Archive
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Cop who never cracks a smile
The Commander (ITV1); The Crouches (BBC1); ER (C4): TOP cop Clare Blake is having a bad day in Lynda La Plante's thriller The Commander. The murderer with whom she had a much-publicised affair has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The sister of one victim
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Quakers' fingers crossed for Wijnhard
DARLINGTON will learn the full extent of Clyde Wijnhard's groin injury this morning. The striker will be assessed by club physio Paul Gough after limping off in the 55th minute of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Oxford United at the Williamson Motors Stadium
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Paramedic attacked
AMBULANCE chiefs have condemned a 'cowardly attack' that left a paramedic needing hospital treatment. The 36-year-old ambulance driver suffered a dislocated shoulder in an incident involving a taxi driver in Richmond. A spokesman for the North Yorkshire
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Butcher forced out with injury
Mark Butcher yesterday became the first casualty of England's gruelling winter after pulling out of the Test tour of South Africa due to injury. Butcher, 32, attempted to prove the sprained left wrist which ruled him out of the 196-run defeat at Newlands
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Brothel owner 'made money from legitimate business'
A BROTHEL owner who could be forced to hand over hundreds of thousands of pounds to police made his money by legitimately wheeling and dealing in property, a court heard. Defence counsel for John Middleton, who ran The Pleasure Zone in High Northgate,
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Job fears as Orange carries out call centre trial in India
A QUESTION mark was hanging over the future of more than 5,000 jobs in the region last night as mobile phone operator Orange admitted it was carrying out trials with communications centres in India. Orange, which employs the lion's share of its UK workforce
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Job Search: Vacancies
Waiting staff, Asenby, Thirsk, £5ph, 40hrs pw 5 days over 7 between 10.30am and midnight, experience preferred but not essential as training given, own transport required, accommodation available. Ref: NAL 1165. Retail security officer, Northallerton,
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Transport routes returning to normal
TRANSPORT services were slowly returning to normal yesterday. Major disruptions to rail and air travel were encountered by passengers over the weekend. Train operator GNER cancelled services between Newcastle and York for four hours on Saturday after
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Cheaper option assured by NCI
A NORTH Yorkshire company is hoping to revolutionise the vehicle breakdown recovery industry in the same way that easyJet and Ryanair have transformed air travel. NCI Vehicle Rescue, based in Harrogate, is marketing its product as a low-cost alternative
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Council protects county's future
RESIDENTS are being encouraged to do their bit to protect the environment for future generations. North Yorkshire County Council has agreed a new policy to ensure that all areas of council activity focus on saving energy and preventing pollution. The
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Hospital proposals take a step forward
PROPOSALS for a new community hospital have taken a step forward with the formal submission of the details for planning approval. The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust has lodged a blueprint for the £6.5m project in Barnard Castle with Teesdale District
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Controversial meeting delayed
A PUBLIC meeting to discuss controversial plans for a new medical centre has been postponed. The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Auckland Medical Group were scheduled to hold the consultation event at the Manor House Hotel, West Auckland, tonight
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Report says training needed
COUNCILLORS could undergo assertiveness training - because they feel intimidated by council officers. A report into the training needs of Teesdale District Council is recommending the move after it found that some councillors are lacking in confidence
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Station conversion project's icy boost
THE temporary transformation of an old railway station into an ice rink was a success. Despite the storms, almost 3,000 people visited Richmond Station at the weekend to skate and see inside the building for the first time in years. The event was organised
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Popular pub expands
A TEESDALE pub run by two sisters has had a £64,000 expansion which will provide three new jobs. The Queen's Head, in Cockfield, has been by extended by almost 50 per cent of its original size to meet extra demand. The pub has had a sun room added, which
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City residents have their say in the future of their tax
A CITY's council tax is likely to rise by five per cent this year, after local people rejected any larger increase. A public ballot in York saw 54 per cent of respondents opting for the lower of three options, which were increases of five per cent, 7.5
