Archive
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School praised by Ofsted inspectors
GOVERNMENT inspectors have concluded a Derwentside school has got high-quality teaching and learning following a visit to check on standards. Ofsted inspectors visited Delves Lane Infant and Nursery School and said the quality of education was good. They
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School is now in business
MOTOR magnate Sir Tom Cowie went back to school this week to officially open a new £300,000 business centre named in his honour. The purpose-built centre at Thornhill School Business and Enterprise College, in Sunderland, was built with a £50,000 donation
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Fearful tourists shun area
THE Yorkshire Tourist Board is concerned that images of the devastation in national media are causing some people to cancel holiday bookings. A spokeswoman, Lesley Wragge, said: "Visitors to places like the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Yorkshire coastal
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Six arrests made after police raids
FIVE men and a woman have been arrested in police raids on houses. Six houses were raided yesterday -three in Stafford Road, Grangetown, and three in Scarborough Road, South Bank. Suspected stolen items were seized, including electrical items, motorbikes
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Pub boss bares chest and braves pain for charity
PUB landlord Dave Bunyan is to bare his chest to raise vital money for cancer research. The manager of the Pot and Glass pub, in Egglescliffe Village, near Stockton, has agreed to allow drinkers to wax his chest, provided they pay for the privilege. Mr
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Abduction bid van driver strikes again
THE seventh attempted abduction of a Darlington child this month was reported yesterday, prompting police to renew appeals for information about a white van thought to be involved. A 12-year-old boy was approached by a man in a small white van in Camborne
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Caravan site plan faces opposition
A COMPANY that wants to build a caravan site near a Durham village is facing a protest from the local community and conservation groups. Holmside Leisure wants to create a site for 22 static caravans near Ornsby Hill, Lanchester, with car parking and
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Police hours cut 'nothing short of a disaster'
FEARS were expressed this week that plans to shorten the opening hours of Barnard Castle police station would be "nothing short of disaster". On Tuesday, retired police officers, councillors and residents attended a public meeting to make a case for a
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Church roof appeal starts to bear fruit
A CHURCH fundraising drive to pay for repairs is already bearing fruit. Last month, members of Consett Methodist Church in Station Road, launched the appeal for £50,000 needed to provide a new roof, replace the boiler and carry out other minor repairs
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Trescothick: We will get over defeat
STAND-IN skipper Marcus Trescothick insisted last night that England possess the necessary spirit in the camp to quickly put their first defeat of the summer behind them, a 57 run reverse against the mighty Australians at Chester-le-Street. With Michael
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Flash flooding: it's just how it's going to be
FLASH flooding by its very nature is an exceptional event. It happens from time to time when meteorological conditions and geography form an unholy alliance. So Spectator thought it somewhat surprising that an Environment Agency spokesman should suddenly
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Murder investigation after boy dies in house fire
A murder investigation is under way after a boy died in a house fire in the early hours of this morning. Shortly before 1am this morning, fire crews were called to a house in Mordey Close, in the Hendon area of Sunderland. Police confirmed this morning
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Dinwiddie triumph turns the heat up on selectors
AFTER claiming his second amateur title in the space of a week, Rob Dinwiddie hopes his achievements have forced Walker Cup team selectors into an impossible position. On Sunday the Barnard Castle golfer added the Welsh crown to the Scottish championship
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Wilks faces Acropolis crossroad
GUY Wilks believes this weekend's Acropolis Rally could prove the turning point in his season. Wilks, from Darlington, currently lies second in the Junior World Rally Championship, tied on points with his Suzuki team-mate P-G Andersson. The all-gravel
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Cruise a victim of happy slapping
