Archive
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Inundated with explanations
THERE has been plenty of time this week to contemplate fire, not least because a bin in The Northern Echo's Darlington headquarters caught light on Tuesday night. Watching the firemen march up and march down our three storeys of knee-aching stairs to
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Cash pledged to save factory jobs remains uncollected
BLACK & Decker has still not taken advantage of hundreds of thousands of pounds of Government aid intended to secure its North-East workforce, it emerged last night. When the US-owned company announced nearly 1,000 job losses in Spennymoor, County
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Darlington hoping to match Tynedale's spirit
DARLINGTON entertain Tynedale today determined to match the spirit of a side who continue to prosper in the face of adversity. The Corbridge club were among the favourites for relegation in National Three North when they lost several key players in the
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Teesdale Talk: Quality clogs made in cellar
A number of Teesdale residents will remember the late Clogger Howson, and may also recall stepping out in the sturdy footwear he produced for years in the cellar of his home. He was really called Jack, but everyone referred to him by his nickname, thanks
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Uncovering the tale of RAF
A HISTORIAN is appealing for help in tracing the roots of two young airmen whose plane was shot down over occupied Europe during the Second World War. Durham-born navigator Wilfred Nelson and his pilot, Norman Denis Sinclair, from Newcastle, were shot
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Diver helps in clear-up effort
A NOVICE diver who went to Thailand for an extended holiday has stayed on to help in the clear-up operation after the tsunami. Martin Robertson, of Beacon Gardens, Hartlepool, has been there since September as part of a gap year from work. The 30-year-old
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Inquiry launched into boy's cell death
PRISON officials have ordered an investigation into how a North-East teenager haunted by the deaths of his brother and one of his best friends was found hanged in a young offenders' institution. Gareth Price was discovered in his cell at Lancaster Farms
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Infatuation with prostitute led 'old fool' to deal in drugs
AN elderly security guard was drawn into the murky world of heroin dealing after he became infatuated with a 22-year-old prostitute, a court heard. Ian Brown, 64, of Heythrop Drive, Middlesbrough, began dealing £5 wraps of heroin in a misguided attempt
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They're pretty grotesque, but at least they've found enlightenment
UNUSUAL images of leading Buddhists feature in an exhibition at a North-East museum. Enlightened Grotesques, at Durham's Oriental Museum, contains striking caricatures of Chinese holy men who attained nirvana. The usual image of the serene-looking man
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How I found the cavewoman in me
THE last time I slept with the light on I was about four years old. The light in question was one of those glow-in-the-dark plug-in things, which cast just enough light to see if my collection of My Little Ponies was about to turn into My Little Monsters
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Bellamy's Tyneside time is ended with £6m deal
CRAIG Bellamy will complete a £6m move to Birmingham this weekend after Graeme Souness drew a line under his Newcastle career by telling him: "You'll never play for me again". Bellamy, who travelled to the West Midlands last night, will discuss personal
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Drugs case gran still cooking hot-pot
A CANNABIS cooking circle established by a grey-haired grandmother is still serving up marijuana meals despite its founder facing jail. Patricia Tabram has vowed to keep on cooking up the drug, in her friends' kitchens, after she was warned she faced
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Accusations fly in full meeting
A SPAT between the leaders of Darlington's Labour and Conservative groups led to order being called at a full council meeting. Councillor Tony Richmond, leader of the town's Tory group, was rebuked by deputy mayor Councillor Stella Robson at the meeting
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Council nears business prize
A DISTRICT council's business support team in County Durham is through to the final stage in its bid to gain beacon status. The team from Derwentside District Council presented their case to the Advisory Panel for Beacon Councils in London, on Thursday
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Man left in hospital after attack at home
A MAN was attacked in his bed by an intruder who burst into his house with a hammer. John Clarke, 58, was beaten around the head when the man entered his Carley Road home in Southwick, Sunderland. His 54-year-old wife, Barbara, called the police and paramedics
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Musical students raise funds
A MUSICAL show last night set the wheels in motion for an appeal to help house a school minibus. Hummersknott School and Language College, in Darlington, took delivery of the vehicle last year, and staff and students have since been raising the funds
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Victim's head was 'kicked like ball'
A FATHER-of-one has been jailed for 18 months after he kicked a man's head "like a football" during a drink-fuelled brawl. Ian Graham, 22, attacked Mark Crutchley after the pair were thrown out of the Tall Trees nightclub, Yarm, near Stockton. Teesside
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End of an era as butcher closes 140-year-old stall
NEARLY 140 years of butchery comes to an end this afternoon when the stalls in Darlington's Covered Market are packed away and Don Manson retires. Don is calling it a day at the age of 78, having started on Harrison's stall as an order boy aged 13. "After
