Archive
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Toy appeal brings joy to needy children
THE Advertiser Series 2004 Toy Appeal is under way and organisers are keen to get everything wrapped up. Contributions of gifts and vouchers are invited, along with cheque and cash donations, to brighten Christmas Day for less fortunate children in the
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Golf day raises cash
A CHARITY fundraising event has raised thousands of pounds for needy services. Saltburn Golf Club has held an annual golf competition in aid of charity for 18 years, bringing together top amateur players and keen club golfers. After this year's contest
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£110,000 more for travellers' caravan site
A NORTH-EAST council is to invest a further £110,000 in improving a travellers' caravan site. Darlington Borough Council was awarded £312,000 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister earlier this year for the building of 14 amenity blocks with kitchens
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Haydock win puts Astronomic on course for stardom
GRAHAM Lee, who broke his arm badly a week last Sunday after his double on Karathena and Garde Bien, looks to be out of action for some time and missed some Howard Johnson sure-fire winners this week, which instead went to Tony Dobbin. He partnered Saturday's
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Special livestock sales
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues of last week. Show & sale of beef breeding cattle, fwd 191 cattle. Champion: hfr & calf, J&DI Buck. Prizes. - Cow or hfr with calf: 1 J&DI Buck; 2 N Medd & Son. In-calf hfr: 1 SH Watson & Son; 2 WD Richardson
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The bottom line on hunt ban protests
A HUNT supporter has sent a cheeky message to the Prime Minister. Mother-of-three Yvonne Scales has bared her behind to tell Tony Blair what she thinks of next year's ban on hunting with dogs. She had hoped to write "Buttocks to Blair" - but ran out of
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You write
Action on litter: I WRITE to add to the recent discussion on the letter's page about litter in Framwellgate Moor. I would like to assure readers that Framwellgate School Durham takes the problem of litter very seriously. The school actively and regularly
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Optician returns from Africa mission
AN OPTICIAN has returned from Africa where he has been fighting to save the sight of some of the world's poorest inhabitants. Richard Fielding, of Chester-le-Street, who works at Optical Express in Newcastle, has been to Burkina Faso as part of a highly-skilled
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Mowden face tough task after Bedworth blow
WITH top points scorer Mark Bedworth again injured, Darlington Mowden Park face a tough couple of weeks before the two-week Christmas break. They entertain unbeaten National Three North leaders Halifax tomorrow and visit second-placed Macclesfield next
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Wall restoration wins award for Yorkshire brick makers
THE York Handmade Brick Company, one of the leading independent brick makers in the country, has won the best refurbishment project award in the 2004 Brick Awards. The company, based at Alne, near Easingwold, won the award for its work on the walled garden
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Solution sought in tussle over road sign names
THE wording on signs for a re-named airport remains unresolved, as both sides seek to find common ground. Officials from Durham Tees Valley Airport want signs on major trunk roads which bear the old Teesside Airport name to be replaced by ones carrying
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The laughs keep coming after 40 years together
AFTER 40 years together, Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball's comedy partnership has lasted longer than many marriages. In fact, their unbroken 25-year stint on the quintessentially British panto scene is a pretty impressive record in itself. Now, the godfathers
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Jonny on bench for Falcons
JONNY Wilkinson looks set to return to action after his two-month lay-off in Newcastle Falcons' Heineken Cup tie against Edinburgh at Murrayfield tomorrow. The England captain has been named on the bench after coming safely through two full contact training
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Tidying up for a royal visitor
THE word on the streets of Middleton-in-Teesdale is that they are very, very clean. It is the first thing that anyone in the village mentions when asked about the impending visit of the Prince of Wales. Prince Charles is coming to Middleton today to open
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A beginning and an end
PUPILS at Springfield Primary School this week performed in the last nativity show to be held at the school. Children at the school, which moves next October to the new education village in Salters Lane South, performed the musical A Child is Born. Almost
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Auditions for summer show
THE Dionysis Theatre Company is looking for young actors, dancers and singers. The company needs young people between the ages of ten and 25, as well as backstage crew, to take part in a production of 42nd Street, at the Gala Theatre, Durham, next summer
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Comment from The Northern Echo: An arrogant anachronism
DAME Janet Smith pulls no punches in her condemnation of the General Medical Council in her final report on the Harold Shipman scandal. The GMC is pulled apart as an organisation which has too often failed patients with genuine concerns by siding with
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Police give a precious gift to ill youngsters
POLICE officers have helped to bring some festive cheer to the lives of very ill children. Officers from Thornaby Police Station collected £250 from their tea fund thoughout the year and have used the cash to buy toys for the children at Zo's Place. Zo's
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Agency ploughs £3.5m into town centre revamp
A MASSIVE injection of funding for a Darlington town centre scheme has been given the go-ahead. The regional development agency, One NorthEast, has approved a £3.25m investment in plans to pedestrianise the heart of the town. This could help pave the
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Shake-up at Co-op leads to job cuts
MORE than 30 insurance staff will lose their jobs at a claims office in Newcastle. The insurance operation of the Co-op is to shed more than 170 jobs nationwide and close seven claims offices as part of modernisation plans, it was announced yesterday.
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Looking Back
FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - At Middlesbrough on Wednesday a woman was in court charging her husband with persistent cruelty. The counsel rose to examine his witness: "How many children have you?" he asked. "Four" was the reply. "And what age
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'Personal injury claims are not rising'
Fears that the UK is being consumed by a compensation culture - fuelled by claims that companies and schools are cancelling sports days to avoid the risk of being sued - are unfounded, a report will say today. A study by market analyst Datamonitor found
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Criticism of GMC welcomed by victims
THE victims of Richard Neale say they feel vindicated by yesterday's indictment of the watchdog in charge of regulating Britain's doctors. After years of protesting that the General Medical Council (GMC) seemed to be more interested in protecting doctors
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Drugs police cheered
A CROWD of residents gathered at the scene of a drugs raid and applauded police who arrested a man and his wife. Cleveland Police's Drugs Unit raided two addresses on the Lakes Estate, at Redcar, and recovered heroin and cannabis valued at £1,600. Five
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A taste for blood ...
