Archive
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Family appeal for help in finding killer
A family made an emotional appeal today to help catch the killer of a man who died after a firework was pushed through his letterbox. Meanwhile, police in Darlington are hunting youths thought to be responsible for posting a burning sparkler through the
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Children's nurse struck off for molesting young patient
A CHILDREN'S nurse caught indecently assaulting a teenager has been thrown out of the profession. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) yesterday heard that Martin Austin, 46, pulled the curtain round the diabetes sufferer's bed and molested her while
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Photographs and reminiscences help bring town's past back to life
PICTURES and memories of days gone by have proved a hit with young audiences. The exhibition at Hartlepool Museum includes photographs of buildings that were demolished in the York Road and the Belle Vue area of town. They are accompanied with recordings
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Medibroker makes Middle East progress
INSURANCE advisor Medibroker International is making progress in the Middle East after finding its first client in Jordan. The Tyneside company provides independent advice on private medical insurance for expatriates around the world. It acquired its
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Two arrested in Saudi contracts investigation
AEROSPACE and defence group BAE Systems and two other companies are at the centre of an investigation following allegations of false accounting in connection with contracts in Saudi Arabia. Two people were arrested yesterday during searches by Serious
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BAT issues warning after 24-hour strike
BOSSES at a tobacco factory have warned that a strike could jeopardise the future of the plant as it struggles with overseas competition. Four hundred workers at British American Tobacco (BAT), in Southampton, walked out yesterday in a dispute over pay
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Armstrong backing Boro glory
DISCARDED by Middlesbrough to make way for the Riverside's latest influx of foreign stars, Alun Armstrong was left to reflect on what might have been when he was sold to Ipswich in December 2000. The Darlington striker spent just two years on Teesside
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'Do more to get people on buses'
TRANSPENNINE Express rail franchise holder First Group last night called for more to be done to increase the use of buses instead of cars as it posted a nine per cent rise in half-year profits to £62.1m. The bus and rail group said its rail division increased
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Cider maker announces job losses
FORTY-NINE job losses were announced yesterday at Britain's largest cider manufacturer. Bulmers' owners Scottish Courage said the jobs would be lost when glass bottling at the Hereford plant ended in May. Spokesman Willie Crawshay said other Scottish
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The tooth fairy's U-turn
THE tooth fairy has been a regular visitor to our house over the years. She knows the way off by heart. The milk teeth of four children have been safely collected and a small fortune in 50p pieces faithfully left in their place. But we've just had what
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More smokers decide to quit
HEALTH officials in Darlington are celebrating a major breakthrough in their battle to persuade people to stop smoking. Authorities are delighted with the local response to their efforts to meet challenging Government targets. Ministers have set a national
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Play campaign proves a point
A COMMUNITY that defied a council and raised funds for its own children's playground celebrated the start of work this week. Stanhope residents have raised £150,000 to convert vacant land near Ashcroft into a recreation park with facilities for youngsters
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It's all Greek to Cooper as Dimi takes the number one spot
NEALE Cooper is being rewarded for putting his faith in Dimi Konstanopoulos. The giant Greek goalkeeper has kept successive clean sheets for Hartlepool United after being given his chance to impress. Boss Neale Cooper has dropped last season's player
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We failed on response times - but it's better than it was
IN the most challenging of public arenas, Paul Garvin was nothing if not brutally honest and open. He arrived at Darlington Town Hall with borough council leader John Williams' condemnation of the force's "lamentable" response times ringing in his ears
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Elliott's pleasant surprise
HOTSHOT striker Stephen Elliott has admitted that his Sunderland career has exceeded every expectation - including his own. The 20-year-old frontman was expected to play a peripheral role in the opening three months of the season after making a summer
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Pyjama fun helps children
YOUNGSTERS and teachers held a pyjama party to raise cash for a children's charity Staff and pupils at Tanfield Lea Junior School, near Stanley, paid a voluntary contribution to come in dressed in their night clothes. The event raised £317 for the NSPCC
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Police admit failures with call system
ONE of the region's most high-profile chief constables has admitted that a series of blunders have prevented people receiving police help. Durham Police's senior officer, Paul Garvin, said he held his hands up to the organisational failure that had blighted
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Lawson sets off on road to fame