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Pupils star in research film
TWO North Yorkshire schools are at the centre of pioneering research into the merits of outdoor activities. Video footage of pupils is currently being edited to be shown at the Times Educational Supplement Conference in Manchester, before going on general
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'Clamp down on rogue doctors now' - victims
VICTIMS of a disgraced former North-East surgeon Richard Neale have welcomed the Government's decision to carry out a major review of the way doctors are assessed. Speaking after the final inquiry into serial killer Harold Shipman, Health Secretary John
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Motorcyclist denies death charge
A MAN who was involved in a motorcycle accident in which his pillion passenger died has pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Jeffrey Dowson, 23, of Oxford Road, Hartlepool, was riding a Yamaha motorbike in Kingsley Avenue
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Support for hospital
COUNCILLORS have given their support to plans for a £6.5m community hospital. However, members of Barnard Castle Town Council have passed on several concerns about various aspects of the design of the Richardson Hospital. The council felt the one-way
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Town council agrees to raise precept by a third
A TOWN council has agreed to raise its precept by nearly a third. Barnard Castle Town Council is to put up its annual precept by £12,525, which will bring the total precept up to £50,500 from £37,975. Previously the town clerk, Geoff Bosworth, worked
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Mental health art group appeal
A GROUP that encourages mental health sufferers to take up art is looking for professionals to help run workshops. In the last year, members have organised several exhibitions and raised nearly £500 selling their work, including a commission from a local
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Green space to get splash of colour
A SPLASH of spring colour is being provided for residents of North Ormesby to help beat the winter blues. Schoolchildren and volunteers planted bulbs around rose bushes at the newly improved green space, in Jefferson Street. Inga Mahoney, who is involved
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Police step up operation to fight town centre car crime
A PURGE on car crime is being stepped up to combat smash-and-grab attacks in Middlesbrough town centre. A specialist team of officers using surveillance equip-ment focused on hotspots to drive the crooks off the streets. Detectives want Operation Hatch
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Support scheme for offenders hailed a success
A SCHEME to get young offenders back on the straight and narrow is paying off in Teesside. Tees Valley Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP) targets persistent offenders or young people who have committed a serious crime. About 160 young
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Incidents not linked, say fire services
FIRE services said yesterday that two blazes which broke out within an hour of each other in the same area of Stockton were not linked. The fires took place in the early hours of yesterday in the Haverton Hill area. The first incident was in a generator
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Check on your history
A FAMILY history fair is planning to help commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Organised and hosted by Durham County Council, Yesterday Belongs to You 7 is to be held at County Hall, Durham, on Saturday, May 14. The last
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Check on your history
A FAMILY history fair is planning to help commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Organised and hosted by Durham County Council, Yesterday Belongs to You 7 is to be held at County Hall, Durham, on Saturday, May 14. The last
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Dispersal orders to curb noisy youths
POLICE are launching a crackdown on rowdy youths to bring peace to two communities in Stockton. Dispersal orders are being issued for parts of the Bishopton Road, Green Lane and the Primrose Hill areas to curb anti-social behaviour. Officers will be able
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Volunteer keys into career
A COMPUTER course has opened up a career for a volunteer in north Durham. Wendy Stead, from Burnhope, near Stanley, started a basic computer course a year ago through the Learning Network Project and then took a beginner's computing qualification. She
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'Factory will lose a third of its workforce'
A FACTORY only yards from Prime Minister Tony Blair's home in County Durham is poised to shed a third of its workforce, The Northern Echo can reveal. The Volante factory, in Trimdon, which was opened in 1997 by Mr Blair, is planning to make about 30 staff
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Memories brought to life by project
A project has been launched to bring the past alive. Memories and mementoes are needed to help provide a trail of outdoor boards showing the local history of Thirsk and Sowerby. Locally-based charity Rural Arts is seeking historic and present day memorabilia
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Villagers celebrate successful efforts
A VILLAGE turned down by two of Britain's largest funding bodies is today celebrating a £400,000 "do-it-yourself" success. Both the National Lottery and Sport England turned down pleas for cash help from Bishop Monkton, near Ripon, when residents wanted
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School seeks funding to support specialist status bid
A HIGH school could become a flagship centre of educational excellence next year if its bid for specialist status is approved. Bedale High School headteacher Graham Turner is applying to the Government for the school to become a specialist school in humanities
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Take active role
