Archive
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Vow to test the law on hunting
HUNDREDS of hunt supporters across the North-East and North Yorkshire last night vowed to test the law on hunting - the day after a ban comes into force. Packs of foxhounds and beagles will meet throughout the region on Saturday - only 24 hours after
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Workers sent home as closure date nears
THE first round of redundancies has taken place at factory making TV cabinets. Managers are reported to have said that "only a miracle" could save the plant, owned by Acre Products, from closure. Last month, workers at the Darlington factory were told
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Appeal to overturn HIV case conviction
A MUSICIAN serving a ten-year jail term for passing on HIV to unsuspecting lovers will today launch an Appeal Court bid to clear his name. Feston Konzani, who came to Middlesbrough as an asylum-seeker from Africa, is expected to argue that his conviction
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Refugee who infected women with HIV appeals conviction
An asylum seeker who infected three women with HIV by having unprotected sex despite knowing he had the virus is today challenging his conviction for inflicting grievous bodily harm. Musician Feston Konzani, 28, was jailed for ten years at Teeside Crown
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Grieg Saunders
GRIEG SAUNDERS as joined Richmond Ice Cream as marketing manager. He has eight years' marketing experience in both the food and travel sectors at a number of companies including First Choice Holidays, Marlow Foods and Alpro Soya. In his new post at the
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Stun grenades end prison chapel riot
A CHAPEL lay in ruins last night after prison officers used stun grenades to quell a riot at a North-East young offenders institution. Inmates caused havoc for more than seven hours before 18 stun grenades - similar to those used by the SAS to end terrorist
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"An animated hedgehog"
SIX months ago, actress Sarah Tansey left Heartbeart after three years to spend more time at home in the South. The irony of her current situation doesn't escape her. She's back in Yorkshire, where the long-running ITV1 series is filmed, to appear on
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Don crowns dual flop for McCoy
Tony McCoy showed that even the champion jockey can be made to look foolish as Whitford Don went from favourite to flop in a matter of strides at Plumpton yesterday. With principal employer Jonjo O'Neill without a runner in Britain since Boxing Day, rides
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Richard Slater
THE Diligentia Group, based in Hexham, has appointed security expert RICHARD SLATER as managing director of its new training division. The Government's Private Security Industry Act 2001 requires that all security guards to be fully licensed and trained
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Bill Worth, Jan Parkinson, Steve Anderson and Ian Wardle
NORTH-East housing provider Three Rivers Housing Group has appointed four new members to its management board. BILL WORTH, the retired chief executive of North Durham NHS Trust has previously held senior management positions on NHS organisations and is
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Forging a new tradition out of the industry of yesteryear
IT may have a shorter history than some North-East companies but the Forge House Group has packed more than most into its 36 years. Based on the Cleveland Trading Estate in Darlington, the company has its roots in traditional engineering but has diversified
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Chris Divers
Venture Finance has promoted CHRIS DIVERS to become regional manager for the North of England. Mr Divers, who joined the firm as business development manager four years ago, will focus on the company's new business acquisitions and will be responsible
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Eating Owt: A recipe for love
As the column relives fond memories of romance, Doug and Pearl Hall, proprietors of the Golden Lion in Romanby, recall their own perfect pairing. BEFORE St Valentine's Day fades into a roseate mist, it should be recalled that we spent our honeymoon -
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Ross red-card opens the door for Barron
A LITTLE over two weeks ago Micky Barron couldn't see a way back into the Hartlepool United side. Returning to the squad after a knee operation, the club's longest serving player was watching his side and wondering exactly how he'd get back in. But he's
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Company beats a flagging market
NICHE markets have helped Britain's biggest quality flags manufacturer to buck the trend and keep the business growing. AA Flags in Consett, County Durham, saw turnover increase by 12 per cent last year, despite major upheavals in the market. A flood
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Bride-to-be makes an appeal
A BRIDE-TO-BE is having to do without the peal of bells at her wedding - because the church where she is tying the knot cannot find anyone to ring them. Lisa Pattison, 23, is getting hitched to fianc Andrew Stoker, 30, at St John the Evangelist Church
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Valentine heartache as funeral is held
DEVASTATED Ashleigh Mc-Alpine said a heartbreaking goodbye to her sweetheart yesterday as she prepared to bury him wearing the ring she had bought him as a Valentine gift. Robert Rudham, 20, died suddenly a week ago after he developed blood poisoning
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Teen is praised for trying to save man
TEENAGER David Ward did not realise how quickly he would have to put his newly learned first aid skills into practice. Only two weeks after he finished a course, David, 16, from Haswell, County Dur-ham, was among the first people at the scene of a road
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Doubles all round at Suddaby's
A BREWER in North Yorkshire has won an industry award. Suddaby's, of Malton, won first prize in the bottled beers category with Auld Bob ale, and took second place in the porter, old ales and stout category with the After Dark Coffee Porter. Managing
