Archive
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Church grateful for Methodists' help
A METHODIST church has come to the aid of Guisborough Parish Church which has had to cancel services due to essential maintenance. Electrical work, which started on Monday at St Nicholas' Church, in Guisborough, means that all regular services and activities
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Soldier's family critical of inquest findings
The family of a Gulf War veteran have claimed an inquest failed to hear vital evidence into the cause of his death. They believe that father-of-four John Douglas died as a result of so-called Gulf War Syndrome - after he was given a cocktail of drugs
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Hartlepool by-election: Fear of crime tops the agenda
THE Hartlepool by-election battleground moved away from health yesterday to focus on law and order. Liberal Democrat Lord David Steel and Cabinet Office Minister Ruth Kelly joined the campaign trail to talk about their parties' chances and their candidates
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Farmers plough a new furrow
Many farmers in the region are turning their backs on traditional farming following a decade of crises in the industry, from foot-and-mouth to BSE. Deputy Business Editor Julia Breen reports. THE Cheesmond family had not left their Ferryhill, County Durham
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On TV last night
Silent Witness (BBC1) CAN I do anything? I'm Home Office certified?," asked the new girl in the mortuary as Silent Witness attempted to fill the gap left by the departure of Professor Sam Ryan, the woman who'd mastered the art of the glacial stare as
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Hear Gareth play guitar
A HARTLEPOOL guitarist is to perform at the Sir William Turner's Almshouses. Gareth Proctor, 22, who took up the guitar at the age of 11, is in his final year at the Birmingham Conservatoire. As part of his studies, he must organise and present his own
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21/09/04
COLUMNISTS: I WAS amused by Ray Mallon's column (Echo, Sept 17). He dismisses those who regularly contribute to readers' letters as "serial letter writers" and not "real people". Is this not the rage of Caliban? After all, what is a columnist if not a
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Working together to close gap
DEVELOPMENT bosses have unveiled a 20-year plan aimed at reversing a North-South prosperity gap that is estimated to be £29bn. The three northern regional development agencies (RDAs) have united to work towards creating more jobs, investment and opportunities
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Green Howards limber up for charity bike ride challenge
THREE soldiers are in training to cycle 182 miles to help make a child smile. The Green Howards, one from Durham and two from Middlesbrough, will cycle coast-to-coast for the Make a Child Smile charity. Make a Child Smile, which is backed by radio station
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Tributes paid to a genius of football
TRIBUTES flooded in from around the country last night for North-East football manager Brian Clough, who died at the age of 69. The European Cup-winning boss had members of his family at his bedside when he died at Derby City Hospital yesterday after
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Riggott left to rue Everton loss
CHRIS RIGGOTT believes Middlesbrough's aspirations of finishing in the top six this season will be just a pipe-dream should they repeatedly fail to hit the heights expected on the pitch. The defender arrived at that honest conclusion after Sunday's defeat
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Farewell to Bill Foggitt
autumn sunshine blessed the funeral of amateur weather forecaster Bill Foggitt. Mr Foggitt, of Thirsk, died in hospital last week at the age of 91. For years he continually outshone professional meteorologists by using his own methods of predicting the
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Bringing new life to the mortuary
Silent Witness (BBC1): "CAN I do anything? I'm Home Office certified?," asked the new girl in the mortuary as Silent Witness attempted to fill the gap left by the departure of Professor Sam Ryan, the woman who'd mastered the art of the glacial stare as
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Family is robbed of generation in weeks
A NORTH-EAST family has been left devastated by the sudden deaths of an entire generation of siblings. Leslie Hedley, 55, died in a car accident with her sister, Jesdene Johnson, 58, while on holiday in Canada. The incident happened less than a month
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Lorry driver is accused of sex attacks on girls
A LORRY driver has gone on trial accused of sexually abusing six girls over a 13-year period. Melvin McFadden, of South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is said to have befriended the youngsters, raping one and carrying out a string of indecent
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Recounting the knight's tale
Ready When You are Mr McGill was a one-off comedy classic in the 70s but Sir Tom Courtney leads a star-studded remake, with the eminent actor improbably cast as a clueless film extra. Graham Keal went to met him at his London home. ON a warm September
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Woman beaten by youth as she fights off attacking dog
A WOMAN may need reconstructive surgery after she was kicked in the face by a youth as she attempted to rescue her dog, set upon by a bull terrier. The 41-year-old woman was walking her three dogs in Borough Park, off Redcar Lane, Redcar, east Cleveland
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Why go it alone when you have Common Purpose?
