hundreds
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Harmison wins battle of England's local heroes
Durham's returning heroes, Steve Harmison and Paul Collingwood, held their own mini-contest at Riverside, yesterday. From north of the Tyne came Harmison against County Durham's Collingwood. The two county teammates playing together for England at their
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Oster's new deal
JOHN OSTER will pledge his future to Sunderland today by signing a new contract at the Stadium of Light, writes PAUL FRASER. The Welsh winger, who has recently returned from his honeymoon, has agreed to extend his stay on Wearside and indications are
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Probe after girl ordered off train
AN investigation is under way after a 14-year-old girl was left alone in a distressed state at a North-East station after being ordered off a train while travelling to visit her father. Elizabeth Brown was travelling from Sheffield to Newcastle at about
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TV review
You Are What You Eat (Ch 4) Wife Swap (Ch4) WE have had DIY shows to make our homes look nice and make-over programmes to make our wardrobes respectable - now we have a show to make our insides look better. Dr Gillian McKeith believes she can single-handedly
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Breese promoted to opening slot
Durham will promote Gareth Breese to open the innings in their first floodlit match of the season against Sussex at Hove tonight. The Jamaican made a success of his first attempt at opening in the championship by scoring 75 against Glamorgan at Cardiff
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Memorable characters that made Kate smile
In its 11-year history Ramshaw Rescue Centre has taken in thousands of needy animals including a few unusual characters that have appeared in The Northern Echo. Here are just a few: * Buster the melodic bull mastiff was taken to the sanctuary in 1994
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Henman is warned to be wary of Super Mario
Tim Henman launches his bid to reach the Wimbledon semi-final for the fifth time today with the support of two of the game's legends. But both John McEnroe and Boris Becker warned the British number one not to underestimate unseeded Mario Ancic of Croatia
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Clean team created to tackle waste
EFFORTS to keep part of the North-East clean have been boosted by the launch of an environmental squad. The three members of the squad, a joint initiative involving Hartlepool Borough Council and the town's New Deal for Communities (NDC) regeneration
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Lorry drivers' lofty target for charity
TWO lorry drivers are gearing up for a gruelling charity challenge next weekend. Nigel Roe, 38, of Langley Moor, near Durham City, and Andrew Stock, 26, of Spennymoor, County Durham, are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge. The pair, both chemical tanker
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'We'll smile again one day'
THE last days of Catherine Readshaw's short life were happy ones. As she lay at home dying, a constant stream of family and friends passed through her door. There was even a party. And all the while, despite the pain, she smiled. Catherine died last week
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Group plans expansion
CARPET retailer Carpetright has outlined plans to increase its presence in smaller towns after reporting a 33 per cent rise in annual profits. The group, based in Rainham, Essex, said the small store format that it had been developing this year allowed
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Brewery targets Lone Star state
BLACK Sheep Brewery is planning to make further inroads into the US market. The Masham, North Yorkshire business is hoping to win contracts in Texas. The US beer market is particularly challenging as it can only be accessed by selling to a licenced importer
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Housebuilder says its homes are still affordable
HOUSEBUILDER Persimmon moved to allay fears over the affordability of new homes as it prepared to announce another set of record results. The group, which builds more than 12,000 homes a year, said the ten per cent rise in its average selling price so
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Cushy life of the keelman's love
CUSHY Butterfield, it will be recalled, was a big lass and a bonny lass who liked a couple of beers, could be seen on Sandgate when the herring boats came in but came (by whatever pronunciation) from across the river in Gateshead. Her song, famously filched
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Proctor looking forward to new challenge
NEW Darlington number two Mark Proctor has revealed the chance to team up with David Hodgson was too good an opportunity to turn down. After guiding Middlesbrough's youth team to success in the FA Youth Cup last season, alongside Dave Parnaby, Proctor
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Parkdean Holidays remains upbeat despite rising losses
HOLIDAY park operator Parkdean Holidays forecast a satisfactory outcome to its financial year, despite reporting rising losses. The Newcastle company, which has 15 parks in Scotland, South Wales and Cornwall, said the results were in line with expectations
