Archive
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The hero the town forgot
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In the first of a series, CHRIS LLOYD tells of the heroic Canadian pilot who died on this day steering his stricken plane away from a North-East town THELMA McMullen must
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Flintoff's firepower is England's main weapon
England will have Andrew Flintoff operating at full capacity at the Wanderers as they seek to regain the lead in the Test series and could bring in swing bowler James Anderson to freshen up the attack. Flintoff came through a light fitness check on his
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John North: Recognising Rawe talent
For 32 years a teacher at King James I Grammar School, and the man who tried to teach the column the forward roll, Lez Rawe has received due recognition with the MBE. THOUGH the attempt inevitably ended in an ungainly heap on the gym mat, the persevering
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Dutch treat
Best known for her starring roles in musicals, Gemma Craven is now looking for a change of career into straight theatre. And she found a John Godber production just the ticket. Steve Pratt reports. Gemma Craven is revisiting the theatre where she began
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Collins overcomes language barrier
NEILL COLLINS says playing alongside someone who understands him has helped get over the language barrier. The 22-year-old defender joked he has had a few communication problems since arriving on Wearside from Dumbarton last August. But having fellow
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Quilters work together to raise funds for lifeboat
A GROUP of embroiderers is hoping to get an appeal all sown up for a worthy cause. Five women have been weaving and stitching a quilt to raise funds for the Redcar Lifeboat Fund. The quintet, who polished their skills at Askham Bryan College, Guisborough
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Homes plan to be decided by deputy PM
THE final decision on a housing development bid will rest with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Durham Estates' application for planning approval to build 33 homes off Lyons Avenue, Easington Lane, near Houghton-le-Spring, sparked a petition against
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Through the round window
YOUNG gymnasts are busy practising for a national festival this weekend. The children, aged from eight weeks to three years old, are presenting The Ugly Duckling at Tees Valley Leisure Gymfest. They are all members of Stokesley Leisure Centre's Baby,
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Through the round window
YOUNG gymnasts are busy practising for a national festival this weekend. The children, aged from eight weeks to three years old, are presenting The Ugly Duckling at Tees Valley Leisure Gymfest. They are all members of Stokesley Leisure Centre's Baby,
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Barron comeback on track as reserves win
HARTLEPOOL United captain Micky Barron last night revealed he is keen to make up for lost time after making a welcome return to action as the reserves started the year with a hard-fought win. The Pool skipper has been sidelined for a month after undergoing
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By George - it's a cardboard Clooney
WITH so much talk lately about how far you can go if you come across an intruder in your home, it's not surprising I was a bit twitchy. I'd rushed home from work, late for a family trip to the theatre just before Christmas, ran up to the bedroom and started
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No cost to council in taxi case
A COURT battle between a North-East council and a taxi driver cost the authority nothing, a meeting heard yesterday. Darlington Borough Council won a test case in the High Court in December, after it challenged a ruling by magistrates that it did not
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Exam results keep town in the top ten
DARLINGTON retained its place as the best-performing education authority in the Tees Valley, despite a blip in exam results, league tables published today show. Statistics released by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) show A-level students
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Village hit by four-day blackout
OFFICIALS last night pledged an investigation after a village was left without power for 86 hours despite being only a few miles from a busy North-East town. The four-day disruption is expected to cost distribution company NEDL thousands of pounds in
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Recycle to raise cash for victims
RECYCLING rubbish can can help victims of the Asian tsunami. Derwentside District Council has pledged to donate the value of all materials recycled this month to the Asian Disaster Relief Fund. Anyone who takes reusable waste to recycling sites in the
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Kuffour forced to play waiting game
SAMUEL KUFFOUR expects to hear within the next 48 hours whether Newcastle United's offer for his services is tempting enough to move to the North-East, writesPaul Fraser. The Ghanaian's agent, Fabio Parisi, was on Tyneside on Tuesday to holds preliminary
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Guild News
Chester-le-Street: In December members held their Christmas party and carol service. Members enjoyed a buffet supper. There was a Christmas performance by Joyce Shaw assisted by Patricia Stobbs on the piano with various musical numbers and recitations
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Ice hockey star not guilty of robbery
AN ice hockey player unhappy at the charge for a taxi journey was yesterday cleared of robbing the female driver. Shaun Johnson admitted leaving the cab after a journey from Whitley Bay to Langley Park, near Durham, without paying, but denied allegations
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From little Acorns...