Yorkshire's talented leg-spinner, Mark Lawson, has embarked on a hectic five months of cricket abroad which could help him to become a fully-fledged England player in three years. The Liversedge-born bowler, 18, is spending three months in Adelaide under
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Our hopes for President Bush
ALTHOUGH his margin of victory was slender, President Bush's re-election was decisive. Unlike four years ago, he won both the electoral college and the popular votes. That at least spares the free world the severe handicap of being led by a lame duck
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Bramble's chance to shine
GRAEME Souness has urged Titus Bramble not to throw away the best opportunity of his career after insisting the error-prone centre-half still has a future at St James' Park. Bramble's only first-team appearance this season came in last week's Carling
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Dad At Large: The tooth fairy's U-turn
THE tooth fairy has been a regular visitor to our house over the years. She knows the way off by heart. The milk teeth of four children have been safely collected and a small fortune in 50p pieces faithfully left in their place. But we've just had what
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Schools remember
THE mayor of Darlington will be paying a visit to primary schools across the town in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday. Councillor Roderick Francis is aiming to ensure that local youngsters are aware of the importance of the Poppy Appeal. He will be joining
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Lively terrier seeks walking partner
AN energetic dog is looking for a rambling partner to take him in. Five-year-old Toby the Terrier is being looked after by The National Animal Sanctuary's Support League (NASSL) in Darlington. He needs a home after his previous owners' circumstances changed
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Star drivers head for Croft
Croft Circuit plays host to the 2004 MSA British Rallycross Grand Prix this weeked with many of the sport's top drivers and most powerful cars set to battle it out for the prestigious title. Britain's Will Gollop (Ford Focus) is one of the favourites
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Top Ten To Rent
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL: 1 (-) Shrek 2 2 (1) Troy 3 (3) Fahrenheit 9/11 4 (2) The Day After Tomorrow 5 (9) The Passion Of The Christ 6 (-) Dawn Of The Dead 7 (5) Euro Trip 8 (6) Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind 9 (-) Scooby Doo 2 10 (4) Ginger Snaps
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Mark Thomas, Gala Theatre, Durham
THIS performance was a sell out, and Mark was on top form. He pulls no punches. Straight in with a joke about Durham's "flat pack theatre", he then teased students and locals alike. The former were "Oxford rejects", while North-East women are reputedly
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Bikers support air ambulance
A GROUP of bikers partied the night away to raise £437 for the Great North Air Ambulance. The Cobra Raleigh Club of Bishop Auckland, raised the money by holding an AC/DC tribute night at Cockton Hill Working Men's Club in the town. Gary Humphrey and fellow
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Boy, ten, found with vodka
UNDERAGE drinking and youths gathering on street corners continues to cause problems in Darlington. Last week, uniformed warden Rebecca Heseltine seized a bottle of vodka from a ten-year-old boy in the Firthmoor area of town. The Darlington Borough Council
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Smart Water is deterrent
AN innovative system of marking intruders as they break into a house was launched at the conference in a move to improve Darlington community safety measures. The water-based product can be used to security mark any item in the home and can be put in
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Lauda is shocked by self-inflicted 'disaster'
MOTOR RACING legend Niki Lauda has called the decision to axe the British Grand Prix a disaster for both the country and the sport. F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone broke off talks with the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC), owners of Silverstone, the home
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Volunteers recognised
VOLUNTARY groups are to be recognised for their dedication to training volunteers and community workers at an ceremony later this month. The second Annual Academy Awards, to be held at Durham's Collingwood College, on November 23, will celebrate developments
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University denies it is easiest for a first
A NORTH-EAST university has rejected claims that it is the easiest place to get a first-class degree. The University of Sunderland was reacting to research published by The Times Higher Education Supplement, which claimed yesterday that students could
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Successful footballers bidding for cup glory in national finals
AN east Durham school football team has reached the national finals of a competition. Easington Colliery Primary School team won both county and regional rounds to secure a place in the English Schools National finals in Lancashire in the new year. Now
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Pillar of community guilty of assaults on young girl
A MAN considered an upstanding member of the community is facing a jail sentence after being convicted of indecently assaulting a girl. Alan Eilbeck, 62, carried out assaults on the ten-year-old girl over a period of approximately eight months. Durham
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Sickening arson attack kills pony
A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been left devastated by the loss of her Shetland pony, which was killed in an arson attack at the weekend. Michelle Parker said her daughter, Georgia Jackson, could not understand why her five-year-old horse, called Fergie, was
