Archive
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Souness has changed far more than his tune
"WHEN I look at this squad I think it is the best I've ever had as manager," was Graeme Souness' observation when he was unveiled as Sir Bobby Robson's successor at Newcastle last September. He added; "I have my own ideas of course, but I won't be making
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The Albany Northern League: Consett's stay in the top flight short-lived
Consett returned to the second division after just one season in the top flight when they lost at home to Shildon on Saturday - and West Auckland and Brandon both breathed a sigh of relief. Consett's defeat means they will join Peterlee and Guisborough
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How Bill gets his satisfaction
Famous Rolling Stones rocker Bill Wyman has swapped his guitar for a metal detector and the peace and quiet of the countryside, he tells Steve Pratt. And he's found it an experience to treasure. DO NOT, warns the press person on the way to do the interview
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Durham Cup: Dunston treble quest
Dunston are aiming to complete the second leg of their trophy treble when they play Hartlepool United in the final of the Durham Challenge Cup at Durham City this morning, writes RAY SIMPSON. Dunston, who clinched the Northern League title a month ago
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Referee's decision could prove costly, says Dickman
MIDFIELDER Jonjo Dickman fears Darlington's season may have been decided by referee Mike Cowburn's decision not to award a second half penalty. The Lancashire official waved away appeals for a spot-kick after Dickman appeared to be brought down in the
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War hero's widow dedicates community centre
THE widow of a North-East war hero has officially opened a £2m information centre dedicated to the memory of her VC-winning husband. Shirley Annand, the 91-year-old wife of the late Captain Richard Annand, visited Meadowfield, Durham City, to open the
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Homework of a special kind
THE lack of discipline in schools is frequently blamed for the country's problems with anti-social behaviour. But discipline has its roots in the home. That is where standards should be set, boundaries established, and the difference between right and
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It's not over til it's over, states Clarke as the season goes down to the wire
DEFIANT Darlington skipper Matt Clarke insists there is still everything to play for despite dropping out of the play-off zone at the weekend. Quakers slipped down to eighth in League Two after they were held to a goalless draw at Lincoln City, as Northampton
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Durham's weather luck runs out north of the border
DURHAM'S luck with the weather ran out yesterday when no play was possible in their totesport League match against Scotland in Edinburgh. Following heavy morning rain The Grange ground was saturated and after several afternoon pitch inspections all hope
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Workers get on their bikes for charity marathon
A GROUP of nine chemical workers are about to prove they will go to any lengths for charity. The distance the Teessiders have in mind is a gruelling 1,035 miles by bicycle, from Land's End to John O'Groats, later this month. Their combined pedal power
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Action taken to limit noise from firm
THE ENVIRONMENT Agency have moved to minimise noise and vibration from a local engineering firm. Residents had complained about noise from Weardale Castings and Engineering Ltd in Wolsingham, and the Agency took over regulation of the site in April 2004
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Elton strikes the right note
They thought it couldn't be done, but an emotional plea from Elton John was enough to persuade the team behind the hit North-East movie Billy Elliot to turn it into a stage musical. Steve Pratt talks to the creators of the show. Producer Jon Finn thought
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'I'll take mum's ashes to court'
A WOMAN who died last year has been summonsed to court for not paying her council tax - and her daughter has vowed to take her ashes along to prove it. Darlington Borough Council is seeking to recover £122 from Alexandrina Stanton, despite the fact that
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Saltburn ease to six wicket victory over Richmondshire
Darlington Building Society NYSD League Premier Division: Runs were in short supply for Richmondshire's batsmen against Saltburn and the three-figure mark was only just reached as the four-man visiting attack dominated throughout the innings. Clive Layfield
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Doctor in sex case flees to China
A HERBAL doctor charged with sexually assaulting a man has fled to China, The Northern Echo can reveal. Dr Gu Zu Sun, who used to work at the Dr & Herbs treatment centre in The Cornmill Centre, Darlington, has had a warrant issued for his arrest after
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Book is tribute to famous regiment
RARE images of a century of service by one of the nation's finest fighting forces have been brought together in a unique publication. Image of the Soldier features the very first photographs of the Durham Light Infantry, taken around 1855 in the Crimea
