Archive
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Author sheds light on haunting tale about pregnant girl's death
The intriguing story of the murder down the auld mill has captivated generations of children in a North-East community. It is a tale of a widower with political aspirations who makes his orphaned niece pregnant. To silence her and prevent shame, he gets
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'Catch us if you can' - Elliott
STEPHEN ELLIOTT claims Sunderland's 'total football' approach to life in the Championship will make it difficult for teams to dethrone them from an automatic promotion spot in 2005. Tuesday's last-gasp 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest ensured the Black
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Adam's stepping out from behind the scenes
A BUDDING young actor is hoping to further his career after winning a place at drama school. Adam Welch, 17, of Spennymoor, has been a member of the stage school at Durham's Gala Theatre for three years. Adam, currently a pupil at Durham School, has won
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Dad At Large: Girls - God's gift to wrapping
OF all the things men can't do as well as women, wrapping presents must be top of the list. Men just can't wrap. It's a gene thing. Look under any Christmas tree and it's easy to spot the pressies wrapped by men. They're the ones bound with enough Sellotape
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Fundraiser gets £3,000 for Start charity
A WOMAN raising money to help Indian leprosy victims has received one of her largest single donations. Members of the congregation at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church, in County Durham, have handed £3,000 to the charity Start, founded by Leah Pattison
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Car park makes way for bus station
WORK on a new bus station for Stanley will start soon, council officials said. Contractors for Derwentside District Council will move on to the Mary Street car park in the town this month, to begin work on the £3m bus station project. A public notice
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Companies less flexible
FLEXIBLE working hours have yet to take a firm hold in the business culture of the North-East, according to a survey. Despite flexi-time being used increasingly as a way of retaining and motivating staff, a survey by Lloyds TSB Corporate found the number
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Pyrah determined to raise the roof
Richard Pyrah took some important steps forward in his Yorkshire career towards the end of last season - and now he has gone on to scale the heights. But his cricket ambitions still remain to be fully realised because his recent rapid climb up the ladder
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Dark nights leave skate park empty
YOUNGSTERS are unable to use a skate and bike park during the winter nights because there are no lights. The park was opened by the Durham Skate and Bike Partnership next to the Abbey Leisure Centre at Newton Hall, Durham, in September. The partnership
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Girls - God's gift to wrapping
OF all the things men can't do as well as women, wrapping presents must be top of the list. Men just can't wrap. It's a gene thing. Look under any Christmas tree and it's easy to spot the pressies wrapped by men. They're the ones bound with enough Sellotape
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Was Dudley so cuddly?
Steve Pratt talks to actor Aidan McArdle about the difficulties of bringing famous comic and jazz pianist Dudley Moore back to life and how studying the dwindling relationship with Peter Cook began to impact on his acting partnership with Rhys Ifans.
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Consider yourself...
The awful struggle for survival in Victorian England portrayed by the musical Oliver!, based on the famous Dickens' Book, turned the cast into superstars. Viv Hardwick reports on the real-life agonies of Artful Dodger (Jack Wild) and Oliver Twist (Mark
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Railway museum on track to attract 100,000 visitors next year
THE success of the North-East's first national museum has persuaded managers to rethink plans for next year. Locomotion: National Railway Museum, in Shildon, County Durham, had been expected to attract 60,000 visitors in its first year. But the £11m facility
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On TV
The Beatles' Biggest Secrets (five) The Real King Herod (C4) Diary Of A Teenage Nudist (C4) Listen, do you wanna know a secret? Paul McCartney used to argue with John Lennon because it cost a penny extra to have jam on your toast when they ate breakfast
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Tributes follow death of VC hero
TRIBUTES poured in following the death of the North-East's most celebrated war hero. Surviving members of the Durham Light Infantry and civic leaders spoke of their affection and respect for Capt Richard Annand - the last surviving member of the DLI to
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Survivor's terror story
A County Durham survivor of the tsunami tragedy in South-East Asia has told of his miracle escape. Matthew Walsh, 21, of Lanchester, cheated death when he took a boat trip off the Phi Phi islands, in Thailand, just minutes before the giant waves crashed
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Gymnasts with that Billy Elliot streak