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Man denies armed raid
A MAN accused of carrying out a £28,500 armed post office raid yesterday denied being anywhere near the scene. Simon Bowman, 39, is accused of robbing Lothian Terrace Post Office, in Washington, Wearside, shortly before closing time on May 17, 2002. It
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Shops to open for elderly and disabled
ONE of the region's most popular annual shopping events is to take place later this month in a new format. Every year, Newcastle's Eldon Square shopping complex opens especially for older and disabled people and their carers. The event is designed to
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New radio station to go on air
THE line-up has been prepared as the region's newest radio station prepares to take to the air. From Monday, community station Radio Teesdale begins a month-long broadcast to Barnard Castle and the surrounding area in County Durham. This will be the station's
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Bush: We can beat terrorism together
RE-ELECTED US President George Bush last night appealed for Americans to unite as "one country, one constitution and one future". After declaring election victory over Democratic Senator John Kerry, Mr Bush said he was "humbled by the trust and confidence
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You have until 10pm to vote on region's future
THE North-East stands on the brink of history, with only hours to go before the polls close in the referendum on whether it should have an elected regional assembly. A Yes vote would make the North-East the first English region to have what its advocates
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Thieves steal jewellery from nine-year-old disabled girl
Thieves stole jewellery belonging to a nine-year-old disabled girl after ransacking her family home. The intruders even stole pillow cases belonging to Jessica Doolan, to carry off other items stolen from her family home in St Andrews Road Bishop Auckland
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Action may be taken over chickens
TOWN councillors have given their clerk permission to begin enforcement action if chickens are not removed from an allotment. Barnard Castle Town Council had given teenage poultry enthusiast Thom Robinson one month to remove the chickens off the allotment
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Remembrance charge anger
A COUNCIL has decided to formally protest over rising charges for Remembrance Parades. Barnard Castle Town Council faces increased charges of up to £300 to pay professional traffic management companies to erect signs advertising road closure orders. The
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£97,000 to aid workers in getting fit
A £97,000 grant will encourage dales workers to take up exercise by funding a physical activity co-ordinator. The money is from an Active England Initiative backed by Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund to persuade more people to take part in sport
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Council 'jumping the gun' on car park work
CAMPAIGNERS say a council has jumped the gun by starting work on a temporary car park on recreation land. Bulldozers have started removing topsoil on part of The Sands area of common land next to the River Wear in Durham, for a Durham City Council car
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Health trust on awards shortlist
A health trust has been shortlisted for a national award for the support it offers male staff. Sheila Jones, assistant head of human resources, and staff nurse, Peter Atkinson, are travelling to London today to represent the Tees and North East Yorkshire
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Couple to be given floral memorial
A COUPLE renowned for giving away flowers and cuttings from their garden are to have a floral memorial. Bob and Connie Johnson's family have paid for 400 crocus bulbs to be planted on the village green at Gainford, near Barnard Castle, to serve as a reminder
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Appeal after college attack on student
THREE thugs attacked and robbed a 23-year-old student with learning difficulties as he washed his hands. The student was in a lavatory of Redcar and Cleveland College, Redcar, when the three youths approached him from behind. They pulled him to the ground
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Souness looking to flatten Dinamo
NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness will be out to avenge one of the worst nights of his career this evening when Dinamo Tbilisi make their first visit to St James' Park. The Georgian champions have never locked horns with the Magpies but, more than 25 years
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Man attacked in nightclub
A MAN had to undergo hospital treatment after being knocked unconscious in a Redcar nightclub. The incident happened between 11.45pm last Friday and 12.30am on Saturday at the town's Top Deck nightclub. The 24-year-old was the victim of an unprovoked
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Messages of support as leader fights cancer
A COUNCIL leader who has quit because of breast cancer has told how messages of support have comforted her. Sue Pitts, who has been at the helm of Durham City Council since May last year, when the Liberal Democrats won a landslide victory over Labour,
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Park's return to Victorian glory - and all for £1
FOR the people who take their chances with the Lottery every week, few could have realised the positive effect their £1 ticket would have on the local landscape. William Barratt was commissioned to design Albert Park and in 1868 it was given to the people
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Alvin shows would-be stage stars how to shine
CROONER Alvin Stardust has recruited dozens of young performers to star in his latest show. Mr Stardust, best known for his Seventies hits My Coo-Ca-Choo and the chart-topping Jealous Mind, visited Durham to meet members of the recently-reformed Consett
