Archive
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Plaque marks lifetime of ploughing to perfection
A RETIRED farmer who has ploughed competitively for more than 50 years has been honoured for his achievement. John Metcalfe, 79, from Newby Wiske, near Thirsk, has entered at least one competition every year since he began ploughing in 1940 and has entered
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Vandals pull down lamp post
COUNCILLORS have called for a full-time police presence in Middleton St George after teenage vandals pulled down a lamp post. At Monday's parish council meeting, members criticised the lack of full-time policing in the village. Coun Mike McBride said:
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Centre offers healthy eating boost
families are being encouraged to eat healthily with an easy supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. West Redcar Sure Start is backing the local council's healthy eating strategy by demonstrating what is on offer at Green Gates Children's Centre. Staff will
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Bates set for debut
AT 18-years-old Matthew Bates may only be in his football infancy, but manager David Hodgson insists the defender has all the attributes to inspire Darlington's play-off push. Hodgson was critical of his side after last week's 3-1 defeat at Cambridge
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When the boats come in...
THIS summer's Tall Ships Race appears set to break all records with 100 vessels already signed to take part. The race comes to the Tyne in July, when visitors will be able to see the biggest fleet assembled for the race. Already, 27 of the largest Class
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Clamping down on the clampers
For some time now I have been concerned at the way wheel clamp companies go about their business and this concern was brought into sharp focus earlier this week. I'd been invited to open a local business, parked outside their premises, did the necessary
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Veazey crashes out at final corner with Thruxton victory in his sights
THE long trip south to Thruxton in Hampshire yielded very little in the way of results for local riders in round two of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship last weekend, but it could have been so very different had Middlesbrough rider Paul Veazey
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Norton leave Town's promotion hopes in tatters
Northallerton Town 0 Norton & St'ckton Ancients 3 NORTHALLERTON Town's hopes of playing first division football next season all but disappeared following last Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Norton and Stockton Ancients. After a run of poor results
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ShopTalk: How supermarkets are taking over the world
This weeks' announcement of Tesco's bumper profits highlights how powerful supermarkets have become - and should set alarm bells ringing. BE afraid. Be very afraid. So afraid, you will totally change the way you shop. This week, Tesco announced profits
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'Outburst claims are part of campaign'
A COUNCILLOR found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute for calling a member of the public a f***ing prostitute says he has been the victim of a political hate campaign. Coun Steve Walmsley, of Stockton Borough Council, was reprimanded by the
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Path to be blocked after crime spree
A NEW path is to be closed after residents claimed it had sent their crime rate soaring. Despite objections from cycling groups, Darlington Borough Council planning committee on Wednesday agreed to close the pedestrian cycle link on a growing estate off
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The sound of leather on Brian Close
FRED Trueman used to say the first sign of summer was the sound of leather on Brian Close, who would stand two yards from the bat at short leg and shout "catch it" if a full-blooded shot ricocheted off his helmetless head. That was in the days when only
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Fire survivor celebrates her birthday
THE survivor of a blaze in which her mother died celebrated her fourth birthday yesterday. Megan Yates still faces major plastic surgery following a devastating house fire in 2003, which claimed the lives of her mother, Gail, 27, aunt Joanne, 22, and
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Couple to receive award for fostering
A COUPLE who have devoted 30 years of their lives to fostering children and young people are to receive an award. Kath and George Buckley fostered their first youngster in 1974 and, since then, have opened their home to 85 young people. The couple, from
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'Region is arson capital of the UK'
TEESSIDE has been named as the UK's arson capital. Shock figures have revealed that nine out of ten fires in the area are being started deliberately. Just under 90 per cent of the 9,778 blazes tackled by Cleveland Fire Brigade last year were malicious
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Don Giovanni, Newcastle Theatre Royal
MOZART'S opera about the well-born randy young man who can't keep his hands to himself is brought to life in an enjoyable account from Opera North. Roderick Williams, who is Don Giovanni, immediately makes his charismatic presence felt as he overwhelms
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Burton's Bytes: A thrilling trip through time
TIMESPLITTERS: FUTURE PERFECT, Publisher: EA. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Not for sale to those under 15: TIMESPLITTERS has always been a blast to play - in more ways than one - but its mission-based structure always made the games feel
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On the periphery
AS the General Election gets underway, the most striking aspect of the likely result on May 5 is that what happens here in the North-East and North Yorkshire doesn't really matter in the broader scheme of things. We don't mean that our votes don't count
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Horse fair in focus at new venue
THE first exhibition in a new programme by the Darlington Media Group is on show in the Blanche Pease building at Darlington Arts Centre. Appleby Fair by Dave Thomas is a collection of black and white photographs taken from 1969-70 of the annual horse
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Market traders look elsewhere after hike in rents
AN HISTORIC market town could soon be left without its market, as traders threaten to pull out over increased rents. A review by Teesdale District Council in September concluded that some stallholders attending Barnard Castle's Wednesday market were paying
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Fitness on four wheels
A new moble gym concept, Wellness On Wheels, is being pioneered in the North-East. Health Editor Barry Nelson reports. IN a month or so, a futuristic mobile gym will hit the roads of Wear Valley as part of a unique experiment. The large white trailer
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Success means schools' partnership ends early
A PIONEERING partnership between two Darlington schools will end this summer - a year ahead of schedule. Successful Hurworth Comprehensive formed a federation with Eastbourne in July 2003 after the latter was put into special measures by the Government
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Howard's way not the best cure for congestion
ACCORDING to a Conservative councillor, air pollution in Yarm High Street has increased by 380 per cent in the past four years. It is because cars stop-start their way down the bank, crawl through the main street, and cough sporadic-ally across the River
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Quakers still in play-offs hunt
WITH four games left to play, it remains anyone's guess whether or not Darlington will be in a League Two play-off spot when the dust has finally settled. Their hopes were apparently dealt a hammer blow when they lost 3-1 at rock bottom Cambridge United
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Who will take the papal prize?
