Archive
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Closure threat for nursery
A COUNCIL has vowed to support a closure-threatened kindergarten. Busy Bees Kindergarten, in Ragworth, Stockton, is a small charity-run nursery for the under-fives. Due to running costs, the kindergarten is facing the prospect of closure. The charity,
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Tragedy of fitness fanatic officer known as 'Superman'
THE family of a policeman who died suddenly, aged 42, have paid tribute to the gentle giant they nicknamed Superman. Father-of-two PC Jeff Vowles, a police officer of 19 years, worked as a school liaison officer for Cleveland Police, based in Stockton
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Parents attack ban on anti-bullying wristband
PARENTS of pupils at a school that stopped children wearing anti-bullying wristbands want to see the ban lifted. St Patrick's RC Primary School, in Consett, County Durham, banned the blue bracelets because they break a strict uniform code. They were sent
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Take your time to gain trust of a 'nappy' horse
MOST horse people would agree that there are very few "nappy" horses born. It is something that can happen for a reason. We all know people who go through life without appearing to have any worries about doing things that other people think are frightening
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SIP Home boosted by Grainger's £1m move
THE future of environmentally-friendly construction in the region has received a boost worth nearly £1m. SIP Home has attracted investment from Derwent Developments, a subsidiary of Tyneside-based Grainger Trust plc, the UK's largest quoted residential
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Workshops for performers
BUDDING performers can hone their acting, writing and comedy skills at a series of workshops. The People's Theatre of Hartlepool is hosting the sessions over the next few weeks, as well as a taster workshop at The Stranton Centre in the Burn Valley area
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Council's low tax proposal
A PROVISIONAL council tax rise of 23p a week has been proposed by Hambleton District Council. The rise, which equates to £12 a year, means council tax will stand at £80 for an average Band D property if the figures are agreed by councillors next month
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Shanghai Automotive may be unable to ignore the Italians
MG-ROVER'S proposed tie-up with the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is causing anxiety among senior politicians who fear it could turn into an election banana skin if the deal hits problems. Although MG-Rover confidently predicted last
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Job Search: Vacancies
Supervisor, Northallerton. £13,798 to £15,885pa, 37.5hrs pw, temporary,. Customer care, supervisory, and computer skills essential. Need to be flexible and confident. Ref: NA: 1355. Sales assistant, Richmond. £5ph, 40hrs pw. 5 days out of 7 on rota. No
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Contest's testing time
Those who braved the rain and fog on the morning of Sunday, January 16, at Northallerton Equestrian Centre were rewarded with a long, gloriously sunny day. You did, however, have to have some sympathy for the event's course designer and builder, Alan
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Job Search: Vacancies
Taxi driver. 16-40hrs pw, 5 days from 7. Must have full current UK driving licence. Employer will accept minor points. Help with taxi badge available. Ref: DUR 41948. Cafe bar staff. £4.85ph, 16hrs pw, 3 days from 7. Must be 18-plus. Experience preferred
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Dance music veterans in tune with revival
THE ballroom revival has brought two veteran musicians out of unofficial retirement from the dance band scene. But Geoff Phillips and George Hetherington - used to playing in resident bands at some of the North-East's leading hotels - will be performing
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Rugby brother is raising the crossbar
WOLSINGHAM rugby star Mathew Tait will be missing his "number one fan" when he makes his England debut on Saturday - because his younger brother, Alex, is representing his country on the same day. Eighteen-year-old Mathew will fulfil a lifetime ambition
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Young lawyers ready for action
Ward Hadaway has awarded eight training contracts. The trainees, who beat strong competition to win their contracts, will undergo a combination of on-the-job training and classroom study at Northumbria University as they take their first steps towards
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Hodgson happy to land Petta
DAVID HODGSON insists new signing Bobby Petta can emulate the impact Neil Heaney made during his Darlington days. Hodgson's pursuit of the former Celtic winger came to a successful conclusion yesterday when the 30-year-old signed a short-term deal until
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01/02/05
MODERN LIFE: RARELY has The Northern Echo so graphically illustrated two sides of human nature as it did on Saturday. On the one hand was the news that Jane Tomlinson, though suffering from terminal cancer, has raised over £1m for cancer and other charities
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Celtic swoop to give Bellamy a lifeline
NEWCASTLE UNITED pariah Craig Bellamy last night found himself wanted again as he tied up a loan deal with Scottish champions Celtic. But the bitterness between the Wales striker and the Magpies showed no signs of abating with the club shunning the chance
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Back to life after two decades in limbo
BodyShock: The Man Who Slept For 19 Years (C4); Bloodlines (ITV1); Sex In The 70s (C4): AFTER her son Terry was badly injured in a car accident, Angilee Wallis refused to believe doctors who said he'd never wake up. "He's in there, he just can't communicate
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Steve Dembry
Bannatyne's Casino has secured the services of one of the region's top chefs for its new restaurant. STEVE DEMBRY, 31, has taken up the challenge after a career that has seen him working at venues such as Claridges, in London, and The Vermont and Pitcher
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'Carrier dispute will not cost jobs'
A ROW over a £3bn aircraft carrier project will not cost North-East jobs, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said last night. Newspaper reports have suggested that BAE Systems, a partner in the contract with French group Thales, was threatening to pull out
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Bare necessities of life behind firm's global aim
A NORTH-EAST businessman has invented a device which he hopes will adorn toilets all over the world within a matter of years. Alan Parker, director of a new start-up company, Pan-Active (UK), has invented and is now producing a "self-sanitizing toilet