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Entrepreneur helping others to follow
Lynn Gate saw a lot of ups and downs in business before reaping the rewards. Now she is using her success to help others. Sarah TFrench reports. AS a 17-year-old working in a Newcastle department store, Lynn Gate would look at the managers in their smart
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Stun grenades end prison chapel riot
A CHAPEL lay in ruins last night after prison officers used stun grenades to quell a riot at a North-East young offenders institution. Inmates caused havoc for more than seven hours before 18 stun grenades - similar to those used by the SAS to end terrorist
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Green solution to dark legacy
THEY were the industrial powerhouses that drove the North-East economy. From the early 1800s to the latter stages of the 20th Century, the region's skyline was criss-crossed by towering pit wheels, belching cokework chimneys and grimey factories. They
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11-year-old Connor rewarded after chance encounter with General
A KEEN young historian is destined for an Army life after he received inspiration from a top ranking soldier. Connor Mattison's interest in the military was aroused by the story of heroism of the late Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Victoria Cross recipient
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'It's taken 26 years, but finally I'm a mum'
June Welch had finally accepted she would never have children when she fell pregnant aged 48 - after 26 years of trying. In the first of a three-part series on motherhood, she tells Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings about her little miracle. THERE are signs
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Call after student's ecstasy death
A CORONER has warned about the perils of taking ecstasy after a promising university student was killed by the drug. Daniel Harmison, a marine engineering student at Newcastle University, was found dead in his flat in the city in November. The 19-year-old
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Cheesemaker will argue right to use Feta name
A cheesemaker will today take on Greece and the European Commission in a battle over whether cheese produced in Britain can be called feta. Yorkshire Feta has been produced by Shepherds Purse Cheese, of Newsham, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, since 1987
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Fire service plans deferred
CONTROVERSIAL plans to reform the fire service in North Yorkshire were given short shrift by councillors. Fire service managers had come up with a series of proposals to modernise the service in line with Government guidelines. Their plans included introducing
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Government may help to foot bill for policing conference
THE police force which oversaw security for the Labour conference in the North-East may get Government help to meet the bill. Northumbria Police's request for funding towards the £2.8m cost of the operation for the party's spring conference at The Sage
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Thief attacked cancer sufferer for money
A raider has admitted breaking into the home of an 81-year-old terminal cancer sufferer and causing horrific injuries for the sake of a handful of cash, some costume jewellery and a bottle of sherry. Mary Richardson, who has since died of pneumonia, was
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'We want sheep not holiday homes'
RESIDENTS say they want sheep not second home owners in their picturesque village. The residents of Hutton-le-Hole, on the North Yorkshire moors, argue that second homes should be outlawed. Instead, in a newly-published parish plan, they say a more traditional
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Asbestos test case in court
Judgment is being given today in a High Court test case involving people suffering from the asbestos-related disease pleural plaques. A judge, sitting in Newcastle, is announcing his findings in a damages action brought by 10 men who contracted pleural
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Profits up despite no increase in cargo
THE amount of cargo handled by one of the UK's biggest ports stayed stagnant this year - despite increases in steel exports, it was revealed yesterday. PD Teesport said the overall volume which passed through last year was 53.8m tonnes - no increase on
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Is punctuality really so important?
Q How important is punctuality? I notice that in other countries, such as Italy, a more relaxed approach is taken in the workplace. Are we too hung up about turning up on time? A I cannot emphasise how strongly I feel about this issue. People should be
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Remploy celebrates 60 years of making a difference to the lives of disabled workers
Deputy Business Editor Dan Jenkins looks at an organisation that helps people into work and meets some of its employees. THE shop floor at Remploy, in Spennymoor, County Durham, is just like any other factory - noisy and busy. But its workforce is rare
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The Lifeblood Appeal
As part of The Northern Echo's Lifeblood campaign, which aims to encourage people to give blood, here are details of forthcoming donor sessions in the region: THURSDAY * Eastbourne Methodist Church Hall, Yarm Road, 3pm-7pm * Normanby Primary School, Flatts
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Ashley Winter
THE managing director of Patterson Ford, ASHLEY WINTER, has been appointed chairman of the National Ford Dealer Council for two years. The council members are elected by the 120 Ford main dealers in the UK to work with Ford Motor Company Limited. It acts
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Concert date
The next lunchtime concert in Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday, March 4 features soprano Beryl Lindley and pianist George Hetherington. It starts at 1pm and tickets are £2 from the booking office on (01388) 602610.
