Archive
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Locomotion misses out on £100,000 arts prize
A NORTH-EAST museum last night missed out on winning the UK's largest single arts prize. Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon, County Durham, was one of four finalists competing for the £100,000 Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year. It
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Dental adventures in the land of the big white smile
Fed up with your crooked teth, gummy smile or gaps? Got ten grand to spare? Then what are you waiting for... Health Editor Barry Nelson meets two North-East women with teeth to die for. BETWEEN them, Rebecca Hill and Justine Johnson must have the most
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Records tumble at Headingley
Records continued to fall like confetti at Headingley yesterday as Essex gave Yorkshire's footsore bowlers a flogging on their way to a mammoth 622 for eight declared off 184.3 overs, writes David Warner. That left Yorkshire needing to make 473 to avoid
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Amateur florists strike gold
A GARDEN that was designed by a team of North-East amateur florists took its inspiration from regional landmarks and won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show. The team - seven women and one man - were given the accolade by judges for their Reflections
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Blood honour for man losing cancer battle
A PENSIONER who has helped save countless lives by giving blood is losing the fight to save his own. Ron Springthorpe, who has terminal cancer, will today receive an award from the National Blood Service for donating 100 pints of blood. The accolade will
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Injury rules out Darlington RA's star performer
RATINDER Sodhi scored an unbeaten century last Saturday, but this week he returned to India for a consultation with his doctor regarding a back problem. His departure is a huge blow to Darlington RA ahead of their visit to Saltburn tomorrow. "His absence
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A Winter's Tale, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
INNOCENT affection is mistaken for betrayal and adultery in this fascinating production by all-male Shakespeare company Propeller. Passionate stirrings of sexual jealousy and madness are suddenly awakened in the King of Sicilia, Leontes, during a visit
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Tees Valley needs green belt now, campaigners argue
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for an officially designated green belt for Tees Valley as part of the North-East Assembly's forthcoming regional spatial strategy. The Campaign to Protect Rural England says the area's "green wedge" policy is not working and could
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Guild and WI news
Hermitage Evening TG: THE Hermitage Townswomen's Guild met in Red Rose School this month mourning the loss of a founder member, Joan Rochester. She was the inspiration of the work carried out by the members of the craft class, and her natural talents
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Love me slender - but still call me Large
A SLIMMER is Large by name but no longer by nature after losing nearly four stone. Kirsty Large says she feels on top of the world after shedding 3st 10lb. Mrs Large, 24, of Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, said: "One week after my son, Alfie, was
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Bus stop name says 'acceptance' to major insurer
SEVERAL times a day buses pull up at the "BiB stop" in Northgate, Darlington. Until a few years ago it was known as the "Terry's Carpets stop". The change is a significant one for Martin Littleton, managing director of BiB. "It's only taken 20 years,
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More bobbies on beat but senior posts are to be axed
A NORTH-EAST police force is promising more bobbies on the beat following the announcement of comprehensive restructuring. Chief Constable of Cleveland Police, Sean Price, has unveiled his three-year plan, which creates more frontline officers. But the
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Boss McCarthy's words convince Murphy to sign
DARYL MURPHY has confirmed that the lure of playing for Sunderland and being told he can star in the Premiership has convinced him to move to Wearside. The Waterford United striker had initially rejected a move - after a £100,000 fee had been accepted
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Blitz on town centre traffic
MORE than 300 drivers have fallen foul of new traffic regulations in a two-week blitz in Chester-le-Street town centre. Changes to the layout of the centre have limited access to buses and emergency vehicles between the town's library and market place
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Home is where the help is
WHATEVER Government action is taken to influence the behaviour of young people, the most important lessons are learned at home. Raising children is a hazardous occupation and even the best parents can find themselves having problems through no fault of
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Region's libraries leading the way
LIBRARIES in Middlesbrough are enjoying an unprecedented boom, recording a 24 per cent rise in the number of visitors. The town's 13 libraries attracted 5,051 visits for every 1,000 residents in the 12 months to March last year, up from only 4,062 per
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Mystery as Stars in Their Eyes shows called off
HUNDREDS of disappointed ticket-buyers were told that a show based on TV's Stars In Their Eyes, due to run in the region last night, has been cancelled. As well as the show at Darlington Civic Theatre, further performances of Stars In Their Eyes - Live
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RAF career takes off with new role
A North-East man has become a high-flier in the RAF after being appointed station commander at an air base. Group Captain John Harrison took charge of RAF Halton, near Aylesbury, at a recruits' graduation parade earlier this month. Halton is the gateway
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Helen's ready for Calcutta adventure
A STUDENT from Darlington is preparing to embark on a four-week adventure this summer to help disadvantaged children. Helen Clarke, of Blackwell Lane, is flying off to Calcutta, India, on July 24, to aid a programme called Transform run by Christian relief