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Philip McCready and Andrew Davison
JENNINGS in Sunderland has made two appointments. PHILIP McCREADY, a sales executive from Sunderland, was made redundant from his previous job with Warwick Garage when the company went into liquidation. ANDREW DAVISON, from Hartlepool, has been appointed
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Len departs at 90, along with his secret
Len Watson, the all-round athlete who seemed forever to run and run, has finally leaped into eternity - a lovely man and a wonderful character. He was 90, vigorously competed until ten years ago, still holds the world record - 4.13m - for the Over 75s
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Miners stage sit-in protest for right to fight to save their jobs
Miners at a stricken North-East colliery staged a sit-in protest yesterday to demand the right to pump clear their flooded pit. Workers on enforced leave from the region's last deep pit demanded the right to return to work yesterday. About 40 pitmen protested
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Man jailed after high-speed police chase
A man who led police on a hair-raising high speed chase has been jailed for a total of nine months. John Dowson, 25, jumped a set of traffic lights at 80mph and also drove the wrong way around a roundabout, narrowly missing a heavy goods lorry, Teesside
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Preserve us from the improvers
John Prescott, that Les Dawson - only without the humour - of the Blair Cabinet, is to destroy more of Liverpool than the Luftwaffe ever did. Some 20,000 Victorian houses on Merseyside are to be demolished and the people resettled in some hastily built
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Music evening will help raise tsunami funds
A CHOIR and band are combining for a charity concert in aid of the tsunami appeal. East Witton Male Voice Choir and Leyburn Band will perform at St Matthew's Church, in Leyburn, on Saturday, February 12, at 7.30pm. Band chairman Gerald Hodgson said: "
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School's mentors honoured for work
THOUGHTFUL pupils at a North-East school have been recognised with a national award for their work to combat bullying. One year ten and six year nine pupils at Staindrop Comprehensive School, in County Durham, have received Diana Princess of Wales Memorial
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Almost 500 supporters enjoy Hurworth ball
THE first authenticated record of the Hurworth Hunt was in 1803, originally founded by the three Wilkinson Brothers of Neasham Abbey. The hounds at that time were kennelled at Hurworth hence the name of the current day hunt. Like all hunts it has had
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Cattle could be a thing of the past in North-East countryside
RURAL business expert Dorothy Fairburn predicts that cows could all but disappear from the countryside within a matter of years. Livestock farming - once the lifeblood of the rural economy - is in decline due to lack of profits, and the problems facing
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Eating Owt: Spoon-feeding the clientele
The column hotfoots it to a restaurant which was badly damaged by fire a year ago, to see what's risen from the ashes. WHAT might paradoxically be termed the indefinite article, the phone book lists the Old Farmhouse neither under "Old" or "Farmhouse"
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One game at a time for Pool
RITCHIE Humphreys admits there's no danger of his Hartlepool United side already making plans for Southampton. Pool were yesterday paired with the Premiership side in the FA Cup draw. But first they have to overcome Brentford in the fourth round replay
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Ryanair's film plan may be grounded
Ryanair passengers failed to tune into a new onboard entertainment service offering videos and music for £5 a flight. The no-frills carrier, which runs flights from Durham Tees Valley Airport, said an initial lack of availability of non-English language
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Study on airborne Internet solution
HIGH-ALTITUDE airships could provide high-speed Internet connections in rural areas, after a study by Yorkshire scientists. Early trials of the revolutionary system being pioneered by Yorkshire scientists have proved a success. York University is leading
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Great start for club
A THEATRE company has launched a breakfast club to provide youngsters with a healthy start before school. The Cap-a-Pie Theatre Company, based in Dipton, began opening on Wednesday mornings after staff noticed children waiting at the bus stop were eating
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Job Search: Vacancies
Motor mechanic/recovery. Age 25-plus for insurance. Must be time-served and fully qualified mechanic with a clean driving licence. GV C+E (formerly HGV1) licence an advantage. Ref: BIS 14844. Production manager. Must be an engineer with at least ten years
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Engineers win £30m service contract at BP terminal
ENGINEERS on Teesside have won a £30m contract to service a gas terminal. AK Engineering Services, in Stockton, will carry out maintenance and modifications to BP's Central Area Transmission System (Cats) terminal at nearby Seal Sands. The company, a
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Long haul interview pays off
A WOMAN who flew half way around the world for a job interview is settling into her new post - and getting used to the British winter. Australian Verity Higgins had never visited the UK until she saw an advert on the internet for the position of assistant
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Town's past comes to life
A project has been launched to help bring the past alive - and local people are being urged to play a full part. Memories and mementoes are needed to help provide a trail of outdoor boards showing the local history of Thirsk and Sowerby. Local charity
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Why helping others is more rewarding than do-it-yourself
In its heyday, Dickens was a household name in the North of England, the pioneers of the home improvement hypermarket. But for the man at the top, it was sometimes a lonely existence. Albert Dicken recently took time out from his work for charity and
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We're not the cookery Osbournes
TWO years ago, top chef John Burton Race left the rat race of running a Michelin-starred London restaurant and escaped to rural France to rediscover the joys of cooking and spend more time with his family. His experiences were recorded in his first TV
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Feathered friends learning to be smarter - parrot-fashion
THEY may be bird-brained, but they are certainly not stupid. According to research, our feathered friends can tell between styles of art, are useful at making tools and can even use words they have learned to mimic in order to communicate with humans.
