Archive
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Stars backing brick road idea
A STAR football trio have thrown their support behind a scheme that celebrates the tenth anniversary of Middlesbrough Football Club's move to the Riverside stadium. Gareth Southgate, Stewart Downing and Franck Queudrue are helping to promote the Boro
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Super Cruz
Penelope Cruz seems to make a habit of dating her leading men in movies, but she doesn't want to talk about love scenes on or off the screen. Her latest project is action-packed with Cruz becoming determined to do all her own stunts... even if it's only
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Prison threat for exposure incident
A MAN has been warned he could face prison after he pleaded guilty to exposing himself to two teenage girls. John Oliver, of Railway Terrace, Crook, County Durham, who appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday, admitted two charges of exposing
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Tiger at his best would win, predicts Nicklaus
AS the thousands upon thousands pass down Magnolia Drive over the next four days there are very few, if any, better placed to pass judgement on those taking part in the Masters than the legendary Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. A winner of the Green Jacket
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Neighbours from Heaven: Woman from Oz hails her 'second mam'
AN Australian who moved to the region has been shown that good neighbours really can become good friends. Anita Blair moved in next door to Joan and John Gair, in Neil Crescent, Quarrington Hill, Durham nearly three years ago. She moved from Melbourne
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'What I learned from the kids with labels'
Former teacher Fran Hunnisett was so inspired by her class of autistic children that she decided to write a book about them. She talks to Sharon Griffiths. WE all know about autism, don't we? We've seen Dustin Hoffman in Rainman and know that people with
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School meals given health check by consumer watchdogs
PUPILS have been using computer technology as part of a ground-breaking initiative to examine how nutritional their food is. Consumer watchdogs from Durham County Council's trading standards service visited Catchgate Primary School, in Stanley, County
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Children spotted on rail tracks
RAILWAY safety officers are to revisit an estate where children have been caught on security cameras trying to trespass on the track. Community leaders in Firthmoor, Darlington, say they are terrified another tragedy will occur, following the deaths of
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Next stop for First Stop in 101 miles
A WOMAN is planning a marathon sponsored walk to support a charity for the homeless. Helen Holyome, of Hurworth Place, near Darlington, hopes to walk 101 miles in 48 hours to raise money for First Stop. The event, organised by the Long-Distance Walking
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Alternative to cut noise
TOWN councillors looking for a way to cut noise at a parish hall may have found a solution thanks to a different venue. Councillors in Sedgefield have been considering the parish hall's future after agreeing to limit the number of events it holds to avoid
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Countryside pathway opened
A WALK across 90 acres of rolling countryside and past castle ruins has been created. Cousins Michael and John Davison teamed up with the Government to open farmland around Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield, to the public. The network of paths takes in
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Clinic to offer men a screening service
A clinic has been launched to offer a screening service for men. The Weardale Practice, in Stanhope Health Centre, Stanhope, has been chosen to pilot the clinic, which started on Tuesday. The move, by the Durham Dales Primary Care Trust, follows recent
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Firm vows to update warning
THE owners of a chemical factory have vowed to update its warning system after a false alarm at the site caused panic among residents earlier this week. Bosses at Elementis Chromium, in Eaglescliffe, said they had received calls from nearby houses after
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Strongman Alastair is meating the challenge
STRONGMAN Alastair Black is beefing up in a bid to lift some major titles this year. The 23-year-old, from West Cornforth, is in training for the northern regional qualifier of the UK's Strongest Man Competition, in Hartlepool, on April 30. And to help
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Firm joins in fire safety programme
A COMPANY from Peterlee is to take over from firefighters by maintaining fire prevention equipment such as smoke alarms, extinguishers and hose reels. It is part of a review of how fire and rescue services provide such products to their communities. Peterlee
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Councillor takes on Chief Whip
AN independent councillor is to challenge a senior member of the Cabinet at the forthcoming General Election. Coun Watts Stelling, who sits on Derwentside District Council and Durham County Council, will stand against MP Hilary Armstrong for the North-West
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Gazza's best mate declared bankrupt
GAZZA'S best mate, Jimmy 'Five Bellies' Gardner, has been declared bankrupt. The 39-year-old father-of-two owes thousands to multinational building and plumbing company Wolseley. Mr Gardner, of Dunston, Gateshead, had run up a debt of £5,543 to a building
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Miller's tale of murder
Comedian/actor Ben Miller reveals he has a lot of sympathy for his deadly doctor Edmund Bickleigh, who can't stop killing after bumping off his wife to be with another woman. Steve Pratt reports. A FEAR of injections gave actor Ben Miller a few tricky
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Diamond day for couple
A COUPLE who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the weekend said the secret of a long-lasting marriage was plenty of hard work. Retired farmer Thomas William Hardy, 82, and his wife, Greta May, 83, marked their diamond anniversary with a family