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Robinson: Cats were spurred on by the desire to be the best
SUNDERLAND'S players have spent the last month downplaying talk of the title but, as skipper Gary Breen prepares to lift the Championship trophy above his head at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, team-mate Carl Robinson has admitted that creating history
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Shellshocked Westwood keen to put debacle to bed
CHRIS Westwood admitted he was shell-shocked after being outfought, outthought and outclassed by Walsall on Saturday. The result could have had dire ramifications for Pool's play-off bid had late goals in other key games not turned results in their favour
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£120,000 funds war landmark events
MORE than £120,000 has been distributed to community groups in the North-East. The cash will be used to fund events across the region from next week, marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The funding has come from the £12.3m
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Blair turns shy for radio
TONY BLAIR faced criticism yesterday - but not the critics, having banished them to another room. The Prime Minister was due to be grilled by a panel of experts on a radio show. Already, Conservative leader Michael Howard had been in the studio, in front
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Lodestar has class to take Durham Cup
LODESTAR (3.50) looks well capable of making his class count in the John Smith's Durham National at Sedgefield. There's guaranteed to be a huge Bank Holiday crowd to cheer on the runners for the three-and-a-half-mile marathon in which Lodestar will be
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GNER starts franchise on East Coast
RAIL boss Christopher Garnett was yesterday signalling the start of a new era for the East Coast main line. GNER's franchise on the route, linking London, Yorkshire, the North-East and Scotland, began yesterday. And chief executive Mr Garnett pledged
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Bishops to bounce back
Bishop Auckland manager Brian Honour is determined Bishops will bounce back after gallantly losing 2-0 at promotion chasing Farsley. Bishops needed to win to have a chance of staying in the league, but instead they were beaten by two goals in the last
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The 40-year itch
JANE Lake had met her future husband while studying at Oxford University in 1963. She was a 20-year-old arts student from Washington DC, while he was a shy, 18-year-old Roman Catholic from Bootle called John Birt. After 40 years of marriage, it seemed
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Council tax payers 'facing £2.5m bill for rent of offices'
A RESIDENTS' group says that council tax payers will have to pay out £2.5m for the rental of an eco-friendly building that could have been the home of the North-East regional assembly. Durham County Council is looking to rent part of a £5m offices and
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Council tax payers 'facing £2.5m bill for rent of offices'
A RESIDENTS' group says that council tax payers will have to pay out £2.5m for the rental of an eco-friendly building that could have been the home of the North-East regional assembly. Durham County Council is looking to rent part of a £5m offices and
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White in the wickets as Phoenix top the league
Yorkshire Phoenix maintained their 100 per cent winning record with a dramatic three wicket victory over Sussex Sharks at Headingley yesterday to top Division Two of the totesport League. It is the first time in six years that Yorkshire have won their
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More Classic joy for duo as Virginia Waters romps in
Virginia Waters completed a famous Classic double for Aidan O'Brien and Kieren Fallon with victory in the UltimatePoker.com 1000 Guineas at Newmarket yesterday. The pair were successful in the colts' equivalent with Footstepsinthesand on Saturday and
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Book shows how town has changed
AN author of the history of Darlington in pictures signed copies of his latest book at the weekend. Then and Now, which uses photographs from The Northern Echo's archive, was signed by John Dean in Ottakar's in the town on Saturday. The book charts the
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Arsonists attack homes
POLICE and fire brigade bosses are appealing for information after two homes were targeted by arsonists. Lit pieces of paper were posted through the letterboxes of houses in Samsung Place and Thornton Close, in Newton Aycliffe, overnight on Thursday.
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Lining up for beauty contest
A BEAUTY contest is being held to decide who will be crowned the next Miss Newcastle. Contestants will be judged by a celebrity panel at Sutherlands Cabaret Club, High Felling, Gateshead. The charity event is being organised and hosted by the current
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Advice to achieve goals
A COLLEGE careers event was hosted by five former students who have gone on to achieve their goals. The leisure and tourism students at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, returned to take part in the college's After QE - What Next event.