On Monday, the princes of the Roman Chatholic Church will meet to choose a successor to Pope Jihn Paul II. Nick Morrison looks at how a process shrouded in secrecy could make a difference to the world's Catholics - and at someof the favourities to be
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Launch is a taxing time for Kennedy
LIBERAL Democrat plans to axe the council tax were in chaos last night after the party admitted its leader, Charles Kennedy, could not explain the flagship policy. Launching his manifesto yesterday, Mr Kennedy struggled to put a figure on earnings above
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Little pill that could save lives
If you're 50 or over, a daily aspirin could significantly reduce your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Health Editor Barry Nelson reports. ASPIRIN has been hailed as a wonder drug since it was developed more than 100 years ago. The active ingredient
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Graduate passed on customers' bank details
A UNIVERSITY graduate working in a credit card call centre passed secret bank details to a gang who stole more than a quarter of a million pounds from customers' accounts. Yesterday, Alexandra Morris, who was studying business economics, finance and accounting
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Worried traders calling for rethink on parking fee rise
BUSINESSES in a Yorkshire Dales village are calling on councillors to rethink increased parking charges after concern the move will hit trade. Richmondshire District Council has doubled the daily rate for its long-stay car parks, from £2.50 to £5, in
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A thrilling trip through time
TIMESPLITTERS: FUTURE PERFECT, Publisher: EA. Format: PS2. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Not for sale to those under 15: TIMESPLITTERS has always been a blast to play - in more ways than one - but its mission-based structure always made the games feel
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Close encounters of the fisjy kind
Journey Of Life (BBC1); 20th Century Roadshow (BBC1); Compulsion: The Confession (BBC2): PESENTER Steve Leonard does time travel without a Tardis. "Let's travel back to life's very beginning, 3.8 billion years ago," he suggested as Journey Of Life, the
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Artist remembers Holocaust victims
CELEBRATED ceramicist Jenny Stolzenberg is staging a haunting and powerful exhibition in memory of Holocaust victims. Visitors to the Shipley Gallery in Gateshead will be able to view her work, titled Forgive and do not Forget, which features 40 pairs
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Giving customers what they aspire to is key to success
FEEDING customer aspirations is the key to survival, according to a leading businessman. James Ramsbotham, vice-chairman of the Esh Group, stressed the importance of innovation as the key to staying ahead of the competition. The former Army major told
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Regeneration plans promoted
THE agency charged with transforming Sunderland's economic fortunes will next week urge businesses to back its plans for the city's former Vaux site. Sunderland arc, the urban regeneration company, will pitch its vision for how the 16-acre plot of land
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Wellock's World: The sound of leather on Brian Close
FRED Trueman used to say the first sign of summer was the sound of leather on Brian Close, who would stand two yards from the bat at short leg and shout "catch it" if a full-blooded shot ricocheted off his helmetless head. That was in the days when only
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Footballer backs fundraiser
A Premiership Football club is used to the ups and downs of soccer, but one of the team's players is encouraging fans to head for the drop. Ray Parlour is calling on Middlesbrough supporters to help raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust by descending
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Prices at the auction marts
BARNARD CASTLE. - Wed of last week. Fwd: 549 sheep. Lt hoggs to 122p av 105.3p; std to 123p av 114p; med to 126p av 117.8p; heavy to 122p av 106.8p. Cast sheep: Cont £46.50; Mule £44; Suff £49; Swale £25.50. Tues. - Fwd: 252 cattle. Herefd cow & calf
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Outstanding school celebrates report
STAFF and pupils at a Chester-le-Street school are celebrating after earning a glowing Ofsted report. South Pelaw Infants School, which gained A-stars in ten areas and As in the other two, was described as 'outstanding' by Ofsted inspectors. Headteacher
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Charlotte wins chance to star at proms
YOUNG singers from across the region last night competed for the chance to star at the Darlington Proms. The last stage of the Williams the Music People Young Singer contest, was held at Elm Ridge Methodist Church in the town. Seven young performers,
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'No evidence girls were forced into prostitution'
POLICE say there is no evidence that three Chinese girls may have ended up in prostitution after they went missing. Mei Fang Weng, 15, and 16-year-olds Xiu Ming Lin and Yun Jen He arrived in Newcastle from China, claiming asylum, on Sunday, March 27 .