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Prison term extended by nine months
A BURGLAR serving three years behind bars was sentenced to a further nine months yesterday, after admitting four more offences. Lance Wilson, 30, was brought from custody to answer a further four burglary allegations at Durham Crown Court. Rachael Hedworth
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Review of transport concerns
THE impact on transport from a planned £55m leisure development in Redcar will be discussed by chief engineers tomorrow. About 60 delegates will attend the Tees Valley Chief Engineers' Group's seminar at Gisborough Hall. The conference will be debating
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Driver given taxi licence despite past
A MAN was granted a taxi driving licence, despite having been penalised five times in seven years for driving offences. Martin Woods, 23, from Darlington, was yesterday granted permission to take up a job with Ace Cars taxi company, after councillors
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Grieving father launches battle to boot out the PM
THE father of a young military policeman killed in Iraq launched his campaign to oust the Prime Minister from his North-East seat yesterday. Reg Keys, father of Lance Corporal Tom Keys, is standing against Tony Blair in Sedgefield, County Durham, in the
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Back to school for university students
UNIVERSITY students went back to school for a day to encourage teenagers into higher education. Wolsingham School and Community College ran an Aiming for a College Education (ACE) day for year eight pupils. Students from Sunderland, Teesside and Northumbria
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Helpers wanted to restore beauty spot
RESIDENTS are being asked to dig in and help rejuvenate a neglected beauty spot. The community clean-up is being organised by Groundwork South Tees and Skelton Villages Environmental Improvement Group to help improve the Layland Beck area. The co-ordinated
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'Prison not solution for ex-addict'
A self-confessed former heroin addict has avoided prison after pleading guilty to assault and burglary. Lee Haswell, 19, of Tweed Road, Spennymoor, appeared before Newton Aycliffe magistrates yesterday - and was told a prison sentence would not teach
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Man who attacked partner avoids jail
A MAN who admitted assaulting the young mother of his baby narrowly avoided prison yesterday. Michael Wanless threw a portable television and stereo at the head of the 17-year-old in the attack, the court heard. Wanless, 21, of Station Road, Darlington
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Steve aiming to raise funds and awareness
THE chief executive of a charity is in training for a 150-mile fundraising bike ride. Victim Support North Yorkshire chief executive Steve Twynham will set off from Scarborough on June 24, riding though Helmsley, Northallerton, Richmond, Kettle-well,
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New radio licence for Durham
Ofcom today announced the award of the new FM local commercial radio licence for Durham. The new radio station for Durham will be owned by The Local Radio Company, which also operates Sunderland's Sun FM and Darlington's Alpha 103.2. It runs 25 other
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Cricket club supporters star as volunteers
MEMBERS of Yarm Cricket Club have taken part in a national volunteering initiative. More than 650 clubs nationally registered for the NatWest CricketForce 2005 initiative, with 50,000 volunteers taking part. Developed to be part of the NatWest volunteer
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Business centre boss retiring
THE manager of a business centre is retiring after nearly two decades in charge. Peter Douglas, the manager of Stockton Business Centre, is hanging up his keys after 18 years leading the centre. Stockton Enterprise Centre was launched in 1988 to provide
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Moorland burning concerns answered
CHEMICAL burning of land and burning of heather in the North York Moors National Park is causing concern to a parish council. The park authority's northern area forum heard that Kildale Parish Council was concerned that chemical burning of land by spraying
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Farm landfill plan withdrawn
VILLAGERS fighting plans to open Europe's biggest landfill site on their doorsteps are celebrating after the application was withdrawn. Premier Waste Management, which had been planning to develop 61 hectares of farmland between Wingate and Wheatley Hill
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Rubbish permits: mixed success
A SCHEME that prevents householders using trailers or vans to dump rubbish without first applying for a permit is saving Durham County Council £1m. But district and borough councils claim they will be left to bear the increased costs of providing extra
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Oil field exploration could sustain jobs
New oil field explorations could help sustain hundreds of jobs in the North-East, experts claim. The Northern Offshore Federation, which represents 10,000 workers in the region's offshore industry, is keeping a close eye on three investigations in the
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Pool boss hits out
AFTER four dropped points following leads chucked away against Blackpool and Peterborough of late, Neale Cooper accused his Hartlepool United side of lacking bottle for the promotion fight. Tuesday's 2-0 half-time advantage over Peterborough was wiped
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Samsung ruling may lead to jobs
COUNCIL planners have approved a £45m development expected to bring 1,000 jobs to the region. Stockton Borough Council yesterday approved an application by the owners of the former Samsung site at Wynyard, Teesside, to relax existing planning laws for
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Mephisto can tame Aintree hurdles
HOWARD JOHNSON'S master plan to side-step the Cheltenham Festival with Mephisto (4.55) in favour of Aintree looks all set to come to fruition. Mephisto, a former winner of the Europe's most valuable Flat handicap, the 2004 Ebor at York, has taken to hurdling
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Animal lovers sought to give a home to Chance