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Help from good neighbours
AN invaluable scheme to help elderly and vulnerable people has been launched in Darlington. The Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS) and social services chiefs celebrated the start of the Good Neighbours project at Rosemary Court. It will see a range
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Workers will be laid off by Christmas
STAFF at Pressworks Metals will be laid off over Christmas because the company only had orders for six weeks work. The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that the company will close after two of its main customers pulled out of the County Durham firm. Administrators
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Generation neglected by prisons, says report
FOUR of the region's institutions for young offenders are overcrowded, causing distress for inmates, a report has revealed. Northallerton and Askham Grange, near York, both North Yorkshire, Deerbolt, near Barnard Castle, and women's prison Low Newton,
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Hounds sent packing as huntsmen mark death of saint
RED-FACED huntsmen who gathered for a saintly anniversary on a bleak moor were forced to leave by an angry sheep farmer. Members of the Weardale and Tees Valley Beagles converged on the moor above Stanhope, County Durham, yesterday to mark the death of
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Drama group earns recognition
YOUNGSTERS in a community drama group are celebrating after earning recognition as Investors in Children. Officers at Willington Youth Theatre say the accolade is a reward for three years of hard work setting up the group, which has 17 members, and staging
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Missed the post? You've got until 10pm
ANYONE who has still to cast their vote in the assembly referendum can still do so in person until 10pm tonight. There are 55 assistance and delivery points around the region where voters can hand over their ballot papers in person. Members of staff are
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On tour again... naturally
Gilbert O'Sullivan still has plenty to say about his songs and albums which dominated the charts in the early 1970s. A clash over royalties disrupted his career in the 1980s, but the self-confessed, hermit-like Jersey-based star tells Viv Hardwick what
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Decision day for the region
THE recriminations over a possible No vote in today's referendum began at yesterday's Prime Minister's Questions, with the Liberal Democrat leader suggesting that Tony Blair should take the blame for any defeat. Charles Kennedy appeared to criticise Mr
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Dunstone turns up the heat on BT
Carphone Warehouse posted profits ahead of expectations after benefiting from a "buoyant" mobile market and the growth of its TalkTalk service. The group, which has more than 1,300 retail outlets, said profits for the 26 weeks to September 25 improved
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Billy's new gran
The actress preparing to play Billy Elliot's gran in the West End musical talks to Steve Pratt about becoming a Geordie for the stage run. At 72, Tessa Worsley is still ready for a fight in a revival of The Beauty Queen of Leenane at York's Theatre Royal
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Football fans get car parks warning
POLICE have announced parking restrictions at Middlesbrough Football Club's Riverside Stadium on match days. The traffic restrictions have been imposed for building work at the town's Middlehaven site and will be in place for tonight's UEFA Cup match.
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04/11/04
REGIONAL ASSEMBLY: I AM North-East born and bred. Yet, why I should need this qualification to express an opinion on regional assemblies, I fail to see. I can understand why many Scots want more self-government. They were, after all, a nation state until
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MPs in revolt over allowance
TORY MPs in North Yorkshire staged a revolt last night in a bid to keep their car allowance of 57.7p a mile - twice the AA's estimate of the true cost of wear and tear. David Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon, John Greenway, Ryedale, and Anne McIntosh,
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UK helps to build diesel bike
BRITISH technology has helped to produce the world's first production diesel military motorbike. The 86mph machine, already ordered by the US Marines, may be available to the public in the future. The bike is the result of a technology partnership between
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Enterprising couple make shortlist
A TEESSIDE couple who overcame redundancy and illness to set up their own manufacturing company have been shortlisted for a national business award. Geoff and Chris Baxter, from Middlesbrough, have won a place in the national finals of the Government-backed
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Warden suffers for charity
TRAFFIC warden Ian McCarthy came up with just the ticket for a charity fundraising effort. Known for his caring nature by people who meet him on his regular beat in Crook, he collected £500 for breast cancer research by going through a painful leg wax
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Comment from The Northen Echo: There must be a change
FOR decades, the North-East has called for a change to the way it is governed. As the North-South divide has widened, our region has demanded a greater understanding of its needs, a fairer distribution of wealth, and a stronger, more relevant voice. Today
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Titanic expert honoured to meet survivor