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The King of Catterick
COUNT on course specialist King Harson (4.00) to hold court in the Derby Stabling Handicap at Catterick this afternoon. A single figure draw is absolutely vital over seven furlongs, so the fact that King Harson is emerging from stall six has got to be
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Assembly talks still on
PUBLIC meetings called to discuss the possibility of a North-East regional assembly will go ahead today despite the absence of a Government minister. Local Government Minister Nick Raynsford has been forced by Parliamentary business to cancel his appearances
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Harmison wins battle of England's local heroes
Durham's returning heroes, Steve Harmison and Paul Collingwood, held their own mini-contest at Riverside, yesterday. From north of the Tyne came Harmison against County Durham's Collingwood. The two county teammates playing together for England at their
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Amec completes £35m oil deck for bp
INTERNATIONAL engineering services company Amec has completed a £35m oil deck for BP. The Clair deck, weighing 11,000 tonnes, left Amec's Wallsend yard, on Tyneside, on Monday night, bound for its new home, 75km west of Shetland. Amec will now carry out
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Michelle inspires bosses to aid funds
THE plight of a hair stylist battling leukaemia has moved company bosses to raise money for a charity close to her heart. Michelle Woods, who works at Saks, in Yarm, is fighting acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and at an awards ceremony two months ago,
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£400,000 recycling unit upgrade
A £400,000 revamp of the recycling centre at Carlin Howe Farm, near Loftus, is expected to make it one of the best in the region. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is investing £200,000, with the Government's waste minimisation and recycling fund matching
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Artistic ability earns Danny trip to the Lords
A TALENTED inmate at a North-East young offenders' institution has made a trip to the House of Lords, in London, after winning an award in a national art competition. Danny Docherty, 18, from Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, in Barnard Castle, received
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Teenager snatched off street and gang-raped
A TEENAGE girl was snatched off a busy street and gang-raped in a car at the weekend, police have revealed. A Northumbria Police spokesman said the victim was confronted by a number of men as she walked along West Road, in Newcastle, between 10am and
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Worker in court for stealing from store
A MAN avoided a prison sentence yesterday after admitting stealing £1,400 while working at a supermarket. Neil James Wilson, 20, of Scargill Drive, Spennymoor, stole money from customers while working in the Morrison's superstore, in Bishop Auckland.
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Scrub land sale sparks £2.8m row at council
BOSSES at a cash-strapped council have been criticised after they turned down a £2.8m offer for a piece of land - then tried to sell it for less than a fifth of its real worth. Derwentside District Council planned to sell 4.25 acres of scrub land in Orwell
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Museum will resound to music of past
SOUNDS from the past will fill the air at one of the region's biggest tourist attractions this weekend. A festival of traditional music and dance takes place at Beamish Museum, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on Sunday. There will be ragtime from
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Kind-hearted couple give £5,000 to unit
HEART patient Walter Rand wanted to show his gratitude to the hospital that helped save his life. So he and his wife, Mildred, donated £5,000 to the cardiology department at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton. The Bedale couple, who recently celebrated
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Jail for nurse who downloaded sexual images of boys
A MALE nurse who downloaded pornographic pictures of young boys on to his home computer has been jailed for five months. Police found 198 images on Stephen Green's machine, including two of a sex act being performed on a youngster who was tied up, Durham
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People urged for views on future of leisure facilities
PLANS to create a trust to run leisure facilities in the Richmondshire district are to come under public scrutiny for a second time. The local council hopes to transfer its leisure facilities - Richmond swimming pool and dual-use sports provision at the
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team of young scientists find the right chemistry for success
A TRIO of young scientists have won the regional finals of a national chemistry competition. The 17-year-olds from Northallerton College competed against students from eight other schools and colleges to win first prize in the North-East finals of the
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Mayor lends an ear to town
LAW and order will be top of the agenda when Mayor Ray Mallon takes his Listening to the Town initiative to south Middlesbrough next week. There will be an open meeting at St Cuthbert's parish centre, Stokesley Road, Marton, a week tomorrow, starting