A DOG who had survived a lucky escape is looking for a new home. Chance, as he has been christened by his foster carers, survived being thrown from a speeding car then lived for several weeks on the central reservation of one of Britain's busiest motorways
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Father's birthday message from Iraq
A SOLDIER serving in Iraq has sent a birthday message to his young daughter. Lance Corporal Mark Bedingfield wants Sarah to know he is thinking of her tomorrow when she turns eight. He contacted The Northern Echo to pass on many happy returns to the Lanchester
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Football club hoping to pioneer new plastic pitch
DURHAM City Football Club is giving serious thought to installing a plastic pitch at its Archibalds Stadium - and it could be in place for the start of next season. City investigated the installation of plastic last season as an alternative scheme had
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Tiger at his best would win, predicts Nicklaus
AS the thousands upon thousands pass down Magnolia Drive over the next four days there are very few, if any, better placed to pass judgement on those taking part in the Masters than the legendary Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus. A winner of the Green Jacket
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Town centre plan backed
COUNCIL bosses have cleared the final hurdle in their efforts to bring about the transformation of Darlington town centre. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister confirmed on Monday that it had approved unpopular changes to High Row. It means the borough
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Strongman alastair is meating the challenge
STRONGMAN Alastair Black is beefing up in a bid to lift some major titles this year. The 23-year-old, from West Cornforth, is in training for the northern regional qualifier of the UK's Strongest Man Competition, in Hartlepool, on April 30. And to help
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Troubled water over bridge work
HIGHWAYS chiefs are seeking permission to raise the height of a bridge parapet amid concerns over public safety. Engineers from North Yorkshire County Council want to add about seven inches to the height of the southern stone parapet of Hawes Bridge,
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Prostitute who preyed on men is jailed for two years
A PROSTITUTE who indecently assaulted a man with learning difficulties and preyed on other men in a town centre has been jailed for two years. Former heroin addict Nicola Morris will also be placed on the sex offenders' register for seven years and be
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07/04/05
NO WAY JOSE: UEFA's handling of the Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho leaves a lot to be desired. Here is a manager who disregards the rules of his profession, not to mention riding roughshod over the career of one of the game's top referees, and UEFA give
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Miners' payout scheme 'flawed'
MINISTERS have admitted their £2.5bn miners' compensation scheme was flawed from the start because it was too complex - delaying badly-needed payments. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it now believed its complicated handling agreements
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Championship launched
About 100 guests from the equestrian world, with local dignitaries and sponsors, attended the launch of the FEI Open European Endurance Championships, taking place at Stourhead, Wiltshire, in August. The launch was held by kind permission of endurance
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Mephisto can tame Aintree hurdles
HOWARD JOHNSON'S master plan to side-step the Cheltenham Festival with Mephisto (4.55) in favour of Aintree looks all set to come to fruition. Mephisto, a former winner of the Europe's most valuable Flat handicap, the 2004 Ebor at York, has taken to hurdling
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Interest rates held
UK interest rates will remain at The Bank of England has left UK interest rates on hold at 4.75% for the eighth month running at the end of its latest rate-setting meeting. The decision by the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was widely expected
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Pupils listen to story of meeting with Pope
SCHOOLchildren yesterday shared the experiences of a long-serving former teacher who once met the Pope. Two children from all four classes at Our Lady and St Joseph's RC Primary School, in Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, visited the nearby home
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Dad At Large: When the cuckoo got his comeuppance
OUR youngest has always loved sleeping with his mum. Cuddling up to her in the big bed is his idea of heaven, and I've lost count of the number of times I've been relegated to his room. Max was eight last week and it's still his intention to marry her
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New policy on gifts to councillors
NEW guidelines on councillors accepting gifts and hospitality have been drawn up. Darlington Borough Council has produced a draft report, which will be considered by its standards committee on Monday. The report warns council members that they should
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A natural approach to treating laminitis
ANYONE who has had to witness a horse or pony suffering with laminitis will surely agree that it is one of the most distressing conditions experienced by horses and ponies. The owner feels powerless to ease their animal's suffering and the preventative
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Highland Fling, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
I MUST declare an interest from the outset. Having seen previous shows by Matthew Bourne, the director and choreographer of Highland Fling, and loved them, I was always likely to enjoy this one. Happily, my expectations were met. The thing about Bourne
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University honours Chancellor Bill
A TRAVEL writer who wrote of falling in love with Durham had his feelings reciprocated yesterday when he was named the chancellor of the city's university. The love affair between Durham and US-born Bill Bryson began in 1995 when, in his Notes From a
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Ex-pupils return to school