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Great catwalk display
STUDENTS became models for an evening to raise money for school funds. Pupils at Hurworth School Maths and Computing College, near Darlington, modelled fashion clothing by Hooch and Bench in the show, attended by more than 100 parents and teachers. More
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Losing battle over statue costs local historian £6,000
A KEEN local historian and amateur legal eagle is counting the cost of fighting to save the heritage of Middlesbrough town centre. Peter Judge was left facing legal costs of £6,280 following a two-hour hearing at the High Court in London which threw out
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Kicking off for cancer sufferers
A CHARITY football tournament created as a tribute to a woman who died of cancer raised £2,500 for research into the disease on Saturday. Over 200 supporters were at the annual event at Langley Park Welfare Football Ground, in memory of Mary Hayton, and
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Please bring walking boots and brain cells
TONY DAVISON, manager of Hartlepool's Summerhill countryside park, will be leading a two-mile walk around Summerhill from 1pm to 3.30pm today. During the walk, Mr Davison will be talking about topics including nature and folklore. Some of it will be fact
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Smells like Teesside spirit
TWELVE days ago Middlesbrough were 60 seconds from crashing to a home defeat by Fulham and their hopes of finishing in a UEFA Cup spot in the league were hanging by a thread. The home crowd at the Riverside were angry, manager Steve McClaren had to cope
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Large decline in empty properties
A HOUSING association has beaten national guidelines for the lowest number of empty properties. Coast & Country Housing, which covers the Tees Valley area, has only 30 empty properties to let - just 0.2 per cent of its total housing stock of 11,000
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Vandals post burning pieces of paper through letterboxes
POLICE and fire brigade bosses are appealing for information after two homes were targeted by vandals. Lit pieces of paper were posted through the letterboxes of houses in Samsung Place and Thornton Close, in Newton Aycliffe, overnight on Thursday. The
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Deputy next in line to take over
A POLICE authority's second-in-command will take over the reins when its chairman steps down in June. The Northern Echo understands that current Cleveland Police Authority deputy chairman Councillor Dave McLuckie is the favoured choice to replace Ted
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Suspects held over Hassan killing
THREE Iraqis were arrested yesterday over the abduction of British aid worker Margaret Hassan, who was killed last year. The arrests came after a raid on a house south of Baghdad yesterday by US and Iraqi forces, in which a number of suspects were detained
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Club marks anniversary with Shindig
A CLUB in the North-East is celebrating its 13th anniversary later this month with a party. Shindig will be held at Baltic Square, in Gateshead, on Sunday, May 29 as part of the Orange Evolution Music Festival 2005. Organisers say they have an impressive
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Sum of school's success recognised
SCHOOL pupils have been rewarded for their sporting and academic achievements. The youngsters from Bedale High School were given certificates for their effort in various school subjects. The awards are handed out to top achievers every term. Headteacher
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Children learn about growing
YOUNGSTERS are to discover how the garden grows - on the top deck of a bus. Members of the School Council of Framwellgate Moor Primary School will learn all about composting when they visit the open-top double-decker in Durham City Market Place, on Friday
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Villagers rule out duck cull
A CULL of ducks in a village where the pond is over-populated, will not take place,, environmentalists have pledged. Instead, a number of ducks are likely to be taken to fresh waters in a bid to prevent continued pollution of the pond at Grewelthorpe,
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Opencast plan at former pit opposed by wildlife group
A WILDLIFE charity has lodged an objection against a coal company's plans to opencast a former colliery site. The Durham Wildlife Trust is opposed to UK Coal's application for planning permission to work Stony Heap, Leadgate, near Consett. The company
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GNER starts franchise on East Coast
RAIL boss Christopher Garnett was yesterday signalling the start of a new era for the East Coast main line. GNER's franchise on the route, linking London, Yorkshire, the North-East and Scotland, began yesterday. And chief executive Mr Garnett pledged
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Young people's views wanted on park revamp
REGENERATION work on a rundown park is beginning to get under way. The development of North Park, in Darlington, has so far added a series of security measures to protect the area from vandalism and anti-social behaviour. A closed circuit television (
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Hetton Lyons roar to victory over Felling