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Pub prepares to distribute cash
FOUR local charities are to share in a £1,200 cash windfall thanks to regulars at a Northallerton pub. Yorkshire cricket captain and former England international Craig White will be presenting the cash, raised through various events, at a presentation
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Paul Earnshaw
PAUL EARNSHAW has been appointed as a partner at Crutes law firm in Newcastle. His new position will be partner in the business services department, where he will have particular emphasis on property matters. Mr Earnshaw, who lives in West Monkseaton
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Going walkies by the river for charities
DOZENS of dogs and their handlers are to take part in a sponsored walk through a wooded riverside area to raise money for four good causes. They will cover several miles in Flatts Wood beside the Tees in Barnard Castle on Saturday, March 5. The event
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100th birthday treat for former dinner lady
A FORMER dinner lady celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her family and friends in Bishop Auckland yesterday. Sarah Elizabeth Wood was joined by her daughter Sheila, 72, and son Ellis, 75, along with a further 19 members of her family at a party
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Appeal after street assault
A MAN was arrested after a woman was assaulted in Consett town centre. The incident in New Market Street at about 3.10pm on Saturday was reported to the police by a passer-by. The victim left the scene and has not reported it but a 41-year-old man was
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Valentine violence message
CAMPAIGNERS have used Valentine's Day to highlight the problem of domestic abuse. Hambleton Community Safety Partnership is urging everyone to turn their attention to the hundreds of people who suffer physical and mental abuse in the home. Last year,
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Mortar shell found in
BOMB disposal experts yesterday carried out a controlled explosion on a wartime mortar shell found at a recycling centre. The alarm was raised at 12.30pm when a workman found the torpedo-shaped mortar, which was between 12 and 18 inches long with a timing
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Neighbours from hell facing
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 operating in Sunderland has been extended to tackle the worst families in Middlesbrough, Easington, Gateshead
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Charities benefit from recycling
WASTE recycling has given a £5,000 boost to County Durham charities. Premier Waste Manage-ment, the company which runs Kerb-it household waste recycling collections, pledged to donate £1 to charity for every tonne of paper, cans and glass bottles it collected
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Warning over raids
POLICE have repeated their warnings to householders following another house raid that led to the theft of a car. Raiders broke into a house in Ashlands Court, Northallerton, through an insecure front door some time on Saturday night or early Sunday morning
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Police force goes global
POLICE in the county are taking on an international look this week. For the newest recruits to the county's force are from six countries, and are all commanders already. The officers - from India, Kuwait, Botswana, Indonesia, Kenya and St Kitts and Nevis
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Friends attacked by gang of teenagers
A GANG of youths left two men badly injured in an apparently unprovoked attack. The pair were walking to a friend's house in Peterlee when they saw three groups of youths who had been drinking in Gilbert Road, near the Lidl supermarket. They passed two
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Film-maker trains rugby players to dance for North-East Bollywood film
The first Bollywood movie to be made in the North-East will not break any new ground with its storyline, but it will with its cast. The film follows the tried and tested Bollywood tale of a hero and villain fighting over a girl. The difference in this
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Energy producer reports £87m loss
HARTLEPOOL Power Station owner British Energy reported losses of £87m in its first set of quarterly results since restructuring its debts. The nuclear generator's third-quarter deficit compares with £10m a year earlier, but it covers the three-month period
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Gatehouse to become flats
PLANS to redevelop one of Darlington's most prominent properties have been revealed. Mandale Commercial Limited, of Stockton, has applied to Darlington Borough Council for planning permission to convert The Gatehouse, in Barmpton Lane, into 24 apartments
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Vandals smash windows at school
SEVEN windows at a school near Darlington were smashed by vandals on Friday night, causing hundreds of pounds of damage. The thugs threw a paint tin through one of the windows at Hurworth School of Maths and Computing. The latest damage comes as schools
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4.8 per cent rise in council tax
COUNCIL tax payers in Middlesbrough are likely to see a minimum 4.8 per cent increase on their bills. The council's executive is being asked today to agree the details of the £175m bill for the coming year. Some of the money will be invested in schools
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Six-month jail term for man who set up cannabis farm
A MAN who rented a small industrial unit and turned it into a cannabis farm has been jailed. Police smelt the drug in a unit on South Hetton Industrial Estate, near Peterlee, County Durham, when they were called out after a nearby alarm went off. Durham
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Tales told from the heart
TALL tales of romance were the order of the day at a Teesside museum yesterday. Storyteller Chris Bostock narrated some heart-warming romantic tales for Valentines Day at Preston Hall Museum and Park, near Stockton. The storytelling sessions form part
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Neighbours from hell facing eviction
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 operating in Sunderland has been extended to tackle the worst families in Middlesbrough, Easington, Gateshead
