Archive
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Long wait for fertility treatment
North-East patients seeking fertility treatment face the longest waits. Couples who want treatment for infertility problems at the Newcastle Fertility Centre at Life may have to wait up to five years, according to their postcodes. While patients who use
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Employment rises again
TURNOVER and employee levels last month painted an encouraging picture of business activity in Darlington. They were reinforced by survey results produced for the Royal Bank of Scotland, which showed that monthly business activity in the North-East rose
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Planning for next year
ORGANISERS of a vintage vehicle rally are already planning for next year after a record number of spectators turned out for the weekend's event. The two-day rally, which was staged in Blackhill and Consett Park, featured vintage cars, motorbikes, commercial
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Future looks bright for coast - mayor
THE Yorkshire coast can look forward with optimism and confidence says Scarborough's new mayor, Derek Bastiman. He told a packed chamber at the resort's Town Hall at his inauguration: "There are many projects on the horizon which will have a significant
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Soldier Lee, 19, is 5,000th learner at North garrison
A YOUNG soldier has become the 5,000th learner at his garrison. Richmond MP William Hague performed the honours at a ceremony at Darlington College, Catterick. A member of the Corps of Drums, Private Lee Burton, of the 1st Battalion Devon and Dorset Regiment
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Miller the man for McCarthy
MICK McCarthy is confident he can bring boyhood Sunderland fan Tommy Miller back to the North-East. And, despite having had a £250,000 bid for Leeds full-back Frazer Richardson turned down earlier this week, the Black Cats boss remains hopeful of completing
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Survey finds support for a halt to smoking in public
THERE is widespread support for a ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in North Yorkshire, according to a survey. More than 800 people in the county were questioned in the survey, which was commissioned by the North Yorkshire Tobacco Alliance. When
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311 drivers penalised for flouting town traffic laws
MORE than 300 drivers have fallen foul of new traffic regulations in a two-week blitz in a County Durham town centre. Changes to the layout of the Chester-le-Street town centre have limited access to buses and emergency vehicles between the town's library
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'Lack of help' for sacked workers
SACKED workers are being hindered in their search for new jobs by the lack of help from the team running their ailing firm, officials claimed last night. JobCentre Plus, the GMB union and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) all confirmed they have
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Dig deep to help museum
A MUSEUM'S curator is appealing for volunteers to help transform its overgrown caf garden. Tools, gloves and refreshments are available in return for helping hands at Kirkleatham Museum, in Redcar, on Saturday, between 10am and 4pm. Curator Alan Pearce
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Drinker made knife threat
A MAN who had drunk 12 pints of lager picked up a kitchen knife and tried to start a fight, a court was told. Michael Roberts, of Over Dinsdale, Darlington, admitted possessing a kitchen knife in a public place and threatening behaviour, when he appeared
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Police chief in front line to rid town of drugs problem
AN assistant chief constable brought a new meaning to the phrase front-line policing when he was among the first officers to burst through the door of a suspected drugs den. Adam Briggs, of Cleveland Police, was one of the leading officers who entered
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Making stars of child mums
Once upon a time gymslip mums would be covered in shame - now they're revered as celebrities. But what about their lost childhoods. THREE sisters have babies at the ages of 12, 14 and 16. Their mother blames the school and the Government for the lack
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Whingeing poms and wasteful pasta
CHRIS Gwilliam, one of the very nice people involved with the Quaker meeting at Norton-on-Tees, was being less than wholly forthcoming when the At Your Service column sought information about his "church" background. He'd been a Church of England member
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Family says killer is not only one to blame
THE family of a murdered man said last night the killer was not the only person with blood on his hands. Relatives of disabled father Robert "Jack" Carter are to start civil proceedings after Keith Jones was jailed for life for murder - having been deemed
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How could this happen?