Foster's Durham Senior League: There were wins for Horden, Marsden and Hetton Lyons on the opening day of the season. Runs were plentiful at Hetton Lyons where the home side successfully set upon a run-chase challenge. They were quickly in control when
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Website is redesigned
A LOCAL authority's website has been expanded ahead of the tourist season. The Darlington Borough Council site, which was launched in 2002, has been redesigned. It offers more information on events, attractions, activities and shopping destinations. Visitors
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Healthy award for authority
A COUNCIL has become the first organisation in Derwentside to be presented with a County Durham Working for Health Award. Derwentside District Council won a bronze award from Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) after demonstrat-ing it had been working
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Door-to-door bus service hits the road
A GROUND-breaking transport service is to be launched tomorrow to get people where they want, when they want. The Wigglybus is a minibus service that operates for most of the time without a set timetable. It can be pre-ordered by people in local communities
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Tractor Boys make slow but steady progress to aid disabled youngster
BACK at home after a two-day fundraiser with a difference are the intrepid travellers known as the Tractor Boys. Based at the Cross Keys pub at Bellerby, near Leyburn, they are a group of tractor enthusiasts, who have been raising cash for two disabled
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Survey of ethnic groups
A SURVEY assessing the needs of ethnic minorities is to be carried out by Derwentside District Council. The research aims to provide a picture of their experience in the district. Ethnic minority residents in Derwentside who would like to take part in
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Daredevil students take the plunge for African project
TWELVE students from the North-East abseiled from a North-East bridge yesterday to raise the funds they need to travel to Uganda this summer. The civil engineering students from Newcastle University are heading for the small town of Mbarara. They will
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Crackdown on travelling criminals
CRIMINALS are being warned against targeting tourist destinations in the North-East this holiday season. Northumbria Police is sending a stark message to thieves thinking of visiting Northumberland. Every year, the warmer weather brings crooks from the
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Ofsted report marks school's turnaround
A SCHOOL which was severely criticised by Government inspectors just six months ago is celebrating a remarkable turnaround in its fortunes. Bishopton Redmarshall Primary School was identified as having "serious weaknesses" in the wake of an Ofsted inspection
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Council defends gipsy strategy
A CAMPAIGN group claims the rights of the travelling minority are being put ahead of settled communities in a new draft strategy for supporting gipsy families. The Defend Our Village Environment group (Dove) in Sedgefield has objected to Durham County
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Peterlee enjoy rare win at Houghton's expense
Durham Coast League: Peterlee, who finished bottom of the table last season, tasted a rare success when they had 63 runs in hand of Houghton. Early on, however, it looked as if Jon Grant (40) and his opening partner Paul Elliott might lay the foundations
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Quakers have themselves to blame if play-off hopes vanish
At the end of an unfulfilling season, if Darlington have not crept into the play-off zone, as now looks likely, it will be nobody else's fault but their own. They now look as though they have left themselves too much work to do. But despite the countless
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02/05/05
CRAZY SERVICE: IT beggars belief that prominent local bus operators, train operators, plane operators and the One NorthEast agency are proud to announce the start of a new regular bus link between Darlington railway station and Durham Tees Valley Airport
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All-time hero bounces back
SO long absent from these black and white acres that his file has been capriciously and uncermoniously shredded by the editorial library, Dave "Jock" Rutherford plans a comeback. Five times an England amateur international, familiar in the Northern League
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Off-roaders' anger at land rules 'threat' to bike trials
ANGRY off-road motorcyclists are demanding that the Government rethinks a policy that they say could destroy their sport. Trial bike riders across the North-East and North Yorkshire are being urged to write to their MPs, after Thursday's elections, in
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When the 40-year itch hits home
After 30 or 40 years of marriage, it would seem that a couple was destined to stay together. But instead of enjoying the 'pipe and slippers' stage, many are finding the divorce courts beckon. Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings reports. JANE Lake had met
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Tuhana bids a fond farewell to Mowden Park
