Archive
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Britons swell disaster fund
BRITONS moved by the scale of the Asian tsunami disaster pledged record amounts to the international relief effort last night as United Nations officials warned half-a-billion pounds was needed to head off an even bigger catastrophe. People who were moved
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Call for harmony in row over footpaths
NORTH Yorkshire County Council has reacted angrily to the latest attack by the Ramblers' Association on the state of the footpath network. The national office of the association claimed the condition of footpaths was appalling and said tourism in North
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Patience the key as Mercer bags two festive prizes
KEITH Mercer is the Christmas king, having scooped two top prizes during the festive week. He won the Listed Rowland Merrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day with Truckers Tavern and the valuable Stan James Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury on Wednesday with
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Mr Blair's mess
SUDDENLY, February 19, 2005, may not have the significance in the New Year calendar that it did a week ago. The Government has signalled its determination that the ban on hunting is not going to be allowed to threaten its re-election strategy. Once again
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Casualty units stay on alert for new year violence
CASUALTY units at local hospitals seem to have taken the run-up to Christmas in their stride. With security measures already in place, staff have been able to manage the seasonal festivities and traditional increase in drink and drug-related incidents
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Rape-charge schoolboy remanded in custody
A SCHOOLBOY accused of raping his teacher appeared before magistrates yesterday. The 13-year-old, who was 12 at the time of the alleged incident on November 29 this year, cannot be identified for legal reasons. The youngster wore dark sports clothes and
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Woman hurt in daylight post office robbery
A WOMAN needed hospital treatment yesterday after being attacked by a three-strong gang of robbers in a raid at a village post office. Robbers struck in the quiet village of Ebchester, near Consett, County Durham, yesterday afternoon in a daylight raid
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Trio win roles in British horror film
THREE actors from the region have won roles in a British horror film. Les Simpson, from Middlesbrough, Mark Cronsfield, from Masham, North Yorkshire, and Stephen Lamb, from Gateshead, will play cannibals in the film CrawlSpace. All three are members of
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Twenty years of caring for young is rewarded
FOR more than 20 years, Rachel Baker has opened the doors of her home to needy children. In that time as a foster carer, she has provided a warm and welcoming environment for more than 50 children, many of whom have disabilities. Today, she has been made
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Property boom in
SALTBURN had the fourth biggest increase in house prices anywhere in the country this year, according to mortgage lender the Halifax. The seaside town saw prices rise by 48pc compared to last year, with the average house price jumping from £77,452 to
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Decision day on plans for spate of new building
STOCKTON councillors are to consider plans for nearly 400 new homes in the borough at a meeting on January 12. Major schemes are proposed in the Parkfield Road area of Stockton and at the southern end of Broom Park, Ingleby Barwick. The Parkfield Road
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Haydock double delights trainer
Nigel Twiston-Davies sent two horses, Baby Run and Florida Dream, from his base near Cheltenham to Haydock yesterday and both obliged at combined odds of almost 10-1. He could not believe his luck when the bookies offered 13-2 about Florida Dream in the
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F for Freddie's welcome flight arrival
SPECTATOR'S spy in the Corgi model world - previous intelligence from whom referred to the miniature version of the stylish Harrogate and District double-deck bus plying route 36 between Ripon and Leeds - reports on a subject that should go straight to
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Policy which puts land first could come at a high cost
From tomorrow, subsidies paid to farmers will be for looking after the land, not producing food. A victory on paper for the environmental lobby perhaps, but at what price, asks Douglas Chalmers, Northern regional director of the Country Land and Business
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Make changes now to cope with changing world
by Louis Fell of George F White TWENTY years ago a group of pop stars, incensed by the starvation in Africa, produced a Christmas song which sold millions of records around the world. The proceeds helped the short-term food requirements of some but have
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Storr goal wins it as Guisborough lack killer touch
Guisborough Town 0 Thornaby 1 GUISBOROUGH suffered a setback in their push to escape the division one relegation zone when they welcomed local rivals and fellow strugglers Thornaby to the King George V Ground on Monday morning. The home side had the bulk
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Zibeline to join exclusive club
IF as expected Zibeline (12.30) takes the opener at Sedgefield, he will join the exclusive club of horses to have won on the Flat, over hurdles, and finally, in the steeplechase arena. Zibelline, good enough to be twice placed in Newcastle's Northumberland
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Schoolgirl Kelly, 12, hailed hero after rescuing baby from blaze
A SCHOOLGIRL was hailed a hero last night after saving a baby from a house fire. Kelly Adington, 12, braved choking smoke to rescue Sophie Mahoney from her neighbour's burning home. Leanne Mahoney escaped unscathed with her other children, Ashley and