THE former pit villages of Bearpark, Ushaw Moor and Brandon are not places which would normally be associated with the graceful elegance of gymnastics. Decades after the pits closed, the scattered mining communities of the Deerness Valley remain among
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Teesport expects profitable first year
THE company responsible for the operation of Teesport said expectations for 2005 were high as it approaches its first full year as a plc. PD Ports was upgraded from the junior stock market - the Alternative Investment Market (Aim) - to the main list earlier
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Boy accused of rape
A 13-year-old boy, accused of raping his teacher, appeared before magistrates today. The boy, who was 12 at the time of the incident on November 29 2004, and cannot be identified for legal reasons, spoke only to confirm his former address. The youngster
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Teenager is top physicist
A STUDENT from the North-East has come top in the country for A-level physics. Ben Grandey, from Middlesbrough, has been awarded the Psalters Horners Advanced Physics Prize after coming top in the Edexcel A-level physics exam by scoring 596 out of 600
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Database is latest police tool
PEOPLE are being urged to protect Christmas gifts by logging details in a new police database of valuables. Hundreds of items have already been recorded in the confidential property section of Northumbria Police's website. Serial numbers and descriptions
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NHS team handles high demand
THE National Health Service's emergency helpline experienced high demand over the Christmas weekend. Two additional Bank Holidays added to the seasonal rise in the number of inquiries to NHS Direct (North-East). Calls peaked on Boxing Day with 1,922 from
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Pair up and win a dream trip
IF your golf club doesn't yet hold a qualifier for the International Pairs, it's time you persuaded them to give it a go - it might earn you a trip to St Andrews, writes Tim Wellock. Not to the Old Course itself, but to the fabulous new development at
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Smoke alarm saves family from perishing in house fire
A SMOKE alarm has saved the lives of a North-East family. "They were very, very lucky," said Steve McCarten, Fire Station Officer at Middlesbrough. "If the fire had gone another five minutes, I would have feared the worst." The alarm woke 37-year-old
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Couple enjoy a golden day
A COUNTY Durham couple renewed their wedding vows yesterday in the majestic setting of Auckland Castle. Stanley and Elizabeth Harding, walked down the aisle of St Peter's Chapel - the Bishop of Durham's private 12th Century chapel - in Bishop Auckland
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Bioplus corners green market
A TEESSIDE refinery is leading the drive towards renewable fuels after securing 60 per cent of the UK biodiesel market. Petroplus said that production of its bioplus biodiesel - a blend of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) with oil from a variety of seed-based
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Sage is New Year choice
NEW Year's Eve revellers would like to see in 2005 at the Sage Gateshead music venue, according to a survey. The survey, by a credit card firm, said that 44 per cent of people in the region believe the ideal place to celebrate would be the new multi-million
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Kerbs altered
Police and council engineers have agreed that the kerbs on the road leading to Blakey Bridge, Sowerby, should be altered to discourage heavy traffic from using the lane and ancient bridge.
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Council boss praises teams for efforts
A LOCAL authority leader has paid tribute to council workers who maintained services over the Christmas period. Darlington Borough Council employees provided emergency cover in a range of areas during the holidays. Home care workers visited about 250
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Service is helping people find work
A PROJECT to help people living in Darlington back into work has started to pay dividends with the first of its jobseekers securing employment. The Central Into Work project is aimed at unemployed residents in the Bank Top, Central, Northgate and North
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£2,000 grant will boost artists' skills
AN art club is celebrating a cash boost that will help it enlist the services of a professional art tutor and stock up on materials. Fishburn Art Group, in County Durham, has been awarded a £2,000 community chest grant from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
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Vandals fell village's Christmas tree again
Vandals have pulled the plug on a village's festive display by chopping down its Christmas tree. Sedgefield's Christmas tree, on the village green, was felled by young pranksters on Tuesday night for the second time in three years. Two youths were seen
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Antiques dealers show honesty
ANTIQUEs dealers have been praised by trading standards officers following an enforcement exercise. Undercover officers visited 25 antiques dealers across North Yorkshire, offering to sell high value items such as a silver teaset, a Royal Worcester vase
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Spectacular way to see in New Year