She has built a successful career balancing the demands of family and running her own company, as well as trying to imporve the business and training prospects in the region. Caroline Hughes, managing director of training organisation Click-Here, talks
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Advice service for organic farmers
THE North-East's developing organic farming industry has received a boost with the launch of an advice service. Money from the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs' (Defra) Rural Enterprise Scheme has been awarded to the Soil Association
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Stars pop in to launch contest
TWO former pop stars, who will entertain audiences throughout pantomime season, visited the North-East yesterday to launch a competition. Boyband 911 vocalist Lee Brennan and former Honeyz singer Celena Cherry will be appearing in Peter Pan, alongside
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Painter to pass on skills
AMATEUR artists have been brushing up their skills with a series of watercolour classes. The classes, in the Galtres Centre at Easingwold, are being run by painter Susan Neale, of Great Ouseburn. She picked skies as her first topic and, over the next
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Parisian treat for art collectors
A RARE drawing of a Paris street scene by a North-East artist better known for his mining studies will go under the hammer this month. The drawing, by Norman Cornish, of an elderly woman walking up Montmartre Street, was done for the artist's 1966 Tyne
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Kennedy demands answers on Iraq
Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy yesterday called on the Prime Minister to answer a "catalogue of charges" against him over Iraq. At the Bournemouth conference, Mr Kennedy said Mr Blair should come before the Commons next month and make a statement
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The Great Debate - My View: Regional assembly would be an expensive talking shop
On Tuesday, the independent Electoral Commission appointed the official Yes and No campaigns to lead the arguments in the referendum. The debate can now finally begin. The polls show that only about 20 per cent of people have made up their minds, so everything
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Row over council's homes agreement
COUNCIL chiefs could stand to pay out more than £1m if they pull out of a controversial scheme for a 540-home village. Opponents of the proposed Derwenthorpe development at Osbaldwick, in York, say the city council's financial agreement with would-be
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Warning hits share price
A PROFITS warning from consumer products company Uni-lever sent shares plummeting yesterday. Unilever said that summer trading had been below expectations after poor weather cooled demand for ice cream and iced tea. The Anglo-Dutch group, whose products
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New witnesses call police in disgraced surgeon inquiry
More than 30 new witnesses have contacted detectives investigating disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale, police said last night. North Yorkshire Police said 34 people had come forward with new information in relation to the doctor who was struck off
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Making sure that the money stays where it is needed
The North-East's first court of protection unit dedicated to helping people with brain damage manage large financial settlements has been established. Liz Lamb reports. SOLICITOR Trish Haw-kins has a difficult job. As head of Newcastle law firm Irwin
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Concert will boost leprosy mission
A NORTH-EAST woman's mission to help women leprosy victims in India has inspired music lovers to organise a special fundraising concert. Leah Pattison, from Frosterley, County Durham, relies on money sent from her home region to support her work in the
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Childcare company planning £500,000 investment in region
A NEW childcare company is investing more than £500,000 in the region and opening two nurseries. Little Ladybirds will employ 37 staff when it opens an £80,000 nursery in Ingleby Barwick, near Middlesbrough, next month and more childcare facilities in
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Poop to be painted pink
IRRESPONSIBLE dog owners visiting a country park risk having their pets' indiscretions highlighted with fluorescent paint. The idea will involve countryside wardens spraying pink paint on dog dirt found at the park for a week, from Wednesday. It's an
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Airport's last flight and new dawn
PASSENGERS will board the final flight to leave Teesside International Airport today as 40 years of history come to an end. The new name of Durham Tees Valley Airport will be adopted at a ceremony this afternoon. The launch will end almost a year of controversy
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Farms' future under threat
CHANGES in Europe threaten the future of many Dales farms, national park managers have warned. A Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority report says the Common Agricultural Policy reforms will mean farmers forced to find new sources of income to survive
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Interpol helps trace missing man
Police in Britain have called for Interpol assistance to trace a sports fan who has not returned home from the Olympic Games, a force spokesman said today. Melvyn Gamblin, 37, of Darlington, County Durham, regularly sent texts and emails to his family
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Scout group given Bonfire Night booster
A SCOUT group has been given European funding of £500 to provide a fireworks display for its Bonfire Night fundraising efforts. The grant will go towards the £2,250 it is paying for fireworks being set off by a professional team at Barnard Castle. Scoutmaster
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Medical service debated at forum
AN out-of-hours medical service will be among the topics discussed at a meeting held by the public watchdog for heath services in Sedgefield borough. The Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Forum Sedgefield will be meeting in West Cornforth Community
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Neighbours in protest over family's home extension
A FAMILY'S plans for their dream home will ruin a 150- year old house and blight a conservation area, say neighbours in Witton-le-Wear. Villagers have criticised a decision to allow the proposals for Victoria House, saying that they are not in keeping