RICHMONDSHIRE residents are being urged to play a more active role in council business. An information leaflet, available in libraries, has been issued by the district council to encourage people to put forward issues suitable for discussion by its two
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Arrests in crackdown on drugs
CRACK houses and dealers have been targeted as a three-month crackdown on Class A drugs gathers momentum. During the first two weeks of Operation Crackdown, in the Cleveland Police force area, the campaign has seen one crack house shut down, the arrest
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Sewer repairs start
WORK on a £90,000 sewer repair scheme will start on Monday. A section of Harrogate's Parliament Street will be closed for three weeks so contractors can reline the sewers from outside Bettys Cafe Tea Rooms to the junction with Oxford Street and from Oxford
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MP leads SA trip
VALE of York MP Anne McIntosh led a cross-party delegation of MPs and peers to South Africa. The group was in the country from January 21 to 26, at the invitation of Nestl, which employs 4,000 people in South Africa. The delegation met South African ministers
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Children race to improve their health
MORE than 2,000 primary schoolchildren from across Derwentside took part in a fun run yesterday. The event, launched by Olympic silver medallist and winner of the first two Great North Runs, Mike McLeod, is designed to encourage youngsters to lead a healthier
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Beach clean-up
Young offenders on community service will join volunteers in clearing litter and fly-tipped rubbish from Hendon beach in Sunderland today from 9.30am to noon. Anyone wanting to take part is asked to call organiser Eddy Moore, on 07837 625 304.
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Expansion will create a £500,000 flooring outlet
A CARPET retailer is to build a £500,000 flagship store in the region as part of an expansion that will create 100 jobs. Storey Carpets, based in Washington, Wearside, will create its first megastore on a 21,000sq ft site outside Newcastle. The unit will
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Darlington hoping to match Tynedale's spirit
DARLINGTON entertain Tynedale today determined to match the spirit of a side who continue to prosper in the face of adversity. The Corbridge club were among the favourites for relegation in National Three North when they lost several key players in the
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Computer students chip in for Red Cross
FOUR young computer experts are helping the British Red Cross, after developing IT systems for the charity's North-East offices. Karl Pountney, Daniel Maxwell, David Johnson and Tim Pickering, from Stockton Sixth Form College, developed two computer systems
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Young clairvoyants see bright careers ahead
FINDING the right career path to follow when you leave school is not always easy, but for two teenagers the answer was in a crystal ball. Carley Bowen and Samantha Robson have set up their own clairvoyance business, giving professional readings for clients
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Wilkinson at home
DOUBLE North-East gold medallist Neil Wilkinson will be aiming to add the North of England cross country title to his collection on home ground at Consett tomorrow. The 35-year-old physiotherapist and former Greater Manchester champion, who spearheaded
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GNER 'relaxed' over reports of £100m premiums
TRAIN company GNER has shrugged off reports that it may have to pay £100m a year to the Government should it win the right to continue running services on the East Coast Main Line. Last year, it paid about £25m to the Treasury in premiums and is among
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McDermott steps into the firing line
WHILE the intensity of Craig Bellamy's dispute with Graeme Souness has been particularly strong, it is far from unusual for players to suffer irretrievable differences with their management staff. Just ask Terry McDermott. The chirpy Scouser began his
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Aussie actress swaps Life down under for a stint in the dales
A WOMAN who flew halfway around the world for a job interview is settling into her new post - and getting used to the chilly winter conditions. Australian Verity Higgins had never visited the UK until she saw an advert on the Internet for the position
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Accidental heroes at 3M
INVESTING in safety training has helped a factory record a million working hours without an accident. Employees at 3M, in Aycliffe, near Darlington, reached the milestone after a safety programme was introduced at the Heighington Lane site. The project
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Saturday Spotlight: Sweeney hopes history will repeat itself in Cup
ANTONY Sweeney has already been part of the Hartlepool United team which beat Brentford in an FA Cup tie, won a fourth-round game in London and followed it up with a fifth-round trip to Old Trafford. With history there for the making this afternoon, a
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Myhre dreaming of a happy return
Thomas Myhre was an Everton player for four years and he has mixed emotions about his time on Merseyside. While his last days as a goalkeeper at Goodison Park ended on a sour note, those that went before were up there with the best he has enjoyed in his
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'Factory will lose a third of its workforce'
A FACTORY only yards from Prime Minister Tony Blair's home in County Durham is poised to shed a third of its workforce, The Northern Echo can reveal. The Volante factory, in Trimdon, which was opened in 1997 by Mr Blair, is planning to make about 30 staff
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For Your Benefit: Am I receiving enough help?