STUDENTS at Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough, are entertaining audiences with a production of the musical version of the bloodthirsty black comedy Little Shop of Horrors. The show has been produced by the college's first year AVCE performing arts
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Royal mail celebrates first-class sales
MOST customers are not sold the correct products when they go into Post Offices, according to research. In addition, one in ten have to wait in a queue for at least ten minutes. Shopping visits by researchers to 302 offices showed that only 40 per cent
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Market traders put to the test
A TEAM of market traders are swotting up to boost their general knowledge for a popular TV quiz show. Seven traders from Stanley Indoor Market are taking part in a Christmas special of the BBC programme, Test the Nation. Market manager Michael Smith said
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Lucky escape as plane crashes
RESCUE service staff say two men are lucky to be alive after their light-aeroplane crash-landed yesterday morning. The Europa two-seater aircraft came down 80 yards short of the runway at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, near York shortly before noon. The pilot had
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When fireside tales awoke the family ghosts of Christmas past
AS WE prepare for Christmas, it is interesting to recall a foregone practice of telling stories around the fireside as the season of goodwill approaches. Long before the days of radio and television, people would occupy and entertain themselves with tales
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Prison system factor in death
THE lack of an effective system to identify prisoners at risk of suicide contributed to the death of a remand inmate, an inquest jury ruled last Friday. The jury found there were failings in the documentation dealing with people at risk and raised serious
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Man made to pay price for indecent assault
A MAN was ordered to pay £3,000 yesterday after being convicted of assaulting a woman in broad daylight. David Peacock, 29, was found guilty at Durham Crown Court of indecently assaulting a 26-year-old post-graduate student on a footbridge in Durham City
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Peace in park 'under threat' from helicopter training
THE tranquillity of the North York Moors National Park is at risk as a result of it being used for Apache helicopter training, a senior park officer has warned. David Walker, policy manager for the park authority, says the Ministry of Defence has set
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Crew call for Tall Ships
The North-East Sailing Team has launched a recruitment drive to find crews for the Tall Ships Challenge, racing from Newcastle to Norway, in July and August. Crew members aged 18 to 23 will learn to sail then race on Chay Blyth's Round The World 67ft
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Flats plan to be discussed
PLANS to convert a Victorian villa in Darlington into apartments are expected to be approved on Wednesday. Darlington Homes is seeking permission from the borough council to create nine apartments at the Claremont site, in Trinity Road. The building was
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Fund gets £200,000 top-up
SENIOR councillors are to spend an extra £200,000 in support for disabled people after a potential cash crisis emerged. Darlington Borough Council will spend more money into the disabled facilities grants (DFG) scheme, which allows residents to upgrade
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Open verdict over death of pensioner
AN open verdict has been recorded on the death of a pensioner. Leslie Dinsdale, of Warwick Square, Darlington, worked at factories in the town throughout his life, including Cummins, Vickers and Paton and Baldwins. His son, Christopher, told an inquest
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Groups join forces to create plan for reducing burglaries
AN action plan is being drawn up to reduce burglaries in Darlington. Burglary figures for the borough are the lowest they have been for three years, but Darlington police have vowed to reduce them further. Officers will work with agencies, including the
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Friarage services may eventually be affected
OVERSPENDING and mounting costs could leave South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust with a £25m deficit, it has been revealed. Health chiefs have ordered a recruitment freeze in some areas after they found they were facing a likely £13m overspend by the end of
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400-year-old school celebrates achievements at awards night
STUDENTS celebrated their school achievements over the past 12 months at a prize-giving ceremony. Hundreds of people attended the annual event at King James I School, Bishop Auckland, on Tuesday night. As well as celebrating the outstanding achievements
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Pupils spare a thought for the needy
CHILDREN at a secondary school on Teesside have done their bit to make sure every family in their home town has a hearty Christmas this year. Pupils aged 12 and 13 at Ian Ramsey Church of England School, in Stockton, have presented hampers which they
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Oranges aid Indian schools
YOUNGSTERS are giving their time to raise money for friends in India. The children, from Timothy Hackworth Primary School, in Shildon, have even given up lunchtimes and play-times to make pomanders out of oranges and cloves to sell to parents to raise
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Centre's learning successes rewarded
A LANDMARK in adult learning has been reached at a dales community centre with the presentation of certificates to students, many of them pensioners. Since it opened 18 months ago with grants totalling £60,000, Stanhope Community Centre has increased
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Top job for former Green Howard chief
THE former colonel of a North Yorkshire regiment has a new role. Lt Gen Sir Richard Dannatt has been appointed Commander-in-Chief land command from next March and is to be promoted to the rank of General. The former Colonel of the Green Howards will succeed
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Violent crime bucks trend
VIOLENT crime is the only blip on Cleveland Police's continually falling crime figures, according to new data. Offending overall fell for the sixth consecutive month with 505 fewer victims of crime, but violent incidents rose by nearly 300 compared to
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Anti-social behaviour insight for pupils
PUPILS have been getting to grips with issues surrounding anti-social behaviour. For the past three months, Richmondshire police youth action officer PC Gary Lewis has been working with year ten citizenship students at Richmond School to teach them about