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Players say sorry over gun incident
THREE of the Sunderland footballers who fired at passers-by with a toy gun have been ordered to do community service by the club. Sunderland AFC yesterday concluded its internal disciplinary investigations into the incidents involving Chris Brown, Ryan
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Leader's moving tribute to dedicated councillor
CIVIC leaders joined local authority staff and people from community groups at a thanksgiving service for a former council chairwoman yesterday. Councillor Belle Bousfield, 74, headed Wear Valley District Council in 1997 and was its housing committee
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Lottery cash provides extra classes
A COMMUNITY organisation has won National Lottery funding to provide adult education courses in two Teesdale villages. Awards for All has granted £5,000 to Evenwood and Ramshaw Community Association to allow people in Evenwood and Cockfield to take part
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Job Search: Vacancies
Counter sales assistant, Birtley. 44.5hrs pw, Mon-Fri, alt Sats. Must be 18-plus. Experience working in building industry within sales environment preferred. Ref: CHM 17482. Warehouse shop fitter, throughout UK. 40hrs pw, Mon-Fri. Must be over 25. Experience
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Unhappy Thornton has chance to shine
SUNDERLAND'S wantaway midfielder Sean Thornton will be handed the opportunity to impress any would-be suitors in the Carling Cup second round clash at Crewe tonight The 21-year-old revealed last week he wanted out of the Stadium of Light after failing
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NHS promises 24-hour cover from GPs
HEALTH managers have agreed measures to ensure patients have access to round-the-clock cover from GPs, but it will mean the Saturday morning surgeries offered by some practices will cease after October 1. The four primary care trusts in the county have
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North-East film outsells blockbusters
AFTER outselling Hollywood on all ten screens at Middlesbrough's UGC multiplex last week, a local film is due to public demand. A Century In Stone, a documentary about Teesside's industrial past, was watched by 1,323 people in four days. Eston-born filmmaker
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Authors give views on changing town
The history of a town was brought to life in pictures yesterday. Historians and photographers Alan Betteney, 57, and Peter Moon, 82, were at Billingham Art Gallery to sign copies of and talk about their book, Viewpoints in Stockton. It shows photographs
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Mum admits charges cruelty to daughter
A WOMAN has pleaded guilty to two charges of cruelty against her daughter. The 39-year-old, from Darlington, was said to have struck the girl with a brush and, in a separate incident, grabbed her face and pushed her off a chair. Appearing at Teesside
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Taxi driver's licence appeal withdrawn
A TAXI driver's appeal against a local authority's decision not to renew his Hackney carriage licence was withdrawn yesterday. Terry O'Neill had appealed against Darlington Borough Council's decision not to renew the permit in June because he refused
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Opposition to firm's offices bid
AN application by a plumbing firm to build offices and a reception area has attracted opposition from people living nearby. GA Oliver Limited, a plumbing and heating engineering company, has applied to Darlington Borough Council for permission to build
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Students are given insight into support network
HUNDREDS of students have been finding out about the support network available at Darlington College of Technology. The new starters were invited to a special Downloading event, named after the information booklet that offers health and social care advice
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Concert will boost leprosy mission
A NORTH-EAST woman's mission to help women leprosy victims in India has inspired music lovers to organise a special fundraising concert. Leah Pattison, from Frosterley, County Durham, relies on money sent from her home region to support her work in the
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Tenants have their say on future of council housing
COUNCIL tenants in north Durham are taking the lead in an initiative to decide the future of a local authority's housing stock. About 50 tenants attended an inaugural conference organised by the Tenants Panel, with support from Chester-le-Street District
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School history
A North-East school is appealing for ex-pupils to help trace its history. St Anthony's C of E Primary School, in Walker, Newcastle, will celebrate the school's 40th anniversary in October and is looking for former staff and pupils to share memories. Anyone
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Stars pop in to launch contest
TWO former pop stars, who will entertain audiences throughout pantomime season, visited the North-East yesterday to launch a competition. Boyband 911 vocalist Lee Brennan and former Honeyz singer Celena Cherry will be appearing in Peter Pan, alongside
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Council denies it keeps minorities out of top jobs
COUNCIL bosses have rejected criticism over their record on employing ethnic minorities. A report by the GMB union shows North Yorkshire County Council is one of only seven councils in England not to have any ethnic minority employees in the top 5pc of
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Play success
A village fair marking the launch of a £310,000 scheme to build three play areas has been hailed a success. More than 300 people attended the event, in Langley Park, Durham. It was staged by the Equal Partnership, representing the villages of Esh, Quebec
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Wardens rewarded
MIDDLESBROUGH'S successful street wardens service has received the government's seal of approval. Town mayor Ray Mallon presented the team with the Quality Standard Award - a benchmark of approved service to the community. An independent assessment of
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Firms not clued up on Disability Act
