Archive
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Boss goes to jail after his firm tricked pensioners
A COMPANY director has been jailed after his sales staff were found to have tricked old people into buying security equipment. Martin West, director of Catch Monitored Security Ltd, was jailed for six months at Leeds Crown Court yesterday. The firm, registered
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Stadium's site turns into £4m complex
A FAMOUS old stadium which saw some of amateur football's greatest games has been turned into a building site. A £4m sheltered housing complex is springing up on part of Bishop Auckland FC's 117-year-old Kingsway pitch, which the club quit nearly three
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The day Gambit got hooked
Gareth Hunt took on all-comers as Mike Gambit in The New Avengers, but, he tells Viv Hardwick, he came off worst in a struggle with a fishing rod. STAGE and TV star Gareth Hunt is genuinely surprised that anyone should inquire about his health these days
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Souness won't rule out InterToto involvement
NEWCASTLE UNITED could put their name forward for the much-maligned InterToto Cup if Graeme Souness' side fail to qualify for European competition this season. With just 13 games remaining of the Premiership campaign, the chances of 12th placed Newcastle
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Hospital's helping hand to N-E groups
ONE of the region's oldest charitable institutions yesterday handed over grants to dozens of community groups around the North-East. Sherburn Hospital, on the outskirts of Durham City, was set up in the 12th Century to care for lepers. These days, it
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05/02/05
COUNCIL TAX: DURHAM City Council's ruling LibDems have announced plans for a 2.75 per cent increase in their council tax (Echo, Feb 3) which they say is all due to "good management and careful financial control". Not good or careful enough, it would appear
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Taught nerves
OF all the recent reality shows, allowing three untrained celebrities to attempt to teach children the National Curriculum is probably the silliest. So You Think You Can Teach (five, Sunday) has thrown old misery gob Janet Street-Porter, sweaty ex-EastEnder
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Teenage Jackson fan flies 6,000 miles to back singer
A TEENAGE Michael Jackson fan travelled almost 6,000 miles from the North-East to support him on the first day of his child abuse trial. Jordan Gibson spent more than 20 hours getting from Gateshead to California to catch a glimpse of her hero for a few
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No Laughing matter
The sitcom is in the doldrums, but is it just the quality of what's on offer that's the problem, or are audiences starting to expect something more? ITV's latest foray into sitcom has ended in tears - of despair, not laughter. The new Johnny Vegas comedy
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Comment from The Northern Echo: A farmer's field of dreams
THERE could hardly be a starker contrast. From the home-made goalposts in a County Durham farmer's field, where the only spectators are a few bored-looking sheep, to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in front of 70,000 screaming fans. That is the journey Mathew
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Souness won't rule out InterToto involvement
NEWCASTLE UNITED could put their name forward for the much-maligned InterToto Cup if Graeme Souness' side fail to qualify for European competition this season. With just 13 games remaining of the Premiership campaign, the chances of 12th placed Newcastle
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Andrew's eye focused on front row
NEWCASTLE Falcons' Director of Rugby Rob Andrew will be keeping an anxious eye on his front row in tomorrow's Zurich Premiership match at home to Wasps. Although both teams are without their current internationals, Wasps can still boast a front row who
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Win a romantic stay at Redworth Hall
How did you get engaged? Tell us your story. The one that makes us smile most will win a romantic Valentine's Night stay at the four-star Redworth Hall Hotel, plus dinner. Redworth Hall, near Heighington, County Durham, is one of the region's premier
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Tragedy family's Greek campaign
THE family of a holidaymaker who died in a Greek hospital say they hope to spare other families the grief they suffered. Popular barman Christopher Rochester, 24, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, died in Rhodes Town Hospital in 2000 after he fell
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Car theft victim scoops £700,000 Lotto jackpot
THREE months after her car was stolen, 48-year-old Anne Wheatley was back behind the wheel, thanks to a £700,000 Lotto jackpot. The grandmother, from Peterlee, County Durham, was yesterday getting used to her new Audi after her numbers came up in Wednesday's
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Self-portrait is chosen to help promote touring exhibition
A STRIKING self-portrait of a North-East teenager has been chosen to help attract travellers to an art exhibition. It is part of a revealing and thought-provoking series of billboard posters put up throughout the Tyne and Wear Metro network. The launch