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Let off steam on the pages of a diary
THE past year has been about four months long, and that's not just my view. I've stopped counting the number of people who've said: "I've never known a year go so fast." Why 2004 has bowled along on oiled wheels, I can't fathom. As years go, it hasn't
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Predictions for 2005
AS 2004 ends with a tsunami making the Toon Army's gripes look pathetic, we have to remember that life goes on and hope that sport will dish up plenty of light relief in the New Year. Here are my predictions. January: The real world darts championship
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Bouquets of the Year: Here's to you, good Samaritan
We all read a lot about how society is falling apart at the seams, but there is still a lot of goodwill out there. Here we salute some of the community-minded heroes of the past year. TODAY is inevitably a day of looking back over the year. So we're taking
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Newlyweds' lost passport despair
A NEWLYWED couple say they missed out on a dream honeymoon after Royal Mail lost their passports. Martine and Doug Gray saved for months to spend £6,000 on a luxury safari in Kenya. Instead, they honeymooned in the Lake District after their passports
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Construction firm bought by employee who joined it as a school-leaver
A MAN who went to work for a Richmond building firm straight from school has bought the company. Graeme Newton officially took over Randall Orchard Construction, based on the Gallowfields trading estate, on December 9. The founder, Randall Orchard, will
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A slowdown, but no sign of a crash
After five years of price rises, 2004 has been the year which has seen the housing bubble finally show signs of bursting. While an all-out bang has not occurred, the market is slowly losing steam and is expected to deflate further next year. After the
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Schools take up a challenge
SCHOOLS across Sedgefield are to take part in a recycling challenge. Children will be encouraged to take old telephone directories to their school for the 2004/05 Yellow Woods event. The event is organised by Yellow Pages, the Woodland Trust, Sedgefield
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Man admits breach of community sentence
A MAN who breached his community rehabilitation order only days after it was imposed has had a new order imposed by magistrates. Dustin Robinson, of Pierremont Crescent, Darlington, was issued with the 12-month order on May 18 this year for theft. South
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Incentive to recycle more
A FREE reminder to cut down on waste is being offered to every home in County Durham. Durham County Council is urging residents to make a New Year's resolution to recycle more and is offering a free fridge magnet to every home in the county as a reminder
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Incentive to recycle more
A FREE reminder to cut down on waste is being offered to every home in County Durham. Durham County Council is urging residents to make a New Year's resolution to recycle more and is offering a free fridge magnet to every home in the county as a reminder
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Tapestry shows how a stitch in time can save the landscape
TEXTILE pictures are being created for a touring exhibition that will show how the landscape has changed in a rural valley over the centuries. The 36 works of art are being made by pupils from 12 primary schools and several community groups in the Teesdale
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Thieves steal cash and spirits
THIEVES broke into a Darlington pub yesterday and stole cash and spirits. Intruders entered The Slaters Arms, on Bondgate, through the cellar hatch, between 2.30am and 3am. They took cash from the games machine and bottles of alcohol from behind the bar
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Young winners
TEES Valley Housing Group has announced the winners of its Young Persons' Achievement Awards for 2004. First prize went to Sara Mirsalehi, 23, from Middlesbrough, for her educational achievements and her voluntary work. Rachael Brown, 18, from Darlington
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Adoptions to be speeded up
A DRIVE is being launched to find parents on Teesside for youngsters aged three to five. Adoption-Yorkshire, the adoption service of Catholic Care, is promising a fast-track process with an information pack sent out to prospective parents within 24 hours
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More murders for the CSI team
CSI: MIAMI, Publisher: Ubisoft. Format: PC, Price: £19.99: Family friendly? Plenty of grue means it's for over 16s only. CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) is the most popular television series in the world. It has already sired two video games. Now it is
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Champion role for police chief
A Cleveland police officer is championing an initiative to improve standards of adult literacy and numeracy in the area. Deputy Chief Constable Ron Hogg has joined the £50m Get On North-East campaign as a Skills for Life champion. Mr Hogg will focus on
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M&S may not have seen last of Green
IT was a clash of retail titans - billionaire tycoon Philip Green squaring up to Marks & Spencer boss Stuart Rose. At stake was the ownership of the best-known name on the high street and its ten per cent share of the clothing market. The absorbing
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Boss gets top awards
A TOP businessman has been awarded two honours. Edward Leng received an honorary degree from the University of Sunderland for his outstanding contribution to business and public life in the region. Mr Leng, training manager at motor parts manufacturer
