Archive
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Bedworth gives Mowden edge in cracking derby
WHAT A shame England v Australia was on TV as an enthralling Darlington derby deserved to be watched by anyone in the town with even a remote interest in the game. Despite the visitors being shorn of six first-choice players, the match provided further
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Sending-off cost us the game, fumes McClaren
STEVE McCLAREN admitted Franck Queudrue's sending off yesterday cost his side the game. The Middlesbrough manager was fuming after his French full-back was dismissed by referee Phil Dowd for a lunge on Spurs defender Noe Pamarot five minutes before half-time
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Kelly leads the stars at N-E gala night
THE glitterati will be out in force tonight hoping to be seduced by the latest North-East film offering. A star-studded evening is promised at The Gate cinema, in Newcastle, for the world premiere of School for Seduction. Made and funded on Tyneside,
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Yes, the WI can teach us a thing or two
WI members should be called in to teach craft and cookery in schools, a government advisory group announced this month. But some village schools in North Yorkshire have already beaten them to it - with brilliant results. Sharon Griffiths reports. IN Manfield
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Lights shining out to help charities
A COUPLE'S festive offering, brightening a small stretch of a rural road in the North-East, received a celebrity switch-on at the weekend. Television announcer and local radio presenter Kathy Secker performed the honours to light up decorations costing
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Brumwell: win was best yet
FA Trophy: Spennymoor skipper Phil Brumwell reckons Saturday's 4-2 win at Droylsden was the best since he arrived at the club. Moors twice came from a goal down to beat the Conference North club and go into the hat for today's third round draw. The former
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Ugh, this show's a magical winner
Fungus the Bogeyman (Sunday, BBC1); Elton John: An Ivor Novello Tribute (Sunday, BBC1): YOU know Christmas is starting too early when the BBC premieres a new flagship children's show in November. Fungus the Bogeyman is a three-part adaptation of the children's
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Back to reality for goal hero
MICK McCARTHY may have been relieved when Michael Bridges pounced to score his first goal in nearly six years for Sunderland - but the manager hinted his striker's place could still be on the bench. Despite the player's adoring fans clamouring for his
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Westwood phones a friend to solve goalscoring conundrum
CHRIS Westwood might have a new phone number to add to his friends and family list. Goals for the Hartlepool United defender are a rare commodity, but he might just have found the secret to scoring success. Two goals this season, his latest being the
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Seaton comes in from cold
WHETHER or not Seaton Carew has the coldest cricket ground in Christendom - and the climate of opinion blows that way - Dickie Bird clearly had his feathers ruffled there. It was 1992, Durham II spending - if not necessarily enjoying - a day by the seaside
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Rock to spark Lee double
GRAND National winning jockey Graham Lee has a great chance of mopping up the opening couple of races at Newcastle via Cotty's Rock (12.20) and Supreme Developer (12.50). Cotty's Rock is sure to be a popular choice to get Graham off to a flying start
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Road accident appeals
AN ELDERLY driver remained critical in hospital last night after a collision. The 76-year-old man had to be cut from his car after a crash on the A167 North-West Radial Road, south of the Cowhill Flyover, in Newcastle. He suffered multiple injuries. The
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Man quizzed over death
A MAN was continuing to help police with their inquiries last night after he was arrested in connection with the death of a woman. The body of 42-year-old Alison McNally was found by police at a house in the village of Greenside, a small former mining
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Police ask cabbies to help cut crime
POLICE have enlisted the help of taxi drivers in their fight against crime. Under the Taxi-net scheme launched in York, the drivers have been given telephone pagers to pass on messages about everything from congestion and taxi queues to roadworks and
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Cartridge recycling scheme branches out
COMPUTER users in Stockton are being encouraged to recycle printer cartridges. A survey by Cartridge World, which has stores at Norton Road and Devonshire Road, reveals that nearly 80 per cent of people ditch their empty ink cartridges. The firm, which
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'I discovered the world is a prison'
Renowned poet Jack Mapanje is telling the story of his time as a political prisoner in Malawi in his memoirs. He talks to Sarah Foster. STANDING naked and shivering in Mikuyu prison, Jack Mapanje's humiliation could not have been more complete. A published
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Council calls on artistic skills of youngsters to promote walkway
YOUNGSTERS have used their artistic talents to help promote a Hartlepool beauty spot. The ideas of children from Clavering Primary School have been incorporated into the design of a new information board at the entrance to the Hart to Haswell Walkway,
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Star flutters by to open refurbished village hall