Last week, Darlington Memorial Hospital became the first in the country to switch entirely to organic milk. Stuart Mackintosh looks at how the move vindicates one dairy's risk in abandoning intensive farming. IT was the biggest gamble of Gordon Tweddle's
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Drivers facing new hazard
POLICE are warning that this week's gales, rain and floods have brought a new hazard to driving - reduced visibility. Debris, leaves, mud and standing water conspire to spray vehicles with a layer of dirt that makes windscreens and mirrors opaque and
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Driver in fatal accident will not face court prosecution
THE driver of a car involved in an accident in which two teenagers died will not face prosecution, it was announced yesterday. Students Katy Linighan and Richard Clemot-Escobar, both 18, died when the Vauxhall Astra they were travelling in overturned
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GCSE students make their mark on school tables
THE majority of education authorities (LEAs) in the region are celebrating improved performances in the latest Government league tables. Pupils sitting GCSEs helped 11 of the 14 councils in the North-East and North Yorkshire score higher marks - and nine
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£3m treehouse opens for visitors
ONE of the largest tree houses in the world opened to the public this week. The £3.3m construction, which is turreted and stands up to 60ft off the ground, has been built in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, which was used during the filming
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Search for new councillor
The search is on to replace a former North East councillor who provoked national outcry by serving his constituents from a Caribbean island 4,500 miles away. Wear Valley District Council has called a by-election to fill Stephen Gregory's former seat representing
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Soldier charged with going AWOL
A soldier who alleged his jaw was broken by a corporal at Europe's biggest Army base has been charged with going absent without leave. Private Craig Coates was arrested by Royal Military Police officers after he failed to return to Catterick Garrison
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Street booze banned
COUNCILLORS have agreed to ban public drinking in Dipton, near Stanley. Residents in the village have been terrorised by a group of youths who congregate on street corners drinking alcohol and becoming unruly. Durham Police asked licensing authority Derwentside
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You write
Baffling buses Well said P Longstaff of Newton Hall. I am sure that your letter (Advertiser, week ending December 11) reflects the sentiments of a vast number of people in Newton Hall. The convoy of three buses mentioned is not an unusual occurrence,
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Man's suicide on the eve of rape case
A MAN facing a charge of rape killed himself in his car on the eve of his appearance in court, an inquest was told. Lee Graham Ripley, 37, was found dead on a country road in North Yorkshire. Mr Ripley, a married man of Rowntree Avenue, York, had been
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Anger as pool for children closes
MEMBERS of a swimming club have spoken out over the decision to close a pool where generations of children have learned to swim. Hartlepool's Rossmere Learner Pool has been used to teach children to swim for 40 years. But a decision to close the pool
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Harriers fail in Wainwright bid
A potentially busy day of transfer activity at Darlington came to nothing yesterday when Quakers turned down approaches for two players while another rebuffed an offer to drop into non-league football. Kidderminster Harriers were knocked back in their
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Decision to specialise pays dividends for glassmaker
A GLASSMAKER'S decision to specialise has been rewarded by a huge rise in profits. Romag, based near Consett, County Durham, announced pre-tax profits of £1.31m, a rise of 36 per cent. Turnover fell 17 per cent to 13.8m after Romag pulled out of producing
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Babayaro focused on making his mark
CELESTINE BABAYARO is trying to blot out the departure talk surrounding Olivier Bernard in a bid to enjoy a successful start to life at Newcastle United. Bernard continues to be linked with a move away from Tyneside after failing to agree a new deal at
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North-East charity worker arrested at German border
A NORTH-EAST charity worker has been arrested by border police in Germany. Rod Jones, 57, from Middlesbrough, his Romanian wife, Gabriella, and 13-year-old Ashley Clough, who was accompanying them, were detained at the crossing point at Passau, between
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Tobacco control bureau to be formed
REGIONAL health bosses are pressing ahead with plans to create a tobacco control bureau. To be known as the Smoke Free North East Office, the team will focus on efforts to reduce levels of smoking. It had been hoped that the European Union's Public Health
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Leisure group to open new £2.2m nightspot
A LEISURE company has unveiled plans for a new multi-million pound nightclub in Chester-le-Street. Vimac Leisure Ltd will transform a site on Front Street into a premier late night bar and club with capacity for up to 800 people. The £2.2m development
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13/01/05
TSUNAMI: I DO not agree with Marie Garood (HAS, Jan 8) that the BBC is guilty of lurid sensationalism in its coverage of the tsunami disaster. There is no pleasant way of reporting such an event. The BBC reporters have an unenviable task of showing things
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Elderly hit by burglaries after storms
Elderly people in Teesdale have been hit by a series of distraction burglaries by builders claiming to be repairing storm damage. At least four households in the dale have been targeted by the false builders and police say it is possible there could be
