Archive
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Roadshow launch will drive home road safety message
ROAD safety messages will be emblazoned across a trailer to drive home the message to thousands of residents. The eye-catching exhibition, using road safety mascot Spike the hedgehog, will be a familiar sight over the coming weeks in every community across
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£500,000 for top planning
A GRANT of almost £500,000 has been awarded to a North-East council for improvements made by its planning department. The Government has awarded the planning delivery grant of £475,778 to Durham City Council, an increase of more than £300,000 on last
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High five for pupils
YOUNGSTERS have been taking part in a healthy eating initiative to show them the importance of fresh fruit and exercise. More than 1,200 year seven pupils from Derwentside and Chester-le-Street schools have joined in the Why 5? - Try Five extravaganza
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Clothes shop aims to fill gap
TWO friends have opened an women's clothes shop after they saw a gap in the market. Erica Dillon, in Millgate, Richmond, is a new venture for friends and work colleagues Nichola Cockerill-Smith and Jacqueline Brakenberry. Ms Cockerill-Smith said: "We
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Artists brushing up on skills for hospice fundraising exhibition
ARTISTS who have helped raise £12,000 for a hospice over the past ten years are preparing for their latest fundraising exhibition. The North Riding Art Group is celebrating a decade of helping St Catherine's Hospice, in Scarborough, with its tenth spring
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Wine society's hospital cash tonic
A WINE society has raised £1,500 to benefit patients using a hospital suite designed to help cancer sufferers. The Northallerton and Environs Wine Society raised the money for the Mowbray Suite at the town's Friarage hospital through a Burns' Night celebration
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Seafront promenade gets funding for improvements
AN historic seafront promenade is to get a makeover to attract more tourists. A cash revamp of £750,000 will see significant improvements to the cliff lift and top promenade in Saltburn, east Cleveland, after securing Government funding. The pier and
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Top acts to appear at N-E concert
TOP chart acts including Gwen Stefani and The Foo Fighters have been lined-up to play in one of the North-East's biggest ever open-air concerts. BBC Radio 1 has announced it is to host its popular annual Big Weekend concert in Sunderland. The Black Eyed
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Rivals prepare to challenge Blair
TONY Blair put education back at the top of the election agenda with a powerful speech at Trimdon Labour Club on Sunday, marking the real start of the 2005 campaign. Echoing his famous 1997 pledge, Mr Blair said: "Education, education, education - now
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Top Ten To Rent
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL: 1 (-) Taxi 2 (-) Vera Drake 3 (4) Manchurian Candidate 4 (1) The Incredibles 5 (5) The Forgotten 6 (2) Layer Cake 7 (-) Merchant of Venice 8 (3) Alien Vs Predator 9 (-) Enduring Love 10 (5) Finding Neverland Published: 14/04/2005
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Murder she quote
Scriptwriters invented the obscure African language of Ku as part of the plot for Nicole Kidman's interpreter who claims to overhear an assassination plot. Kidman not only learned to speak convincing nonsense but brushed up on her Spanish and French as
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Police dog stabbed in armed stand-off
A hero police dog is recovering after a suspect he brought down plunged a knife straight through him. Zoltan, the four-year-old alsatian, was knifed as police shot the 39-year-old man with a baton round. The suspect, who had been holding his wife at knife-point
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'It was like watching a movie of my past'
Extracted from the rootbark of an African plant used in tribal rituals, ibogaine takes users on a mind-altering journey in which they face their own fears. Paul Willis reports on a radical new treatment for drug addiction. ALTHOUGH the details of Louise
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When snaps inspire a quest
WELL, he's been as good as his word. He always said it was one of his retirement projects to sort through the chaotic drawers of family photos and put them into albums for us all to enjoy. And now he's made a start. The trouble with my husband is that
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Fireman facing jail over child indecency
A FIRE brigade union chief has been warned he is facing jail after bombarding a schoolgirl with explicit text messages. Paul Ahmed, 44, was cleared of four serious sex charges relating to a 14-year-old girl who said she had an affair with him in 2003.