A VILLAGE hall has reopened after a fundraising effort by the community. Villagers from Hutton Rudby, near Stokesley, raised more than £400,000 to renovate their hall after it was found to have major structural problems in 1999. Donations, numerous fundraising
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Private life of a public man
THERE is a great deal of sympathy for David Blunkett following the intrusion into his private life. While there are some contrasting views over his record as Home Secretary, there has always been widespread respect for his integrity and straight-talking
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Star flutters by to open refurbished village hall
A VILLAGE hall has reopened after a fundraising effort by the community. Villagers from Hutton Rudby, near Stokesley, raised more than £400,000 to renovate their hall after it was found to have major structural problems in 1999. Donations, numerous fundraising
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Changes to bus services
Bus company Arriva North-East has revised some of its services to allow them to serve Middlesbrough bus station. Previously, some services did not call at the station because of the extra time needed to navigate the pedestrianised area. The changes -
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Raffle will help hospice
FUNDRAISERS for Teesside Hospice Care Foundation are appealing to businesses, groups and associations to help them raise funds by raffling a Christmas reindeer. Each reindeer is holding a chocolate selection box and has been specially wrapped for Christmas
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Healthy option is Cool for kids
CHILDREN in Hartlepool are taking part in a project which promotes healthy lifestyles for young people. About 25 youngsters aged eight to 14 attend Owton Manor Primary School every Monday night to take part in a range of activities including football,
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Students see what university can offer
PUPILS at a Darlington school have been learning about what they can expect if they go to university. Year eight and nine students from Hurworth School Maths and Computing College were visited by tutors from Teesside University. They showed young people
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Catching cheats via technology
A LOCAL authority is stepping up its efforts to crackdown on benefits fraudsters by using software. Darlington Borough Council is using increasingly sophisticated technology to help detect the cheats. Computer technology now allows all council housing
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Moves to support patients will cut hospital admissions
PEOPLE who often end up in hospital are to be helped by a health initiative to keep patients in their own homes. Darlington has one of the worst records in the country for people having to go into hospital unexpectedly. Many of the admissions involve
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Students' efforts are rewarded
TOP students at Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College have been rewarded for their efforts and achievements. The main hall was packed with students, parents, governors and community representatives for the school's college presentation evening. Dave
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Gill's success is recognised
INTERNET entrepreneur Gill Chapple is heading for another national awards ceremony after beating off competition from hundreds of successful women. The 25-year-old founder of Bedsearcher, which sells rooms in hotels and guesthouses across the UK, will
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Danger of nuisance 999 calls
NUISANCE calls to Teesside's ambulance service are putting people's lives at risk, it has been warned. About one in four call-outs for Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) are unnecessary, according to managers. Recent calls include
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Collieries under review
UK Coal has said the viability of some under-performing collieries was under review following a disappointing year for the mining group. The UK's biggest mining operator said that, while the study would focus on ways to improve operational effectiveness
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Spotlight turned on beaches clean up
AWARD-WINNING efforts to transform a stretch of North-East coastline came under the national spotlight yesterday. The clean-up and improvement of the former coal-blackened beaches of County Durham was featured on BBC1's Countryfile programme. Presenters
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Plea after shopper's knife ordeal
A SHOPPER was robbed at knifepoint, police have reveal-ed. Two men, armed with a knife and a screwdriver, carried out the attack on a lone woman shopper as she left Morrison's, in Seaburn, Sunderland, after dark. They confronted the 45-year-old as she
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Rallying call sounded over festive shoe box appeal
SHOPPERS are being urged to do their bit to send some festive cheer to thousands of children in troubled countries around the world this Christmas. As part of the Durham Christmas Festival, the city's Millburngate Shopping Centre is urging members of
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Daredevil walk to help blind
THE Royal National Institute for the Blind is looking for volunteers from the region to complete a double dare early next year. Volunteers will be asked to complete a death-defying walk 75ft above the ground, then abseil down the side of the Sunderland
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Seventh defeat on trot for luckless Blaydon
BLAYDON will be desperate to end their worst run in national league rugby at home to Kendal next Saturday after suffering their seventh successive defeat at Fylde. They led 3-0 and missed two clear try-scoring chances early on, but finally lost 32-3 to
