Archive
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Put on your boots for a brisk stroll through a historic park
The walk in Darlington’s South Park continues – although the pace quickens – as we rollerskate past the town’s most oft-seen ghost and on to the most famous of floral features LET’S move along. Let’s quicken it up. Let’s lengthen the stride.
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Every Doggarts has its day
MORE shop talk: following last year's Gadfly musings on the department store which became a landmark in many North-East high streets, Doggarts is again to have its day. A memorabilia exhibition opens on June 23 in the Discovery Centre in Bishop Auckland
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Quakers sign Jamaican defender
JAMAICAN international defender Damion Stewart will return to Darlington next week to sign until the end of the season. Stewart was to have a second trial with Quakers after impressing manager David Hodgson during a recent spell. However, Hodgson last
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'Industrial sector faces more job losses'
MANUFACTURERS fear another 26,000 jobs will be lost in the next few months as the sector continues to struggle, a survey has found. Costs increased sharply during the past quarter and confidence has fallen in most parts of the UK, research showed. A survey
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Prosecutor calls for Greek doctors to be cleared
The appeal hearing of three Greek doctors convicted of the manslaughter of a British holidaymaker took a sensational turn today when the public prosecutor called for the three to be cleared. Christopher Rochester, 24, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham
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On TV
Big Dippers (ITV1) Hand That Rocks The Cradle (ITV1) RAY and Perry are the type of small-time crooks who steal a briefcase full of money only to find it's the ransom cash for a little boy being held hostage. Elation at finding £2m in notes inside the
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Region aims to hit back over ITV purge
THE future of North-East broadcasting was under threat last night after industry regulator Ofcom allowed ITV to reduce dramatically its regional television prog-rammes. Ofcom said that ITV could cut its non-news regional programmes by at least half, although
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Family reacts with anger after doctors cleared
A North-East family spoke of their anger and disbelief last night after three Greek doctors convicted of their son's manslaughter were cleared without spending a day in jail. The distraught family of 24-year-old Christopher Rochester were left in tears
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Melody offers a good alternative
MATHEMATICALLY speaking The Last Cast (2.55) has so much in hand on his rivals at Carlisle that only a serious jumping error can prevent him from winning the top prize on the card, the £15,000 Weatherbys Bank Novices Chase. The official BHB ratings put
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Gang of N-E burglars jailed
A YEAR-LONG investigation which took detectives across the country ended yesterday when eight members of a criminal gang were jailed for more than 30 years for their part in burglaries. The Sunderland gang was responsible for more than £150,000 worth
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Calls for windfall tax on oil company profits
OIL industry profits continued to gush yesterday as BP reported an £8.7bn annual surplus to mirror its £1m-an-hour rival Shell. The record earnings by the UK's largest quoted company was achieved after the average price of Brent crude rose by a third
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Sail of the century
Ellen MacArthur has sailed her way into the record books, becoming the fastest person to sail round the world single handed. Nick Morrison looks at how a girl from a landlocked county became one of the greatest sailors Britain has produced It may have
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Massive security operation in line to protect conference
ABOUT 1,600 police officers backed by air and river support and Army specialists will be deployed in a massive security operation to protect Labour's Spring Conference in the region this weekend. Northumbria Police yesterday revealed plans of the £2.8m
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Labour denies U-turn over -women-only' election rule
THE Labour Party last night denied a climbdown over plans to increase its number of female councillors. A 50 per cent women's quota, being introduced ahead of elections for Durham County Council in May, was expected to see a number of well-established
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Scotland blow for Collins
NEILL COLLINS admits missing out on a place in the Scotland Under 21 squad was a bitter disappointment. It was widely expected the in-form centre back would receive his first call up to the international set-up after his sparkling displays at the heart
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Officials angry after dale's omission from map
TOURISM chiefs were angry yesterday after their area, which they regard as one of the finest in Britain, was left out of a Government-funded holiday guide map. There is no mention of Teesdale or its main town of Barnard Castle, in County Durham, on the
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Man, 27, 'unaware of drive ban'
A LITHUANIAN ballroom-dancer appeared in court yesterday to admit defying a driving ban that he claimed he did not know was in force. Mindaugas Baltramiejunas, 27, of Halfpenny Lane, Knaresborough - who has taken part in amateur ballroom dancing championships
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Last days for town's landmark shelter
WORK has begun to knock down a well-known seaside landmark. The North Shelter on the seafront at Seaton Carew, is in the process of being demolished. The bus shelter will be replaced with seating and landscaping during the work, which is expected to last
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Fundraiser launched to aid recovery in tsunami village
A MAJOR fundraising drive has been launched to help rebuild the lives of 300 families torn apart by the Boxing Day tsunami. A total of £100,000 is needed for the project in the Tamil Nadu region of India, where almost 8,000 people were killed and many
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Teaching clients the bare bones