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The Odyssey, Quarry Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse
GIVEN all the election talk about immigrants and asylum seekers, David Farr's modern retelling of Homer's story could hardly be more topical. We first encounter Robert Bowman's Greek warrior Odysseus washed up on a strange shore and hauled off for interrogation
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Man jailed for making bombs
A Middlesbrough man has been jailed after pleading guilty to booby trapping his doorbell with a bomb. Army experts were called after six Napalm bombs belonging to Phillip Prout were found in his house when it was compulsorily purchased. The 47-year-old
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Plea to mourners at funeral of rail tragedy boys
HUNDREDS of mourners at the funeral of two boys killed on a railway line were urged yesterday to unite to improve life for young people. The family and friends of Lee Mullis, 14, and Stuart Adams, 15, who were hit by a train in Darlington on Good Friday
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Corporal signs up to run US marathon
AN Army corporal from Middleton St George is hoping his routine training sessions will get him in shape to run a marathon for charity. Cpl Alex Crawford, who was born in Darlington but is serving in Northern Ireland, has signed up to run the Las Vegas
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Students stage vigil for justice
STUDENTS from Carmel RC College will stage an overnight vigil tonight to call for trade justice. Members of the college's FairTrade group will stay awake all night in support of the Wake Up To Trade Justice event being held simultaneously around the world
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Small firms call for help
SMALL businesses are calling on utilities regulators to step in and save them from large bill rises. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), has met water companies and their regulator, Ofwat, to warn that above-inflation increases will have an adverse
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Team celebrates £141,000 win
A GROUP of North-East welders are celebrating after they shared a £141,022 win in the National Lottery's Lotto game. The nine syndicate members matched five numbers and the bonus ball in last Saturday's Lotto rollover, and will each get £15,699. The winners
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A kiss for the blushing bride on her big day
THE young bride wore an embroidered champagne gown and the groom looked smart in top hat and tails for a wedding ceremony that would have left Prince Charles and Camilla in the shadows. St Helen Auckland Church, near Bishop Auckland, hosted its wedding
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Police win gold award
A TEAM of police officers involved in managing high-risk offenders has won an award. Five members of Durham Police's public protection unit (PPU) received gold service accreditation following an inspection by the Home Office. Sergeant Pete Mullings and
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Cosmopolitan feel to town redesign
EXCITING development plans that could breathe new life into Bishop Auckland town centre were unveiled to the public yesterday. Designers behind the scheme are now urging residents, traders and shoppers to visit a week-long exhibition at Bishop Auckland
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Teesside tops the UK arson league
TEESSIDE has been named as the UK's arson capital. Shock figures have revealed that nine out of ten fires in the area are started deliberately. Just under 90 per cent of the 9,778 blazes tackled by Cleveland Fire Brigade last year were malicious, with
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Two months in jail for knife man
A MAN who stole a lawnmower has been jailed after appearing in court for the third time in two years for carrying a knife. District Judge Roy Anderson, sitting at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, told Paul Nelson the public were rightly concerned about people
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Violent threats by volunteer
A MAN who works with the homeless at a town church pleaded guilty to two public order offences in court yesterday. Linton Bull, 25, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on April 3 and disorderly behaviour the next night.
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Couple to receive award for fostering
A COUPLE who have devoted 30 years of their lives to fostering children and young people are to receive an award. Kath and George Buckley fostered their first youngster in 1974 and, since then, have opened their home to 85 young people. The couple, from
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Money raised for tsunami relief
AN AUCTION and dinner to raise money for tsunami relief raised £1,291. The Geordie Aid group, set up to raise funds following the Boxing Day disaster in the Indian Ocean, held the sale at Pepe's Restaurant, at Beamish, County Durham. Holidays to Florida
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Police examine vandals' DNA
POLICE are examining debris left after a vandals targeted a community sports field looking for DNA they hope will lead them to the culprits. Drunken youths are believed to have been responsible for the rampage, which caused an estimated £1,000-worth of
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Raising funds for Joshua
BIG-HEARTED fundraisers have been doing all they can to help a youngster who needs all the help he can get. Members of Northallerton Young Farmers' Club are the latest group to join local efforts to help four-year-old Joshua Peacock. They raised £150
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Worried traders calling for rethink on parking fee rise
BUSINESSES in a Yorkshire Dales village are calling on councillors to rethink increased parking charges after concern the move will hit trade. Richmondshire District Council has doubled the daily rate for its long-stay car parks, from £2.50 to £5, in
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Competition win is 'answer to a prayer'
A DURHAM University student has won this year's undergraduate division of the British Association of American Studies (BAAS) Ambassador's Award. The award, which includes a prize of £500, will be presented to Tim Herron, by the US Ambassador, in Cambridge
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Action team unveils new weapon
A NEW weapon is being used by council bosses to clamp down on people who are ruining efforts to keep Hartlepool clean and tidy. Covert security cameras are now operational, allowing members of the council's environmental action team to monitor areas of
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Brothers win £550,000 from a £10 stake
BETTING brothers Lee and Myles McNulty have won more than £550,000 from a £10 stake. They won Tote's tentofollow horse racing competition, which is similar to fantasy football, and now plan to buy a racehorse of their own. The pair, from North Tyneside
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Remote control fires are hot property
A REMOTE-control gas fire may seem the ultimate in laziness but one small business is hoping to increase production by 50 per cent this year. Ivan Noon, who has more than 20 years' experience in the industry, started manufacturing the remote-control fires
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Green offices that won't cost the earth
AN environmentally-friendly business centre capable of generating its own power is being launched in Derwentside today. The Greenhouse is a £4.2m project to promote sustainable energy and features a 35-metre wind turbine, solar panels and a ground source
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Town is prepared top tackle tobacco