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Poetry and pictures in exhibition
A "POET of the lens" will hold an exhibition featuring local scenes and creative writing at a Bishop Auckland gallery next month. Photographer and artist Pat Maycroft will present, Northern Grit, in The Discovery Centre, Market Place, from Thursday. The
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Artistic pupils aim to design bird box with a difference
PRIMARY schoolchildren have started work on a piece of public art which they hope will be named the best bird box in Britain. Pupils from Wearhead Primary School, in County Durham, visited Durham City's peninsula to research the proposed site of their
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Museum space sell-off worries
CONCERNS have been raised about plans to sell off space used by a museum. Officers at Richmondshire District Council say the authority's offices at 33 Frenchgate, in Richmond, have become surplus to requirements and have asked for permission to sell the
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Wildlife group calls for ban on snares to stop suffering
A NORTH-EAST wildlife group has called for a ban on snares following a series of incidents in the region. Durham Badger Group says the snares kill all sorts of wildlife, including badgers, which are slowly choked to death as the wires tighten around their
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Racial equality pioneer to answer questions
AN invited audience will question the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality. Students, staff and members of York Racial Equality Network, along with people from academic institutions, will attend an hour-long forum at which Trevor Phillips will
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Wendy building up a career
BODYBUILDER Wendy McCready is the best in Britain, Miss McCready, 27, from Shildon, County Durham, has won the British Championship title. She is now poised to turn professional and is looking forward to competing on the international circuit. "I will
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Artistic pupils aim to design bird box with a difference
PRIMARY schoolchildren have started work on a piece of public art which they hope will be named the best bird box in Britain. Pupils from Wearhead Primary School, in County Durham, visited Durham City's peninsula to research the proposed site of their
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Danger of nuisance 999 calls
NUISANCE calls to Teesside's ambulance service are putting people's lives at risk, it has been warned. About one in four call-outs for Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service (Tenyas) are unnecessary, according to managers. Recent calls include
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Bellamy selling country retreat
NEWCASTLE United striker Craig Bellamy is planning to leave his plush country home to be nearer the club's training ground. The Welsh international has put his rural retreat in Northumberland on the market to find a home closer to Tyneside. He hopes it
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Kelly leads the stars at N-E gala night
THE glitterati will be out in force tonight hoping to be seduced by the latest North-East film offering. A star-studded evening is promised at The Gate cinema, in Newcastle, for the world premiere of School for Seduction. Made and funded on Tyneside,
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Cute on Corrie!
SAM Aston, the 11-year-old who plays cheeky Chesney Brown in Coronation Street, is rapidly becoming a bit of a star. His triumph at October's National TV Awards, where he scooped Most Popular Newcomer, was followed by a blizzard of publicity. But Sam's
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Queudrue dismissal leads to capital punishment for Boro
MIDDLESBROUGH'S Champion's League train came to a shuddering halt yesterday at White Hart Lane. The Boro carriage was gathering a steady head of steam after going seven league games without defeat, but a Franck Queudrue red card five minutes before the
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Church wait for new vicar finally ends
THE long wait for a new vicar to serve the county town of North Yorkshire is finally over. The Reverend Howard Smith was instituted as vicar of Northallerton with Kirby Sigston by the Bishop of Whitby, the Right Rev Robert Ladds, on Saturday, in the town's
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Road work is 'tribute' to teenage girl
THE parents of a teenage girl who died after she was hit by a car say a road safety scheme installed at the site of the accident is a fitting tribute. Work to improve a stretch of the A167, at Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was completed in the same
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Cycle events blaze a trail of success
A TRAILBLAZING North-East race has proved to be a huge success. The three cyclo-cross races were staged at the 100-acre site off Catcote Road, Hartlepool, for the first time yesterday. The event was organised by Steve Noble - who does a lot of work for
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Two arrested after £22,000 factory blaze
ARSONISTS caused £22,000 worth of damage to a North-East kitchen factory when they set fire to wooden pallets in a yard. The blaze, at Magnet in Darlington, early on Friday evening, destroyed a large number of the pallets. The heat was so intense it bent
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Hunting fans draw up ban action plans
FARMERS who support hunting with dogs are threatening to refuse access to their land. Hunt masters, meeting yesterday to discuss last week's decision to ban the activity, said landowners would be "bloody minded" when bodies such as utility engineers,