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Hospital proposals take a step forward
PROPOSALS for a new community hospital have taken a step forward with the formal submission of the details for planning approval. The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust has lodged a blueprint for the £6.5m project in Barnard Castle with Teesdale District
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Hunt for ram raiders
LEAFLETS are to be delivered to residents of a Teesdale village appealing for information about a ram raid which took place over the weekend. Police are asking for any information about the ram raid at Middleton-in-Teesdale Co-op store in the early hours
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Flood work gets started
ENGINEERS have started work on a scheme to ease flooding caused by an old sewer system. Contractors will be in Rainton, near Thirsk, enlarging underground pipes and re-positioning gullies. Workers will be in Carr Lane enlarging the sewer underneath the
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Charges adjourned against homeless man
A HOMELESS man appeared at Harrogate Magistrates' Court yesterday to face a series of charges including robbery at a town centre shop. Stuart David Pearson, 26, formerly of Bower Street, Harrogate, but now of no fixed address, is accused of stealing women's
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Portugese stray finds a home at last
A COUPLE have been reunited with a stray dog they took pity on during a holiday in Portugal. Derek and Pauline Cooper, of Shotley Bridge, have spent about £1,000 bringing the wiry whippet, dubbed Jack Spratt, from their holiday home in Alvor. They took
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'Despicable theft' - man sent to prison
A Man who stole a cheque from his girlfriend has been jailed for nine months. Jose Fancisco Escobar Cortez, 27, was having a relationship with the estranged wife of a village store owner, in Dipton, near Stanley. When the relationship was coming to an
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Trio jailed for 'savage' attack on man in pub
AN ATTACKER who repeatedly struck a pub customer with a bar stool was jailed yesterday. Craig Allaker, 22, attacked Clifford Weaver at the Southmoor Hotel, in Stanley, on February 7 last year. Newcastle Crown Court heard how Allaker and his father Keith
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Trust appeals for new ideas
A PRIMARY care trust is giving people the chance to help to plan their healthcare services over the next three years. The Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale trust is looking for ideas for its Local Delivery Plan for 2005 to 2008. The trust has placed an
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Man jailed for assault and theft from his father, 81
A LANDSCAPE gardener who attacked his elderly father in a row over a bed for the night and then stole his chequebook was jailed yesterday. Magistrates heard how 81-year-old Maitland Strong was in his bedroom, when he was grabbed by the throat and punched
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Officers appeal for driver
AN appeal has been made for the driver of a Ford Mondeo car to come forward following an accident in Newton Aycliffe on New Year's Day. Newton Aycliffe police have issued the appeal after a man in his 20s complained that a car had run over his foot when
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Have say on £25m health facility
A FORMAL consultation period for the development of the £25m integrated health and social care facility in Redcar started this week. Leaflets are being sent out to all stakeholders and households in the Langbaurgh area. A series of focus groups and meetings
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Free activity sessions to get people fit
A RANGE of free activities have been organised in east Durham to help people get fit. The Lottery-funded Get Active programme has been designed by Easington Primary Care Trust's Health For All project to get people of all ages and abilities involved in
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College site transformed
Redcar and Cleveland College has announced it is to invest £15m in its Teesside site. The work will result in an almost entirely new building at the main site in Corporation Road, Redcar. The accommodation will include facilities for visual and performing
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Schools get cash to work on grounds
SCHOOLS in the North-East are being encouraged to apply for grants to upgrade their grounds. EDF Energy, based at Doxford International Business Park, Sunderland, is offering grants of up to £5,000. The awards scheme, now in its fourth year, will focus
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Man who stabbed friends after drink binge is jailed
A MAN who stabbed two friends after a drinking binge was jailed for four years at Teesside Crown Court yesterday. Jason Richards, 38, had little recollection of stabbing the men in the chest at the house in Moorcock Close, Bankfields, Eston, said Jamie
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Charity golf day
SOUTH Tyneside Mayoress's annual charity golf tournament at Beamish Park Golf Club has raised £2,800 for Mayoress Pat Moore's charity fund.