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People dig deep for disaster fund
PEOPLE throughout the county have responded in their droves in support of the appeal to help victims of the Asian Tsunami disaster by organising fundraising activities and taking collections. St Cuthbert's Phoenix Club will hold an all-day bring and buy
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Street to rival Stepford
Desperate Housewives (C4); Ten Years Younger (C4): WHY is Susan dabbing gravy behind her ear and on her wrist like some expensive perfume? The answer is simple, if unlikely - to get Mike the plumber's dog to lick her. She knows that the way to a man's
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Steamy Sally
Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, Sooty and Sue. To these famous, if troubled romantic couples Soapland officials were planning to add those lovebirds from Coronation Street (ITV1), Mar-in the nurse and Kay-tee the girl with the terrible hair. The
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Dixons to create 2,000 jobs
ELECTRICAL retail group Dixons has announced plans to create more than 2,000 jobs this year - with 70 at stores in the North-East and Yorkshire. The move came as the company announced a two per cent rise in Christmas sales in the UK after seeing strong
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Outrage after Harry dons Nazi costume
Prince Harry has provoked outrage after being pictured dressed as a Nazi soldier at a fancy dress party. Today's front page of The Sun shows the prince, with a cigarette and drink in hand, wearing a swastika armband. The paper reports that Prince Harry
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Firm foundation for growth
A BUILDING company said it anticipated a period of steady growth following a buyout. Randall Orchard Construction, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, has been sold to Graeme Newton for an undisclosed sum. The group, based at the Gallowfields Trading Estate
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Dixons to create 2,000 jobs
ELECTRICAL retail group Dixons has announced plans to create more than 2,000 jobs this year - with 70 at stores in the North-East and Yorkshire. The move came as the company announced a two per cent rise in Christmas sales in the UK after seeing strong
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In line for the dumb mutt award
WAS anyone really surprised by the survey published this week that revealed people put pets before family and friends? As I have said before, if I ruled the world I would ban dogs. But even dog lovers would have to agree that dangling over a cliff on
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Work starts on jam-busting city park-and-ride scheme
WORK started this week on a £10m park-and-ride scheme designed to help improve the flow of traffic in Durham city centre. The narrow streets of the medieval centre of the city have struggled to cope with the increasing demands of modern commuting, leading
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New dance craze
MORE people in the region are taking full advantage of the rich resources at a university dance department. Workers from Sunderland City Council are beginning a ten-week dance and fitness course at Crowtree Leisure Centre, beginning next Tuesday. Dance
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Cartoon cop raises campaign awareness
A CAMPAIGN to raise awareness about the misuse of antibiotics using a new cartoon character has been launched. Detective Moxy Malone, created by Viz illustrator Steve Donald, is "tracking down the truth" about when antibiotics do and don't work. The campaign
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University building reopens after gales lift its roof off
A STORM-DAMAGED university building is back in business following repairs after the gales. Part of the roof of the university's learning resource centre was ripped off by 80mph winds at the weekend. The building in central Middlesbrough houses the library
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Promise to reopen village pub
A VILLAGE pub has closed following financial difficulties. The contents of the Comet Pub, in Hurworth, are being auctioned today after receivers were called in. The auction, at the Auckland Auction Rooms, Bishop Auckland, will see pub furnishings, wine
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Bar honour for legend Shearer
Newcastle United stars past and present descended on St James' Park last night to celebrate the opening of a bar named after Alan Shearer. Shearer's Bar, which is under the Gallowgate End, is the latest development at the stadium. The bar was opened by
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Club debates future merger options plan
A CLUB for people with disabilities or mobility problems could join forces with other groups in a bid to secure their own premises. Newton Aycliffe Mobility Club met on Monday to discuss the possibility of merging with other small groups that support
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Criticisms about police response
COUNCILLORS have criticised the amount of time it took police to attend an assault on a post master in a Darlington borough village. Andy Hill, who runs the Londis shop and post office in Middleton St George, was attacked by a teenage boy before Christmas
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Shop loses appeal to stay pink
THE owners of a card shop which was refused permission to paint their shop front pink have lost an appeal. Peter and Ann Lown, who run Castle Cards, in Barnard Castle Market Place, were ordered by Teesdale District Council to repaint the shop after they
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Questions are posed over sale of swords
FEARS that a martial arts shop in Darlington is selling dangerous weapons were raised by councillors at a meeting yesterday. Councillor Bryan Thistlethwaite told fellow members of the borough council's licensing committee that he had seen two men pulling
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Listening bus
THE National Deaf Children's Society listening bus will visit Red Hall Primary School on Friday, January 21. Schoolchildren and parents of deaf youngsters can see the latest technology available.