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Cooper praises spirit of side
NEALE Cooper last night praised his side's spirit after they snatched victory from Bournemouth. Andy Appleby's late, late goal secured a 3-2 victory and maintained Pool's superb run of results at home. In ten games at Victoria Park, they have taken 26
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Activist to fight seat at election
HUMAN rights activist Ben Rogers is to fight the Labour-held Durham City seat for the Conservatives at the General Election. Mr Rogers, a journalist and author was selected at a meeting of local party members. The 30-year-old, who works for the international
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Magpies let Everton off hook
NEWCASTLE fans were treated to the sight of a side moving heaven and earth to restore their club to former European glories yesterday. With a commendable sense of unity, and a refusal to accept defeat, the Champions League hopefuls shrugged off the disappointment
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Woeful kicks prove Englanbd need Jonny
Andy Robinson last night assessed his first defeat as England head coach, but insisted that panic is not on the world champions' agenda. England will head to Cardiff in ten weeks for a hazardous RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against resurgent Wales
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Smoking ban help for health care staff
TWO health organisations in the North-East have linked to help staff cope with working in a smoke-free zone. Darlington and County Durham Priority Services Trust has sought help from Darlington Primary Care Trust's smoking cessation services to support
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Time running out for the long-distance councillor
TIME is running out for a North-East councillor serving his constituents from the Caribbean if he wants to keep his seat. Councillor Stephen Gregory must go to at least one meeting of Wear Valley District Council next month, otherwise he faces being disqualified
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Foreign tourists flocking to region
THE number of overseas tourists visiting the region is rising significantly, it has been revealed. The lure of Newcastle and other English cities is helping overseas tourist numbers reach record levels. The number of visits to Newcastle by foreign residents
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Charity effort was a family affair
CHILDREN in Need was a family affair for an avid group of fundraisers, who rallied support for the BBC charity effort across their village. A three-week fundraising effort by the Perks family, of Coxhoe, County Durham, began with a remark by 12-year-old
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Group backs InterCity trains scheme
A PROPOSED InterCity train link offering direct access from the Durham coast to London has been welcomed. Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority offered its broad backing to the Grand Central Railway Company's proposals, subject to a detailed business
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Ferryhill stun Catterick with rare victory
Wearside League: There was a mini celebration at Ferryhill Athletic on Saturday after securing only their second victory of the season. And David Fanning's side did so very much against the odds. Sport Catterick, in good form of late, were firm favourites
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Venue change
Chilton West Residents' Association will hold a committee meeting at Chilton Workingmen's Club tomorrow, at 7.15pm. This is a change of venue, from Henderson Community House.
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Birds flock to supermarkets
FLOCKS of visiting birds are abandoning the countryside in favour of the region's supermarkets and city centres. Record numbers of berry-eating waxwings and Scandinavian thrushes, which have flown in from northern Russia and normally feed in hedgerows
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Golden celebrations
A GOLDEN couple celebrated half a century of married life at the weekend. Betty and Eric Heckley, of Gregory Close, Staindrop, say the secret to a long and happy marriage has been "give and take and appreciating each other's company". The couple lived
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Nursery builds on reputation
A TOWN nursery school is celebrating a good report from Government inspectors. Pupils, staff and governors at Aclet Close Nursery School, in Bishop Auckland, were thrilled with the findings of the inspection team from education watchdogs Ofsted. Inspectors
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Silver cup with royal links put up for auction
AN ORNATE silver cup that once belonged to the Duke of Northumberland will be auctioned this week. The gilt trophy, which was designed in 1725 by Jacob Margas, is engraved with the royal coat of arms and is expected to fetch more than £50,000 at the sale
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Police called to football trip aircraft
POLICE were called to an aircraft containing Middlesbrough football supporters returning from Spain after allegations about disruptive behaviour during the flight. The alarm was raised when the aircraft landed at Newcastle International Airport at 9pm
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Santa Paws gives dogs an early festive treat
DOGS were treated to an early Christmas present over the weekend when they got a visit from Santa Paws. He visited the Sadberge branch of the Dogs Trust after Newcastle Brown Ale donated some coats for the dogs at the centre to wear during the cold months
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Volunteer recycling group leads country by example