WORKERS will today begin assembling a fireworks display to see in the New Year. About 1.5 tonnes of pyrotechnics will go up in smoke during a 15-minute display in Newcastle on New Year's Eve. Firework company Walk the Plank, which organised displays at
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Villagers urged to support campaign for new play area
A RALLYING call has gone out urging villagers to help improve children's play facilities in their community. Residents of Fishburn are being asked to get involved in a campaign to create a play area for youngsters after two sets of swings had to be pulled
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Diamond days for couple who missed honeymoon
A MAN who was too sick to go on his honeymoon because of malaria celebrated his diamond wedding anniversary yesterday. Special Forces member Frank Browne returned from duties in the Far East for his wedding to wartime sweetheart Irene - but was carrying
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Runner's monster effort helps boy
A MAN raised £600 for a disabled four-year-old boy by completing the Loch Ness Marathon. Mick Robson, of St James Drive, Northallerton, completed the run in October in three hours, 47 minutes and 47 seconds. He donated the money he raised to Joshua Peacock
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Christmas Day road victim named
A WOMAN killed in a Christmas Day road accident in the North-East was yesterday named as 25-year-old Leanne Dickson. She was a passenger in a Toyota Yaris that lost control travelling south on the A696, about a mile-and-a-half north of Ponteland, in Northumberland
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Help sought to ease way
VOLUNTEERS are being sought to help introduce right to roam legislation. North Yorkshire County Council has set up a Countryside Service and part of its role is to help the open access rules run smoothly from their introduction in May. The council is
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Football hooligans to face the courts
FOOTBALL thugs behind the violence at a UEFA Cup game in the Czech Republic face a shock in the New Year, despite thinking they had got away with it. Cleveland Police are resolved to bringing all the hooligans before the courts early next year after wreaking
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Thieves take valuable haul in raid
POLICE are warning antiques dealers to be on their guard after thousands of pounds of valuable items were stolen from a house. Antique figures, porcelain and silver items were taken during a raid on a property in the Stokesley area on Monday night. North
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Garden plan wins backing
PROPOSALS to build three detached homes in a large back garden have been approved. At the Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council, planning officer Mark Williams recommended outline approval for the development at Primrose House, Primrose
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Centre for deaf aiming for another busy year
A SIGN language centre is celebrating its busiest year to date. Deafsign was set up in Stockton in 1998 to provide information, books and education tools for those using sign language. In September, the group published a dictionary of 1,300 everyday signs
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Pensioner woken by burglar in bedroom
A PENSIONER was left shocked and shaken after being confronted by a hooded intruder in the bedroom of her Teesside home. The 85-year-old woman woke yesterday to find a man standing by her bed, demanding to know where she kept her money. As he reached
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Tales of derring-do take centre stage
TRAVEL adventures feature strongly in the line-up for the spring season at a North-East venue. Peter Searles will tell tales about his travels through Latin America on January 27 at Darlington Arts Centre. Climber Doug Scott CBE, who has reached the summits
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Station boss offers cheap fares advice
THE manager of a North-East railway station is giving advice on obtaining bargain rail fares. Alex Nelson, of Chester-le-Street railway station, offers the information during talks offered to Rotary clubs, WIs and other groups. Mr Nelson has a season
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Mixed year for traders
BUSINESS confidence in Darlington remains high and employee levels positive as the year draws to a close, despite a slight fall in turnover. Tony Luckett, a partner at Clive Owen and Co business advisors, said the employee figure had been stable over
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£10,000 to help businesses
TWO Darlington businesses have been awarded £10,000 from a council-run initiative to help them get off the ground. The Falchion Fund is a borough council loan scheme dedicated to new and existing businesses that employ up to 250 people. It supports the
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Pubs will open longer under staggered closing times plan
SCORES of pubs in Darlington look likely to stay open beyond 11pm within a year, under new council regulations. By the end of next year, some of the town's nightclubs could also stay open longer, giving revellers somewhere to drink and dance after 2am
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Community group to open doors