ROBERT "Jack" Carter suffered more than most in his life. Afflicted by multiple sclerosis for 30 years, he battled hard to bear his disability with dignity, and that courage against such adversity makes his death even more tragic. Mr Carter, 62, died
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Lorry and soft drinks contents are stolen
A LORRY loaded with thousands of pounds of soft drinks has been stolen. Thieves forced their way into a depot at Broadwood Garage in Frosterley, near Wolsingham, County Durham, and hot wired the ignition before driving off with the vehicle. The ERF lorry
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25/05/05
EVICTED COUPLE - To reply to Bethany-Megan Robinson (HAS, May 21) re evicted former solder Kevin Howe, there are already groups in existence to help ex-service members of Her Majesty's Forces. All Mr Howe had to do was to phone or write to the Regimental
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Dimi out to make name for himself
AS the number of letters on the back of his shirt will testify, Dimi Konstantopoulos knows all about being a big name. But, as Hartlepool prepare to face Sheffield Wednesday for a place in the Championship, the club's spot-kick saviour has insisted that
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Jail for driver who killed boy on crossing
A DRIVER who swerved in and out of traffic before knocking down and killing a seven-year-old boy on a pedestrian crossing was jailed yesterday for more than five years. Mark Tye, 22, reached speeds of more than 60mph in a 40mph zone as he approached the
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Arrests after car is taken at gunpoint
TWO men arrested after a woman had her car stolen at gunpoint in Darlington yesterday are being linked to an armed incident in the town five days ago. As the woman was eating a sandwich in her car, two men approached and one pulled out a handgun. They
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Making stars of child mums
Once upon a time gymslip mums would be covered in shame - now they're revered as celebrities. But what about their lost childhoods. THREE sisters have babies at the ages of 12, 14 and 16. Their mother blames the school and the Government for the lack
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'Killer is not only one to blame'
THE family of a murdered man said last night the killer was not the only person with blood on his hands. Relatives of Robert "Jack" Carter are to start civil proceedings after Keith Jones was jailed for life for murder - having been deemed a high risk
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Toffees get nosey over Parker
NEWCASTLE look like missing out on Scott Parker after Everton last night confirmed they had opened talks with the Chelsea midfielder. Parker was one of the players Magpies manager Graeme Souness had identified as a potential summer signing during his
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Binge-drink session ends in court
A DRIVER has been banned for a year after failing a breath test due to a binge-drinking session the night before. Philip Watson, of Hunstantworth, Darlington, had drunk one pint of lager during the afternoon of May 15 when stopped by police. However,
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Sacked worker stole £365 'wages'
A WOMAN stole hundreds of pounds from a snack shop she was sacked from - claiming it was owed to her in wages, a court heard. Katrina Bensley, of Middleton Court, Darlington, was sacked from the town centre's Hungry Jacks at the end of June last year.
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Car involved in fatal in dangerous condition
A car involved in a fatal collision with a pensioner as he waited at a bus stop was in such dangerous condition that one policeman said it would be "remarkably silly if anyone drove it", a court heard yesterday. Christopher Eade, denies causing the death
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Volunteerto help at carnival
Volunteers are needed to ensure that a century-old village carnival can still have a bright future. More help is needed at the event on Saturday, June 4, at Mickleton, near Barnard Castle. One of the organisers, Jane Atkinson, said: "We are desperate
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Appeal for witnesses
A 25-year-old man was slashed across the face with a knife by a gang of robbers on a busy road, in broad daylight. Police said numerous vehicles swerved to avoid the incident, near the Newport roundabout, Middlesbrough, but no-one stopped. Five young
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Duffield hopeful of across-card double
ANN DUFFIELD'S in-form stable has terrific prospects of an across-the-card double at Lingfield and Ripon via Finland and Prairie Sun. The Constable Burton-based handler has her small team in terrific fettle, a factor that should ensure Finland's (3.00
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Suspect quizzed over robberies
A WOMAN has been arrested on suspicion of posing as a police officer and robbing men in red light districts. The 27-year-old was picked up by police investigating a series of robberies in the Stockton and Middlesbrough areas. The alleged offences have
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Council leader lobbies for EU cash
DURHAM County Council is lobbying the European Union to give it more money for development. County council leader Ken Manton and deputy chief executive Mark Lloyd went to EU headquarters in Brussels yesterday to argue with the commissioner for regional
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Police in siege drama after machete threat by youth
ARMED police were involved in a six-hour siege after two teenagers were threatened by a youth with what appeared to be a machete. Officers sealed off the street and surrounded a house where they believed he was hiding, but it was later found to be empty
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Lamb 'optimistic' over deal
STEVE McCLAREN jetted off with the England squad for the controversial tour of the United States last night, but the Middlesbrough boss didn't leave until he moved closer to pledging his future to the Riverside cause. Since taking over from Bryan Robson
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Coach builder in expansion drive
A LUXURY coach builder that was twice in danger of closing is gearing up for growth, in a move that will create more than 50 jobs. Plaxton, based in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, is investing £1.2m as it re-enters the bus market after a four-year hiatus
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Falling profits blamed on album delays
Music group EMI blamed delays in releasing new albums by Coldplay and Gorillaz for falling profits and market share. Investors and music fans had expected the albums to hit store shelves during the year to March 31, but were frustrated as the bands fine-tuned