RESEARCH by a charity has found that more than a quarter of businesses are not familiar with the Disability Discrimination Act, despite new rules taking effect in October. Researchers from Henshaws Society for Blind People interviewed people from more
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Gallery holds its first show
A NEW community art gallery and shop has held its first exhibition Residents of Catchgate, near Stanley, have set up the Chiron Art Gallery, in Catchgate Methodist Church hall, using National Lottery funding. Founder member Rikki Blythe said: "This is
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Hollywood lookalikes have a ball
STARS of North-East business and industry helped raise £54,000 at the Entrepeneurs Forum charity ball. Guests were dressed as their favourite star of the silver screen from Marilyn Monroe to Mike Myers and Judy Garland to J-Lo. The glamorous event was
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Footballers disciplined after firing pellet gun
Three young Sunderland footballers accused of firing a toy pellet gun at passing pedestrians from a moving car have been disciplined by the club. Sunderland AFC today confirmed that first team fringe forward Chris Brown, 19, and 18-year-old youth team
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Fun way to be fit, says belly dancer
FRANCES CAIRNS believes she has the perfect recipe for keeping a slim, toned figure - belly dancing. A skilled belly dancer, she was asked to organise summer holiday coaching sessions by the Government's youth support service, Connexions. Under her guidance
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One of the Roker legends
FRANK Johnson covered Sunderland for The Northern Echo for over 40 years and was at Roker Park the day Brian Clough's playing career came to an end. I can still remember that wintry Boxing Day afternoon in 1962 when a simple challenge virtually ended
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Fears grow for Briton as US hostage is beheaded in Iraq
IRAQI kidnappers beheaded an American on video last night - but said two more Western hostages, including Briton Kenneth Bigley, would have the deadline for their executions delayed by 24 hours. The announcement was made as a video was released on a website
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Why there are no flies on Falvey
FORGET Coronation Street and EastEnders. Andrew Falvey appears in the soap with the biggest audience in the world and it's not set in Weatherfield or Walford. Ratings for these rival British soaps lag far behind those of Westway, which boasts an audience
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Remotely enterprising
A village in Northumberland, officially the most remote community in England, has joined the race to become the UK's most enterprising community. Kielder, which has a population of only 200, is the first location in the region to enter for the title of
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Lean spell for book launches
THE absence of a Harry Potter launch is expected to hit the profits of two companies this week. Bookseller Ottakar's is expected to report on Thursday that half-year losses have risen to about £3m from £2.9m a year earlier, because of the absence of a
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Soldier's family critical of inquest findings
The leader of an all-female Hell's Angel biker gang was found guilty of murdering her love rival's next door neighbour. Dressed in a white cloak and wearing a Scream mask, Heather Stephenson-Snell, 46, shot Robert Wilkie, 43, in the stomach with a sawn-off
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B&B honour for guest house
A guest house set up 12 years ago by a farmer has won a national award. Lovesome Hill Farm, near Northallerton, has been named North B & B of the Year 2004 by Les Routiers, a network of independent establishments throughout the UK. The awards are
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Interpol to assist search for missing North-East man
Police in Britain have called for Interpol assistance to trace a sports fan who has not returned home from the Olympic Games, a force spokesman said today. Melvyn Gamblin, 37, of Darlington, County Durham, regularly sent texts and emails to his family
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Minister defends education strategy
Education Minister David Miliband has rejected criticism from within his party that his policies are potentially harmful to North-East pupils. Mr Miliband was in the region yesterday to promote Labour's new five-year education strategy. He declined to
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On display
The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham is hosting a display of paintings, furniture and installations from September 25 to January 23. Distance no Object, featuring Lubaina Himid, is open from 11am to 5pm. Published: 21/09/2004
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King Charlie no hurler
Accent more Clapham Common than County Cork, the great Charlie Hurley has been telling us - as promised - all he knows about hurling. It takes about ten seconds. Though born there on October 4 1936, King Charlie wasn't even aware that Cork - known as
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A marriage of the truly mindless
It's turning out to be a very busy autumn for weddings. But a couple came and asked if they could make "alternative vows" at their wedding. You wonder what's coming next: do they want to replace "'till death us do part" with "until a week on Tuesday"?
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Pyramid scheme in demand
A PLANNED £2m office and industrial development in York has proved so popular that 11 of the 12 industrial units have been sold even before detailed planning approval has been given. The 22,000sq ft Pyramid scheme, comprising 16 small office and industrial
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Clough's heaven was his native North-East
I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing," said Brian Clough, when asked how he would like to be remembered. "I contributed - I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me." Loved and admired in equal measure
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House prices remain high in North-East
NORTH-East house buyers are paying nearly a third more on mortgages than at this time last year, research revealed yesterday. Despite the housing market showing signs of slowing down, prices remain high and this, combined with rising interest rates, has
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Support boost for historic building
