Archive
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Spooky autumn treat
IT looks good enough to eat and, in fact, it is - but you'd have to be brave to get your teeth round this tasty work of art. The 3ft tall haunted castle has been created by a team of experts at the famous Bettys Craft Bakery and has found a home at their
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Brother Bernard mourned
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the most influential figures in the Hospitaller Order of St John of God, following his death at the age of 93. The Very Rev Brother Bernard Burke died peacefully in Darlington after a remarkable life leading the Order
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Extra seats to see top pianist
TICKETS have sold so well for a concert by a pianist billed as the best in the world that extra seating had to be found. Finish pianist Antti Siirala, has won dozens of awards around the world. He will play at Gisborough Hall at Guisborough, East Cleveland
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26/10/04
BUSINESS: RED tape is costing UK businesses £100bn a year, according to David Arculus, chairman of the mobile phone company O2, and now head of the Government-sponsored Better Regulation Task Force. Mr Arculus and his team, having laboured long and hard
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Trainee solicitors are ready for action
LAW firm Dickinson Dees has taken on 14 trainee solicitors in its annual recruitment drive. The firm has attracted recruits from the Universities of Nottingham, Oxford, Manchester, Warwick and Cambridge as well as students from local universities including
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Parlour warns Downing of fame's pitfalls
MIDDLESBROUGH wonderkid Stewart Downing has been issued with a warning of how fame can ruin a fledgling football career. The words of advice have been delivered by a player who knows all about off-the-field distractions and how they can affect a youngster's
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On TV last night
Whose Baby? (ITV1) The Man Who Swears He's Normal: Extraordinary People (five) THE makers of Whose Baby? probably couldn't believe their luck when members of Fathers 4 Justice made headlines by throwing dye over the PM and scaling Buckingham Palace dressed
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Eating Owt: Memshabib's mediocrity
The column is unimpressed with the average ambience and imagination-free food at Memshabib's Kitchen - but at least the menu excels at English. LIKE the television programmes which carry a warning of strong language, this column's occasional excursions
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Life term for man who robbed post office in 1970
A MANDATORY life sentence has been imposed on a man who carried out a robbery in 1970. Derek Park, 51, fell foul of the "two strikes" rule as a result of a stabbing of a man earlier this year. Durham Crown Court was told it was his second qualifying offence
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Change of mind sees £2m winner right as rain
The North-East's newest National Lottery millionaire almost spurned the chance to buy the winning ticket but changed his mind and "made one of the best decisions of my life", he said yesterday. Robotics engineer John Ellis, 48, was almost put off by a
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Children's trust created
A children's trust is to be established in the borough of Stockton in response to the Children's Bill and Government Green Paper Every Child Matters. The move is one of the key outcomes of a review of services, led by Stockton Borough Council, to meet
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Superwomen on the rise
A NEW kind of superwoman is on the rise in Britain. She is career-minded, cash rich and has children. Research for Internet bank Egg found that the superwomen earn more than £50,000, with many on salaries of more than £100,000. They are holding down highly-paid
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Firms miss out on tax credits
DIGITAL companies that are seen as part of the future of the region's economy are losing up to £2.5m in research and development tax credits, an accountant will say today. David Cobb, a partner at professional services company Deloitte, will address about
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Over-65s hit by rising debt burden
Many people are reaching retirement age still owing huge sums of money, according to research that revealed 2.24 million over-65s in Britain had debts totalling £8.42bn. Research by Economic Lifestyle, the retirement housing and finance specialist, found
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In the TV spotlight
A town council leader will put the case for a Regional Assembly on BBC 2's The Politics Show today. Councillor Bernard Lamb, leader of Ferryhill Town Council, was filmed talking to reporter Laura Kuenssberg yesterday in the council's award-winning E Caf
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Graphic success
Graphic design company Halogen has been awarded a contract with a national construction company. Halogen, based in Newcastle, will redesign most of the marketing material for UK construction specialists Summers Inman. Published: 26/10/2004
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Return journey for blues fan