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Warning of care home closures
PRIVATE care homes in the region are facing possible closure because they cannot pay staff the going rate, according to their owners. Simon Beckett, chairman of Care North-East, an organisation that represents the region's independent care homes sector
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Barrels of tips from film star
ACTOR and playwright Nick Moran is giving a free advice session to writers on Monday, at 3.15pm, at Darlington Arts Centre. The star of the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is in town to perform his play, Telstar, at Darlington Civic Theatre from
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'No deal' says Balde as Boro draw blank
MIDDLESBROUGH'S attempts to bring two new faces to the Riverside looked doomed to failure as the transfer deadline loomed last night. Steve McClaren's hopes of landing Celtic centre-back Bobo Balde ended when the 29-year-old pledged his immediate future
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Debate on council tax rise
CONSERVATIVES are preparing to raise questions about the budget proposals revealed by Darlington Borough Council last week. The authority is planning to raise council tax by 4.8 per cent, meaning tax payers in Band A would pay an extra 57p per week. Officials
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£50 reward offered to catch vandals
VOLUNTEERS who run a village hall have run out of patience after vandals smashed windows four times in less than a year. They are offering a £50 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those causing the damage in Gainford, near
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Musicians channel energy into tour
MUSICIANS at Darlington College of Technology are getting ready to take their music across the Channel. Seventeen musicians, three budding actors and three technical crew will embark on a four-day French tour around Darlington's twin town of Amiens on
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Pride of teacher who was Mathew's guiding light
ONE of the proudest people watching Mathew Tait's England debut in the Millennium Stadium on Saturday will be the teacher who has guided him through his sensational sporting journey. Rugby coach Martin Pepper watched Mathew excel at all sports at Barnard
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Students' flair for changing rooms
Students have designs on the future after completing their first professional commission for a client. First year BTEC National Diploma students in design at Darlington College of Technology were asked to come up with ideas to decorate a house with a
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Barrels of tips from film star
ACTOR and playwright Nick Moran is giving a free advice session to writers on Monday, at 3.15pm, at Darlington Arts Centre. The star of the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is in town to perform his play, Telstar, at Darlington Civic Theatre from
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Musicians preparing to make French connection
MUSICIANS at Darlington College of Technology are getting ready to take their music across the Channel. Seventeen musicians, three would-be actors and three technical crew will embark on a four-day French tour around Darlington's twin town of Amiens on
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Olympian's toboggans stolen
A FORMER Winter Olympian has appealed for the safe return of his toboggans after they were stolen by thieves. The two racing toboggans were taken from outside the home of Keith Schellenberg, in Richmond, on the night of January 22. Mr Schellenberg, 75
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Travel plan Sam can be pupils' main man
YOUNGSTERS at a village primary school were given road safety advice yesterday in a move designed to improve the journey to and from their school. An assembly was held at Kirk Merrington Primary School, near Spennymoor, yesterday which included a talk
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Ukrainians visit
REPRESENTATIVES from the Ukraine are visiting the North-East as part of an exchange programme. The delegation, from Kharkiv, led by Mayor Leonid Soroka, visits Newcastle Civic Centre today. Soroka means magpie in Russian, and on Saturday he and his colleagues
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Curtain raised on plans for £9m concert venue in town
Plans to create a £9m music and arts centre in Ripon have been unveiled. The facility at Cathedral Choir School, in Ripon, would include an 850-seat concert hall, plus smaller performance and teaching rooms. Headmaster Richard Pepys hopes the centre will
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Praise for council boss
THE outgoing chief executive of Darlington Borough Council received a round of applause for his efforts at a full meeting of the authority on Thursday. Deputy Mayor Councillor Stella Robson said Barry Keel, who leaves on February 28 to take up a post
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Kenzie at launch night
CELEBRITY Big Brother finalist Kenzie is to appear at a new under-18s night in the North-East. He will be at the launch party of Bright Young Things, at Legends, in Grey Street, Newcastle, next Monday. It has been organised by Metro Radio's DJ Wayne and
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On TV
Back to life after two decades in limbo BodyShock: The Man Who Slept For 19 Years (C4) Bloodlines (ITV1) Sex In The 70s (C4) AFTER her son Terry was badly injured in a car accident, Angilee Wallis refused to believe doctors who said he'd never wake up
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Racing track to learn if it will remain in business
THE future of a controversial racing track will be decided tonight. Councillors said they were inclined to give conditional planning permission for Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club to continue racing on fields on the outskirts of Kiplin, near Richmond,
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News in brief
CONFIDENCE-BUILDING: A confidence-building session is being held by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Adult Learning Service. Discover the Confident, Assertive You will take place at the SureStart Grangetown Children's Centre on Tuesday, February
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A healthy school
A SCHOOL that helps pupils to be healthy and happy and finds they do better in the classroom has been given a coveted award. Dean Bank Primary School, in Ferryhill, has won a Healthy School award for the care it gives to children's physical and mental
