Archive
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Why we need time to sit and stare
LAZINESS is the key to a longer life. In that case, thank goodness for power cuts. Forget your new year resolutions - if you haven't already - to work harder and exercise more. According to a new book, all this unnecessary exercising and hard work just
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'Tough' messages ring hollow
HE was pictured outside the court building smoking a cigarette. Offence No 1 - he is only 13. He tossed the butt onto the ground. Offence No 2 - littering. But these crimes pale beside those which brought Jon Smee before a magistrates' court - aggravated
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12/01/2005
POWER SUPPLIES: I CANNOT grumble too much about being without electricity all weekend, given the massive task facing the region's two electricity distributors. I remain patient and keep a sense of perspective; as, looking at the problems in Carlisle and
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Shopping and road link scheme get kick-start
A multi-million pound scheme to create a supermarket, shops, parking and a link road in a North Yorkshire city may have to be given a kick-start. Plans to revamp the run down west end of the Market Place area in Ripon has been on the cards for more than
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Counting the cost as more misery blows in
AS the region braced itself for another stormy night, homeowners and local authorities were still counting the cost of the weekend's high winds. Engineers in Northumberland were still working round the clock to restore water supplies to homes in Hexham
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Works by acclaimed artist go on show
WORKS by the acclaimed 18th Century artist Francois Boucher will go on display in the region next week. The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, is hosting the exhibition from January 22 until March 27. It will feature a number of paintings
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Police to exhume third body
POLICE were expected to exhume the body of a middle-aged man early this morning as part of an investigation into a North-East GP. The body is the youngest of three men whose deaths are being treated as suspicious by detectives investigating Dr Howard
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Security stepped up in village
RESIDENTS in Billy Row, near Crook, have had their valuable possessions marked with new security DNA. Smartwater is already being used in Bishop Auckland, Coundon, Leeholme and St Helen Auckland by police. The product is a liquid that acts like a chemical
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Restaurant aims for £8,000 aid
THE Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Newcastle will help raise money for countries affected by the tsunami. They will be guests at an event at Waterside Palace Restaurant, on the Quayside, tonight, where it is hoped £8,000 can be collected with a raffle
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Town council supports store delivery plans
A TOWN council is supporting extended delivery times to a local supermarket. Safeways in Barnard Castle wants to make 24-hour deliveries for five days while the store is fully converted to Morrisons. It is only allowed deliveries between 5.30pm and 10am
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First dance for centre
LOVE will be in the air at a leisure centre when it hosts its first St Valentine's Day dance. A Valentine's Ball will be held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, on Saturday, February 12. It will be the first event hosted by Sedgefield Borough Council's leisure
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Costumes bring a taste of Japan
A TOUCH of the Far East has come to Northallerton, with the town's civic centre transformed by an exhibition of Japanese culture. Artwork and kimonos depicting both ancient and modern elements of Japan's culture are on display at the centre. Richmond-based
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Fears over closure of surgery
PLANS to close a branch of a medical surgery have caused concern among residents. People living at High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, say the closure of the branch of Drs Julia and Richard Pickworth's surgery, could make it difficult for elderly people
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Tight budget means rise in council tax
NORTH Yorkshire County Council has provisionally agreed a 4.9 per cent increase in its share of the council tax. The authority's executive yesterday agreed to increase its precept by 4.9 per cent over the next 12 months. It equates to an extra £40.04
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Pub bans smoking
A PUB landlord is to call time on smoking at his bar. David Williamson is to introduce a partial smoking ban at the Yorkshire Lass pub, in New Marske. He is concerned for the health of his bar staff as well as his own health but opinion among his regulars
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Missing man is safe
A FATHER-of-two who had been missing from his North-East home since the middle of November has been found safe and well. Gary Cole, 30, of Stockton, Teesside, who has family in the County Durham area, had spent the few months prior to his disappearance
