Archive
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Move to clear confusion over walkers' new rights to roam
AN organisation representing landowners has warned there is still widespread confusion in the region over new right to roam laws. From the spring bank holiday weekend in May, the public will have access to thousands of acres of moorland and open countryside
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Key man unlocks stadium mystery
A MYSTERY surrounding the whereabouts of the keys to a former North-East football stadium has been solved - thanks to The Northern Echo. We revealed yesterday how the owner of Feethams, the former home of Darlington Football Club, could not get inside
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When it's best to bite your tongue
WE'D been looking after Jonah for a couple of days last November, while his mum and dad had a break. We'd all had a lot of fun. We'd been to the zoo again, our third visit. This time he wanted most of all to see the toucans. As soon as he spotted one,
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BSkyB reports large increase in customers
Pay-TV group BSkyB said it had attracted 192,000 new customers in the second quarter as it reported a 25 per cent rise in interim profits yesterday. The company said the above-expectations net growth in the period took its total number of subscribers
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Cat poisoning fears
A CAT owner fears her pets have been poisoned. Two cats were found dead in Ashbourne Drive, Coxhoe, on Sunday, and a third has gone missing. One of the dead animals, and the missing cat, belong to Hellen and David Murray-English and their children Tabitha
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Clean fuel group CPI to double workforce
ONE of the region's five centres of excellence is planning to double its workforce over the next two years, it was revealed last night. The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), which is based at the Wilton International site in Teesside, plans to increase
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Car parts manufacturers merge securing jobs
TWO car parts manufacturers have joined forces in a multi-million pound deal to create one of the region's largest privately-owned metal pressing companies. Tolwood Limited, of Newton Aycliffe, and Newcastle-based Vickers Pressings, have joined together
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New night club at the Sage
The region's flagship music venue is aiming to live up to its promise of offering something for everyone, as it launches its own night club. First Friday at The Sage Gateshead will feature live performances from the best leftfield dance music artists,
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Harrovian on course for a hat-trick
HAT-TRICK seeking Harrovian (3.20) heads to Kelso with every chance of maintaining his winning streak in the feature event on the card, the £14,000 Persimmon Homes Handicap Chase. Pam Robson's Flat-bred eight-year-old has come a long way since reportedly
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Vimac invests in log cabins
NORTH-East company Vimac Leisure has invested £150,000 in two log cabins in the grounds of one of its flagship hotels. Two cabins, built in the gardens of North Yorkshire hotel Crab Manor are opening this week, and mark the latest stage of the hotel's
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Man who captured the style of an era
HIS images launched a thousand fashion faces across the globe and featured the works of renowned designers from Christian Dior to Norman Hartnell. Norman Parkinson was dubbed the "greatest living English photographer" by Photography magazine in 1964 and
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Dismay at proposed transfer of burns unit
NATASHA Clegg would have been scarred for life without the skills of a North-East burns unit. Now the Newcastle teenager is backing a campaign to prevent changes to the children's burns service. If they go ahead, the plans would lead to the most serious
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Fashion stores sold for £140m
Fashion chains Warehouse and Principles were bought for about £140m by the owner of shoe shops Pied a Terre, Bertie and Chelsea Cobbler yesterday. Shoe Studio bought the high street stores from owner Rubicon, handing a windfall to directors who initially
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Schools clear debts on time
EVERY school in Darlington will be out of debt by March, according to the local education authority (LEA). This is a landmark for schools and education officers in the town who struggled to get back into credit to meet Government requirements. Three years
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Scam merchants and their £1bn empire that preys on temptation
THE North-East and North Yorkshire has an unenviable place in the hearts of con artists, who net more than £1bn a year of other people's money nationwide. Despite the best efforts of trading standards officers, householders across the region are no strangers
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Young pool player gets taste of big-time success
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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On TV
How To Sleep Better (BBC1) ZZZZZ....zzzzz...zzzzz. Sorry, I dropped off for a minute. Clearly the best way to send yourself to sleep is to watch Professor Robert Winston rabbiting on for 90 minutes on the subject of sleep. That may be a cheap joke but
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Mother love
As the mother of two daughters, former EastEnders' regular Lindsay Coulson says she could empathise with her character, Maggie, in ITV's The Stepfather, whose daughter goes missing. She talks to Steve Pratt. Playing the mum of missing children is getting
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Slatered!
