Archive
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Hundreds raised in memory of tragic boy
A GOOD friend raised hundreds of pounds in a charity bungee jump yesterday in memory of a 15-year-old boy with epilepsy who died in his bed. The mother of recently deceased Arron Smith watched as family friend Catherine Storey, 39, completed the jump.
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Dog is firebomb hero
A FIRE dog has been praised after it was called in to sniff out suspected petrol bombers. Durham Police called in Phoenix and handler Dave Myers, of Northumberland Fire and Rescue's Arson Task Force, after one of their vans was firebombed. Two home-made
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No celebrations this time as Pool slump at Swindon
IT'S only seven games and 16 weeks since Hartlepool United were last at Swindon. It might as well have been 700 games or 16 years such was the difference in both performance and emotions. On May 8, Pool drew 1-1, securing a point which cemented their
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Councils spurn anti-social behaviour orders
Council leaders in large parts of the region are spurning controversial orders designed to crack down on local louts, new figures show. Six local authorities in the North-East and a further four in North Yorkshire failed to obtain a single anti-social
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Councils spurn anti-social behaviour orders
The family of a teenage brother and sister who died in almost identical swimming pool tragedies has called for greater awareness of a rare heart condition thought to have caused their deaths. Daniel and Anne-Marie Readshaw were both 13 when they collapsed
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Now I can be a fan again, says Robson
SIR Bobby Robson is determined to become a Newcastle fan again despite being sensationally sacked as manager of his beloved Magpies. The 71-year-old, who led England to within a penalty kick of the World Cup final in 1990, was relieved of his duties yesterday
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Plans to expand quarry draw criticism
Plans to expand a quarry near an ancient monument have been likened to 'dropping Stonehenge into the River Avon'. The comment comes from archaeologists backing protestors fighting the expansion of Nosterfield Quarry, close to Thornborough Henges, near
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Carry on Kenneth
Actor Stephen Matthews is taking to the stage as his idol Kenneth Williams. He talks to Steve Pratt. STEPHEN Matthews is reluctant to say he's doing an impression of Kenneth Williams in the play that opens Harrogate Theatre's new season. He doesn't want
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All not well at United, Solano
FORMER favourite Nolberto Solano has lifted the lid on some of the dressing room tensions that are threatening to undermine Newcastle's season. On the field, the Magpies have now won just one of their last 11 Premiership games after Aston Villa came from
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Old pals go head to head
Goal hero Ryan Valentine may have earned a deserved point by grabbing Darlington's equaliser but he wasn't entirely satisfied with his afternoon's work against Cambridge United yesterday. Yesterday's 1-1 draw was the first time the Welsh full-back had
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Airports cope with bank holiday rush
AIRPORTS in the North-East successfully coped with the Bank Holday weekend rush of passengers. Fears of a knock-on from the threatened baggage handlers' dispute and a backlog of flights diminished last week, and the weekend appeared last nght to have
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Councillor cleared by probe call for review of complaints procedure
A COUNCILLOR who has been the subject of an investigation into his conduct has called for an overhaul of the complaints process. Bill Blenkinsopp says the Standards Board for England is being used as a means to settle old scores with political rivals,
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Sharon Griffiths Meets...