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Please don't blame the parents
I HAD just plonked my two-year-old down in front of a Winnie the Pooh video so I could snatch a few moments to read the newspapers when I came across an article that made me blush. Toddlers and babies are being shunted off to nurseries or being plonked
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John North: Getting ideas above their station
AS usually is the happy event in the post-Easter holiday, we headed westwards up and over the A66 to catch the morning train from Kirkby Stephen along the incomparable Settle and Carlisle Railway. Kirkby Stephen's where LNER and LMS met pretty much head
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Plans for riverside apartments
THE developer of a £36m luxury riverside hotel in Durham is seeking to build 142 apartments to help fund the development. Newcastle-based Closegate Hotel Developments is building a 209-bedroom Radisson SAS Hotel, including health club, conference and
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Darlington - Free taxis plan revised
COUNCIL bosses have announced changes to a scheme providing free taxi journeys for pensioners and disabled people in Darlington. The borough council's existing taxi vouchers initiative gives pensioners who have problems with travelling and disabled people
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Gran At Large: When snaps inspire a quest
WELL, he's been as good as his word. He always said it was one of his retirement projects to sort through the chaotic drawers of family photos and put them into albums for us all to enjoy. And now he's made a start. The trouble with my husband is that
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Radio licence awarded
DURHAM City could be tuning in to its own radio station by the autumn, says the company that has won the licence. Communications regulator Ofcom has awarded the 12-year commercial licence to Durham FM, part of the Local Radio Company, which operates Darlington's
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Psyche on TV
The staff of a North-East store are about to become stars. A TV crew spent a year at Middlesbrough designer store Psyche for a documentary series, the first episode of which is to be screened on BBC Three on Sunday. The Secret Life of the Shop starts
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Investment sees Corus stay competitive but costs jobs
AN investment of £4.4m in steel facilities on Teesside, which will cost 98 jobs, is necessary to keep the business competitive, management claimed last night. Steelmaker Corus announced yesterday it was shedding the jobs over the next 21 months as it
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Artists brushing up on skills for hospice fundraising exhibition
ARTISTS who have helped raise £12,000 for a hospice over the past ten years are preparing for their latest fundraising exhibition. The North Riding Art Group is celebrating a decade of helping St Catherine's Hospice, in Scarborough, with its tenth spring
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Deepcut inquiry: Father's new call
THE father of a North-East soldier who died in suspicious circumstances said last night he had damning new evidence that called into question a £1m police re-investigation. Geoff Gray says it reveals that only 12 hours after Surrey Police told him they
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Crackdown on drug dealers hailed a success
A THREE-month crackdown on hard drugs has been hailed a success after 158 arrests and the seizure of more than £403,000-worth of narcotics. Crack houses across the Cleveland Police area received early morning calls as officers acted on tip-offs from residents
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The Fantasticks, Harrogate Theatre
WHY, I was left wondering, has this charming but lightweight musical earned a place in the record books as Broadway's longest running musical? It's a piece of whimsy with one recognisable song (Try To Remember) and a slim story about young lovers kept
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Jobless count falls but call for caution
THE region's jobless total has fallen by 11,000, but the impact of recent redundancies is yet to be felt, experts warned yesterday. Nationally, the total number of people looking for work rose by 29,000 in the three months to February. Data from the Office
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Lawrence calls for fan power
LIAM Lawrence has appealed to Sunderland's travelling army to act as the side's twelfth man in Sunday's crucial Coca Cola Championship clash at Ipswich. The Tractor Boys failed to close the gap on their Championship rivals on Monday evening when they
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Blaze at former pub
FIRE investigators are looking into the cause of a blaze that badly damaged an empty public house. Forty firefighters were called to deal with the fire that ripped through The South Moor, Park Road South, South Moor, Stanley, early on Saturday morning
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Election slows project decision
THE announcement of who will lead a £500m regeneration scheme could be delayed by up to two months, because of the General Election. The Middlehaven project aims to revitalise acres of industrial wasteland on the River Tees. Six developers bidding for
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Election question time
THREE candidates will take part in a General Election question time organised by Churches Together in Barnard Castle and Startforth. The three contenders for the Bishop Auckland seat are Richard Bell (Conservative), Helen Goodman (Labour) and Chris Foote-Wood
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PM told to 'pull up his socks' by wives and children of stricken Rover staff
WIVES and children of MG Rover workers were offered tea and sympathy by the Government yesterday when they took their campaign to save thousands of jobs to Downing Street. Almost 100 women and their children travelled to Westminster to warn of the "horrendous
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Kate goes on the beat