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Second death at sea cliffs
A WOMAN died when her car careered through a safety fence and plummeted over a cliff at a seaside beauty spot. Denise Kendal, from South Shields, was alone in her car when it left the road, crossed a footpath and car park, mounted a raised kerb and crashed
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Good neighbour ready to rustle up a new year treat for youngsters
AN award-winning good neighbour is planning a cart load of fun for youngsters in the New Year. Terry Dixon could not resist the challenge of restoring an old horse-drawn trap, which he bought in pieces from a traveller. One of his friends is working on
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Children get chance to try angling
SEVENTY-FIVE youngsters from the region have taken up angling thanks to Northumbrian Water. The water company runs the Get Hooked on Fishing programme, which teaches children the basics of fishing. The idea is to give youngsters something to do during
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How lives could have been saved
For me, the words that summed up the sheer magnitude of the tsunami disaster were uttered by a TV reporter as she walked amongst the devastation. With the number of deaths likely to top 100,000 and buildings flattened as if they were cardboard boxes,
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Support offer for New Year 'quitters'
HELP is being offered to those who have made a New Year resolution to give up smoking. The North Yorkshire Stop Smoking Service is running a series of drop-in sessions, with Northallerton chosen as the venue for the Hambleton and Richmondshire districts
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Charity game in memory of girl
A BOXING Day football match to raise money in memory of a North-East teenager who died from cancer raised £461. Friends and family of Adele Puckrin, from Redcar, who died in November of a brain tumour aged 16, staged the match at New Marske Sports Club
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Stricter planning urged for moors
CALLS for tougher conditions on planning application in the North York Moors National Park have been made by a leading consultant. John Anfield, former chief planning officer for the Peak District National Park, has worked on a review of the moorland
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Plans are ongoing for rope bridge
THE next phase of plans to build the world's longest pedestrian rope bridge could start soon. Over the past few months, planning has been ongoing to build the bridge over the River Tees, in Barnard Castle, County Durham. The £4.5m scheme is being co-ordinated
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Anti-social behaviour expert is called in
AN expert is being called in to offer Stockton guidance on how to defeat the menace of anti-social behaviour. Bill Pitt, head of Manchester City Council's neighbour nuisance team is visiting Stockton in the New Year to discuss tactics with fellow professionals
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On TV
Not Only But Always (C4) Taggart (ITV1) Writing plays about real people is nothing new for Terry Johnson. Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Hitchcock, Albert Einstein and Sid James have all featured in his previous work. Not Only But Always found the writer-director
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News on Brief: Pitman stages bike exhibition
A DISPLAY of motorcycle memorabilia will be staged at the Seaton Holme visitor centre, in Easington Village. Former pitman John Williams is putting together the collection, which goes on display in the Discovery Centre at Seaton Holme, in Hall Walks,
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Holy Island orchid is a 'one of a kind'
SCIENTISTS have discovered that a wild orchid growing on an island known as the cradle of Christianity is the only one of its kind in the world. The tiny pale green flower, which had been thought to belong to a group of British dune orchids, has been
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Hope in the face of disaster
OUT of a disaster of unimaginably large proportions, a little ray of hope is emerging: the generosity of ordinary people is shining through. The British are donating £500,000 an hour to charitable organisations trying to assist the victims of the tsunami
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Jonny leads Falcons' academy products
JONNY Wilkinson will take his place in a fully home-grown Newcastle Falcons back division for Sunday's home match against Sale Sharks. With Matt Burke and Epi Taione ruled out by the injuries they suffered at Leeds on Monday, and Mark Mayerhofler also
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Rod back from new mercy mission to Romania
CHARITY worker Rod Jones has carried out another Christmas mission to Romania. Hundreds of Romanian peasants look forward to the visits from 'Mr Rod', which he has made for the past 14 years. The 57-year-old founder of Teesside based Convoy Aid said:
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Play park scheme moves closer as bulldozers get ready to begin work
A COMMUNITY'S attempt to build a play park for local children has taken an important step forward as bulldozers prepare to move on to the site. Local firm TUC Plant Hire has agreed to send a team to clear the site of the play area being built at Cookson
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Police prepared for New Year
EXTRA police will be on duty across north Durham on New Year's Eve to curb the problems caused by binge drinking. Durham Constabulary says extra officers will be drafted in at Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Easington and Derwentside, and will be paying
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Why we blush when we kiss frogs
Could you really inject someone else's memories? Could your brain be kept alive after your head is removed from your body? And will kissing enough frogs really see you find your prince? One book answers all these questions. Nick Morrison reports. AT birth
