Archive
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Main man Tony keeps his cool
YOU know there is an election in the offing when the Prime Minister appears without his tie. With millions of young votes potentially up for grabs, a casually-attired Tony Blair spent Saturday afternoon trying to persuade the nation's youth that he remains
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UniBond League: Problems pile up for Moors
Spennymoor manager Graeme Clark blamed the club's unstable situation for his team's 5-0 thumping at Burscough on Saturday. "I think this was the first time the problems off the field at the club have unsettled the players," he said. "We were losing 2-
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Volunteers face £50m funding cut
VITAL community services could be forced to close when the effects of a £50m funding cut to the region's voluntary sector comes into force next year, conference delegates were told. Changes in the way European and central government grants are issued
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Watching brief: Boyd and Porter left to rue what might have been after dismissal
HARTLEPOOL UNITED'S FA Cup fairytale ended at Victoria Park when Jack Ross and Isiah Rankin combined to play the ugly sisters' role and deny Neale Cooper's men a fifth round date at the ball at St Mary's, Southampton. Pool would have been quietly confident
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Our wedding had to wait, but it was worth it
When her brother was diagnosed with cancer, Helen Farrar's wedding plans were thrown into disarray. But, as Helen and hew husband Richard tell Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings, they had the fairytale ending they always dreamed of - with a documentary crew
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Milburn finances in spotlight
FORMER Health Secretary Alan Milburn was yesterday criticised for accepting payments for speeches made while a backbench MP from companies involved in NHS contracts. The Mail on Sunday said he was paid between £10,000 and £20,000 for two speaking engagements
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Friendless... but Joey's back
Joey (five); Captain Scarlet (ITV1); Arena: Calling Hedy Lamarr (BBC2): AS executives of TV channel five are said to have paid nearly £500,000 an episode for Friends spin-off Joey, the programme must contain some of the most expensive jokes ever. There
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Cemetery work almost finished
A LONG-AWAITED extension to a town's cemetery has almost been completed. The only thing left to do on the £188,000 extension in Northallerton is the planting and grassing of plots in the spring. More than 8,200 tonnes of soil was brought in to raise the
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Youngsters help with cemetery scheme
Youngsters are seeking inspiration from the abundant wildlife and history at Linthorpe Cemetery to use in their designs for Victorian-style ironwork seats. The pupils, from Middlesbrough's Sacred Heart and Archibald primary schools, are working with local
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Study: N-E can expect more wind turbines
THE North-East will continue to lead the way in renewable energy and can expect to be the location for more windfarms, according to research. The research, by Ernst and Young, said Government targets to increase the amount of renewable energy had increased
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Badge chosen by president of town Meet
THE president of Richmond Meet has revealed her badge for this year. Pauline Dowse has chosen a black and gold design depicting Durham Cathedral, because she was born in County Durham, and the obelisk of Richmond Market Place. Each president designs a
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Dismay as council votes to fell trees
The death warrant has been signed for seven horse chestnut trees which have been a village feature for more than 100 years. News that they will be chopped down has dismayed campaigners, whose own survey suggested the old trees had more life in them. Councillors
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Dream starts to come true for teenager
TEENAGER Shane Darby is progressing through the ranks of the country's most talented young rugby players. The 15-year-old student not only plays at full-back for Northallerton College and the area team, he has just been selected to play for his county
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Drinkers celebrate return of three-day festival
DRINKERS have been celebrating the return of a three-day beer festival after an absence of four years. Real ale enthusiasts at Stockton Beer Festival, which ended at the weekend, were also given the opportunity to sample a beer created for the event by
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Shortlist places will be hotly contested
SUZANNAH Clarke will face stiff competition in the fight to inherit Bishop Auckland from Derek Foster. Three other North-East women are also very interested in receiving the Labour Party nomination to defend Mr Foster's 13,926 majority. On Saturday, The
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Council tax set to increase
Council taxpayers in Middlesbrough are set to see a 4.8 percent increase on their bills. The council's executive is being asked today tomorrw to agree the details of the £175m bill for the coming year. Some of the money will be invested in schools, the
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Polytrack favours Kim repeat on Simply The Guest