UNIVERSITY students went back to school for a day to encourage teenagers into higher education. Wolsingham School and Community College ran an Aiming for a College Education (ACE) day for Year Eight pupils. Students from Sunderland, Teesside and Northumbria
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Our case for special status
AS the campaigning was formally launched this week for a May 5 election, we underlined the need for more action to help the North-East recover from the repeated blows it has taken as a result of the manufacturing crisis. Today, we present the case for
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High drama and heartbreak of legendary race
'In 1954, when I was only 16, I went straight from school in Barnard Castle to Captain Neville Crump's yard, initially on a week's trial. Things worked well and I stayed to serve my four-year apprenticeship at Warwick House, where Mark Johnston is now
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Father and son jailed for running illegal slaughterhouse
A father and son have been jailed for three months over the illegal running of a squalid slaughterhouse. Harold Gray, 62, and his son Michael, 31, appeared before Harrogate magistrates yesterday. A third man, Sumaullah Patel, 41, who acted as a halal
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Give us a chance to generate 7,000 jobs
THE owner of the North-East's largest port is campaigning for the Government to help finance an investment of £300m that will create up to 7,000 jobs and transform the fortunes of the region. PD Ports is hoping to make the multi-million pound investment
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Looking death in the face
AT the newsagent's this week, I overheard talk about the photographs of Pope John Paul II's body lying in state at the Vatican, which were all over the front pages. "I don't think it's right, seeing him like that. It must be upsetting for children," said
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Travel agent saves customer from losing life savings
POLICE and trading standards are warning people of a scam, after an elderly woman was almost cheated out of £1,200. The pensioner went into Callers Pegasus travel agents, in Darlington, on Tuesday, wanting to send £1,200 to someone in Canada - after she
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Breeze all the way
SPRING BREEZE made an impressive start to his four-year-old campaign with a dazzling pillar-to-post victory at Catterick yesterday. Trainer Michael Dods had left readers of our recent pull-out, Racing North, in little doubt that his horse had improved
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Plan for opencast mining at old pit
A COAL company has promised to clear up water pollution and create a wildlife habitat if it wins permission for opencast mining at a former colliery site. But it looks likely to face opposition to its plans to work Stony Heap at Leadgate, near Consett
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Corus boss turns steel firm into a goldmine
THE boss of Corus has seen his pay increase by 19 per cent after the steel group achieved profits for the first time. Chief executive Philippe Varin received total pay and benefits of £1.43m last year, compared to £1.2m in 2003. It included a bonus equivalent
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Display honours wartime police
AN insight into how policing in the North-East changed during wartime is the subject of a free exhibition. Gentlemen at War: Policing Britain 1939-1945, has opened at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley. The North-Eastern Police History Society worked
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Double-killer probe held up - by work
AN INDEPENDENT inquiry into the treatment received by a mental health patient who murdered a teenager months after his care package was withdrawn, has still not started - more than a year after his conviction. The probe by one of the region's health authorities
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Boro face a crisis with Viduka out for season
STEVE McClaren is battling against a striker crisis as he looks to guide Middlesbrough back into Europe, after Mark Viduka was ruled out for the rest of the season. Viduka, who has already spent three months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem,
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Port's drive for £300m to generate 7,000 jobs
THE owner of the North-East's largest port is campaigning for the Government to help finance an investment of £300m that will create up to 7,000 jobs and transform the fortunes of the region. PD Ports is hoping to make the multi-million pound investment
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The Prince of a golden age
He was Europe's longest-reigning monarch, married a Hollywood star and transformed his principality from sleepy resort to the world's most fashionable playground. Nick Morrison looks at the life of Prince Rainier. IT is less than a mile square and is
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From No Place to Pity Me - it's all plain sailing for the crew
SAILORS on one the biggest warships in the British Fleet will navigate their way around the rabbit warren of corridors on board using the towns and villages of County Durham. Crew members from HMS Bulwark, the county's adopted ship, were in Durham City
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Top Ten To Rent
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL: 1 The Incredibles 2 Layer Cake 3 Alien vs Predator 4 Manchurian Candidate 5 Finding Neverland 6 Man On Fire 7 The Ring 8 Bridget Jones 9 Bride And Prejudice 10 A Cinderalla Story Published: 07/04/2005
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Bullet points
Real life matches uncomfortably with fiction as former So Solid Crew rapper Ashely Walters takes the lead role in Bullet Boy. He's ben convicted of a gun offence andnow takes on the roleof an ex-con trying to stay out of trouble in a gun-infested neighbourhood
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Man charged with child abduction
A GYPSY traveller wanted by police in connection with the high profile disappearance of his 14-year-old cousin arrived back in England yesterday. James Patrick O'Brien, 23, was met by Cleveland Police at Durham Tees Valley Airport after arriving on a
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Don't forget the farrier industry