PUBLICAN John Taylor is going back to the pub he made popular to re-launch its music programme. Mr Taylor ran the Beamish Mary Inn at No Place, near Stanley, for several years, building up a reputation for its real ales - it won CAMRA's national pub of
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John Lund, John Myers, David Jinks and Sean Lowden
Hillprint Media, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has appointed four members to its team. JOHN LUND, JOHN MYERS, DAVID JINKS and SEAN LOWDEN have been recruited to the creative, media and print manufacturer. Ian Smith, sales and marketing director,
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Sharon Griffiths meets... Metrocentre chaplain June Robson
THE first irony is that the Rev June Robson never wanted to be a priest, didn't believe that women should be priests and was at one time actually a member of the organisation Women Against the Ordination of Women. "I was a traditionalist," she says. "
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Inquest told of N-E student's death plunge
A NORTH-EAST university student plunged 14 floors to his death when he stepped through open lift doors without realising it was not there. Toby Mann, 18, was on a gap-year trip to Argentina, in March. A friend heard him crying for help and tried to save
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Poom blow for McCarthy
SUNDERLAND boss Mick McCarthy threw his weight behind keeper Thomas Myhre after the Norwegian was drafted in to replace Black Cats number one Mart Poom last night. Poom will go under the knife tomorrow in a bid to rectify a knee cartilage problem and
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Job Search: Vacancies
Hall porter. £4.85ph, 20-40hpw. Ref: NEU 18947. Pressbrake operator. £6-£7ph, 37hpw. Must be 18 or over with a light engineering background. Ref: NEU 18990. Head housekeeper. £17,000-£18,000pa, 40hpw. Experience essential. Ref: NEU 18991. Leisure club
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Boy who bombarded neighbours with abuse gets detention threat
A TEENAGER who bombarded neighbours with a torrent of abuse has been made the subject of an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (Asbo). Jason Brannigan, 14, was warned that unless he stopped his behaviour he would face detention. Neighbours told District Judge
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Dead soldiers' families unite to renew appeal for answers
THEY came from all areas of the country but their purpose was the same. Clutching photographs of their loved ones, relatives of dead soldiers took their fight to Parliament yesterday. They united in protest at the Government's refusal to hold a public
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Heidi Mottram
SERCO-NED Railways has appointed HEIDI MOTTRAM managing director of its recently-awarded Northern Rail franchise. The franchise starts on December 12 and covers rail services for the North-West and North-East. Ms Mottram is currently commercial director
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Health centre development a breakthrough for DKS
A FIRM of architects is celebrating after winning a £9m contract for a health centre development. DKS Architects said the project for the health centre, in Stratford-upon-Avon, was the biggest in the company's history. Work is scheduled to start on the
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Dewjoc design wins office contract
ARCHITECTS Dewjoc have won the contract for the first office building at Sir John Hall's business park in Wynyard. The park, which Sir John predicted could create tens of thousands of jobs in the long-term, is on a site near the former Samsung factory
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MP's visit marks ten-year milestone for town's security cameras system
THE tenth anniversary of closed-circuit television cameras being introduced in Darlington has been marked by a visit from MP Alan Milburn. The system was installed in October 1994 at a cost of £750,000 and now has more than 100 cameras placed across the
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School standards rise branded 'an illusion'
DRAMATIC increases in school standards used by the Government to trumpet its education policies are largely an illusion, according to an expert. Evidence from a series of long-term studies suggests the real rise is far lower than ministers have claimed
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Memshabib's mediocrity
LIKE the television programmes which carry a warning of strong language, this column's occasional excursions into Asian cuisine should be prefixed with the caveat that it is indeed Another Country, and that its magic and mysteries remain largely unexplained
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Girls hope for an ice time
TWO students are preparing to swap the warmth of home for a tent and sleeping bag in Iceland. Katie Grinter, 19, of Forcett, near Richmond, and her friend Rachel Logan, 22, of Gainford, near Darlington, are planning to walk across the country to raise
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Fan is picture perfect
A TEENAGE rail fan is making sure events run to timetable at the region's newest tourist attraction. James Stoker turned his pictorial record of September's first day at Locomotion, the National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, into a calendar
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Good work helps rare birds make comeback
