Archive
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Festival treats for classical music lovers
A two-day music festival will be held at Kirkleatham Almshouses and Gisborough Hall next month. Italian guitarist Giulio Tampalini opens the festival at 7.30pm on Tuesday, October 19. The following evening will feature Finnish pianist Antii Siirala, who
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Street wardens cast uniforms aside in charity Full Monty show
BIG-hearted street wardens would give the shirts off their own backs to help a charitable cause - and this week they went a bit further and bared almost all for charity. The wardens slipped out of their green uniforms at the Parkway Social Club, Coulby
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Don't let sentiment get in the way of progress
THE Victorians were a daring lot. We have images of them concealing the ankles of their piano legs because they feared some would find them too sexy. We have photographs of them concealing their faces, and their expressions, behind frighteningly austere
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Petition to save PO from closure is handed over
PENSIONERS campaigning to save their local post office from closure have taken their fight to the top. A petition was presented to Prime Minister Tony Blair's agent, John Burton, at his constituency office in Trimdon Grange, County Durham. The petition
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£15,000 tribute to memory of Marco by pub fundraisers
STAFF and regulars at a village pub have raised £15,000 in memory of a friend. Mark Forster, known as Marco, died in October last year, aged 26, after a bone marrow transplant failed to save him from leukaemia. Friends at the Burton House pub, in Burnopfield
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Street fighters
DEFENDING champions Chester-le-Street are confident of retaining their title in today's North of England Four Stage Road Relays at Blackpool, despite being without two internationals. The Cestrians, the first North-East women's team to win the National
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Rob's open verdict
ROB Andrew is looking forward to a resumption of the sort of rugby which is helping to pack Premiership grounds when he sends out his Newcastle Falcons side for a top-of-the-table clash at Gloucester today. The Director of Rugby was scathing in his criticism
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Sisters stir up wartime memories
TWO sisters are to make an emotional return to the hotel where they spent the war years. Mary McKenna and Kath Campbell left Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, in 1940, aged 17 and 15, to find work. The sisters spent the next five years working at
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Show me the money
AS I co-own one of the more bankrupt branches of The Bank Of Mum And Dad (BBC2, Tuesday) it was pretty obvious that my wife and I needed a few pointers on dealing with penniless offspring. Sadly, the opening episode featured a pretty obnoxious daughter
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Bridge protest as dynamic duo fight for fathers' group
PROTESTORS dressed as Batman and Robin scaled Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge yesterday to draw attention to their campaign. Two members of Fathers 4 Justice climbed the bridge at 4am and unfurled banners proclaiming support for Paul Watson, the group's
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Players to put one-act plays in the spotlight
AMATEUR actors are taking to the stage next week to entertain audiences with a series of one-act plays. The Sedgefield Players will be staging nine mini-productions over the five-day Sedgefield Drama Festival, running from Tuesday until next Saturday.
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Alan, naturally
Britain's best-loved gardener and second sexiest man, Alan Tichmarsh has pruned his gardening interests and sown seeds of a new TV career. He talks to Steve Pratt. For the past 18 months, Alan Titchmarsh has been travelling the length and breadth of the
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Geordie duo renew contract with ITV
GEORDIE television favour-ites Ant and Dec have renewed their lucrative contract with ITV. It is thought that the three-year exclusive deal could be worth about £2m each. Anthony McPartlin, 28, said: ''We are thrilled to be extending our relationship
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Under starter's orders for Great North event
THE Great North Run, which starts in Newcastle tomorrow, has attracted a record 49,000 entrants, organisers revealed last night. People running for good causes are expected to collect more than £8m in sponsorship - the highest amount ever raised from
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Quick-on-the-draw artist captures thief
POLICE have issued a sketch by a quick-on-the-draw resident who witnessed his neighbour's house being burgled. The thief was captured on paper as he fled a house in Stanley Terrace, Aiskew, North Yorkshire, yesterday morning. A police spokesman said an
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Excitement mounting as 'last jigsaw piece in place'
ONE of the rail industry's most prized treasures rolled up in the North-East yesterday to celebrate the opening of a multi-million pound museum. The City of Truro is due to be one of the star attractions at Locomotion: National Railway Museum (NRM) at
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Young Souness the best remedy for dad's temper
GRAEME SOUNESS insists his young son has helped mellow his hot-temper, which could spell good news for the members of Newcastle United's squad with reputations for wayward behaviour. The so-called 'rat pack' may well escape a trademark diatribe from their
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Ascot battlefield for title-chasers
EXTRA spice has been added to this afternoon's meeting at Ascot, where Kieren Fallon and Frankie Dettori continue to trade punches in the big fight for this year's Flat jockeys' championship. Dettori is favourite to win rounds one and two by taking the
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Mint tea, anyone?