A SMALL community group is throwing open the doors of its home of 56 years to showcase its facilities. Alington House Community Association, formed 75 years ago, moved into its present base in Durham's North Bailey, in 1948. The wife of the then Dean
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Teenager is top physicist
A STUDENT from the North-East has come top in the country for A-level physics. Ben Grandey, from Middlesbrough, has been awarded the Psalters Horners Advanced Physics Prize after coming top in the Edexcel A-level physics exam by scoring 596 out of 600
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Residents urged to recycle Christmas waste
RESIDENTS are being urged to recycle their Christmas rubbish. An appeal has been made to people in and around Stockton to resist automatically throwing out torn wrapping paper, cardboard, Christmas trees and empty bottles after the holiday, and to segregate
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VIP days do the trick for jobseekers
CAREER advisors on Teesside have judged an initiative for young jobseekers to be a success. The Learning and Skills Council Tees Valley hit on the idea of workshops for young people to help them choose their careers and focus on the qualifications they
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Cartoon hound is helping pupils stay safe and sound
AN author is helping to keep Middlesbrough youngsters safe and sound - with the help of a cartoon hound. Parent Arthur Brady devised his health and safety workbooks of schools, which feature Arthur Paddington the hound and other characters, to give youngsters
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Teesport expects profitable first year
THE company responsible for the operation of Teesport said expectations for 2005 were high as it approaches its first full year as a plc. PD Ports was upgraded from the junior stock market - the Alternative Investment Market (Aim) - to the main list earlier
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Bioplus corners green market
A TEESSIDE refinery is leading the drive towards renewable fuels after securing 60 per cent of the UK biodiesel market. Petroplus said that production of its bioplus biodiesel - a blend of Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) with oil from a variety of seed-based
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Rope bridge project on track
The next phase of plans to build the world's longest pedestrian rope bridge in County Durham could start in the next few months. Over the past few months, work has been ongoing with plans to build the bridge over the River Tees in Barnard Castle. The
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Westwood building on success
HARTLEPOOL'S Chris Westwood has stressed the importance of building on their upturn in fortunes away from home to strengthen their position in the League One promotion pack. The defender was influential in securing a point for Neale Cooper's side at Bristol
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Missing father's silence despite daughter's plea
TWO police forces are working together to find a missing North-East father. The closer co-operation between the Cleveland and Durham forces was revealed yesterday when it emerged that nine-year-old Lauren Cole's appeal to missing father Gary to get in
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Go-ahead for Crestor lifts Astra
DRUGS company AstraZeneca announced a boost for one of its key drugs yesterday after cholesterol-beating product Crestor received the support of Japanese authorities. Shares in Astra rose as investors expressed relief at some good news from the company
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Man is issued with third asbo
MAGISTRATES have granted a third interim anti-social (asbo) behaviour order against a man accused of harassing neighbours. Durham Police are seeking a full order against Stephen Thoms, 46, of Auckland, Chester-le-Street. Breaches of asbos carry a maximum
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St Andrews Bay offers a whole new ball game
Things are changing fast at the home of golf, where a whole new world of opportunity is opening up for golf enthusiasts. Sports Writer Tim Wellock heads north of the border to sample the delights on offer at St Andrews. CLUBHOUSES at the home of golf
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30/12/04
FOOTBALL: WEEK after week in the tabloids we are bombarded with stories about Ferguson, Wenger and McClaren. All of them have had millions of pounds to spend on players, not forgetting Chelsea of course. But what about the David Hodgsons of this world
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Pay up sponsorship cash, pleads charity
A CHARITY is appealing to women across the region to send in thousands of pounds they have raised to help fight cancer. More than 40 per cent of women who took part in seven Race for Life events across the North-East and North Yorkshire in the summer
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Porton Down inquest to be challenged
THE Government plans to challenge the verdict of an inquest that ruled a County Durham airman was unlawfully killed more than 50 years ago. Leading Aircraftman Ronald Maddison, an RAF technician from Consett, died aged 20 during secret nerve gas experiments
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N-E house prices set to slow in 2005
House prices continued to rocket in the North-East during 2004 but are set for a big slowdown next year, experts have warned. A survey by the Nationwide showed that prices continued to rise fastest in parts of the North with an average 22.8 per cent year-on-year