SOME endangered wild bird populations are recovering thanks to conservation measures, the Government says. Environment Minister Elliot Morley said wetland birds such as redshank, lapwing and snipe have all benefited from Defra-sponsored conservation work
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Face to face with the victims of crime
A former solicitor is making changes in his new role as chief crown prosecutor for Teesside. Liz Lamb reports. TRYING to explain to the grieving parents of a young girl killed in a road accident that the driver will not face a more serious charge is a
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Court told of high-speed death crash
A NORTH-EAST driving instructor raced a high-powered car at more than 100mph before an accident that killed a man, a court heard yesterday. Michael Lopez, 28, who trains driving instructors, was at the wheel of an Audi S2 Quattro that overtook a Lexus
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Cyclists raise money for hospice
A medical facility at a hospice has received a welcome boost after fundraisers took part in a charity bike ride. The facility for lymphodema sufferers at the Hartlepool and District Hospice has received a cheque for just under £6,000 following the ride
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Flood warning remains - more rain to come
FLOOD warnings remain in force after heavy rains swelled streams and rivers near to bursting point. Several Environment Agency flood warnings were issued in North Yorkshire on Saturday. Warnings for footpaths alongside the River Ouse, in York, and the
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Memshabib's mediocrity
The column is unimpressed with the average ambience and imagination-free food at Memshabib's Kitchen - but at least the menu excels at English. LIKE the television programmes which carry a warning of strong language, this column's occasional excursions
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Day at the dogs - with a difference
FOUR legged police recruits turned out yesterday to treat two young competition winners to a display. Alice Bishop, 13, and her nine-year-old brother Joe, from Durham City, joined in a class with dogs and handlers from the regional police dog training
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Extra seats to see top pianist
TICKETS have sold so well for a concert by a pianist billed as the best in the world that extra seating had to be found. Finish pianist Antti Siirala, has won dozens of awards around the world. He will play at Gisborough Hall at Guisborough, East Cleveland
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Pedestrian dies in road accident
A pedestrian has died after he was involved in an accident with a car at about 6.25pm on Friday on the A184 Abbottsford Road, in Gateshead, between Felling House Gardens and Bennet Gardens. Peter Hall, 42, of Eastern Gardens, Gateshead, was crossing from
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Charity preview of auction
A LONG case clock dating from 1770 will be one of the highlights of an auction preview being held for charity tomorrow. The clock, by Baker of Appleby, will be on display at the viewing session in Addison's Saleroom, Barnard Castle, from 6pm to 8pm. Entry
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Sculptor takes tributes to hero's grave
THE sculptor chosen by The Northern Echo to create a 9ft statue of once-forgotten hero Andrew Mynarski has made an emotional pilgrimage to the Second World War pilot's grave. North-Easterner Kevin Maddison grasped the chance to visit Mynarski's graveside
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Share of £23,000 boosts business
BUSINESSES in a rural district of County Durham have been given a helping hand with thousands of pounds worth of grants. A total of 27 businesses within Teesdale have either been set up or helped to expand thanks to the £23,000 fund. The money was provided
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Curfew imposed to curb unruly behaviour
A CURFEW is be imposed on an area of a Teesside town. The police will enforce a dispersal order in the Throston part of Hartlepool from 9pm on Monday, November 1, for under-16s. Gangs coming to the Throston area from around the town have been lighting
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Residents complain after new speed limit is rejected
RESIDENTS are complaining to the Local Government Ombudsman after calls for a lower speed limit through their village were rejected. Durham County Council's highways committee decided in the summer not to reduce the maximum speed on the A167 through Chester
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Titbits on the winter menu
WINTER is always a hard time for our feathered friends, so youngsters on half-term holiday found themselves being schooled in what makes tasty titbits for garden visitors. Staff at the Middlesbrough Council-run Newham Grange Leisure Farm, in Coulby Newham
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Life term for man who robbed post office in 1970
A MANDATORY life sentence has been imposed on a man who carried out a robbery in 1970. Derek Park, 51, fell foul of the "two strikes" rule as a result of a stabbing of a man earlier this year. Durham Crown Court was told it was his second qualifying offence
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Probe into council budget overspend