Soapland is rife with drunkeness, sex and deception - and that's only the children. There's drama at the Minute Mart in EastEnders (BBC1) when a shelf collapses in the supermarket. This passes for excitement these days in Albert Square. The fact that
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Council appoints new clerk
A COUNCIL has replaced a former official who has been on sick leave since he disappeared for two months last summer. Spennymoor Town Council has appointed Pauline Wilson as the new full time town clerk, replacing Terry Robson in the position. Mrs Wilson
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A double boost for Cooper
EIFION Williams and Micky Barron sailed through their Hartlepool United comebacks yesterday to put themselves in contention for the weekend trip to Chesterfield. Pool go to Saltergate on the back of a 12-game unbeaten run and, while boss Neale Cooper
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The Nazi D-Day that failed
After the defeat of France by Germany in 1940, Britain was Hitler's next target and documents which have just come to auction give an insight into how close the Nazis came to invading. Nigel Burton reports. BRITAIN faced its darkest hour in 1940. Just
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Top Ten To Rent
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL: 1 (3) The Whole Ten Yards 2 (1) Catwoman 3 (2) Walking Tall 4 (10) Hellboy 5 (6) Super Size Me 6 (-) Bubba Ho-Tep 7 (-) The Terminal 8 (-) Dodgeball - A True Underdog Story 9 (-) The Village 10 (8) The Bourne Supremacy Published:
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I never doubted my ability - Christie
A RELIEVED Malcolm Christie has described how the self-belief that he could still score goals has helped him through the most difficult time of his career. The Middlesbrough striker made a scoring return to the starting line-up at Portsmouth on Tuesday
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Pupils take pride in their region
YOUNGSTERS have been taking a pride in their environment by using discarded rubbish to create artwork. Children from Cockton Hill Infants, in Bishop Auckland, have taken Wear Valley District Council's Pride campaign to heart and have spent weeks looking
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John North: The day food rained
THEY called it Operation Manna because, almost literally, it was bread from heaven - an estimated 3.5 million Dutch rescued from the brink of starvation after surviving on nettles and tulip bulbs in five years of German occupation. Exactly 60 years later
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Police officer 'hit restrained prisoner'
A police officer hit a prisoner with "as much force as he could" even though the man was being restrained, a court was told. PC Paul Ions lost his temper after being struck by Paul Longstaff while he was taking him into the custody suite at Hartlepool
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A Midsummer's dream is a winter's tale
STUDENTS at a Darlington school are getting ready for a memorable performance. More than 50 pupils at Carmel RC Technology College, aged 11 to 18, are taking part in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, which includes some original music. Work on
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Prisoner was urged: Jump to your death
PRISON officers urged a police informer who was threatening to jump from a gantry to throw himself to his death, an inquest was told yesterday. Prisoner Paul Day had climbed pipes onto a gantry two-storeys above the ground. Although he was eventually
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Patient sues for op that led to 'years of embarrassment'
A man is seeking compensation for an operation carried out on him as a teenager that left him too embarrassed to take his top off in public. Andrew Willis, 39, from Billingham, is hoping to take legal action against the NHS after the surgery he underwent
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03/02/05
HOLOCAUST LESSONS: SIXTY years after Russian soldiers saw first-hand just how far fear and hatred can lead human beings, thousands gathered in Auschwitz and London. My town, Darlington, had its own event, as did many others across the UK. On the same
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Trampolining Gemma takes on best of the best
A YOUNG athlete is through to the final of a national trampolining contest. Gemma Proud, 13, of Shield Row, Stanley, came first in the recent under-15s zonal schools competition in Manchester. She also won the same category in the regional schools competition
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Search for relatives of N-E victim
POLICE are appealing for help to trace the relatives of a man with North-East roots found dead at his Manchester home. Michael Anthony Zimmetri's body was discovered at his home in Crumpsall, Manchester, on Wednesday, January 26. A post-mortem revealed
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Fears fail to stall refuge plan
PLANS to build a women's refuge on the outskirts of Durham have won approval, despite residents' objections. The Three Rivers Housing Group plans to build eight self-contained and supported flats for women and children fleeing domestic violence on a site
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How deep is the Ocean?