WE wake with a start as our driver stops in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. Or so it appears. There isn't a settlement or a soul in sight. "Come, come," he implores us. "Come have a look at their house." We are travelling through the
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Comedy has winning formula
A MUSICAL comedy is helping to get pupils interested in chemistry, and teach them about the subject at the same time. Pupils from four Teesside schools have seen the production, thanks to the joint efforts of the Quantum Theatre-in-Education company and
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Versatile Hughes puts himself in the frame
NEWCASTLE defender Aaron Hughes is hoping to win a recall for this afternoon's clash against basement side West Bromwich Albion at St James' Park. The Northern Ireland international was on the bench for last week's 2-1 victory at Southampton after manager
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25/09/04
DARLINGTON: I WAS absolutely shocked to read that Darlington council is planning to get rid of the balustrades, railings and granite steps on the High Row when the town centre is pedestrianised (Echo, Sept 17). I accept that it is good to be traffic-free
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A Chelsea reunion on Teesside for Boro pair
AFTER being dumped by Chelsea in the summer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Bolo Zenden take on their former employers today with Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren claiming both will be out to prove a point against the Blues. When Jose Mourinho took charge
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Sisters stir up wartime memories
TWO sisters are to make an emotional return to the hotel where they spent the war years. Mary McKenna and Kath Campbell left Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, in 1940, aged 17 and 15, to find work. The sisters spent the next five years working at
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Whizz kids in top five across the country
COMPUTER whizz-kids at a County Durham school are celebrating after getting some of the best GCSE grades in the country. Jayne Moyle and Andrew Charlton, who attended Sedgefield Community College, have discovered they were in the top five out of 23,199
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Headteacher welcomes extension
AN extension to a rural village primary school means children are no longer having to take lessons in the hall. The extension to Cotherstone Primary School, in Teesdale, was formally opened yesterday and provides an extra classroom for the small school
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Community group seeks volunteers
A COUNTY Durham community group is appealing for residents to help plan future projects. The Burnt Houses, Esperley and Cockfield Community Partnership needs more members to help get new projects off the ground. Recent projects it has worked on include
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Basketball team earn school's top awards
A SCHOOL'S basketball team were the sporting stars of a presentation evening celebrating a year of high achievement. The basketball squad at Wolsingham School and Community College was named team of the year for their success in winning the English Schools
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Tragedy of fisherman too proud to ask for cash help
A fisherman who lived as a loner took his own life rather than seek help, an inquest heard yesterday. The Hartlepool coroner heard that Barry Bronson was a proud man who could not bring himself to ask for help when he was unable to find work. The body
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Headteacher welcomes extension
AN extension to a rural village primary school means children are no longer having to take lessons in the hall. The extension to Cotherstone Primary School, in Teesdale, was formally opened yesterday and provides an extra classroom for the small school
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City bids farewell to adopted warship
HMS Newcastle was bid a fond farewell by its adopted home yesterday as its freedom scroll was returned to the city. The scroll, presented to the ship's company after the warship was granted the Honorary Freedom of Newcastle following its launch in 1978
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Blaze at farm
FIREFIGHTERS spent 16 hours tackling a blaze that destroyed 500 bales of hay at a farm. The fire broke out at High Stanghow Farm, near Saltburn, east Cleveland, shortly before 8pm on Thursday. Firefighers contain the fire and then damped down and broke
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Beginners get to explore allotments
A CHANCE to sample allotment gardening is being offered through a health and environmental project. The Allotments for Everyone scheme will see dozens of allotments upgraded and plots set aside for beginners. Officers from Groundwork West Durham will