AN EXPERT in popular culture has crowned years of research into the sinking of the Titanic. Geoff Pattison found a rare copy of the last photograph taken of the ill-fated vessel and then had it signed by the last known living survivor. Mr Pattison, a
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Big day for ducks and charity fundraisers
A North-East city hopes to make another big splash for charity on Sunday when it holds its second Grand Duck Race. Twenty thousand yellow plastic ducks will be tipped into the River Wear from the buckets of three diggers on Elvet Bridge, in Durham City
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Cigarette-logs smuggler goes on the run
A BUSINESSMAN has gone on the run after being found guilty of smuggling millions of cigarettes into the UK inside a shipment of hollowed-out logs. Paul Stanley, 39, was found guilty last month of using a scrap business he ran on Tyneside as cover to import
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Workers will be laid off by Christmas
STAFF at Pressworks Metals will be laid off over Christmas because the company only had orders for six weeks work. The Northern Echo revealed yesterday that the company will close after two of its main customers pulled out of the County Durham firm. Administrators
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John North: Tales of a glass act
In an enlightening book, former mayor Bill Stenson tells of his nocturnal adventures boarding up broken windows. THROUGH a glass darkly, former mayor Bill Stenson has written a book about his shattering experiences - the chap, knocked up by the polliss
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Bet of a do
Fresh from the political intrigues of TV dramas State of Play and The Deal, Davie Morrissey admits that it was Gene Kelly musicals which got him into entertainment in the first place. Steve Pratt reportrs on the all-singing, all-dancing series based around
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It's all Greek to Cooper as Dimi takes the number one spot
NEALE Cooper is being rewarded for putting his faith in Dimi Konstanopoulos. The giant Greek goalkeeper has kept successive clean sheets for Hartlepool United after being given his chance to impress. Boss Neale Cooper has dropped last season's player
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The Second Coming
George W Bush has succeeded where his father failed, in winning a second term as president. But what will another four years of Dubya mean for the rest of us? Nick Morrison reports. IT seems he really has been "misunderestimated". George W Bush may be
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On TV
Musicality (C4) THE judges of this talent show to find musical theatre stars are so much nicer, both to contestants and each other, than the trio on The X Factor. There, presenter Kate Thornton has to keep bickering Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh apart
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Step closer in choice of church leader
THE process of choosing the next Archbishop of York has moved a step forward. Six people have been elected to represent the Diocese of York on the Crown Nominations Commission, which will ultimately submit two names to the Prime Minister as candidates
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Couple to be given floral memorial
A COUPLE renowned for giving away flowers and cuttings from their garden are to have a floral memorial. Bob and Connie Johnson's family have paid for 400 crocus bulbs to be planted on the village green at Gainford, near Barnard Castle, to serve as a reminder
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Judges lined up for music contest
AN international visitor will help judge Darlington and Northallerton Rotary Clubs' young musician competition this month. Ingbert Bluthner, president of Leipzig Rotary Club, in Germany, will fly in for the event and will loan one of his company's grand
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Bush: We can beat terrorism together
RE-ELECTED US President George Bush last night appealed for Americans to unite as "one country, one constitution and one future". After declaring election victory over Democratic Senator John Kerry, Mr Bush said he was "humbled by the trust and confidence
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Lauda is shocked
MOTOR RACING legend Niki Lauda has called the decision to axe the British Grand Prix a disaster for both the country and the sport. F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone broke off talks with the British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC), owners of Silverstone, the home
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Thomas returns to training with aim of impressing Hodgson
Darlington midfielder Stephen Thomas returns to training this morning, desperate to prove his fitness to manager David Hodgson. Hodgson has allayed fears that the 25-year-old faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a hernia problem, but Saturday's
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Buffy homes in on horror
Eight years of playing Buffy The Vampire Slayer doesn't mean that Sarah Michelle Gellar has lost interest in horror shows. The Grudge made movie history by allowing a Japanese team to re-make a classic oriental film in the US. Steve Pratt reports. TELEVISION'S
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Councillors resign with an apology
TWO councillors facing disqualification due to non-attendance have resigned from their posts. John Bennett and Lorraine Smith resigned from Shildon Town Council after being told they would be disqualified for not attending meetings for six months. Their
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Thousands still to cast vote
WITH the polls due to close at 10pm in the referendum for an elected regional assembly, hundreds of thousands of people across the North-East have still to cast their vote. Latest figures showed that turnout has topped 41 per cent of the 1.9 million people