A TEESDALE volunteer group is being hailed across the country as a leading light in the recycling and composting of waste. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is using Teesdale Conservation Volunteers (TCV) as an example for
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Centre celebrates anniversary
THE Independent Living Centre in Middlesbrough hosted an open day to celebrate its first anniversary. Patients, carers and the public were invited to drop in for a look round to celebrate a successful year. The centre gives members of the public the chance
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Mobile police station wheeled out
A POLICE station on four wheels is taking to the streets to crack down on burglars and reassure residents. The mobile unit will be used across the Gateshead area to take police services into rural communities. Sergeant Mick Robson, who is based at Whickham
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Gingerbread prepares for launch
GINGERBREAD, which helps one-parent families, is about to start up in Scarborough. Work is under way to form a new branch of the organisation, and members hope to have it up and fully running following a launch at a family fun day in January. Gingerbread
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Advice on heart care for youngsters
ADVICE on how to keep your heart healthy is starting early for youngsters in Redcar and Cleveland. Pupils are taking part in Heart Research's healthy schools campaign from today until Wednesday. Barbara Harpham, national director of Heart Research said
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Rugby stars dig in to plant thousands of trees
BURLY rugby players have been flexing their muscles by picking up spades and planting hundreds of trees as part of a project to improve the environment. Acklam Rugby Club players in Easterside were joined by their families and supporters to plant more
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Campaign says a smoke-free home means a healthy child
HEALTH officials are calling for parents to consider their children's health and stop smoking at home. The smoke-free homes campaign, launched by Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust, aims to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco smoke pollution
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Pauline takes helm of Meet
A NEW Richmond Meet president has been appointed. Pauline Dowse became a member in 1977 after she was taken along by her sister-in-law, Ann, to do a bit of baking. Since then, she has become an active member, especially with the ladies committee. "I am
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Now Boris's Spectator has a go at Geordies
RIGHT-wing magazine The Spectator has been criticised for insulting Geordies. The magazine's editor, Boris Johnson, last month had to apologise to Liverpud-lians for accusing them of "wallowing in victimhood" over the death of Iraq hostage Ken Bigley.
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Santa Paws gives dogs an early festive treat
DOGS were treated to an early Christmas present over the weekend when they got a visit from Santa Paws. He visited the Sadberge branch of the Dogs Trust after Newcastle Brown Ale donated some coats for the dogs at the centre to wear during the cold months
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Swimmers hope to make finals
A SWIMMING team from Darlington is waiting to hear whether it will take part in a national championship. The Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College girls' swimming team won the divisional heats of the National Schools' Swimming Championships in Middlesbrough
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Bid to tackle problems of obesity
HEALTH officials in Darlington are to tackle the growing problem of obesity. Darlington Primary Care Trust is to join a county-wide task group of health and social care experts looking at the issue and adopt an action plan designed to reduce it. Director
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Barbara gains first certificate aged 68
A FORMER music shop department manager has struck a chord with modern technology and gained her first formal qualification at the age of 68. Barbara Sanderson has become the first learner to complete the first module of the European Computer Driving Licence
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Reunited group raise funds
FORMER classmates raised more than £150 for charity when they held a reunion. Former-pupils of Central Secondary School in Darlington have donated the money to Cancer Research. One of the organisers, Brenda Baines, said: "The reunion was a huge success
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Angelic support
A TEAM of volunteers has been helping patients get their bearings at a new doctors' surgery in Darlington. Blacketts Medical Practice, which has 8,500 patients, opened in Bondgate earlier this month. It had previously been based in Stanhope Road, where
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Massage rubs off as Michael 'Bridges' gap
ONE by one Sunderland's starting line-up walked out of the dressing room ahead of kick-off, leaving behind the substitutes who had chosen to enjoy a massage. Michael Bridges was one of those and he will make sure a rub down becomes the norm for every
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Village fun runners put best feet forward for cancer charity
RUNNERS crossing the age and fitness divide tackled three miles of taxing terrain for a good cause at the weekend. About 70 participants completed the fun run on a course around the village of Hawthorn, near Easington. The run was the latest staged by
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Opinions sought over plan for revamp of town centre