A TOWN has welcomed a new police community safety officer who is taking to the streets this week. PCSO Kate Johnson has joined Shildon Police Station and will be patrolling the streets of the town on a full time basis. Sgt Steve Ball, of Shildon Police
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Autumn date set for launch of new radio station
DURHAM City could be tuning in to its own radio station by the autumn, says the company that has won the licence. Communications regulator Ofcom has awarded the 12-year commercial licence to Durham FM, part of the Local Radio Company, which operates Darlington's
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Hunt for youth who tried to blow up residents' vehicles
A SCHOOLBOY who tried to blow up cars parked on a residential street is being hunted by police. In the early hours of yesterday, the youth forced open the door of a parked Citroen Saxo in Waverley Street, Middlesbrough and poured petrol inside but it
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Souness fires up sharp-shooters
GRAEME Souness has urged his Newcastle players to "come out with all guns blazing" as they look to defend the narrowest of advantages in Sporting Lisbon's Jose Alvalade Stadium tonight, writes Scott Wilson. Alan Shearer's first-half winner was enough
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Comment from The Northern Echo: The case for a public inquiry
If Geoff Gray's evidence about the Deepcut inquiry is correct - and he has received it from the Ministry of Defence by using the Freedom of Information Act - then it is quite shocking. It's hard to believe that only hours after police told Mr Gray that
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Father donates kidney to save life of daughter
LAURA Brant has more reason than most girls to believe her father is a hero after he saved her life with a kidney transplant. Laura, eight, has suffered kidney problems for the past three years and was desperately awaiting a transplant. But, just as all
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Grieving father demands debate on Iraq
A GRIEVING father standing against the Prime Minister has delivered a letter to Tony Blair's North-East home demanding a public debate on the war in Iraq. Reg Keys, the Independent candidate for the Sedgefield constituency, called at Myrobella, in Trimdon
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Angry Robert hits Magpies' hopes
LAURENT Robert has sensationally slammed Newcastle's UEFA Cup hopes by claiming that the club is now in a worse state than when Sir Bobby Robson's side crashed out of the competition last season. The French winger, who is never afraid to speak his mind
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Beefy bid for titles
STRONGMAN Alastair Black is beefing up his bid to lift major titles this year. Alastair, 23, of West Cornforth, is in training for the northern regional qualifier of the UK's Strongest Man competition in Hartlepool on April 30. And to fuel his body in
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Bingo fan wins car prize
A BINGO fan from Stanley has landed a brand new Ford Ka in a special draw. Sharon Curry, a regular at the Top Ten club in the Elite Buildings, Stanley, beat several thousand other bingo players across the country to win the top prize in the Easter Sunday
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Show of force to prevent trouble
POLICE and security guards used crowd barriers and bollards to keep order at a council meeting amid fears of crowd trouble. The last two meetings of Richmondshire District Council's resources committee have been abandoned in chaos after hundreds of angry
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ICT courses for all
A SPECIALIST technology college is to host a series of classes for adult learners. Woodham Community Technology College, in Newton Aycliffe, will launch its adult education and family learning program for the summer term next week. A 12-week information
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Curling team has eyes on the prize
YOUNG sports stars are to take to the international stage in a game they first played less than a year ago. A team of curling players from the Coundon area, near Bishop Auckland, is lined up to compete in the New Age Curling Indoor World Championships
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Talented young dancers to step on stage
VIBRANT young dance talent will step out on the professional stage, in many cases for the first time, on Sunday. Durham's Gala Theatre plays host to Northern Lights 2005, the fifth such event, highlighting the skills of modern dance hopefuls, from schools
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Council wants to hear views on community involvement
A COUNCIL is seeking the views of residents about how to get the community more involved with local planning issues. Sedgefield Borough Council wants residents' opinions of its draft statement of community involvement (DSCI) - a document explaining how
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Advice for smokers is given
GIVING up cigarettes can help you drive, according to North-East public health expert Dr Maggie Ireland. The medic behind NHS alliance Smoke Free Derwentside is pointing out to 20-a-day smokers that they could probably afford to run a small car with the
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Young chefs joining festival
SOME of Britain's most talked-about young chefs will take part in an annual event. York's ten-day Festival of Food and Drink will start on September 16 and is expected to attract thousands of people to the city. Yorkshire restauranteur Anthony Flinn is
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Teenagers facing prison mutiny charges
SIX teenagers will appear in court next month accused of prison mutiny after a riot at a North-East young offenders' institution. The suspects are expected to enter pleas at their next appearance, following a brief preliminary hearing yesterday. Three
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Candle-lit vigil to urge trade justice
CAMPAIGNERS from across Teesside are taking part in the Global Week of Action for Trade Justice by holding a candle-lit vigil and card-signing event. The mass and vigil take place at St Francis' church, in Acklam, from 7pm tomorrow. The following day,
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Psyche on TV