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Eileen ends her 40-year career with the NHS
AFTER nearly 40 years of helping other people, physiotherapist Eileen Polley has brought down the curtain on her career with the NHS. Friends and colleagues gathered at Northallerton's Children's Centre, in Brompton Road, where she worked for Hambleton
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Gala day parking permits warning
POLICE have warned residents in Durham to apply for parking permits in advance of this year's Miners' Gala or risk having their cars removed. The event takes place on Saturday, July 10, and a number of roads in and around the city will be closed to traffic
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Anger as vandals set fire to cats' eyes
Vandals who set fire to cats' eyes in the middle of a busy road put motorists' lives in danger, police said yesterday. Four sets of the safety devices were set alight on the B6278, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, at the weekend. One driver, Peter
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Trucks scam pair had done it before
A FATHER and son being hunted by detectives after fleeing their North-East business with customers' cash may have carried out the same scam in the South, The Northern Echo can reveal. Gary Upson and his son, Ryan, disappeared last month with hundreds
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New website may provide succour to vicars' husbands
THE prayers of vicars' husbands across the region could soon be answered. A website - cucumbersand-wiches.org - has been launched to support men who find themselves in a role once filled by patient wives. With more than 60 female clergy in the Diocese
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Welcome sign for visitors to village
VISITORS to a North Yorkshire village can be assured of a warm welcome from every direction. Appleton Wiske is entering the village section of this year's national Britain in Bloom competition and signs now stand at all four entrance roads. They have
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Council may ban drinking in public
A COUNTY Durham council has harnessed powers enabling it to ban drinking alcohol in public places. Chester-le-Street District Council can now make designation orders on areas that are blighted by drink-fuelled crime. Anyone caught consuming alcohol in
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Town's foster carer demand met after successful campaign
A CAMPAIGN launched in Hartlepool to attract more foster carers has been hailed as a success. Hartlepool Borough Council launched the campaign two months ago with the aim of recruiting at least 20 new foster carers to meet the demand in the town. Latest
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Display honours sporting stars who died in combat
TWO sporting stars who were war heroes will be remembered in a special way this summer. Footballer Donald Bell and cricketer Hedley Verity both gave their lives for their country while serving in the Green Howards in, respectively, the First and Second
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Officers to be honoured for bridge rescue
TWO police officers will be honoured next week at a national bravery awards ceremony. Sergeant Sue Robinson and PC Gary Coulson, of Durham Police, are among 45 officers from England and Wales whose bravery earned them nomination for awards. The ceremony
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Viduka deal is close
MIDDLESBROUGH are expected to finally complete the signing of Leeds United striker Mark Viduka by the end of the week. After months of negotiations, the Australian international's move to Teesside is virtually a done deal and is on the verge of going
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Cushy life
CUSHY Butterfield, it will be recalled, was a big lass and a bonny lass who liked a couple of beers, could be seen on Sandgate when the herring boats came in but came (by whatever pronunciation) from across the river in Gateshead. Her song, famously filched
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Tracking the science of spin
GO into any park on a summer's day and you will seem them - the frisbee fanatics. Why throwing a saucer-shaped piece of plastic around should be so popular might seem hard to imagine. But frisbee-throwing's a bit like surfing. You have to get it right
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Business brief
Reserves cheer BP investors: Oil group BP has followed rival Shell by restating its reserves - but cheered investors with news that they were higher than previously thought. The company said it had 23 million more barrels of oil than before. Analysts
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M&S boss faces City watchdog
THE new boss of Marks & Spencer has been questioned for two hours by the City watchdog over dealings in the group's shares. Stuart Rose has denied any wrongdoing after buying 100,000 shares in M&S only hours after a phone call with Philip Green
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Two women injured after car hits tree
TWO women were taken to hospital yesterday after their car went off the A1 and hit a tree. The red Renault Clio left the northbound carriage on the approach to Scotch Corner shortly before midday, and ended up in a vertical position against the tree.