RESIDENTS are being given their say over a proposed multi-million pound facelift for a community's commercial centre. Modus Properties is spearheading the planned £18m revamp of Seaham's shopping centre, on behalf of regional development agency One NorthEast
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Spotlight turned on beaches clean up
AWARD-WINNING efforts to transform a stretch of North-East coastline came under the national spotlight yesterday. The clean-up and improvement of the former coal-blackened beaches of County Durham was featured on BBC1's Countryfile programme. Presenters
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Union chief attacks fire control centres merger
A GOVERNMENT computer crash at the Department of Work and Pensions highlights the folly of plans to regionalise emergency fire control rooms, says a union leader. Fire and rescue services in the North-East will be among the first in the UK to switch to
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Star flutters by to open refurbished village hall
A VILLAGE hall has reopened after a fundraising effort by the community. Villagers from Hutton Rudby, near Stokesley, raised more than £400,000 to renovate their hall after it was found to have major structural problems in 1999. Donations, numerous fundraising
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Second-placed Hepples helps North to team win
REDCAR-BASED Stephen Hepples finished second and helped the North win the team race in yesterday's Abbey Dash 10K in Leeds. The 24-year-old was disappointed to be beaten by a second by team-mate Andy Norman, of Altrincham, who broke clear at the halfway
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Exhibition celebrates pop artist's career
WORK by one of Britain's leading contemporary artists goes on display this weekend. Spotlight on Eduardo Paolozzi, part of a national tour, opens at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery on Saturday. It highlights examples of his work
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Depleted Falcons grind out a victory
NEWCASTLE Falcons face an interesting selection dilemma before next Sunday's attempt to maintain their 100 per cent Heineken Cup record at home to Edinburgh. They dug out a valuable Premiership win yesterday against struggling Northampton, but the visitors
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Phone firm to foot soldier's £4,000 bill
A MOBILE phone company has waived the £4,000 phone bill incurred by a North-East soldier working in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Hayley Ashmead is a clerk with the Army and speaks regularly to her family on her mobile. The 21-year-old, of Darlington, changed
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Good Samaritan saves girl from attack
A teenager subjected to a terrifying sex assault was saved when her screams for help were heard by a passer-by. The 18-year-old victim, who had been visiting a friend, was walking home in the early hours of Saturday morning when she was attacked from
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Blunkett hits back over visa for nanny
Home Secretary David Blunkett last night requested an independent review of allegations that he misused his position to help a former lover. Mr Blunkett has asked John Gieve, the Permanent Secretary at the Home Office, to appoint an independent reviewer
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Home rule a must if Quakers are to cement league position
DAVID HODGSON has warned his Darlington players that their recent upturn in fortunes will count for nothing if they fail to make home advantage count. Quakers ended a run of four games without a win by beating Cheltenham 2-0 on Friday night to move up
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Payments to ex-miners could start in New Year
FAST-TRACK payments to former miners could begin as early as February, according to Government officials. Following a court judgement last month, it is expected that tens of thousands of ex-miners will receive faster payments for lung damage if they agree
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Opinions sought over plan for revamp of town centre
RESIDENTS are being given their say over a proposed multi-million pound facelift for a community's commercial centre. Modus Properties is spearheading the planned £18m revamp of Seaham's shopping centre, on behalf of regional development agency One NorthEast
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On TV
Fungus the Bogeyman (Sunday, BBC1) Elton John: An Ivor Novello Tribute (Sunday, BBC1) YOU know Christmas is starting too early when the BBC premieres a new flagship children's show in November. Fungus the Bogeyman is a three-part adaptation of the children's
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Beaten Honour upbeat
UniBond League: Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour firmly believes that his team is on the right track even though Bishops lost 2-1 at home to Lincoln United on Saturday to go bottom of the table. Chris Moore missed a last minute penalty for Bishops
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Taxi driver robbed
A taxi driver lost six teeth in a shocking attack when two customers turned on him and raided his cab for his money. Pervaiz Deen picked up two men outside the Aruba Bar in Middlesbrough who asked to go to Thornaby. During the journey, the men changed
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Camp hosts festive market
A FORMER prisoner of war camp that was home to almost 1,000 Italian and German men during the Second World War is attracting thousands of visitors with its continental festivities. Harperley PoW Camp, near Wolsingham, County Durham, is holding German-style
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Bazaar offers taste of the Orient