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Event will provide chance to network
A FREE event to provide networking opportunities for businesses across County Durham will be held next month. The Inter-Trading event, at Hardwick Hall Hotel, in Sedgefield, on Wednesday, June 22, will give firms a chance to meet, promote their services
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Breath of fresh air
THREE schools that removed vending machines and fizzy drinks and banned smoking on the premises have been recognised for their efforts. Bullion Lane and Newker primary schools and their partner secondary school, the Hermitage, all in Chester-le-Street
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Service helps people to maintain homes
A NEW service will help create better living conditions for vulnerable Wear Valley and Teesdale residents. The Durham Dales Home Improvement Agency supports elderly, disabled and low income home owners and tenants who need to carry out repairs or adapt
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Death-threat husband spared jail
A STEEL worker who threatened to kill his ex-wife has been spared jail. Harold Keith Brown was given a 12-month community rehabilitation order after a court heard he had no intention of carrying out his warning to stab his estranged partner. Brown, 49
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Thompson cuts loose to set up victory for Silton
SILTON moved to the top of the table following their second victory of the season. Batting first at the Northallerton Town Ground, the new home of Tickle Toby CD, Silton's openers put on 41 before John Harper (27) was bowled in the seventh over by Chris
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Workers answer plea
Call centre volunteers have given the grounds of Gilesgate Primary School, in Durham, a makeover. Seven workers from EDF Energy, Doxford Park, Sunderland, have helped with a ten-month landscaping project under the firm's Helping Hands initiative, which
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Open day aims to bowl people over
Sherburn Park Bowling Club, in Consett, is looking for new members and is holding a series of open days to allow people to try the sport. Equipment will be provided and all people need do is turn with a pair of flat-soled shoes. Club member Joan Armstrong
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Looking back to Home Front
AN exhibition celebrating the 1940s opened in Bishop Auckland yesterday. The Home Front, a display of memorabilia from the period, started at the Bishop Auckland Discovery Centre, in the town's market place. Featuring helmets, gas masks, newspapers and
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Cubs plant wild flowers in memory of former scout leaders
CUB Scouts have planted wildflowers in a conservation area in memory of two former Scout leaders. The Cubs from Heighington Baden-Powell Scout Group worked on Wednesday evening to plant native wildflowers and install bat and bird boxes at the memorial
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Villagers proud of a first glass effort
A STAINED glass window designed and made with the help of villagers has been installed in their local hall. Sixteen people living in Barningham, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, worked with artist Joanna Hedley, from Newcastle, to make the £5,000 three-panel
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Third speeding sign bought by safety scheme
EMERGENCY service chiefs hope a speed matrix sign will slow traffic and reduce accidents. The sign has been bought by the community safety partnership Safer Ryedale for use by firefighters in the district. Danny Westmoreland, of North Yorkshire Fire and
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Internet and TV search for lost dog
UPSET youngsters at a North Yorkshire school are hoping the Internet and a national TV show will help re-unite them with one of their much-loved pets. Monty, a six-year-old Labrador-sized cross-breed, with black, white and tan markings, went missing from
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Health work bursary goes
A BURSARY named in memory of a health worker who died of cancer has been awarded to a nurse studying for a masters degree. Anita Savage-Grainge, a community outreach mental health nurse based in Northallerton, has been awarded the Jean Harrison Memorial
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Guild Meeting
The Guisborough Branch of the Embroiderers' Guild is holding its monthly meeting in Sunnyfield House, Guisborough on Saturday, June 4, at 1.45.pm. The speaker is Diane Bates and her subject is The Painted Lady.
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Chance for shoppers to grab a grand
A SHOPPING centre is offering customers the chance to get their hands on £1,000 in a TV-inspired competition. They will have seconds to scoop as many banknotes as they can that will be blown about inside a booth at the Prince Bishops centre on Bank Holiday
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School's Kenyan links strengthened by teacher's visit
YOUNGSTERS from North Yorkshire have been busy establishing strong links with a primary school in a very different part of the world. Children from Kirkby and Great Broughton School, near Stokesley, have been building a relationship with children from
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Vandals strike third time at man's house
A MAN has had his home vandalised for the third time in two months. Christopher Shaw, 28, returned home from a party at about midnight on Friday to find the property in Rodney Street, Hartlepool, daubed in white paint and the downstairs window smashed
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Dispute-solving service marks successful year
A SERVICE that helps resolve neighbourhood disputes is preparing to celebrate a successful first year in operation. The East Durham Mediation Service works alongside Easington District Council and the police to resolve disputes between neighbours, without
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Bar attack witness plea
DETECTIVES investigating a serious assault on a man in a city centre bar are urging more witnesses to come forward. The 37-year-old was found near the entrance doors to the Quilted Camel bar, in Sandhill, Newcastle, at about 10pm on Saturday, May 14.