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Fight goes on to save hospital
CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to carry on fighting to save a community hospital despite a decision to close it. Members of Durham Dales Primary Care Trust have voted unanimously to close Homelands Hospital, in Helmington Row, despite strong opposition from residents
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No more room at centre extension
THE last remaining spaces in an extension to the region's biggest shopping centre have been snapped up by two Spanish retailers. Fashion chains Mango and Bershka have taken the last available floorspace in the New Red Mall, at the Gateshead MetroCentre
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First-ever band of Christian soldiers celebrate 125 years
From the US to Australia and all across the UK, the Salvation Army band has grown into one of the world's most instantly recognisable institutions. But it may come as a surprise to learn that the first-ever Salvation Army band was formed by workers at
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Schools pick up computer equipment
MP Gerry Steinberg handed over computer equipment to five Durham City schools yesterday. The MP presented thousands of pounds-worth of equipment, including PCs, laptops, digital microscopes and scanners, donated under the Tesco Computers For Schools scheme
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UK soldiers may face charges over death
THE Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been asked to consider charges over an alleged unlawful killing in Iraq involving British soldiers. The Attorney General made the request on Thursday following consultation with the Army Prosecuting Authority. A
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Cornering the market in green housing
A COMPANY is expecting to win £20m in orders by the end of the year after forming two firms to build homes, schools and offices using timber. Metnor, which is based in Newcastle, has set up Ecosystems and Modehus. By the end of next year, it expects to
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Birds were main concern
A CONTRACT with Yorkshire Water led to a helicopter mission for civil engineering contractor ETM. The company, based in Yorkshire, had to replace a water main that runs across natural peat moorland in Swaledale. But work had to be carried out without
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Livestock
NORTHALLERTON. Wed. Forward: 321 breeding sheep in prize show and sale, 147 store and breeding cattle. Sheep - judged by M. Dale. Mule shearlings: 1 and 2 £95 £94, R G Johnson; Continental X: 1 £58 J S Greensent, 2 £62 G M Taylor; Rams: 1 315gns N A Thompson
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Reward for lost cat
THE distraught owner of a missing cat has put up a cash reward for her safe return. Louise Craggs, from Geneva Gardens, Darlington, is desperate for her tortoiseshell cat, Joany, to return home, after being missing for more than two weeks. Miss Craggs
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Blair's 'blood price'
HOSTAGES in Iraq are among those paying "the blood price" for Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to go to war, Scottish Nationalist Party leader Alex Salmond said yesterday. Mr Salmond made the charge in a speech to his party's annual conference in
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Smarties have the answer for church
HUNDREDS of tubes of Smarties have been distributed to children and adults to raise money for charity. The sweets have been given to youngsters in the parish of All Saints and Salutation, in Blackwell, Darlington. It is hoped the chocolates will be enjoyed
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Plan to blockade village rat run
ANGRY residents have threatened to barricade all roads leading into their village unless Darlington Borough Council and the police tackle the traffic chaos. Local people are prepared to close off Sadberge, near Darlington, during rush hour to draw attention
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Trusted carer stole from blind woman
A TRUSTED carer for a blind woman stole from her bank account in a series of cash-point withdrawals. Julie Wilkinson, 36, stole £5,090 during a 17-month period. Durham Crown Court heard that Wilkinson, who had no previous convictions, accepted the figure
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Drunken knifeman slashed victim
A MAN lashed out with a kitchen knife, injuring two friends sleeping at his sister's home, a court heard. Michael John Weatherburn was jailed for three years. Durham Crown Court was told one of his victims may be permanently scarred after being slashed
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How's that for starters - 49,000 on their marks for Kelly