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Confusion over house arrest for extremists
Ministers yesterday appeared divided over plans to put animal rights extremists under house arrest. Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said last week controversial control orders being drawn up to deal with terror suspects could apply to animal activists
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Richard takes on Arctic challenge
AN offshore engineer with an adventurous streak is representing the UK in a gruelling challenge in the freezing Arctic this week. Richard Jackson, 33, a Territorial Army officer who works for Newcastle company Wellstream, flew out on Friday to take part
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Pregnant teenager spared jail for stabbing
A PREGNANT teenager who stabbed another woman in self-defence escaped a prison sentence yesterday. Antonia Claire Evans was confronted by the other woman outside the home of a friend in Fenhall Green, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, last July. Durham
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Exhibition delves into town's past
A council has searched its archives to launch a photo exhibition charting more than 150 years of a town's history. Photos from the Past is an exhibition of pictures from Stockton Borough Council's archives. The diverse collection, going back to the mid
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Prescott aims to bring in more mayors
MORE elected mayors are likely in towns in the North - despite the embarrassment of the election of a man in a monkey suit in Hartlepool. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott yesterday unveiled plans to drop the "cumbersome" rule that requires five per
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Drama in the trenches
WARTIME drama came to the region last night as Darlington Civic Theatre's latest production got under way. Journey's End, which runs until Saturday, has opened the venue's spring season. Set in 1918, in the British trenches at St Quentin, France, the
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Dyer tips Shearer fairytale
KIERON DYER believes Alan Shearer will cap a fairytale ending to the last year of his playing career by lifting the FA Cup. Newcastle have been handed a tough fifth round tie with Chelsea at St James' Park, while promotion-chasing Hartlepool face a mouth-watering
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Asbo for noisy 82-year-old who didn't like Jumpin' Jack Flash
AN 82-year-old man has become the oldest person to receive an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) - for playing his television at full blast day and night. John Kirkpatrick claimed he turned the TV up to full volume only to drown out his neighbour's singing
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Window cleaner gets ten years for frenzied knife attack on fiancee
A WINDOW cleaner who repeatedly stabbed his fiancee and left her for dead, before stabbing himself, has been jailed for ten years. Martin Shaw, a 23-year-old fitness fan who took cocaine, ecstasy and steroids, armed himself with a knife and lashed out
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Nissan to invest millions to produce new model
Japanese car giant Nissan is to invest £223m in its North-East plant to build an exciting new model. The Qashqai is a cross between a 4x4 and a people carrier designed specifically to appeal to younger drivers. The production version will be built at
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Creation of wildlife reserves earns awards for companies
Two companies have been rewarded for their commitment to the environment in the inaugural Conservation Awards, run by Durham Wildlife Trust and energy supplier npower. John Dean met the people behind the success. THE moorland of Teesdale is home to a
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N-E facing big ticket tout problem
ALMOST half a million event tickets will be bought on the black market in the North-East this year, according to new research. Ticket touts will take more than £2.3m in this region, the 428,600 tickets being sold via a variety of methods, including the
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Robinson backs Tait to justify his stunning rise
ENGLAND coach Andy Robinson is confident that teenage prodigy Mathew Tait will not be daunted by the final step in his transition from schoolboy to superstar. Tait will become the youngest player to represent England since injured Newcastle Falcons team-mate
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Up and running
Barnard Castle-based Rokeby Developments is delighted with progress being made at its £3.5m development at Preston Farm. Quantity surveyors Baker Mallet and Tri Star Homes Limited - Stockton Borough Council's new arms-length housing management company
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Hague: No return to frontline politics
FORMER Tory leader William Hague has rejected calls for a return to front-bench politics, but says he wants to remain MP for Richmondshire. In an interview with a national newspaper, Mr Hague also said he would like to start a family with his wife, Ffion
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Boyhood dream becomes reality
This spring will see a stately home open as one of the grandest hotels in the North-East. Dan Jenkins met the man who is making it happen. BEAMISH Hall has always held an allure for David Craggs. He was brought up in the shadow of the imposing stately
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Call to rethink ITV cutbacks
PLANS to cut ITV regional programmes are based on flawed research, according to a North-East regional screen agency. Northern Film and Media (NFM) has called on regulator Ofcom to think again "before clearing the way for such devastating and uncalled-for
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Rail journey remembered
The 150th anniversary of the first passenger train journey between two stations was remembered today . Civic leaders and staff from the Wensleydale Railway travelled between Bedale and Leeming Bar, in North Yorkshire. The short journey marked the 150th
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Richard takes on Arctic challenge
AN offshore engineer with an adventurous streak is representing the UK in a gruelling challenge in the freezing Arctic this week. Richard Jackson, 33, a Territorial Army officer who works for Newcastle company Wellstream, flew out on Friday to take part