Anti-social behaviour is now the biggest problem facing society. It is so prevalent that we shouldn't be surprised that it has utilised new technology. Young people are particularly prone to the so called "happy slapping" which involves capturing the
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Charity single goes on sale
YOUNG singers will hear the fruits of their labours launched over the airwaves and in record stores. Finalists in a regional talent contest came together to contribute to the mass vocals on the recording of a charity Band Aid-style single. About 80 aspiring
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IT boosts organic produce
AN organic produce distributor is aiming for growth after joining the IT revolution. Butterby, based at Low Butterby Farm, in Croale, near Durham, delivers locally-grown produce to customers in the surrounding area. Company founder Edward Richardson is
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Security blunder by credit firm
A BIN bag full of people's personal and banking details has been found in a town centre. Council workers said the sack, found at the rear of a credit agency firm, contained a large number of unshredded customers' names, addresses, signatures and other
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X-ray firm hopes to stay in black for first time
X-RAY specialist Bede remains on course for its first profitable year, after staying in the black for six months. First quarter results showed the Durham-based company, which makes high-end testing equipment, made £12,000 profit on sales of £3.7m in the
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'My firm will rise from the ashes'
THE BOSS of a packaging firm that was wrecked by fire has pledged his factory will rise from the ashes. Northern Packaging Distributors Ltd, on Aycliffe Industrial Estate, County Durham, has already identified a new building on the same estate and hopes
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Talks aim to avert strike at airport
LAST-ditch pay talks will take place next week in a bid to stave off an airport strike that threatens to delay more than 100,000 holiday makers. About 190 out of 280 workers at Newcastle International Airport are planning strike action, starting with
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How the sun can harm our sight
EXPERTS have launched a campaign to open people's eyes to the dangers of ultraviolet ray damage to their sight. While most people are aware that the sun can cause skin cancer, very few know that it can also harm your eyes. Rosie Gavzey, director of the
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£55m Sage deal makes logical sense
BUSINESS software group Sage yesterday continued its European expansion, with a £55m deal for a Spanish firm. Sage, which employs 1,200 staff at its Newcastle headquarters, bought software vendor Logic Control. The acquisition is expected to be complete
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Climber honoured in Nepal
RECORD-BREAKING mountaineer Alan Hinkes has been honoured in Nepal for becoming the first Briton to conquer the world's 14 highest peaks. He has attended a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Nepal after reaching the summit of Kangchenjunga
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More storms on the way
People in parts of North Yorkshire which were affected by flash floods are being warned more severe weather is on its way. Storms are expected to hit the region this weekend. Letters giving people advice on what to do have been hand-delivered to homes
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Bursary will honour top zoologist
A FUNDRAISING auction takes place this weekend as part of a campaign to create a scholarship in memory of a much-loved academic. Pots, pans, silver and pictures go under the hammer at Elvet Methodist Church Hall in Old Elvet, Durham City, at noon on Saturday
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Students hand out £100,000
GENEROUS students have handed out a record total of more than £100,000 to good causes. Students at Durham University have presented cheques to more than 200 local organisations, distributing money raised during a year-long fundraising campaign. Over the
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Firearms officers
FIREARMS officers at a North-East police force have become the latest in the region to be trained in the use of stun guns. Northumbria Police has introduced the Taser - weapons that shoot two barbs into an offender and can deliver a 50,000-volt electrical
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Amazing skills
CONFESSION time: I'm a male chauvinist pig and I have very little interest in women's sport. But I'm starting to believe that the girls will inherit the earth. They showed amazing skills in the football recently, good judges believe Annika Sorenstam is