If audiences have as much fun watching Ocean's Twelve as the star-studded cast did making it, they're in for a good time. Steve Pratt reports. Practical joker George Clooney found himself on the receiving end of a prank during the making of the Ocean's
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Families fear cat killer has struck
FAMILIES in a cul-de-sac say they are living in fear of a serial cat killer. The villagers fear a poisoner is in their midst after two family cats were killed and another went missing on the same day. Two pets were found dead close to their owners' homes
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Harrovian on course for a hat-trick
HAT-TRICK seeking Harrovian (3.20) heads to Kelso with every chance of maintaining his winning streak in the feature event on the card, the £14,000 Persimmon Homes Handicap Chase. Pam Robson's Flat-bred eight-year-old has come a long way since reportedly
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Six companies named in bid to transform docklands
SIX national and international companies have been unveiled as contenders to transform derelict dockland into a £500m flagship redevelopment. Tees Valley Regeneration revealed developers have been queuing up to turn architect Will Alsop's futuristic masterplan
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Images of enlightenment
UNUSUAL images of Buddhists feature in an exhibition at a Durham museum. Enlightened Grotesques, at the city's Oriental Museum, contains striking caricatures of Chinese holy men who had attained nirvana. The usual image of the serene-looking man of enlightenment
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Review of rail services could mean cutbacks in North-East
TRANSPORT chiefs have ordered a review of rail services in the North-East which could lead to cutbacks in the number of trains and an increase in fares. The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is appointing consultants to look at services provided by the Northern
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Licensing changes
APPLICATIONS for premises and personal liquor licences in Darlington must be made to the borough council, rather than magistrates. Darlington Borough Council has published its new licensing policy. The main areas considered under the changes are the prevention
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Souness banking on star striker's U-turn
GRAEME Souness is hoping that the lure of becoming Newcastle's greatest ever striker could yet persuade Alan Shearer to reverse his decision to retire at the end of the season. Shearer reached another milestone last night when he blasted home Newcastle's
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Car parts manufacturers merge securing jobs
TWO car parts manufacturers have joined forces in a multi-million pound deal to create one of the region's largest privately-owned metal pressing companies. Tolwood Limited, of Newton Aycliffe, and Newcastle-based Vickers Pressings, have joined together
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Dismay at proposed transfer of burns unit
NATASHA Clegg would have been scarred for life without the skills of a North-East burns unit. Now the Newcastle teenager is backing a campaign to prevent changes to the children's burns service. If they go ahead, the plans would lead to the most serious
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Winners wise about health and the heart
SCHOOLS and businesses across Darlington have been recognised for their efforts to promote healthy eating. The Heartwise School Food award honours the work of schools, nurseries and colleges that have good hygiene systems, offer healthy lunchtime options
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Police issue warning after bogus callers target pensioners
POLICE are warning elderly people across Darlington to be on their guard after a spate of bogus caller incidents. Two pensioners in Darlington fell victim to thieves this week after bogus officials called at their homes. A man and a woman, with blond
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Census will help improve services
A CENSUS of young people involved with social services in Darlington is to be carried out. The survey, to be carried out during the week of February 21, is part of a Department for Education and Skills initiative aimed at helping to allocate funds more
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Call for day to honour miners
A MINERS' memorial day should be held annually - before new generations forget the sacrifice of the men who worked and died down the pits, an MP said yesterday. Gerry Steinberg, Labour MP for Durham City, tabled a Parliamentary motion to put pressure
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Close shave for workers
STAFF at a Bishop Auckland factory are close to raising £1,000 for the Asian tsunami appeal. Workers at Mechetronics, on the South Church Industrial Estate, started collecting money soon after Christmas when they ran a tombola of unwanted gifts, chocolates
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Fire chiefs voice their disappointment over public apathy
FIRE chiefs say they are disappointed that no one turned up to hear them outline plans to move one of Durham's three crews. The county's brigade held consultation meetings at its headquarters in Framwellgate Moor, Durham, on Monday and Tuesday for people
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Rising tide of mishaps may put future of ford in doubt
THE future of a notorious river crossing is again in doubt after four new incidents of cars becoming stranded over the past few days. Stanhope Ford was not in flood when any of the drivers got into difficulties. Their cars either slipped off the causeway
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Social service workers reap rewards
MORE than 40 North Yorkshire County Council social services staff have gained nationally-recognised qualifications. The staff, many of whom work with people in their homes, day centres or care homes, gained qualifications including the National Vocational
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Thieves steal tsunami aid cash