The staff of a North-East store are about to become stars. A TV crew spent a year at Middlesbrough designer store Psyche for a documentary series, the first episode of which is to be screened on BBC Three on Sunday. The Secret Life of the Shop starts
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Welders' luck
WELDERS proved to be bright sparks when their numbers came up in Saturday's lottery. The nine-strong syndicate will share just over £141,000. The group, from G Nicholson (Engineers) on Blue House Lane, in Washington, will celebrate their success today
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War victims will benefit from book
A FORMER clergyman has returned to print to help young victims of the war in Iraq. The Reverend John Stephenson, former vicar of Eppleton, in Hetton-le-Hole, has published 36 books, mostly anecdotes relating to life in the former Durham coalfield. His
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New homes sought for animals
AN animal centre is struggling to find owners for a number of pets. The Blue Cross adoption centre, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, has animals needing homes. Among them is Henrietta, a four-year-old neutered grey tabby and white cat. The centre is looking
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Traffic lights to be installed
FOUR-WAY traffic lights are to be installed at Sacriston crossroads on Sunday. It is to enable contractors to remove overhead conductors and poles on behalf of NEDL. Drivers on the B6312 and B6532 are advised to expect delays. However, the work is expected
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Jefferson punishes Yorkshire
Yorkshire were made to pay for their early generosity to Essex opener Will Jefferson on the first day of the Championship season at Chelmsford yesterday. The 6ft 10in right-hander survived a run-out chance before he had scored and was then put down by
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Pub hit by thugs is told to clean up
THE owners of a Shildon pub have been told to clean up their act because it is a constant target for vandals. Residents on the Jubilee Estate say that, since the Jubilee pub has been left to become an eyesore, it has turned into a magnet for anti-social
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Renewed plea after indecent assault
POLICE have renewed their appeal for witnesses to an indecent assault two months ago. A 16-year-old girl was attacked by a man in his early forties as she walked home along Bracken Hill Avenue, Shotton Colliery, east Durham, at 6pm Monday, February 14
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'Young need facilities in village'
PARISH councillors have called for more youth facilities - after concerns about youths causing trouble. Hurworth Parish Council heard this week that there had been several cases of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour over the past month. Councillor
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Dara dares
Comedian Dara O'Briain is in demand, even if the spelling of his surname is going to leave a few scratching their heads. Already a star on Irish television, the comedian moved on from chairing Have I Got News For You to the Royal Variety Show. Viv Hardwick
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LibDems hope to sweep Labour aside
FOR more than 100 years, the annual Miners' Gala, which snaked its way through the streets of Durham City, was the North-East's most enduring symbol of Labour pride. Numbers may have dwindled, nostalgia may have replaced firebrand socialism and the faces
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College talent show in memory of youngster
A MEMORIAL talent show organised by a college student has raised hundreds of pounds for two charities who look after seriously-ill children and their families. Aspiring performers competed for honours in the event at Northallerton College, North Yorkshire
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Landlords team up with police
PRIVATE landlords have joined forces with the police to help improve communities. Members of Sedgefield and Newton Aycliffe Landlords Association now meet regularly with Shildon police to swap information about problem tenants. The meetings have followed
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Shipyard jobs to be safeguarded
Industry leaders today confirmed reports that talks have been taking place to safeguard 600 shipyard jobs in the region. Regional development agency One NorthEast, politicians and unions are trying to persuade the Ministry of Defence to give an hospital
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14/04/05
BLAND'S CORNER: I WOULD like to take issue with a report (Echo, Apr 7) describing an incident regarding a trailer becoming detached from its tractor unit. The article says it happened at Reg Vardy's roundabout, Darlington. This is wrong. Anyone with long-term
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Seafront promenade gets funding for improvements
AN historic seafront promenade is to get a makeover to attract more tourists. A cash revamp of £750,000 will see significant improvements to the cliff lift and top promenade in Saltburn, east Cleveland, after securing Government funding. The pier and
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Now - a hotline for healthy-eating families
A HOTLINE has been set up for healthy families to order their weekly supply of fruit and vegetables. As part of the West Redcar SureStart, staff at Green Gates Children's Centre have set up a weekly order line for people to ring in and order their bags
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Council worker spots illegal rubbish disposal
A KEEN-eyed council worker who spotted a takeaway owner's illegal money-saving scheme cost the businessman over £1,100. Iqbal Uddin, who runs Iqbal's Balti Raj, in Marton Road, Middlesbrough, was caught dumping shop waste in a litter bin and saving himself
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Cheers greet news that flats are to be razed
EYESORE flats are to be demolished on Teesside - and residents are already cheering at the news. The total of 40 one-bedroom flats in Middlesbrough's Grove Hill and Pallister Park estates are plagued by vandals and criminals who wreak havoc and misery