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Town centre shops scheme plan revived by developers
FOUR developers are bidding for a contract to build a major shopping complex in Darlington. The £90m Queen Street/Commercial Street scheme looks back on track after a hiccup when the previous developer pulled out. Darlington Borough Council says there
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New Year honours for gold medal winners
BRITAIN'S triumphant Olympic gold medallists - headed by Kelly Holmes, Matthew Pinsent and Tanni Grey-Thompson - are celebrating their inclusion in the Queen's New Year Honours list published today. Holmes, who won the 800m and 1,500m at Athens to become
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Plans are ongoing for rope bridge
THE next phase of plans to build the world's longest pedestrian rope bridge could start soon. Over the past few months, planning has been ongoing to build the bridge over the River Tees, in Barnard Castle, County Durham. The £4.5m scheme is being co-ordinated
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Hands off Schwarzer, warns McClaren
STEVE McCLAREN last night told interested clubs to forget about attempting to prise Mark Schwarzer away from Middlesbrough during the transfer window. The Australian's contract dispute at the Riverside Stadium has alerted both Manchester United and Arsenal
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Quakers trying hard but could do better
ONE wouldn't normally think of having Sunday lunch out at the local football club. The Williamson Motors Stadium - home of the mighty Quakers - was certainly not at the top of our list of possible destinations when a busy Sunday before Christmas meant
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Shoppers may hold clues to post office robbery
Shoppers and doorstep salesmen could hold the vital clues detectives need to catch a gang who robbed a village post office. Three men struck on yesdayday lunch time at the post office and general store in Ebchester, near Consett, County Durham. They overpowered
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Burton's Bytes: More murders for the CSI team
CSI: MIAMI, Publisher: Ubisoft. Format: PC, Price: £19.99: Family friendly? Plenty of grue means it's for over 16s only. CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) is the most popular television series in the world. It has already sired two video games. Now it is
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Joey wants to prove his worth
JOEY Hutchinson is hoping to be fit before the end of the season as the Darlington defender prepares to consider his options in the summer. The highly-rated Teessider is out of contract at the end of the season when his two-year deal at the Williamson
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My intolerance of fussy people
So what's the must-have accessory for 2005? A miniature dog like those hauled about by Britney and Geri, a mini Ipod, a furry Gilet or a food allergy? Yes as mad as it may sound, scientists believe the thing most people want for the new year is an intolerance
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Looking Back
FROM this newspaper 150 years ago. - Collision on the Stockton & Darlington Railway: The mail train, which leaves Darlington at 6.30am for Redcar, ran into a train of empty waggons yesterday morning about midway between Preston Junction and Stockton
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Mustn't grumble - it's a pleasure to live and work in the North
AT the end of each year, I look back through the correspondence generated by this column. It is always useful to discover which topics have produced the most comments from our readers, and I take this opportunity of thanking all who have contacted me
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31/12/04
MODERN BRITAIN: DEMOCRACY or dictatorship, it's hard to distinguish which is which. Whose country is this, what is left to sell off? It is upside down and going deeper into the mire through clowns in office, not for what they know, but who, and with the
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Do electrical work right - or pay £5,000 fine
THOUSANDS of North-East householders are risking a hefty fine because they are unaware of new laws affecting electrical work in the home. From tomorrow, all significant electrical work has to be undertaken by a qualified electrician or checked by local
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Charity seeks home for six puppies
AN animal welfare charity is hoping to find good homes for a litter of puppies. The six cross-breed puppies have been looked after at Deerness Kennels at Langley Moor, near Durham City, by the Durham branch of the RSPCA virtually since they were born
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Bardy has to settle for second place in Croft rally
LOCAL hero Tony Bardy was left ruing his bad luck as he was once again denied victory on the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally held at a bitterly cold Croft circuit on Tuesday. The former British Rallycross champion from Scotch Corner and his Richmond
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Fears for missing couple
FURTHER details emerged last night of Britons caught up in the tsunami disaster. The families of a young British couple spoke of their fears after revealing they have not heard from their loved ones since Christmas Day. Sarah Emily Bent, 19, and her boyfriend
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Yuletide heralds rise in 999 calls
AMBULANCE crews had a busy Christmas with emergency calls up 20 per cent on the same period last year. During the five days up to Wednesday, the Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service received 2,599 emergency calls, compared to 2,163 during
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Beetles' spread raises concerns for naturalists
A BEETLE that devastates lilies and other flowers is spreading north. After reaching Yorkshire several years ago, the lily beetle (Lilioceris lilii) has now been reported in parts of the North-East. The 8mm-long bright red beetle, widespread in Northern