EFFORTS are being made to make a town smoke-free. Fourteen cafes and restaurants in Middlesbrough town centre have joined the district council, which has banned smoking in public buildings and leisure centres. A letter has been sent to 500 businesses
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Engineer becomes a British citizen
AN Egyptian who moved to east Cleveland four years ago with his Guisborough-born wife has taken British citizenship. The architectural engineer was one of 11 people to take part in a citizenship ceremony organised by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
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Advice on safety in cabs
CAB passengers should benefit from an initiative to encourage safe taxi travel. A leaflet advising people about local taxi services in the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire has been produced by taxi licensing officer Laural Huntington with the help of local
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Soon there'll be four of us, says lone MP
THE Liberal Democrats' only North-East MP yesterday declared himself confident that other party colleagues would be elected in the region on May 5. Speaking at the regional launch of the Liberal Democrats' manifesto, Berwick MP Alan Beith said: "We are
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Guest house owner pays for swindle
A SEASIDE guest house owner has been spared jail after raising nearly £10,000 to repay an electricity company he swindled by bypassing his meter. But Stephen Hodgin has been told he must find a further £8,500 to pay off a fine and costs within a month
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Karate champion found dead
AN international karate champion has been found dead at his home. Peter McGarrity, 23, was discovered on Monday in the flat, in Newcastle, where he had recently moved to set up a personal training business. Mr McGarrity, whose family live at Red House
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Fame beckons
A theatre group is seeking dancers and singers for a production of Fame. Theatre Elite is holding an open audition at Seaham Youth Centre, on Saturday, April 23, from 10am to 4pm. Forty cast members are needed, half aged 12 to 16, the rest over 16. Applications
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Fresh talks agreed in out-of-hours doctors' services
PLANS to change an out-of-hours doctors' service affecting thousands of people in the Ripon area have been put on hold. The proposed changes would affect 30,000 people living in Ripon and surrounding areas. Patients had feared having to travel to Harrogate
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Agent insists changes are 'above board'
PLANNING enforcement rules in Hambleton have come under fire for the second time in two months as another house goes up without the correct permission. A two-storey house in Manor Court, off Church View, in Brompton, near Northallerton, is in the late
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Kirkby Malzeard home in on runner-up spot
PREMIER Division leaders Sherwood were crowned champions after a 2-1 win at Thirsk Falcons last Saturday meant the chasing pack could no long catch them. Kirkby Malzeard remain favourites to finish runners-up after increasing their unbeaten league run
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Red Emerald can shine at Thirsk
RED EMERALD (2.30) can get punters off to a gem of a start by taking the five-furlong opener at Thirsk this afternoon. The David Evans-trained two-year-old has to make the long journey up from Wales, but her travels should not be in vain given the evidence
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Volunteers give surgery a splash of colour
THE walls of a doctors' surgery have been transformed thanks to the efforts of volunteers. The baby room and children's waiting area at Mowbray House, Northallerton, have been turned into bright and cheery areas with the help of Hambleton Millennium Volunteers
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Seeking your vote in local elections
PROSPECTIVE councillors from the Harrogate district for the North Yorkshire County Council elections to be held on May 5 are: Masham and Fountain: Geoffrey Home LD; Paul Aidan Richardson C. Harrogate Bilton and Nidd Gorge: Robin Arthur Adderley C; Dennis
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Sporting fightback ends Euro dream
LAURENT Robert has hit the headlines this week by claiming that Newcastle have gone backwards since they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Marseille last season. Manager Graeme Souness might not agree with his brutally frank assessment but, after crashing
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Poet Julia dies after fight with cancer
A NORTH-East playwright, poet and author has died after a long battle with cancer. Julia Darling was well-known in the literary world and often set many of her novels in the region, including The Taxi Driver's Daughter, which was set in Heaton, Newcastle
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Dynamic duo set to sit out Wenesday clash
JOEL Porter and Micky Nelson are likely to sit out Hartlepool United's vital game with Sheffield Wednesday tonight. The visitors are one place and one point above Pool in the League One play-off zone with just four games to go. Both sides are suffering
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Seal of approval for the good food, atmosphere, and what's underfoot
I LOVE carpets, me. No, this isn't a not-so-subliminal plug for a certain carpet retailer best-known for his indescribably awful "factory flooring" radio advertisements. But I do like carpet, especially since the popularity of wood flooring, which now
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Jailed for illegal slaughterings
THREE-MONTH jail sentences were imposed on a father and son last week over the illegal running of a squalid slaughterhouse. Harold Gray, 62, and his son Michael, 31, appeared before Harrogate magistrates on Thursday of last week. A third man, Sumaullah
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Red Emerald can shine at Thirsk
RED EMERALD (2.30) can get punters off to a gem of a start by taking the five-furlong opener at Thirsk this afternoon. The David Evans-trained two-year-old has to make the long journey up from Wales, but her travels should not be in vain given the evidence
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Remote control fires are hot property
A REMOTE-control gas fire may seem the ultimate in laziness but one small business is hoping to increase production by 50 per cent this year. Ivan Noon, who has more than 20 years' experience in the industry, started manufacturing the remote-control fires
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New taxi rank to open in town
A NEW town centre taxi rank is to be opened after councillors unanimously voted in favour of the plan, despite opposition from local traders. The new rank, which can take up to ten taxis, is to be opened at the southern end of Front Street in Chester-le-Street
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Luckless Kyle suffers more hip injury woe
KEVIN KYLE'S season of disappointment that was threatening to end on a high finally came to a depressingly predictable halt at Durham City last night. After scoring eight goals in his last two reserve team appearances, the striker lasted just 30 minutes
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Funding shortage forces cull of debt services
A SCHEME run by the Citizens' Advice Bureau to help people living in rural areas solve their debt problems has closed because of a lack of funding. The rural outreach programme, which for six years has provided advice sessions in Hawes, Leyburn, Reeth
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Biker without licence banned