Many more women than men are now taking up archaeology but far from being glamorous, it's actually a backbreaking occupation. A WOMAN'S place is in the past. More women are becoming archaeologists and interest in archaeology generally is booming. You
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Mum's tribute to tragic Arron
THE distraught mother of a 15-year-old boy found dead in bed after suffering an epileptic fit has spoken of her grief. The body of Arron Smith was discovered by his grandmother, who had gone to wake him up after he suffered the fit earlier that morning
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Schoolboy hit in drive-by shooting
A SCHOOLBOY was injured in a drive-by shooting that has alarmed police. Scott Cooper, 12, was shot in the arm close to his home in Darlington by a yob brandishing a weapon from inside a car. Police investigating the shooting have described it as shocking
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Darlington clubs double up in competition
THE two Darlington rugby clubs have been drawn away in the first round of the Powergen Cup to the teams they face in their opening National Three North matches next Saturday. For Darlington it means a second trip to Rugby Lions on September 18, while
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Eating Owt: Under the weather
Seeking shelter from the torrential downpours, the column finds more than mythical sustenance at the Ancient Unicorn at Bowes. IN the Book of Genesis, it will be recalled, the rain fell upon the earth for 40 days and 40 nights but that it was another
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Under the weather
Seeking shelter from the torrential downpours, the column finds more than mythical sustenance at the Ancient Unicorn at Bowes. IN the Book of Genesis, it will be recalled, the rain fell upon the earth for 40 days and 40 nights but that it was another
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Our strikers need better service, says Kyle
ONE shot on target in 90 minutes is a miserable return for any home side but, according to Kevin Kyle, there's a ready-made excuse for the Sunderland strikeforce. "As a forward you're only as good as the service you get and I think we're not getting any
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All hail Downing as local boy outshines big names
AS the final whistle blew at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough had lifted themselves to fourth in the Premiership courtesy of a sensational free-kick from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. But, while pundits up and down the country know all about the Dutchman's
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Robson sacked
Sir Bobby Robson's five-year reign as Newcastle United manager came to an end this morning when the club's board decided to "dispense with his services". Robson, who turned Newcastle's fortunes around after replacing Ruud Gullit in September 1999, has
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Fans struggle to accept plight of today's Cats
FIVE years ago this week Sunderland fans had the bragging rights they'd waited nine years for. Not since Gates and Gabbiadini had ended Newcastle's promotions play-off dreams at St James Park in 1990 in the old division two had they put one over their
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Punch and Judi
When it came to making a sci-fi movie only Dame Judi Dench would do, action man actor Vin Diesel tells Steve Pratt. The ex-nightclub bouncer also reveals why he turned down all sequels until he got the second chance to play Pitch Black cult hero Riddick
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Teen first girl to play in North-East cricket league
A teenager's first taste of first team cricket was enough to bowl a maiden over, and make history in the process. Promising wicket-keeper Katie Brennan was asked to don the gloves for Langley Park first XI in their Durham County League clash at Tudhoe
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Blood-soaked woman baffles police
Detectives have admitted they are baffled after a blood-spattered woman claimed she had attacked a man. A major police operation was launched on Monday, after the bloodstained woman flagged down a car and told the driver she had carried out a serious
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Dodgy Ben is having a ball
Dodgeball is a completely unknown game in Britian but Ben Stiller, his wife Christine Taylor and best friend Vince Vaughn are turning being hit with a ball into a hit at the box office. Steve Pratt reports. AMERICAN actors Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn
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Absent friends never far from Magpies' thoughts
ONLY in the weird and wonderful world of Newcastle United can what doesn't happen be more important than what does. Alan Shearer doesn't make the starting line-up on the fifth anniversary of Ruud Gullit's departure following his decision to drop the Newcastle
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Regrets? Sir Bobby had too few to mention
THERE are few things in Sir Bobby Robson's life that can compete with his all-consuming love of football, but the music of Frank Sinatra holds a special place in his heart. The former Newcastle boss has a soft spot for the legendary crooner, quite apt
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Pool aiming to redeem
A shot at redemption and this afternoon's game with Colchester can't come soon enough for Chris Westwood. The Hartlepool United defender wants to get Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Swindon out of his system. And Westwood admits the chance to play just 48 hours
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Making up isn't hard to do
He's worked with some of the country's most beautiful stars but now make-up artist Car Ryan is turning his attention to the women of Darlington. He talks to Jenny Needham. IT'S a long time since I've had the undivided attention of an attractive 31-year-old
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Beware the Ides of March
NEVER mind the Ides of March - Newcastle's new manager should beware the end of August. When Sir Bobby Robson was sacked yesterday, he became the third successive Magpies boss to be relieved of his duties in the final week of the month. Kenny Dalglish
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Tykes in with a shout
England captain, Michael Vaughan, kept alive Yorkshire Phoenix's hopes of promotion in the totesport League yesterday when his calmly constructed half-century helped to bring victory over Derbyshire Scorpions by five wickets in the rain-affected match
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Pool attendants face disiplinary action
TWO pool attendants are to face disciplinary action after a mother had to dive fully clothed into a swimming pool to save the life of her five-year-old daughter. The attendants were on duty at Stockton's Splash swimming pool at the time of the incident
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Shepherd to solve the crisis?