GOLDEN girl Kelly Holmes is in the region today to run her last race of the season before putting 49,000 people under starters orders for the Great North Run. The double Olympic winner, right, is taking part in the Great North Mile today. She has won
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Man stabbed friend in row over music
A MAN who left his friend lying in a pool of blood after stabbing him during a row over what music they should listen to was jailed yesterday. Anthony Lynch plunged a knife into Michael Straughan's thigh, severing his femoral artery and causing severe
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Fire forces charity shop
A CHARITY shop will be closed for up to a month after it was gutted by fire yesterday. Flames tore through the ground floor of the National Kidney Research Foundation store, in Harraton Terrace, Birtley, near Chester-le-Street. Firefighters, who were
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Women drivers warned of raids
WOMEN are being urged to keep their cars locked while they are driving, following a number of bag thefts on Teesside. Two women motorists have had their bags stolen by thieves riding past on a scooter. Two men rode up to a car that had stopped at traffic
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Eminem row pianist to perform
A FRENCH pianist, who will face rap star Eminem in court over allegations of copying his work, is to perform in the region next month. Jacques Loussier and his trio will appear at Darlington Civic Theatre for one night, performing music by Bach, Satie
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Meeting over offices sell-off
PARISH councillors are meeting to discuss proposals to sell their premises for use by the community. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council plans to sell offices and storage rooms, at the junction of Dundas Street and Bath Street, in Saltburn, which are
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Jail for addict who hid drugs
AN addict who hid a dealer's stash of heroin and crack cocaine in a cupboard at his home was jailed for five years yesterday. Kevin Wright, 20, said he was forced to store the drugs after he saw a man hide £2,444 of heroin in a lamp-post. He said he removed
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£125,000 grant brings new jobs
A COMPANY is to take on 13 more workers, after winning a £125,000 grant. Middlesbrough based marketing company Rocket Science, whose clients include Mazda, Honda, Cointreau, Northumbrian Water and the University of Teesside, has been awarded a Regional
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Battle against age-old problem
A FORMER football manager is helping to spearhead a campaign to drive out ageism. Age Concern Teesside is launching a campaign to encourage older people in Teesside to stand up for their rights. Throughout next week - Age Concern Week - older people will
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Cornering the market in green housing
A COMPANY is expecting to win £20m in orders by the end of the year after forming two firms to build homes, schools and offices using timber. Metnor, which is based in Newcastle, has set up Ecosystems and Modehus. By the end of next year, it expects to
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Tiptoe burglars are locked up
TWO burglars who tiptoed around a sleeping woman in her home before driving off in her car were each jailed for five years yeserday. Freda Din fell asleep on the sofa watching TV and woke at 3am to discover her handbag and laptop computer were missing
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Girl hit by runaway van back at university
AN undergraduate forced to miss a year of studies following a serious accident is about to resume her university course. Ursula Billington was crushed against a wall by a runaway council van, which rolled down the cobbled street of Owengate, off Palace
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Goodness among evil
IT has been a harrowing, depressing week, waiting for news of the fate of British hostage Ken Bigley. There are times when it is impossible to comprehend how human beings can be so cruel to others. But while our thoughts remain with Mr Bigley and his
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A Chelsea reunion on Teesside for Boro pair
AFTER being dumped by Chelsea in the summer, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Bolo Zenden take on their former employers today with Middlesbrough manager Steve McClaren claiming both will be out to prove a point against the Blues. When Jose Mourinho took charge
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Mystery picture of missing N-E tourist
AN international search for a North-East man who disappeared after travelling to Greece for the Olympic Games took a bizarre twist yesterday. A photograph of Melvyn Gamblin enjoying the sunshine in Athens was posted from the Greek capital to his home
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Poom the spot-kick hero as Black Cats extend run