Apparently, to the uninitiated, farriery is going much the same way as crinolines and corsets - into history. Horse owners, however, would say otherwise and in actual fact the industry, far from dying, is booming. There is no shortage of lads keen to
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News in brief
CONTINENTAL MARKET: Visitors will be able to shop around Europe when a Continental Market arrives in the region. From Friday to Sunday, traders from Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and Holland will be at the Market Cross, in Guisborough town centre
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Youngsters leave a gift to the future
CHILDREN have left a glimpse of life in County Durham in 2005 for future generations. Pupils from St Mary's RC School, in Barnard Castle, buried a time capsule at a new riverside property development, Thorngate Court. They included items such as a calculator
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Canon returns for Novello
A TRIBUTE to composer Ivor Novello is bringing a popular churchman back to Spennymoor later this month. Former St Paul's curate Canon Michael Hampel is joining in a homage to the composer in the church hall on Wednesday, April 20. Mr Hampel, now precentor
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Doctors wing in from Austria
A NEW wave of foreign health workers has arrived in the region. Three Austrian GPs have left their home country to start a new life in the region in practices in Sedgefield borough. For a six-month induction period, Johanna Schwarz will work in Barnard
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Phone system donated to hospice
AMODERN telephone system has been installed at a hospice's headquarters. The £25,000 phone system has been donated by Thomas Howson, managing director of Thornaby-based company Main-Tel, to Butterwick's Hospice Care's centre on the site of North Tees
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Union fear over cuts
CIVIL servants meet in Bishop Auckland tonight to protest against plans to centralise benefit processing. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) fears County Durham will be left without a single benefit office under Government proposals announced
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It's tee time for pupils
YOUNGSTERS were given an introduction to the game of golf by a leading professional yesterday. Sam Oliver, a coach at the luxury De Vere Slaley Hall hotel and golf complex, in Northumberland, visited Benfieldside Primary School, in Consett, to give years
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Birthday love from Dad in Basra
A SOLDIER serving in Iraq has sent a birthday message home to his young daughter in Delves Lane, Consett. Lance Corporal Mark Bedingfield wants Sarah to know he is thinking of her this Friday when she turns eight. He wrote to The Advertiser to pass on
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Charity concert line-up revealed
THE musical programme has been unveiled for a charity concert in aid of The Northern Echo's Forgotten Hero appeal. The Andrew Mynarski VC Memorial Concert will take place at the Dolphin Centre, Darlington, on Sunday at 3.15pm. The Normandy Band of the
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Council appoints new top executive
A HIGH-FLYING civil servant has been appointed to a key position as head of the region's largest local authority. Mark Lloyd will become one of the country's youngest chief executives of a large authority when he takes over as chief executive of Durham
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Back to school for university students
UNIVERSITY students went back to school for a day to encourage teenagers into higher education. Wolsingham School and Community College ran an Aiming for a College Education (ACE) day for year eight pupils. Students from Sunderland, Teesside and Northumbria
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'Come on, strong guy, have a butcher's at this'
STRONGMAN Alastair Black is beefing up in a bid to lift some major titles this year. The 23-year-old, from West Cornforth, is in training for the northern regional qualifier of the UK's Strongest Man Competition in Hartlepool on April 30. And to help
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Concert to aid disease study
A LAST Night of the Proms-style event, featuring the Bede Wind Philharmonic Orchestrawill be held at the Robin Todd Centre, in South Hetton, east Durham, on the evening of Saturday, April 23. Tickets, costing £5, include a glass of wine. Proceeds are
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Search for new site for mosque
A MOSQUE planned for a Teesside town could be built elsewhere following residents' protests. Planning permission was expected to be granted yesterday for a new place of worship, on the corner of Westbourne Street and Bowesfield Lane, in Stockton, to replace
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Ferrari inspires £1.1m mobile gym
A £1.1M mobile gym based on one used by Ferrari Formula One champion Michael Shumacher has been unveiled in the region. Dreamt up as a way of helping people exercise more in isolated parts of Wear Valley, in County Durham, it is due to hit the road soon
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When the cuckoo got his comeuppance
OUR youngest has always loved sleeping with his mum. Cuddling up to her in the big bed is his idea of heaven, and I've lost count of the number of times I've been relegated to his room. Max was eight last week and it's still his intention to marry her
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Demolition of listed school for housing gains approval
DEMOLITION plans for a former primary school, which is the only listed building in a former pit village, have taken a big step forward. Members of Easington District Council ignored advice from a planning chief and voted unanimously for the removal of
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Club to tackle anti-social behaviour
A NEW video club has been set up for young people following a rise in anti-social behaviour. The People's Video Club opens at 5pm tomorrow, in Hetton, set up by police and businesses following complaints about rowdy behaviour in the area. The move comes
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Record numbers
Newcastle's Life Science Centre has announced a record number of visitors in the past year. A total of 230,000 people visited the centre, the third successive year it has seen an increase in admissions since it opened in 2000.