Q My wife and I have weekly State Pensions of £91.64 and £57.65 and my War Pension is £135.54 a month. I had a stroke at 56. Am I receiving all I should? A Unless you have considerable savings, you should be due Pension Credit and Council Tax Benefit.
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Parachutist's plane 'was too low'
THE plane carrying a North-East parachutist who sky-dived to his death was flying too low when he jumped, an inquest heard yesterday. Experts believe that RAF man Andrew Wilson, 25, of Manor Road, St Helen Auckland, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, may
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Bishops boss Honour strengthens team's spine with double signing
Bishop Auckland will have two new players in their squad for the home game with Marine this afternoon. Manager Brian Honour has signed striker Anthony Woodhouse, who has been playing at Benfield Saints, and defender Tony Hall from Billingham Town. Both
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Mobile phone summons mystery
POLICE are to launch an investigation after a man who has never owned a car, or had a driving lesson, was summoned to court for using a mobile phone at the wheel. Steven Andrews, 28, from York, is a chef in the Royal Navy, stationed at Plymouth with HMS
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The Albany Northern League: Shoulder sounds warning
West Auckland manager Alan Shoulder has warned that his side could drop back into the relegation fight if they don't start winning games again, starting today against Horden. West put together a good run of results before Christmas to climb into midtable
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Big on the small screen
Size doesn't matter anymore now that actors realise that the small screen can be as good for their careers as the movies. One of actress Teri Hatcher's first thoughts on collecting her Golden Globe for best actress was to thank US television network ABC
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Police chief delighted as courts praised for reducing trial delays
COURTS in part of the region are among the best in the country for the number of trials that go ahead on the day they are planned. Both Teesside magistrates and crown courts are beating the national average when it comes to reducing the number of "ineffective
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Volunteers sought for community play
WOULD-be actors are being offered the chance to tread the boards. Arts in Richmondshire (AiR) is creating a community play and rehearsals are about to start. Last Dance of a Dalesman is being written and directed by Nobby Dimon, of Richmond-based North
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Inquiry launched into boy's cell death
PRISON officials have ordered an investigation into how a North-East teenager haunted by the deaths of his brother and one of his best friends was found hanged in a young offenders' institution. Gareth Price was discovered in his cell at Lancaster Farms
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Movers and shakers
DASHING around on university open days with my youngest son, TV viewing this week has been under some pressure... if you don't count the Sky service from Cyprus offered to us by a Cypriot landlady in charge of an Oxford B&B. So while I've been busy
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Infatuation with prostitute led 'old fool' to deal in drugs
AN elderly security guard was drawn into the murky world of heroin dealing after he became infatuated with a 22-year-old prostitute, a court heard. Ian Brown, 64, of Heythrop Drive, Middlesbrough, began dealing £5 wraps of heroin in a misguided attempt
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29/01/05
PENSIONS: THE basic state pension will increase to £82.05 a week for a single person and £131.20 for a couple in April. These paltry payments to our senior citizens put us at the bottom of European spending on public pensions. I recently wrote to the
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Birds are not your average pet - but they're very easy to rhea
A SPUR-of-the-moment birthday present to his wife has led to a farmer offering some unusual pets for sale. Steve Nesbitt, of Alwent Hall Farm, near Staindrop, County Durham, bought five rheas, a type of South American ostrich, from a neighbour who was
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Agents keep McClaren's mind off Cup
STEVE McCLAREN says he has not had a chance to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of today's FA Cup clash - because he has spent all his time this week talking to football agents. The Middlesbrough boss takes his depleted side to Old Trafford for the their
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£4,000 is seized from drug dealer
A DRUG dealer whose heroin stash was discovered by a police sniffer dog will be forced to hand over £4,000 from the proceeds of his crime. Mark Walker, 30, of Newbury Way, Billingham, near Stockton, was jailed for six years in October last year after
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Bellamy's Tyneside time is ended with £6m deal
CRAIG Bellamy will complete a £6m move to Birmingham this weekend after Graeme Souness drew a line under his Newcastle career by telling him: "You'll never play for me again". Bellamy, who travelled to the West Midlands last night, will discuss personal