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Buist blow
Newcastle Falcons have been dealt another injury blow with the news that Andy Buist has been ruled out for the rest of the season. The second row ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligaments in the 33-12 Heineken cup defeat against Perpignan at the weekend
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Religious leader to become city's patron saint
A religious leader from the 7th Century will formally be acknowledged as a city's patron saint today. St Benedict Biscop, also known as St Benet, is widely seen as a founding father of Sunderland. He established the twin monastic sites of St Peter's at
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Hospice calls for helpers
VOLUNTEERS are needed to help out with one of Durham's most popular causes. St Cuthbert's Hospice, which provides palliative care for those diagnosed with terminal illness, has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to help out in its charity shops in
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Suspensions at crisps factory
FOUR managers at a North-East crisps factory have been suspended from their posts. Walkers Snack Foods has taken the action at its plant in Peterlee, east Durham, while it carries out an investigation into the managers' conduct. The company declined to
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Dip nets £500 for children's hospice
A DARING pensioner who braved the icy North Sea to in a fundraising dip has handed over a cheque to a children's hospice. Helen Lavery, a regular dancer at Redcar's Coatham Bowl, took part in the Boxing Day dip in aid of Zo's Place, in Normanby, Middlesbrough
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Artist combines her skills in a new business venture
AN artist who draws inspiration from the spiritual world has set up in business. Lana Grabinskis does not create the most conventional pencil drawings when clients come to her for a portrait. Instead the mother-of three, from the Bishop Auckland area,
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Ding gears up for Challenge
Chinese teenager Ding Jun Hui warmed up for a weekend visit to the North-East by producing another dazzling display in Prestatyn last night to move to within two rounds of qualifying for the final stages of the Irish Masters. Ding, 17, knocked in three
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Farewell service for archbishop
AN era will come to an end on Saturday when the country's second most senior clergyman moves on to pastures new. The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, will bid farewell to the post at a service in York Minster. The 11am service will mark the end of his
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Storm-hit households warned of rogue traders
Storm-hit householders are being warned against the likelihood of rogue traders trying to profit from their misery. Trading standards officers say residents should be wary of workmen who turn up on their doorsteps offering to repair storm damage at often
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Women's organisation moves to North-East
THE National Council of Women, the oldest women's organisation in the country, has moved its head office to the North-East. The charitable organisation, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year, has relocated to Darlington following the election
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Patients' move sparks new row
NURSING staff have sparked a new row over controversial plans to transfer mentally-ill patients to a new North-East facility. Workers said at a public meeting that they had been warned of disciplinary action if they spoke out about the plan to transfer
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Education minister quizzed by students
STUDENTS quizzed the man in charge of their educational needs yesterday. Kim Howells, Minister for Higher Education and Skills, is touring the North-East, visiting colleges to find out what students think the Government is offering them. He called at
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Region braced for more bad weather
THE region was this morning expected to wake up to more storm damage as ferocious gales swept in for the second time in four days. Scotland and Northern Ireland were hit hard yesterday. A lorry driver in Northern Ireland was killed when his vehicle was
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Study under way into monorail proposal
VISITORS could one day be taking the monorail to some of the North-East's newest arts facilities. A study is being carried out into creating a cable car-style public transport system on the banks of the River Tyne. The project would link Gateshead town
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Clarke joins Hatters
DARRELL Clarke last night linked up with Chris Turner for the second time, as the Hartlepool United midfielder moved to Stockport County on loan. Clarke has yet to make an appearance this season following a knee operation and will spend a month at Edgeley
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Devil makes the running for Wade
IN-FORM owner-trainer John Wade sent out his fourth winner during the last 12 days when Devil's Run defied top-weight to record a runaway success at a bleak and windswept Sedgefield yesterday. "This is marvellous," exclaimed Wade, who combines a successful