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Angel artist tells N-E tale
ANGEL of the North creator Anthony Gormley has released a book about his exhibition that began with 285 North-East residents covered in plaster cast. Making Space documents how the artist transformed the moulds into a forest of shimmering steel. The work
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The mum jailed over daughter's truancy
A North-East mother jailed for allowing her teenage daughter to skip school said last night that the prosecution had been a waste of money. Pamela Nunn, of Tarring Street, Stockton, claimed she had been punished for trying to protect her child from bullying
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Celebrities get creative to aid funds
CELEBRITIES have designed Valentine's Day cards to help sick North-East children. Footballer Alan Shearer, Ant and Dec, Cheryl Tweedy, of Girls Aloud, Jonny Wilkinson, Westlife's Shane Lynch and pop singer Darius all made cards and signed them in aid
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Football rivals meet face-to-face over the airwaves
THEIR clubs have long been bitter rivals on the pitch, but the managers of Darlington and Hartlepool United will go head-to-head today over the airwaves. Quakers boss David Hodgson and Hartlepool's Neale Cooper will be the guest presenters on TFM Radio's
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Tait expectations as school's latest rugby talents emerge
AS 18-year-old rugby player Mathew Tait takes to the field in Cardiff later today, four of his former team-mates will be following his progress more keenly than most. At Barnard Castle School, in County Durham, the framed, signed rugby shirts of several
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Plea to owner of lawnmower
POLICE in Darlington are appealing for homeowners to check whether they have had a lawnmower stolen. A red SP550 Mountfield petrol mower was discovered in bushes near Baydale Farm, off Coniscliffe Road, on Wednesday. Officers believe that the owner may
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Road resurfacing due
RESURFACING work on a road bypass will start later this month - six years ahead of schedule. A £5m scheme to improve the surface on the A19 Thirsk bypass is due to start on Monday, February 14. About 4km of road between the York Road interchange and South
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Community asset opens
NORTH Durham MP Kevan Jones opened a new sports and arts centre in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, yesterday. The £475,000 project, at St Bede's Primary School, includes sports hall and changing area, classroom, community office and refreshment area
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Town's disability access praised
CHARITY campaigners have highlighted a North-East town's efforts to improve access issues for disabled people. Representatives of Pendle Council, in Lancashire, visited some of Darlington town centre's most prominent buildings to see how they deal with
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Olympian hails young swimmers
OLYMPIC swimmer Chris Cook praised children's achievements in the pool at an awards ceremony. The North-East star was the guest at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre to congratulate hundreds of young swim school members. The children had all made an impression
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Residents urged to talk about their lifestyles
RESIDENTS in north Durham have been asked to take part in a health and lifestyle survey. Health in Derwentside has improved over the past ten years, but there is still a gap between the health of the population of the district compared to the population
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Police hunting drug thieves
POLICE are hunting thieves who stole prescription drugs from a delivery van outside a chemists. Four boxes containing pills and tablets, creams, ointments and needles, were taken from a white Ford Transit while it was parked outside Storehouse Pharmacy
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Fears for missing woman and child
POLICE are becoming concerned for a mother and child who have not been seen for more than a week. Donna Ford, 22, of Coppergate Court, Hebburn, and her two-year-old daughter were reported missing by a family member on Tuesday. Police have spoken to all
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College students excel in cross-country
YOUNG athletes from Darlington have excelled at a major competition. The girls' team from Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College competed in the regional English Schools' Cross Country contest in Durham and won a place in the national finals, to be held in
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Police welcome move to revoke pub boss's licence
A PUB landlady has lost her licence after police and neighbours grew tired of unruly customers and after-hours drinking at a town centre bar. Patricia Flemming yesterday had her licence for The Cottles pub in Willington, revoked for constant breaches
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Funds continue to pour in for disaster
SHOPPERS in Durham have a flipping fantastic opportunity to raise money for charity next week. The Millburngate Shopping Centre is staging a Shrove Tuesday event next week to raise money for the Asian tsunami appeal. From noon until 2pm, visitors to the
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Would you Adam and Eve it?