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Sentence wait as man admits rape attempt
AN attacker could be jailed for years after he confessed to a serious sex assault on a woman. Jordan Johnson, 21, yesterday pleaded guilty to attempted rape and indecent assault on a female victim, who is not named to protect her identity, on November
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The abyss of amnesia
Few of us can imagine what it's like not to have a memory, to have such severe amnesia that we cannot remember even the moment which has just passed. But that was the tragedy which struck Clive Wearing, a brilliant BBC conductor and music producer for
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Malcolm Quye and Darren Brown
DESIGN and print manufacturer Hillprint has recruited two new members of staff. MALCOLM QUYE, who has worked for Hitachi, will help expand the company's client base. DARREN BROWN, who has studied graphic design, has been appointed as a designer in the
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Musician to play in memory of father
A HEAVY metal musician on Teesside is to hold a charity concert in memory of his father. Ken Turner will donate all the money from the gig to Cancer Research as a tribute to his father, also named Ken. Mr Turner, 27, is lead guitarist of band Dawn of
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Sisters are doin' it for themselves
A FORMER director of Bannatyne's Fitness is launching a jewellery business in the region with her sister. Joanne McCue, along with her sister Jacquie Wilby, is opening Lone Star Emporium, in Yarm, Teesside, next month and will be selling semi-precious
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White wonders draw visitors
HUNDREDS of visitors have flocked to see the annual appearance of snowdrops at a country house. Two snowdrop and aconite walks at Kiplin Hall, near Richmond, have attracted more than 250 people. Plant expert Michael Myers gave a short illustrated talk
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A battle that baffles
The Baby War (ITV1): ANOTHER week, another ITV1 drama with a child in the central role. After Like Father, Like Son and The Stepfather, which both featured teenagers, the infant in The Baby War was smaller and had a non-speaking role. But he dribbled
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A view on the past
A NEW book by Northern Echo freelance writer John Dean charts the changing face of Darlington streets. Darlington Then and Now takes the simple premise that the streets have changed dramatically down the years and that the best way to portray those changes
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Daniel Glen
DANIEL GLEN has started a modern apprenticeship with Tees Valley company Cleveland Cascades. The 18-year old, from Acklam, Middlesbrough, said: "I just couldn't be happier now. "I'm earning money and doing a job whilst gaining the qualifications I need
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Making good neighbours
WITH the General Election almost certainly just a few months away, hardly a week goes by without another Government announcement heralding a crackdown on anti-social behaviour. It is a drip-drip-drip approach by the Government. The cumulative effect of
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Exporters link up to form business club
A club which aims to help businesses succeed in international trade has been set up in the region. The Tees Valley Exporters Club, backed by UK Trade and Investment, aims to bring together new and experienced exporters to share ideas and learn from each
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Rise in materials cost reaches a four-year high
RAW material costs for UK manufacturers rose at their fastest pace in more than four years during January, official figures showed. The 3.4 per cent month-on-month increase in input prices was twice as strong as City analysts had been expecting, and followed
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Jamaican duties hold up Stewart
JAMAICAN international Damion Stewart will not link up with Darlington until after his country's involvement in the CONCACAF Gold Cup at the end of this month. Stewart is part of the Reggae Boyz 18-man squad, which will play qualifying games against Trinidad
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More than 2,000 jobs saved in Allders sale
MORE than 2,000 jobs at crisis-hit department store chain Allders appeared to have been saved last night after rival retailers bought 24 of its stores. Bhs - owned by the retail tycoon Philip Green, who last year launched a failed takeover bid for Marks
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One Stop to reach university experts
A SERVICE which aims to boost the region's economy has been launched by a North-East university. Northumbria University's One Stop Shop for research and consultancy is a service making it easier for business to contact research and consultancy experts
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'I look like an aminated hedgehog'
Former Heartbeat actress Sarah Tansey talks to Steve Pratt about her new stage role - and why she' not impressed with the costume. SIX months ago, actress Sarah Tansey left Heartbeart after three years to spend more time at home in the South. The irony
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Factories hurt by lack of orders
SMALLER manufacturers reported more output over the last quarter but soaring costs and lack of orders continued to bite, a CBI survey showed. The quarterly survey of small and medium-sized companies, released yesterday, shows a modest rise in factory
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Company lands £3m in contracts
A JOINERY company has clinched a trio of contracts worth more than £3m. Taylor, based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, announced last night that it had won the contracts with Bovis Lend Lease - which would help to ensure the continued employment of the
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Steve Amos
STEVE AMOS has been promoted to supported housing manager at Stockton-based Endeavour Housing Association, having previously been the deputy. He takes over from CAROLE RICHARDSON, who is now business development manager. Mr Amos is still involved in the
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Metal detector users help unearth rare finds