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Cyclist is banned from three villages
A CYCLIST has been banned from three villages after he harassed women in the street. Michael Remmer, 36, was given an anti-social behaviour order after complaints of him acting inappropriately towards women in Boldon, Whitburn and Cleadon, on South Tyneside
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Blinding sales for Hillarys group
RECORD sales helped profits rise more than a quarter at window blinds manufacturer the Hillarys Group, it announced yesterday. The group, which employs 300 people at its 70,000sq ft plant in Washington, Wearside, saw sales increase 8.8 per cent to £85.3m
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Tributes after death of contractor Frank
FARMERS paid tributes yesterday following the death of a contractor who turned out at all hours to help them. Frank Bainbridge, 47, could turn his hand to many jobs and also ran a farm at Willoughby Hall, in Baldersdale, near Barnard Castle, County Durham
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Street drinking ban launched in village
COUNCILLORS last night agreed to ban drinking in public in a County Durham village. Residents in Dipton, near Stanley, have been terrorised by groups of youths congregating on street corners, drinking alcohol and becoming unruly. Durham Police asked licensing
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Better services for patients as health centre expands
A HEALTH centre that opened five years ago will launch a £350,000 extension today. Consett Medical Centre, already among the biggest in County Durham, is to almost double in size with the addition of six consulting rooms, which will allow staff to introduce
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Campaign to stop fly-tippers
Fly-tippers are being targeted in an operation across Middlesbrough. Random roadside checks are to be carried out today on vans or lorries carrying builders' rubble, tyres or general waste. The stop and search exercise is being carried out by Middlesbrough
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Intruder attacked school caretaker
AN INTRUDER who pushed a caretaker to the ground during an incident at a school in being sought by police. The man, who is thought to be in his early 20s, was discovered inside Parkview Community School, in Chester-le-Street, at about 6pm on Monday, November
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Pressure grows for a cut in rates
THE cost of goods leaving UK factories fell at the sharpest rate since 2001 last month as the price of raw materials and oil fell. Output costs weakened by 0.4 per cent between November and last month - the first monthly fall in nine months, the Office
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Expansion planned following buyout
A SPECIALIST home furnishings business is to expand following a buyout. Mike Wardle has bought Granite Worktops Direct, the light commercial division of Janotas Stone, in Durham City. Mr Wardle, 35, who has been the company's sales manager for the past
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Artists' shop video display
ART professionals from around the region are in Middlesbrough today to view Notebook, the projection of 101 short videos on the front wall of the BHS department store in Middlesbrough town centre. Artists John Wood and Paul Harrison were commissioned
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Education project praised by professor
A PROJECT that brings together the best elements of the best schools to improve teaching is likely to be extended across the region. Durham County Council is being urged to turn its project, which identifies best practice in all subjects at top-performing
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Games maker Eidos loses its market appeal
THE company responsible for gun-toting cyber heroine Lara Croft saw its market value slump yesterday as it moved to cool speculation about the price of a potential takeover deal. Eidos - best known for its Tomb Raider series - said it opened its books
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Fox finds Durham den as a Guest of Richard
It was the National Hunt race in which everyone jumped to conclusions - and which almost cost jockey Sean Fox his livelihood. Now the man at the centre of one of the most controversial sporting incidents of 2004 has moved to the North-East and is hoping
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McClaren welcomes 'cracking' Cup draw
STEVE McClaren is looking forward to facing former club Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup - although the Middlesbrough boss insists a possible trip to Exeter would be every bit as tough. Yesterday's fourth-round draw produced mixed results
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Eating Owt: Caught on the hop by Mr Health
THE Northern Echo's health editor is a man who lives rigorously up to his job description, a Dr Feelgood among medical journalists. The estimable and award winning Barry Nelson is sensible to the point of austerity, a walking Government health warning
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No part of region spared damage
THE North was last night still counting the cost of the weekend's devastating gales. Emergency services and councils faced a race against time clearing roads and repairing battered buildings ahead of further bad weather forecast tonight. In Darlington
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Bowled over by Bowes
OUR family trip to Bowes Museum was on something of a whim. A bit of a last-minute decision with, consequently, not a lot of time to plan and make sure everything would go smoothly. Often in such circumstances, this is a recipe for disaster when there
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Council urges paddling pool re-think