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Snub for Deepcut inquiry hopes
THE Government has rejected further calls that an investigation into the death of a North-East soldier and three others be held in public. The call came from Labour's Lord Ashley of Stoke, who wanted the hearing into the deaths of the four young soldiers
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Timely change to 'barmy' law
THE bizarre law which allows persistent juvenile offenders to have their identity protected when they breach anti-social behaviour orders is ripe for change. And we welcome the fact that the Government is planning to put an end to the legal nonsense which
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Public warned of bogus tsunami appeals
GENEROUS North-Easterners are being warned that bogus collectors are trying to cash in on the suffering of those caught up in the tsunami disaster. The Charity Commission is working with South Tyneside Council to warn people against being duped by misleading
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Pole Star set to shine
PROVIDED Pole Star (1.50) puts in a clear round he'll be hard to peg back at Newbury this afternoon. The seven-year-old useful former flat racer has quickly adapted to jumps, breaking his hurdles' duck by breezing to a cosy five-length success over Rash
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Bright idea to cut road deaths
SAFETY campaigners are trying to reduce the number of elderly women killed on the roads - by handing out luminous shopping bags. In the past 12 months, more than 100 pensioners in the North-East were the victim of road accidents because they simply weren't
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Market report
Confidence in high street retailers sagged further yesterday as a number of disappointing updates affected London shares. Supermarket group Morrisons was the heaviest blue-chip faller on a day when the British Retail Consortium said retailers had suffered
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Charity's plea to take part in garden birdwatch weekend
THE biggest survey of the region's bird population is to take place later this month. The RSPB is asking for the public to help in the Big Garden Birdwatch, scheduled to take place over the weekend of January 29 and 30. The organisation hopes to recruit
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Dawson's England exile is ended
Matt Dawson's international exile has been ended after England head coach Andy Robinson named the Wasps scrum-half in his elite player squad. Dawson was removed from the England set-up in September after Robinson took exception to his decision to miss
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28 welcomed as citizens
TWENTY-EIGHT people will become British citizens during a ceremony in the region today. The new citizens will be welcomed to Newcastle and will receive their citizenship from Newcastle Lord Mayor Councillor George Douglas and Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne
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Tragedy and havoc as storms return
THE region was this morning expected to wake up to more storm damage as ferocious gales swept in for the second time in four days. Scotland and Northern Ireland were hit by 90-mile-an-hour winds yesterday evening and the North-East was in line for another
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Morrisons hit by rivals
NORTHERN supermarket chain Morrisons yesterday said store openings by its biggest rivals had hit Christmas sales. The group, based in Bradford, saw like-for-like sales increase by 0.1 per cent. But sales at the converted Safeway stores it bought last
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O'Brien not swayed by Villa's advances
ANDY O'Brien has insisted that he remains committed to Newcastle United, despite Aston Villa boss David O'Leary making a £2m bid for his services. O'Leary is understood to have made an official offer for the centre-half last weekend but, while United
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Firms move in to incubator units
THREE companies created by University of Durham academics have moved into a business incubator unit that is poised to become the heart of a new technology community in the region. The companies are the first research-led businesses to move into the NetPark
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McClaren gets a warning from The FA
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren was warned as to his future conduct after admitting a charge of improper conduct following a confrontation with referee Phil Dowd at White Hart Lane. McClaren requested a personal hearing to defend his actions in complaining
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How Spike passed on the lurgy
THE Good Doctor's was even busier than usual last Thursday, neither because they'd come out in sympathy with the column's endlessly ulcerated ankle - though grandmas' cures for that pestilential affliction are much welcomed - nor because they like his
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It's the height of good fun
ONE of the largest tree houses in the world will open to the public today following a £3.3m investment in North-East tourism. The huge construction, which is turreted and stands up to 60ft off the ground, has been built in the grounds of Alnwick Castle