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Spray links crimes to thieves
SPECIAL "Christmas" lights switched on in Darlington will deliver nasty shocks to criminals all year round. All suspects taken to the main police station will in future be routinely scanned by two ultra-violet strip lights searching for tell-tale signs
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Fading light spells agony for England
England's bid for a ninth successive victory was foiled by bad light and some determined lower order resistance as South Africa clung on to claim an unlikely draw in the second Test in Durban. The tourists were on the brink of becoming only the fifth
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Forgotten footage unearthed for TV show
FORGOTTEN footage from Northern film archives has been restored for a television series looking at the region's recent past. Films retrieved from cine clubs, archives and private collections in the region has been brought together for an eight-week series
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Plan to rejuvenate Victorians' dark art
WHITBY'S famous jet industry is in line for a boost, thanks to a multi-thousand pound makeover of its Victorian jet works and heritage centre. The centre, near the harbourside, has received funding from the European Union, Yorkshire Forward and the North
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Council challenged to answer High Row questions
COUNCILLORS in Darlington are today being issued with a new challenge over the controversial town centre pedestrianisation scheme. They are being called upon to answer certain questions about the project in the authority's Town Crier magazine - which
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Pippa caps great year with Olympia victory
A YOUNG show jumper has crowned a highly successful year with a winning debut at the Olympia International Horse Show in London. Pippa Allen, from Stainsby Grange, Thornaby, teamed up with Northallerton rider Paul Barker to win the Mini Major competition
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Alice celebrates 16th birthday with solo glider flight
HIGH-FLIER Alice Archer celebrated her 16th birthday by becoming one of the youngest people in the country to complete a solo glider flight. Alice, from Goathland, near Whitby, North Yorkshire, marked her big day by securing her solo licence at the Wolds
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Defending champions step up title challenge
Norton firsts, the defending Whitfield's Building Services Durham and Cleveland Men's League champions, have chalked up another 37 points in two very easy victories over bottom two Aycliffe I and Aykley Heads I. The successes saw them sneak past previous
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Award for entrepreneur
A NORTH-EAST entrepreneur has won a national award. David Blake, 32, from Seghill, near Cramlington, Northumberland, set up Blake Air, offering a 24-hour breakdown service for compressor and pneumatic equipment, in 2002, helped by a £2,000 Prince's Trust
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Moors park offers more than 500 miles of bridleways, plus farm accommodation
PANORAMIC views in the North York Moors National Park will spell a new source of income for farmers and riding centres, thanks to a brochure designed for horse riders and published by the park authority. The aim, says Mike Pratt, the authority's head
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Fine art every day
MOTHERS and children have been tapping into their artistic talents and come up with their first calendar. More than 1,000 calendars have been produced for the people registered with the SureStart scheme, in McNay Street, Darlington. The artwork was produced
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Tapestry shows how a stitch in time can save the landscape
TEXTILE pictures are being created for a touring exhibition that will show how the landscape has changed in a rural valley over the centuries. The 36 works of art are being made by pupils from 12 primary schools and several community groups in the Teesdale
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How lives could have been saved
For me, the words that summed up the sheer magnitude of the tsunami disaster were uttered by a TV reporter as she walked amongst the devastation. With the number of deaths likely to top 100,000 and buildings flattened as if they were cardboard boxes,
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Anti-social behaviour is top of crime target list
DARLINGTON could be facing an explosion of anti-social behaviour. New figures show the town is set to see a 98.6pc rise in the number of incidents in 2004-05. Anti-social behaviour involving young people is also on course for a 116pc increase. A strategy
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Skelton women with drive set up their own business
TWO former colleagues from Skelton have teamed up to start a driving school. Julie Craig and Deborah Strickley had previously worked together for an insurance firm and had lost touch after Mrs Strickley left the company in December 2002. However, in September
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MP and his wife delighted after US visit to adopt son
CABINET Office Minister David Miliband and his wife flew to the US to adopt a baby son in time for a family Christmas. The 39-year-old, one of Tony Blair's closest allies, witnessed the birth along with his wife, Louise. The baby, named Isaac James, was
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Plans announced for £3.4m upgrade at leisure centre
MULTI-MILLION pound plans have been announced to upgrade facilities at a North-East leisure centre. The proposed revamp of Darlington's Dolphin Centre will cost £3.4m. The refurbishment will see the changing rooms and fitness studios transformed, an improvement
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Head Jim teaches pupils to care for nature
WHEN primary school headteacher Jim McManners found out he had been awarded an OBE for services to education, he knew his mother would be proud. The son of two County Durham headteachers, Mr McManners has been honoured for services to education. His school