KIM TINKLER'S winter of discontent ended when she steered Simply The Guest to victory at Southwell last week. The leading Malton-based lady jockey had previously gone without a winner for over four months, but now that Kim has brought the miserable run
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Concern for future of cricket pitch used as a shortcut
A CRICKET club's future could be put in doubt because people are causing damage by walking across its pitch. Brandon Cricket Club, which is part of Brandon Community Sports Club, says the damage to the square is happening because people use it as a shortcut
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Buildings entered for awards
Buildings ranging from schools to houses, from cricket clubs to sewage treatment works have been entered for the North-East's architecture Oscars, the Hadrian Awards 2005. A total of 46 entries have been received this year - more than double the level
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Villagers back initiative to improve housing estates
A TRANSFORMATION has been taking place in a County Durham village. In one of the latest drives to improve the quality of life on housing estates in Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, dozens of children and their parents cleared tonnes of rubbish away
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Last-minute hitch could delay pitmen's payments
GOVERNMENT officials are insisting that fast-track payments to former miners will begin later this month despite a dispute over who pays for access to health records. The first payments to living miners under the scheme are due to begin on February 28
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On TV last night
Joey (five) Captain Scarlet (ITV1) Arena: Calling Hedy Lamarr (BBC2) AS executives of TV channel five are said to have paid nearly £500,000 an episode for Friends spin-off Joey, the programme must contain some of the most expensive jokes ever. There are
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Tuning in to my alpha male waves
I had my first instalment of autogenic training a few days ago and it's left me feeling spaced out. I had begun to realise that it can be hard slowing down, but the effects of my three-times-daily meditation, which works as a kind of self-hypnosis, have
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Tories name candidate
A NORTH-East Conservative group has named a successful businesswoman as its parliamentary candidate for the coming General Election. Harriett Baldwin was unanimously selected to stand for the Stockton North seat during a meeting of local party members
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The Albany League: Angry Guisborough boss vents his fury on absent players
Guisborough manager Steve Corden criticised his absent players after his side picked up a useful point in their battle against relegation at Chester-le-Street on Saturday. Corden, who played for Middlesbrough in the mid eighties, had to play the full
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Teenagers turn artistic eye on bringing the beach to the town
THE beach came to downtown Stockton in a new exhibition by schoolchildren. Teenagers aged from 14 to 16 are displaying artwork - including sculptures, digital artwork and photographs - made with materials from the beach. More than 30 youngsters from across
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Cold, hard reality of trying to impress at BB auditions
ARRIVING at the auditions at 9am, a shivering queue of more than 500 wannabes is already wrapped around St James' Park, desperately waiting for an opportunity to sell themselves for a chance of celebrity. Scruffy fame-seekers in designer jeans, trendy
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Young entrepreneur is Russian to serve up a business success
TEENAGER Sasha Dudden is bringing a touch of Russia to the unlikely setting of a North-East town. Amid the fish and chip shops, takeaways and pubs dotted around Bishop Auckland, County Durham, 16-year-old Sasha will today open the Red Square Caf. But
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Cooper's bogey side ensure Cup run ends at fourth round
IF Neale Cooper was never to face Brentford again, it would be a day too soon. In five games as Hartlepool United boss he has yet to get the better of the Griffin Park club. Saturday's FA Cup defeat ended Pool's hopes of reaching round five of the competition
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Our wedding had to wait, but it was worth it
THE moment was perfect and the setting idyllic. Richard Farrar and his girlfriend Helen had had a wonderful time in the Maldives, enjoying the watersports and sunbathing among the beautiful scenery. Now, on their last night, the couple were enjoying a
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Study: N-E can expect more wind turbines
THE North-East will continue to lead the way in renewable energy and can expect to be the location for more windfarms, according to research. The research, by Ernst and Young, said Government targets to increase the amount of renewable energy had increased
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Fencing's in from the cold
IT'S the cut and thrust of the world of fencing in this week s Backtrack, as Mike Amos meets up with a former Hungarian Olympic coach now passing on his knowledge to the people of the North-East. A GILT trip down the years, the honours boards in the sports
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Elderly woman is hurt in house fire