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Bellerby lands Blyton rallycross silverware
BRONZED and refreshed from his recent sortie to the Caribbean for the Barbados Rally Carnival, Leeming rally driver Kevin Procter showed no signs of jet lag as he successfully contested two prestigious events back in England last weekend. Behind the wheel
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Arsenic leak spills into river
AN investigation has been launched by the Environment Agency after acid, containing arsenic, was spilt into the River Skerne. The investigation team is still looking into how the incident occurred, at Filtronic, in Newton Aycliffe. A spokeswoman said:
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Confident starts from local pair
NORTH-EAST duo Graeme Storm and Kenneth Ferrie have made confident starts to the French Open and are in good shape to make the cut. Both golfers shot an opening round 70, one under par, at Le Golf National and sit in a healthy tied 35th place going into
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Education chief defends contentious proposal as village mobilises to oppose move
COUNCIL bosses have been accused of having already made a decision on the controversial proposal to create a new £20m Hurworth School. At Monday's special lifelong learning scrutiny committee meeting, the director of children's services, Margaret Asquith
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Teddy bears join picnic fun
NURSERY children brought their prized teddies into school for a charity toddle and picnic. The children, aged three and four years old, attend Bow Badgers Nursery in Durham City. After a quarter-mile toddle around the school grounds, the children enjoyed
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The case for help
THE pictures of devastated homes, ripped up roads and vehicles up-ended tell the story of a few hours of mayhem on Sunday evening. The floods which hit the small villages to the east of Thirsk were all the more frightening because of their unexpected
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Charity event at stately home
ONE of the region's stately homes is opening to the public for a charity event next month. The Richmondshire Open Spaces Appeal is hosting a Summer Evening at Aske Hall, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, on Saturday, July 16, from 7pm to 9pm. People will
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New start for eco park
PLANS to build the country's first "eco park" at Ingleby Barwick have been withdrawn. The £8m development, planned for a large area of green land in Blair Avenue, included community facilities previously approved by Stockton Council. However, residents
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Castle role for N-E artist
A REMOTE Scottish castle has turned to a North-East painter to be its first artist in residence. Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, in the Outer Hebrides, has invited Gillie Cawthorne, from Durham City, to work as artist in residence for a week this summer. The castle
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When summer's a wet lettuce
SUMMERTIME - time to swap the winter stodge for a crisp refreshing salad. Tastier, lighter, healthier , less fattening. Or not. Ready prepared salad boxes are one of the great growth areas for instant food. Instant picnics. Take one to the park and enjoy
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Hotel happy that footpath is to be diverted
A HOTELIER is pleased that a public footpath through his land is to be diverted for privacy and security reasons. John Robinson, owner of Headlam Hall Hotel and farm, near Gainford, asked that the path passing through his farmyard to the south and west
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NFU president frustrated by Defra's handling of ELS
NFU president Tim Bennett has expressed his frustration at Defra's handling of the Entry Level Scheme. "At this moment, I am not sure whether to shed tears of rage, frustration or sorrow," he said at the opening of Cereals 2005. Describing ELS as the
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Generosity boosts Albanian aid mission
A DURHAM family's mercy mission to Albania could transform the lives of some deprived orphans. For vans being used to transport vital supplies to the beleaguered youngsters are to be given to the orphans to help them set up a business of their own. The
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ShopTalk: When summer's a wet lettuce
Redy prepared salad should be a source of summer joy, but sadly is often a damp squib. Shoptalk discovers which is worth munching. SUMMERTIME - time to swap the winter stodge for a crisp refreshing salad. Tastier, lighter, healthier , less fattening.