HOOKER Tasi Tuhana said an emotional farewell to Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday after playing his final match for the club then presenting the Player of the Year awards. Mowden won the last match of their National Three North programme 35-12 at home
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Fundraiser tops £10,000
A DEDICATED fundraiser has donated £10,000 to her chosen charity. Hilda Phillips, of Dene Bank Grange, Ferryhill, County Durham, began collecting money for the Butterwick Hospice before it even opened, in Bishop Auckland, ten years ago. Since then, she
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Major project to safeguard threatened butterfly
AN endangered heathland butterfly could soon be winging its way back to once familiar habitats. The small pearl bordered fritillary, once common across many areas of Britain, has declined in numbers in recent years due to the disappearance of its natural
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Electioneering returns to keenly-contested city seat
FOR a constituency that is supposedly safe Labour country, the City of Durham has been doing a remarkable impression of a marginal seat over recent weeks. On Wednesday morning, prisons spokesman Paul Goggins became the seventh Labour minister to visit
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Jim fixes it as Brandon make it two out of two
The Readers Durham County League: Australian Jim Allenby, who only just failed to make a century on the opening day, produced another polished innings as Brandon made it two wins out of two narrowly defeating Kimblesworth. Allenby hit four sixes and six
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Challenge raises £3,400 for autistic boy
A TEAM of hardy volunteers put themselves through a day of gruelling Army exercises to help an autistic boy enjoy a better life. Almost 60 people signed up to take part in Endurance 2005, the third such event organised to help eight-year-old Jake Burgess
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Best-selling author calls for voters to oust Blair
A CAMPAIGN by the father of a murdered Red Cap to unseat the Prime Minister from his North-East constituency won more celebrity backing at the weekend. Best-selling author Frederick Forsyth and classical guitarist John Williams have pledged their support
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Time to seek out Bachelors Club
AN inscribed clock is causing a lot of interest in a village because it involves a Bachelors Club that flourished there a century ago. The German-made timepiece was bought at an auction by Barbara Callaghan and has been put in the window of her curio
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Polling day chaos fear
SOME voters face election-day chaos after being sent postal votes and voting cards by poll organisers. People in Wear Valley, County Durham, have been sent postal votes envelopes and election cards, leaving them confused about which to use. Iain Phillips
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Hodgson demands goals
With one game to go to save the season from ruin David Hodgson is urging his players to go goal crazy against Cheltenham Town on Saturday. Quakers are level on points with Northampton but one behind on goal difference so Darlington have 90 minutes in
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Wolviston get Thorn in their side
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League Division One: Umar Rashid and Andrew Emmerson combined to send Wolviston crashing to just 50 all out at Thornaby. Rashid delivered 16 overs, including 10 maidens claiming four wickets for a mere 19 runs
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Racing fans descend on N-E for high-speed dog racing
DOG racing fans from across England and Scotland descended on the region at the weekend to attend a 300-year-old family sporting event with its roots in the North-East. Up to 200 whippets and their owners travelled to the North-East for the Great Aycliffe
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Battling Boro set to earn their Riverside Spurs
THE hard-earned point at Anfield was a distant memory for Gareth Southgate soon after the final whistle on Saturday, with the Middlesbrough skipper's eyes firmly focused on a game he sees as Boro's biggest of the season. The visit of Spurs to the Riverside
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Two are jailed for attack on Poles
TWO teenagers who kicked their way into a house party held by Polish migrant workers in a former pit village have been jailed for 18 months. The revellers, who worked at a chicken processing plant, were threatened and the intruders - one had a stick or
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Airport boom creates 250 jobs
THE region's airports are recruiting hundreds of extra staff, as they gear up for their busiest ever summer. Newcastle International Airport is taking on around 250 seasonal workers, as the holiday season officially gets under way. The UK's fastest growing
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Opencast plan at former pit opposed by wildlife group
A WILDLIFE charity has lodged an objection against a coal company's plans to opencast a former colliery site. The Durham Wildlife Trust is opposed to UK Coal's application for planning permission to work Stony Heap, Leadgate, near Consett. The company
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Foster's Northumberland and Tyneside Senior League