A headteacher has hit out at thieves who threatened staff with a screwdriver after stealing cash collected for the tsunami appeal. Thieves stole more than £100, a laptop computer and a digital projector when they broke in to Nunthorpe School at the weekend
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Clean fuel group CPI to double workforce
ONE of the region's five centres of excellence is planning to double its workforce over the next two years, it was revealed last night. The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), which is based at the Wilton International site in Teesside, plans to increase
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Church offers a spot of pancake indulgence
Shrove Tuesday falls next week and preparations are now under way to celebrate in suitable style in one village. A pancake evening will take place at St Mary's Priory Centre, Old Malton, between 7pm and 9pm. Traditional pancakes will be tossed, served
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Bungalow sparks residents dispute
FEARS about the impact a bungalow would have on a village green are being voiced by concerned residents opposing the development. Residents, supported by the parish council, are protesting over plans to build the detached bungalow at the head of Roecliffe
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Fire crew relocation sparks no response
FIRE chiefs are disappointed that no one turned up to hear them outline plans to move one of Durham's three crews. The county's brigade held consultation meetings at its headquarters, in Framwellgate Moor, on Monday and Tuesday for people to find out
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Going over old ground
THE future of Feethams lies in the hands of a firm of chartered surveyors. Later this month, or perhaps in early March, the firm will deliver a report to Darlington Cricket Club, the landlord of the ground that was home to the Quakers for 150 years, giving
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Man's ear is bitten off
A MAN had part of his ear bitten off when he was attacked in a North-East bar. The 57-year-old was assaulted beside the entrance door to Yates Wine Lodge, in Burdon Road, Sunderland, at 12.30am on Sunday. Police said there was a scuffle involving a group
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Fundraising community receives cash boost
FUNDRAISERS at a community centre are celebrating a cash windfall to boost their refurbishment project. Mainsforth and District Community Centre, in Ferryhill Station, has been awarded a £4,000 regeneration grant for the improvement works to the miners
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Village church proposal unveiled
A VILLAGE'S dreams of building its own Methodist Church are a step closer to becoming a reality. Outline plans showing what the place of worship could look like when it is built in Witton Park, near Bishop Auckland, have been submitted to Wear Valley
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Christie keeps the faith
A RELIEVED Malcolm Christie has described how the self-belief that he could still score goals has helped him through the most difficult time of his career. The Middlesbrough striker made a scoring return to the starting line-up at Portsmouth on Tuesday
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Future funding under scrutiny
COUNCIL chiefs will meet the regional development agency today to discuss funding for Richmond's town manager. The meeting was called after regional development agency Yorkshire Forward said it was cancelling its funding for the full-time post from March
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County chief revealed
NORTH Yorkshire County Council is to have a change of chief executive. John Marsden, 55, will take the reins at the council after the local elections in May. His appointment is expected to be formally approved later this month and he will replace Jeremy
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Gran At Large: When it's best to bite your tongue
WE'D been looking after Jonah for a couple of days last November, while his mum and dad had a break. We'd all had a lot of fun. We'd been to the zoo again, our third visit. This time he wanted most of all to see the toucans. As soon as he spotted one,
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Hospital patient took his own life
A PATIENT under close observation on a psychiatric ward, hanged himself three days after his admission to hospital. Fred Robinson, aged 80, was found hanged by his belt, anchored to his bed-head, five minutes after he had been checked by a nurse who thought
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Fighter base honours staff
PERSONNEL at North Yorkshire's front-line fighter base have been honoured for their services both at home and abroad. Military and civilian men and women were presented with awards in a ceremony at RAF Leeming, near Bedale. Among the honours were the
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Housing controversy
PERMISSION has been granted to convert council offices into houses despite objections from museum volunteers. Richmondshire Museum used rooms at the back of the council offices in 33 Frenchgate, Richmond, for storage. Volunteers said the space was vital
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Crackdown after spate of doorstep crimes
HUNDREDS of leaflets on stopping doorstep crime are being distributed to homes in Durham villages. Durham Police's Sherburn beat team has had 1,000 leaflets printed giving useful advice on preventing bogus callers. The flyers are being sent out in Sherburn
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Adventure into the unknown
A WOMAN is to swap the palatial settings of a County Durham museum for volunteer work in an African community. Jenny Wayman, 20, a group events organiser at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, will travel to Arusha, Tanzania, in April. She will spend
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Football team's goal to find sponsor
A FLEDGLING female football team is ready to kick-off in competitive action for the first time, barring one essential item. Bowburn Girls' team has been in training, eagerly preparing to enter Durham County FA's mini-leagues, which resume next month.