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Ambulances to cover GPs' night calls
THE ambulance service has stepped in to handle emergency evening and night-time calls to doctors in North Yorkshire. Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service has been awarded the contract to handle out-of-hours' GP calls in the county. The contract
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Area tops incapacity cash claims
A FORMER North-East mining community has more people claiming incapacity benefits than anywhere in England. One in five of the working-age population in Easington District, in County Durham, claim the allowance, according to figures. The Welsh former
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Esme Trelease, Nicole Archer and Lynne Elliott
TEESSIDE housing association Endeavour has made three appointments. ESME TRELEASE has taken up the post of service development officer to improve the quality of Endeavour's housing services. NICOLE ARCHER has been appointed supported housing officer at
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Follow basic rules for success in breeding
Dr Peter H Ward, senior veterinarian to the Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on how to breed horses successfully. Depending on the situation, the breeding stallion might be called on to cover a large book of mares in a short period of
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Taxpayers face security bill
NORTH-EAST council taxpayers will pay the bill for a £2.8m security operation when the Labour Party Conference is staged in Gateshead this month. More than 1,000 officers will be involved, and Northumbria Police has warned the public they may be stopped
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Richard Jones
SUNDERLAND-based housebuilder Broseley Homes has appointed a sales manager. RICHARD JONES, who has 13 years experience in housing, joins serving sales manager Gary Anderson to lead a regional sales team of 20. Mr Jones has responsibility for the southern
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Revolution Day, by Rageh Omaar
As the Iraqis go to the polls, Jack Doyle considers a book by the BBC's man on the spot during the war. REVOLUTION DAY by Rageh Omaar (Penguin Books, £7.99) WHEN Rageh Omaar returned from Iraq a media star, a furious bidding war broke out between book
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Return to the hurdles should do the trick
FOLLOWING an unsuccessful flirtation with fences, Emphatic (4.10) is fancied to make a triumphant return to hurdles at Taunton today. Jonny Portman's ten-year-old tried the bigger obstacles on his last couple of starts, but he never appeared to jump with
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Ships still sailing in the wake of a Tyneside tradition
Ship building is an industry synonymous with the Tyne. A mere mention of the river is enough to conjure images of a skyline filled with cranes and thousands of men labouring. Swan Hunter is the pre-eminent name among the shipyards - old black and white
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Liz Thorpe
ARRIVA plc has appointed LIZ THORPE as deputy company secretary. She will take responsibility for work on pensions and corporate governance. Company secretary David Turner said: "I am sure she will be in invaluable asset to the company as it continues
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Profit rise signals NRG's recovery
A RECRUITMENT agency that lost a major contract when Samsung pulled out of the region has bounced back with a big increase in profits. Interim results posted by Northern Recruitment Group (NRG), of Grey Street, Newcastle, revealed a 63 per cent rise in
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Skills put fitness guru in shape
A NORTH-East fitness expert has doubled the size of his business after help to develop his marketing skills. Steve Harris , from Consett, County Durham, started his company in 2001 and is now personal trainer to people from all walks of life, including
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Musicians channel energy into tour
MUSICIANS at Darlington College of Technology are getting ready to take their music across the Channel. Seventeen musicians, three budding actors and three technical crew will embark on a four-day French tour around Darlington's twin town of Amiens on
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Northern Stage boss stepping down
The artistic driving force behind a leading North-East stage group is leaving as the company prepares to move into a new £8m theatre development. Alan Lyddiard is stepping down as chief executive of Newcastle-based Northern Stage to concentrate on his
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Takeover talk lifts Woolies
SHARES in Woolworths leapt by more than 20 per cent yesterday after a potential bidder confirmed its interest in a takeover. Private equity firm Apax Partners, which helped fund the takeover of New Look last year, said it was at an early stage of considering
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All-rounder bids for Oval contract
A CATERING equipment supplier set up only 15 months ago is bidding for a contract at one of the UK's leading sporting arenas. Howell-Cummings, of Enterprise City, Spennymoor, County Durham, has been invited to tender for the new kitchens at The Oval cricket
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Right on cue, Philip chalks up biggest title yet
WHEN champion pool player Philip Burford first picked up a cue he was as short as the table he was playing on. The seven-year-old had to stand on beer crates to get anywhere near the balls. But seven years and a lot of practice later, he is one step from
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Town's facelift overdue, says MP
AN MP has welcomed plans for a £16m plan to regenerate a former mining town. But Kevan Jones has criticised Derwentside District Council for taking too long in developing the scheme for Stanley, County Durham. The MP for North Durham said he particularly
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Couple highlight the benefits of fostering
A SCHEME has been launched to encourage people to take up the challenge of fostering teenagers. Durham County Council is promoting the teenage placement scheme as an alternative to residential care. Elaine Robinson, the council's fostering and adoption
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Wendy links up with N-E telecoms operator