A GROUP aiming to restore an 18th Century mill has more than doubled in numbers after the project was highlighted on national television. Gayle Mill, near Hawes, in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, came third in the final of BBC TV's Restoration programme
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Concert will boost leprosy mission
A NORTH-EAST woman's mission to help women leprosy victims in India has inspired music lovers to organise a special fundraising concert. Leah Pattison, from Frosterley, County Durham, relies on money sent from her home region to support her work in the
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Advice service for organic farmers
THE North-East's developing organic farming industry has received a boost with the launch of an advice service. Money from the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs' (Defra) Rural Enterprise Scheme has been awarded to the Soil Association
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Eating Owt: Food that's just the job
The column concurs with CAMRA in finding the Colliery Inn, at High Job's Hill, near Crook, a hidden gem. THE guides camp clamorously on the doorstep: the 2005 Good Beer Guide and both Les Routiers and Michelin pub guides launched last week upon a nation
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Steel fortunes looking good
THE future was looking brighter for thousands of Teesside steel workers this week as steel operator Corus announced it was in profit for the first time. Soaring steel prices and a robust restructuring plan boosted the former British Steel business. The
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Homes plan opposition is growing
MORE than 2,000 names have been collected by protestor Chris McGlade against proposals for a multi-million pound development in Redcar. Developer Persimmon hopes to build homes and leisure facilities on the site of the Coatham Enclosure and will be submitting
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Drying ground will help Bay to dazzle
DRYING ground should help Dazzling Bay (3.15) bounce back to his best in feature event at Beverley today, the five-furlong £14,000 Violet & Eddie Memorial Stales. Following a fabulously successful 2003 campaign when Tim Easterby's sprinter mopped
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Peacock and Clough ruled the Boro roost
ALAN PEACOCK and Brian Clough formed one of Middlesbrough's most prolific strike forces. The centre-forwards hit 262 league goals between them during their six years together at Ayresome Park and the passing of Clough yesterday left his former teammate
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Pupils learn to sparkle in spotlight
YOUNGSTERS have been given a confidence boost by a poet, broadcaster, commentator and programme maker. The children, from Wheatlands Primary School, in Redcar, have been learning to stand up confidently and read aloud to an audience with the help of Ian
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Wind farm plans to go on show
PLANS for a new wind farm in the region go on display this week. EDF Energy is unveiling proposals for up to four turbines at Langley, close to Burnhope, near Stanley, County Durham. While the company has yet to apply for planning app-roval, the plans
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It's the little things that matter
PLANS for a business park have been significantly altered to protect water voles. Quorum Development Partners LLP, which is building an office development at Balliol Business Park East, in Longbenton, on Tyneside, wants to make sure that a waterway inhabited
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Injuries start to mount for Hodgson
DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson is facing a major injury headache ahead of Saturday's trip to Macclesfield. Hodgson could be without up to six first-team players after they all missed training yesterday. Ian Clark and Joe Kendrick both picked up ankle
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Supermarkets sweep away high street opposition
With sales down and boardrooms in crisis, these are troubling times for the tradional big names on the high street. Paul Willis reports. IT has been a long and painful year for Marks & Spencer. The grand old man of the high street fought off a highly
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Gallery holds its first show
A NEW community art gallery and shop has held its first exhibition Residents of Catchgate, near Stanley, have set up the Chiron Art Gallery, in Catchgate Methodist Church hall, using National Lottery funding. Founder member Rikki Blythe said: "This is
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Caricaturist drawn to music festival
AN event has been organised to launch the District of Easington's 12th annual music festival. At Dalton Park, Murton, on Thursday, caricaturist Alistair Graham will be displaying his impressions of world jazz celebrities, followed by live jazz from the
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TV spot for line dancers
LINE dancers will be able to see themselves in action on television on Sunday night. Irene Tradewell's classes at Crook Cricket Club are featured in the latest edition of the Tyne Tees programme Britain on the Move. Mrs Tradewell said: "Exercise was the
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It's time for seafarers' angel to spread its wings
THERE'S an angel at the bottom of Adrian Pearce's garden and he desperately needs to find it a new home. It was back in 1972 that Mr Pearce, then a young art teacher in Middlesbrough, was commissioned to create a sculpture of an angel for the Mission
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Big headed, big hearted
BY common consensus, Brian Clough was conceited and big headed. Despite those dubious qualities, it is a tribute to his managerial talents that even 11 years after his retirement, he was revered by football supporters and players alike. Fans tuned in
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Caricaturist drawn to music festival
AN event has been organised to launch the District of Easington's 12th annual music festival. At Dalton Park, Murton, on Thursday, caricaturist Alistair Graham will be displaying his impressions of world jazz celebrities, followed by live jazz from the
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Date
Drying ground will help Bay to dazzle
DRYING ground should help Dazzling Bay (3.15) bounce back to his best in feature event at Beverley today, the five-furlong £14,000 Violet & Eddie Memorial Stales. Following a fabulously successful 2003 campaign when Tim Easterby's sprinter mopped
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If an offer seems too good to be true...