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Musical stars will perform in venues
TWO country music stars will perform in two venues this weekend. Hank Wangford and Reg Meuross will perform at Great Broughton Village Hall, near Stokesley, on Saturday, and Crayke Sports Club, near Easingwold, on Sunday. The performances are part of
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Thefts from grave site cause concern
RESIDENTS have been urged to report suspicious behaviour to police after a spate of thefts in a cemetery. Silk flowers worth about £200 have been stolen from Hipswell Cemetery in recent weeks. Colburn Mayor Tom Henry, the chairman of the joint burial
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'Centre is not a hospital'
HEALTH chiefs have urged people not to use a new walk-in medical centre as a hospital after several seriously ill patients turned up seeking help. Ambulances had to be called to take patients to hospital as the nurse-led clinic at Dr Piper House, Darlington
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Benefits advice
AGE Concern is holding infomration events across the county to tell older people how to claim the benefits which are rightfully theirs. The organisation is staging the following events: Tuesday, April 12, Barnard Castle Day Club, Methodist Chapel, Galgate
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Two-year jail term for house burglar
A YOUNG burglar is starting a prison sentence a year after breaking into a family home and taking hundreds of pounds worth of electrical equipment. Philip McDonald, 23, was arrested after leaving tell-tale fingerprints on a patio door he forced to gain
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Council calls on public to help decide future of town
PLANS to develop the heart of Bishop Auckland are to go before the public next week. The regeneration scheme aims to breathe new life into the town's commercial district, and will be detailed in a week-long exhibition, starting next Thursday. Town centre
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Betty the cat needs a home
BLACK cat Betty is hoping to strike lucky and find herself a loving new home. The short-haired three-year-old has become homeless after her elderly owner died. Betty is in the care of a foster home near Stockton, provided by the Sadberge-based National
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Praise for young chefs
CULINARY experts turned up the heat in a college cook-off designed to test the skills of catering students. The competition, hosted by Darlington College of Technology, pitted young caterers against each other and the clock. Teams of three, comprising
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Community rallies to save threatened playgroup
A CASH-STRAPPED playgroup has been saved by local businesses and organisations. Brooklyn Playgroup, which is the only playgroup in Norton, ran into financial difficulties last year when the number of children attending dropped. It was threatened with
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Bingo cash to fund children's outing
A BINGO club is hoping to raise thousands of pounds to treat young people in part of Consett. The Grove Citizens Social Club wants to offer children of school age a trip to Ocean Beach Amusement Park, in South Shields. Treasurer Dot Atherton said: "This
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£1.4m project launched to provide community centre
A £1.4M project to create a community centre to serve a large part of North Yorkshire was launched yesterday. Ripon Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is behind the plans to convert the hospital wing of the former workhouse in Allhallowgate, Ripon, into
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Mayor praises crackdown on troublemakers
A CITY'S mayor has welcomed the success of a scheme to crack down on young troublemakers. The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Stuart Martin, said youngsters behaving themselves had no need to worry about police powers to disperse groups of unruly youngsters
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Rural area leading the country in fight against crime
THE rural area of Ryedale is leading the country when it comes to neighbourhood policing, according to a leading police officer. Chief Superintendent David Short told a Helmsley area community and police group meeting at Ampleforth that a plan announced
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Meeting to tackle town's problems
A COMMUNITY is being invited to unite against anti-social behaviour by youngsters in a town centre car park. Earlier this week, the issue was raised at a district-wide police community forum. Boroughbridge Town Council has now suggested setting up a community
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Firm invests £1.5m to rebuild farmhouse pub
A COUNTRY pub/restaurant on the outskirts of Durham is to be demolished and re-built to give it a more traditional farmhouse feel. The Newton Grange opened as a pub/hotel in a converted farmhouse, with adjoining car park, just north of Newton Hall, in
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Campaign launched against pub demolition
RESIDENTS in Darlington have declared their intention to fight plans to demolish a hotel. A public meeting to organise opposition to a scheme to pull down the White Horse Hotel in Harrowgate Hill, attracted dozens of residents. Premier Homes UK has submitted
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End of season marked at farewell dinner
ONE hundred and forty Bedale huntsmen and supporters filled Bedale Hall on March 4 for their end of season dinner. Organiser Rosie Pearson couldn't praise enough the many people who had made donations or helped with the cooking, "Everyone in the hunt
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Victory 60th Anniversary: Museum prepares to celebrate role of railways in war