Council chiefs have launched an inquiry into the soaring cost of English classes for ethnic minorities including asylum seekers. A senior member of Newcastle CIty Council has been suspended while the investigation takes place after a budget overspend
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Woodland walks prove to be a healthy alternative for pupils
IF you go down to the woods today, your health will be in for a nice surprise. Youngsters from primary schools have been taking part in the Chopwell Wood Health Project, with health workers taking pupils on visits to the woods in Gateshead. Run by Derwentside
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Staff get a chance to defeat gremlins
COUNCIL staff are being given the chance to take on their learning gremlins. Bosses at North Yorkshire County Council said they recognise that everyone has gaps in their skills. They said it could be because they had a break in their education or because
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Violent incidents highlight fears over drink law change
NEW laws allowing 24-hour drinking would be a "nightmare", community leaders have warned. The comments came after a weekend of violence in Richmondshire town centres. On Friday night, two youths were arrested for public disorder after a brawl in Shute
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Golf day help for charities
AN annual charity golf tournament has again helped local charities. The event, organised by Broadacres Housing Association at Romanby Golf Club, Northallerton, raised more than £1,000. The winners of the Broadacres Challenge Trophy were the team from
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Blind jobseekers get a helping hand
AN organisation which is aiming to support visually-impaired people looking for a job has received a boost. Stockton Blind People's Voice has received funding of £23,150 from the Tees Valley Delegated Grants Scheme. Christine Durnion, manager of Stockton
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Amicable solution found to chemical plant dispute
A DISPUTE over changes to working practices at a Teesside chemical company has been resolved, bringing to an end the threat of industrial action at the company. Workers at Teesside Fine Organics objected to plans to change their shift system. Staff at
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Hall opens for charity
ONE of North Yorkshire's stately homes is throwing open its gates in aid of charity this weekend. The gardens of Newby Hall, near Ripon, will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Proceeds will be split between Macmillan Nurses and the village
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Sale expected
Administrators have given hope to more than 110 staff at computer games maker Argonaut by revealing that a sale of three subsidiaries may be close. They said they expected to complete the sale within the next month. The news comes after shares in holding
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Events galore at music festival
WITH Easington's Music Festival in full swing, a programme of new events is ready to get under way. A tea dance and singalong is at Earl House, Seaham, at 2pm this afternoon, repeated at 2pm on Friday at Wheatley House, Wheatley Hill. Admission is free
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No booze, just rock 'n roll
TALENTED youngsters will showcase their musical skills this week. No Booze, No Drugs, Just Rock n' Roll is a half-term music event which will be held at Peterlee Leisure Centre on Friday. The first session, for under-16s, runs from 2pm to 6pm, admission
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It's plain to see youngsters are having fun at glass workshops
A SERIES of workshops and interactive displays are shattering the myth that glass art is not cool for kids. The National Glass Centre, in Sunderland, hopes to encourage youngsters to try their hand at making their own glass art creations in workshops
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£400,000 for keys to landmark home
THE future of one of Darlington's most prominent properties is to be decided after it was put up for sale at more than £400,000. Within two weeks of going up for sale, The Gatehouse, in the Haughton area, had attracted more than 80 inquiries. The Victorian
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Building a better banger
SAUSAGE king Harry Coates is helping a celebration of the product go with a bang. Customers at the award-winning butcher's three shops in County Durham are being left in no doubt that it is National Sausage Week. Sampling sessions took place on Saturday
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Robert passes exam with flying colours
A CHARITY'S campaign director is celebrating after he was awarded the leading credential for fundraising professionals. After a four-hour exam, the first of its kind held in the UK, Robert Astick has been given the designation of Certified Fund Raising
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Area has too many new houses - group
THE Ripon area has a 58 per cent oversupply of new homes, says a civic watchdog. Harrogate Civic Society had hoped runaway housing development would have been curbed by new planning policies. Their spokesman, Henry Pankhurst, said that despite commendable
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Friends needed
THE friends of Whitby Hospital group is looking for members to help fundraise and befriend patients. To help, call (01947) 824249.