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Village history is recorded on to CD for future generations
HUNDREDS of photographs have been loaded on to a CD to show the highs and lows of a town's history. Shildon - Our Town was compiled by the Shildon Recall Society to show the changes in the railway town over the years. It records some of the most important
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Parents meet school bosses after shake-up announced
EDUCATION chiefs are to meet parents and teachers to discuss a proposed shake-up of schools. Public meetings to discuss the future of four schools, two in Newton Aycliffe and two in Ferryhill, will give people the chance to find out about the proposals
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Uncertainty over housing complex causes concern
THE long-term future of a sheltered housing complex has yet to be resolved. One of the options for the future of Maple Creek at Masham, near Ripon, could be an extra care facility for the elderly. But while council chiefs ponder its future, tenants have
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Public get a say on floods scheme
PLANS for flood alleviation in Northallerton are going out for public consultation. The town suffered severe flooding in 2000 and 2002 and the county council, Hambleton District Council and Yorkshire Water have since been working on a number of schemes
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Cartoon cop raises campaign awareness
A CAMPAIGN to raise awareness about the misuse of antibiotics using a new cartoon character has been launched. Detective Moxy Malone, created by Viz illustrator Steve Donald, is "tracking down the truth" about when antibiotics do and don't work. The campaign
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Amnesty to rid streets of unwanted cars
A SCHEME to rid Darlington of its abandoned cars will be launched next week. The borough council has organised a two-week amnesty starting from Monday, during which the council will offer a free service to collect and dispose of any car that the owner
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Time running out for return of tax forms
SMALL businesses face penalties of £60 a day if they do not send in their tax returns by the end of the month. Sole traders, company directors and business partners are among those required to fill in a self-assessment form, as well as high-earners. Returns
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Town council slammed for deferring clerk's training
A PLAN to defer a town clerk's qualification has been branded a backward step. Barnard Castle Town Council has decided to defer clerk Geoff Bosworth's work on the Certificate of Local Council Administration for 12 months. The certificate is necessary
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Courses for the long-term sick
A PROJECT helping people with long term medical conditions to offer advice to fellow sufferers is being extended to Bishop Auckland. The Durham Dales Primary Care Trust's Expert Patient Programme is hosting a course at the Proudfoot Centre, in Woodhouse
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Care volunteers celebrate birthday
A GROUP of volunteers who champion the health care needs of people in Sedgefield borough has celebrated its first anniversary. The Patient and Public Involvement Forum was established in December 2003 by volunteers from across the borough. The independent
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Dentist struck off
A WEALTHY dentist who called a patient a 'tart with a mouth like a cesspit' has been struck off. Leslie Rippon Smith, who began his career in Darlington, was branded dishonest by the General Dental Council, which found him guilty of serious misconduct
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Region climbs IT rankings in survey
THE region's companies are embracing new technology, Government figures have shown. The North-East ranks sixth out of 12 regions in the UK in the Department of Trade and Industry survey. A drive to improve usage of the Internet and IT has lifted the region
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Council officer admits to making 'gay boy' jibes
A CITY council press officer yesterday admitted using the term "gay boy" - but denied accusations that he was homophobic. Ed Tutty, giving evidence at an employment tribunal in Newcastle yesterday, said he had used the phrase in officer banter with one
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Recycling facility at centre of row is hailed a success
A RECYCLING facility that divided the community when plans for its construction were announced has been declared a success. Nearly 800 people signed a petition against the bulking station on Colburn lorry park when Richmondshire District Council proposed
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Free advice on offer
WEAR Valley residents can find help with a wide range of consumer problems at a series of advice days planned later this month. Events organised by Durham Online Initiative and Durham County Council's Trading Standards team are part of a consumer rights
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Henderson given a welcome boost
His Seven Barrows stable may be enduring a frustrating time at the moment but Nicky Henderson was given a welcome lift by Papini at Newbury yesterday. He also enhanced his prospects of landing a race at Cheltenham he would especially like to win when
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Supermarket behind new town hall plan