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27/05/05
EVICTED COUPLE: I WOULD like to thank Mr George Miller for his kind reply (HAS, May 25) to my recent letter concerning evicted couple Mr and Mrs Howe, of Barnard Castle. It's hoped that Mr and Mrs Howe and others now know that such an organisation as
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Does Non really mean no?
On Sunday, the French vote in a referendum on the EU Constitution - and polls suggest a Non is the almost-certain result. Nick Morrison looks at what is at stake as the EU faces its greatest challenge. FOR 50 years, France has been at the forefront of
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Diamond couple step out
A COUPLE from Chester-le-Street have celebrated 60 years of marriage. Winifred and Arthur Ferguson, both 87, from the Holmlands Park area, are keen walkers and are well known in the town where they have lived for 50 years, after moving there from Sherburn
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Museum joins in play-off football fever
A MUSEUM in Hartlepool is joining in the football fever ahead of Pool's play-off final in Cardiff this weekend. Hartlepool Museum has organised an exhibition called Poolie Pride to coincide with the match. It will feature first-team trophies won this
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Pupils praised for garden skills
CHILDREN with special learing needs displayed their gardening skills in preparation for World Environment Day. Youngsters, aged between seven and nine, from Oak Tree Primary School, in Stockton, showed a visitor from the Environment Agency their work,
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Courses under threat in college cash crisis
COLLEGE principals across the region reacted with anger last night after learning that their annual budgets could be cut by up to £600,000, leading to a reduction in staff and the loss of thousands of student places. The redistribution of funding from
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When gender is a grey area
Middle Sex (C4): AT first glance, Antony Thomas's documentary Middle Sex looked like an addition to the current fad for "freak show TV", in which those with physical or mental attributes differing from the accepted norm are paraded before the cameras.
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Rhubarb attacker 'in need of help'
THE solicitor representing a woman who attacked her brother with three sticks of rhubarb yesterday urged magistrates to let her seek psychiatric help. Margaret Porter, of Tofts Farm, Newbiggin, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, was at Northallerton Magistrates
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Make a start
THE details of plans to upgrade the A1 between Dishforth and Barton to a three-lane motorway were revealed this week. The plans may look familiar because they are. We have been here before, in the early 1990s and then just three years ago. Consultation
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Go-Ahead invests £13.8m in South
PUBLIC transport group Go-Ahead spent £13.8m yesterday to extend its services on the south coast. The Newcastle company has agreed a deal with the board of Southern Vectis, which operates buses on the Isle of Wight, Southampton and southern Hampshire.
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Road and parking chaos is hitting trade, say shops
SHOPS in Darlington town centre are reporting a 20pc to 50pc drop in trade. Nightmare roadworks, a lost car park and the introduction of controversial on-street parking charges are all blamed. Grange Road traders have repeatedly claimed the 80p one-hour
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Villagers line up to defend hedge from developer
FURIOUS residents have accused a developer of wanting to pull out a 213-year-old hedge, - and say Hambleton District Council is breaking the law by letting it happen without taking action. The problem has arisen from a plan to build 11 houses at The Pines
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Hobson to spend rest of life behind bars
A former binman who murdered his girlfriend, her twin sister and a frail elderly couple was told today he will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Mark Hobson, 35, admitted the murder of his girlfriend Claire Sanderson, 27, and her sister Diane at
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Survey finds economic outlook 'has worsened'
THE case against a further hike in interest rates was boosted last night by a survey that claimed the outlook for the UK economy had worsened. Industry lobby group CBI lopped 0.2 per cent off its forecasts for economic growth this year as high oil prices
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Network Rail is back on track
Rail infrastructure company Network Rail (NR) announced much-improved annual results yesterday but remains firmly in the red. The company made a pre-tax loss of £164m in the 12 months to the end of March. This was an improvement on the previous year,
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D-Line can take DIY by storm
A North-East invention could take the DIY world by storm, with a market potential of £12m, its developers have predicted. D-Line, in North Shields, North Tyneside, is in talks with a DIY chain to stock its product line. D-Line has spent three years developing
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Expansion EURO but fish and vegetable supplier keeps things local
A CHARITY auction for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance will be among the highlights of the official opening on Sunday of a new venture for an award-winning family food firm at Snape, near Bedale. Carricks Fish has invested £120,000 in converting and extending
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Inquiry follows anger over 'fait accompli' homes development