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Unbeaten run may give Pool the edge - Nelson
HARTLEPOOL United defender Micky Nelson believes his side's storming unbeaten run will be playing on the minds of opponents. Pool go into today's FA Cup fourth round tie at Brentford on the back of a ten-game unbeaten stretch - eight league and two FA
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Cheers! to Hollywood
Many movie stars and Hollywood directors have earned a reputation not just for enjoying wine, but for producing it as well. Now a new Oscar-nominated film has raised a glass to the vintage. Steve Pratt reports. The Marilyn Merlot is the perfect blend
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School chosen as national case study
A VILLAGE school is at the forefront of a national campaign to raise achievement levels among boys. Hurworth School, Maths and Computing College, near Darlington, has played an integral role in a project led by the Department for Education and Skills
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Baker to build £13m plant
BAKERY chain Greggs is to build a £13m factory to help it meet demand. The 57,000sq ft plant will be built at Balliol Park, Longbenton, North Tyneside, close to its 100,000sq ft factory, which opened in 1998. It will create 50 jobs and boost production
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Prize for law graduate who won justice
A CAMPAIGNING law graduate who helped win justice for a man wrongly imprisoned has won a legal prize. John Morgan, 26, from Darlington, was awarded Newcastle Law Society's prize for the University of Northumbria Exempting Degree. The prize is awarded
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Johnson aiming for double triumph
Howard Johnson looks to be the man to follow at Cheltenham this afternoon and he could easily lift two of the biggest prizes there with Grey Abbey in the Pillar Property Chase and Royal Rosa in the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle. Grey Abbey is unbeaten in four
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Farewell to 105-year-old
A FOND farewell was said yesterday to one the North-East's oldest and best-loved residents. The funeral of Fred Dickinson, 105, who died in hospital last week, took place at St Hilda's, on Hartlepool Headland, and was attended by friends and family. Tributes
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Carr back on road
STEPHEN Carr is expected to make his long-awaited return from a knee injury this afternoon after an intensive spell of massage ruled out the need for surgery. Carr injured his knee in November's 3-1 defeat to Manchester United and, when initial attempts
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Widow badgered into £700 roof bill
A TRAVELLING odd job man badgered an elderly widow into agreeing to pay £700 for roofing work worth a fraction of the price, a court heard. Harrogate magistrates heard how Jacob Connors pressurised the 84-year-old after knocking at her door to ask if
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Headteacher defends school from criticism
A HEADTEACHER has refuted a councillor's claim that her school was a "lame duck". Karen Pemberton, headteacher of Eastbourne Comprehensive in Darlington, which was recently taken out of the special measures imposed on it by Ofsted inspectors in 2002,
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Court told of woman's terror ordeal
A MAN who electrocuted, stabbed and strangled his partner during an attack that left her cheekbone, jaw, eyesocket and skull fractured, has been jailed for five years. Winston Dodds, 32, cut Jacqueline Bell with a serrated blade, electrocuted her with
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Boy attacked
A PUPIL was knocked unconscious during a savage attack at his school. The 15-year-old boy suffered head injuries during the attack by a similar-aged youth. It happened at 8.45am on Thursday in the grounds of Pennywell School, Sunderland. The boy needed
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Sales manager relaxes in her attempt at world record
AS world record attempts go, you probably could not get more relaxed. But Teesside woman Christine Hughff has entered the Guinness Book of Records after taking part in a group massage. The sales manager, from Stockton, has just returned from an all-expenses
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MP puts school visit on timetable in response to pupils' request
AN MP went back to school yesterday, joining pupils for a school dinner and an assembly. Stockton South MP Dari Taylor joined pupils at Egglescliffe CE Primary School, in Eaglescliffe, at the invitation of 11-year-olds Jack Millward and Rosie Cowie. Headteacher
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Buyers quick with bids for cemeteries
SEVEN cemetery buildings, including a former mortuary, have been put up for sale. And prospective buyers have been quick off the mark, calling for details within hours of the sale boards going up at the east Cleveland graveyards. Up for sale are two former
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Leisure plans are unveiled
PLANS to provide a multiplex cinema, 1,500-seat theatre and concert arena in a seaside town were outlined yesterday. Consultants have carried out a review of the cinemas and theatres in Scarborough and have come up with a range of options for developments