IT is normally staff, not clients, who get training. But Barclays Bank and Darlington chartered accountants Clive Owen and Co has turned the tables and treated clients to a seminar on marketing. Geoff Ramm, owner of Mercury Marketing and winner of the
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Kung fu dancing for Gala show
KUNG fu experts have been teaching dancers martial arts moves to help them prepare for a show. Instructors from the Oceans Apart kung fu club, in Durham City, have been working with the Moving Tides dance group to teach them Oriental movement techniques
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Man threw punch during taxi dispute
A FORMER RAF engineer lashed out during a late-night dispute with another man in a city centre taxi queue. Durham Crown Court heard that the 28-year-old victim was knocked unconscious, after falling backwards with the force of the blow, striking his head
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Driver, 18, remains in serious condition
POLICE accident investigators have renewed an appeal for witnesses to a crash that left a motorist seriously injured. Jonathan Cadman, 18, is still seriously ill in hospital three weeks after an accident on the Spennymoor bypass, in County Durham. Mr
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Work to get under way on link road
MOTORISTS and residents will benefit from a link road to be built as part of a £9m relief route scheme. Work is about to start on the Dubmire stretch of the Central Route, relieving traffic from the A1052 through Fencehouses, which spans the Durham/Sunderland
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Asda bid brings hopes of 700 jobs
SUPERMARKET chain Asda is to bring a jobs boost to the North-East with news announced today of plans for a clothing distribution centre. The company has applied for planning permission to develop a 380,000sq ft depot to distribute its hugely popular George
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Call to dual A66 route
COUNCIL bosses are pressing for the A66 trunk road near Darlington to be fully dualled. A study by the North-East Assembly calls for dual carriageway on the road, which carries more than 20,000 vehicles a day, which could rise to 41,000 by 2025. Several
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Children's centres in £1.5m campaign
Organisers are trying to raise money to pay for two new children's centres in the region. The estimated cost of creating the centres has risen to about £1.5m since the Government pledged £1m towards the project in May 2003. The SureStart programme for
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Fundraisers flip their way to the finish line
A PANCAKE race was broadcast on live radio from a Darlington supermarket yesterday. BBC Radio Cleveland provided commentary as three teams competed in the car park of the Sainsbury's store. A supermarket team went head-to-head with a couple raising money
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Children suspected of starting pub fire
CHILDREN are suspected of starting a fire that gutted a derelict pub. Fire broke out at the empty Dog and Gun pub, in Front Street, Great Lumley, at about 9.30pm on Monday and quickly spread through the building. Five days ago, fire crews asked for the
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Indecent assault trial told family friend threatened to kill girl
A FAMILY friend abused the trust placed in him and indecently assaulted a girl over a period of time, a court heard. John Anderson, 37, is alleged to have attempted to indecently touch the girl while visiting her family home, when the girl's mother was
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Alien help needed to save the planet
A SPACE-THEMED play touring eco-friendly schools has been revived with a vital cash boost. Children across the region are being encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle in the production of What on Earth. Youngsters will be introduced to Colin the alien
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Support for wife despite rape lies
A HUSBAND is standing by his wife who falsely accused him of rape. Newcastle Crown Court was told that Lynne Curry made up the claim because she thought her husband James was spending too much time with his former wife. Mr Curry was arrested and questioned
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09/02/05
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: The North-East Assembly has been consulting upon the draft regional spatial strategy. This is an extremely important document which will guide the way our county develops over the next 20 years. On the face of it, the draft strategy
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Myth of the New man
In this age of so-called equality, men are no less helpless in the home. So why do we let them get away with it? Yet another report, this one from the Institute for Public Policy Research, has shown what we all know really - that in 21st century homes
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Asda gives region job boost
SUPERMARKET giant Asda is to bring a further jobs boost to the North-East with news announced today of plans for a new clothing distribution centre. The company has applied for planning permission to develop a 380,000-sq ft depot to distribute its hugely
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'Future of ship building secure'
THE region's shipbuilders have been given an assurance by the Government that they will receive work on an aircraft carrier project. Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Scotland, told the Commons the work would be shared between shipyards in Tyneside
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Peacock proud to have Downing in footsteps
AS Stewart Downing prepares for his international bow, the last man to hail from Middlesbrough and play for Boro and England has given the latest Teesside hero a glowing tribute. Striker Alan Peacock, who earned four caps for his country nearly 40 years
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Seeing the bigger picture
IT is a cause of great concern that ITV is to be allowed significantly to reduce its commitment to making regional programmes. It is a detrimental step which has been taken with indecent haste by Ofcom and it is a blow to creativity and influence in the
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Putting things into perspective