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Gordon an option to seal leaky defence
CONCERNED Darlington boss David Hodgson is weighing up a loan move as he seeks a solution to their recent defensive problems. Quakers have now shipped ten goals in three games after Tuesday's 4-0 mauling at struggling Shrewsbury Town. Subsequently, Hodgson's
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Tributes follow death of VC hero
TRIBUTES poured in following the death of the North-East's most celebrated war hero. Surviving members of the Durham Light Infantry and civic leaders spoke of their affection and respect for Capt Richard Annand - the last surviving member of the DLI to
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Bored with The Beatles
The Beatles' Biggest Secrets (five); The Real King Herod (C4); Diary Of A Teenage Nudist (C4): Listen, do you wanna know a secret? Paul McCartney used to argue with John Lennon because it cost a penny extra to have jam on your toast when they ate breakfast
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Souness is left frustrated
GRAEME Souness last night spoke of his frustration after watching his side put in one of their best performances of the season, only to go down to a freak Patrick Vieira strike. The Newcastle boss was angry that referee Steve Bennett failed to spot Ashley
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On night shift with the boys in blue
Every week men and women across the North-East set aside hours of their time to assist the local police force. But this is no ordinary voluntary work - this is working on the front line. Kate Bowman reports. THE last place I expected to be on a Saturday
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Tidings of great Joy for Macs' supporters
Ireland tightened its grip on the Smurfit Champion Hurdle yesterday as Macs Joy (7-1) claimed some notable scalps in the Bewleys Hotels December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown. With the reigning champion Hardy Eustace back in third, the two-length winner
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Bargain hunters keep tills ringing
SHOP tills continued to ring across the North-East as the hunt for post-Christmas bargains gathered pace. Sales that began on Boxing Day or Monday drew big crowds again yesterday, the first "normal'' day since last week. With many people off for the full
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Concern for woman, 24
POLICE are concerned for the welfare of a missing woman described as vulnerable. Rachel Douglas, who was last seen in York on December 28, is white, 5ft 4in and thin, with light brown hair and a fair complexion. The 24-year-old speaks with a Shropshire
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Fears for shop worker
THERE is growing concern for a teenager who vanished after going to meet friends for a Christmas drink. David John Young, 19, of Albert Terrace, Middlesbrough, spent Christmas with his mother in Billingham. She last saw him just after 6pm on Boxing Day
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Aircrew took family's seats
A FAMILY'S dream trip to New York was ruined after a group of holidaymakers lost their seats to the crew. The two couples, from Teesside, were told their seats had been given to staff from another flight. They were offered an alternative flight, which
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Magpies shot down by Vieira fluke goal
A FLUKE first-half strike from Patrick Vieira was enough to give the Gunners all three points in an absorbing encounter at St James Park last night, but the Magpies were left cursing their luck and referee Steve Bennett. Arsenal skipper Vieira's speculative
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£140,000 windfall for N-E groups
ALMOST £140,000 has been handed out to communities across the North-East to help regenerate former coal-mining areas. The latest wave of grants from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust has seen money given to 23 projects across the region. These include
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How to help the earthquake appeal
There are many ways to donate money to the thousands affected by the earthquake disaster in Asia. * The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) is co-ordinating an appeal for aid in the disaster-hit region, representing charities including ActionAid, British
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When hell swept in
As a worldwide aid operation swung into action last night, officials throughout Asia admitted they had almost given up hope of finding anyone alive. The official estimate of 100,000 dead is now expected to be woefully optimistic. The United Nations said
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Extra screening in store
An exhibition of short films projected on to the wall of a town centre store is to be extended. The Notebook display by John Wood and Paul Harrison will continue to be screened at Bhs in Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, until January 16 after it proved
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Recognition for TC Tanning
A FAMILY business has received national recognition for its staff training and development. Tanning business TC Tanning, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, received the Government-backed Investors in People accreditation from the town's MP, Phil Willis. The
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Two is the magic number