A mix of Oriental cultures came together in a fusion of Eastern crafts, art, music and costume at the weekend. Durham's Oriental Museum staged its annual celebration of all things Asian, attracting overseas students and members of Middle and Far Eastern
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Children's centres to be opened to help battle against poverty
A NUMBER of children's centres are to be launched across the North-East to bring services for children and parents under one roof. The 24 new centres, based at schools, nurseries and SureStart centres, will be a one-stop shop for families. They will offer
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Grans to the rescue as Keira arrives early
A BABY has been delivered by her two grandmothers after her mother went into labour early. Laura Kirwin, 17, of Crook, County Durham, felt unwell early on Saturday and called her mother, Debbie, who lives in Stanhope. She and Kaye Dixon, the mother of
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Handel's Messiah to be performed
A SCHOOL-based music group will perform Handel's Messiah this weekend. Barnard Castle School Choral Society will perform the festive favourite at Barnard Castle School on Saturday, at 7.30pm. The chorus and orchestra will be directed by Mark Mawhinney
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Award for author's website
A WEBSITE devised for an acclaimed children's author has earned the North-East producers a national design award. Durham web design company Cornwell Internet came first in the children's website category at the Visionary Design Awards 2004. It is a reward
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New syllabus launched for religious education
A NEW syllabus for religious education has been issued for schools across North Yorkshire. The syllabus sets out the statutory content of religious education for all county and voluntary controlled schools. There is no national curriculum for RE in this
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Full steam ahead for the Santa Special
FATHER Christmas is taking to the rails. A series of Santa Specials will be running on the Wensleydale Railway from this weekend until Christmas Eve. And tickets used on the specials will also entitle travellers to a free ride on the same day on the railway's
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Lucy off on another tropical adventure
STUDENT Lucy Watson is off to Madagascar next month to work on a conservation project. Ms Watson, 23, a student at the University of Durham, will help conservation work on coral reefs around the island and carry out cultural work to promote awareness
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Healthy option is cool
CHILDREN in Hartlepool are taking part in a project which promotes healthy lifestyles for young people. About 25 youngsters aged eight to 14 attend Owton Manor Primary School every Monday night to take part in a range of activities including football,
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Reaping what you may sow
I went to the annual 'artistic lottery' at the Royal College of Art last weekend and patiently queued for three hours along with hundreds of others in the hope of catching myself a bargain. The sale, which has been running for 11 years, involves a guessing
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No need for changes, insists boss
A DEFIANT Graeme Souness last night insisted that he does not need to make wholesale changes to get Newcastle's stuttering season back on track. Yesterday's 1-1 draw with Everton left the Magpies languishing in tenth place in the Premiership table, and
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Panto cast help fulfil Christmas wishes
PANTO stars are doing their bit to grant the wishes of children in care this Christmas. The cast of Harrogate Theatre's Mother Goose are to help decorate a Christmas tree devoted to helping children in need of homes. The actors will put stars containing
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Walk's future secured
THE FUTURE of one of Britain's oldest long-distance walks has been assured. An organisation is being set up to safeguard the North York Moors National Park's Lyke Wake Walk. The club formed 50 years ago, to organise the 40-mile walk from Osmotherley to
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Rock to spark Lee double
GRAND National winning jockey Graham Lee has a great chance of mopping up the opening couple of races at Newcastle via Cotty's Rock (12.20) and Supreme Developer (12.50). Cotty's Rock is sure to be a popular choice to get Graham off to a flying start
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Council calls on artistic skills of youngsters to promote walkway
YOUNGSTERS have used their artistic talents to help promote a Hartlepool beauty spot. The ideas of children from Clavering Primary School have been incorporated into the design of a new information board at the entrance to the Hart to Haswell Walkway,
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Bedworth gives Mowden the edge
WHAT A shame England v Australia was on TV as an enthralling Darlington derby deserved to be watched by anyone in the town with even a remote interest in the game. Despite the visitors being shorn of six first-choice players, the match provided further
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Children back drive for global education
CHILDREN at a school in Prime Minister Tony Blair's North-East constituency are adding their support to a global education campaign. Children at Sedgefield Primary School, County Durham, have been collecting their handprints to support Primary Education
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29/11/04
POLICE: POLICE credibility has deteriorated rapidly over the last few years. Through your paper I would like to commend Darlington police. Last week, I was a victim of crime. I phoned the police, and within five minutes, an officer was with me. The station