COMPANIES in the region have been warned to check on businesses offering to dispose of their waste cheaply. The Environment Agency said it was increasingly investigating businesses for "duty of care" offences, which occur when a company pays someone to
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Bogus fortune teller may have duped pensioners
TRADING standards officers are investigating allegations that a woman claiming to be a fortune teller may have been duping elderly people out of money. The woman, in her fifties, from Darlington, is alleged to have visited a 78-year-old man at his home
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Landowners in hunting pledge
LANDOWNERS have pledged to make their fields no-go areas for ramblers, the military and utilities companies, if fox hunting is banned. The Countryside Alliance said last night that access permission for Government or other activities - laying or maintaining
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Making sure that the money stays where it is needed
SOLICITOR Trish Haw-kins has a difficult job. As head of Newcastle law firm Irwin Mitchell's court of protection unit, she manages multi-million pound settlements for brain-injury victims and tries to ensure the award will support them for the rest of
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Tributes paid to a genius of football
TRIBUTES flooded in from around the country last night for North-East football manager Brian Clough, who died at the age of 69. The European Cup-winning boss had members of his family at his bedside when he died at Derby City Hospital yesterday after
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Entries sought for country skills contest
THE best examples of the traditional rural crafts of hedge laying and dry stone wall building will be on display in the region next month. The County Durham Hedgerow Partnership is staging its annual celebration at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, on Tuesday
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Takeover by Tesco 'will end confusion'
SUPERMARKET chain Tesco is buying two former Safeway stores in the North-East from rival Morrisons. Tesco is buying a total of ten stores around the UK, including Safeway stores in Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, and Redcar in east Cleveland. Morrisons
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Airport expansion could create thousands of jobs
Thousands of new jobs could be created over the next decade as part of a massive expansion of the former Teesside International Airport, bosses have revealed. The first flight to land at the newly-named Durham Tees Valley Airport touched down yesterday
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Shell-shocked Myrtle making slow recovery
A SEA turtle that survived a shark attack, severe dehydration and hypothermia arrived in the region yesterday to continue her recovery. Loggerhead turtle Myrtle was taken to Scarborough Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary to take advantage of its warm water
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Job Search: Vacancies
Retail and information assistant. £5.60ph, 11-26hpw. Good standard of education and some previous retail experience required. Ref: NAL 278. Receptionist. £12,000pa, 35hpw. Previous experience essential. Ref: NAL 281. Working supervisor. £300-£400pw, 50
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Shared name brings communities closer
A TOWN has been visited by an ambassador from its US namesake. Jill Emerson, from Richmond, Missouri, decided to take a trip to Richmond, North Yorkshire, after reading an article about the town. She said: "We found out that Richmond in North Yorkshire
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Revamped sauna opens
A SAUNA at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre is to re-open following a £215,000 refurbishment. The development is a joint investment between Sedgefield Borough Council and Lifestyle Fitness Suite's parent company, Competition Line. The sauna will re-open
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Childcare courses for fathers proving a big success
A CHILDCARE course exclusively for men is proving successful in Durham. Bishop Auckland College has teamed up with SureStart Ferryhill and Chilton and the regional Children's charity Children North East, to run classes that can lead to a Cache qualification
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Cyclist's 800-mile aim
A cyclist is riding 800 miles to Brighton from his North-East home to raise awareness of a charity. Colin Brannen, who is in his 60s, left from Newcastle on Sunday. The Christian Aid supporter will join the Campaign for Trade Justice at the Labour Party
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Martial arts on display at centre
AN international martial arts contest will take place in Newton Aycliffe next month. Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre is hosting the 10th Goshin Ryu International Total Ring Combat Tournament on Saturday, October 2. The mixed martial arts tournament will
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Parisian treat for art collectors
A RARE drawing of a Paris street scene by a North-East artist better known for his mining studies will go under the hammer this month. The drawing, by Norman Cornish, of an elderly woman walking up Montmartre Street, was done for the artist's 1966 Tyne
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School vandal attack appeal
POLICE are appealing for information after two youths caused damage at a Newton Aycliffe school. The incident happened at Stephenson Way Infant School at 8.45pm on Sunday. The two males damaged a small tree, ripped a sewer pipe off the wall and pulled
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Taxi driver's licence appeal withdrawn
A TAXI driver's appeal against a local authority's decision not to renew his Hackney carriage licence was withdrawn yesterday. Terry O'Neill had appealed against Darlington Borough Council's decision not to renew the permit in June because he refused
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Young people to get a say
THE views of young people are wanted to shape council policy. North Yorkshire County Council is running a series of workshops for Local Democracy Week next month. Council leader John Weighell said: "Without young people really realising it, the county
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Minister hails site's revival
THE Minister for *ocal government and the Regions yesterday welcomed new confidence in a neighbourhood with low demand for housing. Nick Raynsford spoke as he saw first-hand how a new housing development was helping to breathe new life into an area that
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Teenager on the run caught in traffic stop
A TEENAGER on the run from the law was caught when his uncle was stopped for speeding, a court was told. Magistrates heard how traffic police pulled over Stephen MacDonald's uncle for speeding and carried out checks on MacDonald, 19. They discovered that
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Fans of mighty MGs outgrow their 'home'
WHEN Durham MG Club was founded in February 2001, it had only 13 members. Three years on, the group of classic car enthusiasts has grown to more than 150, forcing it to find a new venue for its monthly meetings. Originally, the club met at Durham's Cock