Steve Pratt takes a look at the film releases of the past 12 months and lists his top ten films of 2004 - even if most of them seem to have a two or a three in the title. GOODBYE to 2004, a year in which Hollywood continued to play the numbers game with
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The worst is behind us - Jarvis chairman
SUPPORT services group Jarvis said yesterday that it was winning the battle to avoid bankruptcy, despite reporting half-year losses of £283.1m. Jarvis said the deficit was mainly due to write-offs on the value of its roads business, as well as provisions
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Internet retailer buys video rental chain
THE UK's third-largest high street video rental chain was bought yesterday in a move by an online rival to create a ''bricks and clicks'' service. Apollo, which has 65 branches around the UK, as well as a franchise operation in 200 other stores, confirmed
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More jobs for degree graduates
There's good news for University of Teesside graduates, according to Government statistics. Performance indicators released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency reveal that 93 per cent of full-time University of Teesside graduates gaining their first
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Honour for lifeboatman
A lifeboatman with more than 45 years service has had his dedication to duty recognised. James Wright, of Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Stations, in North Yorkshire, has been awarded the RNLI silver statue for his service. Mr Wright, 63, first volunteered
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Future lies in your hands, tenants told
A programme of improvements to Chester-le-Street District Council's housing stock to meet national standards will take an important step forward this month. Tenants will be asked to decide on the future management and ownership of the council-owned properties
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Dream role
Jon Jon Briones is rated as one of the top Asian performers playing the role of The Engineer in his musical Miss Saigon. Viv Hardwick talks to him about making it all the way from obscurity in the East to success in America. NOBODY can sing The American
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Work is play as activities planned for youngsters
A HOST of activities are planned for young community centre users after a play development officer was appointed. Sharon Hopwood has taken up the post at Jubilee Fields Community Centre, in Shildon, after the centre secured a £98,760 grant from the BBC's
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Vandals damage hospice minibus
BURGLARS left a trail of damage after breaking into a hospice. Staff at St Cuthbert's Hospice, in Durham City, arrived at work to find intruders had broken into a garage, damaged the minibus used to transport terminally-ill patients and had removed vital
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Miliband and wife adopt baby boy
Cabinet Office Minister David Miliband and his wife flew to America to adopt a baby son in time for a family Christmas. The 39-year-old high flier, one of Tony Blair's closest allies, witnessed the birth along with his wife Louise. The baby, named Isaac
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N-E's a shore winner
The plot of a family moving to a remote area to start a new life may not be new, but the location of Craster in Northumberland certainly is. Steve Pratt reports on the result of Peter Davison and Samantha Bond shooting a new drama series called Distant
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Class act
Viv Hardwick reports on a new TV version of Tom Brown's Schooldays which stars ex-boarding school boy Stephen Fry. AS a boarding school boy from the age of six, Stephen Fry was an ideal candidate to play the reforming headmaster Dr Thomas Arnold in ITV1
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Seaside town proving big attraction for flying saucers
TO the uninitiated, Filey is a quiet seaside resort, popular with tourists keen to enjoy a traditional British seaside holiday. But to those in the know, it is a hot spot for UFO activity, with enthusiasts and experts from all over the country visiting
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Honourary awards for region's top men
THE founding chairman of regional development agency One NorthEast is to receive an honorary degree from Durham University. Dr John Bridge is one of three people who will get the honour from Vice-Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman next month. Dr Bridge, who
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Saga ends as Alan cooks up a royal treat
VILLAGERS watched in amazement as a VIP opened their neighbour's new kitchen. For four years, retired Concorde pilot Alan Atkinson bored a patient audience in the village pub with the saga of the construction of the room. Regulars had been promised a
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When hell swept in
THIS is the moment a giant tsunami crashed ashore in Sri Lanka unleashing millions of gallons of water that swept thousands to their death in the world's worst natural disaster. The dramatic satellite pictures show the precise moment a giant wave hit
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You write...
FOOTBALL WEEK after week in the tabloids we are bombarded with stories about Ferguson, Wenger and McClaren. All of them have had millions of pounds to spend on players, not forgetting Chelsea of course. But what about the David Hodgsons of this world.