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Grant will reduce carbon emissions
HOMES in Hartlepool are receiving an energy-efficient makeover thanks to a £90,000 grant. The money from the Energy Savings Trust has gone to housing association Housing Hartlepool, which recently took over a number of properties transferred from the
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Man badly injured in four-car collision
A CAR passenger suffered serious internal injuries in a four-vehicle collision at a village crossroads. The 37-year-old man, from Front Street, Fishburn, County Durham, suffered broken ribs, a broken pelvis and thorax, and also head injuries, in the accident
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Farmers urged to take advantage of free help
A FREE planning advice service for farmers and agricultural businesses in North Yorkshire has been given the go-ahead to continue until the end of June. But farmers are being urged to use it soon because the prospects of further free help are uncertain
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A bizarre bunglaow and buying beauty
Grand Designs (C4); Make Me Beautiful, Please (ITV1): "SO what are you going to build?," asked Kevin McCloud. "A mono-dimensional contemporary space of a light and airy nature," replied DIY house builder Monty. The presenter of Grand Designs wasn't fooled
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One Touch Of Venus, Opera North, Newcastle Theatre Royal
PERHAPS the one bright light for a theatre in mourning for its chief executive, Peter Sarah, is an incredible crowd-pleaser from composer Kurt Weill, lyricist Ogden Nash and Marx Brothers humorist S J Perelman. So forgotten is this 1943 Broadway show,
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Security officer hailed
A MAN who has been a security officer for only seven months has won an award from the British Security Industry Association. Tony Wells, 56, from Malton, won the service to the customer category at the Yorkshire round of the association's annual security
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To the roof of Africa for charity trekker
THE dizzy heights of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa is the latest challenge for a globe-trotting fundraiser. Stewart Naylor is tackling the 5,896-metre mountain in Tanzania to raise £3,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief. The asset and patient environment officer
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Hospital to unveil foyer display unit
HEALTH chiefs are trying to make life easier for people when they are discharged from hospital. The Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has joined forces with social services to provide information in a more user friendly and accessible manner
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Pupils salute park man
PUPILS are to perform a play today about the life of one of Stockton's most influential historic figures. About 70 youngsters from Hartburn Primary School will appear in the play, A Park Supreme. It is about the life of Robert Ropner, and how the town's
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Zoe takes pantomime lead role in home town
FORMER Pop Idol star Zoe Birkett is returning to her home town at the end of the year - to play a pantomime lead role. She will be treading the boards at Darlington Civic Theatre over Christmas, as the venue stages its Beauty and the Beast production.
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Mentoring scheme extended after success of pilot project
A LOCAL authority will be a leading light for rural councils nationwide. Members of Richmondshire District Council voted this week to take part in the Government's rural excellence programme. The scheme means the council, which was awarded Beacon status
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Store sold, but name will stay
A TRADITIONAL department store left to its staff by its late owner has been sold -with a safeguard for its future. The sale of Philip Hall Limited, in Fishergate, Ripon, has meant a windfall for qualifying members of the 15 staff. The Ripon store was
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£500,000 for planning improvements
A GRANT of almost £500,000 has been awarded to a North-East council for improvements made by its planning department. The Government has awarded the planning delivery grant of £475,778 to Durham City Council, an increase of more than £300,000 on last
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Gran At Large
WELL, he's been as good as his word. He always said it was one of his retirement projects to sort through the chaotic drawers of family photos and put them into albums for us all to enjoy. And now he's made a start. The trouble with my husband is that
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'In danger of becoming environmentally illiterate'
SOCIETY is in danger of producing a nation of environmentally illiterate schoolchildren, who are unable to identify the species of birds in their gardens, according to a North-East academic. The research by Newcastle University's school of marine sciences
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Developer chosen for shops complex
A shopping centre and cinema complex has been officially launched after a four-way bidding war. Discovery Properties has been chosen to build the £90m Commercial Street complex, in Darlington - a scheme that has been hailed as vital to the town's future
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Mega Mum
Sunderland's Melanie Hill feels she's destined to play screen mothers, possibly because her working life revolves around looking after her two daughters. She tells Steve Pratt she has every faith in a children's show linked to Bad Girls. ACTRESS Melanie
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Andrew leaves it up to Jonny
JONNY Wilkinson was yesterday named in a Newcastle Falcons squad of 26 for tomorrow night's match at Northampton. But he is still not certain to play. Director of Rugby Rob Andrew hinted that the decision about whether to play in the Zurich Premiership
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Mourners pay tribute to boys killed on railway line