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School to get fitness suite
A REDCAR school is to benefit from £500,000 Lottery funding to boost PE and sport. It will pay for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to create a fitness suite, changing rooms, storage and reception facilities at the school. The fitness suite will form
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Volunteers urged to step forward and help save a life
VOLUNTEERS are being urged to come forward and help run a life-saving initiative for people who need emergency medical care. A student nurse from Ripon has come up with the idea of setting up a First Responder scheme in the city. Gemma Martin heard about
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Residents can shape future of policing
THE public will be given their chance to shape the future of policing in Cleveland at a meeting held tonight. The meeting at Stockton branch library, in Church Street, Stockton, at 6.30pm, will be the third of four in the area, designed to give people
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Chip van stripped of equipment
THIEVES got away with about £2,400 of catering equipment when they raided a chip van at a stock car racing venue. Police believe it must have taken the raiders a lot of time to unscrew and remove the items, and load them into a vehicle, at Barford Raceway
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Two hurt in car crash
TWO men were being treated in hospital yesterday after a car accident. The crash happened at about 3.30am on Sunday after a Peugeot 205 appeared to spin out of control in Billingham, near Stockton. It hit a parked Hyundai car near the roundabout at the
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Developers unveil plans for £20m town centre revamp
DETAILS have emerged of how a Teesside town will be transformed in a £20m redevelopment. An artist's impression has been released, along with details of the scheme in the heart of Thornaby. A date has also been set for work to begin after planning permission
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Drug squad raids homes
THREE people have been arrested after police seized a quantity of substances suspected to be drugs with a street value of £5,000. On Friday night, following information from the public, officers went to a house on the Lakes Estate, in Redcar. A search
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Pupil earns trophy in sister's name
A TROPHY awarded in memory of a Bedale High School pupil killed in a road accident has been won by her sister. Ashleigh Robinson, who has chosen PE as a GCSE subject, won the Becky Robinson Cup for her effort in girls' sport. The trophy was inaugurated
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Revamped sauna opens
A SAUNA at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre is to re-open following a £215,000 refurbishment. It will re-open from Monday. Opening hours will be 8am to 9pm every day. To celebrate the investment, Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre is presenting every customer
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Chance to check progress of education village
PARENTS and pupils can access week-by-week updates on the development of Darlington's pioneering education village. The borough council has set up a web link on its site, www.darlington.gov.uk, for people to track the progress of the £34.9m project being
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Views to be sought on phone mast plan
PEOPLE are being asked whether they want a mobile phone mast to be put up near houses in Darlington. Communications company 02 wants to erect the 15-metre mast and antennae, and an equipment cabin, in Whinbush Way. The company already has planning permission
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College rejects accusations over park littering problem
A COLLEGE has rejected claims that its students are to blame for litter in a Darlington park. Residents have complained that rubbish is strewn about Stanhope Park on a daily basis and say that students from the nearby Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
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Driver escapes injury as scaffolding hits van
A MAN was lucky to escape uninjured when scaffolding fell on his van as he drove along a busy Darlington road. The structure came crashing down in the wind, severely damaging the vehicle and a second van parked outside a shop in Bondgate. Darlington Borough
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Health trust to unveil five-year strategy
A HEALTH trust's strategic plans for the next five years will be unveiled at a public board meeting on Friday. Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust will present Better at Home, a plan which includes chronic disease management, community
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Extra places at popular new sixth form
THE popularity of a new Middlesbrough school has led to the sixth-form being over subscribed in its first year. The Department for Education and Skills has agreed to fund 18 extra places at the King's Academy sixth form following the demand from students
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Plain sailing on horizon for Abbey takeover
IT now looks likely to be plain sailing for the Spanish takeover of Abbey National. This follows on from last week, when the man from HBoS - he say No. The market had expected HBoS, the merged entity of Halifax and Bank of Scotland, to put in a rival
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Protection ruled out for older workers
The Court of Appeal has added another twist in the long-running saga of whether older employees have protection against unfair dismissal. Under the Employment Rights Act, protection stops at 65 unless there is another, well-established retirement age
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Trust seeks views on nursing services
north Durham residents are being urged to have their say on how to develop community nursing services. Derwentside Primary Care Trust is holding two public consultation events next month, to give people the chance to comment on its proposed nursing strategy
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Spurned lover set house on fire
A MAN who set fire to a house after being dumped by his girlfriend has been sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institution. James Prest, 20, began a campaign of harassment against Helen Tinkler after reacting badly to the end of their relationship
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Woman beaten by youth as she fights off attacking dog
A WOMAN may need reconstructive surgery after she was kicked in the face by a youth as she attempted to rescue her dog, set upon by a bull terrier. The 41-year-old woman was walking her three dogs in Borough Park, off Redcar Lane, Redcar, east Cleveland
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Stan the mechanical horse wins approval
A CHARITY providing therapeutic riding lessons for disabled people has taken delivery of a £17,000 mechanical horse. Called Stan, he is the first of his kind to be able to move from walk to trot to canter with just a nudge of the legs. He was delivered
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Caricaturist drawn to music festival