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Fast-track recruit Lorna has the drive to go far
A fast-track recruitment programme has helped LORNA HARVEY, 40, secure her dream job. Ms Harvey decided on a career change following five years as an HGV driver and then as a radio controller at a taxi firm. She attended a Go North East driver open day
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A hard done-by dad and troublesome tics
Whose Baby? (ITV1); The Man Who Swears He's Normal: Extraordinary People (five): THE makers of Whose Baby? probably couldn't believe their luck when members of Fathers 4 Justice made headlines by throwing dye over the PM and scaling Buckingham Palace
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Events galore at music festival
WITH Easington's Music Festival in full swing, a programme of new events is ready to get under way. A tea dance and singalong is at Earl House, Seaham, at 2pm this afternoon, repeated at 2pm on Friday at Wheatley House, Wheatley Hill. Admission is free
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Selby mine ends production
A once-thriving mine complex entered its last day of production today, marking the latest chapter in the long decline of the British coal industry. The Selby mines in North Yorkshire have churned out more than 120 million tonnes of coal in the last 21
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Boost to Hartlepool's tourist attractions
Ambitious plans to transform one of the region's leading tourist attractions look set to get the go-ahead next week. A meeting of Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet on November 1 will be asked to approve new ideas for the warship HMS Trincomalee and
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Share of £23,000 boosts business
BUSINESSES in a rural district of County Durham have been given a helping hand with thousands of pounds worth of grants. A total of 27 businesses within Teesdale have either been set up or helped to expand thanks to the £23,000 fund. The money was provided
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Police chief's anger as serial thief goes free
A POLICE chief has criticised magistrates who failed to jail a thief with 51 convictions. Newcastle police's Chief Superintendent John Graham said it was time justices were made accountable for their decisions and called for a district judge to be appointed
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Hodgson happy to hang on to Alun
NO news is good news when it comes to Darlington striker Alun Armstrong, according to David Hodgson. The Quakers boss last night confirmed the club have yet to receive an approach for the 29-year-old, despite the instant impact he has made at the Williamson
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Curfew meeting to be held
A PUBLIC meeting will allow residents on a troubled North-East estate to explain how the lifting of a curfew has affected them. The Deneside area of Seaham, County Durham, was subjected to a Section 30 Order six months ago, which allowed police to disperse
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Health centre development a breakthrough for DKS
A FIRM of architects is celebrating after winning a £9m contract for a health centre development. DKS Architects said the project for the health centre, in Stratford-upon-Avon, was the biggest in the company's history. Work is scheduled to start on the
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Hero Whitehead fires Cats into top six spot
THERE was no old pals act at Millmoor last night as Mick McCarthy's Sunderland moved into the Championship play-off places by consigning Ronnie Moore's Rotherham to their 15th game without a win. Dean Whitehead's controversial 61st minute winner, his
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Riverside plan set for approval
A SCHEME for a 16,000sq ft riverside office development that could create 250 jobs is expected to receive planning approval. Developer Grays Wharf Limited wants to build the offices in Navigation Road, York, near the River Foss. Opponents of the scheme
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James Warren
JAMES WARREN has joined the growing number of young professionals who are turning their backs on London to forge a career in the North-East. He has joined North-East fund management firm NEL as a loan executive in the company's Teesside office. He will
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Face to face with crime victims
TRYING to explain to the grieving parents of a young girl killed in a road accident that the driver will not face a more serious charge is a difficult part of Martin Goldman's job. So is attending a meeting with a man who's been left for dead following
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Boy seriously injured in firework accident
A schoolboy has been horrifically injured in a firework accident, on Teesside. The 11-year-old lost a thumb and sustained facial burns and a broken arm after a firework went off in his hand. The youngster, who has not been named, is undergoing extensive
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Buyback scheme rewards investors
TROUBLED retailer Marks & Spencer began buying back more than a quarter of its shares at 362p each yesterday in the largest tender offer in UK corporate history. M&S said the scheme, which the company hopes will prevent any further takeover bids
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Taking the soft option
Christine Fieldhouse took her son Jack and his friend Aidan to four soft play areas in the region. They give marks out of five for which are best for half-term fun. TOPOLI JOE Venue: 172 Northgate, Darlington Opening times: Monday to Sunday, 10am to 7pm
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Who's moving the goalposts?