EastEnders marks its 20th anniversary this month amid rumours that the soap's days are numbered. Steve Pratt looks back at the good old days in Albert Square. The timing could hardly be worse. EastEnders celebrates its 20th birthday at a time when the
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Deadline for health views
THERE is just one week left to voice opinions on NHS proposals to improve mental health services in the region. Plans include building a mental health treatment centre in Hartlepool and two centres in Stockton. The Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust
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Helping is a piece of cake
A PRESENTATION was the icing on the cake for charity bosses. Hospice Homecare, based at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, was one of eight Yorkshire charities to benefit from a share of a £36,000 windfall. The cash was raised by staff from Betty's
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New fence ensures that safety comes first
YOUNGSTERS are now able to play in greater safety - thanks to the efforts of a pub landlord and his friend. The fencing by the main road at Nosterfield, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, was falling apart and parents had been growing concerned. So Kris Stephenson
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Pupils prepare for glittering evening
School pupils have given a preview of the evening wear they plan to don for their end of term Prom. Easington Community School was the setting for the fashion show when pupils modelled the ballgowns and tuxedoes they hope to turn out in for the Prom on
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Sign to get speed message across
THE battle against speeding motorists is being stepped up in the Hambleton area. Traffic warden Brian Tongue and community safety officers Angie Preston, Paul Gilby, Chris Ross and Sergeant Matt France have been trained by the fire service to use the
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MP's pledge to tackle the problem of gangs on estate
ALAN MILBURN yesterday pledged to tackle anti-social behaviour on a Darlington estate as fed-up residents highlighted their concerns. The town's MP and Labour policy supremo addressed community leaders and residents of the Firthmoor area on the subject
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Recycling of trees hailed a success
A CHRISTMAS tree recycling scheme has been declared a success. Almost 1,500 trees were collected at Hambleton District Council's recycling centres. Residents were asked to deliver their trees to 44 collection points in towns and villages across the district
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Concern for drinker
CONCERN is growing for a 37-year-old man who vanished after a day of drinking. Ian Nightingale, who lives in Redcar, east Cleveland, visited various pubs in Middlesbrough on Wednesday and spoke to several strangers throughout the day, said a Cleveland
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Free swim for well-behaved youngsters
PUPILS will be making a splash with free swimming sessions funded by the police. Officers from Hetton community policing team have pledged £500, matched by Hetton Sports Complex, to pay for swimming sessions for youngsters. Pupils at primary schools in
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Oriental taste to new year celebrations
CHILDREN at a primary school celebrated Chinese New Year early with help from the local takeaway. About 50 children from the reception classes at Newton Hall Infants School, in Durham City, tucked into Chinese cuisine to mark the end of a week of events
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Pubs to get spy camera coverage
A NORTH-EAST town will become the first place in the country to get security cameras in pubs to feed live images directly to police. As the country moves towards a 24-hour drinking culture, the scheme in Darlington could see cameras recording in pubs,
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Rise in bankruptcies blamed on relaxation of rules
THE number of people being declared bankrupt in the region has risen by 24 per cent in the past year. Nearly 1,800 people were declared bankrupt last year, a rise on the 1,440 in 2003, a survey by the Department for Constitutional Affairs found. Nationally
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Forum told post-election tax rises are inevitable
POST-Election tax increases are inevitable if the UK economy is to stay strong, former Home Secretary Lord Brittain told entrepreneurs during a visit to Sunderland. Lord Brittain was the guest of the Entrepreneurs Forum and spoke at a boardroom lunch
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For Your Benefit: Will allowance benefit us?
Q I receive Attendance Allowance (AA) of £58.80 a week. My wife has underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance (CA), but receives no benefit from this because of her State Pension. As she now has problems because of arthritis, could she claim AA and
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Barred: 'psychopath' who made neighbours' lives hell
A JOBLESS salesman who subjected neighbours in a quiet cul-de-sac to a six-month reign of terror was yesterday given a two-year anti-social behaviour order. Stephen Thoms pushed cat faeces through his next-door neighbour's letterbox, and horrified others
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News in brief
COLLECTORS FAIR: The Saltburn Community and Arts Association is holding a flea market and collectors fair today at the Community Centre Hall, Saltburn, between 10am and 4pm. Admission is free and funds raised will go towards the Community and Arts Centre
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When the car in front is a lettuce
ONCE the word Qashqai struck fear into the heart of a British infantryman; today it is the future of the North-East economy. In fact, so great is its significance that it resembles the importance of the word lettuce to the Japanese economy in the late
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Complacency the biggest threat to Moors, says boss Clark
Spennymoor manager Graeme Clark has ordered his players to stay focused as they prepare for their home game with Bamber Bridge today. Moors haven't lost to their opponents in three matches this season, and Clark said: "The important thing is that the
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Daly forced to play waiting game
JON Daly yesterday completed his move to Hartlepool United - but the big striker will have to wait to make his debut. Irishman Daly has swapped life at the foot of the table with Stockport and a relegation scrap for a promotion push at Victoria Park.