A MUSEUM is going back in time for a month-long series of events to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day. The National Railway Museum (NRM) in York is running 60 Years Ago -Railways in War and Peace from Saturday until Sunday, May 8. There will concert
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Stars on stage for summer season
TICKETS are on sale for the summer season of shows at a North-East theatre. The programme at the Theatre Royal, in Newcastle, is bringing some of the world's finest companies to the region. Performances will include a rock 'n' roll extravaganza featuring
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Bowyer to be given a Sporting chance
DISGRACED pair Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer have avoided the axe at Newcastle United, with manager Graeme Souness insisting: "I'll pick a team capable of taking this club into the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup." The Magpies play Portuguese giants Sporting
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Nursery celebrates birthday
CHILDREN at a town centre nursery celebrated its first birthday with a party last week. The Rainbow Nursery on Rock Road, Spennymoor, opened its doors 12 months ago to just six children and now has 86 babies and toddlers enrolled. Owner Sheila Gardiner
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Council orders disabled man to rip up driveway
A DISABLED man and his wife have been told to rip up a driveway built to provide ambulance access to their home because councillors feel it spoils a pretty village scene. Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee refused to grant retrospective
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Views sought on town plans
RESIDENTS of Bishop Auckland are being asked to help plan their town's future and confirm its role as one of County Durham's major commercial centres. A week-long exhibition starting next Thursday, is open to the public to show plans and concepts on how
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Soft-ish going fails to hold back Mister Bromley at the Hurworth
COURSE officials had to make the decision whether to run the Hurworth Point to Point on the morning of the event - at 7.45am to be precise! The venue was Skutterskelfe Park, Hutton Rudby, by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Colin Tunnicliffe. Although we
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On TV
I Survived (five) THIS destroys your brain, your health and your nervous system. And no, I'm not talking about Footballers' Wives but lightning - you know, the stuff that goes with thunder. This programme came with a warning to stop viewing if you felt
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McNulty still has a 'fighting chance'
MORE than 320 jobs are under threat after a cash flow crisis forced an offshore fabricator into administration. McNulty Offshore Contractors, based in South Shields, South Tyneside, called in administrators KPMG on Tuesday. The company ran out of money
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Clan heir jailed for fraud
The heir to a wealthy Scottish clan who used his computer company to commit a multi-million pound fraud has been jailed. Charles Forsyth, 46, made a fortune selling faulty computers built from second hand parts by mail order and to retailers including
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Historic walk created
A NEW walk across 90 acres of countryside and past castle ruins has been created. Cousins Michael and John Davison teamed up with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to open farmland around Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield,
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Museums' cash boost
THE region's museums are to benefit from a £10.6m cash boost. The funding is part of a £100m package earmarked countrywide by Renaissance, a national scheme set up to transform England's regional museums. Money granted to the North-East will be spent
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Striking facts about a silent killer
I Survived (five): THIS destroys your brain, your health and your nervous system. And no, I'm not talking about Footballers' Wives but lightning - you know, the stuff that goes with thunder. This programme came with a warning to stop viewing if you felt
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Fishing fan lands a top job at fair
A SCHOOLBOY fishing fan has landed a dream appearance at the world's largest angling fair next month. Neil Soulsby, of Stanley, will demonstrate his skills alongside some of the country's best fisherman at the two-day Chatsworth Angling Fair, in Derbyshire
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Food for thought
I was shocked when I read the latest reports that girls as young as five are unhappy with their bodies and wish they were slimmer. The research revealed that nearly half of five to eight-year-olds want to be thinner and the same figure would diet if they
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Firm invests to meet demand
MAJOR investment in new facilities by a family-owned seal manufacturer will create new employment and safeguard existing jobs. Nicholsons Sealing Technologies is moving to a 50,000sq ft unit on the Greencroft Industrial Park, near Stanley. The new premises
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£10m plans for police training HQ
A £10m redevelopment programme is due to turn Harpley Hall in Crook into a police control centre and specialist facility for fighting crime in County Durham. Centrex, the Central Police Training and Development Authority, has acquired Harperley Hall and
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Police drop Tuxedo objections