AN elderly woman was taken to hospital with severe burns to her head and hands after she was rescued from her house by firefighters. The woman, who has not been named, was believed to be in a stable condition at the James Cook University Hospital, in
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Bad neighbours given last chance to end misery
'Neighbours from hell' in five North-East communities will be given a last chance to end the misery they cause - or face eviction. A crackdown already up and running in Sunderland will be extended to tackle the worst families in Middlesbrough, Easington
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Downbeat Hodgson labels performance a 'shambles'
FOR Sale: one professional football club, several previous owners, spacious surroundings and comes with one frustrated manager. Darlington chairman Stewart Davies may want to carefully consider his choice of words when advertising the club to prospective
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Boro good bet for Europe, Speed
FORMER Newcastle United midfielder Gary Speed has backed Middlesbrough to land a European spot in May. The former Wales skipper, who left St James' Park in the summer, was part of a Bolton side that couldn't break down a resolute Boro in the battle for
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Support group marks first anniversary
A SUPPORT group for fibromyalgia sufferers is holding fundraising events in the coming weeks. Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, will give a talk at the Fibromyalgia Support Group's first anniversary meeting on Wednesday, in Darlington Memorial
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Bank improves facilities for disabled people
NEW facilities for disabled people at a rural bank have been opened by a County Durham MP. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, who announced on Thursday that he will stand down at the coming General Election, visited Barclays Bank, in Middleton in Teesdale
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Call for residents to join rural crime-fighting group
A NEIGHBOURHOOD watch scheme, which will protect rural areas, is to be set up in County Durham. The scheme will cover a 60-square mile area with a population of up to 5,000 people to the west of Darlington, and will be run and staffed by the rural community
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Ex-tutor puts hairdressing students in picture
HAIRDRESSING students have had their styles captured on film thanks to a former tutor who now works as a professional photographer. Keith Bailey taught at Darlington College of Technology from 1969 for 15 years before starting up his own salons in Newton
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Ex-tutor puts hairdressing students in picture
HAIRDRESSING students have had their styles captured on film thanks to a former tutor who now works as a professional photographer. Keith Bailey taught at Darlington College of Technology from 1969 for 15 years before starting up his own salons in Newton
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Warning over purse thefts in town centre
POLICE are warning shoppers to be vigilant following several purse snatches in the centre of Bishop Auckland. On Friday, an 81-year-old woman became the latest victim when her purse was stolen from her bag in Heron Foods, between 10am and 1.15pm. PC Jonothan
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'Green' homes plan to go ahead
WORK is due to start next month on a development of ten environmentally-friendly bungalows on a Darlington estate. The homes, in Edgemoor Road, Firthmoor, are being built by Three Rivers Housing Association and should be ready by the end of the year.
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Morpeth keep title
DEPLETED Morpeth Harriers were still too strong for their rivals as they retained the handsome Royal Signal Trophy for the eighth successive year in the North-East Road Relay Championships at Gateshead. The Northumbrians, denied the services of leading
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Nissan engineer dies while on business trip to Japan
A WORKER at Nissan's North-East car plant has died while working for the company in Japan. Married father-of-three Stuart Faill is believed to have fallen under a train in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Mr Faill, 39, who lived in Dunston, Gateshead, had worked
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Scouts beat the cold
SCOUTS from County Durham braved cold weather over the weekend to take part in Camp Frostie. More than 500 young people camped out at the Northern Region Scout headquarters at Moorhouse, Rainton Gate, Houghton-le-Spring. They took part in activities which
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Garage closes
Shell has closed its petrol station in North Road, Darlington, and sold it to an unnamed company for "continued oil use". A Shell spokeswoman said: "We did a rationalisation of all the service stations in the UK because the profit margin on them is quite
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Talks on council tax rise
COUNCILLORS in Wear Valley are expected to agree a rise of 3.6 per cent in the authority's council tax levy later this week. Officers are recommending the increase to members of the policy and strategic development committee on Friday. But ratepayers
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Gymnasts jump to it for Olympic backing
A TEAM of gymnasts based in Durham leapt into action to support London's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The ten athletes from Deerness Valley Gymnastics Club were at Durham Cathedral to show off their acrobatic skills. They performed a display of