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MP gets tour of troubled village
POLICE officers met a politician yesterday to take her on a tour of a troubled village. Chief whip and N.W. Durham MP Hilary Armstrong met three officers who work in Burnhope, near Stanley. Residents have complained about the anti-social behaviour of
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'Mother overdosed after son's suicide'
A GRIEVING mother took a drugs overdose two months after her son also took his own life, a coroner's court has heard. Joan Lesley Williams died on May 27 last year after taking a large amount of morphine, which she had been prescribed for pain. At an
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Schemes to help young unemployed
UNEMPLOYED young people are being given the chance to take part in a Prince's Trust scheme. People aged between 16 and 25 are eligible to join teams of 15 for the 12-week-long projects. The package includes taking part in community projects and two weeks
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Golf washout but cash pours in
A PRO-am golf tournament raised £9,000 for charity without a single ball being struck. Last year's Cleveland Police charity match was cancelled because the course was waterlogged after heavy rain. The tournament's company sponsors were offered their entrance
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Town's farewell to veteran campaigner
A COMMUNITY is to bid farewell to one of its champions as she retires after two decades of tireless campaigning on its behalf. Flo McCall came to Shildon as Shildon Centre manager at a time when the town was striving to recover from the devastating blow
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Cheers! to Hollywood
Many movie stars and Hollywood directors have earned a reputation not just for enjoying wine, but for producing it as well. Now a new Oscar-nominated film has raised a glass to the vintage. Steve Pratt reports. The Marilyn Merlot is the perfect blend
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Sports centre ready to open amid hope that it is 'money well spent'
A MULTI-PURPOSE sports and arts facility in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, is gearing up for its full public opening next week. The £475,000 project at St Bede's Primary School includes a sports hall and changing area, classroom, community office
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Metro suspended
Metro services are to be suspended all day tomorrow between Benton, in Newcastle, and North Shields, North Tyneside, for essential engineering work on the new Northumberland Park station. A bus replacement service - bus number 900 - will operate between
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Cooks to help child victims of tsunami
COOKS hope to serve up a tasty treat to help the young victims of the Asian tsunami. Durham County Council's catering workers will take part in the international aid organisation Unicef's Unichef day on Monday, February 7 along with restaurants up and
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Greyhound track brings in the beer for its anniversary
A GREYHOUND track that has become a haven for real ale enthusiasts will celebrate 40 years in family ownership this weekend. The event, at the Pelaw Grange Greyhound Stadium, Chester-le-Street, is being marked with a festival of races culminating in a
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Mussels halt bridge plan
VILLAGERS have been left shell-shocked after plans for a long-awaited bridge were sunk by pearl-bearing freshwater mussels. The existing single track bridge is considered unsafe and locals are desperate for a replacement. But environmentalists say the
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Why we should say thanks
ONE day they'll make a film of Jane Tomlinson's life. And, for those who do not know the true story, it will seem far-fetched and fanciful. Four years ago, the mother-of-three was two days from death. Four years later, the terminal cancer sufferer has
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Gran stumps up reward after latest bike theft
THE grandmother of a girl who has had her bike stolen four times in a matter of months is calling for police to take action to prevent it from happening again. Sylvia Styles, 55, of Brignallmoor in Darlington's Firthmoor area, said bikes belonging to
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End of an era as Don closes shop for the last time
NEARLY 140 years of butchery comes to an end this afternoon when the stalls in Darlington's Covered Market are packed away and Don Manson retires. Don is calling it a day at the age of 78, having started on Harrison's stall as an order boy, aged 13. "
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Concern at plan to scrap fire crew
DURHAM City will lose one of its three fire crews under proposals to extend cover in Spennymoor. The county's brigade says the move could improve response times to some of the area's outlying villages. But a Durham county councillor fears it will leave
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Plan to boost cover could see fire crew scrapped
DURHAM will lose one of its three fire crews under proposals to extend cover in Spennymoor. The county's brigade says the move could improve response times to some of the area's outlying villages. But a Durham county councillor fears it will leave the