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Groups land cash awards
Groups in West Redcar have received an early Christmas present thanks to the area's Community Chest. Among the groups to receive grants are the Redcar and Cleveland Fun Activities Club, which has received £979 towards its Christmas party, £180 for the
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Yeading switch Newcastle tie
NEWCASTLE'S FA Cup campaign will almost certainly start at Brentford's Griffin Park after non-leaguers Yeading ruled out entertaining the Magpies at their own ground. Despite announcing that they were hoping to stage the third-round tie at The Warren,
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All she wants for Christmas is a chance to live
THE parents of a baby in desperate need of a liver transplant have made an emotional appeal for a donor. Wayne and Louise McCulloch's 15-month-old daughter, Frankie, was born with a rare, life-threatening liver condition. Eight weeks after being born,
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Caf supporters needed
RESIDENTS are trying to drum up support to help them to re-open a popular library caf. Mike Findley, secretary of the Cleveland Pensioners' Forum, is calling for the Redcar Library Caf to be reopened in the New Year. After contacting Redcar and Cleveland
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Shooting the first messenger
It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and it seems to me that the debate on an individual's right to defend his home has more to do with words than punishment. Perhaps it's down to the fact there are so many lawyers in Parliament, but politicians
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Explorers set camp for winter festival
A POLAR expedition will take to the streets of a North-East city this weekend. The group of "explorers" will set up their base camp outside the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, as another themed event for the city's Winter Festival gets under way. The group,
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Thieves target shop on same day as police scheme launch
THREE young shoplifters have been caught trying to steal from a store by police officers who were in the shop launching a crime prevention scheme. PCs Michael Hynes and PC Grant McTaggart were in Asda, Bishop Auckland, to help launch Operation Eaglet,
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Firm wins Army award
A north Durham employer has been honoured for backing the nation's reserve forces. The Explorer Group, based in Delves Lane, near Consett, has won the national Sabre award. The caravan and motor homes manufacturer was recognised for its continued support
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In a stew over mutton for a prince
THE Prince of Wales is to be given a true taste of the Durham dales when he visits the region today. On the menu for Charles's visit to the Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services (Utass), at Middleton-in-Teesdale, is Kirk Caryn Mutton Stew. The
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Creek to prove his liking for Cheltenham
HENNESSY Cognac Gold Cup flop Frenchman's Creek (2.55) is fancied to redeem himself in the £50,000 Mears Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. Hughie Morrison's ten-year-old was never going well at Newbury, eventually pulling up five fences from the finish
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Farm-based recycling operation ordered to close amid concerns
A LARGE-scale waste composting operation launched without planning permission on a farm near Catterick has been ordered to shut down amid concerns about its impact on the surrounding area. Members of North Yorkshire County Council planning committee,
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Folic acid study 'cancer fears'
TAKING high doses of folic acid during pregnancy may increase the risk of breast cancer, according to a study published today. The research, involving 3,000 pregnant women, found that in those taking a 5mg supplement of folate, the risk of deaths from
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Dismay as Home Offices overrules doorstep ban
COUNCILLORS have expressed shock and disappointment at a Home Office decision to allow door-to-door collections which they had turned down. The Home Office ruled in favour of Fundraising Initiatives, although Darlington Borough Council had not wanted
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Time for some health and safety tips
THE media are in the firing line again and aiming the gun at the messengers this time is the council at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, which is denying widespread stories that its Christmas tree would be unlit this year. It will, the council assures anyone
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Potts the even younger
At the age of 22, student David Potts is one of Britain's youngest councillors and next year he hopes to become Britain's youngest MP. He talks to Sarah Foster about beating a path to Westminster and why he prefers politics to partying. DAVID Potts is
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A law founded on bigotry
AN ENGLISHMAN'S home is his castle is a saying that has always given me a warm feeling, a feeling of being in control and secluded behind my own front door. Until recently, I lived in tied or rented properties, but that never detracted from that feeling
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Bigger health centre planned
A CHILDREN'S campus offering youngsters access to health, education and welfare services could be created in a market town. Derwentside Primary Care Trust plans to create a new, bigger health centre for Stanley, but is struggling to find a plot of land
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Santa who returns to his prison cell each night
A CONVICTED cocaine dealer has swapped porridge for mince pies by dressing up as Father Christmas. John Tams donned a beard and boots to thrill kids visiting a Christmas grotto he built with fellow prisoners at a Middlesbrough cafe. The father-of-four
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Stop the exodus
THE release of statistics revealing the extent of the North-East's continuing population drain is worrying indeed. The number of people in the region is expected to fall by two per cent over the next 25 years. That doesn't seem a great deal at first glance
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Inquest opened into married couple's death
AN inquest into the double death of a married couple from County Durham was opened yesterday. Devoted grandfather Derek Wood, 60, of Stephenson Street, Darlington, stabbed his wife Margaret to death before turning the kitchen knife on himself. Mrs Wood
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Coronation Stree duo praise band
YOUNG visually-impaired musicians have had a brush with soap stardom. Knaresborough band The Hotshots met William Roache and Sue Nicholls, better known as Coronation Street's Ken Barlow and Audrey Roberts, last week. The meeting came as the group performed