Dramatically improving test scores have been held up as proof of the leap in standards in our primary schools. But a new study tells a very different story. Nick Morrison reports. BY any reckoning, it is mightily impressive. The statistics showed that
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'Diet to live' boy Jonathan on TV
A TEENAGER who once weighed 31 stone is to be featured on a television programme. Jonathan Wallace was ordered by doctors to lose 16 stone in a year or face death by the time he was 20. The Hartlepool youngster's story was heavily featured in newspapers
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BBC radio high note for young chorister
A head girl chorister in the region has become the youngest finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year 2004 competition. Charity Mapletoft, of York Minster Choir, will be one of eight finalists - four boys and four girls - who will take part
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'No' campaigners are branded London Tories by Chancellor
GORDON Brown yesterday branded campaigners against a regional assembly as "London Tories" with no real interest in the North-East. The Chancellor made the sideswipe as he was on his second visit to the region in as many weeks to support the Yes4The North-East
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Cooper to change away-day system
NEALE Cooper admits a change in formation and system could be on the cards to halt Hartlepool's away day misery. Pool slumped to back-to-back defeats last week - at Brentford and Peterborough - to keep them pegged back in mid-table. After enjoying ten
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Artist demonstrates creations that reflect customers' personalities
AN international artist and one time goldsmith's apprentice really does make individual pieces of jewellery - reflecting the personality and interests of customers. Tokyo-born Yuka Oyama gave a demonstration of her skills, called Schmuck Quickies, in
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Safety measures reviewed after latest rescue on ford
TWO councils will meet to thrash out new safety measures to prevent drivers venturing on to a river ford in flood conditions. It seems public opinion in Stanhope, County Durham, will save the ford from closure, despite a series of potential tragedies.
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Book news
ALAN Hollinghurst has won this year's Man Booker Prize for his novel The Line of Beauty, about Thatcherism and gay sex. The former teacher from Stroud, in Gloucestershire, who now lives in London, scooped the £50,000 award at a ceremony last week, beating
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Parking fees plan opposed
PARKING charges would damage a town's trade, say business leaders. One of the proposals in a county council traffic management study for Leyburn is to introduce a pay and display system in the Market Place and Grove Square. But, businesses fear the move
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Job Search: Vacancies
Guillotine operators. 36hpw, Mon-Thurs, 8am-4.3opm; Fri, 8am-12pm. £5.62-£6.91ph. Must be able to measure and cut accurately in metric. Must also be self-motivated and physically fit. Previous experience is preferred, but full training provided. Ref:
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Somerfield bags Safeway stores
SUPERMARKET group Somerfield is to take control of nine Safeway stores in the region as part of a multi-million pound deal involving rival Morrisons, it emerged yesterday. Morrisons, which bought Safeway last year, said the disposal of 114 stores across
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Red card for US takeover of United
MANCHESTER United yesterday ended takeover talks with US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer after rejecting his business plan. The club said an outline plan presented by Mr Glazer was not in its best interests because any offer would rely too heavily on borrowed
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Thrillers are a way of life here, says Shearer
SUNDAY'S seven-goal thriller with Manchester City might have been bad for his nerves, but Graeme Souness has been warned it was merely par for the course in the weird and wonderful world of Newcastle United. Souness' side were maintaining a well-established
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How the chamber worked wonders
A SINGLE parent has conquered her fear of returning to work after a five-year break. Michelle Holliday described how daunting it was starting in a new job after raising her child to school age. She said: "My first day was really, really scary. "The first
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Victim's father appeals for help
THE father of a teenager who was shot in the eye with a paintball pellet is appealing for help to find the culprits. Travel representative Kelly Lisle is still undergoing treatment and tests at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. The pellet
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Strike ballot begins at Visqueen after talks collapse
A BALLOT for industrial action is expected to begin today at a Teesside plastics factory that could see its workers strike for the first time in the plant's history. A total of 127 staff at British Polythene Industries (BPI) Stockton, also known as Visqueen
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'Inflation will remain low and stable'
INFLATION is expected to remain low and stable despite violent swings in the price of goods and services, a member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee said yesterday. Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation is expected to remain close to its
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John Cowan
JOHN COWAN has been appointed manager of Darlington's new Netto store opening in Neasham Road this week. The 33-year-old will take charge at the 1,000sq ft store, which is creating 25 jobs and is part of the company's expansion drive into the North-East