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Patience is the key to Boro's Italian job
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren says he expects his team to beat European giants Lazio despite the visitors being installed as tournament favourites. Boro face the Italian Serie A side in the second UEFA Cup group game at the Riverside tonight aiming
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Given confident he can put errors behind him
SHAY Given has pledged to put Sunday's double disappointment behind him as Newcastle look to take a giant stride towards the UEFA Cup's knockout stage tonight. The Magpies will be hoping to bounce back from Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Bolton, a result that
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Abbey taster
A taster tour of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, near Ripon, will take place on Sunday, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Visitors will explore the estate's 800-year history. To take part, meet at the visitor centre. A similar tour will take place on November
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Youngsters nearer to realising dreams after tournament at stadium
DREAMS of appearing at the Millennium Stadium are now one step closer for a group of Darlington youngsters after winning a football tournament held at the Williamson Motors Stadium. The under-11 team from Abbey Primary School won the Kellogs Frosties
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Delegates given a relaxing time
SIX beauty therapists have been showing directors from all over the country just what they can do for business. The trainees are apprentices who spend one day a week at the beauty and hairdressing school Intuitions, in Harrogate. They treated delegates
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Shop scheme wins council backing
A SUPERMARKET extension has been approved - despite concerns about its impact on nearby town centres. Tesco has been given permission to add a further 20,000sq ft of floorspace to its Catterick Garrison store. After a heated debate, Richmondshire District
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Neighbourhood Watch must be developed, say police
An estimated 1,000 people in Darlington - one per cent of its population - are actively involved in Neighbourhood Watch in their communities. The work to keep residents safe against crime in their homes stretches across between 30 and 40 per cent of the
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Coroner calls for junction closure
A CORONER has called for a road junction to be sealed off following the deaths of a motorcyclist and his pillion passenger. The accident happened when the bike and a minibus collided at the junction of Beacon Lane and Stockton Road, on the A689 at Sedgefield
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Man's jaw broken in drunken attack
A MAN assaulted an innocent victim after mistakenly accusing him of stealing his jacket, a court heard. Darren Burn, 30, broke the man's jaw in a drunken attack as they made their way back to Seaham, County Durham, by bus after a night drinking in pubs
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School footpath boost for pupils
pupils are enjoying the benefits of a new footpath which gives them a quiet area to socialise during play time. The £10,000 project at Chester-le-Street Junior School, County Durham, follows a fundraising drive by pupils, co-ordinated by a Focus Group
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New lease of life for Sammy
KEVIN RYAN'S happy knack of acquiring horses from other stables and rekindling their waning enthusiasm could once again be evidence when Super Sammy (2.40) has her first outing for his yard at Haydock today. Formerly with Mick Easterby, Super Sammy seemed
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Stair fall mum breaks back avoiding son
A WOMAN broke her back after flinging herself from a staircase to avoid landing on her toddler son. And as Mandy Loader lay in agony on the floor, year-old Mason brought the family's cordless phone to her. Ms Loader, 25, was carrying a vacuum cleaner
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Library to open after revamp
A LIBRARY will re-open later this month following refurbishment. Easingwold Library has £20,000 of new stock, a new collection of DVDs and an Internet suite. There is also a children's library including story tapes, videos and DVDs and baby-changing facilities
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Scheme to allow GP access for commuters
COMMUTERS and travellers using one of the region's busiest railway stations will soon be able see a doctor thanks to a new scheme. Plans for NHS walk-in centres near major railway stations were announced by the Government yesterday. The initiative, which
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Police go online to tackle thieves
POLICE are using the latest technology to reunite stolen items with their rightful owners and to discourage thieves. The North Yorkshire force is posting images of items on their website, which also has computerised links so that antiques dealers can
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New fortnightly collections are rubbish, say residents
RESIDENTS have claimed that a council's new refuse collection system has left them having to take their rubbish to the local tip. Hambleton District Council introduced wheelie bins in July last year. Many residents have two wheelie bins - green for garden
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Fashionable choice of winners
TWO lucky MetroCentre visitors have been given a chance to make it big on the catwalk. Graeme Hall, of Farringdon, Sunderland, and Stacey Marie Pooley, of West Denton, Newcastle, were crowned winners of the MetroCentre's Search for a Model competition
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Council may be fined fir missing targets