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Pony dates
Cleveland Hunt PC. - Dec 28: Christmas disco, Gt Broughton Village Hall, 7-10pm, names to Clare 01642 712948. Dec 28: junior and senior fun jumping rally 10am-1pm at Upsall, tel Shirley Hockney for times on 01642 723577. Games practices start on Jan 10
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Young songwriters triumph again
PRIMARY school children are celebrating after picking up £1,000 in the Carol for Darlington competition for the second year running, writes Anthony Bond. Cockerton Primary pupils won the competition after composing their own carol called Everyone Celebrate
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Freda takes charge after 26 years
A LONG-SERVING caf employee is celebrating after becoming its manager. Freda Stabler has been part of Alvin's caf in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, Hartlepool, for 26 years. She said: "I sometimes think I could write a book about everything that has
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Sure start for Go Wild club
A programme to get families involved in green activities has won a national award. The monthly SureStart Goes Wild club, the first of its kind in the country, now has 80 families from Redcar and Dormanstown taking part in environmental activities. The
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Carter's too good to be back, says Mick
MICK McCARTHY admits Darren Carter's undoubted potential could stop the midfielder from rejoining Sunderland on either a temporary or permanent basis. The Black Cats have lost the services of the young player after his loan move to the Stadium of Light
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Coronation Street duo praise band
YOUNG visually-impaired musicians have had a brush with soap stardom. Knaresborough band The Hotshots met William Roache and Sue Nicholls, better known as Coronation Street's Ken Barlow and Audrey Roberts, last week. The meeting came as the group performed
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Deadline extended for bouncers
THE deadline for bouncers to obtain a new Security Industry Authority licence has been extended to allow a backlog of applications to be processed. Under the initial requirements of the scheme, all door staff were supposed to have the licence before Monday
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Gardens fly the flag for fourth time
THE Spa Gardens in a North city have won a fourth Green Flag Award from the Civic Trust. The award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales and has now been given to Ripon Spa Gardens four times since it was set up in 1996
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Carter's too good to be back, says Mick
MICK McCARTHY admits Darren Carter's undoubted potential could stop the midfielder from rejoining Sunderland on either a temporary or permanent basis. The Black Cats have lost the services of the young player after his loan move to the Stadium of Light
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Shop Talk: Give someone a camel this Christmas
A mail order catalogue with its heart in the right place has the perfect gifts for those who already have everything they need. FED up with buying socks, chocolates or Marks & Spencer vouchers - then why not buy a camel instead? Not exactly for your
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New Year start for scheme
WORK on Durham's long-awaited park and ride scheme could start in the New Year. Durham County Council says development on the three sites could be completed in time for next Christmas. The scheme is the final phase of a strategy to reduce parking and
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Corus given six months to cure red dust problems
STEEL company Corus has been given six months to prevent red dust from affecting residents living close to its Teesside plant. An investigation was launched on November 8 after complaints from residents. The Environment Agency inspected the plant and
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Slogan painters 'are vandals'
PEOPLE who write slogans on road signs and surfaces will be treated as vandals, highways officials have warned. North Yorkshire County Council is having to pay to clear or replace the signs and clean the road surfaces out of money raised through the council
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Helping others will not end with retirement
FRIENDS and colleagues gathered to say farewell to one of Richmondshire District Council's longest serving members of staff. The party gathered at Thornborough Hall in Leyburn to pay tribute to Olga Lambert, who has decided to call it a day this month
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'Psychic' targets elderly with cash scam
A SELF-PROCLAIMED psychic is attempting to swindle elderly people out of money by warning that something terrible is about to happen to them. Consumer watchdogs in the North-East last night issued a warning about the claims of Anna Pfeiffer, which left
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Wellock's World: For Christmas I'll have a copy of Steve Black's autobiography
POOR old Freddy Shepherd. No sooner had he offered the view that football's minnows are mere sprat to be gobbled up by the Premiership sharks than his team were handed an FA Cup trip to an uncharted West London backwater. Freddy will presumably have an
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Grain report
By Robin Twizell RMD Agriculture Wheat prices have continued a slow drift as the dollar has weakened and we seem to have few export orders on the books for the New Year. Oilseed rape prices have drifted a little as soya markets have fallen back with prospects
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Explorers set camp for winter festival
A POLAR expedition will take to the streets of a North-East city this weekend. The group of "explorers" will set up their base camp outside the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, as another themed event for the city's Winter Festival gets under way. The group,
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Big screen comes to small venues
FILM fans will soon be able to go to their nearest village hall to see the latest movies thanks to a touring film scheme. Rural Screen is being launched this week by Thirsk-based charity Rural Arts. On show will be a variety of films, from classics to
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For Christmas I'll have a copy of Steve Black's autobiography
POOR old Freddy Shepherd. No sooner had he offered the view that football's minnows are mere sprat to be gobbled up by the Premiership sharks than his team were handed an FA Cup trip to an uncharted West London backwater. Freddy will presumably have an
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Prices at the markets
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 1,917 sheep. Cont store lambs £35. Lambs lt to 123p av 98.8p; std to 121p av 106.9p; med to 120p av 108.6p; heavy to 113p av 104.8p. Ewes: Mule to £40.50; Cont to £40; Leics to £39.50; Swale to £30. DARLINGTON.