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'Why I loved the Fuhrer'
His father was a socialist and strident trade unionist, but he was powerless to prevent his son falling under the spell of an inspirational new leader. Henry Metelmann tells Nick Morrison about life in the Hitler Youth - and how he believed in the master
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Respect can only begin at home
'Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.'' Well, we can bin that one. Certainly the phrase will never again cross Tony Blair's lips. Eight years after he promised this panacea, law and order has just about broken down in many places across Britain
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Train fire could have cost up to £10m
A FIRE that destroyed cars being carried on a freight train could have caused up to £10m in damage. An investigation into how three Nissan cars - being transported from the company's factory in Washington, Wearside - caught fire on the East Coast Main
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On TV
Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (C4) Property Chain (C4) DO you own a restaurant that's going bust? Are you a chef who can't cook? Are your kitchens filthy? Is your front of house manager useless? If you tick all, or just some of those boxes, the makers of
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Rejected mayoral candidate criticises regeneration plan
A REJECTED mayoral candidate last night called for a council to move forward with ambitious regeneration plans - but only with full public support. Councillor Anne Higgins, who believes she will not be elected mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
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Agreement reached in battle for control of council
AN AGREEMENT has been reached in the battle for control of Stockton Borough Council. Despite losing their majority on the council, the presiding Labour group will retain control of the cabinet. However, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors will
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Teaching the Irish cricket
DURHAM youngsters are off to Ireland to teach their counterparts how to play cricket. Twenty-one pupils from Finchale Primary School fly to Ireland today and will spend three days near Dundalk, close to the Northern Ireland border. They will introduce
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Community celebration
A GALA barbecue has been organised to celebrate the opening of a community allotment garden in the east Durham village of Thornley. The allotment has been developed by Groundwork East Durham as part of the Health, Exercise and Allotments (Heal) programme
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Science project tests the skill of primary school pupils
YOUNGSTERS from schools in County Durham met yesterday to take part in a science project. Thirty children from Consett Infant School, Trimdon Grange Infant School and Parkside Infant School, in Seaham, met at the Consett school. They had to see how far
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Man given pub ban for nine months
A MAN who cut himself while damaging a pub, attacked a police officer who took him to hospital, a court heard yesterday. Lee Cervi's offences led to a nine-month ban from all pubs in Knaresborough when he appeared before Harrogate magistrates. Cervi,
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New job is 'icing on cake' for RAF
A TEESSIDE man has become a high-flier in the RAF after being appointed station commander at a major air base. Group Captain John Harrison took charge of RAF Halton, near Aylesbury, at a recruits' graduation parade this month. Halton is the gateway to
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Taking a look at a minority
A SURVEY will be carried out looking at ethnic minorities in part of north Durham. Derwentside District Council wants to build up a picture of needs and experiences of ethnic minorities in the area. Although the last Census indicated that the ethnic minority
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£2,000 litter bins are talk of the town
TALKING litter bins have been introduced into schools in Middlesbrough to encourage children to dispose of rubbish properly. West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust has bought five bins - costing £2,030 - to raise awareness of litter and its impact on
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Schools on track to cycle
HUNDREDS of youngsters are gearing up to make use of a new cycle route and footpath linking Darlington schools. The route, along Cemetery Lane, connects Carmel Road North to Baydale Road - making it ideal for pupils of the Abbey Infants and Junior schools
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Teenagers in court after youth attacked for 'keeping the peace'
TWO youths involved in a vicious attack on another teenager have a month to wait to learn their fate at court. Michael Thornton, 18, and 17-year-old Michael Askew appeared at Durham Crown Court yesterday, where they admitted playing a part in last June's
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Offenders service is praised
MOST offenders have not been re-convicted for further crimes, a report into North Yorkshire's Probation Service has found. The report, published yesterday by Her Majesty's Probation Inspectorate, said the service was well-led and managed and has successfully
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Concert treat by two gifted music pupils
A CONCERT featuring two piano prodigies takes place this weekend. Gifted musicians Teo Gheorghiu, 12, and Alexander Ullman, 13, will perform at the Durham Light Infantry Museum and Durham Art Gallery on Sunday, May 29, at 2pm. Both are students at the
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Tributes to father after fatal car accident
THE children of a man who died along with a taxi driver in a two-car accident have paid tribute to their father. Michael Murray, 53 of Castleside, County Durham, and driver Michael Joseph Stewart, 39, of Surrey Crescent, Moorside, Consett, died after
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NTE may sign £1m export contracts
A COMMUNICATIONS systems specialist is poised to sign deals worth £1m in the Middle East, as its export sales continue to grow. NTE, based in Peterlee, County Durham, is on the verge of signing contracts with construction firms in Qatar and Libya. The
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Hutchinson tipped to make most of new deal
DAVID HODGSON is confident Joey Hutchinson can put his injury nightmare behind him and come back stronger to lead Darlington's promotion charge next season. Middlesbrough-born Hutchinson is ready to commit his future to Quakers after reaching an agreement