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Course will commemorate war bravery
PEOPLE in Chester-le-Street are to be trained in interviewing and writing skills and how to conduct research. They have joined the Return To Learn Centre's People's War course at the town's Hermitage School. Now, the group is seeking stories from people
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Conference to help young sport workers
A CONFERENCE for young people interested in becoming sports club volunteers in County Durham will be held on Thursday. The event, which will take place at Ferryhill Leisure Centre, is an opportunity for the volunteers to pick up practical experience of
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Storm that gave birth to a town
A drama based on how a man was inspired to create West Hartlepool during a stormy night in 1861 is to be premiered this week. Ralph Ward Jackson dreamt up the idea to build the town on a February night when a huge storm battered the North-East coastline
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Two week timescale for buyers
DAVID Hodgson has reassured fans that Darlington chairman Stewart Davies will take every step in ensuring the club is left in safe hands. Hodgson last night revealed Davies has set a timescale of two to three weeks for prospective buyers to step forward
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A game of patience for mMcus
SOMETIMES, in football, the best things come to those who wait. When Marcus Stewart scored a hat-trick in September's 4-0 win at Gillingham, the striker looked like spearheading Sunderland's push towards the Premiership. But, when his next 15 appearances
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Northern Echo readers win romantic break after Christmas Day proposal
A COUPLE who got engaged on Christmas Day ten years ago have won a romantic stay at one of the region's premier hotels. Andrew and Jennifer Mason, from Bedale, North Yorkshire, entered The Northern Echo's Valentine's Day competition to find the most romantic
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Watchdog seeks to allay rail fears
A SHAKE-UP of the watchdog which represents train passengers will not be to the detriment of the travelling public, it has been claimed. As revealed in The Northern Echo, the new Rail Passengers Council (RPC) will be more focused on individual rail franchises
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Champions League still the target
OPTIMISTIC boss Steve McClaren has reconsidered Middlesbrough's targets for the current campaign, and insisted a Champions League place is still up for grabs. After a disastrous start to 2005 - when Boro failed to win any of their first five league matches
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Nissan engineer dies while on business trip to Japan
A WORKER at Nissan's North-East car plant has died while working for the company in Japan. Married father-of-three Stuart Faill is believed to have fallen under a train in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Mr Faill, 39, who lived in Dunston, Gateshead, had worked
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Allen's river of dreams proves lucky omen
MARTIN ALLEN prepared for last season's visit to Victoria Park by treading the icy waters of the River Tees after he lost a bet. The Brentford boss believed the swim acted as a lucky omen in their 2-1 victory - which went a long way to helping preserve
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Rotarians revive free guide to town
A FREE town guide has been brought back after a three-year absence. The Rotary Club of Guisborough and Great Ayton has revived the Guisborough Family Focus. The guide was first published 20 years ago by a group of young mothers who wanted to find information
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Five retailers fail booze test
FIVE off-licences are facing prosecution after selling alcohol to a 14-year-old girl. Cleveland Police and trading standards officials checked out the shops in an undercover operation as part of a national campaign. The teenage volunteer visited 11 premises
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Game of patience for Marcus
SOMETIMES, in football, the best things come to those who wait. When Marcus Stewart scored a hat-trick in September's 4-0 win at Gillingham, the striker looked like spearheading Sunderland's push towards the Premiership. But, when his next 15 appearances
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999 crews tackle fire in town scrapyard
CLOUDS of black smoke hung over a North-East town centre last night as 400 tons of scrap caught fire. Firefighters were called to Ward Brothers Steel Limited, in Darlington, at about 4pm, where they found flames up to 40ft. Gas tanks and cylinders exploded
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£100,000 earmarked to help good causes
A NORTH-EAST company has handed over £100,000 to help good causes. The civil engineering Banks Group has donated the money to the County Durham Foundation charity to benefit organisations in the Nevilles Cross area of Durham City. The new community fund
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Turkish Baths are proving popular
A NORTH town's Turkish Baths are reporting a boom in business since a £1m restoration. The baths, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, were recently restored to their former glory. Spokeswoman Lucy Dale said: "Customers have simply flooded in since the restoration
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£55m plan on display