COUNCILLORS have agreed to a planning issue involving nearly 50 three-storey houses at a Skelton development being scrutinised in a bid to allay public concern. Members of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's planning committee agreed unanimously to
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Hay Fever, York Theatre Royal
JUDITH Bliss is a retired actress who doesn't so much make a drama out of a crisis as out of every single event. Even weeding the garden is turned into a three-act tragedy. Add a self-centred writer husband, two obnoxious children and a scowling maid
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Multi-national flavour at country house hotel
MEETING diverse culinary tastes in one fell swoop is paying off at Shafto's - the pub/restaurant tucked close to the Whitworth Hall Park country hotel. Nestling in the grounds of a 73-acre deer park close to Spennymoor, Shafto's has just reinvented itself
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Circus rolls into town - but only human acts in the ring
TO people of a certain age the name Billy Smart's Circus conjures up an image of magic and entertainment from a bygone era. Turn the clock back more than 30 years and the excitement of the big-top - elephants lions, tigers and horses included in those
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Bid to foil cashpoint 'surfers'
POLICE are urging supermarkets and local authorities to introduce safety zones around cash machines to prevent thefts and fraud. The Asda supermarket, in Stanley, County Durham, is thought to be the first in the North-East to take up the advice from Durham
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Sudoku? No thank you! But 1 across ...
IT USED to be the Griddler, a sort of numeric puzzle resulting in a drawing resembling a chart for cross-stitch embroidery. Now it's the sudoku. If you haven't come cross the sudoku, count your blessings. The only way I can get a glimpse of the daily
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Club's call for help is answered
THE threat to the future of Brandon United Football Club has been lifted. The Albany Northern League side, which won the championship two years ago, was in danger of folding after the committee decided it could not continue unless new blood was found.
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Wellock's World: Evenwood FC
IN THE week when the death knell is sounded for Evenwood FC we learn that a play area alongside the football and cricket grounds at Langley Park is to be named after Sir Bobby Robson. It appears that two similar communities are heading in opposite directions
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Haslam's star performer caught in Curragh traffic
IN A five-horse race, you would not think it possible to find traffic problems, but that's how it was for Middleham's Kinnaird, joint favourite to land the Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes at the Curragh last Saturday - and Racing Week was there to see
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Cream of the crafts
SILK scarves and stained glass, wooden toys and wooden bowls, plant pots, leather goods and scented soaps - just some of the locally made crafts for sale in the Durham Dales Crafts shop. The shop - just next to the car park at the Durham Dales Centre
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'Make or break time' for landlocked village school
THE future of a tiny school hangs in the balance as plans proceed for a new village hall next door. Governors of Sutton under Whitestonecliffe CE School say the school faces closure unless either provisions for a playground are made on the adjacent site
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Up to 40 staff to go as college faces funding cuts
UP TO 40 staff at Darlington College of Technology face redundancy following the announcement of budget cuts by the Learning and Skills Council. Courses will also be cut from September, with up to 1,300 places axed, mainly in adult learning. More than
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MP steps into debate over HQ relocation
RICHMOND'S MP has urged Richmondshire District Council to look at other ways of funding the authority's proposed move to Colburn. William Hague said it would be inadvisable for the authority to defy the strong feelings of residents opposed to the proposed
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Crackdown on dune bikers
A MAJOR purge has been launched in a bid to clear illegal off-road bike riders from the sand dunes between Redcar's Coatham area and South Gare. Operation Sandstorm is a multi-agency partnership involving Cleveland Police, Redcar and Cleveland Council
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Tragic case of man who returned home to die
A PENSIONER drove 100 miles to his boyhood home to drown himself in the river where he had played as a child, an inquest heard yesterday. Former miner Robert Whitehead drove from his home in Conisborough, South Yorkshire, to County Durham and walked to
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ShopTalk: Cream of the crafts
Not only are the goods at the Durham Dales Crafts shop handmade - you can even meet the craftsmen. SILK scarves and stained glass, wooden toys and wooden bowls, plant pots, leather goods and scented soaps - just some of the locally made crafts for sale
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Seaside resort's water pool setback
A KEY attraction at a North seaside resort will not be ready to open in time for this weekend's bank holiday because of health and safety concerns. Atlantis, an outdoor water park in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, had been due to open tomorrow for the
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Accolade for theatre group