IN the wonderful world of football, a lot can change in a week. After tumbling out of the Carling Cup on penalties at Crewe on Tuesday night, a spot-kick save enabled the Black Cats to extend their winning Championship run to four games at Leeds. Thomas
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Power cut nurses ventilate by hand
NURSES had to manually ventilate patients on life-support machines after a power failure at a hospital. The lights went out at the £67m Bishop Auckland General Hospital, in County Durham, during routine tests on back-up generators. Although the interruption
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Festival treats for classical music lovers
A two-day music festival will be held at Kirkleatham Almshouses and Gisborough Hall next month. Italian guitarist Giulio Tampalini opens the festival at 7.30pm on Tuesday, October 19. The following evening will feature Finnish pianist Antii Siirala, who
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Police use Axe to cut heroin use
HEROIN and crack cocaine worth thousands of pounds has been recovered during police raids. Operation Axe, carried out on Wearside by Northumbria Police, targeted drugs suppliers in Houghton-le-Spring and the Hendon and Castletown areas of Sunderland.
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Cornering the market in green housing
A COMPANY is expecting to win £20m in orders by the end of the year after forming two firms to build homes, schools and offices using timber. Metnor, which is based in Newcastle, has set up Ecosystems and Modehus. By the end of next year, it expects to
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Dancers stepping out to aid theatre restoration
YOUNG North Yorkshire dancers will be helping to raise money to help in the restoration of Harrogate's Royal Hall theatre. Over the years, members of the Knaresborough and Harrogate Dance Studio have raised thousands of pounds for good causes by staging
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Hodgson introduces the fear factor
DAVID HODGSON has reminded his Darlington players of the predicament they were in last season as he challenged them to get their new campaign back on track at Macclesfield Town this afternoon. Hodgson has been highly critical of his players in recent
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Teenage fireraiser locked up by judge
A TEENAGE firestarter described as a danger to the public by a judge has been locked up for four years. David Hewitson, 17, was told by Judge David Bryant, sentencing him at Teesside Crown Court, that on his release from custody he would then remain on
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Hedgehog sanctuary cash plea
THE region's only hedgehog sanctuary is facing closure because of a lack of funding. Lynne Appleby has run the Hog Haven sanctuary at her home in West Dyke Road, Redcar, for 15 years and cared for 1,500 hedgehogs, which have been either injured, ill,
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Coverage call to phone operators
RESIDENTS and community leaders have urged mobile phone companies to improve coverage in the Dales. The request came after BT announced plans to remove many payphones in the area. Most of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale still have no coverage, despite mobile
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Company in running for £30,000 award
A NORTH Yorkshire company has been shortlisted for a national award. Professional Information, which is based at The Aske Stables, Richmond, is in the running for a Small Business Award 2004. From thousands of entries nationwide, nine small businesses
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Helping out at Palace garden party
TWO members of Teesside Boys' Brigade were given the chance to meet Professor Stephen Hawking at a garden party at Buckingham Palace. Robert Russell and Matthew Jackson, who are both candidates for the brigade's highest award, the Queen's Badge, were
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Family shares memories of 100-year-old Yorkshirewoman
A DAUGHTER has paid tribute to her mother who died this week, after recently celebrating her 100th birthday. Olive Paine was born in Skeeby in 1904 and lived all her life in North Yorkshire. Her daughter, Iris Peacock, believes she met husband Harold,
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Heartbeat author's new ywist
THE writer on whose books popular TV series Heartbeart is based has published the first of a new series of titles. Some Assured, by Nicholas Rhea, draws on his father's tales of his experiences as a rural insurance agent in the North York Moors in the
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Minibus appeal costs Llew his beard
A MAN has shaved off his beard for the first time in 14 years to raise money for a minibus appeal at his son's school. Llew Owen, from Brotton, raised more than £125 in sponsorship towards St Peter's Church of England Primary School's appeal for a 17-