HAD IT not been for my putting you could have been reading the column of a European Tour winner this week. Instead, after two fantastic opening rounds in the Heineken Classic, I ended 20 shots adrift of winner Craig Parry. It was extremely frustrating
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Police force to pay out £1,500 lump sum to special constables
A POLICE force has announced it is to become the first in the North-East to pay special constables for carrying out their duties. Durham Police is to pay its 90 volunteer officers a lump sum of £1,500 a year if they carry out six hours work for the force
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Peacock proud to have Downing in footsteps
AS Stewart Downing prepares for his international bow, the last man to hail from Middlesbrough and play for Boro and England has given the latest Teesside hero a glowing tribute. Striker Alan Peacock, who earned four caps for his country nearly 40 years
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A tale of two politicians
William Hague. Now 43, the former Tory leader doesn't plan a return to front-line politics. "I feel fortunate that by the age of 40 I had crammed in an entire political career,'' he says. "I had been in the Cabinet and led the party, so now I can branch
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'Dinner lady assault' - no case
A BOY accused of throwing a bottle studded with safety pins at a dinner lady was told by magistrates he had no case to answer yesterday. The 13-year-old, from Darlington, denied assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon during
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Nisai Group move turns the tables
AN education company is creating jobs in the region - and reversing the trend for businesses moving from Britain to Asia. Nisai Group's education technology business was based in India, but will move to Middlesbrough. Nisai's education division provides
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Police plan more patrols to protect endangered wildlife
ENDANGERED wildlife is to be given police protection after coming under threat from an unusual predator. Four-wheel drive vehicles and off-road bikes are destroying the habitats of birds and plants. Cleveland Police are to increase patrols, which could
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Link leads to design success
A design and print company is expecting to double its turnover after a three-year expansion programme. Graphic designer Nick Waters set up Colourbox Design, in York, with his wife, Trish, in 1990, and worked with a design assistant until they decided
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Greek medics' appeal hearing gets under way
THE appeal hearing of three Greek doctors convicted of the manslaughter of 24-year-old British holidaymaker got under way yesterday. The dead man's mother and brother were questioned by the doctors' lawyers during the hearing, scheduled for three days
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Residents protest at plans for hospital
PROTESTS have been lodged over controversial plans to create a medium security hospital unit for mentally-ill patients in the region. Partnerships in Care has applied to convert the former Royal Navy communications centre at HMS Forest Moor, between Harrogate
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Car maker races ahead of its rivals
A NISSAN plant in the region produced more cars in 2004 than any other factory in the UK for the seventh successive year. Figures compiled by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showed that the Sunderland plant's total of 319,652 Micras
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By-election set after councillor faces indecency charges
A BY-ELECTION is to take place to fill the seat of a councillor facing court proceedings over a child indecency allegation. Easington District Council took the decision due to Harry Devine's failure to attend meetings for more than six months. A previous
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Attacker's sentence under fire
THE family of a young woman indecently assaulted by a chef have said his sentence is too lenient. Mark Johnson was yesterday given a three-year community rehabilitation order and placed on the sex offenders' register for five years. The 34-year-old, of
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Police plan more patrols to protect endangered wildlife
ENDANGERED wildlife is to be given police protection after coming under threat from an unusual predator. Four-wheel drive vehicles and off-road bikes are destroying the habitats of birds and plants. Cleveland Police are to increase patrols, which could
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Museum features items from hitler's bunker
ITEMS from Hitler's Berlin bunker including marble from his desk and carpet from the floor feature in a new exhibition. Other exhibits at The Green Howards Museum, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, include the key to the Fuhrer's office and parts of his radio
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Trailer sign spreads meningitis message
SHOPPERS visiting a supermarket will be presented with a striking message about meningitis. A trailer about the symptoms of the brain condition has been sited outside Asda, in Hartlepool. Meningitis UK is trying to raise awareness of the condition because
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Council tax leaps by 17.6pc as Government cap threat recedes
A COUNCIL tax rise of 17.6 per cent for people living in the Hambleton area was agreed yesterday by cabinet members. It means that people living in a Band D property will now pay £80 rather than £68 per year for district council services. The Government
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Workplace advice given
ADVICE workers are offering to help people understand new rules on how workplace disputes are settled, A booklet has been produced on the regulations, which changed in October, and is available at Wear Valley Citizens Advice Bureau, in the Four Clocks
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Gadfly
MORE shop talk: following last year's Gadfly musings on the department store which became a landmark in many North-East high streets, Doggarts is again to have its day. A memorabilia exhibition opens on June 23 in the Discovery Centre in Bishop Auckland
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Hands-on experience of hospital buses
A HEALTH chief borrowed a baby and buggy for the day to highlight transport issues for NHS patients. Chief executive of Easington Primary Care Trust, Dr Roger Bolas, took the bus trip after being challenged by residents over their difficulties travelling