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Sex probe taxi driver stripped of licence
A TAXI driver has had his Hackney and private hire licences revoked after having sex with a female passenger. A report by Stockton Borough Council revealed that the woman made a complaint of sexual assault to Cleveland Police. The complaint was investigated
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Celebrations as community centre opens
A DEPRIVED, drug-blighted village battling to turn itself around celebrated a major step forward with the official opening of a new community centre. The £720,000 complex in East Street, Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, brings back facilities missing
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The best gaming goodies for Santa
Christmas is almost here once again and the stores are bursting with new games and gadgets. But with so many to choose from, how do you sort the good from the bad? Sit back, relax and let Nigel Burton open up a selection box of gaming goodies. SPIDERMAN
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Explorers set camp for winter festival
A POLAR expedition will take to the streets of a North-East city this weekend. The group of "explorers" will set up their base camp outside the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, as another themed event for the city's Winter Festival gets under way. The group,
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Inquest told of death mystery
A DEVASTATED father fell asleep after feeding his ten-week-old son and woke to find the child lying underneath him dead. Gary Charlton remembered giving his son, Craig, an early-morning feed on the sofa at his home, with the youngster on his chest. The
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Mild November just shrugs off Arctic blast
THE series of remarkably alternating, extremely wet and dry months that we've experienced this year now extends to November. Following one of the wettest Octobers in the North-East in the past few decades, we've had one of the driest Novembers, with about
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The Donaldson family makes it a dairy double
A CLEVELAND farming family has won a major dairy award for a second year running. The Donaldson Partners of Viewley Hill, Busby, near Middlesbrough, were champions in the Yorkshire County Milk Recording Herd competition. They received the supreme trophy
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Bug shop faces court
A DECISION on whether a council is to prosecute the owner of the shop that was at the centre of a major food poisoning outbreak is expected within days. Salmonella infected at least 88 people during the summer. A recent report by the multi-agency Outbreak
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Chief constable says hunting ban will be low priority
NORTH Yorkshire's chief constable has indicated just how low a priority policing the new ban on hunting with dogs will be for her force when it becomes law next spring. Asked this week by a member of the public at a police authority meeting whether the
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Vandalised village wins promise of CCTV cover
RESIDENTS and shop owners in Great Ayton have welcomed the news that closed circuit television cameras are to be installed in the centre of the village. Hambleton District Council cabinet approved an extension of its CCTV system to include two new cameras
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Lucy wins place in Shetland race
TEN-YEAR-OLD Lucy Burke, from Richmond, has won a coveted place to ride in the famous Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National at Olympia next week. She will be riding Eastlands Mighty Mark, belonging to Hickstead Horse Feeds. The young riders
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Fury over academy scheme 'threats'
TONY Blair was accused yesterday of "blackmailing" North-East councils into setting up city academies which are largely run by private sponsors. The Liberal Democrats said Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle authorities had all been told they would
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Villagers and bus drivers urged to cut their speed
A PARISH council is leafleting its village and surrounding area urging residents not to speed. Neasham Parish Council has taken the unusual step after months of concerns about vehicles speeding through the village - sometimes during the school run. Coun
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Folic acid study 'cancer fears'
TAKING high doses of folic acid during pregnancy may increase the risk of breast cancer, according to a study published today. The research, involving 3,000 pregnant women, found that in those taking a 5mg supplement of folate, the risk of deaths from
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Firm snatched from disaster wins award for woman
A NORTH Yorkshire businesswoman who led her company from the brink of disaster has won a major award. Sue Hunter received the best woman in international trade title at the 2004 North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year awards. In accepting the award,
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All she wants for Christmas is a chance to live
THE parents of a baby in desperate need of a liver transplant have made an emotional appeal for a donor. Wayne and Louise McCulloch's 15-month-old daughter, Frankie, was born with a rare, life-threatening liver condition. Eight weeks after being born,
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Computer sale revealed child porn offences
A MAN who looked at child pornography on the internet was caught after he sold a computer to a man who revealed its secrets to police, a court was told. Police raided Carl Darley's home and found he had downloaded some of the most serious category child
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10/12/04
THE BBC: THE Editor of The Northern Echo has more faith than I in the plans of the BBC to transfer some of its empire to the North and thus give its customers a wider viewpoint than the South-East (Echo, Dec 7). History shows that power is never bestowed
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Arable farmers told of guaranteed contract
ARABLE farmers have the opportunity to grow spring oilseed rape for use in electricity generation on a unique, guaranteed £150/tonne contract. The Springdale Group is looking for farmers to grow 10,000 acres of spring rape in 2005, and expects to be in
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Cinderella, York Grand Opera House
SOME pantomimes strive to appeal to both adults and children. The Grand Opera House's production is, as usual, aimed fairly and squarely at the young audience. There's not a lot in the script to detain adults. The jokes are weak and the narrative is rambling
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Port of Tyne opens £6.3m warehouse
A £6.3m warehouse the size of two-and-a-half football pitches will be opened today at the Port of Tyne. The 17,000 square metre warehouse was announced earlier this year as part of a £10m investment programme. The facility provides enough space for 18,000
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Bringing strife to family life
The Dobsons of Duncraig (BBC1); X-Rated: The Films That Shocked Britain (five): IT seemed a good idea at the time, as various strands of the Dobson family bought a Scottish castle for half a million pounds. The plan was to renovate it to provide accommodation
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Serial rapist jailed
A respected family man who led a double life as a serial rapist has been jailed for life. Travelling salesman Michael Podlubny, 50, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, subjected one of his victims to a terrifying three-hour ordeal as she walked home after
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Traders dumping tyres told they're treading dangerously
ROGUE traders are costing taxpayers thousands of pounds by cashing in on tough new legislation surrounding the disposal of used tyres. Environmental experts believe an increase in fly-tipping has been sparked by rules that ban the rubber from being dumped
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Prison system factor in death