THE longest established theatre group in the county has been awarded Investor in People status as it begins its latest project involving secondary school students. Formed 19 years ago, Jack Drum Arts is the only community arts organisation in the North-East
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Challenge to police hours mooted
A PROPOSAL to reduce opening hours at Barnard Castle police station could be challenged depending on the views of residents. Teesdale district councillor Newton Wood said that he was interested in residents' response to the county-wide measures, which
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Courses under threat as college funds cut
COLLEGE principals across the region reacted with anger last night after learning that their annual budgets could be cut by up to £600,000, leading to a reduction in staff and the loss of thousands of student places. The redistribution of funding from
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Talented all-rounder makes British water polo squad
BEDALE High School pupil Lindsey Johnson has been selected to represent the Great Britain water polo squad for the European Championships in Portugal and the Five Nations Tournament in Prague. The 15-year-old (pictured left) lives in Aiskew with her parents
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Evenwood FC
IN THE week when the death knell is sounded for Evenwood FC we learn that a play area alongside the football and cricket grounds at Langley Park is to be named after Sir Bobby Robson. It appears that two similar communities are heading in opposite directions
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Scottish roots take becky to China
LOOKING good can take you a long way - as Becky Hutton discovered when she was invited to China to take part in a beauty competition. The 19-year-old Hartlepool girl will join models from all over the world for the 2005 Miss Tourism Queen competition
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Should we inspect the inspectors?
Imagine if the boss came round at pay rise time and asked if you were doing a good job. How many people would say no? That's the trouble with self assessment, there's always a nagging suspicion that people might be over egging the pudding. So we have
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Party's over for yobs and drunks
A TOUGH-TALKING police chief has vowed to end the North-East's reputation as a "party capital". Mike Craik, the newly appointed chief constable of Northumbria Police, yesterday launched a blitz on yobs, drunks and violent criminals, particularly in Newcastle
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Little Green Bus loses out to big boys
A DARLINGTON bus company has been driven into voluntary liquidation after being unable to compete against larger competitors. The Green Bus venture ended at the weekend after it lost out to Arriva in contract negotiations to provide an out-of-town service
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What visitors want is to get close to livestock
DALES farmers Sue and Chris Heseltine aim to put people back in touch with farming - literally. Research showed that visitors wanted to touch as well as look and, using a Defra grant, they have converted part of their 600-acre farm on the Bolton Abbey
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Constance gets full star treatment
IT is not unusual for Hollywood stars to demand extra special treatment during public appearances. But when lawyers acting for Clarissa Gran Bovinia First Edition - or Constance for short - heard she was opening a pub they issued a list of conditions.
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Prices at the auction marts
BARNARD CASTLE. - Tues. Fwd: 260 cattle. Lim hfrs & bull calves to £870; with hfr calves to £1, 040; AA hfrs & bull calves to £710; Lim cows & bull calves to £710; BA cows & calves to £780; Simm in-calf hfrs to £480. Bulls: Char £578;
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A stunning slice of Star Wars action
STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH: Formats: PS2, Xbox, Publisher: Lucasarts, Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 12+: UNLESS you have been living on an asteroid these past few months, you cannot fail to be aware that the sixth, and final, cinematic
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Fewer N-E women becoming pregnant
FEWER women become pregnant in the North-East than anywhere else in England, figures showed yesterday. There were only 66 conceptions per 1,000 women in 2003, compared to 90 per 1,000 in London. Conception rates were also significantly higher in the regions
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Free energy from home turbines
MINATURE wind turbines may one day become as familiar a sight on houses as satellite dishes and slash power bills. British Gas has unveiled plans to generate free power by making the turbines available to all UK households. An initial pilot later this
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Event will provide chance to network
A FREE event to provide networking opportunities for businesses across County Durham will be held next month. The Inter-Trading event, at Hardwick Hall Hotel, in Sedgefield, on Wednesday, June 22, will give firms a chance to meet, promote their services
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Chance to meet the volunteers
Darlington Council for Voluntary Service and Volunteer Bureau is hosting an event for volunteers week. Meet The Volunteers will be held at the group's offices in Church Row next Thursday. Volunteers from organisations from across Darlington will be on
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Hobby exhibition displays skills
CHURCHGOERS are displaying their skills to the public this weekend. St Columba's Church, in Darlington, is holding a craft and hobby exhibition at the Clifton Centre, in Clifton Road. Items on display include embroidery, woodworking and bonsai trees.