A COUNCIL forced to close its paddling pools because of new regulations has written to the Government to plead for a re-think. Harrogate Borough Council, in North Yorkshire, decided to close its three remaining paddling pools after being told to install
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A race against time before gales return
EMERGENCY services were facing a race against time last night as a second storm front threatened to wreak more havoc across the region. The 100mph winds and driving rain that battered the North-East and Yorkshire over the weekend are expected to return
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Man gets jail over iron bar assault
A MAN who beat his ex-girlfriend's lover with an iron bar has been jailed for three months. Anthony Conroy, 27, burst into Sarah Johnston's house in Orpington Road, Middlesbrough, and attacked Stephen Fairlie as the pair lay in bed. Conroy, who had kicked
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Katie-Lee Clement
KATIE-LEE CLEMMET has joined Darlington-based Close Thornton Solicitors where she will specialise in family law. In her spare time, Ms Clemmet is a member of the Darlington Operatic Society. She graduated from Northumbria University in 2002 with a 2:1
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Blinding sales for Hillarys group
RECORD sales helped profits rise more than a quarter at window blinds manufacturer the Hillarys Group, it announced yesterday. The group, which employs 300 people at its 70,000sq ft plant in Washington, Wearside, saw sales increase 8.8 per cent to £85.3m
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Pub extension may be refused
PERMISSION to alter and extend an historic pub should be refused to protect its character, according to council officers. Enterprise Inns plc has applied to Hambleton District Council for permission extend the Crown and Anchor in Front Street, Sowerby
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Bowled over by Bowes
OUR family trip to Bowes Museum was on something of a whim. A bit of a last-minute decision with, consequently, not a lot of time to plan and make sure everything would go smoothly. Often in such circumstances, this is a recipe for disaster when there
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Toytown's finest gets nod from Japan
Enid Blyton's Toytown hero Noddy will hit television screens in Japan later this year. Entertainment rights group Chorion said it had agreed a deal with Japanese intellectual property company OLC/Rights Entertainment Japan to distribute its Make Way for
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On TV
The Commander (ITV1) The Crouches (BBC1) ER (C4) TOP cop Clare Blake is having a bad day in Lynda La Plante's thriller The Commander. The murderer with whom she had a much-publicised affair has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The sister of one victim
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Alan Bateman and Bryan Patterson
Caravan and motorhome designers and manufacturer The Explorer Group has appointed ALAN BATEMAN and BRYAN PATTERSON to its research and development team. Mr Bateman joins the company, in Consett, County Durham, as design and development manager, with 26
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'Classic toys provide a better return than traditional pensions'
SALES of classic toys are proving a money spinner for an auction house based in the North-East. Vectis, which operates from Thornaby on Teesside, had its best year ever last year, with more than £6m-worth of sales in the UK and US. Millions of toys were
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Stuffing knocked out of retailers
RETAILERS have had their worst Christmas for a decade. A study by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and accountants KPMG found like-for-like sales fell by 0.4 per cent last month. BRC director-general Kevin Hawkins said: "These figures represent the
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Walkers urged to take extra caution
WALKERS were yesterday urged to be alert to the danger of falling trees. Durham County Council appealed to people to think before going walking, horse riding or driving through wooded areas and to make only necessary road journeys while gale force winds
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Bellamy pitches in to St James' row
CRAIG Bellamy has admitted that the FA Cup represents Newcastle's best chance of success this season, but the fiery Welshman has warned the United hierarchy that the club's Cup hopes could be scuppered by the St James' Park pitch. Newcastle's reward for
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Town Crier enjoys rub of the green
Town Crier enjoyed a welcome change of fortune to take the feature event at Newcastle yesterday. Sue Smith's ten-year-old had a race at his mercy at Haydock Park last time only to come to grief at the second-last - but he had luck on his side this time
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Poet's new work to raise funds
A POET and illustrator who has raised more than £15,000 for charities has published his fourth book. John Nursey, a consulting structural engineer, of Flaxton, North Yorkshire, hopes his latest illustrated collection of poems called A Song of September
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11/01/05
ELECTRICITY: I WOULD like to write and thank NEDL staff for all their marvellous work, under the worst conditions, that they did over the weekend to give us back our electricity. I even received an apologetic phone call from them, when they enquired if
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Blair challenges MPs over talk of conflict with Brown
PRIME Minister Tony Blair last night tried to bring an end to talk about a feud between himself and Chancellor Gordon Brown. Speaking at a meeting of the backbench Parliamentary Labour Party, Mr Blair issued a call for party unity in the wake of the renewed