A MOBILE communications company has appointed WENDY LONGSTAFF as its North-East regional sales manager. Link Telecom, based in West Yorkshire, has made the appointment to coincide with the opening of a regional office in South Church, Bishop Auckland,
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The Russian spy of Whitley Bay
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON: A Dynasty Of Spies by Vin Arthey (St Ermins Press, £25. www.ermin.com) COUNTY Durham author Vin Arthey has unearthed a fascinating tale of 20th century espionage which links the Tyneside seaside town of Whitley Bay with one of Soviet
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Hague: No return to frontline politics
FORMER Tory leader William Hague has rejected calls for a return to front-bench politics, but says he wants to remain MP for Richmondshire. In an interview with a national newspaper, Mr Hague also said he would like to start a family with his wife, Ffion
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Karl Wickerson, Chris Heatlie, Sean Hamilton and Gwyneth Scholefoeld
PricewaterhouseCoopers, in Newcastle, has appointed KARL WICKERSON to provide tax advice to clients. The company appointed Mr Wickerson from its Hull office. CHRIS HEATLIE returns to the Newcastle practice from a spell at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Leeds
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Helping graduates shine
A FREE programme helping graduates become entrepreneurs is being offered. The Gleam programme (Graduate Learning of Entrepreneurship Accelerated through Mentoring) is offering a six-month programme taking graduates to business start-up. There are 12 places
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Coping with a change of heart
In the first of a new Business Echo column, Pam Eccles, Executive Director of LSC Tees Vally, examines topical training and training issues. One of the challenges facing the learning and skills community at this time of year is the number of young people
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Len departs at 90, along with his secret
Len Watson, the all-round athlete who seemed forever to run and run, has finally leaped into eternity - a lovely man and a wonderful character. He was 90, vigorously competed until ten years ago, still holds the world record - 4.13m - for the Over 75s
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The comma that ended a story
The migration of certain species of butterfly into the North has been used as proof of global warming. But now it seems that some of them have been here before. John Dean reports. THEY are Nature's great barometers, creatures so sensitive that they can
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Story-writing challenge fires the imagination
ENTRIES have started to arrive for a national short story competition run through The Northern Echo. However, most of the entries, the majority of which are from the North-East, are for the adult category and it is hoped more young writers will enter
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Miners stage sit-in protest for right to fight to save their jobs
Miners at a stricken North-East colliery staged a sit-in protest yesterday to demand the right to pump clear their flooded pit. Workers on enforced leave from the region's last deep pit demanded the right to return to work yesterday. About 40 pitmen protested
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Will a bunch of fives be lucky
£10,000 a minute - that is the staggering level of profit that Shell is due to announce on Thursday. The high oil price throughout last year will mean Shell reporting record full-year results. Earnings per share are likely to have jumped from 30.4p to
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Dear Diary, today I was unfairly dismissed
For the uninitiated, a blog - or weblog to give it its proper name - is an online diary in which the blogger shares his thoughts with the world. Unfortunately for Joe Gordon, a former senior bookseller at Waterstones' Edinburgh store, his employers took
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Nissan to unveil a vision for the future
NISSAN is poised to make a major announcement today about its North-East plant and the future of thousands of jobs. Company bosses are due to give details of new investment in its Sunderland factory - already the most productive car plant in Europe. They
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Everyone can benefit from a bit of training
Never let it be said that there is no overlap between equestrian disciplines. Not many people will acknowledge it of course; they just adopt a slightly patronising attitude. Show jumpers think eventers are mad jumping solid fences; they both regard dressage
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53-year-old admits to sex offences against children
A NORTH-EAST man appeared in court yesterday to face a catalogue of sex charges against twelve children. Lawrence Petch, of Parker Terrace, Ferryhill, County Durham, was due to stand trial at Teesside Crown Court, but entered guilty pleas to some charges
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Shy, retiring, but going places
IF YOU thought choosing a jockey for Northern Horse's Rider Focus was an easy job, think again. There are so many jockeys around, literally hundreds, so I turned to Jonjo Sanderson, general manager of Catterick racecourse for expert advice. A couple of
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What kate did next
WHEN mum Kate Jones tried to return to work after giving birth, she hit stumbling block after stumbling block. Looking for a job which fitted in with her responsibilities as a mother was one problem - but finding suitable and affordable childcare for
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Newcastle skipper is full of praise for Faye after debut
ALAN SHEARER admitted that no-one has been happy with the unsavoury events surrounding St James' Park, but added: "No-one is bigger than the club." Newcastle United have been involved in a public slanging match with striker Craig Bellamy, manager Graeme
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Man arrested after crash
A MAN was arrested after an incident when a van crashed through a house fence in Bishop Auckland. Police arrived to find a white Vauxhall Vivaro in a garden in Croxdale Grove. Resident Lucy Fayers, 36, was inside her home at the time. "I heard a massive
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Woman died in stair fall
A WOMAN died after falling down the stairs at her Newton Aycliffe home, an inquest heard yesterday. Peggy Elizabeth Hird, 67, was found at the foot of the stairs at her house in Markham Place on September 29 last year. Her daughter, Elizabeth Dixon, had