THE lack of an effective system to identify prisoners at risk of suicide contributed to the death of a remand inmate, an inquest jury ruled last Friday. The jury found there were failings in the documentation dealing with people at risk and raised serious
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Shooting the first messenger
It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and it seems to me that the debate on an individual's right to defend his home has more to do with words than punishment. Perhaps it's down to the fact there are so many lawyers in Parliament, but politicians
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Driver killed after collision with lorry
A DRIVER who died after his car was involved in a collision with a lorry has been named. Alistair Rodger Parkin, 63, of Victoria Terrace, Lanchester, was driving a silver Vauxhall Astra near Langley Park, when it was involved in an accident with a tanker
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Thousands join in festival weekend
THOUSANDS of visitors streamed into Durham last weekend, for the city's annual Christmas festival. The two-day event featured a range of family entertainment, live music and a traditional market on the Palace Green. Local performers included Lanchester
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North-East population continues to head South
THE North-East's population is predicted to fall over the next 25 years - the only region in the UK expected to suffer a net loss of people. The area's population is forecast to fall by two percent by the year 2028 if current trends continues. The decrease
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Yarm students tested by Aussie tourists
YARM School's senior rugby squads recently played host to 42 boys and five members of staff from Waverley College, Sydney, Australia, who are on a rugby tour of the UK and Ireland. The college is situated in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, very close to
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City's hidden treasures in spotlight
A CALENDAR featuring striking scenes of Durham has been launched. The award-winning Images of Durham calendar, featuring the work of city-based photographer Royston Thomas, has proved extremely popular with residents and tourists and has experienced record
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France to reduce stake in airline
THE French government is to sell a 17.7 per cent stake in Air France-KLM, the world's largest airline. A finance ministry spokeswoman said the government had asked two banks, France's Societe General SA and the Netherlands' ABN Amro Holding NV, to handle
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Quakers step up promotion bid
DARLINGTON go in search of their third successive League Two victory when Leyton Orient visit the Williamson Motors Stadium tomorrow. The match can be billed as a genuine promotion clash after Quakers came from behind to defeat Mansfield Town 2-1 on Tuesday
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New club to run Lyke Wake Walk
A NEW organisation is being set up to safeguard the future of the legendary Lyke Wake Walk. The existing club, which masterminds the 40-mile walk from Osmotherley to Ravenscar is set to fold, but a new one is being formed. The secretary of the new Lyke
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Agent rattles Hodgson
DAVID HODGSON last night called on Alun Armstrong's agent to "look at the bigger picture" before attempting to broker a money-spinning deal for himself and his client. Armstrong will become a free agent on December 16 and Sheffield Wednesday are one of
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Government backing for affordable homes
THE Government is to allow more affordable homes to be built in rural areas. A "rural exceptions policy", which allows local councils to grant affordable homes planning permission, is to continue, and more sites are to be made available. The news was
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Youth club revamped
A YOUTH club is expanding after volunteers revamped an old storeroom. A group of seven young people gave a much-needed makeover to a room in the YMCA building in Parliament Street, Consett. The group, whose average age was 16, refurbished the room as
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Father in court for punching officer
A FATHER who repeatedly punched a police officer in the face after he intervened in a domestic dispute was yesterday given a community rehabilitation order. Andrew Bennett, who is living with his parents in Norwich Grove, Darlington, appeared before the
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Children take on the great outdoors in team-building challenges
A GROUP of Darlington children spent three days and nights at an outdoor activity centre on a team-building exercise. Year seven pupils from Eastbourne Comprehensive School were accompanied by teachers Robert Caldwell and Sarah Spence. They took part
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Ramble group's forest walk
CROOK and Weardale Ramblers will hold a walk in Hamsterley Forest on Sunday, December 19. The walk will start from the Grove at 10am, or meet in Crook Market Place at 9.30am. Gwen Raine will lead the moderately difficult eight-mile trek round Blackling
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Teachers may be given right to restrain pupils
EDUCATION chiefs have drawn up proposals to allow school staff to physically intervene in situations involving disruptive pupils. Darlington Borough Council has drafted a "restrictive physical intervention" policy, outlining how far teachers and other
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Mum who sold drugs is sent to prison
A SINGLE mother-of-two was jailed for six months yesterday for dealing in the drug ecstasy. Gail Jones, 35, was caught in possession of 26 ecstasy tablets as she entered Silks nightclub in Redcar on April 30. Teesside Crown Court was told that she was
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Town quiz for cancer charity funds
AN annual town quiz has raised more than £650 for charity. Bishop Auckland Civic Society hosts the event every year in the town hall. Quizmaster Gillian Wales set a range of questions for teams of six that included the winners, Ferryhill Business and
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Young and old unite to stay safe
YOUNGSTERS from two Middlesbrough schools have been helping get across a safety message for older people. The children, from North Ormesby and Whinney Banks primary schools, came up with the designs for the Middlesbrough Older Persons' Partnership's 2005
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bmibaby adds destinations
TWO short-break destinations for North-East travellers have been announced. Cork, in Ireland and Paris, Charles de Gualle, are part of next year's programme operated by bmibaby, from Durham Tees Valley Airport. It will be offering seven European destinations
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It all adds up to a good charity day
CHILDREN at a Durham City school will be taking part in their own version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? today to learn all about number skills and raise money for charity at the same time. Pupils at Durham School will take part in a game inspired
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Magpies boss warns Kluivert to shape up
GRAEME Souness has warned Patrick Kluivert he must 'shape up or ship out' after confirming that the Dutch international is playing for his future at St James' Park. Kluivert signed a three-year deal when he joined Newcastle from Barcelona this summer,
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All aboard for new mobile library
A £76,000 purpose-built mobile library has been bought to serve a Teesside town. The vehicle carries about 2,500 books and took to Hartlepool's roads for the first time this week. It replaces an 18-year-old one for which spare parts could no longer be
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Red Riding Hood's amazing grandma
A FAIRYTALE with a twist is being performed at two village venues this week. Teesdale-based Jack Drum Arts has put together Little Red Riding Hood and Her Amazing Grandmother, a contemporary take on the traditional story. It looks at issues surrounding