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Public warned of bogus tsunami appeals
GENEROUS North-Easterners are being warned that bogus collectors are trying to cash in on the suffering of those caught up in the tsunami disaster. The Charity Commission is working with South Tyneside Council to warn people against being duped by misleading
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Transfer thoughts for boss Hodgson
DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson is planning to speed up his search for a striker, with the fitness of Clyde Wijnhard hanging in the balance. Hodgson has already outlined his desire to strengthen his attacking options. And with Wijnhard struggling with
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Born-again bikers to blame for rise in deaths
BORN-AGAIN bikers have hit the North-East's attempts to cut the number of people killed or seriously injured on the region's roads, figures reveal. Transport chiefs are celebrating a 25 per cent fall in deaths and serious injuries over the ten years since
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Van-hire strategy 'is on track'
COMMERCIAL van hire group Northgate yesterday announced it is on track to meet its three-year expansion plan. Interim results for the six months ending October 31, showed turnover increased 19.3 per cent to 222.6m. Pre-tax profits rose by 23.2 per cent
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Winds of change
REFUSE collection arrangements have been amended by a council following disruption because of the weekend's high winds. Last Saturday, Houghton-le-Spring households were among those due to have their first collection of 2005. But the overnight storms
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Selling their dreams to the dragons
Dragons' Den (BBC2): Murder: The Mystery Of Ashkelon (five) ANDREW the table wobble stopper was told it was "a stupid invention" and Simon refused to reveal the secret of the engines on his personal air vehicle, so his Sinclair C5 of the skies remained
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Helping hand for district's consumers
WEAR Valley residents can get help with a range of consumer problems at a number of advice days. Events organised by Durham Online Initiative and Durham County Council's Trading Standards team are part of a consumer rights campaign in the district. Experts
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Court hearing told of brothel boss's 50% cut
A SEX parlour boss took a 50 per cent cut from the thousands of pounds in earnings made by his team of prostitutes, a court was told. John Middleton, a former owner of The Pleasure Zone sex shop, in High Northgate, Darlington, had the women keep a daily
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Arsonists blamed for college blaze
ARSONISTS are being blamed for a blaze that gutted part of a vacant college site. A total of 26 firefighters tackled the blaze at Freebrough Community College, in Brotton, east Cleveland, which was earmarked for demolition next week. Officers from Saltburn
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Vandals strike again in town
A NEW spate of vandalism has hit Masham, near Ripon, with youths from outside the town being blamed. The incidents came after a group of local youngsters publicly apologised for their behaviour, which sparked a packed public meeting in the town. In the
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Wedding reception murder charge
A 29-year-old man yesterday appeared in court charged with murder following an incident at a wedding reception in a rural village farmhouse. Geoffrey Hearn, of Northmoor Road, Walkergate, Newcastle, appeared at Berwick Magistrates' Court charged with
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Man fined for drugs possession
A MAN stopped in possession of drugs told police officers that he found them by a skip, South Durham Magistrates' Court heard. Michael Anthony Evers, 30, of Chaucer Road, Darlington, was riding his bike along Bondgate at 4.15am when he was stopped and
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Charity for blind moves to new base
A CHARITY for the blind and partially-sighted hopes to extend its services after moving to new premises in Durham City. The County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially-Sighted has relocated from an upstairs office in North Road to an ex-community
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Council in running for national title
A NORTH-EAST council has been shortlisted for a national award. Stockton Borough Council is in the running to become council of the year in the annual competition run by the magazine Local Government Chronicle. The council has also been shortlisted for
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Police warn farmers to be vigilant
FARMERS in the Darlington area have been warned to be vigilant after a spate of burglaries. Police said it was suspected that the same people were behind two raids on farms on Monday night, in which a £500 saddle was stolen from a farm in Coatham Mundeville
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Battle to save two schools
EDUCATION chiefs are facing mounting opposition to plans to close two Darlington schools. The borough council revealed this week that Rise Carr Primary School, in Eldon Street, would close in the summer if an independent committee supported the plan.