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Region is second dirtiest in England
THE North-East is the dirtiest region in England, outside of London, according to a new survey. More than half of North-East streets, housing estates and shopping areas were rated unsatisfactory by Encams, formerly Keep Britain Tidy. Yorkshire was the
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Date set for ceremony to honour Sir Bobby
A DATE has been set for Sir Bobby Robson to receive the honorary freedom of Newcastle. The city council will confer the honour on the former Newcastle United and England manager at a ceremony in the civic centre on Wednesday, March 2, at 11am. Newcastle's
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I never doubted my ability says Christie
A RELIEVED Malcolm Christie has described how the self-belief that he could still score goals has helped him through the most difficult time of his career. The Middlesbrough striker made a scoring return to the starting line-up at Portsmouth on Tuesday
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Postman denies theft and delaying mail
A POSTMAN has denied charges relating to undelivered and stolen items of mail. Andrew Robert McCardle is accused of delaying delivery of 1,721 postal packets, stealing 170 others and also falsely claiming extra payment for door-to-door delivery of UK
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Jockey held in race fix inquiry
ONE of the North's top jockeys was arrested yesterday in connection with an ongoing police probe into alleged horse race fixing. Robert Winston was held near York and became the 26th person to be held in the City of London police inquiry. Jockeys' agent
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No headpine
The Firework-Maker's Daughter, Newcastle Theatre Royal ANYTHING boasting fireworks in the title has to produce pyrotechnics at some point... and the audience isn't left disappointed with an explosive finale to a constantly humorous family show. Up to
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X-ray firm's rapid progress
A TROUBLED x-ray technology firm has turned the corner, despite a higher than expected loss last year. Durham-based Bede, which supplies x-ray metrology tools to the semi-conductor industry, posted a loss of £2.9m for 2004. But the year closed with a
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Patient died after being wrapped in duvet
A hospital patient who died after being wrapped in two duvets to restrain him was still severely overheated six hours after his death, an inquest heard. William Thurgood, known to his family as Billy, died on July 4, 2000, aged 42. The inquest was told
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Business vows to recover assets seized in drugs case
A business today vowed to wage a high court battle to recover his homes and cars, seized by a Home Office agency. Arthur Pickering is to "strenuously resist'' a court order which has seen a receiver appointed to take control and manage his affairs, property
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Fuel bill slashed by wind turbines
TWO wind turbines are proving their worth after creating a big reduction in the electricity bill at a North-East pharmaceutical factory. The two turbines at the GlaxoSmithKline factory, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, saved £7,000 during December. This
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TSG grows stronger with expansion
A FAST-growing IT solutions company is continuing its expansion plans, as it aims to become a national player. Technology Services Group Ltd (TSG), based on the Gosforth Business Park, Newcastle, has bought Leeds IT firm Logical Solutions, for an undisclosed
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Council vows to keep tax increase low
COUNCIL tax in the Darlington borough may rise by 4.8 per cent, as officials pledge they will provide excellent value for money. Bosses at Darlington Borough Council said the proposed increase represented an increase of 57p per week for a Band A property
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Costello date
Elvis Costello and The Imposters will be performing in the region as part of a UK tour. The band are at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre on May 30. Tickets go on sale on at 9am on Monday and cost £28.50 (subject to booking fee). The concert starts at 8pm. For
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Firemen free boy
FIREFIGHTERS were called to free a 12-year-old boy whose leg was impaled on a rusty nail as he climbed a garden wall in Stanley on Sunday. The incident occured outside a house in Barn Hill. A crew from High Handenhold freed the boy using bolt croppers
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Soldier gets £171,000 after racist remarks
A black soldier dubbed "Bubba" by his Army superiors was yesterday celebrating a £171,000 compensation win. Staff Sergeant David Howard, 39, was horrified to discover a mocked-up job description completed as a joke by an officer. In it he was described
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Boro have to lower their sights
GARETH SOUTHGATE last night delivered an honest assessment of Middlesbrough's dreadful run of form by ruling the Riverside outfit out of the race for a Champions League place. A disappointing sequence during January - when they failed to win any of their
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Class war on the railways
When the new operator of the East Coast Main Line is announced later this month, at stake is much more than just the names on the trains. Nick Morrison looks at the struggle between two competing visions for our railway. IT'S the battle that has been
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Fans issue rallying call to save club
FANS and players at a famous football club have vowed to team up to save the club after its chairman stepped down. Spennymoor United's chairman Benny Mottram said farewell after a 4-1 home win against Frickley Athletic in the quarter-final of the League
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Nothing more than schoolboy humour
Labour election campaign manager Alan Milburn is in trouble over a poster portraying Michael Howard and Oliver Letwin as flying pigs. Critics say this is anti-Semitic. "Pigs might fly" is a pitifully common saying. And since the only link between Jews
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Clerk appointed to replace official who disappeared
A NORTH-East council has replaced a former official who had been on sick leave since he disappeared for two months last summer. Spennymoor Town Council, in County Durham, has appointed Pauline Wilson as the full time town clerk, replacing Terry Robson
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Council's apology for lamppost bill error