RARE finds unearthed by metal detector enthusiasts are helping archaeologists discover more about North-East history. Relations between the metal detecting community and archaeologists, at one time seen as being at odds with each other, have vastly improved
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Best of the North in line for 'Oscars'
A WATER treatment works is one of the buildings nominated for the North-East's architectural 'Oscars'. A total of 46 entries have been received for the 2005 Hadrian Awards - ranging from the nationally-famous Discovery Centre, in Newcastle, to Northumbria
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Ross red-card opens the door for Barron
A LITTLE over two weeks ago Micky Barron couldn't see a way back into the Hartlepool United side. Returning to the squad after a knee operation, the club's longest serving player was watching his side and wondering exactly how he'd get back in. But he's
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Barbados? Winners are off to sunny Bognor
IF MONEY was no object, a holiday in the Caribbean, a round-the-world cruise or a trip to Disneyland would be the top of most people's wish lists. But a North-East family have celebrated becoming millionaires with a trip not to Barbados or the Bahamas
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Souness raises sights
GRAEME SOUNESS has pinpointed the loss of the club's 'big hitters' as the reason behind the Magpies' downturn in fortunes. Newcastle were undefeated in the Scot's first nine games in charge. But starting with the reverse at Bolton in October they have
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Aid worker asked to produce charity accounts
AN aid worker has been asked to produce accounts for the past five years, in an investigation into his charitable activities. The UK Charity Commission has asked to see a full record of receipts for Convoy Aid, the Teesside-based charity set up by Rod
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Robinson tips Elliott to match Stewart feat
CARL ROBINSON insists Stephen Elliott will soon follow Marcus Stewart's lead and fire his first hat-trick since moving to Sunderland last summer. Elliott has made a big impression at the Stadium of Light this season after his transfer from Manchester
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Asbestos ruling supports payouts
A move by insurers to stop paying out to people diagnosed with a condition showing asbestos exposure has failed. A High Court judge ruled thousands of people with pleural plaques - scarring on the lung lining - were still entitled to compensation. But
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Scientists struggle to find students on the Pill
FINDING female students not on the Pill has proved too challenging for North-East researchers. A study by Northumbria University into male attractiveness ran into a serious problem. They found it impossible to find enough women who were not taking the
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Ship dismantling issues to be debated at international talks
THE controversy surrounding the exporting and dismantling of obsolete toxic ships will be highlighted at a conference today. Environmentalists from both sides of the Atlantic will join delegates from the shipping industry for the first joint working group
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Yorkshire suffer big loss
Yorkshire's failure to buy their Headingley headquarters last year was a major reason for the club suffering a deficit of over £m in 2004, members will hear at the annual meeting on March 12. But chairman Robin Smith will also tell the meeting that talks
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James Goode
Reg Vardy Specialist Cars has appointed JAMES GOODE as franchise manager. The 33-year-old has spent the past year gaining experience of different roles within the Reg Vardy Group before joining Specialist Cars, near Houghton-le-Spring. His previous jobs
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On TV
The Baby War (ITV1) ANOTHER week, another ITV1 drama with a child in the central role. After Like Father, Like Son and The Stepfather, which both featured teenagers, the infant in The Baby War was smaller and had a non-speaking role. But he dribbled and
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Look very closely...
MINIATURE etchings, screen prints and artwork using the latest digital technology are on show at a new exhibition. Small Print: The Fifth British International Miniature Print Exhibition, at the Mercer Art Gallery, in Harrogate, features work from countries
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Mercedes to make a Smart move
WILL Mercedes Benz pull the plug on Smart? The German group's trendy but costly small car division is coming under pressure like never before. According to investment banker Morgan Stanley, the scale of losses at Smart is now so great the group should
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Public digs deep to help Asia
A CHURCH was packed at the weekend for a charity concert in aid of the tsunami disaster appeal. The performance, by Leyburn Band and East Witton Male Voice Choir, at St Matthew's Church, Leyburn, on Saturday raised more than £1,500. The money will help
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Downing is first of many, says Parlour
RAY PARLOUR believes Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing is the first of many highly-rated home-grown talents at the Riverside who will ride on a conveyor belt to international honours. Parlour is well positioned to claim that Boro are grooming a long
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Yorkshire suffer big loss
Yorkshire's failure to buy their Headingley headquarters last year was a major reason for the club suffering a deficit of over £m in 2004, members will hear at the annual meeting on March 12. But chairman Robin Smith will also tell the meeting that talks
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Plan for two big stores wins approval
A SUPERMARKET company has won planning permission to build two large retail stores in Northallerton. The planning application by Wm Morrison Supermarkets for the two 20,000sq ft non-food stores at Willowbeck Road was backed by planning officers at Hambleton
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Leading Man set to atone
NEVER afraid to travel his horses, Ferdy Murphy goes in search of a long distance across-the-card double via Leading Man (2.40) at Newcastle and Folkestone raider, Green Ideal (2.50). The Wensleydale-based trainer shouldn't have too many worries about