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N-E in Action
NORTH YORKSHIRE: Red Cross volunteers collecting for the tsunami disaster appeal collected more than £20,000 in North Yorkshire at the weekend. They were out in force at Tesco stores in Thirsk, Northallerton and Catterick, among others. Thirsk was the
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John's model railway engine wins prize
A MAN who has been building model trains for more than 50 years has won an award at a national exhibition. John Heslop, 71, from the Hambleton area, won a gold medal and the JN Maskelyne Memorial Trophy at the Model Engineering Exhibition at Sandown Park
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Patience the key for Cats' new star Welsh
SUNDERLAND'S newest star Andy Welsh has revealed how a combination of patience and hard work have been key to the instant impact he's made since his Black Cats debut just a week ago. The 21-year-old winger admitted to feeling frustrated in the weeks leading
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Row brewing on pension payments
THE Government is coming under increasing pressure to provide clearer information on the way pensions can be paid out. North Yorkshire County Council wants the Government to tell people they can receive a weekly cheque as a result of the latest rethink
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Job Search: Vacancies
Internal sales consultant, £7ph, 20hrs pw, must have minimum three A-levels, experience in Word and Excel preferred. Ref: NEU 19130. Office manager, £15,000pa dep on exp, 38hrs pw, experience in office management, knowledge of accounts and payroll essential
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The best of British books
WHITBREAD has announced the 2004 Whitbread Book Award winners in the categories of Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book. The awards, which were established by the UK's leading hospitality business in 1971, aim to celebrate the most
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Teacher attempted to groom boy of 14 for sex, court told
A TEACHER showed an unhealthy interest in a difficult pupil in an attempt to groom him for sex, a court heard. Philip Nigel Evans, who said he was trying to help the 14-year-old, took the boy on outings, bought him gifts and made or attempted to make
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Teenager admits stealing tsunami cash
A TEENAGER has been remanded in custody after admitting stealing tsunami relief collection boxes. Stephen Sparrow pleaded guilty to raiding five shops in Teesside on Sunday. He entered the shops and distracted workers before grabbing the collection money
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Row over plans to control pigeon population
A ROW has erupted over attempts to control Darlington's pigeon population with animal welfare groups saying hundreds of birds could be killed in a mass cull. Darlington Borough Council has denied claims by the Pigeon Control Advisory Service (Picas) that
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Kebab shop owners check-out Continent
THE owners of a Darlington kebab shop are looking to expand their business abroad after listening to comments from customers. Kath Smith and her stepson, Anthony Coluqhun, have set their sights on opening a second branch of their takeaway shop, Antoni's
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Shock at possible school closure
PARENTS told of their shock last night at the "bombshell" news that Rise Carr Primary School in Darlington was likely to close this summer. The school, a listed building which opened more than a century ago, will shut in July if council proposals are
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Consultation over centre is postponed
A PUBLIC meeting to discuss controversial plans for a new medical centre has been postponed. The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Auckland Medical Group were scheduled to hold the consultation event at the Manor House Hotel, West Auckland, tonight
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Transport company counts cost of gale-force wind
THE gale-force winds left the North-East's pigeon racers thankful it happened out of season. Up-North Combine of Racing Pigeons suffered thousands of pounds worth of damage after 90mph winds blew off part of the roof and demolished a 40ft by 70ft wall
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Head start for display
AN EXHIBITION of famous faces taking their hats off for charity has proved a hit. Judi Dench, Hugh Grant, Ewan McGregor, Victoria Beckam and the band Coldplay are among the celebrities featured at Hartlepool Art Gallery. Each of them is pictured taking
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Forces link up in training scheme
TWO police forces are teaming up to provide a new training regime for probationer officers. Durham has joined forces with neighbouring Northumbria to introduce the training format, the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP), starting
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Fitness classes
A LEISURE centre will launch a programme of fitness classes next week. Ferryhill Leisure Centre will revamp its classes from Monday. The classes will include cardio boxkick, an hour-long class combining martial arts and boxing, and ladies mornings every
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Man in court on murder charge
A MAN is to appear in court today charged with the murder of a wedding guest over the weekend. Geoffrey Hearn, 29, of Northmoor Road, Walkergate, Newcastle, is due before Berwick Magistrates. He is charged with the murder of 34-year-old Jason Howard,
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Mayoress soldiers on