COUNCIL bosses yesterday apologised to a grieving family for trying to bill a driver for wrecking a lamppost that killed him. The elderly mother of Jason Bennett, 32, spoke of her shock when the council demand arrived through the post. The father-of-two
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You write
No compassion In the season of goodwill, celebrating the birth of a homeless child in an occupied land, the irony of your stories at Christmas 'Refuge project sparks protest' was not lost on me. The meanness of spirit demonstrated by the Taxpayers' Alliance
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School goes top of class
A BISHOP Auckland primary has been hailed as one of the country's top 400 schools by Government inspectors Ofsted. Etherley Lane was among five County Durham schools singled out in the annual report of chief inspector David Bell for the high standard
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Display delves into the past
THE history of a town and its people is being told in an exhibition. The Photos from the Past display, of pictures owned by Stockton Borough Council's archive, is at The Green Dragon Museum. Images include Winston Churchill visiting workers at Haverton
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Discover art world
INTRICATE embroidery, imaginative pillars and vessels made from recycled plastic bags are part of a textile exhibition by Harrogate artists. The Small Group consists of eight artists who are based in Harrogate, but who have members in County Durham. The
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Houses approved despite concerns
COUNCILLORS have given their approval to plans to build three houses on the site of a former County Durham slaughterhouse. The application to build the houses at Hamsterley, in Teesdale, was approved despite concerns from the local ward councillor that
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Charity founder resigns after fears over his past
A charity champion has resigned from the organisation he set up - rather than see it damaged by an admission of his criminal past. Rod Jones, 57, is stepping down as the driving force of Teesside-run Convoy Aid after concerns were raised by the Charity
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Town to get £16m facelift
A SCHEME to give Stanley town centre a multi-million pound facelift has been unveiled. The cornerstone of the £16m project will be the Public Transport Hub, which will include a modern bus station. It will feature photovoltaic energy generation technology
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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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Documentary to make you drowse
How To Sleep Better (BBC1): ZZZZZ....zzzzz...zzzzz. Sorry, I dropped off for a minute. Clearly the best way to send yourself to sleep is to watch Professor Robert Winston rabbiting on for 90 minutes on the subject of sleep. That may be a cheap joke but
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Museum pushes the Viking boat out
MUSEUM visitors are being offered a rare glimpse into how people travelled by river 1,000 years ago - now that an old mistake has been put right. A 1,000-year-old Viking river boat made from an oak tree log has gone on show at the Yorkshire Museum in
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Caldwell is determined to prove Smith wrong
STEVEN Caldwell has expressed his bewilderment at being left out of Walter Smith's first Scotland squad, but pledged to do all he can to earn a dream date in Milan next month. The Sunderland centre-half, who returned from a calf injury in Monday night's
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Fury over plans to move hospital leukaemia unit
PLANS to move a hospital unit for leukaemia patients from one North-East town to another were last night described as a disgrace by angry fundraisers. A committee of volunteers raised almost £300,000 during the late 1980s to have the haematology unit
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Twins to go separate ways
TEENAGE twins Jonathan and Christopher Best will finally be parted this year, when they go to university. The 17-year-old Durham brothers have been class-mates throughout their school lives. But with A-levels looming at Durham School the pair have been
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Man who captured the style of an era
HIS images launched a thousand fashion faces across the globe and featured the works of renowned designers from Christian Dior to Norman Hartnell. Norman Parkinson was dubbed the "greatest living English photographer" by Photography magazine in 1964 and
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Man 'urged pair to drop charges'
A MAN accused of indecently assaulting a 12-year-old girl wrote to her and her mother urging them to drop the charges, a court heard. Pierre Chappelle, 39, had been remanded to a bail hostel facing two counts of indecently assaulting the girl. Durham
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Neville happy to forgive and forget
Gary Neville has admitted players from both sides let themselves down in Manchester United's tumultuous 4-2 win over Arsenal at Highbury on Tuesday. Neville was at the centre of the pre-match tunnel bust-up that led to an angry confrontation between Roy
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Candlelight protest at Mental Health Bill
DEMONSTRATORS held a candlelit protest at proposed changes to the Mental Health Act. Members of Redcar Mind mounted a vigil under the town clock in central Redcar last night. They are concerned that powers in the new draft Mental Health Bill could mean
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Pupils take pride in their region
YOUNGSTERS have been taking a pride in their environment by using discarded rubbish to create artwork. Children from Cockton Hill Infants, in Bishop Auckland, have taken Wear Valley District Council's Pride campaign to heart and have spent weeks looking
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Houses approved despite concerns
COUNCILLORS have given their approval to plans to build three houses on the site of a former County Durham slaughterhouse. The application to build the houses at Hamsterley, in Teesdale, was approved despite concerns from the local ward councillor that
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Assembly keeps cash
CALLS for a local authority to pull its funding from the North-East Assembly have been overwhelmingly rejected by councillors. Members of Durham County Council yesterday rejected the move by two Independent councillors to stop paying £84,800 to the assembly
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Woman convicted of husband's murder wins right to appeal