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TV chef offers tips to students
TWO catering students from Darlington College of Technology were given a taste of the food industry by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. The chef, renowned for his colourful language, offered Shaun Elliott and Thomas Barnes some tips while they were helping
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Pupils make movie to beat the bullies
A VIDEO message to beat the bullies, which has been created by school pupils, is to be shown around east Durham. Year eight children from St Bede's RC Comprehensive, in Peterlee, won a district-wide competition by producing their own video to raise awareness
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Puppy missing after house raided by burglars
BURGLARS raiding a house on Teesside stole a family's car -and may even have taken their pet dog. Burglars stole the family's car, a metallic blue Ford, as well as cash and personal possessions - and their dog also disappeared. Desperate to get their
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Sports centre target of theft for third time
BURGLARS have broken into a sports centre on Teesside for the third time this year. The thieves stole a new immersion heater from the Grayfields Recreation Ground Pavilion, at Hartlepool. This will be the fourth time the heater, which costs between £3,000
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Funding fears over GP cover service
THE firm which organises North Yorkshire's out-of-hours GP cover has prompted concerns by revealing it needs more funding. Primary care trusts have been contacted by North Yorkshire Emergency Doctors (NYED) to say it is facing financial challenges. The
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Toy appeal brings joy to needy children
THE Advertiser Series 2004 Toy Appeal is under way and organisers are keen to get everything wrapped up. Contributions of gifts and vouchers are invited, along with cheque and cash donations, to brighten Christmas Day for less fortunate children in the
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Paisley's glory days in N-E team's treble year
A team-mate of the late Bob Paisley shed light yesterday on the North-East-born football great's younger playing days. Ken Twigg played with Paisley in the Bishop Auckland team that became the first to win the treble of the Northern League, Durham Challenge
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Aysgarth inn matches dale's dining group's expectations
LAST summer I was amazed to see open-sided tukuls in the middle of Wensleydale. Tukuls were the thatched huts we often stayed in when working in Southern Sudan. Many of us living in and around Aysgarth did not feel that the thatched canopies constructed
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College goalkeeper earns selection for two county squads
A DARLINGTON student has been selected for two under-18 Durham county football squads. Andrew James, who is studying for A levels in PE, psychology, history and general studies at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, has won a place in the Durham County
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Traffic ideas for village
PLANS have been drawn up to help manage the growing volume of holiday traffic in Thornton-le-Dale. North Yorkshire County Council has come up with a traffic management strategy including options to improve the traffic situation. Potential changes include
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John shines for last time
A MAN who has braved the heights of a giant tree to bring Christmas cheer to a generation of children with his twinkling lights is hanging up his ladder. John Davison has transformed a 60ft tree in his front garden into a festive landmark, without fail
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Fears for missing teenager
FEARS were growing last night for the safety of a teenager missing from home since Wednesday. Stephanie Palmer, from the Red House Estate in Sunderland, was last seen in Hylton Road, at about 10.30pm. Police believe the 14-year-old could be in the Millfield
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Florist denies assault on seven-year-old girl
A YOUNG man who denies indecently assaulting a seven-year-old girl yesterday admitted he was in the area at the time of the incident. Twenty-year-old Mark Jackson is accused of approaching the girl from behind, on an alley-way near Barnard Castle town
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Drivers have to pay up or lose cars
Drivers face having to pay a £200 fine or seeing their cars crushed after a week-long blitz on car tax dodgers in Peterlee. Police claim the seven-day campaign, code-named Operation Lariat, has had a dramatic impact on the area by removing untaxed, abandoned
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Support for school scheme is criticised
A PARISH council chairman has criticised planning officers for backing plans for a residential school for children with learning difficulties despite widespread objections. In a statement, Goldsborough and Flaxby Parish Council's chairman, Councillor
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'People die earlier here - we have to find out why'
MORE than 18,000 people in north Durham will be asked next year to take part in the biggest survey of health ever commissioned. Men in Derwentside have a life expectancy of 2.2 years less than the average for England and Wales, while women in the district
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New team kitted out
A NEW children's football team has been kitted out by a housing association. Middlesbrough players of Middletown AFC have three sets of football strips for different age groups thanks to Endeavour Housing Association. Peter Tomlinson and Tony Hardy recruited
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Hello, angels
FOUR volunteer angels are collecting money for stray animals. Helen and Cathy Southall, Ellie Roddy and Joanne Harris have raised £3,100 for the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association, which aims to buy a site for an animal sanctuary. The four will be collecting
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Driver killed in crash was high on ecstasy
A DRIVER high on ecstasy died after he lost control of a car and crashed into a post box, a coroner's court heard yesterday. David Nowlin, 21, of Brinkburn Avenue, Darlington, was travelling at up to 67 miles per hour in the Albert Hill area of the town
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Red Riding Hood's amazing grandma
A FAIRYTALE with a twist is being performed at two village venues this week. Teesdale-based Jack Drum Arts has put together Little Red Riding Hood and Her Amazing Grandmother, a contemporary take on the traditional story. It looks at issues surrounding
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Sound engineer, actress, soprano and a medical secretary by training who just loves the stage
LIFE could not get any busier for soprano singer Andrea Atkinson who is enjoying the best of both worlds as a performer and as a theatrical sound engineer. Mrs Atkinson, 44, is a member of the semi-professional singing group, Encore, and has toured the
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Window win at first attempt
THIS year's Yarm Christmas window display has been won by a new shop in the town. Sue Harriman only opened Cameo, which specialises in home accessories, in May and has won the annual prize for the town's best dressed window at the first attempt. The shop
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Man who bombed ex-lover faces jail
A man who shoved a home-made explosive through the letterbox of his former lover's home has been jailed for six years. Judge Peter Armstrong told John Tinkler: "Anyone making a bomb and placing it at someone's house can only expect to be dealt with in
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The bottom line on hunt ban protests
A HUNT supporter has sent a cheeky message to the Prime Minister. Mother-of-three Yvonne Scales has bared her behind to tell Tony Blair what she thinks of next year's ban on hunting with dogs. She had hoped to write "Buttocks to Blair" - but ran out of
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Cooper wary of Rednapp