A COUNCIL risks being fined by the Government for failing to hit targets on recycling. By 2006, Richmondshire District Council should be recycling 18 per cent of household waste. But council chiefs admit that just over ten per cent is now being collected
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'Fighting disease that killed my dad'
A WOMAN who suffers from bowel cancer - the condition which killed her father - has spoken of her battle against the illness. Mother-of-one Ann Cooke, has told her story to publicise a small charity event in her community for Cancer Research UK. Mrs Cooke
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Fireworks are put to the noise test
TESTS have been carried out to make sure Bonfire Night goes off with a bang - but not too loudly. Fireworks being sold to the public in the Middlesbrough area are being checked by trading standards officers to ensure they do not exceed 120 decibels. New
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Police issue safety warning to drivers
MOTORISTS have been urged to be on the alert for elderly pedestrians during the coming darker months. Durham Police is mounting a campaign to cut the number of accident casualties across the force area. The force's road policing unit is urging drivers
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Views sought
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council wants people's views about plans for a new footpath on both sides of the road under Marske Lane rail bridge as part of its Walking Network improvements. Plans for the scheme are on view in Marske library and the public
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Tragedy after night partying with friends
A TEENAGER died after a night drinking and partying with friends, an inquest heard yesterday. William Raine, 18, from Hartlepool, went with James Lee to buy a box of white wine before going to a friend's house on the night of March 16 this year. They
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Pupils rewarded for contribution to science exhibition
pupils have been recognised for their contribution to a science exhibition. Youngsters at Sedgefield and Hardwick primary schools made models of robots that were displayed at last month's Science Live event at Netpark, the high-tech business park being
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Educational shake-up may result in closure of schools
AN educational shake-up could see three Middlesbrough primary schools close because of falling rolls. Middlesbrough Council's education chiefs are launching a town-wide consultation exercise, which will include parents, as the controversial plans are
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Make one last date with seal colony
Animal lovers have one last chance to check out the wildlife at one of the region's nature reserves. The guided visit to to British Energy's observation hide overlooking Teesmouth National Nature Reserve, at Seal Sands, on Sunday, November 14, starts
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Skate park at your door
YOUNGSTERS can use a mobile skateboard on their doorsteps. The facility has been provided by Easington District Council's Safety Partnership and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and is available free to community groups. The mobile park is taken to any
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Youngsters with a point to prove
FOUR young fencers are helping the North-East make its mark on the national scene on the piste. The quartet, members of the Durham Phoenix Club, have won call ups to the Great Britain cadet squad for forthcoming international competitions. Joel Woods,
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Present and past join in remembrance
A DETACHMENT from the Royal Air Force base at Leeming will join one of the North-East's biggest remembrance parades this month. They will be march alongside the RAFA, RAF Regimental Association and Bomber Command Association (BCA) at the parade in Sunderland
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Vehicles seized in anti-crime campaign
ELEVEN vehicles were seized in the latest crackdown on anti-social behaviour in a former pit village. Traffic officers stopped and checked vehicles in a three-hour operation as part of the three-month campaign. The vehicles were seized for having no tax
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Hospital thanks for pyjama gift
A TEESSIDE couple have answered auxiliary nurse Julie Dunn's call to get patients into their pyjamas Mrs Dunn, who works on a surgical ward at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, noticed the difficulty amputee patients had in finding
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Landslip repairs will take a year
WORK to repair a landslip on a busy road could take more than a year. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's investigation into the cause of the slip, at Loftus Bank, is expected to show it was not linked to £2.5m repair work on the road three years ago
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Police teams to support abuse victims
A NORTH-EAST police force has set up six command-based public protection units to improve the support given to people suffering abuse. The Northumbria Police units will also monitor the activities of registered sex and other dangerous offenders. Each
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Hello Den
SOAPLAND'S immigration policy is in clear need of an overhaul as all sorts of undesirables are finding their way across the border. With his record, Dirty Den should be turned away and put into soap limboland - otherwise known as Family Affairs - until
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Polls close in referendum
The polls have closed in the referendum on whether the region should have a regional assembly. Voters in the North-East had two weeks to return their ballot packs in the all-postal vote. People who did not post them in time were able to hand them in at
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News from The Guilds and WIs