A MAN pleaded guilty to three driving offences before Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday. Andrew Lewis, of Kempton Court, in Redhall, Darlington, was disqualified from the roads for six months and was ordered to pay more than £200 in court costs
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Town's police inspector rebuts crime claims
A SENIOR police officer is to counter claims made by councillors that the standard of policing in Northallerton has fallen. Insp Simon Lovell, from Northallerton police, will attend Monday's town council meeting to respond to criticism voiced by councillors
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Mobile speed camera is burnt out
A SPEED camera at an accident blackspot on the A66 was burnt out in an attack on Tuesday night. The mobile camera, which is mounted on a trailer, is sited on either side of the dual carriageway close to the Long Newton turn off. It has been taken away
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Seaside to get tourism boost
Saltburn promendade is to get a makeover in a drive to attract more tourists. A cash injection of £750,000 will bring significant improvements to the seafront after securing Government funding. The pier and cliff lift, along with the amusement arcades
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Co-op to make 60 redundancies
THE Co-operative Group is planning to make up to 60 people redundant at its distribution centre in Birtley. The group, which bought 630 Alldays stores last year, said it needs to centralise some of its operations to make the process more efficient. It
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Durham pile on the agony
DURHAM continued to perform in fantasy land yesterday and their first championship success against Leicestershire looks like being not so much a win as an annihilation. Durham are not totally dependent on Australians for their occasional highlights and
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Church building to be sold
A VILLAGE'S hopes of retaining its redundant church as a public meeting place appear to have been dashed. St Hilary's Church in Picton was closed in February last year after internal cracks developed in two arches. The loss of the tiny, Grade II listed
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Small livestock sale
HEXHAM - Sat. Fwd: 700-plus lots of rare & minority breed poultry, waterfowl, caged birds, small animals, hatching eggs & associated equipment. Prices. - Poultry & waterfowl: £82(2) Lavender Pekin 2004 pullets; £80(2) Wyandotte pullets, £72
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Inquiry into bus crash is launched
AN investigation has been launched after several children were hurt when their school bus crashed at a notorious accident blackspot. Department for Transport officials yesterday inspected the vehicles involved in the accident. Initial reports said that
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Looking for hope in tragedy
THE fact that so many people turned out in pouring rain yesterday to pay their respects to Lee Mullis and Stuart Adams shows how popular the two boys were and how deeply their deaths have touched the people of Darlington. The closing words of the Reverend
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Phone masts
RESIDENTS opposed to siting three mobile phone masts at a Yarm sports club have once again urged the club to scrap the plans. An application by Hutchison 3G to erect a radio base station and three 12.5m wall-mounted masts at Yarm Sports and Social Club
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Police back new scheme
A NORTH East train operator is spearheading the fight against railway crime. In a pioneering move, Northern has launched a web site dedicated to educating young people about their behaviour on the rail network. It is the first train operating company
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Tim Wellock's world
FRED Trueman used to say the first sign of summer was the sound of leather on Brian Close, who would stand two yards from the bat at short leg and shout "catch it" if a full-blooded shot ricocheted off his helmetless head. That was in the days when only
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Juventus trip for McClaren
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren has made fresh attempts to put plans in place to bolster his squad this summer by making a trip to Italy. McClaren and chief executive Keith Lamb were in Turin on Wednesday night to witness Liverpool book a place in the
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Architects win award
A FIRM of architects has won an award for the £250,000 Sure Start building in Redcar. Browne Smith Baker has been presented with a Redcar and Cleveland Good Design Award for the building, designed in the shape of sails. Lakeside Families Plus Centre -
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Meningitis outbreak at Sunderland College
More than a thousand pupils at a North-East college are being offered antibiotics after a meningitis outbreak. Emergency measures to protect more than 1,200 pupils at Farringdon Community Sport College in Sunderland were swiftly put in place after two
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Sugarbag baby to become father
TWENTY-FIVE years ago, Steven Holdsworth was born three months premature, weighing just over a pound -the same as a bag of sugar. Put in an incubator, he faced a battle for life as doctors worked around the clock to keep him alive. Today, he is fit and
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Topcliffe's season fizzles out after cup defeat
League Cup Semi-Final Kneeton Park 3 Topcliffe 0 KNEETON Park kept their season alive as they made it into the final of the League Cup with an impressive semi-final victory over Topcliffe at Middleton Tyas last Sunday. The visitors arrived on the back
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Joes Edge heads for Ayr showpiece after Aintree win
GREY Abbey hammered the French horse First Gold by 12 lengths in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree under Graham Lee for trainer Howard Johnson. But the front-running grey will not head to the Scottish National tomorrow, but will be turned out for a comeback
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Homes 'privatisation' opposed
CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to fight on to prevent the 'privatisation' of all Chester-le-Street's council houses. The Labour-run district council, like all councils across the country, has been ordered by the Government to look at whether it should continue
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Green light for expansion would mean jobs
THE economy of upper Teesdale will receive a much-needed boost if expansion plans at a local factory are given the green light. Ashley Renham, whose company Renham and Wade produces plastic vials for the pharmaceutical industry, has 44 employees, but
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Wilkinson must wait for his comeback decision
NEWCASTLE Falcons will wait until an hour before tonight's 7.45 kick-off at Northampton before deciding whether joint captains Jonny Wilkinson and Ian Peel will be on the bench. In their continued absence after injury, former Wales skipper Colin Charvis
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Why you may, or may not, be lucky to hear the herald of spring
THERE was a time, not long ago, when the distinctive sound of the cuckoo's voice was a reliable herald of spring in this country. The male cuckoo's call, a perfect imitation of its own name, was, and still is, unmistakable, even if some of us have never
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Birthday girl Florence enjoys treat
THERE was a song in the air as Florence Muncaster celebrated her 100th birthday. Now a resident at the Lindisfarne Care Home, in Chester-le-Street, Mrs Mun-caster was joined by family and staff at a party. But as an extra surprise, the home had arranged