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Ex-Johnston duo in with shout
WITHOUT wishing to sound alarmist, it cannot be good news for northern-based National Hunt fans that not one horse from our area lines up at Cheltenham, home to the day's sole meeting following the abandonment of Catterick and Nottingham due to waterlogging
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No bog-standard hermit
A book on hermit Millican Dalton should help restore his reputation as Borrowdale's best-loved eccentric, says Harry Mead. THE best - and the most succinct - advice for any journalist is chiselled at the entrance to a cave in Borrowdale: "Don't waste
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A dangerous reform
THE principle of "innocent until proven guilty" is the cornerstone of our system of justice and must be preserved at all costs. It will face its sternest test in December when, as a matter of course, juries will be told of defendants' previous convictions
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Driver dies in accident
A MAN died after he was thrown from his car in an accident yesterday. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which took place half a mile north-west of Thorpe Larches, on the A177 at the Tees/Durham border at about 9am. It is believed the
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Flats death man had been strangled
A MAN whose body was found in a flat had been strangled, police said last night. The body of Carl Shaw, 26, was discovered on Sunday night in an apartment in Cemetery Road, York. A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said a post- mortem examination had
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Shut up and brush your yellow teeth
"MIND your own business, you yellow-toothed, tea-drinking cowards!" That was just one of the more printable responses from American citizens to readers of The Guardian newspaper telling them to vote for Kerry in the presidential election. O joy! O joy
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Fast pain relief for patients
DISTRICT and Marie Curie nurses in Darlington will soon be able to bring pain relief to cancer patients thanks to an out-of-hours initiative. New protocols and training are being developed that will allow nurses to administer a variety of drugs without
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Husband admits attacking wife
A man admitted stabbing his first wife while he was out on licence from a life sentence for murdering his second wife. Kenneth Milroy, 52, was jailed for life in 1995 for strangling his second wife and served nine years before bring released on licence
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Gary Brown
NORTH-East broadband agency Adit has recruited another business development manager to look after its workload in the north of the region. GARY BROWN, 47, of County Durham, has left his job as a telecommunications consultant to join the agency which was
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Drug issues goes on syllabus for pupils
DRUG education has become part of the syllabus for youngsters at a North-East college. The programme has been incorporated into the personal, social, health education and citizenship classes at Thornaby Community College, and pupils will follow it through
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Gourmet shop to aid lifeboats
AN award-winning gourmet shop is holding its annual charity event on Sunday, November 7. Last year, Lewis and Cooper's Pre-Noel Day raised £2,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance and the Holistic Cancer Care Project. This year it will raise money for
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Fears for missing girl
FEARS are growing for a teenage girl who disappeared during a night out. Stephanie Kerr, 14, of Fawdon, Newcastle, went straight from school to a friend's house on Friday, then on to Newcastle city centre. She was last seen in the city at about 9.30pm
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Delight sparks a double for Winston
Trainer Alan Jarvis felt vindicated yesterday after 16-1 chance Winners Delight scored at Lingfield Park following a troubled season for the gelding. The three-year-old took the 12-furlong ladbrokes.com Handicap under Robert Winston, initiating a double
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Actor Ian is guest at charity Christmas fair preview
ACCLAIMED actor Ian Carmichael will be the guest at a preview evening for a charity Christmas fair. Castle Howard, near Malton, has hosted a fair in aid of the NSPCC for the past four years, raising £100,000 for the charity. This year it takes place on
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No booze, just rock 'n roll
TALENTED youngsters will showcase their musical skills this week. No Booze, No Drugs, Just Rock n' Roll is a half-term music event which will be held at Peterlee Leisure Centre on Friday. The first session, for under-16s, runs from 2pm to 6pm, admission
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Return journey for blues fan
PUBLICAN John Taylor is going back to the pub he made popular to re-launch its music programme. Mr Taylor ran the Beamish Mary Inn at No Place, near Stanley, for several years, building up a reputation for its real ales - it won CAMRA's national pub of
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Wheels in motion to find bike owners
POLICE are appealing for people who have had bikes stolen to check if they are among those recovered. They were seized in an operation by Darlington police in June. Police are asking the owners, all of whom did not report the bikes missing, to see if
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Suicide-attempt man's death may have been an accident
A DEPRESSED man who had attempted suicide several times may have ended up killing himself by mistake, an inquest heard. Paul Sexton tried different ways of killing himself, including setting fire to himself, slashing his arm and drinking disinfectant.