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Village imposes drink-free zone
A FORMER pit village has become the first in County Durham to have an enforced 'drink-free zone.' The alcohol-restricted area has been imposed in Dipton, between Consett and Stanley. Derwentside council and Durham Constabulary have acted following scores
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Huge clean-up starts as cost of the deluge runs into millions
THE cost of repairing damage and rebuilding communities devastated by freak floods at the weekend will run into tens of millions of pounds. People taken by surprise at the end of a heatwave spoke of walls of water rushing through villages after a month's
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Cruise a victim of happy slapping
Anti-social behaviour is now the biggest problem facing society. It is so prevalent that we shouldn't be surprised that it has utilised new technology. Young people are particularly prone to the so called "happy slapping" which involves capturing the
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Ballot on transferring homes
TEESDALE District Council tenants are to be balloted on whether their homes should be transferred to a housing association. An earlier consultation exercise is now complete. The district council wants to transfer its stock of 900 homes to a newly-created
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Magpies target Emre close to making his decision
AFTER spending the last few days in Turkey, Graeme Souness should learn today whether his bid to ensure midfielder Belozoglu Emre becomes a Newcastle United player has been successful. The 24-year-old has been targeted by the Magpies to fill the void
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Row over car parks has eroded trust in council
PUBLIC trust in Richmondshire District Council has suffered from the row over the future of two Richmond car parks, a member has said. Coun Linda Curran told a special meeting of the authority on Tuesday that questions over the handling of the issue had
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Oh deer, bone was not famous monkey
SCIENTISTS have announced that a bone found on a North-East beach was shown to belong to a prehistoric deer. The discovery of the leg bone at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, earlier this month prompted pathologists to claim it had belonged to a large monkey
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Man dies in sea rescue drama
A MAN has died while trying to rescue his partner's six-year-old son from the sea. Former Youth Clubs North Yorkshire chief executive Tony Christon was swept away by currents as he tried to rescue the boy at the beach in Jersey. Mr Christon was with his
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Binge drinking blamed for 37% rise in violent offences
BINGE drinking has been blamed for a huge rise in violent incidents in and around pubs and clubs in part of the North-East. There were 1,615 brawls and assaults linked to licensed premises in the Cleveland Police area in the year to March 2004, more than
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Ryder Cup stars make Slaley debut
FORMER European Ryder Cup captains' Sam Torrance and Mark James make their Northumberland Seniors Classic debuts at Slaley Hall today. And both have been installed among the favourites to lift the title at the picturesque resort on Sunday night having
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Quakers' striker search goes on after Tipton snub
Darlington's search for a striker drags on after last night seeing their hopes dashed of signing Matthew Tipton - the third player to slip through Quakers' grasps this summer. The Welsh forward has snubbed Darlington in favour of a move to Bury, leaving
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Youth worker killed trying to save boy
A MAN died after he and his partner's six-year-old son were swept out to sea by freak currents. Tony Christon was paddling with the youngster on the island of Jersey when the tragedy happened. Surfers and swimmers risked their lives to try and save the
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Wellock's World: Amazing skills
CONFESSION time: I'm a male chauvinist pig and I have very little interest in women's sport. But I'm starting to believe that the girls will inherit the earth. They showed amazing skills in the football recently, good judges believe Annika Sorenstam is
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'Gorgeous George' brings battle North
MAVERICK MP George Galloway promised to take the fight to Labour's heartland as he arrived in the North-East last night to launch a nationwide tour. The Respect MP, whose victory in the London seat of Bethnal Green and Bow was one of the biggest upsets
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Depot's 24-hour is strike called off
STRIKE action at a supermarket depot was called off last night, after the union and management reached an 11th-hour pay deal. GMB union members at Asda's non-fresh foods warehouse in Washington, Wearside, were due to start a 24-hour strike at 11pm last
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Johnson's faith pays off as Masta Plasta romps home
FROM the front, Masta Plasta and his rider Robert Winston showed the rest of a high class Group 3 Norfolk Stakes the way to win in a near record time at Royal Ascot at York on Thursday last. This was Howard Johnson's biggest win on the level and he and
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Prime Minister will be caught up in school battle
CAMPAIGNERS launching a battle to save a threatened school have been told: "You can win." But a huge turnout of people protesting about plans to merge Eastbourne and Hurworth secondary schools was also warned: "This won't be a short walk in the park.