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Action plan follows 'snub' to cheap travel
OLDER and disabled people in Darlington are snubbing travel concessions. New figures which show public transport is seen as "irrelevant" have sparked an action plan by the borough council. The proposals will see changes in concessionary transport arrangements
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On TV
Journey Of Life (BBC1) 20th Century Roadshow (BBC1) Compulsion: The Confession (BBC2) PRESENTER Steve Leonard does time travel without a Tardis. "Let's travel back to life's very beginning, 3.8 billion years ago," he suggested as Journey Of Life, the
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Pool duo to sit out crunch
JOEL Porter and Micky Nelson are likely to sit out Hartlepool United's vital game with Sheffield Wednesday tonight. The visitors are one place and one point above Pool in the League One play-off zone with just four games to go. Both sides are suffering
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Injuries compound Magpies' misery
NEWCASTLE boss Graeme Souness last night admitted that he would be conducting a head count before settling on his side for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United. The Magpies manager is already facing the massive task of lifting his deflated
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Charity web site launch
A MENTAL health charity is using the internet to reach more people. The Redcar and Cleveland base for Mind is preparing to launch its own web site using artwork, music and video clips. Funded by Skelton and Brotton Parish Council, the web site will keep
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15/04/05
SCHOOL MEALS: A NEIGHBOUR told me recently that she was not concerned about the bad publicity regarding the cost and quality of school meals. She has a son at primary school and pays £8 per week for his dinners. She is under the possibly mistaken impression
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People's memories needed for exhibition on end of war
ONE of the region's most popular attractions will hold a summer-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. As part of the event, the public are being asked to come forward with their memories and memorabilia of the period
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D1 Oils looks to invest in region creating more jobs
BIOFUELS producer D1 Oils will help create and support hundreds of jobs in the region as it continues its international expansion, the chief executive said last night. Stockton-based D1, which is listed on the junior stock exchange, yesterday announced
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Art show will aid lifeboats
An art club is holding an exhibition of paintings to raise money for the RNLI. The exhibition, at Hartlepool Art Club, will be in the foyer of the Asda store, Marina Way, Hartlepool, on Saturday, April 23, from 9.30am. All the nautical-themed paintings
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Exhibition draws on the power of the sea
A yachtswoman who has sailed all over the world, Sue Maud knows only too well the power of the sea. Nevertheless, Ms Maud was shocked by the terrifying images of the Asian tsunami on Boxing Day. Now the artist has drawn on the impact of the event for
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Clamping down on the clampers
For some time now I have been concerned at the way wheel clamp companies go about their business and this concern was brought into sharp focus earlier this week. I'd been invited to open a local business, parked outside their premises, did the necessary
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Modern Moors Centre plan changed after public outcry
CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £1m visitor centre in Danby have been defended amid fears that small village shops might suffer loss of trade. Andy Wilson, chief executive of the North York Moors National Park, addressed the Danby Group parish assembly last
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Bates set for debut
AT 18-years-old Matthew Bates may only be in his football infancy, but manager David Hodgson insists the defender has all the attributes to inspire Darlington's play-off push. Hodgson was critical of his side after last week's 3-1 defeat at Cambridge
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Inseparable in life, together in their friends' memories
THE square outside the church in the centre of Darlington was empty save for a few black-clad figures huddled under dark umbrellas. There was still half an hour to go before the funeral of best friends Lee Mullis, 14, and Stuart Adams, 15, who died three
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Georgia makes the grade
A GIRL from Darlington has become one of only a few aspiring actors to be accepted by a famous training academy. Georgia McIntyre, 12, has been selected to take part in a two-week course run by the National Youth Theatre. More than 5,000 children entered
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Tykes forced to wait for bonus point
Yorkshire had a long wait before they could pick up their first bonus point of the season on the second day of their Championship match with Essex at Chelmsford yesterday. Heavy morning rain prevented any play until after tea when Essex resumed in sunshine
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Rapist is jailed in child porn case
A CONVICTED child rapist has been locked up for downloading paedophile pornography on his computer. John Charlton, 53, was jailed for a year and ordered to go on the sex offenders' register for ten years after he admitted making indecent images of children
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Young gangs told 'go home'
CHILDREN causing a nuisance on the streets at night in Chester-le-Street could be sent home by police. Officers will also have the power to force groups of more than two to disperse as part of a crackdown on unruly conduct in the town. The powers, which
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Speeding driver may be behind camera fire attack
A VANDAL has been warned they could be jailed for setting fire to a speed camera designed to cut accidents on a North-East's blackspots. The Gatso camera on the A66 eastbound carriageway, opposite the turn-off for Urlay Nook, was destroyed. Tyres were
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Vardy share price falls as Rover collapses
Reg Vardy saw its share price slump in the wake of the MG Rover catastrophe today. Vardy's stock fell 14.5p to 492p after it said it may have to make a one-off charge to its 2004/5 accounts as a result of the administration of the Longbridge car manufacturer
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Standards Board finds councillor guilty
THE leader of Stockton Borough Council has called for a colleague to resign after he was found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute. Coun Steve Walmsley was investigated by the Standards Board for England after he was accused of swearing at a
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Sporty Joan, 65, prepares for World Transplant Games
A GRANDMOTHER is preparing to take part in the World Transplant Games. Joan Whitney, 65, from Guisborough, will travel to Ontario, Canada, in July, to compete in the badminton. Mrs Whitney had a serious heart attack in 1996 and was told six months later
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D1 Oils looks to invest in region creating more jobs
BIOFUELS producer D1 Oils will help create and support hundreds of jobs in the region as it continues its international expansion, the chief executive said last night. Stockton-based D1, which is listed on the junior stock exchange, yesterday announced