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Southgate praises Downing
GARETH SOUTHGATE hailed Stewart Downing's contribution to the Middlesbrough cause this season as 'first class' but admitted they have relied on him too much. It was thought Downing was only going to play a peripheral role in the Teessider's Premiership
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The birth of Bond Woman
We didn't dare sneak the knife belt into Jamaica. At my advancing age, it had been embarrassing enough buying a white belted bikini in Debenhams in York. As my fellow shoppers and staff looked on, the words "mid-life crisis" were hanging in the air, unspoken
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Skills shortage threatens £3bn housing investment
A shortage of up to 17,000 workers in the construction industry is threatening £3bn of investment in North-East homes. The money will be spent as local authorities rush to meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard for public sector housing by 2010.
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Who will love Romeo, the abandoned pup left tied up and shivering?
A ONE-YEAR-OLD puppy was left a "shivering wreck" after being abandoned overnight outside a dog rescue centre. Staff at the Dogs' Trust, in Sadberge, near Darlington, found the pet tied to the gates of the home with rope on Wednesday morning. They have
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Teesdale Talk: Readers reveal scary tales
Following a request here for more details about a terrifying old woman whose lurid stories bewitched a host of young men in Upper Teesdale many years ago, two readers have come to the rescue. Both have sent copies of a 72-line poem, composed by Robert
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Saturday Spotlight: Tait comes of age as his date with destiny arrives
WHEN England coach Andy Robinson named his side for this evening's Six Nations opener in Wales, the inclusion of one name caused even the most experienced of rugby judges to scratch their heads. This time last year, teenage centre Mathew Tait was playing
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Online phone directory is given a Geordie makeover
ARE you desperate for a stotty? Can you simply not find the right barm cakes anywhere? Geordies and people in Yorkshire searching for that special something can now turn to what is thought to be the first telephone directory in their native dialects.
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Myhre in the clear after costly slip
A GOALKEEPING gaffe by Thomas Myhre cost Sunderland the chance to move level with leaders Ipswich Town last night, but manager Mick McCarthy refused to point the finger of blame at the Norwegian international. Myhre came to collect a routine cross from
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Man sold drugs to clear his debts
A MAN who turned to selling drugs to clear debts was yesterday jailed for 18 months. Police found almost 900 ecstasy tablets and cannabis resin when they raided the home of 25-year-old Geoffrey Hayton. Hayton told detectives he was holding 800 of the
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McGoldrick to be stable top dog
STABLE companions Mister McGoldrick (3.05) and Royal Emperor are on course to fight out the finish of the £20,000 totesport.com Handicap Chase at Wetherby. Although it's devilishly difficult to split Sue Smith's hugely talented duo, in terms of cruising
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Tait comes of age as his date with destiny arrives
WHEN England coach Andy Robinson named his side for this evening's Six Nations opener in Wales, the inclusion of one name caused even the most experienced of rugby judges to scratch their heads. This time last year, teenage centre Mathew Tait was playing
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Would you Adam and Eve it?