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Website launched to provide information for youngsters
PARENTS and children have the chance to shape the future of Darlington by getting involved with an Internet site. The Evibe website is to be launched by Darlington Borough Council's youth service in the coming weeks, and will provide information and services
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Costume spectacular
FASHION students unveiled their spectacular showcase of costumes, sets and props for the world of entertainment yesterday. The show featured design and construction techniques inspired by popular culture and was put on by about 30 degree students from
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Carol back on the North-East stage
British female vocalist Carol Grimes is performing in the North-East tonight. She will be joined by Stan Alder on cello, Greg Wain on guitar, Richard Chew on piano, Josefina Cupido on drums, Giles Perring on percussion and Steve Watts on bass. They are
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Entertaining displays help environment
A FREE festival to teach Sedgefield residents more about environmentally-friendly living will be held next month. The event, called Action Packed Futures 2005, will be staged on Sunday, June 19, in the grounds of Whitworth Hall in Spennymoor. Entertainment
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Support scheme to surface unmade streets, says council
A PARISH council is asking for backing for a £2m scheme to make up all the unmade streets in a former mining community. Dene Valley Parish Council has written to Durham County Council and Wear Valley District Council urging the authorities to back a bid
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Rapist's appeal is rejected
A MAN who raped a girl he met in a pub after threatening to slash her to ribbons has failed in an attempt to have his conviction overturned. Michael Grey, 21, of Stump Cross, Guisborough, east Cleveland, raped the girl in his mother's house after meeting
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Cutting edge equipment deal
A GOLF club has agreed a deal to ensure their course remains in top condition throughout the season. Crook Golf Club, in the Weardale hills, has teamed up with local firm SGM Hire to secure a range of groundcare machinery in an agreement lasting five
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Study body language to promote business
A FREE event to provide networking opportunities for businesses across County Durham will be held next month. The Inter-Trading event, at Hardwick Hall Hotel, in Sedgefield, on Wednesday, June 22, will give firms a chance to meet, promote their services
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Revamped pharmacy reopens
STAFF at a Consett chemist celebrated the opening of newly refurbished and extended premises this week Customer Peter Westell performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Lloyds Pharmacy, in Station Road, with help from pharmacist Karen Welch and area manager
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Man quizzed over shooting
THREE men have been released on police bail pending further inquiries into the shooting of man in the North-East. The 40-year-old was shot in the leg as he left the VG shop, in Thorntree Drive, near its junction to Whickham View, Newcastle, as he returned
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One small step for pupils towards health
CHILDREN from 15 primary and nursery schools in the Stanley area have been finding out about the benefits of walking. The children took part in a synchronised walk from their schools to South Stanley Community Centre, each of them carrying a jigsaw story
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Multi-agency pact cuts arson figures by 27%
A pact, the first of its kind in the country, has seen incidents of arson tumble by more than a quarter in County Durham and Darlington. The multi-agency Arson Reduction Strategy was developed and launched a year ago. Last night, it was revealed that
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Fundraiser on course to finish 500-mile trek
A CHARITY walker is due to complete a 500-mile sponsored walk tomorrow in memory of a remarkable North-Easterner. Gary Blair was so moved after seeing the TV documentary, called The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off about the late Jonny Kennedy that he wanted to
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Injury rocks Downing's England bid
STEWART DOWNING'S hopes of establishing himself in Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup 2006 plans have been rocked before a ball has even been kicked on the tour of the United States, writes Paul Fraser. With so many England regulars unavailable for one reason
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Hamilton blow is softened by Astle
DURHAM were delighted to see Nathan Astle taking wickets as well as scoring runs yesterday following depressing news about Gavin Hamilton. It was intended that Hamilton would come into the side as an all-rounder when Paul Collingwood is on one-day international
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Judge sniffs out truth of odours
A JUDGE who went to smell for himself the odour emitted from a factory has rejected an appeal by the firm against council action to curb the smells. District Judge Earl said he did not believe he could either quash an abatement order from the council,
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Carer took identity of woman's daughter
A CARER who took the identity of the daughter of an elderly woman was spared prison yesterday. Shirley Ann Allen, 52, admitted two offences of deception, involving £8.258 to buy a Ford Escort and £318.47 for clothing and household goods, when she appeared
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Should we inspect the inspectors?