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Company's efforts to help staff find new employment rewarded
WHILE some staff remained at Rothmans' Darlington factory until production ceases today, more than 300 have already left, many of whom have found new jobs. The company has been working closely with Job Centre Plus and Darlington College of Technology
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Writing was on the wall for one of North-East's best employers
ROTHMANS brought hope to the North-East when it said in 1976 it was opening a factory in Darlington. Applications poured in for the jobs. Within weeks, more than 4,500 people had applied for the 1,000 positions. The first workers said it was more than
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Comment from The Northern Echo: This is no choice at all
THERE appears to be an obsession among the two main political parties about the notion of 'choice' in public services. Last week, Labour and Conservatives slugged it out over their particular brand of choice in the NHS. And yesterday, the Conservatives
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Rothmans' closure stubs out an era
AN ERA draws to a close in North-East manufacturing today - when the final cigarette emerges from the production line of the region's last cigarette factory. British American Tobacco (BAT), Rothmans' parent company, announced nearly a year ago that its
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Biker pensioner dies in crash with cyclist
A PENSIONER has died after his moped was involved in a collision with a bicycle being ridden by a young boy. Eddie Nixon was riding his Suzuki along Norton Road, Stockton, from the direction of Norton, when the incident happened at about 3.30pm on Monday
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Pensioner trampled by cows dies in hospital
A PENSIONER who was trampled by a herd of cows earlier this year has died. Thomas Craggs, 79, of Mickleton, Teesdale, County Durham, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with head injuries after being attacked while he was walking his dog in a field
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Victim grateful for help after rape
AN elderly rape victim has spoken out to thank the local community for helping her through her ordeal. The 87-year-old from Willington, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said she could not have managed without kind words of support from everyone. The
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Valuable lesson in learning
IT was a great moment in sport. So rare, so wonderful, it deserves to be shown again and again. A lesson to us all. Tennis star Venus Williams lost her Wimbledon match against the younger Karolina Sprem. Amazingly, when the second set had gone to a tie
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Britons heed bank's debt warnings
BRITONS showed signs of heeding warnings about debt levels last month, according to the Bank of England, which reported a slowdown in lending in May. The amount borrowed by individuals rose by £10.2bn last month - down on the £10.7bn increase in April
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A valuable lesson in losing
IT was a great moment in sport. So rare, so wonderful, it deserves to be shown again and again. A lesson to us all. Tennis star Venus Williams lost her Wimbledon match against the younger Karolina Sprem. Amazingly, when the second set had gone to a tie
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Cancer charity fleeced by bogus collector in dog costume - claim
THE man behind an alleged charity scam sent a worker out in a dog costume to fleece shoppers in supermarkets, a court heard yesterday. Darren Hunter, 37, told the collector to wear the old English sheepdog costume at the entrances of the shops as he rattled
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Brittle England fall to miserable defeat
A STALL behind Durham's main stand was selling tickets for the county's forthcoming Twenty20 campaign yesterday. It's just a shame that no-one had told England's batsmen the competition is yet to start. A devastating collapse saw the home side capitulate
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Waste site decision
THE local government watchdog has upheld a controversial decision to site a waste depot next to a North-East housing estate. Ombudsman Patricia Thomas said that both Durham County Council and Teesdale District Council acted properly in dealing with the
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30/06/2004
FOOTBALL: AT the end of a boxing match, where both contestants are standing, the winner is decided by the referee. At the end of a football match where the scores are even, the winning team is decided by a penalty shoot-out, and quite often the worst
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Vaughan's big concern
MICHAEL Vaughan last night admitted that England's inability to bat first was becoming a cause for "serious concern" after his side slumped to a humiliating seven-wicket defeat to New Zealand at the Riverside. England have now gone 22 games since they
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Anger as vandals set fire to cats' eyes
Vandals who set fire to cats' eyes in the middle of a busy road put motorists' lives in danger, police said yesterday. Four sets of the safety devices were set alight on the B6278, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, at the weekend. One driver, Peter
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Brewery bidding to revoke ale status
CAMPAIGNERS have reacted angrily to plans to revoke a European status awarded to Newcastle Brown Ale eight years ago. The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) has contacted the Government to protest against the application of brewery company Scottish and Newcastle
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Arrests follow drugs raids
Cash and drugs were seized when police raided houses in the Saltersgill area of Middlesbrough early yesterday. Class A drugs worth £350 and more than £1,500 in cash were found in neighbouring houses in Hoylake Road and an address in Grove Hill at about
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From fatties to freaks
You Are What You Eat (Ch 4); Wife Swap (Ch4): WE have had DIY shows to make our homes look nice and make-over programmes to make our wardrobes respectable - now we have a show to make our insides look better. Dr Gillian McKeith believes she can single-handedly
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Bike ride's charity aim
THE parents of a brave teenager who died from cancer are urging more cyclists to help them make a fundraising event in his honour the biggest so far. Chris Lucas, from Wallsend, died in July 2000, aged 18, after contracting a rare form of cancer, called