SUPERMARKET giant Tesco is behind plans to build a new town hall in Darlington as part of a multi-million development. The retailer is in talks with Darlington Borough Council about demolishing the town hall in Feethams and building modern council offices
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Auditions time on 42nd Street
A theatre company looking for actors, dancers and singers holds auditions this week. TheSpennymoor-based Dionysis Theatre Company will hold a series of workshop auditions on Saturday for its production of 42nd Street. Company spokesman Peter Durkin said
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Dentist pledge not met Blair confesses
TONY Blair admitted yesterday he had broken his pledge to give everyone an NHS dentist, as figures revealed mounting problems in the North-East and North Yorkshire. The Prime Minister acknowledged for the first time that a promise that no-one would be
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Storms wreak havoc
HOMEOWNERS were this week counting the cost of the storm-force winds that battered County Durham. The region was hit by ferocious winds and driving rain over the past few days, leaving a trail of devastation behind. In Darlington town centre on Monday
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New bus service
CHANGES to Go Northern's 733 bus service between Chester-le-Street and Newcastle came into effect last week. The 8.45am weekday journey that runs to the city during the school holidays and the 8.52am journey that runs from Perkinsville during term-time
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Army chaplain's ground-breaking role in cathedral
A PIECE of Church history will be made on Sunday - with the appointment of Ripon Cathedral's first non-Anglican canon. Methodist minister the Reverend David Wilkes, the Chaplain-General of HM Land Forces, will be licensed as an honorary ecumenical canon
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Zebra crossing to be installed on busy road
COUNCILLORS have approved plans for a zebra crossing on a busy road. The crossing, at Marshall Terrace in Sunderland Road, Gilesgate, Durham, was requested by Belmont Parish Council. A petition in support of the crossing was signed by 102 customers of
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Rises likely for council tenants
COUNCIL tenants could see substantial increases in payments to redecorate their homes after repair work. Richmondshire District Council is proposing to raise allowances for both redecoration and disturbance costs, paid out after council workers have undertaken
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Council porter steps up to fitness challenge
PORTER Alan Graham has taken on an unusual fitness challenge. He clocked more than one and a half million steps to win a stepometer task, aimed at boosting the fitness of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council employees. Mr Graham, 38, won praise for his
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Grassroots: Yarm and Eaglescliffe
Ceilidh night: Yarm School Association is holding a ceilidh on Saturday, January 22, at 7.30pm, in the senior school sports hall, with two-course supper and mulled wine. For tickets, costing £10, contact the school reception. Parish weekend: St Mary Magdalene
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Bite Size courses offer a little something to get your teth into
BOLLYWOOD dancing, tai chi and salsa classes are among the activities suggested in a new campaign to encourage learning. North Yorkshire's latest Bite Size campaign of short-term courses was launched at York St John College on Monday. The campaign aims
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Teacher ordered to avoid pupil - trial told
A TEACHER accused of indecency with a pupil was ordered to avoid the boy by the school headteacher several weeks before the allegations came to light, a jury was told yesterday. Durham Crown Court heard that Philip Nigel Evans acted unprompted as a "mentor
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Hip operations halted after infection scare
A HOSPITAL is hoping to reopen its joint replacement unit at the end of this week after it was closed due to an infection scare. Managers at Bishop Auckland Hospital, decided to close the unit, the region's largest centre for hip and knee replacements
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Upbeat Bill
John Bowler is back on the beat at Sun Hill as an old-fashioned cop who thinks the Met has gone soft. He talks to Steve Pratt about the attraction of the long-running TV series. John Bowler wants to know what I know before he tells me what he knows. Such
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Health centre opens £350,000 extension
A HEALTH centre which opened just five years ago has unveiled a £350,000 new extension. Consett Medical Centre, already among the biggest in County Durham, is to almost double in size with the addition of six new consulting rooms, which will allow staff
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Gales wreak havoc across the region
PEOPLE throughout the region are continuing to pick up the pieces after severe gales left a trail of damage at the weekend. Emergency services and councils faced a race against time clearing roads and repairing battered buildings ahead of further bad
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The hero the town forgot
THELMA McMullen must have wept as she read the type-written letter. "For sheer self-sacrificing heroism, your husband's action will be remembered and honoured by the people of Darlington for years to come," it said. "Our sorrow is mixed with great pride