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£2,000 grant will boost artists' skills
AN art club is celebrating a cash boost that will help it enlist the services of a professional art tutor and stock up on materials. Fishburn Art Group, in County Durham, has been awarded a £2,000 community chest grant from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
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Wildlife work to go on show
THE first exhibition of 2005 at the North-East's Wildlife and Wetlands Trust site features a series of pictures of animals, birds and other natural history subjects. Sally Proe and Tricia Duncan, both members of the Cheviot Artists Group, which meets
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Vests best for keeping 1950s mannequins looking good
Visitors to one of the region's top museums could be forgiven for thinking it was especially chilly. Anyone who looks closely at the forthcoming Norman Parkinson exhibition at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, will notice even the mannequins will be
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Baltic's skating on thin ice
IT all started with a stroll through the frozen water gardens at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, on Boxing Day. Our children, like all the others, were irresistibly drawn to the ice. While they skimmed stones and sticks across it, poking their fingers at
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United hoping for a happier new year
NEWCASTLE UNITED ended another weird and wonderful year at St James' Park with a thrilling but unsurprising defeat at home to Arsenal. When they met at Gallowgate last season there was little to choose between the sides in a hard-fought 0-0 draw, and
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Hunters say fight to delay ban will go on
RECORD numbers of huntsmen and woman and their supporters gathered across the North-East on Monday for the last Boxing Day hunt before a ban takes effect in 2005. Hunting with hounds is due to be banned in England and Wales in February, but defiant campaigners
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Fuel protestor warns over hauliers' future
A FUEL tax protestor in the North-East says hauliers are being forced out of business by the continual rise in operating costs. But County Durham farmer Andrew Spence said he was amazed that the cost of running articulated lorries is only estimated to
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Crucial days for cash-hit railway
RAILWAY chiefs facing a cash crisis say the next ten days are crucial for the future of Britain's newest heritage line. Talks between bosses at Weardale Railway, in County Durham, funders and accountants resumed yesterday after the Christmas break. Financial
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Funeral date is arranged for Victoria Cross war hero
FUNERAL details were announced yesterday for a celebrated North-East war hero. Captain Richard Annand, the last surviving Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Victoria Cross holder, died in the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham, on Christmas Eve.
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All the fun of a Victorian fair
A Victorian funfair is giving modern-day shoppers a sample of a bygone era. The fair, at St Thomas Church, in front of Newcastle Civic Centre, opened yesterday and runs through to tomorrow. It features a colourful carousel, a helter-skelter, swing boats
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Pay up sponsorship cash, pleads charity
A CHARITY is appealing to women across the region to send in thousands of pounds they have raised to help fight cancer. More than 40 per cent of women who took part in seven Race for Life events across the North-East and North Yorkshire in the summer
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City prepares to introduce new rules for pubs and clubs
NEW licensing regulations covering drinks and entertainment provision by the pub and club trade come into force in the New Year. The Licensing Act 2003 creates a new licensing authority in every council area in England and Wales. In the run-up to the
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Burglars strike on Christmas night
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a Christmas Day burglary. Power tools and cash were stolen from business premises in Trimdon Grange on Saturday night after the entrance was forced open. Police were called to the scene at about 10pm after a suspicious
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Teenager helps others have fun
TEENAGER Ben Watson is the toast of a dale community centre because of the remarkable contribution he has made to youth work. For his dedication in taking part and helping others enjoy youth activities at Stanhope Community Centre, in Weardale, 14-year-old
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News in Brief
Pensioner hurt: Firefighters gave oxygen and first aid to an elderly resident whose flat was heavily smoke-logged following a chip pan fire at Sir William Turner's Court, Kirkleatham, Redcar, yesterday. Three other flats were affected by smoke. Minding
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Baths closure decision due
THE future of a Victorian pool is to be resolved. The Starbeck Baths Advisory Group investigated the Harrogate swimming pool's condition after the borough council considered closing it. Consultants found a need for major work, including on the roof and
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Volunteers needed for home library service
A SERVICE which sees library books delivered to the elderly and infirm is in need of volunteers to keep running. North Yorkshire County Council's Home Library and Information Service operates in conjunction with the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS
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£140,000 windfall for N-E groups
ALMOST £140,000 has been handed out to communities across the North-East to help regenerate former coal-mining areas. The latest wave of grants from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust has seen money given to 23 projects across the region. These include
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Authority chief dismisses reduced fire cover concerns
FEARS that fire safety cover in North Yorkshire could be reduced as a result of planned changes have been denied. A service review has followed an agreement between the Fire Brigades' Union and local authorities nationwide, under which some frontline
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Housing plan approved despite protests