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Rob Lawson and Richard Garrad
NEWCASTLE firm Forum Marketing has recruited a new public relations team. ROB LAWSON and RICHARD GARRAD have joined the Gosforth-based firm, which specialises in advertising and publicity, particularly for the retail sector. Mr Lawson has returned to
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Terriers survive Ware and tear of Vase clash
With the possible exception of the Norfolk village of Great Snoring, Ware may be the only place in the country which is best known for a bed. The Great Bed of Ware measured 10ft by 11ft, lay at one time or another in half the inns in that Hertfordshire
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Council tax 'at least £27 more'
COUNCIL tax payers in County Durham will pay at least £27 more for county council services from April. The Labour-run authority's cabinet is recommending that the full council approves a 4.6 per cent increase to its share of the council tax. People in
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RAF band raises £3,000 for charity
A ROYAL Air Force band played a sell-out concert at the weekend to raise £3,000 for charity. Money from the event at the Hambleton Forum, Northallerton will be split between Yorkshire Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer Research, the tsunami appeal and the RAF
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Best of the North in line for 'Oscars'
A WATER treatment works is one of the buildings nominated for the North-East's architectural 'Oscars'. A total of 46 entries have been received for the 2005 Hadrian Awards - ranging from the nationally-famous Discovery Centre, in Newcastle, to Northumbria
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Fun in fair or fowl weather
A WILDLIFE park is promising a half-term treat for families. The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, in Washington, is hosting activities to attract lots of young visitors this half-term. The centre has hundreds of ducks, geese, swans and flamingoes in more
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MP invited to join police on street patrols
AN MP was due to join police to patrol the streets of a once run-down area of a Teesside town last night to see for herself the value of community policing. Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South, planned to meet PCs Alan Fish and Les Gray on their Parkfield
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Air force's mission to improve language skill
AIR force personnel are getting the chance to brush up on their Arabic before possible postings to the Middle East. Military and civilian staff at RAF Leeming are being offered Arabic courses to give them a better understanding of the people, their language
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College swim success
COLLEGE swimmers have powered their way to victory in a competition. Senior boys and girls from Northallerton College each took first place in the Area Championships Swimming Gala, staged at Bedale pool last week. Individual performances for the boys
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Shorthand teachers win BBC contract
SHORTHAND teachers from Stockton have won a teaching contract with the BBC. They have formed a company and will teach BBC journalists and producers via the Internet using a programme called OnlineShorthand.com. The course has been designed by Elaine Galloway
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Film-maker trains rugby players to dance for North-East Bollywood film
The first Bollywood movie to be made in the North-East will not break any new ground with its storyline, but it will with its cast. The film follows the tried and tested Bollywood tale of a hero and villain fighting over a girl. The difference in this
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Three workers fired after home inquiry
THREE workers at a North-East care home have been sacked following an inquiry into claims of abuse. Police and social services officials launched a joint inquiry after the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) voiced concerns about the care of
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Church full for tsunami fundraiser
A CHURCH was packed at the weekend for a charity concert in aid of the tsunami disaster appeal. The joint performance by Leyburn Band and East Witton Male Voice Choir at St Matthews Church, Leyburn, on Saturday raised more than £1,500. The money will
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Scientists struggle to find students on the Pill
FINDING female students not on the Pill has proved too challenging for North-East researchers. A study by Northumbria University into male attractiveness ran into a serious problem. They found it impossible to find enough women who were not taking the
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Opportunities for farmland
LAW firm Latimer Hinks has handled farm sales with a value of more than £3.2m in the past four months. The Darlington firm said the achievement was against a challenging agricultural backdrop. It said there were still opportunities in the market for agricultural
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Plans revised but protests over £55m Enclosure go on
A WEEK-long exhibition of the controversial proposals for the £55m development of the Coatham Enclosure has opened to a mixed response. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's plans for the site include 250 new homes, a hotel, visitor tower and swimming
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Cold water poured on plans for new firefighting system
CONTROVERSIAL plans to reform the county fire service were rejected by councillors yesterday. Fire service managers had devised proposals to modernise the service according to Government guidelines. These included using the same crews to man regular and
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Remploy celebrates 60 years of making a difference to the lives of disabled workers
THE shop floor at Remploy, in Spennymoor, County Durham, is just like any other factory - noisy and busy. But its workforce is rare in the North-East, as every employee is registered disabled. Each has a story to tell - some more incredible than others
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Aid worker asked to produce charity accounts