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Museum spotlight on Buddhist images
AN exhibition of unusual Chinese images is being held at a North-East museum. The display, called Enlightened Grotesques, runs until March 17 and offers the people the chance to view a series of unusual Chinese Buddhist images chosen from the collection
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At Your Service: Different tactics, same goal
The churches are good at getting it together in Teesdale, even though it's partly to celebrate their differences. THERE are still ten minutes remaining before Newcastle United's latest defeat and fractious aftermath - a summary for those of a non-sporting
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Refugees join asylum policy protest
CAMPAIGNERS gathered in the region yesterday to protest at a Government policy change that will see failed asylum seekers returned to the African state of Zimbabwe. Asylum seekers who have fled the hard-line regime of President Robert Mugabe joined local
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Agents keep McClaren's mind off Cup
STEVE McCLAREN says he has not had a chance to speak to Sir Alex Ferguson ahead of today's FA Cup clash - because he has spent all his time this week talking to football agents. The Middlesbrough boss takes his depleted side to Old Trafford for the their
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McCarthy message for 'goal-machine' Stewart
REJUVENATED Marcus Stewart has been told there are at least three more years of goals in him - by the man charged with deciding the Sunderland striker's future in the summer. Manager Mick McCarthy knows the forward is out of contract at the end of the
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News in brief
ROADWORKS NOTICE: Two-way temporary traffic lights have been installed on Loftus Bank, east Cleveland, due to a minor landslip. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is carrying out investigations and repairs. COFFEE MORNING: Teesside Samaritans will be
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Brave Jane's £1m quest is at an end
Terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson ended four incredible years of charity efforts yesterday as she surpassed her £1m target. The achievement comes four years after doctors told her that her cancer was going to kill her - and she might only have months
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Ofwat gives utility top marks for efficiency
YORKSHIRE Water is the most efficient water company in the country, according to a new report. Industry regulator Ofwat awarded the group four A-ratings for efficiency in its water and waste operations. Yorkshire, which was named Utility Company of the
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Baker to build £13m plant
BAKERY chain Greggs is to build a £13m factory to help it meet demand. The 57,000sq ft plant will be built at Balliol Park, Longbenton, North Tyneside, close to its 100,000sq ft factory, which opened in 1998. It will create 50 jobs and boost production
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Saturday Spotlight: Gray days just fine for Quakers' bright stars
Fifteen years after swapping a joinery apprenticeship for life as a footballer at Sunderland, Martin Gray is now carving out the careers of Darlington's next generation - and already it appears he's got it nailed. Before retiring in September 2001, Fishburn-born
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Where the best-dressed medieval ladies go
VISITORS to a restored medieval town house are to get the chance to dress for the occasion this weekend. Barley Hall, in York, was home to goldsmith William Snawsell, a lord mayor of the city, and York Archaeological Trust has returned the house to all
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Call in the Gassman
Although he's not much of a price (around 3-1) Your A Gassman appeals as the winner of the Sky Bet Chase over three miles at Doncaster (3.25) this afternoon, writes Janus. Ferdy Murphy's seven-year-old won his bumper and also scored over hurdles but,
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Report shows changing face of education
THE number of support staff and teaching assistants in North-East schools has nearly doubled in the past seven years, according to figures published by the Government. In 1997, there were 5,800 support staff and 2,900 full-time teaching assistants in
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Different tactics, same goal
THERE are still ten minutes remaining before Newcastle United's latest defeat and fractious aftermath - a summary for those of a non-sporting disposition - when it is necessary to leave football and fireside and head for Sunday evening service in Barnard
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Injuries fall kindly for the Quakers
DARLINGTON'S treatment table may have had more patients than the town's Memorial Hospital this season, but manager David Hodgson believes the timing of injuries could not have been kinder to his squad. While Hodgson has been forced to reshuffle his pack
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Watchdog to drop Convoy Aid probe
A WATCHDOG is set to drop its plans to investigate a North-East charity. The Charities Commission "opened an evaluation" into Teesside-run Convoy Aid, after a member of the public spotted a glitch on the charity's website. Although the mistake was corrected