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Sheep designed to reflect the past
A LIFESIZE model of a sheep could soon be in place to welcome a town's growing number of visitors. The parish council at Masham, near Ripon, has decided to approach an artist with a view to creating the model of a Masham-bred sheep, reminding visitors
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Scooter rider was seen carrying an imitation pistol, court told
A MAN who was seen with an imitation pistol got a shock when armed police apprehended him, a court heard yesterday. Teesside Crown Court was told that Mark Mount, 26, had been riding his scooter with the gun between his legs when he was seen by undercover
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Cash crisis warning on North's pioneering stem cell research
THE North-East could lose its position as a world leader in stem cell research unless more funding is made available from the Government. The warning from scientists came at a national conference on stem cell research, at Newcastle's Centre for Life yesterday
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Parents protest at school closure
FURIOUS parents gathered last night to protest at plans to close a Darlington school. Parents turned out in force at Rise Carr School to voice their concerns. They were reacting to news that Darlington Borough Council will issue a statutory closure notice
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Sprinklers to be fitted in schools
SPRINKLER systems are to be installed in all new schools built in Darlington. The borough council is keen to adopt the policy after hearing about the safety benefits of such systems from its insurers. Research from Zurich Municipal, the largest insurer
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Raising cash with toss of a pancake
SHOPPERS helped victims of the Boxing Day tsunami when they enjoyed a traditional Shrove Tuesday snack yesterday. The Milburngate Shopping Centre, in Durham, sold pancakes to passers-by at £1 a go, with proceeds going to the Red Cross appeal to help the
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Bowes hosts fun at half-term
THE half-term programme at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, started yesterday with a family fun day. The day, the Whater Palaver day, was inspired by the Sea Britain 2005 campaign . On Saturday, there will be tours around the museum at 1pm and 3pm
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Drop in to radio station
A RADIO station which hopes to start broadcasting later this year is setting up a new contact point for its listeners. Radio Teesdale, which has had two successful trials on the air, will open a new information drop-in point in the centre of Barnard Castle
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Cancer checks urged
WOMEN are being urged to keep their appointments for free breast cancer screening. Three mobile screening units will be touring Hambleton and Richmondshire this year, and women aged between 50 and 70 are encouraged to have an appointment soon. Iris Smith
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Time to show mettle, says Fletcher
Coach Duncan Fletcher believes English resolve can overcome South African momentum and peg back the hosts in the one-day series. Fletcher has become accustomed to his team fighting back against the odds in recent times. He knows there will have to be
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Good Samaritan attacked and run over
Sickening car jackers are being hunted after running down a Good Samaritan with his own car. The victim was duped into stopping his Honda CVR when he noticed one man in distress in Billingham, Teesside. As he pulled over to speak to the group on Cowpen
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Project to turn teens away from crime
A PROJECT to stop petty teenage criminals taking to a life of serious crime is being launched this week. Barnardo's staff in Hartlepool will work with children who have been reported for low-level incidents of anti-social behaviour as part of the Families
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MPs back ambitious rail link to London
MPs yesterday threw their weight behind an ambitious bid to run direct trains to London from Sunderland, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, and Hartlepool MP Iain Wright called for the Office of Rail
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Region aims to hit back over ITV purge
THE future of North-East broadcasting was under threat last night after industry regulator Ofcom allowed ITV to reduce dramatically its regional television prog-rammes. Ofcom said that ITV could cut its non-news regional programmes by at least half, although
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Village in shock after keen footballer, 24, dies on pitch
A COMMUNITY is in mourning following the death of a 24-year-old sportsman who died while taking part in a football match at the weekend. Kelvin McIntosh was playing for his village soccer team when he collapsed and died. Mr McIntosh, who lived with his
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Crooks and comic capers
Big Dippers (ITV1) - Hand That Rocks The Cradle (ITV1): Ray and Perry are the type of small-time crooks who steal a briefcase full of money only to find it's the ransom cash for a little boy being held hostage. Elation at finding £2m in notes inside the
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Homesick friends convince Ross to stay with Pool
JACK Ross admits the experience of a few close friends helped convince him his immediate future is at Hartlepool United. Ross asked the club for a move last November, seeking a return to Scotland, just months after swopping Clyde for Victoria Park. But
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Myth of the New man
In this age of so-called equality, men are no less helpless in the home. So why do we let them get away with it? Yet another report, this one from the Institute for Public Policy Research, has shown what we all know really - that in 21st century homes
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Date
Every Doggarts has its day
MORE shop talk: following last year's Gadfly musings on the department store which became a landmark in many North-East high streets, Doggarts is again to have its day. A memorabilia exhibition opens on June 23 in the Discovery Centre in Bishop Auckland