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Deputies appointed
SEVEN new deputy lieutenants of Tyne and Wear have been appointed to help the county's Lord Lieutenant, Nigel Sherlock, with official duties. They are leading figures from local government, education, the business community and the legal system. They
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Residents rally round to help victims of tsunami disaster
PEOPLE throughout the county have responded in their droves in support of the appeal to help victims of the Asian tsunami disaster by organising fundraising activities and collections. Staff at Durham Town Hall organised a coffee morning last Saturday
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Firms 'sunk by fuel costs'
A FUEL tax protestor in County Durham said hauliers are being forced out of business by the continual increase in operating costs. Leadgate farmer Andrew Spence said he is amazed that the cost of running articulated lorries is only estimated to have risen
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Laughable - if it wasn't so serious
GIVEN their utterly inadequate response to the racist chanting that blighted England's recent friendly in Spain, nobody should be surprised by the spineless nature of the Spanish FA's latest attempts to combat racism in the country's football grounds.
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Tsunami disaster - N-E in Action
BARNARD CASTLE: Charity workers in Barnard Castle have made an appeal for anyone who has a vehicle capable of transporting two to three tonnes of summer clothing and blankets. David Tate, from D&E Tate Florists, and Paul Dobson, a member of staff
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Protest over plan to shut surgeries
PATIENTS are protesting about plans by two medical practices to close village surgeries. Public meetings are scheduled over proposals by the Auckland Medical Group to replace surgeries at Cockton Hill Road, St Helen Auckland and Coundon with a new centre
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To Ten Films
UK FILM : 1 (-) White Noise 2 (1) The Incredibles 3 (-) The Aviator 4 (3) National Treasure 5 (2) Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events 6 (-) Alexander 7 (6) Without A Paddle 8 (5) The Phantom Of The Opera 9 (7) House Of Flying Daggers 10 (6
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Builders move on to key site
WORK has finally started on the £30m redevelopment of the Walkergate car park in the centre of Durham. Construction firm Amec, which redeveloped Newcastle's Quayside, will build bars and restaurants, apartments, a 100-bed hotel and a 500-space multi-storey
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Closer up and personal
Playing a lap dancer in her latest movie, Closer, may be the sexiest part to date for actress Natalie Portman but, as she tells Steve Pratt, she doesn't feel she's grown up yet. Still only 23, Natalie Portman has a film career stretching back ten years
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Pure Vanity
No stranger to boots and breeches roles, British actor James Purefoy is determined not to be typecast - as he may have his eye one the vacant 007 position. Steve Pratt reports. British actor James Purefoy admits that he hadn't read Vanity Fair at the
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Trio jailed after 'savage' attack
AN ATTACKER who repeatedly struck a pub customer with a bar stool was jailed on Monday. 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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Haslam hoping for Beginners' luck
POSITIVE PROFILE'S latest form figures don't exactly make pleasant reading, but that could all change if he can buck his ideas up at Catterick and win the Wakefield Beginners' Chase. Trainer Patrick Haslam's decision to switch the former classy Flat racer
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Boro may turn to Cudicini
CHELSEA goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini has emerged as a surprise transfer target for Middlesbrough as Mark Schwarzer continues to edge towards the Riverside exit door. Boro boss Steve McClaren has spent the last week running the rule over a number of shot-stoppers
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Jobs record for Komatsu plant
RECRUITMENT at excavator manufacturer Komatsu UK has hit its highest level since the plant opened 20 years ago. The workforce at the factory in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, has reached 701. A further 20 people are expected to be taken on as the factory
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North-East trio's degrees accolade
THREE figures who have made an outstanding contribution to North-East life are to be presented with honorary degrees over the next two days. Musician David Crooks, scientist Sir John Pattison and economist Dr John Bridge will receive the accolades from
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Luxury brand says 'chav' factor checked its performance
FASHION house Burberry last night blamed the popularity of its brand among "chavs" for hindering its performance. The group also said its UK business had suffered because fewer US tourists visited London because of the weak dollar. A spokeswoman said
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Why we must remember
THIS year marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. It is a long time ago - practically two generations ago - and memories are beginning to fade. However, we are confident that by the time the official commemoration of the anniversary