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Rob's open verdict
ROB Andrew is looking forward to a resumption of the sort of rugby which is helping to pack Premiership grounds when he sends out his Newcastle Falcons side for a top-of-the-table clash at Gloucester today. The Director of Rugby was scathing in his criticism
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Arsonist jailed for seven years to protect the public
A MAN branded a danger by a judge was yesterday jailed for seven years for starting fires in a homeless hostel and a prison hospital wing. Ian Harrison's actions twice led to the evacuation of part of Stockton's Holme House Prison, putting lives at risk
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Wartime lifesaver is shipshape and ready for museum role
A FAMOUS old lifeboat is back on the ocean waves after nearly five years of dedicated work. The Princess Royal is to commemorate the £50,000 restoration of the Princess Royal lifeboat, which is to be used as a floating museum at Hartlepool Marina. It
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Lawyers look for a Vase lift
Tow Law are hoping to hit the FA Vase glory trail again and forget about their league form when they go to Bacup Borough today. Lawyers, who reached the final in 1998, only to lose to Tiverton, have struggled in the league this season, but manager Geoff
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Scouts prepare to party . . .
MORE than 700 Scouts from around the region will gather this weekend for what is expected to be their biggest ever North-East camp. The Confido event takes place at Rainton Gate, near Durham City, with Scouts from towns including Barnard Castle, County
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Wynyard is planning for 'estate of the art' golf
FOR over 150 years the international reputation of Wynyard has grown. "I have never left London with such a sense of relief and such anticipation of happiness," wrote author Benjamin Disraeli after one of his many visits in 1847 and it is that quote,
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Barron times so hard for Hartlepool stalwart
THE long wait is nearly over for Micky Barron - but he knows he still has some way to go. Hartlepool United's captain has not touched a first-team ball since being hit in the face as he attempted to stop a cross during Pool's play-off defeat at Bristol
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McCarthy's praise for Robinson
MICK McCarthy last night hailed Carl Robinson's resilience after the Sunderland midfielder shook off a nasty head injury to fire the Black Cats to fourth place in the Championship table after a 1-0 win at Leeds. The Wales international was stretchered
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Holmes ready to celebrate in style
DOUBLE Olympic champion Kelly Holmes is hoping to sign her season off in style on Newcastle's Quayside today - in more ways than one. Holmes, who claimed gold in both the 800m and the 1,500m at Athens last month, will take in some of Newcastle's finest
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Police chief's ploy to get officers out of jury service angers courts
A POLICE chief has clashed with the courts by ordering her officers to avoid jury service by turning up in uniform. Following rule changes, police officers are no longer exempt from serving as jurors. But North Yorkshire's Chief Constable Della Cannings
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Brown to prove he's a winner
JON Brown is determined to shake off his tag as the nearly man of British athletics in tomorrow's BUPA Great North Run. Brown narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal when he came home in fourth place in last month's marathon - an exact repeat of what
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Asbos are a success, conference guests told
FIGHTING yob culture with anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) is proving a success in the North-East, a conference heard yesterday. The event, at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground, Chester-le-Street, looked at using a multi-agency approach
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Community group seeks volunteers
A COUNTY Durham community group is appealing for residents to help plan future projects. The Burnt Houses, Esperley and Cockfield Community Partnership needs more members to help get new projects off the ground. Recent projects it has worked on include
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Beginners get to explore allotments
A CHANCE to sample allotment gardening is being offered through a health and environmental project. The Allotments for Everyone scheme will see dozens of allotments upgraded and plots set aside for beginners. Officers from Groundwork West Durham will
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A man for all panto seasons