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Floodlighting comes to Saltburn for the summer
SALTBURN pier and lower promenade is to be floodlit as part of a £750,000 scheme. Work is due to start next week on a four-month feature-lighting project for the pier, cliff lift, amusement arcade and chalets. Redcar and Cleveland Council, working in
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Man spat at police officer
A 24-YEAR-OLD man pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer and causing harassment and distress yesterday. Stephen Errington, of Woodland Road, Darlington, was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £134 in court costs and compensation
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Children write to council in last-ditch bid to save school
PUPILS, parents and community figures have pleaded with council officials not to close a Darlington school, only days before the final decision is made over its future. Rise Carr Primary School, in Eldon Street, has been served with a statutory closure
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£30,000 play park will give estate a 'fresh start'
A DARLINGTON estate is to get a £30,000 play park for young children after years of having no facilities. Residents of Lascelles Park say the play area for youngsters aged up to nine, due to open next to the Lascelles pub, in Fenby Avenue, before summer
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Nora's still singing at 102
A GOOD knees-up and a sing-a-long are the secrets to a long and happy life for Nora Blenkinsopp. She turned 102 yesterday and celebrated with a tea party. Mrs Blenkinsopp is a resident of Eastbourne Care Home, in Cobden Street, Darlington, which was yesterday
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What's in a name? - plenty if it's a car
FROM Albert through Bean, Calcutt and Day-Leeds, down the alphabet they went, taking in Mendip and Orpington, Perfex and Straker-Squire, right down to Vulcan and ending with Zephyr. "They" were the 98 British - yes, British - entrants in the 1920 motor
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Howard attacks asylum 'chaos'
TORY leader Michael Howard last night pushed Labour into apologising for the death of Special Branch officer Stephen Oake at the hands of failed asylum seeker and al Qaida operative Kamel Bourgass. Mr Howard, who was visiting the Stockton South constituency
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Spike gets safety show on the road
VITAL road safety messages emblazoned across a trailer are to be used to help drive home the message to thousands of people. The eye-catching exhibition, using road safety mascot Spike the hedgehog, will be a familiar sight over the coming weeks in every
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Nuisance woman receives Asbo
A WOMAN who has plagued a town with her drunken and abusive behaviour has been made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo). Magistrates imposed the order on 29-year-old Angela Wrightson after hearing she was continually drunk and disorderly
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A kiss for the blushing bride on her big day
THE young bride wore an embroidered champagne gown and the groom looked smart in top hat and tails for a wedding ceremony that would have left Prince Charles and Camilla in the shadows. St Helen Auckland Church, near Bishop Auckland, hosted its wedding
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Audition call for Fame production
A RE-LAUNCHED theatre group is seeking dancers and singers for a production of the musical version of Fame. Theatre Elite is to be based at the Shotton Hall centre for performing arts, in Peterlee, but hopes to draw potential cast members from across
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Good base for region and for labour, say refurbished factory's tenants
A REFURBISHED factory has attracted two companies and the prospect of new jobs to Newton Aycliffe. Windowman UK of Tamworth, Staffordshire, specialises in the manufacture and sale of windows, doors and conservatories. It has recently won several major
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School chef is top employee
A SCHOOL chef has been named as a top employee. Catering company Scolarest has chosen Edith McElrue as its employee of the year in County Durham. Mrs McElrue works at Tanfield Lea Junior School, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, where she and her colleagues are
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Looking for special people
POLICE have launched a recruitment drive to take on more special constables to support the work of the regular force. Durham Police Constabulary hopes to enlist at least six volunteer officers to work in the south of the county - tackling incidents, patrolling
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Petition against Co-op closure
VILLAGERS are mounting a petition against the closure of their Co-op Handybank. The Handybank, in the Co-op at Wheatley Hill, will close on Wednesday, May 18. The company said the move was because fewer people were using it. "I cannot understand why they
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Cancer charity event was a smash hit
A CONCERT at the Sage, in Gateshead, raised more than £35,000 for charity. The Rook Matthews Sayer charity concert raised £35,250 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. The sell-out event was hosted by BBC's Carol Malia. Rod Matthews, the executive homes director
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House burglaries fall to 30-year low
HOUSE burglaries on Teesside have reached a 30-year low, according to the latest police figures. Police in Stockton said during the period for the year to March, there had been 1,370 house burglaries. The figure, which is the equivalent of fewer than
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Recognition for a 'flexible friend'
A SCHOOL chef has been named as a top employee for her dedication. Catering company Scolarest has chosen Edith McElrue as its employee of the year in County Durham. Mrs McElrue works at Tanfield Lea Junior School, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, where she and
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Referees' course welcomes bookings
A SEARCH is being launched to find football referees of the future. Former Premiership referee Jeff Winter, who retired last year, is the director of the Middlesbrough Football Club Referees Training School and is inviting 14 to 18-year-olds to take part
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18-year-old is injured in road accident
AN 18-year-old driver was airlifted to hospital after a two-car accident yesterday. The driver, from Newcastle, was cut from her Hyundai Accent by firefighters and taken to Newcastle General Hospital. She suffered facial, neck and spine injuries in the
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Poet Julia dies after fight with cancer
A NORTH-East playwright, poet and author has died after a long battle with cancer. Julia Darling was well-known in the literary world and often set many of her novels in the region, including The Taxi Driver's Daughter, which was set in Heaton, Newcastle
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Dale pupils courting success
HOURS spent on motorways travelling to matches has proved worthwhile for young badminton players. Pupils from the Wensleydale School, in Leyburn, who travelled hundreds of miles to compete in the Yorkshire Championships are now celebrating several impressive
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Home Office inspectors praise protection unit
A TEAM of police officers involved in high-risk offender management have received an official accolade. Home Office experts awarded five members of Durham Police's public protection unit (PPU) gold service accreditation following a recent inspection.