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Sell-out Christmas for Music Zone
MUSIC Zone stores in the region have helped the company to sales of more than £1m in a day's trading for the first time in its 20-year history. Despite most retailers experiencing a dismal Christmas, described as the worst for ten years, Music Zone recorded
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Schools closure plan outlined as pupil numbers fall
EDUCATION chiefs in Darlington this week 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 this summer if the proposals are approved unanimously by
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Boro is top of cuisine league
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 when her team visited Middlesbrough. Describing
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Villagers oppose more turbines
MOST residents in a County Durham village are opposed to the further development of wind farms, according to a recent poll. Almost 83 per cent of people who responded to the survey in Cornsay Colliery, near Consett, said they did not want to see more
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Region climbs IT rankings in survey
THE region's companies are embracing new technology, Government figures have shown. The North-East ranks sixth out of 12 regions in the UK in the Department of Trade and Industry survey. A drive to improve usage of the Internet and IT has lifted the region
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Killer soldier claim denied
POLICE have denied reports they are investigating possible attacks on women in North Yorkshire by the killer of Cambridge student Sally Geeson. A number of women from across the country have come forward as a result of the 22-year-old's disappearance
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Grassroots news
Ceilidh night: Yarm School Association is holding a ceilidh on Saturday, January 22, at 7.30pm, in the senior school sports hall, with two-course supper and mulled wine. For tickets, costing £10, contact the school reception. Parish weekend: St Mary Magdalene
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Mother's fears over new CJD forecast
A NEW prediction that we have seen the worst of mad-cow disease in humans has been challenged by the mother of a North-East victim. Yesterday, scientists from Imperial College, in London, predicted that only about 70 more people will die from the human
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Pub regulars back doctor's fund
A PUB'S charity crusade has raised almost £3,000 for a campaign to help improve the lives of young diabetics. The Ash Tree in Carr Lane, Spennymoor, raised £2,842 to support paediatric consultant Dr Bill Lamb, who is raising funds to help patients at
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Government must improve allergy care - health body
A national alliance of health charities today criticised the Government claiming it is ''ignoring'' urgent calls to improve health care for allergy sufferers in the North-East. In November the Health Select Committee produced a damning report on the provision
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UK need not join the euro - Nissan
CAR manufacturer Nissan said yesterday the future of its North-East plant - and its 4,500 workers - is no longer threatened by Britain being outside the euro. The Japanese group's chief executive, Carlos Ghosn, had previously warned that he would not
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Dad At Large: By George - it's cardboard Clooney
WITH so much talk lately about how far you can go if you come across an intruder in your home, it's not surprising I was a bit twitchy. I'd rushed home from work, late for a family trip to the theatre just before Christmas, ran up to the bedroom and started
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On TV
Desperate Housewives (C4) Ten Years Younger (C4) WHY is Susan dabbing gravy behind her ear and on her wrist like some expensive perfume? The answer is simple, if unlikely - to get Mike the plumber's dog to lick her. She knows that the way to a man's heart
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Celebrations for carers
A GROUP of volunteers who champion the health care needs of people in Sedgefield borough has celebrated its first anniversary. The Patient and Public Involvement Forum was established in December 2003 by volunteers from across the borough. The independent
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Tributes to commended detective
TRIBUTES have been paid to a detective who died suddenly in hospital. Detective Constable Paul Richardson, 45, was diagnosed as having a brain tumour in December and was to begin treatment yesterday. But the condition of the father-of-two deteriorated
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Teenager flies out for Asian adventure
A WEARDALE teenager embarks on the adventure of a lifetime today working with disabled children in Asia. Since she left school last summer, Jessica Sercombe, from Rookhope, has tackled numerous jobs to help to raise the £3,500 she needed to fund her trip
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Landfill site raises pollution fear
CAMPAIGNERS fear a "green'' rubbish dump could pollute water supplies. Wingate Against Refuse (WAR) is opposing Premier Waste Management's plans for what it calls an environmentally-friendly 188-acre landfill site at Wingate Grange Farm, near Wingate.