AN aid worker has been asked to produce accounts for the past five years, in an investigation into his charitable activities. The UK Charity Commission has asked to see a full record of receipts for Convoy Aid, the Teesside-based charity set up by Rod
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Children's tonic for hospice
A CHEQUE for more than £3,000 was presented to St Teresa's Hospice in Darlington, thanks to the efforts of children in the town. Pupils from ten schools raised money by singing carols in the Queen Street Shopping Centre. The amount they collected was
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Parliamentary candidate's pledge to recruit more police officers
CONSERVATIVE Party hopeful Anthony Frieze promised more bobbies on the beat when he visited Darlington yesterday. Mr Frieze, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Darlington, shadowed beat officers to learn about their job first hand
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RNLI man helps flooding victims
A DARLINGTON man is working in South America to help flood victims. Adrian Carey, 37, is the deputy divisional inspector for the RNLI in the North, and is leading a team of volunteers in Guyana, which has been hit by severe flooding. He is one of 20 UK
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Work starts on education centre
WORK has begun on a £4.4m education development on a North-East estate. The site, in Skerne Park, Darlington, includes a primary school, a children's centre, a nursery and adult education facilities. Councillor John Williams, leader of Darlington Borough
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Man is jailed for drugs farm role
A MAN who rented a small industrial unit and turned it into a cannabis farm has been jailed. Police smelt the drug in a unit on South Hetton Industrial Estate, near Peterlee, County Durham, when they were called out after a nearby alarm went off. Durham
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Residents face 4.6% council tax rise
COUNCIL taxpayers in County Durham will pay at least £27 more for county council services from April. The Labour-run authority's cabinet is recommending that the full council approve later this month an inflation-busting 4.6 per cent increase to its share
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Man admits sex attack
A MAN faces jail after he admitted sex attacks on a woman. Clifford Ian Church pleaded guilty to four counts of raping the woman. He also admitted two charges of attempted rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration and a threat to kill. The attacks
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Former addict is locked up for stealing employer's cash
A FORMER drug addict stole more than £4,000 from his employers after he was threatened by dealers over an old debt, a court was told. Gareth Clothier volunteered to bank the weekend's takings from the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) takeaway in North Road
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New housing manager appointed
A HOUSING expert has been chosen to manage thousands of Teesside council homes. Dave Pickard, 43, has been appointed head of housing management services for Tristar Homes, based in Stocton. Mr Pickard, who has worked in the housing industry for 23 years
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No great escape for little Alisha
A scheme to provide families with affordable child safety equipment was launched yesterday. The project, devised by SureStart Brandon and Deerness Valley, aims to reduce accidents in the home for families with children up to the age of four. Help will
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Car vandals told to pay for repairs
TWO youths who were caught after damaging the wing mirrors of 11 cars at the weekend have been ordered by police to pay for all the repairs. The pair were arrested after a resident saw them damaging a vehicle in the Thorn-gate area of Barnard Castle just
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Flower club's silver show at rail museum
A FLOWER club will celebrate its silver anniversary by staging its main event of the year in a spectacular setting. Shildon and District Flower Club will hold its annual show at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, Shildon, over three days next month
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Pedestrian killed just weeks before bypass work begins
AN elderly pedestrian died on a North-East road at the weekend a few weeks before a bypass is due to be built. Campaigners for the £5m West Auckland bypass, in County Durham, said that Sunday evening's tragedy proved how much it is needed. Malcolm Bowron
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All aboard for the Love Bus
ROMANCE was definitely in the air for a couple when they enjoyed a romantic Valentine's trip on a Love Bus. Jeannette Emmerson managed to keep the trip a surprise and got partner Bryan Donaldson to go along by pretending she had left her purse on the
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Historian's clues to wartime ancestors
A historian has given a talk about researching world war military ancestors. John Sheen offered tips to his audience on tracking the wartime exploits of rank and file troops in an event at Durham's Clayport Library. Mr Sheen, from Durham, has written
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Job Search: Vacancies
Stable person, Leyburn/Middleham. £162 to £250pw, 40hrs pw, 5 days out of 7, between 6.30am to 6pm. Must weigh less than ten stone and be experienced in riding and stable duties.Ability to drive two-stall horsebox an advantage. Ref: NAL 1442. Nursery
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Rugby club to mark silver anniversary
CHESTER-le-Street Rugby Club is calling on past players and members to help it celebrate its silver anniversary. The club plans to mark its 25th season with a dinner at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside ground, Chester-le-Street, on Friday, April
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15/02/05
CHARLES AND CAMILLA: The announcement that Charles and Camilla are to marry has opened up a real can of worms. I have never hidden my contempt for Charles and Camilla who, between them, conspired to destroy the life of Diana, Princess of Wales. Her own
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Telephone books recycling challenge on school timetable
PUPILS in 16 schools across Sedgefield are being urged to take old phone books into class to compete in a recycling challenge. The educational and environmental campaign the Yellow Woods Challenge is organised by Yellow Pages and the Woodland Trust with