A MAYORESS has won praise for her bravery and devotion to duty after attending a civic event in a wheelchair days after leaving hospital. Mayoress of Ripon April Martin spent 18 days in the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, after she fell down the stairs
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Councillors need training to build confidence - report
COUNCILLORS could undergo assertiveness training - because they feel intimidated by council officers. A report into the training needs of Teesdale District Council is recommending the move after it found that some councillors are lacking in confidence
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No let-up in war against crime
THERE is to be no let-up in a war on crime on Teesside, despite a continuing downward trend in offending. Figures out today reveal that December was the seventh successive month to register a reduction in crime. Last year ended with 3,582 fewer victims
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Headteacher leads development plans
THE new headteacher of a North Yorkshire school is making plans to improve standards. Tadeusz Zaranko comes to Risedale Community College, in Hipswell, Catterick Garrison, from Ripon College, where he was deputy headteacher for nearly six years. Before
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New farmer in charge
A COLLEGE has appointed Duncan Branch as its farm manager. Askham Bryan College near York runs a 174-hectare mixed arable and livestock holding, Westfield Farm. Originally from Huddersfield, Mr Branch studied at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester
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Cat rescue centre closes on Pat's retirement
A WOMAN who has saved the lives of thousands of cats is retiring after 40 years. Pat Shardlow from Grewelthorpe, near Ripon, has cared for more than 2,000 homeless cats since taking in her first stray and its kitten. She started looking after stray and
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Cyclist is banned from three villages
A CYCLIST has been banned from three villages after he harassed women in the street. Michael Remmer, 36, was given an anti-social behaviour order after complaints of him acting inappropriately towards women in Boldon, Whitburn and Cleadon, on South Tyneside
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Tales to help celebrate the riverbank
FAMILIES are invited to a story-telling session to help celebrate the year of the River Tees. The event will take place on Saturday at Yarm Library, from 10.30am, and Roseworth Library, in Stockton, from 2pm, with Chris Bostock. There will be a free activity
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Education project praised by professor
A PROJECT that brings together the best elements of the best schools to improve teaching is likely to be extended across the region. Durham County Council is being urged to turn its project, which identifies best practice in all subjects at top-performing
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College plans £36m campus near quayside
A NORTH-EAST college has announced a £36m plan to build a campus. Gateshead College plans to leave its site in Durham Road, Low Fell, and move to a four-storey building in the Baltic Business Park, near the quayside. The college hopes the campus will
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Tributes to a devoted policeman and soldier
A FORMER policeman who had the distinction of serving as a sergeant in two forces has died at the age of 84. Bill Kyle, from Crook, devoted much of his working life to police and military service. Born the second of seven sons in Omagh, Northern Ireland
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Show must go on - despite choreographer breaking a leg
THE CURTAIN will go up for a performance of stage favourite Aladdin this week. Members of the Saltburn 53 Drama Group will be entertaining crowds at the Community Theatre from Thursday, January 13. Dancer Maureen Payne, who broke her leg recently, announced
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Operations director takes the helm at leisure firm
BANNATYNE Fitness has appointed NIGEL ARMSTRONG as managing director. The Darlington-based company is on course to meet its target of 40 health clubs nationwide by the end of this year, with three centres being built and further sites to add to its 34
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How to reduce the stress of claiming on your insurance
Hundreds of thousands of pounds are expected to be spent by insurance companies on customers whose homes and cars have been damaged. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) is advising property owners to arrange for repairs as soon as possible to stop
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Comment from The Northern Echo: When trust really matters
ADOPTING the maxim that there is no smoke without fire, it is abundantly clear that the friendship between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor is somewhat strained. Fuelled by media analysis and biographical revelations, their relationship is the political
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Police appeal for help to trace suspected shoplifter
POLICE want help to trace a suspected shoplifter. Officers have released pictures of a woman suspected of stealing swimwear from Boots, in the Market Place, in Durham City. Shortly before 1pm on Saturday, August 21, the woman, who is in her mid to late
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Children invited to visit Downing Street for meeting with Chancellor
YOUNGSTERS are heading to Downing Street to lobby the Chancellor of the Exchequer about funding for education in rural Indian villages. A class from Teesside Prep School, in Eaglescliffe, will visit London next month after a project last year. The girls
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Where did the fairytale go wrong?