Hundreds of a mourners packed a town centre church today for the joint funeral of two schoolboys killed on a railway line. Young and old filled Bondgate Methodist Church in Darlington to pay their final respects to Lee Mullis, 14, and Stuart Adams, 15
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Election slows project decision
THE announcement of who will lead a £500m regeneration scheme could be delayed by up to two months, because of the General Election. The Middlehaven project aims to revitalise acres of industrial wasteland on the River Tees. Six developers bidding for
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Outcry at Cock o' the North closure and demolition plan
REAL ale lovers have spoken of their shock at the decision to close a landmark pub and demolish it to make way for housing. The Cock o' the North, on the A167, south of Durham City, is to close at the end of the month after being sold to a housing company
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£1.8m plan aims to provide low-cost homes for villagers
A SCHEME to provide affordable homes for local villagers is about to take shape. Three Rivers Housing Group is behind the plans for a £1.8m family housing development, in Witton Gilbert, near Durham. Giant leaps in house prices have taken some accommodation
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Hunt for sex attacker
A YOUNG woman was targeted in broad daylight by a sex attacker while she was out walking her dog, police have revealed. A police spokesman said the attack happened as the 25-year-old victim was taking her pet for a walk on a footpath next to the old railway
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Oil firm announces boost
North-East based biodiesel company D1 Oils this morning announced a boost to its renewable fuel programme in India. D1 Oils plc, based in Stockton, Teesside, said it had secured funding with the State Bank of India to provide £15m to farmers in India
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Anna rides to debut championship
A YOUNG rider has beaten thousands of entrants to win a national show jumping championship at her first attempt. Anna Dawson, of Ferryhill, enjoyed victory at the Dengie Winter League Pony Club Show Jumping Championships final, held at Warwickshire College
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Man who grabbed teenager is hunted
DETECTIVES yesterday released an e-fit image of a man they wish to speak to after a teenager was grabbed as she walked home. Police believe the same man may have approached another girl soon after the first incident. Both took place in Harrogate in the
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A dream start for new skipper Hussey
DEBUTS are rarely more dream-like than the one enjoyed by Durham's new captain Mike Hussey yesterday. He won the toss at Grace Road, pulled the first ball of the match against Leicestershire for four and was still there on 165 at the close as his side
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Storm ahead
THE weather outlook in Soapland over the coming week is thundery and showery with only a few bright spots. Expect plenty of wind too as Fred Elliott is huffing and puffing, I say huffing and puffing, about the water in the well in Audrey's back garden
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Sad note as music studio calls it a day
A recording studio that has helped thousands of schoolchildren and aspiring musicians has closed its doors. The Northern Recording co-operative, based in an old miners' hall at Delves Lane, Consett, has called it a day because it cannot get funding for
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It's home from home for trio
WHILE most Newcastle players will be taking a step into the unknown when they run out at Sporting Lisbon's eye-catching Jose Alvalade Stadium tonight, for three members of the club's coaching staff, this week's trip to Lisbon represents something of a
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Turf's up as mayors help create avenue of oak trees at nature site
THROUGH the messy business of holding office, politicians should be used to getting their hands dirty. But yesterday, political leaders from across the region did it for real. Thirteen mayors from North-East authorities swapped their chains of office
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Axed Provett rocks Pool with move demand
A FRUSTRATED Jim Provett has delivered a crushing blow to Hartlepool United by handing in a transfer request as the play-off push gathers momentum. The 22-year-old goalkeeper does not feel he has a future at Victoria Park after manager Neale Cooper axed
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Controversial artist displays work in N-E
A CONTROVERSIAL artist is taking a fresh look at fashion and bringing his latest work to the North-East. Graham Dolphin hit the headlines when publishers Conde Nast blocked a display of his work featuring distorted covers of their Vogue magazine at London's
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Ward gets vital gift from crew
A GROUP of sailors paid a special visit to sick children in Bishop Auckland last week to hand over a vital piece of medical equipment. The crew from HMS Bulwark presented a vital signs monitoring machine to patients and doctors at Bishop Auckland General
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Banned from asking strangers for money
A PERSISTENT offender attempted to dupe a magistrate out of money days after being sentenced by her for similar offences. Caroline Simpson, 35, appeared before the woman at Darlington Magistrates' Court in February, after a number of deceptions and was
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Postman admits stealing mail
A POSTMAN was caught stealing mail after an an investigation was launched following a police tip-off. Michael Lamb, 30, was collared when the Royal Mail posted three test packages to be delivered during his round and they were all stolen. Newcastle Crown
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Artist finds inspiration in the city
THE work of a Durham artist that ranges from local landmarks to more surreal paintings has gone on display at the DLI Museum and Durham Art Gallery. The exhibition by Charlie Parker, who by day is a nurse, runs until Monday, May 2, in the Print Room.