POLICE have agreed to withdraw their objections to a nightclub being allowed to stay in business. The owner of the Tuxedo Princess, moored at Gateshead Quays, has agreed to stop promotions where people can drink all night for a fixed price. The ship is
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It ain't half tough, mum
Joining the Army can be a big shock for today's teenagers, who have been weaned on a childhood of computer games and TV. In the second of three articles, Oliva Richwald reports on how the youngest Green Howards coped with life in the Central American
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Give us a chance to generate 7,000 jobs
THE owner of the North-East's largest port is campaigning for the Government to help finance an investment of £300m that will create up to 7,000 jobs and transform the fortunes of the region. PD Ports is hoping to make the multi-million pound investment
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Advice for beauty pageant hopefuls
A BEAUTY queen took time out from her busy schedule yesterday to give a few words of advice to a group of future pageant contestants. Miss England, Danielle Lloyd, was in York to launch the MS York 2005 beauty contest. She has agreed to be chairwoman
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Poll rivals square up as campaigning starts
GENERAL Election campaigning began in earnest in Durham on Tuesday after Tony Blair confirmed May 5 as polling day. The three main parties fired the first salvos in the month-long war of words as former Durham cobbler Tony Martin announced he is standing
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Lottery cash for play work
A SCHEME to cut anti-social behaviour among youngsters on a Darlington estate has received a lottery windfall. Firthmoor Community Association received £101,000 from the Big Lottery Fund to carry out vital work. The association has employed play workers
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Help N-E port to bridge the gap
THE North-South divide is narrowing, Bank of England governor Mervyn King told The Northern Echo last year. But the Government clearly thinks it is still an issue. In its Northern Way strategy, published six months ago, it devised ways of narrowing the
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Dedication brings rewards for Robert
Those of you with an involvement in the riding club net work, pony club, one day events, showcross and dressage will know that an event usually goes 'hand in hand' with Robert Blane. Born to a dairy farmer from Cheshire in 1954, Robert's life from the
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Caldwell keeps a level head
SUNDERLAND might have moved to within touching distance of the top-flight this week, but Stephen Caldwell has warned his team-mates to guard against the complacency that could still scupper their Premiership dreams. Tuesday night's 1-0 win at promotion
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Quakers primed for Abbey battle
MARK Proctor last night insisted Darlington will not be under-estimating Saturday's trip to doomed Cambridge United. The Us are nine points adrift of safety with five games remaining and defeat at the Abbey Stadium this weekend would all but consign Steve
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Reeves pleads guilty to drink driving
Vic Reeves has pleaded guilty to drink driving following a collision with a stationary car. Reeves, who was over the limit at the time, was driving his vintage Jaguar on a road near Maidstone, Kent on Saturday March 26 when the accident occurred. The
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Father and son jailed for running illegal slaughterhouse
A father and son have been jailed for three months over the illegal running of a squalid slaughterhouse. Harold Gray, 62, and his son Michael, 31, appeared before Harrogate magistrates yesterday. A third man, Sumaullah Patel, 41, who acted as a halal
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£1.4m project launched to provide community centre
A £1.4M project to create a community centre to serve a large part of North Yorkshire was launched yesterday. Ripon Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) is behind the plans to convert the hospital wing of the former workhouse in Allhallowgate, Ripon, into
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Doctor new
Sylvester McCoy is back playing the doctor, but this time it's a manic surgeon in Arsenic And Old Lace rather than TV's timelord of old. Viv Hardwick talks to the Scottish actor about his role at Newcastle and the new Doctor Who. SOMEHOW Sylvester McCoy
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Children's ward gets vital gift from sailors
CREW members from HMS Bulwark paid a visit to sick children yesterday to present a vital piece of medical equipment. The sailors presented a vital signs monitoring machine to Bishop Auckland General Hospital. The £2,500 machine was bought with proceeds
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Axe hangs over 35 bakery jobs
FEARS are growing for the future of 35 workers in the North-East after the administrators of Rathbones Bakery announced 82 job losses in Carlisle. Rathbones, which has a small bakery in Middlesbrough, went into administration on Friday. Administrators
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Decision day in battle to rule city's radio airwaves
THE battle for a city's airwaves is expected to be settled today. Communications regulator Ofcom will announce which of the three bidders has won the 12-year licence to operate a commercial FM station for Durham City and surrounding area. Durham is one
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Lottery grants help youngsters to learn
NATIONAL Lottery grants will today be awarded to projects explaining the importance of the Second World War to children. The Big Lottery Fund's Their Past, Your Future scheme coincides with the 60th anniversary of the end of the conflict in Europe and