Despite their consistent declarations of love and admiration for each other, Hollywood superstars Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have announced their separation after four years of marriage. So why are so many celebrity relationships doomed to fail? Women's
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Legacy of teacher and academic
A FORMER teacher whose 70-year-old university thesis became a valuable addition to the archives of a North-East museum has died at the age of 91. When she handed her 84-page study to lecturers at Newcastle in 1935, Connie Ayre, then Connie Atherton, never
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Making suckers out of all of us
IF it were not so painful, you would have to laugh. I mean, last week the BBC introduced the winner of Teacher of the Year. I listened and found myself becoming ever more excited as the minutes went by. What had this teacher done to earn so prestigious
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Access All Areas: Bowled over by Bowes
OUR family trip to Bowes Museum was on something of a whim. A bit of a last-minute decision with, consequently, not a lot of time to plan and make sure everything would go smoothly. Often in such circumstances, this is a recipe for disaster when there
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Jonathan Lemalu and Malcolm Martineau, King's Hall, Newcastle University
NEWCASTLE International Chamber Music Orchestra dished up yet another rare treat; this time in the form of the New Zealand-born Samoan Jonathan Lemalu, whose rising star has become firmly fixed in the constellation of the greats. Appearing at Newcastle
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Quakers' fingers crossed for Wijnhard
DARLINGTON will learn the full extent of Clyde Wijnhard's groin injury this morning. The striker will be assessed by club physio Paul Gough after limping off in the 55th minute of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Oxford United at the Williamson Motors Stadium
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Region's tsunami response tops £7m
PEOPLE across the region have so far donated £7.3m to the official tsunami appeal. The Disasters Emergency Committee has released projected estimates for money donated to the tsunami earthquake appeal by each television regions. Across the country, the
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Giant tree house opens to public
One of the world's largest tree houses opened to the public for the first time today. The huge construction, which is turreted and stands up to 60ft off the ground, has been built in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland - used for the filming
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Show must go on - despite choreographer breaking a leg
THE CURTAIN will go up for a performance of stage favourite Aladdin this week. Members of the Saltburn 53 Drama Group will be entertaining crowds at the Community Theatre from Thursday, January 13. Dancer Maureen Payne, who broke her leg recently, announced
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Poor sales take a bite out of Northern Foods
SUPERMARKET supplier Northern Foods warned annual profits would be £6m lower than last year following poor sales to its main client, Marks & Spencer. The group, which employs 300 people at its Dalepak frozen foods plant at Leeming Bar, near Northallerton
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Park and ride sites to ring city
WORK has started on a £10m park-and-ride scheme designed to help improve the flow of traffic in one of the region's most congested city centres. The narrow streets of the medieval centre of Durham City have struggled to cope with the increasing demands
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Glaxo in Levitra deal
DRUGS manufacturer Glaxo SmithKline is giving up some of the rights to an anti-impotence drug in a £145.2m deal. The group has transferred some rights to promote Levitra - a rival to Pfizer's high profile Viagra - to German drugs manufacturer Bayer. Glaxo
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Patient trial to test maggots
Patients are to take part in a new trial which aims to test how effective maggots are in treating conditions such as leg ulcers, health chiefs said today. Maggots were previously used as a treatment for a number of centuries, but were phased out with
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Time for us to take the lead
With international development on the political agenda as never before, Glen Reynolds argues that this year Britain has an unparalleled opportunity to translate words of support for the Third World into action. WE may see the best of British in 2005 -
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Growing Pains: Getting your child to sleep like a baby
Parenting columnist Anne Sutton runs the nannying agency, Internannies, and has 30 years experience in childcare. This month she tackles a query from Kathryn Maynard of Stokesley who wrote in for some advice on encouraging her two-month-old baby to sleep