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Sage surprises investors with profits rise
ACCOUNTANCY software group Sage signalled a 16 per cent hike in half-year profits yesterday. The Newcastle-based company gave investors a pleasant surprise, announcing pre-tax profits for the six months to March 31 would be about £101m - slightly higher
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North-East firms hit by shortage of skills
THE regional skills shortage is causing a recruitment headache for North-East firms, according to a study. The Business in Britain survey found that 55 per cent of North-East companies experienced sustained difficulty in recruiting skilled staff over
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Region prepares for boom period
NORTH-East businesses are gearing up for a boom period with rising profitability and employment, figures show. Companies are also looking to get to grips with the region's skills shortages with many planning to spend more on training this year. The results
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Hignett happy to end career at Darlington
Craig Hignett intends to end his playing days at Darlington, although the much-travelled midfielder is uncertain when that will be. The 35-year-old last night revealed his intentions to see out the remainder of his career at the Williamson Motors Stadium
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Royal carpet firm to close
THE carpet maker to the Queen will cease production this Friday, with the loss of 138 jobs. The closure of Hugh Mackay carpets in Durham brings an end to more than a century of manufacturing tradition. Quality control team leader Anne Robinson, one of
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Hanseatic to be in a League of his own
RIPON'S first Flat fixture of the season has been strongly supported by local runners, including Middleham-based raider Hanseatic League (2.45), a leading contender for the Chequers Inn Handicap. Mark Johnston's sprinter initially cost his supporters
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On TV last night
Grand Designs (C4) Make Me Beautiful, Please (ITV1) SO what are you going to build?," asked Kevin McCloud. "A mono-dimensional contemporary space of a light and airy nature," replied DIY house builder Monty. The presenter of Grand Designs wasn't fooled
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Blair's election pledge on taxes
TONY BLAIR yesterday launched Labour's election manifesto, promising not to raise the basic or top rates of income tax - but refusing to rule out an increase in National Insurance contributions. The Prime Minister said no party could give such a commitment
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'Astounding' failures led to woman's tragic death
A WOMAN died of an allergic reaction to anaesthetic after slipping into a six-month coma because of an NHS administrative blunder. Doctors were unaware that 36-year-old June Fairbairn had severe allergies to a range of anaesthetic drugs because notes
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Widow tells of legionnaire's fear
A HOLIDAYMAKER from the North-East died while staying at a Turkish hotel where several other guests are believed to have been struck down by legionnaire's disease. Turkish authorities said 68-year-old Lloyd Nixon, of Consett, County Durham, had contracted
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Concern over missing man
CONCERN is growing for a man who has not been seen since he left his home during a family row. Glen Wigham stormed out of the house in Bowness Close, on the Edenhill estate, in Peterlee shortly after 11pm on Tuesday. The 22-year-old had had an argument
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Shafto's home to open
THE ancestral home of folk hero Bobby Shafto will open its grounds this weekend in aid of the Red Cross. Whitworth Hall Country Park, near Spennymoor, will be open between 2pm and 6pm on Sunday. The 73-acre estate of parkland features woodland walks,
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Trained boxer's punch broke
A TRAINED boxer broke a man's cheek bone when he punched him, a court heard yesterday. Daniel Phillips, 18, admitted striking the 19-year-old man twice in a street confrontation at Shotton Colliery, near Peterlee last August. Durham Crown Court heard
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Art at museum
STUDENTS from King James I Community College in Bishop Auckland will show off their artwork at a multi-million pound museum this weekend. Young people from the school have created a project called Transporting Lives, which goes on display at Locomotion
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'Please call home'
POLICE are urging a teenager who left home after a row to get in touch. Police say Stephen Thompson, 17, of Park Street, Seaham, had a row with his parents on Tuesday morning and was last seen at 1pm at Sunderland Railway Station getting on a train for
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Hanseatic to be in a League of his own
RIPON'S first Flat fixture of the season has been strongly supported by local runners, including Middleham-based raider Hanseatic League (2.45), a leading contender for the Chequers Inn Handicap. Mark Johnston's sprinter initially cost his supporters
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Sample the Joy of Wine
A REVEREND'S mission to convert "lager-swilling Luddites" to wine connoisseurs sets the scene for a play visiting the region at the end of this month. Audiences can sample free wine when the Black Sheep and James Seabright take to the stage with a performance
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Mental health charity set to launch website
A MENTAL health charity is using the worldwide web to reach more people. The Redcar and Cleveland base for Mind is preparing to launch its own website, using artwork, music and video clips. Funded by Skelton and Brotton Parish Council, the website will
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Icelandic challenge for brave fundraiser
A WOMAN has been inspired by her family to tackle some of the most remote and diverse landscapes in the world in a bid to raise money for charity. Melanie Stewart, from Crook, has been training hard for the challenges she will face in July to raise funds
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Housing expansion go-ahead
MORE affordable homes are being built in the wake of a successful three-way partnership. The project, involving the Home Housing Association, Southdale Homes and City of York Council, will lead to the creation of 18 homes for rent in the Clifton area
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Singers reach final
TALENTED young singers will be warming up their vocal chords for the final of a singing competition tonight. The last stage of the Williams the Music People Young Singer contest is being held at Elm Ridge Methodist, in Darlington, from 7pm to 9pm. Seven
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Turf's up as mayors help create avenue of oak trees at nature site
THROUGH the messy business of holding office, politicians should be used to getting their hands dirty. But yesterday, political leaders from across the region did it for real. Thirteen mayors from North-East authorities swapped their chains of office
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Family angry at sentence
THE family of a murdered toddler spoke yesterday of their anger at the ten-year jail term given to his killer. Babysitter Suzanne Holdsworth was convicted of murdering two-year-old Kyle Fisher by hitting his head repeatedly against the stair banisters
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Programme taking schools out of doors
PUPILS at Esh Winning Primary School are to pilot a new scheme to get youngsters out of the classroom. The Get Out More award is being introduced by Durham County Council to encourage schools to use the outdoors more in lessons and for leisure and recreation
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Researchers travel to war-torn Darfur area
TWO researchers from the North-East are flying to Sudan to help people traumatised by the conflict there. Disaster management expert Janaka Jayawickrama, of Northumbria University, and his colleague, Eileen Brady, are travelling to the Darfur region.