EastEnders marks its 20th anniversary this month amid rumours that the soap's days are numbered. Steve Pratt looks back at the good old days in Albert Square. The timing could hardly be worse. EastEnders celebrates its 20th birthday at a time when the
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Petta anxious to make good early impression
BOBBY Petta will make his Darlington debut at Bury this afternoon, aiming to repay the faith David Hodgson has shown in him. The 30-year-old is desperate to get his career back on track after spending two months in the wilderness following his departure
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No centenary landmark for McCarthy after draw
MICK McCARTHY'S best laid plans for celebrating his century of games in charge at Sunderland would most certainly have involved a Sunderland win and a place at the top of the championship. Neither were forthcoming at Molineux last night but a hard-fought
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Business awards night hails Qurios
A COMPANY that was recently narrowly beaten by director Steven Spielberg for an award has been named one of the region's rising stars of business. Qurios Entertainment won the Tees Valley's best new business award and the creative industries award on
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Pubs to get spy camera coverage
A NORTH-EAST town will become the first place in the country to get security cameras in pubs to feed live images directly to police. As the country moves towards a 24-hour drinking culture, the scheme in Darlington could see cameras recording in pubs,
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BA profits grounded by fuel and wages
BRITISH Airways reported a 40 per cent fall in third-quarter profits but said the number of passengers last month rose by 4.3 per cent. BA, which employs about 1,000 people in the region, including 800 at a call centre in Newcastle, said pre-tax profits
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The cheers will be for Hurrah at Sandown
CONFIRMED front-runner Boy's Hurrah (4.00) is going to take some catching with only a featherweight to carry on his back in the £45,000 Agfa Diamond Handicap Chase. The extended three-mile Sandown showpiece has always been a likely target for Boy's Hurrah
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Resource centre officially opened
A COMMUNITY resource and enterprise centre had its official opening yesterday. Hudson House, in Reeth, was converted from the former Barclays Bank building after the bank closed, which allowed the community to buy the property at about half the market
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Axe to be wielded as campaign to save old chestnuts falls flat
SEVEN 100-year-old horse chestnut trees are facing the chop after an overwhelming vote in a village referendum. In the village of Bishop Monkton, near Ripon, a poll showed that 206 wanted the trees felled, with 91 votes against. North Yorkshire County
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Teenager fined for damage to cars
A teenager who damaged cars after being thrown out of a football match has been fined. The 17-year-old, from Darlington, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty at Darlington Youth Court yesterday to two counts of criminal damage. The court
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Warning over hospice raffle tickets scam
BOGUS charity workers are being hunted by police after selling false raffle tickets in aid of a children's hospice. Shoppers were approached by two women in Yarm High Street last weekend claiming to be raising cash for Zoe's Place in Normanby, Middlesbrough
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Health trust selects strategy manager
AMANDA DEXTER has been appointed by a primary care trust as a manager to work with people living in north Durham. Ms Dexter has taken up her role as public partnership and communications manager for Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust (PCT
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Fundraisers open up a new world of opportunity for youngster
FUNDRAISING efforts by Spennymoor youngsters have opened up a new world of opportunities for a deaf schoolboy. Pupils at Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive School held a non-uniform day, disco and sponsored silence in aid of a classmate Laura Wareham's younger
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£1.7m for borough's recycling schemes
MORE than 260,000 visitors used a rubbish tip to dispose of 24,000 tonnes of waste last year, latest figures reveal. The household waste recycling centre, at Haverton Hill, north of Middlesbrough, could now be used to deal with different kinds of waste
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Council to apply for anti-smoking award
A COUNTY Durham authority is to try to achieve honours for its anti-smoking campaign. Teesdale District Council is hoping to apply for a gold award in the National Clean Air Awards. The awards were set up by the Roy Castle Foundation to encourage setting
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Marathon fundraising
FOOTBALL crazy youngsters have been up all night playing their favourite sport to raise money for charity. The 15 and 16-year-olds have been congratulated for their marathon money raising. The pupils, who attend St Peter's School, South Bank, near Middlesbrough
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Keep children active this half-term break
A HOST of activities have been arranged to keep children entertained during the half-term holidays. Countryside staff at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council have organised with craft sessions and card making. Saltburn Woodland Centre hosts a craft session
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D-Day arrives for motorists using their mobile phones