AN exhibition detailing plans for a controversial £55m development opens on Monday. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will stage a week-long display in Coatham Bowl's main hall on plans for Coatham Enclosure. The exhibition will show the proposals,
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Life after the big NO
Last year's resounding referendum defeat halted plans for an elected regional assembly. So where does the North-East go from here? The Northern Echo hosted a fringe meeting at the Labour Party spring conference in The Sage, Gateshead, and asked four of
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Focus on kites during half-term holiday
children can look forward to fun with kites during the half-term school holiday. Enthusiast Kelvin Woods has an exhibition at Redcar's Kirkleatham Museum next week and will run sessions on how to make and fly kites. His exhibition, Nature In The Sky,
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14/02/05
OZONE LAYER: Congratulations to The Northern Echo for the story on February 1 on the ozone depletion in the Arctic, which quotes the EU Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potocnik, in blaming the ozone loss over the Poles on a severe reduction
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It's the way he tells 'em
YOU can never tire of Tommy Cooper, but actor Jerome Flynn admits he'll be glad to hang up the famous red fez after nearly a year on stage as one of Britain's favourite funnymen. This week he's in Newcastle at the revitalised Tyne Theatre for a week with
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Storm that gave birth to a town
A drama based on how a man was inspired to create West Hartlepool during a stormy night in 1861 is to be premiered this week. Ralph Ward Jackson dreamt up the idea to build the town on a February night when a huge storm battered the North-East coastline
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Tributes to TV's loveable rogue
Colleagues yesterday paid tribute to long-serving soap actor Stan Richards, who has died at the age of 74. Richards, best known for playing loveable rogue Seth Armstrong in Emmerdale, passed away in his sleep. He joined the show more than 25 years ago
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Our wedding had to wait, but it was worth it
When her brother was diagnosed with cancer, Helen Farrar's wedding plans were thrown into disarray. But, as Helen and hew husband Richard tell Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings, they had the fairytale ending they always dreamed of - with a documentary crew
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Is love in the air for friendly pet?
IT'S not just lovelorn humans that are looking for companionship on Valentine's Day. Jessie the collie cross is also looking for someone special to become his soulmate and give him the home he deserves. The two-year-old lives at the Blue Cross adoption
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Villagers' plight touches hearts
TOWN centre shoppers donated more than £500 to the Asian tsunami appeal on Saturday after listening to music from a fairground organ. The organ was played in Northallerton High Street by North Yorkshire County Councillor John Coulson, who was accompanied
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Jobs and trafic targeted in report
A WIDE-RANGING wish list of schemes to revitalise the economies of two towns has been drawn up by consultants. Projects earmarked for Malton and Norton include relocating Malton livestock market and redeveloping the prime town centre site, building start-up
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Tips for the sporting stars of tomorrow
BUDDING sports stars can look forward to sharpening their skills over the half-term holiday. Middlesbrough's 60 most promising young athletes will be enjoying a programme of activities including sessions of rugby, table tennis, athletics and gymnastics
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The Albany League: Angry Guisborough boss vents his fury on absent players
Guisborough manager Steve Corden criticised his absent players after his side picked up a useful point in their battle against relegation at Chester-le-Street on Saturday. Corden, who played for Middlesbrough in the mid eighties, had to play the full
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Brawl in street was 'like the Wild West'
A JUDGE has likened an early morning street brawl outside a North-East nightclub to "something out of the Wild West". Judge Peter Bowers made the comment as closed circuit television footage of the fight, outside Flares in Albert Road, Middlesbrough,
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Row over disabled access to taxi rank
PLANS to build barriers round a taxi rank have prompted a row over disabled access. Barriers around the rank in Stockton High Street are to be completed in the next few days. However, concerns that the new measures will restrict access for the disabled
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Killer gnomes in North lake
DIVERS are being lured to their deaths by gnomes sitting at the bottom of England's deepest lake. The first of about 40 garden ornaments was placed at the bottom of Wastwater, in the Lake District, by a diver as a joke. But others have followed his lead
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Dragons add colour to New Year celebrations
DANCERS brought a splash of colour to a normally sedate library to help mark Chinese New Year on Saturday. The traditional dance took place in Clayport Library and in Millennium Square, in Durham City. There was a storytime and other activities in the