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Carl Leonard
Skillfast-UK, the sector skills council for clothing, footwear, textiles and related businesses, has appointed CARL LEONARD as national account manager for the North-East. He will lead a team of business development and client managers encouraging employers
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Football: the muddle and missed chances
SVEN: THE FINAL RECKONING by Joe Lovejoy (Collins Willow, £7.99): THE updated version of Sven Goran Eriksson's biography includes new chapters on Euro 2004 and the crisis at the FA but, like the Swede himself, it promises more than it delivers. The section
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Schools facing closure threat
EDUCATION chiefs in Darlington yesterday revealed plans to close two schools and reduce the size of a third because of falling pupil numbers. Rise Carr Primary School, in Eldon Street, will shut in summer if the proposals are approved unanimously by the
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David Bradbury
IT solutions manager DAVID BRADBURY has joined the Technology Services Group (TSG) in Newcastle to help develop new business in the small and medium-sized enterprise and education sectors in the North-East. He has extensive experience in business development
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A race against time before gales return
EMERGENCY services were facing a race against time last night as a second storm front threat to wreak further havoc across the region. The 100mph winds and driving rain that battered the North-East and Yorkshire over the weekend are expected to return
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Wards re-open after outbreak
FOUR hospital wards are to re-open after being hit by sickness and diarrhoea. Bosses at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, were forced to close five medical wards and impose restrictions on a surgical ward last Friday after the outbreak
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Job Search: Vacancies
Cook, 32hpw Mon-Fri, alternate weekends 7.30am-4pm, £6ph. Must have relevant qualifications, possess a health and hygiene certificate and have experience, preferably gained in a residential home. Ref: CON 18269. Kitchen Assistant, 10hpw, Sat and Sun 4
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Davies heads for Rangers
ANDREW DAVIES is expected to complete a loan move to Queens Park Rangers this week. The 20-year-old defender was poised for a move to Loftus Road before Christmas, but an injury crisis forced Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren to cancel the deal. But with
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Pressure on roads continues to grow
A DECADE of schemes designed to encourage green transport appears to have had no discernible impact on levels of ever-increasing commuting by car in the North-East, according to a report. A study by the University of Durham has concluded that the distance
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Clearing up after the storms
People were picking up the pieces yesterday after storm force winds battered North Yorkshire at the weekend. About 1,000 homes in the county remained without power on Monday morning as householders and businesses checked the damage caused by 100mph gusts
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Paul Franklin
Property solutions specialist Rok has appointed an area leader for its Teesside office. PAUL FRANKLIN has worked for the group for 11 years at sites in Milton Keynes and Warrington. The 37-year-old, who is from Hull but now lives in Great Ayton, will
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Devil is expected to make all the running
DEVIL'S RUN (2.40) has the class to defy top-weight in the feature event at Sedgefield today, the John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Chase. Trained just a few miles from the track at the village of Mordon by owner John Wade, Devil's Run showed a liking
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Man gets jail over iron bar assault
A MAN who beat his ex-girlfriend's lover with an iron bar has been jailed for three months. Anthony Conroy, 27, burst into Sarah Johnston's house in Orpington Road, Middlesbrough, and attacked Stephen Fairlie as the pair lay in bed. Conroy, who had kicked
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Householders in lurch after insurer's liquidation
THOUSANDS of people may not be insured for damage after a company went into liquidation. Homeowners who took insurance with Tribune Risk and Insurance Service Limited have been warned they could have no cover. The Scottish company went into liquidation
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Workers battle weather to restore power
A TEAM of 550 workers has battled atrocious weather to restore power to more than 143,000 properties in the region. Last night, there were still 7,000 homes and businesses in the North-East and Yorkshire heading for a fourth day without electricity. More