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£37m goes to people injured in workplace
UNISON, the UK's largest union, won a record £37.4m over the past year in compensation for members injured at work -£3m more than the previous year. In the North, £2.4m was awarded, and in Yorkshire and Humberside, £3.88m was handed out. Common injuries
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Police prepared for New Year
EXTRA police will be on duty across north Durham on New Year's Eve to curb the problems caused by binge drinking. Durham Constabulary says extra officers will be drafted in at Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Easington and Derwentside, and will be paying
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'Big rises in house prices coming to an end 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
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Healthy start to the new year
A SCHOOL will host a free weight management course for people looking to improve their health or lose a few pounds after Christmas. The course, at Greenfield Community and Arts Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, will include weekly weigh-ins and support from
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Late-night noise at takeaway leads to misery for residents
RESIDENTS living close to a late-opening pizza takeaway shop have complained about illegal opening hours. A letter from Middlesbrough Council informing the owners they were in breach of planning conditions at Mama Mia's Pizzeria was sent in November -
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Fine art every day
MOTHERS and children have been tapping into their artistic talents and come up with their first calendar. More than 1,000 calendars have been produced for the people registered with the SureStart scheme, in McNay Street, Darlington. The artwork was produced
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New league for young footballers
A NEW junior sports league kicks off in Sedgefield in the new year. Following a hugely popular junior five-a-side football tournament at Ferryhill Leisure Centre, a new five-a-side league will be launched on January 15. About 150 youngsters, in 30 teams
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Tapestry shows how a stitch in time can save the landscape
TEXTILE pictures are being created for a touring exhibition that will show how the landscape has changed in a rural valley over the centuries. The 36 works of art are being made by pupils from 12 primary schools and several community groups in the Teesdale
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Assailant turns himself in to police
A YOUNG man with a clean record has been given a 12-month community rehabilitation order, after admitting assault and causing actual bodily harm. Richard Ridout, 18, of Wadham Grove, Darlington, handed himself into police after a 14-year-old boy was assaulted
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Burglar given last chance by magistrates
A CONVICTED burglar has been spared jail by magistrates after he admitted breaching a community punishment order. Paul Evers, 29, of Ruskin Road, Darlington, was issued with the order in May, for burglary, theft and obtaining property by deception. He
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Men fined for assault after a night-out turned violent
TWO fathers have been ordered to pay £1,500 in compensation after breaking a man's nose in an unprovoked drunken attack. Darren Patrick McPhee, 22, of Melsonby Crescent, and Jason Paul Midgley, 29, of Fenby Avenue, both Darlington, punched and kicked
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Region's New Year Honours recipients
NORTH YORKSHIRE: DBE, Tanni Grey-Thompson (Redcar). For services to disabled sport. OBE Stacey Tasker (York). Former Leeds Prison governor. Graham Ward (York). National Farmers' Union horticulture board chairman. For services to horticulture. MBE Fred
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Wayne fights back to arrow in on title
Wayne Mardle produced another amazing fightback to become the first man to reach the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet yesterday. The player nicknamed 'Hawaii 501' for his colourful dress sense battled
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Warning after shed thieves hit again
PEOPLE in Teesdale have been warned to make sure their sheds are locked following a spate of thefts. Over the past few weeks, several sheds in Barnard Castle have been broken into and mainly gardening equipment stolen. The most recent theft was from a
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Council steps in to prevent further delay of gym centre
THE creation of a regional gymnastics centre at a Sedgefield Borough Council sports complex is over budget and behind schedule before the first brick has been laid. The gym, at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, will cost thousands of pounds more and take months
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Revellers II to end year on high
THEY call themselves the Revellers II, but their friends know them as Pat Coleman, Audrey Fields and Carol Hull. Tonight, they hope to have a whole community kicking up their heels to see 2005 in with style - and raise thousands for charity at the same
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School's 'fax back' scam warning
TRADING standards bosses are warning businesses of a new fax scam originating from the India sub-continent. They were alerted to the problem when a North Yorkshire school reported that it had received a fax headed with the words "Fax Back". In the text
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A recycling resolution
Experts have called on householders across the North-East to recycle more in 2005. Durham-based Premier Waste Management, which runs kerbside collection schemes for more than 400,000 households across Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Easington,
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A weighty problem for binmen