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£1.5m to improve flood protection
ACTION to combat flooding and to rebuild the rural economy are included in North Yorkshire County Council's plans for the next three years. The council's blueprint also covers plans to increase the amount of recycled waste and invest in business development
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McGurk's sparkle falls flat
After two months out injured, defender David McGurk crowned his return to first-team action with a goal and the sponsors' man of the match prize, but there was still little to celebrate on Saturday. He put Quakers ahead against Notts County with a first-half
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Jobs and traffic targeted
A WIDE-RANGING wish list of schemes to revitalise the economies of two towns has been drawn up by consultants. Projects earmarked for Malton and Norton include relocating Malton livestock market and redeveloping the prime town centre site, building start-up
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It's the way he tell's 'em
Tommy Cooper is one of the legends of British comedy, yet somehow actor Jerome Flynn has managed to fill the comic's giant shoes in the stage tribute Jus' Like That, which tours to Newcastle this week. He talks to Viv Hardwick. YOU can never tire of Tommy
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Army tributes to soldier who died after tour
THE Army has paid tribute to a soldier who died in a road accident only 48 hours after he returned from service in Iraq. Lance Corporal Mark Dixon, 22, was yesterday described as brave, determined and extremely popular. As reported in The Northern Echo
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Company's new role in castle work
A COMPANY that has designed sets for blockbuster movies such as Tomb Raider and the James Bond film Die Another Day has started work on a £250,000 redevelopment scheme at a North-East castle. Lumley Castle's Baron's Hall, which dates from the 9th Century
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Inmates quizzed on siege in chapel
SIX inmates who spent yesterday barricaded inside the chapel of a young offenders institution were questioned by detectives last night. A Home Office and police investigation was launched following the incident, which left the chapel at Deerbolt Young
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It's the way he tell's 'em
Tommy Cooper is one of the legends of British comedy, yet somehow actor Jerome Flynn has managed to fill the comic's giant shoes in the stage tribute Jus' Like That, which tours to Newcastle this week. He talks to Viv Hardwick. YOU can never tire of Tommy
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Problems pile up
Spennymoor manager Graeme Clark blamed the club's unstable situation for his team's 5-0 thumping at Burscough on Saturday. "I think this was the first time the problems off the field at the club have unsettled the players," he said. "We were losing 2-
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Watching brief: Inconsistency key to low crowds
Darlington are disappointed with attendances this season, the chairman is ready to sell-up and manager David Hodgson says crowds have "struggled". But is it really any wonder they aren't any higher? Saturday's home defeat, their fifth this season, must
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Walker is rescued after night on moors
A WALKER who opted to stay a night on moors in freezing conditions was rescued after he suffered hypothermia, police said yesterday. Thirty rescuers searched six square miles of the North York Moors yesterday after his companions raised the alarm. The
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Reminders on danger of chip pans
PEOPLE are being urged to celebrate National Chip Week -by throwing their chip pans away. Dave Turton, of Cleveland Fire Brigade, said: "You can get safer deep-fat fryers than the old-fashioned chip pans, and a safer option still would be oven chips,
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Comment from The Northern Echo: No, but we need to keep talking
WHEN the North-East voted on the idea of an elected regional assembly last year, the result was a resounding No. Although Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott spoke at Labour's spring conference of the possibility of it being revived at some distant point
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Schwarzer battles exhaustion to keep Boro in European hunt
TIREDNESS is frequently used as an excuse by wealthy footballers these days for under-performing, and it makes a refreshing change to hear a Premiership star actually revelling in the strains of being a successful sportsman. Middlesbrough's Mark Schwarzer
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Scrap company fined £3,000 after two fires
A COMPANY has been fined £3,000 after two fires broke out at its waste transfer station. Ward Brothers Steel Limited, in Darlington, admitted three breaches of its waste management licence and one charge of depositing special waste. Magistrates at Bishop
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Making merry with Merrin
Newcastle/Gateshead may have lost out on the race for European Capital Of Culture but is still clocking up the millions as the place where people want to party. Viv Hardwick talks to the new man in charge of arts investment, Keith Merrin. WHEN it comes
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Musical support project launched