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Changing the chain of office
A COUPLE of years before the referendum on regional government for the North-East, the Government had been enthusiastic about directly elected mayors. But its interest understandably waned when it suffered the embarrassment of three defeats in the North-East
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Amec contract wins will trigger recruitment drive
ENGINEERING services group Amec is close to securing three contracts that will boost its staff numbers. The group, which has its industrial division in Darlington, is bidding for a Ministry of Defence contract for the North of England that will see it
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Tory councillor hits out in row over seat deselection
A WAR of words in a row over the deselection of a Tory councillor is heating up - after 3,500 letters were sent to constituents accusing the local Conservative party of an "ambush". Councillor Marjorie Simpson was deselected by Stockton Conservatives
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Drivers can park for free
SIGNS are to be put up alerting drivers to a free car park in Darlington town centre. The decision to publicise the car park in Chesnut Street, which has about 185 spaces, was made after residents in Lodge Street complained about shoppers and commuters
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Bench marks 52 years
MORE than 50 years of links between Darlington and its German twin town have been recognised. Residents of Mulheim an der Ruhr have provided a bench for North Lodge Park to celebrate the towns' partnership. The Mulheim town twinning association donated
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Watson Burton opens new office
LAW firm Watson Burton has expanded into Yorkshire with the opening of an office in Leeds. The commercial law firm, based in Newcastle, is aiming to increase turnover with the expansion and target the market south of Newcastle. The premises are at One
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Funding helps children enjoy more playtime
A second play area has opened in Crakehall, near Bedale, with the help of outside funding. The play area at the village hall was paid for by grants of £5,000 from the National Lottery's Awards For All scheme and £5,000 from Yorventure, which is funded
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Chess club makes move to find opponents
A SCHOOL is throwing down the gauntlet to chess players in the North-East. Despite having a 42-member strong chess club, Ormesby School, in Middlesbrough, can find no one to play with. Its last outdoor tournament was with a school in the York area. Kiki
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Half-term creative fun
CHILDREN can create their own show at a half-term holiday event in Bishop Auckland Town Hall next week. Youngsters who enjoy acting, making props and costumes and learning about lighting and sound effects can adapt Hans Christian Andersen's The Little
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Teenage heroin addict jailed under 'three-strikes' rule
A TEENAGE heroin addict was caught as he broke into the home of a man with learning disabilities in a sheltered housing complex. Gavin Cummings, who had earlier conned money from other residents saying he was a window cleaner, was yesterday given a four-year
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Villagers urged to explore the past
A FORMER mining village in Teesdale is launching a project to record its history after securing more than £15,500 in funding. Residents of Evenwood are being encouraged to take part in the Community Heritage, Drama and Arts Project to help learn more
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£50 reward offered to catch vandals
VOLUNTEERS who run a village hall have run out of patience after vandals smashed windows four times in less than a year. They are offering a £50 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those causing the damage in Gainford, near
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Clean-up blitz for town's centre
BUSINESSES in Hartlepool have been praised for supporting a clean-up initiative. Mayor Stuart Drummond launched Operation Clean Sweep in 2003, in which the council concentrates resources in one area for a short period. The latest week-long clean-up, the
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Trio accused of hiring gunman
Lawyers in the drive-by shooting trial at Newcastle Crown Court have started giving their closing speeches. William "Ike" Anderson is said to have had such a grudge against Stanley Creswell that he, his father and uncle hired a gunman to kill him. Mr
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Council awaits public's verdict over merger
A RURAL parish council hopes to carry on with plans to merge with a larger, neighbouring council. Councillors on Newbiggin-in-Teesdale Parish Council have agreed that it would be in the council's best interest if it was to join with Middleton-in-Teesdale
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Students seek meeting with Blair after Africa visit
STUDENTS who have returned to North Yorkshire from southern Africa are hoping to share their experiences with Prime Minister Tony Blair. Eight students, aged 16 to 18, visited Likhubula in Malawi for three weeks to help renovate a youth centre and orphanage
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Health chiefs rein in spending amid budget fears
HEALTH chiefs in Derwentside are examining their budgets after forecasts of a £207,000 overspend this year. Derwentside Primary Care Trust hopes to balance the books by April by cutting all non-essential costs. Director of finance and commissioning Ian
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Company honours MD
THE award-winning boss of Newsquest (North East) - publishers of The Advertiser Series - has been honoured by parent company Gannett, one of the world's biggest publishing companies. Managing director David Kelly was one of five finalists in the Gannett
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Talented trio join squad
Three of the North's young endurance riders recently attended Milton Keynes Equestrian Centre as part of the British Young Riders' Squad. Michael Evans from Rushyford near Bishop Auckland, Amy Boston from Yarm and Kirsty Wood from Durham travelled to
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Sharon Griffiths Meets...