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Ice hockey star 'hit taxi driver on head'
AN ice hockey player allegedly attacked and robbed a female taxi driver as he was unhappy at the charge for a journey. Shaun Johnson, a former Durham Wasps player, now with Newcastle Vipers, is accused of punching the driver twice before leaning over
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Teenager hurt in rugby tackle attack
A teenager was hurt when she was rugby tackled by a man as she walked across a car park. Jade Snaith, 14, had been to Splash swimming pool, in Stockton, with her parents and younger brother when the attack took place. The family, of Gleneagles Road, Middlesbrough
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Firms get advice on fighting criminals
CRIMES against businesses top the agenda for community safety experts this month. The Safer Ryedale partnership and the economic development team from Ryedale District Council are hosting an event called Crime is our Business. It will educate firms on
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Crackdown on drink-drivers after -unacceptable' figures
A police chief has pledged a crackdown on drink-drivers. Inspector Eric Robinson, head of Cleveland Police's road policing unit, has warned there is a hardcore of drivers who continue to flout the law by driving over the limit. He said: "I want these
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Villagers protest at plan for more wind farm turbines
RESIDENTS of a County Durham village in the centre of several wind farm developments say they have had enough of the turbines. Almost 83 per cent of people who responded to a survey in Cornsay Colliery, near Consett, said they did not want to see more
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Dales paper set for launch
THE spring edition of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's newspaper for residents will soon be dropping through letterboxes. One copy will even be posted to South Korea, addressed to the National Parks Authority of Korea, after representatives
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Girl tells court of sex assault
A TEENAGE girl froze in fear after being indecently assaulted by an alleged sex attacker, a court heard. The girl told Teesside Crown Court how George Sharp would get drunk on strong cider and watch pornographic videos in her presence. Mr Sharp, 42, of
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N-E scientists find universe missing link
NORTH-EAST scientists may have found the inter-galactic "missing link" that could explain the origin of the universe. A team from Durham University has spent ten years mapping the an incredible 220,000 galaxies using Australia's largest optical telescope
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Library closes for disabled access works
LOFTUS library has closed while improvements are carried out. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is spending £90,000 improving access for the disabled. The work will include the installation of automatic doors and accessible toilets. Users can access
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'I was on the game at 13'
IN the end, it was some harsh words from one of the few people who were meant to be helping her that spurred Claire on to taking a long, hard look at her life. She didn't want to be a prostitute any more. She was 14. Since then, she has never gone back
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Report highlights quality of social care
SOCIAL care for older people is improving in Middlesbrough, according to a report. The Commission for Social Care Inspection report stated that the town's services served most people well and had a promising capacity to improve. This year, social services
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High winds cause record calls to 999
POLICE in North Yorkshire handled more than 600 emergency calls on Saturday - more than twice the usual number. Staff also dealt with more than 2,000 non-emergency inquiries as residents reported fallen trees and blocked roads caused by the storm force
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Stewart praises team-mates after FA Cup success
MARCUS STEWART hailed his side's character after bouncing back in style last weekend following a miserable festive period. Stewart was the Black Cats' match winning hero in Saturday's thrilling FA Cup victory against Crystal Palace at the Stadium on Light
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Gadfly
THE Good Doctor's was even busier than usual last Thursday, neither because they'd come out in sympathy with the column's endlessly ulcerated ankle - though grandmas' cures for that pestilential affliction are much welcomed - nor because they like his
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On TV
Selling their dreams to the dragons Dragons' Den (BBC2) Murder: The Mystery Of Ashkelon (five) ANDREW the table wobble stopper was told it was "a stupid invention" and Simon refused to reveal the secret of the engines on his personal air vehicle, so his
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Ding gears up for Challenge
Chinese teenager Ding Jun Hui warmed up for a weekend visit to the North-East by producing another dazzling display in Prestatyn last night to move to within two rounds of qualifying for the final stages of the Irish Masters. Ding, 17, knocked in three
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Business briefs