A NEW project to develop musical talent has struck the right note with Wear Valley youngsters. The Resounding Technology programme aims to give young people in the district more opportunities to make music outside school hours. It offers free training
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Mowden make Blaydon suffer without Guthrie
FOR the second time this season Darlington Mowden Park found strength and spirit in adversity when they eased their National Three North relegation worries with a 34-13 win at Blaydon. Just as in their surprise win at New Brighton, they were down to the
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Hint of uncertainty is keeping Stewart ticking over quite nicely
MICK McCarthy has refused to discuss Marcus Stewart's contract situation until the end of the season, because the Black Cats boss thinks the uncertainty is helping to focus the striker's mind. Stewart grabbed his second hat-trick in the space of five
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Passenger plane in near-miss with RAF
A PASSENGER plane was seconds from disaster when it narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with two military jets. The Eastern Airways JS41 aircraft was forced to climb rapidly to avoid two Harrier jump jets. About 15 passengers, mostly businessmen, were
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Bank improves facilities for disabled people
NEW facilities for disabled people at a rural bank have been opened by a County Durham MP. Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster, who announced on Thursday that he will stand down at the coming General Election, visited Barclays Bank, in Middleton in Teesdale
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Councillors join celebration as couple mark golden anniversary
A VETERAN councillor and his wife shared their golden wedding celebrations with their nine children and their families at the weekend. Alderman Warren McCourt and his wife, Bet are well known in their home community of Chilton, where they have lived all
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Cold, hard reality of trying to impress at BB auditions
ARRIVING at the auditions at 9am, a shivering queue of more than 500 wannabes is already wrapped around St James' Park, desperately waiting for an opportunity to sell themselves for a chance of celebrity. Scruffy fame-seekers in designer jeans, trendy
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Call for residents to join rural crime-fighting group
A NEIGHBOURHOOD watch scheme, which will protect rural areas, is to be set up in County Durham. The scheme will cover a 60-square mile area with a population of up to 5,000 people to the west of Darlington, and will be run and staffed by the rural community
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N-E teenagers attend summit
THREE teenagers spoke up for young people in the Sedgefield Borough at a Delivering Sustainable Communities Summit, in Manchester. Kelly Shaw, from Chilton, and Grant Parker and Robert Begg, from Newton Aycliffe, who are all 16, were among 150 delegates
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WRVS plea to provide help for pensioners
A PROJECT giving support to elderly people in their own homes in Darlington is appealing for volunteers. The WRVS has launched the scheme to give pensioners the kind of "low-level" help a relative or neighbour might provide, such as supermarket shopping
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Lessons learnt with schools' African link
CHILDREN have made new friends at schools in Africa without having to leave their classroom. Seven schools in Crook and Willington sent their headteachers on a ten-day mission to Tanzania which will be followed by a return visit in May. Taking part in
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Five-year regeneration of estate is hailed a success
AN event celebrating the achievements of Darlington's Firthmoor estate over the past five years was a huge success, a meeting heard. Organisers of Firthmoor - The Story So Far, which was held at Maidendale House community centre, in Burnside Road, told
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Schoolchildren collect unwanted stationery to send to Sri Lanka
CHILDREN have sent 15 shoe- boxes packed with school equipment to young victims of the tsunami. Five youngsters at Abbey Junior School, in Darlington, launched a scheme called Crayons 4 Children to encourage recycling among their fellow pupils. Dale Webster
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Opera singer quits music to pursue North-East MP seat
INTERNATIONAL opera singer Suzannah Clarke has quit the music industry and has been accepted as a potential Labour candidate. Ms Clarke said last night that she would like to stand for the Bishop Auckland seat, which will be vacated at the next election
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Inmates quizzed on siege in chapel
SIX inmates who spent yesterday barricaded inside the chapel of a young offenders institution were questioned by detectives last night. A Home Office and police investigation was launched following the incident, which left the chapel at Deerbolt Young
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End of an era as musical director retires
A MUSICAL director has retired after spending 40 years with an amateur theatre company. George Hetherington, 73, of Neville's Cross, Durham, started working with Durham Musical Theatre Company four decades ago. He was presented with a commemorative shield
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One Nelson who just won't do his duty . . .