MANAGERLESS Newcastle United face a fraught beat the deadline day on the transfer front as chairman Freddy Shepherd attempts to solve the club's defensive crisis. Having admitted defeat in the race to sign Wayne Rooney from Everton, the Magpies are armed
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New chancellor sought for Durham University
A list of more than 500 names has been suggested to fill one of the most prestigious posts in the academic world. Nominations close tomorrow (Tuesday) in the search for a new chancellor of Durham University to succeed actor Sir Peter Ustinov - who died
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Campaign to save former mental institution
A campaign has been launched to save the last remaining building which formed part of what was once Europe's largest mental institution. Much of the former Winterton Hospital at Sedgefield, County Durham, has already been developed to make way for housing
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Saint's remains committed to shrine
The ninth centenary of a northern saint's preserved remains being committed to a shrine will be celebrated with a series of events at Durham Cathedral next weekend. Saturday marks the 900th anniversary of what has become known as the Translation of the
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Carry on Kenneth
Actor Stephen Matthews is taking to the stage as his idol Kenneth Williams. He talks to Steve Pratt. STEPHEN Matthews is reluctant to say he's doing an impression of Kenneth Williams in the play that opens Harrogate Theatre's new season. He doesn't want
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Letters from abroad
John Tyson has written from Australia to tell me about the wretched time he spent as a boy in what he refers to as the Old Orphanage at Gainford, known officially as St Peter's School. A friend in Bishop Auckland had sent him a recent cutting from the
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Letters to the editor
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT JOHN Prescott states assemblies have nothing to do with Brussels, but that it is home grown by the Labour party. What rubbish. Regionalisation was put on the agenda for this country as far back as 1937 in the book, which after being
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St James' chairman yet to endear himself to fans
THE man who stood face-to-face with Sir Bobby Robson yesterday morning to tell him he was being 'relieved of his position' at St James' Park has, at best, enjoyed a mixed relationship with the Newcastle United fans. Despite many supporters voicing concerns
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Libraries close as staff strike
Library doors remained closed across a county at the weekend as staff staged a threatened strike. All 38 Durham County Council-run libraries were unable to open due to day-long action by staff members in the public service union Unison. They voted 55-
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Conservatives announce Hartlepool candidate
The Conservative Party Candidate for the forthcoming Hartlepool by-election is to be Jeremy Middleton, a North-East based company director and management consultant who has worked extensively with public and private organisations in the region. Mr Middleton
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Drink-driver who killed passenger is jailed
A drink-driver who killed his teenage passenger when he smashed his car into a taxi after a night out has been jailed. Apprentice joiner Karl Howell, 20, had been drinking Smirnoff Ice during a night out with his pal Lee Wise in Crook, County Durham,
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A love story from the horrors of war
Jim Kelly,the last surviving member of the crew who were with Canadian airman Andrew Mynarski on his final mission died earlier this year, aged. Nathalie Bibeau, a researcher for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, who interviewed him for a documentary
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Teenager Aliu sets new mark
THE NORTH-EAST'S top under-15 sprinter, Yusuf Aliu, was in record-breaking form in Saturday's Tartan Games at Gateshead International Stadium. The Middlesbrough-Mandale Harrier, who recently added the AAA crown to his Northern and North-East titles, clocked
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Is the time right for the talisman Shearer to take over?