Imagine if the boss came round at pay rise time and asked if you were doing a good job. How many people would say no? That's the trouble with self assessment, there's always a nagging suspicion that people might be over egging the pudding. So we have
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Holiday weekend appeal to bikers
THE region's bikers are being told to enjoy the pleasures of the open road this bank holiday weekend - but return home safe. That is the message from the Highways Agency, which wants to cut the number of motorcyclists killed or injured on motorways and
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Cemetery 'is not threat to water supply'
TESTS on land earmarked for an extension to Pickering's cemetery, in Whitby Road, have found that any potential threat to drinking water resulting from burials would be "insignificant". The town council brought in consultants to establish if there was
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Artists unite for exhibition
AN exhibition of work by more than 100 artists has got under way. The first North Yorkshire Open Studios event, organised by Art Connections, has seen studios set up in an old tractor shed and a country house in Gargrave. Jewellers, potters, painters,
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Botanist's place in history marked
THE former home of one of this country's most eminent botanists has become the latest to be recognised as of historical importance. John Gilbert Baker once lived in a house in the alley that now bears his name in the centre of Thirsk. He was a notable
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Be an explorer as the Moorsbus rides again
VISITORS to the North York Moors can now use the Moorsbus service to explore the area. The service is expected to be well used as more than 90 square miles of moor is opened to the public under new countryside access arrangements Operated by Yorkshire
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Multi-agency pact cuts arson figures by 27%
A pact, the first of its kind in the country, has seen incidents of arson tumble by more than a quarter in County Durham and Darlington. The multi-agency Arson Reduction Strategy was developed and launched a year ago. Last night, it was revealed that
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Cubs plant wild flowers in memory of former scout leaders
CUB Scouts have planted wildflowers in a conservation area in memory of two former Scout leaders. The Cubs from Heighington Baden-Powell Scout Group worked on Wednesday evening to plant native wildflowers and install bat and bird boxes at the memorial
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Half-term fun
A country park is offering a range of half-term activities for families. Summerhill park, in Hartlepool, will hold a 13-mile guided cycle ride from its visitor centre to Hartlepool Marina and back tomorrow, and a family orienteering session on Tuesday
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Beaver scouts smile for the camera after website win
A SCOUT group has been singled out for praise by The Northern Echo for its website. The 40th Hartlepool Scout Group has created a webpage through the Communigate section of the paper's online edition. The group, based in Tunstall Avenue, has been singled
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Glassing attacker cleared of intent attack
AN attacker who left her victim needing 200 stitches after she thrust a glass into her eye has been found not guilty of acting with intent. Bridie Snowdon had admitted wounding Terri Gallagher, 21, during the incident at Idols in Sunderland city centre
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'Land on seafront should be bought back for public use'
A COUNCIL is considering buying back a piece of land it sold off at a third of the price eight years ago. Hartlepool Borough Council is looking at the possibility of buying the vacant lot on Seaton Carew seafront. It sold the land, which is slightly smaller
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Vandal attack forces youth centre to shut over summer
YOUTH club members are having to meet on the street after their centre was put out of action by vandals. Carrside Youth Centre, in Carr Avenue, Brandon, suffered several thousands of pounds worth of damage during a wrecking spree. A fire started in a
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The national celebration which has died out in living memory
THIS coming Sunday is a day of celebration for this country, but one which has been largely forgotten or ignored by the modern population. It is Oak Apple Day, sometimes known as Restoration Day. Well within living memory, the occasion was celebrated
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On TV
Middle Sex (C4) AT first glance, Antony Thomas's documentary Middle Sex looked like an addition to the current fad for "freak show TV", in which those with physical or mental attributes differing from the accepted norm are paraded before the cameras.