MOST 45-year-old males would be grateful for a little love and affection on Valentine's Day - especially from a younger lady. But while Nelson the chimpanzee may be the oldest swinger in town, he is not keen to surrender his bachelor status on the most
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Talks on council tax rise
COUNCILLORS in Wear Valley are expected to agree a rise of 3.6 per cent in the authority's council tax levy later this week. Officers are recommending the increase to members of the policy and strategic development committee on Friday. But ratepayers
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Free trees on their way
COMMUNITY groups, schools and individuals will benefit from Darlington Borough Council's free trees scheme this month. The authority plans to give away 600 trees to people who applied to the offer before the January 28 deadline. They will be contacted
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Jobs scheme extension
A SCHEME to help people into work on Darlington's Firthmoor estate may be extended, a meeting was told. The Firthmoor Into Work project was due to finish in March next year, but Diane Woodcock, from the scheme, told the estate's community partnership
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Receptionist's fond farewell after 29 years
A RECEPTIONIST and telephonist has retired after 23 years with a Durham construction company. Pat Tarn has taken early retirement from Kier Northern and, at a presentation ceremony, she was thanked for her hard work by managing director William Kay. He
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Wearside League: Stokesley are still battling for the title
Stokesley SC gave notice that the race for the championship is not over yet when they hit Washington Nissan UK for six on Saturday. The Wearsiders went into the game on the back of a six-match unbeaten record but could not cope with rampant Stokesley
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Half-term nature activities
A HOST of activities have been planned to keep children entertained during the half-term holidays. Countryside staff at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council will be keeping youngsters busy with craft sessions and card-making tasks. Saltburn Woodland Centre
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£1.5m to improve flood protection
ACTION to combat flooding and to rebuild the rural economy are included in North Yorkshire County Council's plans for the next three years. The council's blueprint also covers plans to increase the amount of recycled waste and invest in business development
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Blair calls the tune to rally election troops
TONY BLAIR yesterday put himself at the heart of Labour's appeal to the British people in the forthcoming General Election - and the North-East at the centre of all the party has achieved since 1997. In a deeply personal, soul-searching speech to the
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Horse passport day a success
HORSE owners were given the chance to get passports for their animals while they waited on Saturday. The Cleveland Bay Horse Society (CBHS) held the one-off event at York Auction Centre. Owners paid £20 to have ID charts completed and passports issued
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Heart unit publishes death rate information
A regional heart unit has published information about the 'death rates' of individual surgeons for the first time. The move, by bosses at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, follows a request by a national newspaper under the Freedom Of Information
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Cheese firm hopes for feta complis
A EUROPEAN court will decide the fate of a feta cheese produced in North Yorkshire. Shepherd's Purse Cheeses, near Thirsk, was banned from marketing its cheese as feta by a EU directive in 2002. The ban was imposed after the Greek Government persuaded
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Dimi leaps to Ross's defence
DIMI Konstatopoulos feels team-mate Jack Ross was hard done by on Saturday. The Hartlepool United right back was red carded just minutes into the FA Cup fourth round tie with Brentford, leaving his side up against it. But Konstantopoulos, who kept out
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Darlington sweep West out of cup
DARLINGTON eased through to the semi-finals of the Durham Cup against plucky opponents who were beaten by half-time, when they trailed 12-5 after playing with the wind. Within 25 minutes it was 35-5, but despite the gap of two divisions West had enough
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Blair calls the tune to rally election troops
TONY BLAIR yesterday put himself at the heart of Labour's appeal to the British people in the forthcoming General Election - and the North-East at the centre of all the party has achieved since 1997. In a deeply personal, soul-searching speech to the