It may be small and isolated but that doesn't stop Forest in Teesdale School from experiencing the world - and winning awards for it. CAROLE Connolly loves small schools. Not surprising then that she's headmistress of Forest in Teesdale School, just 11
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Burns' Night raises £3,800 for charity
A TRADITIONAL Burns' Night supper has raised thousands of pounds for the Samaritans in Darlington. Organised by Meg Niven in memory of her architect husband, Rob, the supper was the third held since his death in 2002. About 150 of the Nivens' friends,
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School to get security guard following spate of break-ins
A DARLINGTON school that was targeted by vandals and thieves 38 times last year is to get a security guard to patrol its grounds. There was another attempted break-in at Alderman Leach Primary School, in Cockerton, over the weekend. Nothing was stolen
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Dog dies in blaze after saving man
A FAITHFUL dog gave its life to save its owner from a burning house early yesterday. Gasket, the Staffordshire bull terrier, braved the blaze at the house in Peterlee, County Durham, to wake its owner, Derek Strong. Mr Strong, of Fairburn Road, was woken
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Police stop teen drinkers
TEENAGERS in a park -some of whom were drinking alcohol - faced a dressing down from their parents after police officers called them in. Inspector Paul Anderson said officers swooped at the park near Low Flatts Road, Chester-le-Street, at 6.40pm on Friday
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Traffic update
BUSINESS people in Durham will hear updates on the city centre traffic situation and a review of shopping facilities at the annual meeting of Durham City and District Chamber of Trade. The meeting will be at the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre from 6pm
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'Subsidy can lead to town change'
CONSULTANTS reviewing Scarborough's leisure business say that the borough council must provide a subsidy if it wants changes. ABL Cultural Consulting was brought in by Scarborough Borough Council to review the town's cinemas and theatres. ABL's report
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Council will fight to save swimming pool
A TOWN council is fighting to preserve its swimming pool. The future of Hetton Baths, at Hetton-le-Hole, is in doubt in a review of leisure facilities on Wearside. Two options are being considered for swimming in Hetton and the neighbouring former Durham
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Couple heartbroken after theft
Thieves have stolen a gold watch given by an elderly man to his wife nearly 30 years ago. Clarence Jobling, 74, said the lady's watch had been a present to his wife Thelma. It was taken along with money from the couple's home in Stockton on Sunday evening
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Second accolade caps 'terrific year' for manager
THE award-winning boss of Newsquest (North East) - publisher of The Northern Echo - has been honoured by its parent company Gannett, one of the largest publishers in the world. Managing director David Kelly was selected as one of five finalists in Gannett
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A classic case of gearing up for success
A CLASSIC car enthusiast is preparing for growth this year as her business accelerates. Jo Walker, 30, set up Sign O' the Times in the summer, selling vintage motor memorabilia, collectable steel signs and nostalgic giftware. Starting out with a stall
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Homes project sparks anger
A PLAN to build houses on a famously picturesque site has provoked protests. The proposed development of land on Waterside, which forms part of the famous "surprise view" from Knaresborough Castle, has been at the centre of planning wrangles for several
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Filtronic puts emphasis on quality over quantity
TELECOMS equipment group Filtronic last night ruled out recruiting more staff at its Newton Aycliffe plant in County Durham as it posted an increase in profits. The company said although the plant was not working at full capacity, it would rather manufacture
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Warning of care home closures
PRIVATE care homes in the region are facing possible closure because they cannot pay staff the going rate, according to their owners. Simon Beckett, chairman of Care North-East, an organisation that represents the region's independent care homes sector