THE honeymoon is over for motorists who use mobile telephones while driving. Police, who gave road users a period of grace to get used to a new law banning the use of hand-held sets while driving, say the time has come for rigorous enforcement. Cleveland
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Funding crisis means job cuts
A TEACHERS' union is mounting a campaign to prevent job losses at a County Durham college. The University and College Lecturers' Union - NATFHE - said Derwentside College is looking for seven lecturers and two support workers to volunteer for redundancy
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Hospital staff get to work past 65
HOSPITAL staff at an NHS trust will be given the chance to work beyond the normal retirement age of 65. The move, by South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, is ahead of European Union legislation due to come into force in October next year. It is hoped the
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Groups unite to condemn draft plan
COUNCIL leaders have united to oppose a plan for the future of the region, which they say will jeopardise the long-term economic regeneration of County Durham. A matter of months since they were at loggerheads during November's referendum campaign, all
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'New store could be market's death knell'
A COUNCILLOR has voiced fears that the possible arrival of a Tesco store in Darlington town centre could force the closure of the indoor market. Borough council officials are in talks with the supermarket chain about demolishing the town hall and re-developing
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Pirates take on landlubbers in Historic Quay's holiday events
THE Historic Quay in Hartlepool is promising a fun-packed programme of activities on the theme of Pirate Mania. Staff will be dressed as characters from popular children's story Peter Pan and are promising a free gift for all children who dress as pirates
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Youngsters leave their uniforms at home and raise cash for charity
YOUNGSTERS at a Darlington nursery have been raising money for a children's charity. The Just Learning nursery, in Newton Lane, was raising funds for Unicef, as part of the charity's Day for Change, an initiative focusing on nutrition problems in Ethiopia
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The Albany Northern League: Players in charge at Peterlee
Peterlee have placed senior players Paul Hinton and Lee Bytheway in charge of team affairs as they try to escape the drop. John Charlton quit during the week because of business reasons, with Peterlee in the bottom three and problems growing financially
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Prison threat to teenager after second breach of order
A YOUNG woman suffering a drink problem was told that any further offences were likely to see her sent to prison. Wendy Wilkinson, 18, yesterday pleaded guilty to breaching a community rehabilitation order imposed in June for two assaults, including one
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Rethink urged at danger junction
VILLAGERS are demanding that highway chiefs develop a solution for a road junction that has become an accident blackspot. The central reservation on the A19 at the Black Swan Crossroads, near Hutton Rudby, was closed in July last year after four fatal
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Investment made to aid patient care
A PHYSIOTHERAPIST at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust has been selected by an independent charity to carry out research. A £58,000 grant from the Health Foundation will enable Jane Cumming to take time out from her daily role to lead a project that will
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Women sought over raffle scam
BOGUS charity workers are being hunted by police after selling false raffle tickets in aid of a children's hospice. Shoppers were approached by two women in Yarm High Street last weekend claiming to be raising money for Zoe's Place in Normanby, Middlesbrough
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TV star gears up for fight at the polls
FORMER TV star James Gaddas made an appearance at a cheese and wine evening in the region to raise funds for the Conservative's General Election campaign. The Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Stockton South spoke about his experiences as an actor
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The Albany Northern League: Players in charge at Peterlee
Peterlee have placed senior players Paul Hinton and Lee Bytheway in charge of team affairs as they try to escape the drop. John Charlton quit during the week because of business reasons, with Peterlee in the bottom three and problems growing financially
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Liberal Democrats celebrate victory in city council poll
THE ruling Liberal Democrat group on Durham City Council was celebrating yesterday after a comfortable victory in a key by-election. The party held on to Newton Hall North ward, which was won by its candidate Amanda Hopgood with a 524-vote majority over
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Training draws on abuse know-how
A FREE training course is available for people whose friends or family have experience of drug or alcohol problems. The course, Making Sense of It - Drugs, Alcohol and Health, is being co-ordinated by North-East Open College Network and the County Durham
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Police seek help
A MAN was knocked unconscious in a fight outside a pizzeria last Sunday. The 39-year-old victim, who sustained a broken nose, was kept in hospital overnight. He had come to the aid of his friend, who had been allegedly attacked during an argument outside
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Have you heard?