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Appeal sets record
POPPY Appeal organisers in Chester-le-Street have thanked people in the town for their generous contributions to the recent record-breaking annual collection. Carole Bruce said the total of £8,513 raised was comfortably the largest amount collected in
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Promise of regeneration as work begins on Walkergate
WORK has finally started on the £30m redevelopment of the Walkergate car park in Durham city centre. Construction firm Amec, which redeveloped Newcastle's Quayside, hopes to complete the bars and restaurants, apartments, 100-bed hotel and 500-space multi-storey
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Bishop leads tributes to priest
A FUNERAL service is being held this Thursday following the death of a popular Catholic priest. A service for Father Tony Battle will be held at St Mary's in Newcastle, the cathedral where he served much of his ministry. Fr Battle, who for the last three
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Fury after village hit by four-day blackout
OFFICIALS last night pledged an investigation after a village was left without power for 86 hours despite being only a few miles from a busy North-East town. The four-day disruption is expected to cost distribution company NEDL thousands of pounds in
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Anger as pool for children closes
MEMBERS of a swimming club have spoken out over the decision to close a pool where generations of children have learned to swim. Hartlepool's Rossmere Learner Pool has been used to teach children to swim for 40 years. But a decision to close the pool
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Hospice is handed £500
A charity supporting people with life-limiting illnesses has received a donation from a building society. The Richmond branch of the Yorkshire Building Society has given £519.92 from the firm's charitable foundation to Herriot Hospice Homecare. Moira
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Cyclists call for changes
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for more and better cycle paths in Darlington. Darlington Cycle Campaign wants Darlington Borough Council to improve cycle paths as part of its Town on the Move initiative, which is aimed at promoting environmentally-friendly transport
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Students score record Oxbridge places
STUDENTS at Darlington's Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College are celebrating after achieving a record number of offers to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities. In all, 11 students from the college have been offered conditional places to continue
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Worries raised by police cutbacks
FRESH fears over the scrapping of a police unit which patrols rural areas have been raised. Parish councillors in Hurworth, near Darlington, have told of their dismay at Durham Police's decision to disband its beat support unit. The unit was established
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Bike donations help former policeman's mission to Poland
A RETIRED policeman helping youngsters in Poland has been handed scores of unwanted bicycles for his charity work. Pupils at Ravensworth Junior School, in Middlesbrough, donated their old bikes after hearing about Peter Howe's efforts. Mr Howe, who is
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Demolition proposal welcomed
THE proposed demolition of Darlington's'monstrous' town hall has been welcomed. Clive Owen, of Darlington Civic Trust, said: "The town hall itself would be no loss; neither would the bus station. There is scope for a big improvement." Robin Blair, of
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Antique bust gets modern reincarnation
A PIECE of 18th Century history is to be preserved for the North-East thanks to 21st Century technology. Northumbria University is helping to create a replica of a rare bust of Salomon Veit after it was decided that the original, which has been passed
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Cartoon character to inspire safer antibiotics use
A CARTOON character is at the centre of an award-winning campaign to raise awareness in County Durham about the misuse of antibiotics. Detective Moxy Malone, created by Viz illustrator Steve Donald, is "tracking down the truth" about when antibiotics
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New tasks developed for young offenders
AN organisation finding community work for young offenders is setting up new projects around County Durham. Last year, young people in the county carried out 4,000 hours of work in the community - including painting, decorating and renovation projects
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Concerns over £52m A66 scheme
PARISH councillors have spoken of their concerns about a £52m transport scheme seen as vital to the regeneration of the Tees Valley. Consultants have completed a long-awaited study that looks at upgrading the A66 trunk road around Darlington, and have