Despite a magnificent performance from Henry Twizell, champions Tynedale went down by 18 runs at Annfield Plain, writes Malcolm Pratt. The Northumberland strike bowler was in scintillating form claiming nine wickets for 56 runs but even so the Plain comfortably
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Airport boom creates 250 jobs
THE region's airports are recruiting hundreds of extra staff, as they gear up for their busiest ever summer. Newcastle International Airport is taking on around 250 seasonal workers, as the holiday season officially gets under way. The UK's fastest growing
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On TV last night
Doctor Who (BBC1) The Secret Life Of The Shop (BBC3) The new Doctor Who series continues to surprise. I mean, I never thought I'd end up feeling sorry for a Dalek? In the old days, these metal creatures rattled around pointing that egg whisk they call
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Postcards the last thing on Wilks mind after Sardinian nightmare
DON'T expect any postcards from Sardinia from Darlington rally driver Guy Wilks. The 24-year-old Suzuki driver had a trip to forget during this weekend's latest round of the Junior World Rally Championship. The unusually hot and rough conditions over
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Thousands enjoy tasteful festival, despite weather
BAD weather did nothing to dampen the spirits - or appetites - of the crowds headed for the annual Dales Festival of Food and Drink. Although the rain hit attendances on Saturday, the figures rose rapidly yesterday and with one more day to go, it is on
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Talented youngsters entertain at hospital
HOSPITAL staff and patients were entertained with the dancing skills of young children to help lift the spirits on a damp May day. Youngsters from Abingdon Primary School put on a show in the atrium of James Cook University Hospital yesterday as part
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Sweet success for worker
A HOSPITAL worker from Darlington was among the nominees for a national catering prize, after creating a healthy dessert recipe. Ron McKenzie was runner up at the recent Cost Sector Catering Awards, with his recipe for Dutch apple oaty crumble. The dessert
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Extra staff
Council planners have been given four extra staff to tackle an increased workload. Wear Valley District councillors heard that demands on the development control service had risen by more than 70 per cent between 2000 and last year with 1,100 planning
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Endangered water voles are thriving at nature reserve
A NEW Darlington nature reserve is rapidly becoming a stronghold for endangered water voles. Rockwell, off Haughton Road, was formally made a reserve earlier this year and brought together a number of areas of ecological importance, including Rockwell
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Pupils' art supports charity funds
CHILDREN from Yarm Early School used their creative talents to help raise hundreds of pounds for charity. The youngsters artwork resulted from a partnership between Orb Enterprise, a Yarm School sixth form Young Enterprise group, and girls and boys from
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Pupils' art focuses on impact
CREATIVE youngsters have put their artwork on display alongside a national museum's imposing exhibits. Artwork produced by students from King James I School, Bishop Auckland, features in an exhibition at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, in Shildon
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Councillors back merger to boost dales
COUNCILLORS have backed the merger of two development agencies in a move to bring prosperity to two Durham dales. The boards of Wear Valley Development Agency and the Teesdale Enterprise Agency have already supported the merger, which was agreed by Wear
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North-East theatre venues to host opera classic
AN English version of Verdi's Opera La Traviata is playing at two North-East venues. It is being performed by Northern Opera with soprano Rachel Orr taking the lead role of Violetta. She has appeared in many theatrical and concert venues in the region
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Wearside League: Chapman keeps RA on course for title
Darlington RA took another step towards the championship and promotion into the Albany Northern League but they left it desperately late before gaining three crucial points at the expense of New Marske. The game appeared to be heading for a goal-less
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How to become a childminder
PEOPLE seeking a career in childcare can find out how to achieve their goal in east Durham this week. The Childcare Information Service (CIS) will be at Seaham Library on Friday, from 9.45am to 12.15pm, with its database of information about childminding
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Art talents aid charity
CHILDREN from Yarm Early School used their creative talents to help raise hundreds of pounds for charity. The youngsters' artwork resulted from a partnership between Orb Enterprise, a Yarm School sixth form young enterprise group, and girls and boys from
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Singers battle to become Rock Idol
A PUB in Chester-le-Street is staging the local final of a national talent contest. Chicago Rock Cafe will host 12 singers competing in the final of Rock Idol as they bid to represent the town at the latter stages of the competition. About 100 performers