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Let's rejoice for Charles and Camilla
I'm glad the holier-than-thou crowd in the General Synod did not get their wish to have a full scale debate about the forthcoming marriage of Prince Charles and Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles. What's it got to do with them? As the law stands, divorced persons
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Murder victims' families will lobby for victims' rights
Familes of murder and manslaughter victims will lobby Parliament next month to improve victims' rights. The North of England Victims Association and Support After Murder and Manslaughter, based in Teesside, will join other organisations from across the
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Heart unit reveals surgery death rates for first time
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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Demand grows for quality PAs and secretaries
They're usually just a voice at the end of a telephone, but the North-East's top people couldn't do their jobs without one. As major regeneration plans for the Tees Valley bring in more big businesses, the demand for top PAs and secretaries is set to
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Girls lobby chancellor on education
A GROUP of North-East children have just returned from lobbying the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The nine-year-old girls, from Teesside Prep School, in Eaglescliffe, were intent on grilling Gordon Brown about educational standards in developing countries
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New team signed up by skills council
A team has been formed at the Learning and Skills Council County Durham. The posts of planning and communications manager and marketing and communications officer have been set up to oversee the planning and promotion of the Learning and Skills Council
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Mother jailed after son missed school
A MOTHER has been for jailed for ten days for failing to send her son to secondary school. Durham County Council said it hoped the case against the woman, who has not been named, will prove to parents that the local education authority was taking a hard
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North-East is cheapest place to buy a house
THE North-East remains the cheapest place in England to buy a home - but house prices are rising more rapidly in the region than anywhere else. The English region with the lowest average house price in December was in the North-East, at £128,991, and
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Chieftain expands to open Teesside base
the Chieftain Group has opened an office in the Tees Valley in an effort to attract more customers from the chemical industry. The Newcastle-based plc has appointed former Aker Kvaernar managing director Malcolm Oliver to run the new division, which is
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Homeowners still favour buy-to-let
The buy-to-let sector continued to grow strongly in the second half of last year - although more slowly than in previous periods, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. At the end of 2004, there were about 526,200 buy-to-let mortgages worth £52.2bn
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Fijian flier bars Westoe glory trail
FORMER Fiji sevens star Waisele Serevi stands between Westoe and a trip to Twickenham. The elusive winger, who had a spell with Leicester, now plays for Staines along with former England No 8 Chris Sheasby. Westoe have been drawn away to the London club
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Call to cut interest rate
AN engineering employers' organisation has called for a cut in interest rates because the economy is so buoyant. The Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), which represents more than 400 companies employing 60,000 people in the North-East, said the move
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Students to perform dances
DANCE students will perform two original pieces inspired by the Yorkshire Dales at the weekend. GCSE dance students from Richmond School have been working with professional choreographers Beth Cassani and Lucy Suggate. Richard Jones, the school's director
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Catering group serves up tasty set of figures for anxious investors
CATERING group Compass served up a reassuring trading update yesterday that confirmed it was on course for at least six per cent growth in revenues. The group - best known for its Upper Crust sandwich chain and supplying food to blue-chip companies -
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Police force to put town's station on property market
POLICE are hoping to cash in on an urban revival in part of the North-East by putting a town centre station up for sale. Durham Police are testing the property market by offering Newton Aycliffe police station for sale -a move that could be the catalyst
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Industry looks to future with apprentice scheme
APPRENTICES working in the chemical industry on Teesside have all gained their first-year certificates. The 12 apprentices, taking part in a scheme sponsored by companies including BASF, Dow, DuPontSA, Huntsman, Invista, SempCorp, Petroplus and Uniqema
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When is a volunteer not a volunteer?
Charities are increasingly falling victim to a new and worrying trend - disaffected ex-volunteers arguing that they have employment rights and, as such, that they enjoy protection from unfair dismissal. The chief executive of the RNLI - an organisation
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Life in the teeth of the gale
Harry Mead enjoys a companionable ramble on the North Yorkshire coast. SEASONS AT SUNNYSIDE by Elizabeth Buchannan (Bayfair Publications, Coralline, Silver Street, Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire, YO22 4SB, £2 locally or £2.99 by post) AMONG the paths
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Protest by hunt fans
HOME secretary Charles Clarke was confronted by angry pro-hunt supporters during his visit to the region on Friday. He was in Thirsk to look at the work of Thirsk Clock Cafe, a meeting place and advice centre for teenagers. But before he arrived, a group