AN event has been organised to launch the District of Easington's 12th annual music festival. At Dalton Park, Murton, on Thursday, caricaturist Alistair Graham will be displaying his impressions of world jazz celebrities, followed by live jazz from the
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Hear Gareth play guitar
A HARTLEPOOL guitarist is to perform at the Sir William Turner's Almshouses. Gareth Proctor, 22, who took up the guitar at the age of 11, is in his final year at the Birmingham Conservatoire. As part of his studies, he must organise and present his own
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Food that's just the job
The column concurs with CAMRA in finding the Colliery Inn, at High Job's Hill, near Crook, a hidden gem. THE guides camp clamorously on the doorstep: the 2005 Good Beer Guide and both Les Routiers and Michelin pub guides launched last week upon a nation
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European reforms 'threaten future of farms in Dales'
CHANGES in Europe threaten the future of many Dales farms, national park bosses have warned. A Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority report said the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms will mean farmers will be forced to find new sources of income
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Olympic heroes keep their date with charity run
TWO Olympic heroes will be in the region this weekend for the Great North Run. Double gold winner Kelly Holmes will get the race under way, while four-times Olympic champion Matthew Pinsent will be among the 49,000 tackling the 13.1 miles from Newcastle
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King Charlie no hurler
Accent more Clapham Common than County Cork, the great Charlie Hurley has been telling us - as promised - all he knows about hurling. It takes about ten seconds. Though born there on October 4 1936, King Charlie wasn't even aware that Cork - known as
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King Charlie hails 'the best ever'
SUNDERLAND legend Charlie Hurley last night expressed his sadness on hearing his former colleague Brian Clough had died with stomach cancer. Hurley, voted the Black Cats' greatest ever player, was Clough's skipper in Alan Brown's side when the striker
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Court told of school bus driver 'texting'
A SCHOOL bus driver "in a bad mood" slammed on his brakes, sending pupils flying, after allegedly being spotted texting while driving. Some suffered bumps and bruises, but one girl broke a bone in her lower forearm, a jury heard. As the youngsters got
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Paula's tribute to nephew and sister's courage
A WOMAN who lost her sister to leukaemia aims to raise money for research into the disease when she takes part in the Bupa Great North Run this weekend. Paula Henderson, 39, is running the half-marathon in memory of her sister, Vicki Waldie, 43, who lost
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Why there are no flies on Falvey
Andrew Falvey, star of the world's biggest soap, talks to Steve Pratt about his latest role playing Ralph in Lord of the Flies. FORGET Coronation Street and EastEnders. Andrew Falvey appears in the soap with the biggest audience in the world and it's
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Backing for strike ballot at Jaguar
JAGUAR car workers have backed a call for a strike ballot in protest at the ending of motor production at their plant, unions announced last night. A series of meetings among employees and union shop stewards at the Browns Lane factory, in Coventry, led
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Cultural summit for North-East
THE GLOBAL spotlight will fall on the North-East when hundreds of cultural and political leaders from around the world hold a meeting in the region, it was revealed yesterday. The chairman of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Cultural
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Emmerdale residents climb to top of the property ladder
TV SOAP Emmerdale may be losing out in the ratings war, but residents in the programme come top of the property ladder, according to the latest research. A survey showing relative house prices on different UK soaps revealed property in the Yorkshire Dales
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Bramble seeks a swift return to action
TITUS Bramble is hoping to end a summer of frustration by forcing his way into the Newcastle side for Saturday's Premiership clash with West Brom. The 23-year-old, who has missed the opening five games of the campaign after injuring his hamstring in pre-season
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Rising phone sales create 50 jobs at electronics firm
Technology company Filtronic is to create 50 jobs as a result of rapid growth in the electronics industry helped by rising mobile phone sales. The jobs will be at the comp-any's Newton Aycliffe plant, near Darlington. The recruitment drive will take the
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Turning the Big C into 'little c'
Cancer has struck Jacqui Herlingshaw's family four times, twice affecting her, attacking her brother and causing her mother's death. Yet her amazing attitude has got her through it, as Sarah Foster finds out. JACQUI Herlingshaw has a distinct mental image
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'Come here and give us a kiss' - Anderson
FORMER Middlesbrough assistant manager Viv Anderson last night recalled his former boss Brian Clough - with a kiss! Anderson played for Brian Clough between 1974 to 1984 and made history when he became the first black player to win a full international
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Storms and Russian courts push oil prices higher
STORM damage to key US oil installations and supply disruptions in Russia sent oil prices spiralling beyond the $46 mark yesterday. The cost of light crude bounced to $46.35 a barrel in New York on news that Russia's largest producer, Yukos, had scaled
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Life at Ayresome Park was never dull with Brian around
Few journalists watched Brian Clough in a Middlesbrough shirt as much as Ray Robertson. The former Northern Echo journalist remembers happy days on Teesside. Brian Clough was a unique character. One of Middlesbrough's favourite sons, he was labelled brash
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North-East film outsells blockbusters
AFTER outselling Hollywood on all ten screens at Middlesbrough's UGC multiplex last week, a local film is due to public demand. A Century In Stone, a documentary about Teesside's industrial past, was watched by 1,323 people in four days. Eston-born filmmaker
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Actor misses opening night
VETERAN actor Brian Blessed missed the opening of a production in the region last night due to ill health. The 67-year-old star was due to appear at Darlington Civic Theatre in the supernatural drama, The Haunted Hotel. He pulled out of the play in Colchester
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Skipper Humphreys will savour date at Palace
RITCHIE Humphreys, fresh from his best display of the season, is relishing the chance to return to the big stage tonight. Stand-in Hartlepool United captain Humphreys scored his first goal of the season in last Saturday's 4-1 win over Torquay. And the