Consett Afternoon WI: THE October meeting was opened by Linda Richardson, president, with the singing of Jerusalem. Minutes of the previous meeting were read by the secretary and verses were read by Miriam Owens, Ivy Collins, Elsie O'Toole and Barbara
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Home ground
SINGING star Amanda Turnbull returns to her home town of Darlington for a sell-out gig on Saturday. The lead singer of Jaded left the region for London at the age of 17 to study music and has gone on to give some high-profile performances in the capital
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Palace pride of former TV chief
ONE NorthEast chairman Margaret Fay was honoured by The Princess Royal yesterday for her services to broadcasting. She received her OBE at Buckingham Palace along with a host of other recipients named in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June. Ms Fay
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Things looking bleak for 'Yes' campaign
Campaigners for a North East regional assembly have tonight conceded defeat - "unless something dramatic happens". Ross Forbes, director of yes4thenortheast told PA News in Sunderland, where the referendum result is set to be announced within the next
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Man set to have implant to repair hearing
Lorry driver Gerald Hall thought the batteries in his hearing aid had gone when he woke up. But within a short time he and his wife Ann realised that he had been suddenly plunged into a silent world. His hearing loss happened two years ago and since then
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Caught in storm as engine cut out
The full story of how and why a war plane came down in the North East during a storm in 1917 has just been revealed - in the dramatic words of the pilot. Jim McTaggart reports. There was great excitement when a two-seater aircraft, an RE8, made an emergency
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'Menace' motorist in chase locked up
A HOMELESS man has been jailed after he sparked a police and helicopter chase as he drunkenly drove at high speeds. Daniel Dodsworth was branded a menace by a judge at Teesside Crown court yesterday as he was jailed for two years and two months. The court
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Bridge opening marks end of work on high risk sites
HIGHWAYS chiefs yesterday celebrated the opening of a £3m replacement rail bridge. The event marks the last of the urgent work needed to be carried out on bridges deemed high risk which cross the East Coast Main Line in County Durham - and an important
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Town planners in firing line
MILLIONAIRE entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne has launched a fresh attack on Darlington planners, insisting their lack of vision is preventing an influx of new jobs. The tycoon, whose fitness chain headquarters is based in the town, has repeatedly seen efforts
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Fresh move in campaign for smoke-free city
THE latest attempt to stub out smoking in public moved a step forward in the North-East last night. Councillors in Newcastle agreed to work actively with other relevant agencies towards developing a smoke-free city. The move was made in the wake of Liverpool
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Do they understand English?
I CANNOT bear to watch one more family from wet and windy Macclesfield moving to sun drenched Tuscany. I don't want to see another Birmingham couple swap their semi on a crowded estate for a rambling, tumbledown farmhouse in the South of France. And it's
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Lazio hold no fears for hot-shot Zenden
BOLO Zenden is not worried about taking on Italian giants Lazio tonight, because he thinks Middlesbrough overcame a tougher test two weeks ago. Boro made the perfect start to their UEFA Cup group stage campaign when their injury-ravaged side beat Greek
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Give a little love
Anyone who knows me will tell you I am very tactile. As far as I'm concerned there's not much in this world that can't be solved - or at least soothed - by a cuddle from a loved one. But for those who work too hard to schedule a bit of physical contact
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Best friends killed in road accident
TWO teenagers who had been inseparable for much of their lives died side by side in an horrific road smash. Best friends Kane Ryland Edward Banner and Ryan Fairley were killed instantly when the car they were in swerved out of control and hit a tree on
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School attendance up
SCHOOL attendance records in the Durham education authority area have surpassed expectation four years ahead of schedule. Attendance at schools in the county in 2003-4 was the highest ever, with 91.87 per cent at secondary level and 94.35 in primary schools
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Students swap classrooms for cornets during military day
PUPILS have experienced life in a military band. Six students from Richmond School spent yesterday with the Normandy Band of the Queen's Division, at Catterick Garrison. The young musicians rehearsed and then marched with the band. "We told them it is
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'Lock me up' plea to escape drug addicts
A MAN yesterday begged a judge to lock him up rather than force him to live in the North Yorkshire town of Richmond. John Bailey, 46, said his life was made hell by drug addicts. Bailey, who lives alone after his mother moved to an old people's home,
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A talent show withiout tantrums
Musicality (C4): THE judges of this talent show to find musical theatre stars are so much nicer, both to contestants and each other, than the trio on The X Factor. There, presenter Kate Thornton has to keep bickering Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh apart