Veteran defender Colin Cooper warned yesterday Harry Redknapp's controversial south coast switch increases the odds against Middlesbrough tomorrow. Redknapp takes charge of struggling Southampton for the first time as Boro look to press home their challenge
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Plans go in for -modern airport to be proud of'
PLANS for massive expansion at a local airport were being submitted to councils this week. Durham Tees Valley Airport is seeking planning permission for a multi-million pound scheme which will see a new passenger terminal and other developments. Airport
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So much fun at the panto
DURHAM'S Gala Theatre has launched its Christmas panto. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs runs until Saturday, January 8. It is the Gala's second pantomime since it opened just under three years ago and tickets are selling well with few left for some performances
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£150,000 crash payout used to buy drugs
A MAN who received £150,000 damages for serious injuries he suffered in a road accident, spent the money on drugs, a court heard yesterday. Harrogate magistrates were told that Gary Buck continued to use cannabis to numb the pain he still suffered. Buck
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Burton's Bytes: The best gaming goodies for Santa
Christmas is almost here once again and the stores are bursting with new games and gadgets. But with so many to choose from, how do you sort the good from the bad? Sit back, relax and let Nigel Burton open up a selection box of gaming goodies. SPIDERMAN
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Festival's future now guaranteed
THE long-term future of a popular free music festival was secured on Monday. The Stanley Blues Festival almost folded this year, when Derwentside District Council withdrew funding and administrative support. But the authority backtracked after public
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Fears for missing teenager
FEARS were growing last night for the safety of a teenager missing from home since Wednesday. Stephanie Palmer, from the Red House Estate in Sunderland, was last seen in Hylton Road, at about 10.30pm. Police believe the 14-year-old could be in the Millfield
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Snow White, Newcastle Theatre Royal
SNOW White has been so successful this year that the Theatre Royal management, in a fit of Christmas cheer, is offering Gallery seats in January for just £5 each. It's not surprising that the show is being received so well; it's a big, bouncy, child-friendly
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Emily is top of the tumblers
A gymnast has hit new heights after winning a regional competition. Five-year-old Emily Talbot, from South Stanley, won first prize in a trampoline competition in Newcastle. She represented South Stanley Infant School and was up against 59 other children
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GP denies murdering patient
A family doctor has denied murdering an elderly cancer patient. Howard Martin, 70, faced Teesside Crown Court yesterday accused of killing of Harry Gittins, 74. Dr Martin is alleged to have administered a lethal dose of diamorphine to Mr Gittins, of Newton
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Toy appeal brings joy to needy children
THE Advertiser Series 2004 Toy Appeal is under way and organisers are keen to get everything wrapped up. Contributions of gifts and vouchers are invited, along with cheque and cash donations, to brighten Christmas Day for less fortunate children in the
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Bird edges past Petch to take Grizedale second
CO-DRIVERS from Northallerton ended up in second and third places overall on the Grizedale Stages Rally which took place in the unseasonably mild Lake District last Saturday. A capacity 120-car entry took to the start in Coniston and Ian Windress guided
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Mending morning after misery
THE hangover is an affliction which affects some people more often than others. But for even the most sensible and restrained person, there will come a time when self-discipline gives way to over-excitement, and will-power - and dignity - vanish without
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Village set for Prince's visit
The Prince of Wales will today enjoy a traditional pub lunch with a group of farmers and a local dominoes team during a visit to the Yorkshire Dales. The Prince will also be joined by a local knitting group for the cosy meal in the Farmers Arms, in the
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Festive flavour at Catterick meeting
CATTERICK'S seven-race programme over jumps on Thursday provides racegoers with the last opportunity to go racing in Yorkshire before Christmas. The meeting starts at 12.20 and highlights are the £10,000-added Document Express Ltd Anniversary Handicap
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Does coffee help you think?
COFFEE drinkers in the region are being asked to take part in a survey to see if their favourite drink boosts their brain power. Psychologists at Northumbria University are looking to recruit up to 10,000 people to take part in a web-based study. All
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M1 car-share scheme is given the go-ahead
The UK's first car-share motorway lane scheme is to be trialled on the M1, the Government announced yesterday. The dedicated lane will operate at peak times for cars carrying two or more people between junction seven (St Albans, Hertfordshire) and junction
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Crime drops further still in 'safest' town
THE crime rate in one of the safest places in the country looks set to drop further. So far this year, 284 crimes have been reported in Teesdale, County Durham. If the trend continues, there will have been a 12 per cent drop in crime since last year.
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120 hours sentence for head-on collision
A MAN responsible for a head-on smash in which a driver broke his leg has been ordered to do 120 hours' community work and banned from driving for a year. Andrew Carver, 34, took a bend too fast in his four-wheel drive Mitsubishi and collided with a Citroen
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Criticism of GMC welcomed by victims
THE victims of Richard Neale say they feel vindicated by yesterday's indictment of the watchdog in charge of regulating Britain's doctors. After years of protesting that the General Medical Council (GMC) seemed to be more interested in protecting doctors
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Steel site ordered to control red dust
STEEL company Corus UK has been been given six months to stop red dust from its Redcar site affecting residents. An investigation was launched on November 8 after several residents complained about the dust from the steel plant. Officers from the Environment
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Cautious welcome for rates decision
BUSINESS leaders in the region gave a cautious welcome to yesterday's announcement by the Bank of England that interest rates would be kept at 4.75 per cent for the fourth month in succession. The decision by the bank's monetary policy committee (MPC)
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End-of-term show for academy
YOUNG musicians hope to put into practice the fruits of their labours at an end-of-term performance. Members of the Seaham Music Academy stage their Christmas Concert in the hall at the town's Deneside School on Saturday, at 11am. Admission is £2 for
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Man-eater takes centre stage
A MAN-EATING plant is making an appearance at Prior Pursglove College, Guisborough, this week in a show performed by drama students. The cast of 14 students has been rehearsing since September for the production of Little Shop of Horrors, which sees out-of-luck
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Grouse shoots earn £2m for region
THE North-East's rural economy has received a boost of more than £2m after a record year for grouse shooting. The shooting season ends today and a Moorland Association survey shows that moors in Upper Teesdale and Weardale have seen a 150 per cent increase