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Kitted out for kick-off
A PRIMARY school football team is kicking off its season with a new strip. The youngsters from Dean Bank Primary, in Ferryhill, now wear bright orange tops and black shorts when they take on the opposition in the Ferryhill and District Boys Under 11 seven-a-side
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Sewage works to get £6m update
A sewage treatment works is to undergo a £6m expansion after years of being used well above capacity. Northumbrian Water yesterday announced that by 2007 the plant at Middleton St George will be big enough to cope with waste from the village and the redeveloped
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Rosanne Green
ROSANNE GREEN has decided to start her legal career in the North-East after joining Darlington law firm Latimer Hinks. The Aston University graduate will focus on private client work. She is training in areas such as wills, trusts, probate and agriculture
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'Policy prevents low-cost homes'
A PLANNING stranglehold on redundant farmland is preventing the building of much-needed affordable homes, says a group representing rural businesses. The Yorkshire branch of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) says planning policy stops low-cost
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School standards rise branded 'an illusion'
DRAMATIC increases in school standards used by the Government to trumpet its education policies are largely an illusion, according to an expert. Evidence from a series of long-term studies suggests the real rise is far lower than ministers have claimed
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£500,000 for gun battery funds
GRANTS totalling £500,000 have been secured to help turn a wartime landmark into a tourist attraction. The money will be spent on facilities for tourists at the Heugh Gun Battery on Hartlepool's Headland. Heugh Battery, established in the 1850s and closed
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Couple hurt when car pulled out
A RETIRED couple were hurt after a car pulled out in front of them on the A19, causing them to crash. The driver of the small car, who police say caused the accident, failed to stop. Both the husband and wife suffered minor injuries and were in a state
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Car park waiting times to be limited
CHANGES are planned to parking arrangements on a business site in a bid to make the area safer. Experimental waiting restrictions will come into force on the Teesdale business park in Stockton on November 1 to reduce dangerous parking. Stockton Borough
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Families to play a part in report
PARENTS, carers and children in north Durham are being asked to log their every move over 24 hours to help produce a national time diary. The information will go into a report by the National Family and Parenting Institute. SureStart West Derwentside
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Fears for missing girl
FEARS are growing for a teenage girl who disappeared during a night out. Stephanie Kerr, 14, of Fawdon, Newcastle, went straight from school to a friend's house on Friday, then on to Newcastle city centre. She was last seen in the city at about 9.30pm
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Strike ballot begins at Visqueen after talks collapse
A BALLOT for industrial action is expected to begin today at a Teesside plastics factory that could see its workers strike for the first time in the plant's history. A total of 127 staff at British Polythene Industries (BPI) Stockton, also known as Visqueen
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Thrillers are a way of life here, says Shearer
SUNDAY'S seven-goal thriller with Manchester City might have been bad for his nerves, but Graeme Souness has been warned it was merely par for the course in the weird and wonderful world of Newcastle United. Souness' side were maintaining a well-established
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Caroline's mother delighted
A COLOURFUL display of Christmas lights is to be created in memory of murdered backpacker Caroline Stuttle. Funds from a raffle, and money raised at a fun day last month, will help to pay for the lights in York's Coppergate Shopping Centre. Caroline's
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BBC radio high note for young chorister
A head girl chorister in the region has become the youngest finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year 2004 competition. Charity Mapletoft, of York Minster Choir, will be one of eight finalists - four boys and four girls - who will take part
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Staff get a chance to defeat gremlins
COUNCIL staff are being given the chance to take on their learning gremlins. Bosses at North Yorkshire County Council said they recognise that everyone has gaps in their skills. They said it could be because they had a break in their education or because
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Tea 'boosts the power of memory'
DRINKING regular cups of tea could help improve memory, research reveals. North-East scientists have discovered that green and black tea prevents the development of Alzheimer's. Laboratory tests found that drinking regular cuppas inhibits the activity
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Guys and Dolls
Musical favourite Guys and Dolls, running at Darlington Civic Theatre from tomorrow until Saturday, November 6, starts at 7.15pm, not 7.45pm as stated in yesterday's paper. We apologise for the error. For tickets, contact (01325) 486555. Published: 26