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More misery for M&S in 19% drop
THE fortunes of faltering high street chain Marks & Spencer were laid bare last night as it revealed a 19 per cent fall in annual profits. M&S said profits dropped to £618.5m during a turbulent year that saw a complete overhaul of management and
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Benkenstein steps into the breach
DURHAM will be captained by South African Dale Benkenstein during Mike Hussey's six-week absence, starting today in the three-day game against Durham University at the Racecourse ground. It was intended that vice-captain Paul Collingwood would take over
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Hobbs hoping for Croft return
DENNIS Hobbs is in a race against time to be fit for the forthcoming Bennetts British Superbike round at his home circuit Croft, writes MATT WESTCOTT. The Guisborough rider is recovering from a broken wrist sustained after a highside at Mallory Park earlier
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Potential cure for MRSA
Scientists have discovered a potential cure for the killer hospital bug MRSA. Microbiologists from Newcastle University have been probing sediments from beneath the ocean floor for new bacteria for the last two years. They have found one bacterium that
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Ramsay's four-letter rants
Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (C4) Property Chain (C4) - Do you own a restaurant that's going bust? Are you a chef who can't cook? Are your kitchens filthy? Is your front of house manager useless? If you tick all, or just some of those boxes, the makers
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The callous loner who showed his victim no mercy
Keith Jones was a loner and oddball who displayed violent and bizarre behaviour in the years leading up to the murder of Jack Carter. Liz Lamb reports Weird, strange, emotionless, callous. These are all words used to describe Jack Carter's killer by those
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Litter-busters take to the streets
RESIDENTS are being asked to play a role in a 100-day clean-up of Darlington's litter blackspots. The borough council's "Grot Spot Clean-Up" will focus on removing rubbish left by fly-tippers, other litter and removing graffiti. The authority said it
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Girls hit catwalk to raise funds
Primary school children proved to be model pupils when they took to the catwalk to raise money. The youngsters from St Andrew's School, in Bishop Auckland, had only a few minutes to rehearse before they paraded in front of their parents and friends. They
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Memorial garden opened
A TRANQUIL haven where grieving relatives can reflect has been unveiled at Tudhoe Cemetery. Outgoing Spennymoor Town Mayor John Culin, carrying out one of his last engagements, opened the memorial garden, which has been created by town council staff.
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Rugby secrets revealed
A school that has several international rugby players among its past pupils is sharing the secrets of its success. Barnard Castle School is staging free coaching sessions for primary school children. Rob Andrew, the Underwood brothers and Mathew Tait
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Comment sought on future developments
A LOCAL council is asking for feedback from residents on a recently published document stating how the authority plans to increase community involvement in the borough. Stockton Borough Council wants people to comment on its draft statement of community
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Weekend blitz on dales bikers
TWO-WHEELED police patrols will target bikers riding through remote North-East dales over the bank holiday weekend. The blitz in Weardale and Teesdale, County Durham, follows the death this month of a 31-year-old rider near Killhope. Nissan worker Robin
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Jet plane on course to feature at beer garden
MOST beer gardens feature the usual picnic tables, umbrellas and children's play equipment. But one pub landlord is creating an unusual attraction by installing a former RAF jet. Paul Greig, landlord of The Standard in Northallerton, North Yorkshire,
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Hodgson recalls night to remember
Anglo-Italian rivalries resume tonight in Turkey 21 years after Liverpool last lifted the European champions trophy. Ex-Liverpool striker David Hodgson tells Lee Hall about that night in Rome. Watching from the safe haven of the Liverpool bench on a mild
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Boat drops anchor in brothers' garden
FISHERMEN Jimmy and Arthur Mole have been making waves in their street by building a 33ft trawler in their front garden. The brothers, who have been fitting out the boat in Jimmy's garden to make it seaworthy, said people have been stopping in amazement
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Elderly women are targeted by bogus callers
POLICE are warning people to beware of bogus callers after two elderly women were targeted on Monday in separate incidents. At noon, two men called at the home of an elderly woman in Osmotherley, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire. One kept her talking
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Gadfly : Whingeing poms and wasteful pasta
CHRIS Gwilliam, one of the very nice people involved with the Quaker meeting at Norton-on-Tees, was being less than wholly forthcoming when the At Your Service column sought information about his "church" background. He'd been a Church of England member
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'Rowdy youths must be stopped'
COMMUNITY leaders were last night poised to agree a move to tackle tearaways in their village, after more troubles were reported. Parish councillors in Middleton St George, near Darlington, are expected to lock the gates to the Water Park during evenings
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Beauty contest triumph for insurance worker who entered for fun
AN insurance worker has won first prize in a beauty contest. Carrianne Green, from Darlington, triumphed in the second annual Miss Durham competition, at Sedgefield Racecourse last night. Miss Green was voted favourite in a text vote, then finishing strongly
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Villagers to celebrate with Spitfire air display
A SPITFIRE will take to the skies of the North-East this weekend to recall the part played by a small village in helping to win the Second World War. In 1939, Brancepeth, near Durham City, was transformed when the Durham Light Infantry set up camp in