COUNCILLORS narrowly approved a housing development which sparked protests from neighbours and objections from Ripon City Council. At a previous meeting of the Ripon area planning committee of Harrogate Borough Council, members defied officers' advice
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Licensees warned as officers raid pubs
POLICE made two arrests and recovered contraband tobacco in raids on neighbouring pubs. Two pepper sprays were also seized by officers executing search warrants at the Bluebell and Ye Olde Fleece, in High Street, Gateshead. Tuesday's raids were part of
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Youngsters pick up prizes
SIX children have won bags full of arts and crafts materials in a colouring competition organised by one of Darlington's shopping malls. Youngsters who won the Queen Street Christmas contest were presented with their prizes, donated by the Stationery
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Children create pebble art
YOUNGSTERS created pretty pictures using pebbles at a workshop in Darlington yesterday. The session was held at the town's Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace. Freelance arts education worker Bea Colley said: "The children designed a picture on a piece of card
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Wildlife work to go on show
THE first exhibition of 2005 at the North-East's Wildlife and Wetlands Trust site features a series of pictures of animals, birds and other natural history subjects. Sally Proe and Tricia Duncan, both members of the Cheviot Artists Group, which meets
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Work on scheme ready to begin
THE long-awaited redevelopment of a Durham city centre car park could be about to start. Durham City Council's Walkergate car park, on derelict land behind the Millennium City complex, will close from Tuesday. The city council has been told that developer
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Taking the party line
AS one of the contributors to Labour's election manifesto, Stephen Byers can be expected to make a call for party unity. But he is deluding himself if he thinks the clash of policies and personalities can be eradicated. And he is deluding himself if he
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Sick leave gives firms a headache
A REPORT has found manufacturing employment will continue to fall to record low levels next year, despite predictions that up to 200,000 jobs will be created. Job creation next year will be limited by the need to improve productivity, especially in the
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Council meetings are aired on radio
A LOCAL authority has become the first in the country to have its proceedings broadcast directly on an on-line radio service. Radio Ryedale, an award-winning, volunteer-run service in North Yorkshire, has started to air unedited sound recordings of meetings
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Service is helping people find work
A PROJECT to help people living in Darlington back into work has started to pay dividends with the first of its jobseekers securing employment. The Central Into Work project is aimed at unemployed residents in the Bank Top, Central, Northgate and North
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Home loans at a four-year-low
THE scale of the housing market slowdown was highlighted yesterday in figures showing demand for home loans at its lowest for nearly four years. The British Bankers' Association (BBA) said the number of mortgages approved by its members for house purchase
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Porton Down inquest to be challenged
THE Government plans to challenge the verdict of an inquest that ruled a County Durham airman was unlawfully killed more than 50 years ago. Leading Aircraftman Ronald Maddison, an RAF technician from Consett, died aged 20 during secret nerve gas experiments
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Bid to overturn inquest ruling
THE Government plans to challenge the verdict of an inquest that ruled a County Durham airman was unlawfully killed more than 50 years ago. Leading Aircraftman Ronald Maddison, an RAF technician from Consett, died aged 20 during secret nerve gas experiments
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Victorian exhibition proving a hit for museum
AN exhibition featuring the work of a Victorian designer is continuing to be a big hit with the public. Middlesbrough's Dorman Museum is hosting an exhibition of the work of Victorian designer Christopher Dresser. He is perhaps best remembered for his
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Court extends order
MAGISTRATES have granted a third interim Anti-Social Behaviour Order against a man accused of harassing neighbours. Durham Police are seeking a full order against Stephen Thoms, 46, of Auckland, Chester-le-Street. Breaches of orders, known as Asbos, carry
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Hunters say fight to delay ban will go on
RECORD numbers of huntsmen and woman and their supporters gathered across the North-East on Monday for the last Boxing Day hunt before a ban takes effect in 2005. Hunting with hounds is due to be banned in England and Wales in February, but defiant campaigners
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Boro's fringe players a cut above the rest
BOUDEWIJN Zenden has hailed Middlesbrough's international 'fringe players' as the main reason behind the injury-hit Teessiders' ability to maintain their chase for a Champions League place. Despite being plagued by injuries this term, Boro have been able
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Troops mix business with festivities
HUNDREDS of soldiers from the region have been spending Christmas away from home this year - many helping to rebuild war-torn Iraq. Although the troops ate turkey, sang carols and opened cards and parcels from their relatives and friends, Christmas Day
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Dad At Large: Girls - God's gift to wrapping
OF all the things men can't do as well as women, wrapping presents must be top of the list. Men just can't wrap. It's a gene thing. Look under any Christmas tree and it's easy to spot the pressies wrapped by men. They're the ones bound with enough Sellotape
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Lads' day out for Buchanan
RISING star-of-the-saddle Peter Buchanan heads to Haydock this afternoon with every chance of adding to his seasonal tally aboard Kerry Lads (1.40). Peter, who gave Tuesday's nap, Strong Resolve, such a terrific ride when finishing runner-up in the Welsh