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Sweep away the baby blues with a massage
PARENTS are being encouraged to learn skills to enable them to give their babies a massage. Experts say gentle massage can calm babies, is good for their skin, can help them sleep and increases the bond with their parents. Classes organised by Sure Start
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People's memories needed for exhibition on end of war
ONE of the region's most popular attractions will hold a summer-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. As part of the event, the public are being asked to come forward with their memories and memorabilia of the period
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Date
Audition call for Fame production
A RE-LAUNCHED theatre group is seeking dancers and singers for a production of the musical version of Fame. Theatre Elite is to be based at the Shotton Hall centre for performing arts, in Peterlee, but hopes to draw potential cast members from across
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When the boats come in...
THIS summer's Tall Ships Race appears set to break all records with 100 vessels already signed to take part. The race comes to the Tyne in July, when visitors will be able to see the biggest fleet assembled for the race. Already, 27 of the largest Class
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Darlington miss key trio in New Brighton defeat
BOTH Darlington clubs have reason to hope for better things in National Three North next season after Mowden ensured their safety with their best home performance of the season last Saturday. A week after Darlington confirmed their survival, Mowden won
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Manslaughter trial date set
A DATE has been set for the trial of a man accused of killing a plasterer. Kevin Todd, 22, of High Street, Loftus, east Cleveland, will appear at Teesside Crown Court on July 4 to face a charge of manslaughter. It is alleged he killed John Carr, 34, who
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Bogus charity collector in doorstep scam
PEOPLE across North Yorkshire are being told to be wary of giving money or used items to charitable causes that are not as they seem. Recently, a door-to-door bogus charity collector was jailed after claiming to be collecting cash to help sick and injured
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Friends jailed after causing death of two-year-old
Two friends have been locked up for causing the death of a toddler after racing a car and motorbike through a town centre. Demi Schwec suffered massive head injuries when she was hit by a speeding Honda Civic and died six days after the accident. Driver
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Guest house owner pays for swindle
A SEASIDE guest house owner has been spared jail after raising nearly £10,000 to repay an electricity company he swindled by bypassing his meter. But Stephen Hodgin has been told he must find a further £8,500 to pay off a fine and costs within a month
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Kerb-crawling shame of TV father-of-nine
A FATHER-OF-NINE who starred in a hit television show with Naked Chef Jamie Oliver has been caught kerb-crawling. Last night, Les Measor told The Northern Echo: "I've made a stupid mistake." And he appealed to his wife and family: "Please forgive me."
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Grain prices
WHEAT prices seem to have settled down after recent falls. There still seems to be plenty of wheat around, compared with demand, and Brussels keeps confusing the market by releasing some intervention stocks for export. Oilseed markets have fallen following
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'Biggest risk I ever took' also takes farmer to receive national award
ORGANIC dairy farmer Gordon Tweddle travels to London this weekend to receive a major industry award. The founder of Acorn Dairy at Archdeacon Newton, near Darlington, will be named Organic Business Person of the Year during the 12th Natural and Organic
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Stabbed in the line of duty
A BRAVE police dog is lucky to be alive after being stabbed as he helped to apprehend a man allegedly involved in a domestic dispute. Four-year-old German shepherd Zoltan suffered an 8in deep wound that went through his front right leg and into his body
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Tackling a trouble hotspot
POLICE support officer John Angus is being hailed as the hero of Hurworth. He has won praise from parish councillors for the impact he is having on anti-social behaviour in the village. They say that in just over a week he has made an enormous difference
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Objection overruled as traffic scheme goes ahead
A LONE objection to a Darlington traffic-calming scheme has been overruled. Members of Darlington Borough Council cabinet have agreed to set aside a complaint about plans to put a speed table in Newton Lane at Cockerton, allowing a £60,000 calming scheme
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Poignant farewell to rail tragedy friends
HUNDREDS of mourners at the funeral of two Darlington boys killed on a railway line were urged yesterday to unite to improve life for young people. The family and friends of Lee Mullis, 14, and Stuart Adams, 15, who were hit by a train in the town on
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Hopes rising that hospital ship could help to keep Swan Hunter afloat
HOPES are rising that shipbuilder Swan Hunter could clinch a deal to plug a two-year gap in its order book. Regional development agency One NorthEast last night confirmed it had organised talks with unions, politicians and the Ministry of Defence to persuade