A "compulsive spender" said to have plotted her husband's murder so as to clear her mounting debts today won the right to challenge the safety of her conviction in London's Appeal Court. Christina Button, 33, was jailed for life in December last year
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School bosses prepare for deal
EDUCATION bosses will meet officials from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to discuss a deal over school funding. Darlington Borough Council is angry that it could be one of the last local education authorities in the country to get vital
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Tribute to 'best brother'
A MAN found hanging from his loft hatch after arguing with his former partner died almost instantly, an inquest heard. Trevor Shaw, 40, of Laburnum Grove, Port Clarence, Stockton, was discovered by his son after his former partner, Beverley Green, and
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Drink-driver is banned for two years
AN 18-year-old drink-driver crashed into a neighbour's car Bishop Auckland magistrates were told yesterday. Kevin Chapman, from Wensleydale Square, Bishop Auckland, could not see out of the frozen windscreen of the Ford Escort estate when he hit a parked
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Five-mile road race will be revived
A ROAD race is to be revived in Hartlepool. The town will host what was once an annual five-mile race, called The Hartlepool Marina 5. The Hartlepool Burn Road Harriers and the borough council announced yesterday the return of the race. It will take place
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Cash boost for fundraising community
FUNDRAISERS at a community centre are celebrating a cash windfall to boost their refurbishment project. Mainsforth and District Community Centre, in Ferryhill Station, has been awarded a £4,000 regeneration grant for the improvement works to the miners
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Breakthrough in landslide preditions
Researchers at a North-East university have made a breakthrough which could save thousands of lives every year by predicting when natural disasters will occur. The Durham University team has developed a means of precisely calculating the moment when a
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Fuel bill slashed by wind turbines
TWO wind turbines are proving their worth after creating a big reduction in the electricity bill at a North-East pharmaceutical factory. The two turbines at the GlaxoSmithKline factory, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, saved £7,000 during December. This
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Charity worker jailed for arson attack on flat
A CHARITY worker who set fire to his former best friend's flat in a drunken rage was jailed for two years yesterday. Liam Thomas, 21, of Midfield View, Stockton, drank more than 15 pints of an alcoholic mix called Diesel during a friend's 21st birthday
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Search still on for pervert who spied on women in showers
A pervert who spied on female recruits after putting a camera in their showers is still being hunted. Military police investigating the incident at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate have been unable to find the culprit. In August a camera, no bigger
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Reprieve granted for race track
A RURAL race track can stay despite objections from residents and fears over road safety, councillors decided. Villagers claimed dust and noise from the Yorkshire Dales Autograss Club track, near Kiplin, ruined their summer weekends. County highways chiefs
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Family history
A family history course called Starting Your Family Tree begins this month at Houghton Library and Learning Centre, Newbottle Street, Houghton-le-Spring. For details, call Janet Robinson on 0191-514 8413.
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Veterans keep the memory of war alive
WAR Veterans brought history to life for students at a Teesside school. Pupils at Dyke House School, in Hartlepool, listened to the first-hand accounts of two men who served in the Second World War. Veterans Percy Fielding and Don Colledge, both from
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Pensioner receives award for dedication
A SPENNYMOOR pensioner has been honoured for her services to the town and community with a citizenship award. Madge Campbell was presented with a certificate of appreciation from Spennymoor Town Council by Mayor and Mayoress John and Davinia Culine following
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Costello date
Elvis Costello and The Imposters will be performing in the region as part of a UK tour. The band are at Newcastle's Tyne Theatre on May 30. Tickets go on sale on at 9am on Monday and cost £28.50 (subject to booking fee). The concert starts at 8pm. For
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Work starts on bridge spruce-up
WORK has started on a bridge which provides a gateway to north Durham. North Lodge Parish Council initiated the project to repaint the bridge in North Road, leading from Birtley into Chester-le-Street. The scheme has been made possible by a working partnership
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Rail firm increases passengers by almost one million
The firm responsible for one of the region's biggest rail networks has marked its first anniversary by claiming that it has put on an extra three quarters of a million passengers. TransPennine Express said 14.3m passengers had used its trains during the
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Trailers stolen
Two horse trailers have been stolen from farms near Richmond. An Ifor Williams double-axle blue and aluminium model was taken from Bracken House Farm, near Melsonby, despite it being clamped and locked. A 15-year-old green twin-axle Ifor Williams Hunter
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Boy waited six years for NHS help
A BOY with a serious developmental problem has been offered NHS support - more than six years after his family asked for help. Helen Steel, 48, of Stanley, had given up hope that anything could be done for her son George, who is now 16. But she fears
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Rugby player dons Roman garb for march
A RUGBY player is preparing for a march on York in full Roman gladiator costume to raise money for charity. Front-row forward Stuart Simpson, from Richmondshire Rugby Club, hopes to complete the 50-mile route from Richmond in just 24 hours. The money
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Pupils celebrate as schools win praise
SCHOOLS in County Durham are celebrating after being praised by the chief inspector of schools. Ouston Infant School, in Chester-le-Street, was one of 393 outstanding schools across the country singled out by David Bell in his annual report this week.