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Pupils receive national art prize
PUPILS from a Stanley school have been to London to receive an award for winning a national art competition. Youngsters from East Stanley School won in the category for children aged four to seven in the Persil's Hands on Art workshops. Sue Blackett and
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Which schools will survive in wake of £15m gambit?
A question mark has been hanging over the future of Darlington's secondary schools since a council report in 2003 revealed some would have to close or merge within the next ten to 15 years. Education chiefs have since remained tight-lipped about which
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Setting sail for tall ships race
YOUNG landlubbers, preparing to sail away on an unforgettable voyage, met their potential ship-mates for the first time, at a get-to-know-you event. More than 100 youngsters from across the North-East have been selected to join the crews of some of the
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Footpath to be closed after protest
A footpath, which has been blamed for a rise in criminal activity and anti-social behaviour, is to be closed. The decision to close the walkway, which connects Ullswater Avenue and Railway View, off Neasham Road, was passed by Darlington Borough Council's
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Events in the country
NATURE lovers are invited to go looking for bats, help maintain footpaths and hear the dawn chorus this summer. Darlington Borough Council's countryside team has launched its spring and summer activities for 2005. This Sunday, walkers can help get footpaths
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Scheme to cut town's suicide record
A CAMPAIGN is being launched to cut the number of suicides in Darlington -once the suicide capital of the country. High-risk groups are to be targeted in the poster campaign by Darlington Primary Care Trust. The trust's mental health improvement specialist
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Angry Robert gives his damning verdict
LAURENT Robert has sensationally slammed Newcastle's UEFA Cup hopes by claiming that the club is now in a worse state than when Sir Bobby Robson's side crashed out of the competition last season. The French winger, who is never afraid to speak his mind
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Top acts to appear at N-E concert
TOP chart acts including Gwen Stefani and The Foo Fighters have been lined-up to play in one of the North-East's biggest ever open-air concerts. BBC Radio 1 has announced it is to host its popular annual Big Weekend concert in Sunderland. The Black Eyed
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Suspected terrorist 'in poison plot'
A suspected al Qaida terrorist who was plotting to use the deadly poison ricin has been jailed for life for the murder of a Special Branch detective, it was revealed yesterday. Kamel Bourgass, a 31-year-old failed Algerian asylum seeker, turned a Manchester
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Town centre shaping up for 21st Century transformation
The developer tasked with bringing a new £90m shopping centre to the region was revealed last night. Stuart Mackintosh examines how the announcement will affect the Darlington revival. THE opening of the Cornmill Centre 13 years ago heralded the start
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Gang cuts water supply to blaze
AN arson gang set fire to a house and then switched off the water supply as firefighters battled the blaze. Two crews were forced to escape the house when their water dried up as they tackled the fire. The teenage gang had broken in through a back window
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Candle-lit vigil to urge trade justice
CAMPAIGNERS from across Teesside are taking part in the Global Week of Action for Trade Justice by holding a candle-lit vigil and card-signing event. The mass and vigil take place at St Francis' church, in Acklam, from 7pm tomorrow. The following day,
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£1.8m plan aims to provide low-cost homes for villagers
A SCHEME to provide affordable homes for local villagers is about to take shape. Three Rivers Housing Group is behind the plans for a £1.8m family housing development, in Witton Gilbert, near Durham. Giant leaps in house prices have taken some accommodation