CHRISTMAS has meant literally tons more work for a town's refuse collectors. Binmen at Middlesbrough shifted 288 tonnes of household, trade and street waste on Wednesday - 70 tonnes above the average for the four Mondays leading up the Christmas. The
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Leaflets boost 'the natural attraction'
THE tourism industry in the vast rural Ryedale area, already worth more than £100m a year, is set for a boost next year. The district council has this week sent out the first of 60,000 brochures to promote its holiday industry to potential tourists in
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£15m scheme to create 130 affordable homes unveiled
A multi-million pound affordable housing initiative is offering a lifeline for hundreds of people in North Yorkshire. The county council's executive has approved the first phase of a ground-breaking project to build more than 130 affordable homes in 20
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The year sparks flew as retailers fought for the biggest name on the high street
January Marks & Spencer staff were warned to expect a cut in their annual bonus after the retailer had a disappointing Christmas. The rest of the sector painted a mixed festive picture as WH Smith issued a profits warning, but Boots, Tesco and Dixons
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Attraction makes it a Classic year for Middleham
TWO Guineas, two Classics, came home to Middleham in 2004, thanks to a filly whose ungainly legs meant she remained unsold with her owner-breeder the Duke of Roxburghe, who sent her to be trained by the maestro of Kingsley House, Mark Johnston. She, of
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Council retains its IIP status
EASINGTON District Council has retained its Investors in People status for another three years. The council, rated as excellent by the Audit Commission, again secured the IIP award, which is given to organisations that are committed to staff development
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Ameobi hopes to take out frustrations on City
SHOLA AMEOBI admitted he was devastated after losing to Patrick Viera's deflected winner on Wednesday. But the Newcastle striker aims to bounce back from the disappointment by making Birmingham City, New Year's Day visitors to St James' Park, pay for
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News on Brief: Pitman stages bike exhibition
A DISPLAY of motorcycle memorabilia will be staged at the Seaton Holme visitor centre, in Easington Village. Former pitman John Williams is putting together the collection, which goes on display in the Discovery Centre at Seaton Holme, in Hall Walks,
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Firefighters continue to cut the number of accidental blaze deaths
THE number of accidental fire deaths in County Durham and Darlington over the past six months has dropped, latest figures reveal. The region's fire and rescue service, which provides cover for more than 500,000 people, reported four accidental deaths
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Trust quizzes council's consultation
ALMOST 4,000 people have signed a petition against plans to demolish several historic features on Darlington's High Row. Darlington Civic Trust members have been collecting names and addresses from shoppers every Saturday. Trust members said they will
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Stroll away the excesses of Christmas
PEOPLE seeking a healthy but leisurely way of blowing away some of the festive excess are being urged to join up with the Hambleton Strollers. The group plans a series of bracing walks around the district during the early part of the new year. Most walks
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City landmark handed to trust
A LANDMARK building has been handed over to conservationists in a move they say will make it safe forever. City of York Council has rubber-stamped the sale of the 19th Century de Grey Rooms and de Grey House, in the centre of the city, to York Conservation
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Woodhead family play leading role in Harrogate team's success
THE team sitting pretty on top of division one in the Hambleton Ales North Yorkshire Squash League at the season's halfway stage is very much a family affair for the Woodhead clan. The side is managed by Martin Woodhead and includes his sons, Ian and
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Burton's Bytes
CSI: MIAMI Publisher: Ubisoft Format: PC Price: £19.99 Family friendly? Plenty of grue means it's for over 16s only. CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) is the most popular television series in the world. It has already sired two video games. Now it is the
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Generous Britons in rush to donate
BRITONS moved by the scale of the Asian tsunami disaster pledged record amounts to the international relief effort last night as United Nations officials warned half-a-billion pounds was needed to head off an even bigger catastrophe. People who were moved
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Marts
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 1,257 sheep. Lt lambs to 116p av 107.6p; std to 126p av 110.4p; med to 125p av 115.4p heavy to 114p av 107.6p. Cast ewes: Cont £57.50; Mule £47; Swale 40. DARLINGTON. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 239 cattle, 679 sheep
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Thieves stole horses' coats
THIEVES left two horses shivering after stealing the coats from their backs. The two horses were in a field on the outskirts of Gainford, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, when the thieves struck overnight on Monday. The horses' owner, Sharon Logan,
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Store gun incident probed
POLICE are looking for two men following a suspected gun incident in a supermarket. The incident happened at about 7.50pm at the Jackson store in King's Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Staff noticed the two man acting suspiciously. One, wearing a brown