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Chance to learn foreign language
CHILDREN and their families are getting the chance to learn foreign languages in their spare time. Clayport Library, in Durham, is to offer free family learning courses in French followed by Spanish in the autumn. The five-week French course is aimed
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Keeping busy helps Alberta reach 100
FRIENDS and family would not let modest Alberta Jackson shy away from attention yesterday when she celebrated her 100th birthday. South Church Nursing Home, in Bishop Auckland, where Mrs Jackson has lived for about 18 months, was packed for a party. "
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Anti-social behaviour diary scheme
PEOPLE living in Ferryhill are being encouraged to keep a diary of anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhoods. Police, Sedgefield Community Partnership and Ferryhill Town Council have created data sheets for residents to keep a record of unruly or
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Triathlon challenge in aid of DebRA
GYM members are being urged to rise to a fitness challenge and raise money for a national charity. Members of the Lifestyle fitness suites in Ferryhill, Newton Aycliffe, Shildon-Sunnydale and Spennymoor Leisure Centres can join the triathlon challenge
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Board to represent older residents
RESIDENTS and organisations have given their backing to the creation of a Redcar and Cleveland Older People's Partnership Board. The initiative by the Redcar and Cleveland Partnership, a mix of public, private, voluntary and community sector representatives
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School celebrates remarkable turnaround
A SCHOOL which was severely criticised by Government inspectors just six months ago is celebrating a remarkable turnaround in its fortunes. Bishopton Redmarshall Primary School was identified as having "serious weaknesses" in the wake of an Ofsted inspection
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Onions brings tears to Norton eyes
Foster's ECB North-East Regional Premier League: The first day of the season proved inauspicious for Norton who suffered a heavy defeat at Blaydon whose captain Mark Drake and Durham County's Graeme Onions dominated the match. Drake went in at number
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It will all end in virtual tears
I think a married friend of mine is having an email love affair. She's got a wonderful partner and small daughter, but I think she's hooked on her new virtual man. She has only ever met the guy once, but she is sending him about 200 emails a day and sounds
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£250 gift to help
VISUALLY-impaired children have been given money to improve computer skills. Tiny tots at Horden Community Centre Nursery were given £250 by Horden Health Forum. Trudy Reynolds, from the nursery, said: "This money will make a big difference to the confidence
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Song for victims of Asian tsunami
Songwriting library assistants are hoping to turn their musical notes into banknotes to help victims of the Asian tsunami. When Shaun Liddell, Peter Kidd and Steven Clayton, who all work for Durham County Council's flagship Clayport Library, discovered
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Suspects held over Hassan killing
THREE Iraqis were arrested yesterday over the abduction of British aid worker Margaret Hassan, who was killed last year. The arrests came after a raid on a house south of Baghdad yesterday by US and Iraqi forces, in which a number of suspects were detained
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'Hurt' Cooper apologises to fans and challenges his players to put it right
LEANING up against the advertising hoarding surrounding the main stand, the booing crowd having long since gone, Neale Cooper, hands in pockets, cut a forlorn figure. The Hartlepool boss rocked on his heels and scratched his brow as he struggled to explain
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Plane crazy fans make their own entertainment
BOREDOM at St James' Park hit epidemic proportions on Saturday afternoon. Fans, tired with the excruciating painful display on show, amused themselves by tossing paper aeroplanes on to the pitch. It was an extraordinary scene to witness but not altogether
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Family distraught after coffin mix-up at funeral
A FUNERAL service had to be delayed after the wrong coffin arrived at the ceremony, it has been revealed. The funeral directors eventually turned up with the right coffin only to be confronted by distraught relatives of Mary Alice Burdon, 91, who lived
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The softer side of the sole remaining Dalek
Doctor Who (BBC1); The Secret Life Of The Shop (BBC3): The new Doctor Who series continues to surprise. I mean, I never thought I'd end up feeling sorry for a Dalek. In the old days, these metal creatures rattled around pointing that egg whisk they call
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Police probing mystery death
DETECTIVES are continuing their painstaking investigations into the mystery surrounding the death of Teesside pensioner Kathleen Roberts. Officers are still trying to piece together the final hours leading up to the discovery of the frail 86-year-old