CHILDREN who love a good tale joined National Storytelling Week. The children, from Stockton, collected stories from friends, family, teachers and local personalities. After the collection, they turned their minds to storytelling and used drawings, photographs
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Police hunt for women who stole children's hospice cash
BOGUS charity workers are being hunted by police after selling false raffle tickets in aid of a children's hospice. Shoppers were approached by two women on Yarm High Street last weekend claiming to be raising money for Zoe's Place in Normanby, Middlesbrough
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Tsunami show
A concert to raise money for tsunami victims will be held on Friday, February 18 The show, at Borough Hall, on the Headland, Hartlepool, will feature Hartlepool Male Voice Choir, and starts at 7.30pm. Hartlepool Borough Council has given the hall free
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Premier Commentary: Answer required for new year woes
THERE was a day just after Christmas when Steve McClaren spoke of his determination to ensure Middlesbrough would do everything in their power to shrug off a half season wonder tag. The few months that had gone before, as Boro climbed to within touching
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Armed police tighten security ahead of conference
ARMED police have begun carrying out stop-checks on North-East roads in the run-up to the Labour Party Conference. Drivers have been stopped on the A167 at the Angel of the North, in Gateshead, where vehicles were checked by police with an explosives
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The end is nigh for naughty gnome
FLASHING Freddie, a naughty gnome who caused a rumpus among villagers by exposing himself, is in disgrace. Following complaints to the police and parish council, the grinning flasher has been ordered to face the house wall where his assets are not on
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No centenary landmark for McCarthy after draw
MICK McCARTHY'S best laid plans for celebrating his century of games in charge at Sunderland would most certainly have involved a Sunderland win and a place at the top of the championship. Neither were forthcoming at Molineux last night but a hard-fought
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At Your Service: With hope in their hearts
The column finds plenty to be hopeful about in the stirring community of The Cornforths. A Band of Hope was started at Holy Trinity, West Cornforth, in 1888 and folded just two years later. The village, even then, might have been considered a Hope less
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The day that animation died
Two of Disney's artists tell Steve Pratt about the shock end of the time honoured tradition of hand-drawn animation, and why they decided to make a film about it. SHAREHOLDERS arriving for a Walt Disney company convention in Minneapolis soon will be given
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Policeman in court to deny wife's murder
A POLICEMAN denied murdering his wife when he made his first appearance at crown court yesterday. PC Graham Jones, known as Ivor, pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife, Maria, at their Teesside home in December last year. The hairdresser, a mother-of-three
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Time we played like a top six side, McClaren
AN embattled Steve McClaren has admitted that his injury-ravaged Middlesbrough side are playing "more like a team in the bottom six" than an outfit heading for Europe. As if picking up two points from the last six league games was not bad enough, McClaren
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Inveterate quizzer leads his team to superbrain glory
REVELLING in the glory of being the Superbrain of 2005 is Peter Twiss, a retired teacher from High Shincliffe, near Durham City. Mr Twiss and his team, based in The Avenue pub, in the village, scored 333.5 out of 360 in The Northern Echo's quiz, which
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Tragedy family's Greek campaign
THE family of a holidaymaker who died in a Greek hospital say they hope to spare other families the grief they suffered. Popular barman Christopher Rochester, 24, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, died in Rhodes Town Hospital in 2000 after he fell
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The day Gambit got hooked
Gareth Hunt took on all-comers as Mike Gambit in The New Avengers, but, he tells Viv Hardwick, he came off worst in a struggle with a fishing rod. STAGE and TV star Gareth Hunt is genuinely surprised that anyone should inquire about his health these days
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The end is far from nigh for Pool skipper
FOR most players, a testimonial season signals the end. For Hartlepool United skipper Micky Barron, however, his tenth season at Victoria Park will signal only a landmark. Barron signed for Keith Houchen's struggling side in 1996, a loan period from Middlesbrough
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Driver in fatal crash given back his licence
A MAN who was jailed for killing a father and son in a road crash has been given his driving licence back. Geoffrey Donnison was locked up for two years in December 2002 and banned from driving for four years after he was found guilty of two charges of
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Developer buys back properties after subsidence problems strike
A DEVELOPER has agreed to buy back three £150,000 executive homes and carry out remedial work on others after they were hit by subsidence problems. Three homes on Hartlepool's Eden Park estate have been bought back by York builders Shepherd Homes. The
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Ameobi: Strikers well-equipped for task ahead
IN THE wake of Craig Bellamy's acrimonious departure from Newcastle United, Shola Ameobi has moved to reassure supporters that the trio remaining can form one of the most formidable firing line's in the Premiership. Ameobi has been the main beneficiary
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Hitman who shot the boss faces jail
A blundering hitman who shot the man who hired him in the crotch was facing jail last night. Three members of a family were also looking at a jail sentence for hiring hapless Arthur Pattinson to kill a business rival. William "Ike" Anderson, his father
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Time we played like a top six side, McClaren
AN embattled Steve McClaren has admitted that his injury-ravaged Middlesbrough side are playing "more like a team in the bottom six" than an outfit heading for Europe. As if picking up two points from the last six league games was not bad enough, McClaren
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Pupils go back in time to help tsunami victims
CHILDREN at a County Durham primary school were so touched by the plight of the victims of the Boxing Day tsunami that they have worked tirelessly to raise money. Yesterday, pupils at St John's Primary School, Shildon, stepped back in time to the 1970s