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Anger at homes transfer 'spin'
TWO former councillors are spearheading a campaign to keep 4,600 homes in Chester-le-Street within the control of the local authority. Chester-le-Street District Council is considering a number of options for the future of its housing stock. But George
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Playing with fire
A -literally - explosive production has taken audiences at Newcastle Theatre Royal by storm. Viv Harwick reports on the glamour, and the danger, of The Firework-Maker's Daughter. NOT many productions can boast as many fireworks on stage as the aptly-named
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Easy does it for new boy Petta
Darlington manager David Hodgson will asses the fitness of new signing Bobby Petta over the next 48 hours before deciding on whether to hand the Dutch winger his full debut at Bury on Saturday. Hodgson last night revealed he was not prepared to hang the
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Comment from The Northern Echo: We demand better than this
THE standard of behaviour in Britain's classrooms has been a hot topic this week. The annual report by the chief inspector of schools, David Bell, showing behaviour in schools is in decline, follows passionate declarations by the Government and the Tories
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Shearer landmark goal not enough for victory
IN the film of the same name, February 2 was Groundhog Day - a day when the same events happened time and time again. For Newcastle fans, this has been Groundhog Season and, with a grim predictability, the Magpies last night managed to mark the occasion
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Crowing well
They resent being called 'the new Busted', but emerging rock band Rooster do have the clean-cut good looks to attract female fans. Viv Harwick reports on the rise of the London-based band who are playing two dates in Newcastle and one in Middlesbrough
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Court told of businessman's reign of terror
A Mercedes-driving businessman subjected his neighbours to a six-month reign of terror in a quiet cul-de-sac, a court heard today. Stephen Thoms pushed dog faeces through the letterbox of his next door neighbour, as well as horrifying others with threats
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On the ball with coaching for childen
FOOTBALL coaching is on offer to youngsters during the half-term holidays. The two-day programmes will be held at the Riverside Pavillion, in Chester-le-Street, by Coerver Coaching North-East. Children in County Durham can take part Tuesday and Wednesday
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Parking permits review after complaints made
OFFICIALS have pledged to review parking rules that could stop residents keeping cars in their streets. People in The Sands area of Durham have complained that Durham County Council is implementing a policy of refusing them annual parking permits if they
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Handouts pledge under welfare system shake-up
SICK and disabled people must prove they are actively looking for work to receive extra money in a fresh attempt to cut the spiralling £7.6bn bill for incapacity benefits. A welfare shake-up unveiled yesterday will also remove automatic benefit increases
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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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'Incomer' comment leads to suspension
TIME has been temporarily called on a North-East pub ambassador after he suggested some local drinkers and landlords dislike 'incomers'. Len Alderson, whose task is to encourage more people to visit pubs in rural Weardale, has now been suspended from
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Footballers make cup progress
A SCHOOL football team from Darlington has won through to the final stages of a national contest. The U14 team from Eastbourne Comprehensive School has reached the last 32 in the Four Aces U14s Schools Football Cup. The team beat St Wilfred's, of South
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Fire crew may go in shake-up
DURHAM will lose one of its three fire crews under proposals to boost cover in Spennymoor. The county's brigade says the move could improve response times to some of the area's outlying villages. The brigade wants to replace the fire stations at Spennymoor
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School where success will delay funding
CRUMBLING school buildings at one of the region's most successful comprehensives will not be replaced for ten years because it is being penalised for being too successful, it was claimed yesterday. Education officials are calling for an urgent meeting
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Gran At Large
WE'D been looking after Jonah for a couple of days last November, while his mum and dad had a break. We'd all had a lot of fun. We'd been to the zoo again, our third visit. This time he wanted most of all to see the toucans. As soon as he spotted one,
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Prisoner was told: Jump to your death
PRISON officers urged a police informer who was threatening to jump from a gantry to throw himself to his death, an inquest was told yesterday. Although Paul Day was eventually persuaded to climb down, the vulnerable inmate was later found hanged in his
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Crisis as IRA drops weapons pledge
THE withdrawal of the offer of IRA decommissioning last night plunged the Northern Ireland peace process deep into crisis. In a hard-hitting statement, the terror group accused the British and Irish governments of withdrawing their commitments and trying
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Clerk appointed to replace official who disappeared
A NORTH-East council has replaced a former official who had been on sick leave since he disappeared for two months last summer. Spennymoor Town Council, in County Durham, has appointed Pauline Wilson as the full time town clerk, replacing Terry Robson
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Asbo means petrol drinker could face jail
A MAN who was repeatedly caught drinking petrol has been banned from filling stations in part of the North-East. Brian Taylor, 36, terrorised supermarket staff and shoppers after drinking and sniffing petrol at his local Asda filling station in South