"All I ever wanted to do was play for Newcastle. I'd stand on the terraces dreaming of the day I would walk out on that hallowed turf." That day arrived for Alan Shearer on August 6, 1996, when he was paraded as the world's most expensive player as 15,000
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Siblings who drowned may have had heart defect
A brother and sister who died in identical swimming pool accidents two years apart may both have suffered a rare heart defect which can be triggered by water and loud noise. Daniel and Anne-Marie Readshaw were both 13 when they collapsed and died with
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Mystery of woman covered in blood
A POLICE search was being carried out last night for a possible assault victim after an hysterical woman, covered in blood, flagged down a car. The woman told the driver early yesterday she had carried out a serious assault on a man and needed to get
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Durham still fighting thanks to hero Plunkett
JUST as the monkey on Durham's back seemed about to administer its final kick in the teeth of a season full of misfortune Liam Plunkett came to the rescue yesterday. With five balls to score 14 runs for victory, he drove Robin Martin-Jenkins for four,
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McClaren sure that Mendieta will rediscover his best form
STEVE McCLAREN has pinned his faith in Gaizka Mendieta finding his feet again at Middlesbrough following a below par start to the campaign. Mendieta has started each of Boro's opening four Premiership games but has so far failed to hit top gear and was
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Limited newsfeed at present
The Northern Echo is experiencing technical problems at the moment and therefore our online newsfeed is limited. We apologise for any inconvenience to our readers.
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Late post costs Royal Mail millions
The Royal Mail was today under increasing pressure to deliver the goods - after it emerged that a record £50m compensation was being paid out for mail arriving late. New figures revealed that the organisation missed all of its targets in the first quarter
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Lib Dems accused of misleading people in by-election
The Liberal Democrats were today accused of "re-writing history" by claiming they are the main rivals to Labour in the Hartlepool by-election. Stephen Allison, the candidate for the UK Independence Party, claimed the Lib Dems were trying to mislead people
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Family band
A new stage version of hit movie Brassed Off means that husband-and-wife actors Andrew Dunn and Andrina Carroll don't have to worry about who is looking after son Elliot, because he's in the play as well. Steve Pratt reports. AFTER working together five
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Top Ten To Rent
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL: 1 (1) Kill Bill - Vol 2 2 (2) Gothika 3 (-) Scooby Doo 2 4 (3) The Girl Next Door 5 (5) The Cat In The Hat 6 (4) Monster 7 (6) Starsky And Hutch 8 (7) Welcome To The Jungle 9 (-) House Of Sand And Fog 10 (-) The Human Stain Published
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Boss gives striking legend a bitter pill to swallow
While welcoming his former Liverpool teammate into the management game probably the best thing David Hodgson could've done was to hand out the beating Ian Rush's side deserved. At least that way he'll have soon got to realise just what he's got to work
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Man believes attack was racially motivated
A man was left needing ten staples in a gaping head wound after an unprovoked attack which he believes was racially motivated. Lenny Ankum had a bottle smashed over his head and was glassed in the face by a gang of men as he left a pub near Peterlee,
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Canadian senator backs Echo campaign
A Canadian senator whose brother was a member of Second World War airman Andrew Mynarski's crew has backed The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero appeal. William Kelly's brother Jim was the last surviving crew member of the fateful flight from the Royal Canadian
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It's Valentine's Day as Quakers rescue point
DARLINGTON completed a satisfactory Bank Holiday weekend as Ryan Valentine earned his side a share of the spoils in yesterday's 1-1 draw with Cambridge United. Two days after their 3-0 win at Chester City, Quakers were unlucky not to take maximum points
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Cats' eyes on Boyd as Pool star turns on style
AFTER the danger of being upstaged by his strike partner, Adam Boyd showed yesterday why he is a man in demand. In front of watching Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy, Eifion Williams put Pool a goal to the good and was the first-half scourge of the Colchester
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Dirtier Den
THERE'S no lech like an old lech and Dirty Den has a reputation - and libido - to keep up as one of Soapland's most active lotharios. But he really shouldn't have tried to plant a plonker on the lips of Zoe in EastEnders (BBC1). She's not only his son's
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Shearer the key to Newcastle decision
NEWCASTLE chairman Freddy Shepherd will step up his search for Sir Bobby Robson's successor this morning, with skipper Alan Shearer holding the key to his decision. Shepherd will consult with the rest of the United board as he weighs up his options in