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Warning over vandalism in churchyard
TEENAGERS who sit around at night drinking in an old burial ground were warned to stay away or risk getting into trouble. They have been causing damage as well as leaving empty beer cans and other litter behind St Mary's Parish Church in Barnard Castle
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Training centre move planned
CHANGE is being planned for a training centre that has helped more than 150 young people with learning difficulties and special needs in ten years. Discussions are taking place between Redcar and Cleveland Council and parents, carers, young people and
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Lumsdon on trial with Pool
HARTLEPOOL: Neale Cooper's squad report back for pre-season training tomorrow, with one-time Sunderland midfielder Chris Lumsdon joining the ranks. Barnsley's Lumsdon has been told he can leave Oakwell by boss Paul Hart and will spend time with Cooper's
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Marking 75 years of centre building
CELEBRATIONS are being planned to mark the anniversary of one of Thornaby's well known buildings. The Robert Atkinson Youth and Community Centre is 75 on August 30. It opened in 1929 as the Robert Atkinson Central School. The school closed in the 1970s
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Man fails to win jail cut on appeal
A DRUGS courier who agreed to deliver cocaine worth between £50,000 and a £100,000 has failed to win a cut in his jail term. Keith Smitheringale, 39, of Queen's Road, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, admitted possession of cocaine with intent to supply when
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£500m transformation plan for harbour site is unveiled
A MULTI-MILLION pound redevelopment has been unveiled for a North-East town. Tees Valley Regeneration and PD Ports, Logistics and Shipping have submitted plans to Hartlepool Borough Council for a £500m transformation of the town's Victoria Harbour. If
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Animal sanctuary to close after 11 years of dedication
AN animal sanctuary that has rescued and re-homed thousands of needy pets over the past decade is to shut down. The boss of Ramshaw Rescue Centre, near Bishop Auckland, has decided to close the refuge because of the increasing financial demands of running
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Heroin dealer is jailed after raid
A HEROIN dealer described as having a dreadful criminal record has been jailed for two years and three months. Anthony Ambrose Burton was arrested by police following a drugs raid at flats in Richmond, North Yorkshire. Teesside Crown Court heard that
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Prize draw complaints
TRADING standards officials have been inundated with complaints about a prize draw offer. Residents across east Cleveland are receiving letters headed Purple Rock, featuring a picture of a new BMW Mini and saying: "Congratulations. I am writing to let
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Expansion for hand-painted furniture firm
AN expanding hand-made furniture business has chosen Lingfield Point, in Darlington, as the base for its first big expansion. S R Interiors paints and finishes a wide range of pine furniture, including beds, bedside cabinets, dressers, tables and chairs
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Bede's x-ray vision pays off
A REVISED business strategy is beginning to pay dividends for x-ray equipment maker Bede plc. The Durham company saw a record quarterly orders amid continuing signs of a resurgence in the semiconductor sector. The company has concentrated on developing
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Saints say Beattie is staying
SOUTHAMPTON have played down talk of James Beattie arriving at Newcastle United ahead of next season. The striker has been a long-term target for Magpies boss Sir Bobby Robson, who would love to see Beattie become the successor to skipper Alan Shearer
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Maize for a maze
Farmer Andrew Cumming wants to make an amazing impact on the rolling countryside at his 400 acre North Yorkshire farm. With jigsaw-like precision he is aiming to create a 10-acre maze in a field of maize at his arable dairy farm between Boroughbridge
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Pedestrian plans go on show for consultation
PROPOSALS for a £6.5m pedestrian haven in Darlington town centre are to be exhibited next month. A series of consultation days will be held in the town next week, detailing Darlington Borough Council's proposed design for the redeveloped town centre.
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Shooters on moor raise £12,000
MORE than 150 clay pigeon shooters braved seven hours in driving rain on a windswept North Pennines moor to raise £12,000 for charity. The money will be presented to the support fund for the North-East Air Ambulance later this week. About £6,000 was raised
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City Hospitals Sunderland gets Foundation Trust status
TWO North-East hospitals become the region's first NHS Foundation Trust tomorrow. City Hospitals Sunderland was awarded the position after narrowly missing out in the first wave of Foundation Trusts announced earlier this year. Trust chairman David Graham
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Market report
Evidence that US consumers are becoming more confident helped keep London shares above the key 4500 support level yesterday. The FTSE 100 Index was able to reverse much of its early losses to close down 6.3 at 4512.4 in the wake of better than expected
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MoD contract wins
THE world's largest manufacturer of drysuits has won two Ministry of Defence (MoD) contracts worth more than £1m. Typhoon International manufactures the suits at its factory in Redcar, east Cleveland, where more than 70 people are employed. The company
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Region's house prices still
Evidence that higher interest rates are taking their toll on the property market were revealed last night. The rate of house price inflation slipped in June to 0.9 per cent from last month's seasonally adjusted figure of 1.7 per cent, according to the
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The King of Catterick
COUNT on course specialist King Harson (4.00) to hold court in the Derby Stabling Handicap at Catterick this afternoon. A single figure draw is absolutely vital over seven furlongs, so the fact that King Harson is emerging from stall six has got to be