Entertainer Stu Francis was enjoying a day off and taking the opportunity to watch his beloved Bolton Wanderers play. As his work takes him around the country, he finds it difficult to keep up with his home town team. "I still have my season ticket,"
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Robin's troops aid wildlife
STUDENTS used the legend of Robin Hood in an environmental project aimed at bringing new wildlife to their school grounds. The sixth-formers, at Framwellgate School, Durham City, donned the outfits of Robin and his Merry Men for a tree-planting ceremony
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At Your Service: The prayer book with nowt tekken out
DURHAM Cathedral, 7.45am, Sunday. A notice at the back asks "Why not climb the 325 steps to the top of the tower" - You really want to know why not? - the rising sun shines directly through the rose window, refulgent above the high altar. "How's that
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Ministers to strengthen the life
THE Church of England's West Darlington Parish has two new members of its team of ministers. Kevin Winkworth and Dr Keith Whiston were licensed as readers by the Bishop of Jarrow in Durham Cathedral last Saturday. They join the Reverend John Dobson, vicar
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Visitors are urged to join in with search for wildlife
PUB bosses on the outskirts of Darlington are hoping regulars will help them carry out a wildlife survey. Earlier this year, the Tawny Owl, in Neasham Road, worked with the Wildlife Trust to supply guests with membership forms and local information. They
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Poom the spot-kick hero as Black Cats extend run
IN the wonderful world of football, a lot can change in a week. After tumbling out of the Carling Cup on penalties at Crewe on Tuesday night, a spot-kick save enabled the Black Cats to extend their winning Championship run to four games at Leeds. Thomas
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Spotlight turned on tackling bullying
POLICE officers determined to tackle bullying in schools will talk to thousands of primary pupils over the next fortnight. Year six children from every primary school in Hambleton and Richmondshire will attend the annual Crucial Crew event at RAF Leeming
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Town's sights on blooms gold
A TOWN has gold in its sights for next year's Britain in Bloom awards after winning a silver medal in the competition this week. Saltburn, east Cleveland, won the medal in the small coastal resort category at the Northumbria in Bloom award ceremony, in
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Efforts by villagers finally pay off
A NEGLECTED children's play area has been transformed thanks to the hard work of villagers. The playground in Morton-on-Swale has been given a facelift after a two-year campaign by the community. The Morton Ainderby and Thrintoft Playing Field Association
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Young boy involved
A BOY, who could be as young as ten, was involved in a robbery in which a man was threatened with a broken bottle. The boy was in a three-strong group of youths who robbed a man collecting money from television meters in Sunderland on Thursday. The robbery
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The prayer book with nowt tekken out
DURHAM Cathedral, 7.45am, Sunday. A notice at the back asks "Why not climb the 325 steps to the top of the tower" - You really want to know why not? - the rising sun shines directly through the rose window, refulgent above the high altar. "How's that
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Hartlepool by-election 2004: UKIP leader confident of building on Euro showing
THE leader of the UK Independence Party has been in Hartlepool to oversee the final week of campaigning. Roger Knapman, a former Government minister, is boldly predicting a shock result for candidate Stephen Allison. Mr Knapman, who served under Conservative
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A dirty weekend
Getting naughty words in the title of a TV programme is a sure-fire way of attracting attention - but sometimes the reality doesn't live up to the expectation. The name of the game in TV these days is to come up with the most eye-catching title. The race
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Birds were main concern
A CONTRACT with Yorkshire Water led to a helicopter mission for civil engineering contractor ETM. The company, based in Yorkshire, had to replace a water main that runs across natural peat moorland in Swaledale. But work had to be carried out without
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UK Muslim team in bid for hostage
A TEAM from the Muslim Council of Britain headed for Baghdad last night to make a plea to Islamic militants to spare the life of British hostage Kenneth Bigley. The organisation said Dr Daud Abdullah and Dr Musharraf Hussain were to travel to Iraq to
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For Your Benefit: Should I be minding the gap?