Greyfriars sees strong growth: Vegetable grower Greyfriars UK has recorded a year of strong financial growth despite difficulties in its core business of mushroom growing. Last year saw sales of just under £11m for the company, which supplies vegetables
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Komatsu recruitment soars
RECRUITMENT at excavator manufacturer Komatsu UK has reached its highest level since the plant opened 20 years ago. The factory, in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, now employs 701 people. Another 20 are expected to be taken on to help meet production
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Van-hire strategy 'is on track'
COMMERCIAL van hire group Northgate yesterday announced it is on track to meet its three-year expansion plan. Interim results for the six months ending October 31, showed turnover increased 19.3 per cent to 222.6m. Pre-tax profits rose by 23.2 per cent
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Geremi to Boro? No chance says Clarke
CHELSEA assistant manager Steve Clarke last night vowed to keep Geremi at Stamford Bridge, despite the midfielder revealing his hopes of a move to Middlesbrough. The Cameroon international, who is understood to have spent last Friday on Teesside, has
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Clothing company is planning to expand
A corporate clothing company plans to double its workforce in the next two years. Workwear Express, of Coxhoe, County Durham, which counts Sage and Durham County Council among its customers, recently moved to 10,500sq ft premises. It also invested more
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Law will let Asbo offenders be named
LAWS to prevent the courts protecting the identities of youths who breach anti-social behaviour orders (Asbo) could be in place within months, the Government has revealed. Tony Blair has made it a priority to push the Serious Organised Crime and Police
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Families hit by Christmas pressures
THE stress of the festive season has put relationships in the North-East under pressure, it was claimed last night. Relate, the UK's largest provider of relationship support, has seen an increase in the number of couples seeking advice due to the demands
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£20m gas turbine work completed on schedule
WORK has been completed on a £20m investment at Wilton Power Station, on Teesside. The project to improve the efficiency of the plant by building an extra gas turbine will help safeguard 160 jobs. SembCorp Utilities UK, which took the power station over
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Firms move in to incubator units
THREE companies created by University of Durham academics have moved into a business incubator unit that is poised to become the heart of a new technology community in the region. The companies are the first research-led businesses to move into the NetPark
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Delia praises Boro's food
After a lifetime visiting football matches cuisine queen Delia Smith knows her Bovril from her beef consomme. But the TV favourite and owner of Norwich City was still left gobsmacked by the meal she was served up when her team visited Middlesbrough. Describing
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Parkdean 'reaps benefits'
HOLIDAY park operator Parkdean Holidays announced a £12.87m operating profit yesterday, despite a drop in bookings in the autumn. Preliminary results for the year ending October 31 showed like-for-like profits rose 10.2 per cent. The Newcastle group established
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Victor signs contract worth £500,00
A SPECIALIST lighting company has won a £500,000 contract. Victor Products, based on the New York Industrial Park, North Tyneside, has been awarded the contract by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the Korean Engineering and Construction contractor. Mark Lester
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Families hit by Christmas pressures
THE stress of the festive season has put relationships in the North-East under pressure, it was claimed last night. Relate, the UK's largest provider of relationship support, has seen an increase in the number of couples seeking advice due to the demands
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Alfas Group buyout will create jobs
A SEALANTS manufacturer has announced plans to nearly double sales following a buyout. The Alfas Group, in Washington, Wearside, has been bought by German company illbruck. From March, the plant will operate under the name illbruck Sealant Systems UK
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Transfer thoughts for boss Hodgson
DARLINGTON manager David Hodgson is planning to speed up his search for a striker, with the fitness of Clyde Wijnhard hanging in the balance. Hodgson has already outlined his desire to strengthen his attacking options. And with Wijnhard struggling with
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Date
Pole Star set to shine
PROVIDED Pole Star (1.50) puts in a clear round he'll be hard to peg back at Newbury this afternoon. The seven-year-old useful former flat racer has quickly adapted to jumps, breaking his hurdles' duck by breezing to a cosy five-length success over Rash
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Date
Why we need more time to sit and stare
LAZINESS is the key to a longer life. In that case, thank goodness for power cuts. Forget your new year resolutions - if you haven't already - to work harder and exercise more. According to a new book, all this unnecessary exercising and hard work just