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Tourists shown no mercy as England dominate Test
England dominated Bangladesh so completely with ball and then bat on day one of their Test series that the tourists' coach Dav Whatmore was left to contemplate on the worst possible start for his team at Lord's. Bangladesh - bowled out for 108 in less
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Learning to love reading at last
Dyslexia can be a debilitating condition, as Debbie Whitfield knows only too well. In Adult Learners Week, she tells Lindsay Jennings how she finally overcame her fear of words. A GOOD read is an essential item on most people's pre-holiday list. But when
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'Out of character' Gracelands flats plans thrown out
PLANS to build 12 flats on land next to Graceland Nursing Home, in Guisborough, have been turned down by councillors. Objectors won the day when, following a site visit to the land off Enfield Chase last Friday, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's
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Court names and shames tearaway
A COUNCILLOR has welcomed the decision to make a teenage tearaway one of the youngest people in the region in to receive an anti-social behaviour order. A civil court heard how 13-year-old Dale Carter had terrorised residents on the Pallister Park estate
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Burton's Bytes: A stunning slice of Star Wars action
STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH: Formats: PS2, Xbox, Publisher: Lucasarts, Price: £39.99. Family friendly? 12+: UNLESS you have been living on an asteroid these past few months, you cannot fail to be aware that the sixth, and final, cinematic
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Shrink at peak of her powers
SPEEDY Shrink's (3.20) explosive pace might easily have the bookmakers running for cover in Catterick's Lionweld Kennedy Sprint Handicap. A low draw is no bad thing over the minimum distance at the track and everything has fallen nicely into place for
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Village honours Sir Bobby
FORMER Newcastle United and England manager Sir Bobby Robson will have a park named after him in his home village. The play area, for all ages, will be in the former pit village of Langley Park, where the Robson family lived. Sir Bobby, who still lives
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Richmond ice cream gets fat on Skinny Cow sales
LOW-fat ice creams made by a North Yorkshire company have the competition licked. Sales of Richmond Ice Cream's Skinny Cow brand are outstripping all other healthy ice cream products. Figures for the 12 weeks ending April 16 showed the range accounted
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New maps show way ahead for latest walking opportunities
MAPS showing new access land in the North have gone on sale. The revised Ordnance Survey maps follow the opening up of parts of the countryside previously off limits to ramblers. Map makers have used Countryside Agency data to produce updated OS Explorer
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Shrink at peak of her powers
SPEEDY Shrink's (3.20) explosive pace might easily have the bookmakers running for cover in Catterick's Lionweld Kennedy Sprint Handicap. A low draw is no bad thing over the minimum distance at the track and everything has fallen nicely into place for
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Local consultation meetings are arranged but the question remains: will Government find the money?
BY BRIAN REDHEAD LOCAL people hope that revived plans for a three-lane motorway between Dishforth and Barton will not fall victim to another round of Government spending cuts. Two public exhibitions of the £325m proposals, which have been delayed by a
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Villagers proud of a first glass effort
A STAINED glass window designed and made with the help of villagers has been installed in their local hall. Sixteen people living in Barningham, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, worked with artist Joanna Hedley, from Newcastle, to make the £5,000 three-panel
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Ministry to fund farm walks on metting cross-compliance
A SERIES of Defra-funded farm walks on meeting cross-compliance conditions start on June 28. The free walks, set up by a group of leading farming organisations known as the Momenta consortium, provide a first look at simple management practices farmers
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Friarage wards reorganised to improve efficiency
THREE beds will be lost at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital as part of a ward reorganisation, but managers say the change will prove more efficient. Four wards at the Friarage are to be merged into three as part of a reshuffle of the medicine and orthopaedic
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Pool ace Porter hopes casino comes up trumps
AUSSIE Joel Porter has made an impassioned plea to a casino back in his homeland to screen Hartlepool United's attempt to secure a Championship jackpot. The biggest day in Pool's 97-year history is just two days away and the man from Down Under is feeling
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Village turns tide on drugs misery
A FORMER pit village is fighting back against the drug dealers who have blighted the community and tarnished its reputation in recent years. Police officers, residents and community leaders in Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, were at the launch of
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Top rowing crews flock to Tees Regatta
MORE than 250 crews, including three world champions, attended the Tees Rowing Regatta last weekend. Alan Crowther, Naomi Riches and Katie-George Dunlevy, who won gold at the World Rowing Championships in Banyoles, Spain last year, were joined by Alistair
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North-East assembly bid cost £500,000
MORE than £500,000 was spent in the failed attempt to persuade North-East voters to back a directly-elected assembly for the region. Accounts published yesterday by the Electoral Commission reveal that Yes4TheNorthEast - the main campaign group backing
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Bare facts about naturism in the North-East
SPECTATOR will have to beg readers' forgiveness for indulging in a little schoolboy smuttiness. We can't resist telling you about a notice we received this week promoting Bare Britain - "a new book featuring the best places to go naked in Britain." It
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St Juste move likely
Jason St Juste's potential move away from Darlington took a step closer last night when his agent admitted talks are ongoing with Southampton. His representative, Ian Flanagan, says several clubs are keeping tabs on the 19-year-old though Saints, recently
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National Trust gem may have opening hours reduced
A POPULAR tourist attraction looks set to have its weekend opening hours halved as part of a cost-cutting exercise. Ormesby Hall, which is owned by the National Trust, will only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays if the proposals are agreed.