Q You recently featured a letter from someone with a weekly State Pension of £138.20 whose wife had a pension of £56. I am 83 and my wife is 75 and our pensions are £97.81 and £53.79 respectively. Can you explain the large difference? A If you mean the
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Steelworkers add a little heavy metal to operatic performance
OPERA-singing steelworkers will be joining an international singer in her performance at the Labour Party Conference, in Brighton. Suzannah Clarke, an ambassador for her home town of Middlesbrough, worked at the steel works in Redcar, east Cleveland,
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Bridge protest as dynamic duo fight for fathers' group
PROTESTORS dressed as Batman and Robin scaled Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge yesterday to draw attention to their campaign. Two members of Fathers 4 Justice climbed the bridge at 4am and unfurled banners proclaiming support for Paul Watson, the group's
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Show goes on after blaze
THE show will go on tonight at a North-East theatre, despite a fire on Thursday night. About 650 people were either evacuated or turned away from Billingham Forum theatre as a result of a fire just an hour before curtain up. The fire, which gutted the
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40s flair is all mapped out
SUPPORTERS of a women's health charity are preparing to go back in time to raise funds for new equipment and research. The York branch of Wellbeing is holding an event called We'll Meet Again at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, near York, on October
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Honour hopes Wilkinson will give Bishops a finishing touch
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour believes that his side is on the verge of better things as they head for Radcliffe Borough this afternoon. Bishops have won just once in the league this season, but Honour said: "I think we're only a striker away from
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Mystery picture of missing N-E tourist
AN international search for a North-East man who disappeared after travelling to Greece for the Olympic Games took a bizarre twist yesterday. A photograph of Melvyn Gamblin enjoying the sunshine in Athens was posted from the Greek capital to his home
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Optimism beats the record
A hotel and conference centre said the upbeat mood among the North-East business community had led to record trading figures. The Sleep Inn, in Darlington, said increased conference demand had pushed its bookings up 25 per cent on last year and seen the
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Wet summer hits profits
Confectionery group Cadbury Schweppes said it was expecting full-year profits to be at the lower end of expectations after a difficult summer for its European drinks business. The company said its drinks operations in France and Spain, which include Orangina
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Alan, naturally
Britain's best-loved gardener and second sexiest man, Alan Tichmarsh has pruned his gardening interests and sown seeds of a new TV career. He talks to Steve Pratt. For the past 18 months, Alan Titchmarsh has been travelling the length and breadth of the
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40s flair is all mapped out
SUPPORTERS of a women's health charity are preparing to go back in time to raise funds for new equipment and research. The York branch of Wellbeing is holding an event called We'll Meet Again at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, near York, on October
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Appeal to ramblers over body mystery
POLICE trying to identify a woman whose body was found in a stream have appealed for help from weekend walkers. The body was found near Horton-in-Ribblesdale, in the Yorkshire Dales, on Monday. Despite a nationwide appeal for help, police are still no
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Diane wins a place in the top 30
A woman from the region has been crowned one of the country's unsung business heroes after setting up a cleaning service. Diane Drysdale overcame financial problems and ill-health to open the service, which she set up ten months ago and which employs
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Going for a Song
SOVIET SONG (4.10) stands head-and-shoulders above the majority of her opponents in Ascot's Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a race in which I believe James Fanshawe's filly will confirm her position as the leading all-age miler in Europe. Described by
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Youngsters turn school playground into a jungle
PUPILS have brightened up their playground with pictures of lions and crocodiles. A plain brick wall at Leeming and Londonderry Primary School has been transformed with a colourful mural of the African jungle. The pupils have been studying Africa, and
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Family fled after letter box fire attack
A FAMILY was forced to flee an upstairs flat after a home-made incendiary device was pushed through the letter box of the property below. David Reid was jailed for two years after admitted posting an ignited brandy bottle following a drunken row with