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Caldwell tips Collins for top honours
SUNDERLAND'S Steve Caldwell has backed fellow Scotsman Neill Collins to become a star for club and country after a promising beginning to life on Wearside. Collins has only been used as back-up for the Black Cats since moving from Scottish part-timers
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Support service facing cuts
A SUPPORT service for vulnerable people in North Yorkshire is facing funding cuts of nearly £1 million. The North Yorkshire Supporting People service provides housing-related support to vulnerable people in the county and could see a £957,000 reduction
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Rail firm to make all staff redundant
THE company behind the country's newest heritage railway line is to make its workforce redundant because of a cash crisis. Weardale Railways Ltd, which launched Weardale Heritage Railway, in County Durham, during the summer, yesterday confirmed that all
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MP and his wife delighted after US visit to adopt son
CABINET Office Minister David Miliband and his wife flew to the US to adopt a baby son in time for a family Christmas. The 39-year-old, one of Tony Blair's closest allies, witnessed the birth along with his wife, Louise. The baby, named Isaac James, was
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'Goth' gets slim chance for theatrical stardom
A THEATRE is seeking a young actress to play a Goth in a forthcoming comedy. Waiting For Gateaux, about a slimming club, has already sold more than 1,700 tickets for its premiere at the 400-seat Customs House, in South Shields, South Tyneside, in April
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Paralympic athlete Dame Tanni - it's pretty cool
PARALYMPIAN Tanni Grey-Thompson said she was proud and excited at being made a dame. The 35-year-old said yesterday: "I really am excited about it. I did not expect to get anything like this, so to get here and get something like this is, well, I think
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Meeting the challenge
THE Zetland Hunt held its traditional Boxing Day meet on the green at Aldbrough St John on Monday when a larger-than-usual number of riders and spectators gathered to show support in case this was the last such event. Nicky Vigors, of Cleasby, one of
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Wellock's World: Predictions for 2005
AS 2004 ends with a tsunami making the Toon Army's gripes look pathetic, we have to remember that life goes on and hope that sport will dish up plenty of light relief in the New Year. Here are my predictions. January: The real world darts championship
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Death on the shifting sands, and the Kelly affair that won't go away
As the last minutes of 2004 tick by, John Dean looks back on the people and events that shaped the year. January The first month of the year is dominated by high profile departures as Lord Hutton publishes his long-awaited report into the death of weapons
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When A family trait strikes terror
As part of a series on cancer, Dr Paul Brennan, consultant geneticist at Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, explains a new service for those who may be at risk of inheriting the disease. EARLIER this year, the Teesside Genetics Unit, based
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Town crier Colin given award for services to community...
DURHAM'S town crier has something to shout about after he was made an MBE for services to the community. Colin Beswick, who has carried out more than four decades of public service in the city, became Durham's official town crier last year after he held
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House cleaning is a moving experience at stately home
NOT every house can be moved and given a complete overhaul - but then there aren't many houses like the Nunnington Baby House. Probably built sometime between 1800 and 1810, it is much more than a mere doll's house, and is one of the prized pieces at
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A little comic chemistry
Not Only But Always (C4); Taggart (ITV1): Writing plays about real people is nothing new for Terry Johnson. Marilyn Monroe, Alfred Hitchcock, Albert Einstein and Sid James have all featured in his previous work. Not Only But Always found the writer-director
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Juventus want Bernard
ITALIAN giants Juventus are weighing up the possibility of doing a swap deal with Newcastle United for contract rebel Olivier Bernard. Bernard, whose current terms expire at the end of the season, has refused to sign a new deal at St James' Park and will
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High-profile title for
A CATHOLIC priest has risked controversy by naming a talent competition for the Middlesbrough diocese Pope Idol, after the TV series, Pop Idol. Father John Paul Leonard, 40, who is the diocese's new youth service chief, said he was slightly worried about
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North Labour MPs most rebellious
Labour's North-East MPs have topped 100 rebellions against Tony Blair as new research suggests backbenchers are growing more restless and ready to revolt. The region's MPs voted against their own government a total of 101 occasions between the last election
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'How I went from fattie to feeling fabulous'
With Christmas feasting behind us, what's the best way to shed unwanted pounds? Health Editor Barry Nelson explains how he benefited when his wife joined WeightWatchers. SOMEHOW I had always expected to stay skinny. Being tall and bony throughout my school
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It's a dream come true for Brian, route master at long last
IT MIGHT once have tootled into Tooting or wandered through Wandsworth, but Brian Jennings' prized double-deck bus has swapped the streets of London for the open spaces of North Yorkshire. Mr Jennings, who has always wanted to own an example of the classic