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Appeal to catch school vandals
AN EAST Cleveland special school has appealed to its community for help in catching vandals who smashed ore than 50 windows in a two-week wrecking spree. Kilton Thorpe Special School's sixth form building, at Marshall Drive, Brotton, has been targeted
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Guild and WI news
Belmont WI: MR Gall gave an interesting talk and slide presentation about Beamish Museum. In addition to describing how the museum has developed since it began and ongoing projects, the photographs showed how people lived and worked in days gone by. Elizabeth
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Ebay sale ban after frogspawn traded
A GARDENER who tried to sell surplus frogspawn on Internet auction site ebay prompted a police inquiry. The woman, from Gates-head, was tracked down and was this week cautioned by police after she admitted an offence of trading in wildlife. Ebay has removed
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McCarthy misses out on Carter
SUNDERLAND'S efforts to land Darren Carter look to have been in vain after West Bromwich Albion had a £1.5m bid accepted last night. The Black Cats had been hoping to land the Birmingham City midfielder on loan until the end of next season but were unwilling
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Useful fidgeting crosses Baltic boundaries
USEFUL fidgeting is how June Hall describes her passion for handknitting. That passion led the former Wensleydale woman to compile an exhibition which contrasts the traditions of the craft in the Yorkshire Dales and in Lithuania. Mrs Hall, who left North
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Big three facing an early test
THERE could not have been a more appealing start to the new Premiership season for the North-East's three top-flight clubs. Liverpool's first domestic fixture as champions of Europe will be at the Riverside Stadium on August 13, while Newcastle United's
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Son is fatally stabbed at birthday party
A MAN was stabbed to death outside his parents' home as they celebrated their joint birthdays. David Edward Aylward, 33, was attacked and collapsed outside the house in Farndale Road, Newcastle, on Wednesday. It happened as a party was being thrown for
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Youth injured
A TEENAGER suffered a serious leg injury when he was assaulted. The 17-year-old was attacked at 3pm on Monday in Nuns Moor Park, near the children's adventure playground by the junction of Studley Terrace and Brighton Grove, in Newcastle. Anyone with
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US presentation
AWARD-WINNER Tracy Sedgwick is to swap Darlington for the bright lights of Las Vegas. The senior intermediate care technician was first in a national competition and will now get to present her work in London and in the US. As the AAH Hospital Service's
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Drink-drive dangers to be staged
THE horrors of drink-driving are to be hammered home to town centre shoppers. A stage-managed car smash with fire crews cutting through the mangled wreckage to reach play-acting victims will be on display in Redcar, east Cleveland, this weekend. Emergency
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Remembering the war
A MUSICAL event turned the clock back as part of a town's efforts to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. More than 200 people packed Mainsforth and District Community Centre, Ferryhill Station, on Saturday for the event. Ferryhill
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No Messin'!: A new skill mastered
YOUNG people have been given the opportunity to try their hand at new activities. A 45-foot climbing wall was erected in the car park at Teesdale Community Resources (TCR) yesterday evening (Wednesday) after members said they wanted to have a go at climbing
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Early opening for rugby
RUGBY fans in Durham are spoilt for choice of venues to view the eagerly-awaited British and Irish Lions test series in New Zealand. The Lions face the All Blacks in the first test in Christchurch, tomorrow, but due to the time difference from the Antipodes
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Phone fault 'not ours' says council
A COUNCIL has apologised for a fault to its telephone system which often led to callers being cut off. However, Teesdale District Council says normal service has resumed. The problem came to light on June 9 and council officers said they have found it
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Warning to owners of listed buildings
PEOPLE who live in listed buildings are being urged not to carry out home improvements without planning permission. It is illegal for any change to be made to a listed building, which affects its appearance, without consent. In the past three months,
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Scott names Agnew as his right-hand man
HARTLEPOOL United's new manager Martin Scott last night made his first signing at Victoria Park when Steve Agnew agreed to become his right hand man. The pair were team-mates at Sunderland for three years between 1995 and 1998, and Agnew has left his
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Building project to regenerate the town
WORK is due to start this week in Darlington on a project to regenerate the town. A four-storey office block is to be built in Archer Street, on the site of the former sports centre and clinic. The £2.4m project is by North East Property Holdings for
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Council plans to involve everyone in sport and exercise
A PLAN to encourage people of all ages to become involved in sport and exercise has been drawn up. Darlington Borough Council's leisure and arts service plan looks at making sport more available to all sections of the community. The blueprint also considers
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Children clear a community 'grot-spot'
CHILDREN helped to tidy up their community as they got to grips with a local "grot spot". Children from Dodmire infant and junior schools and St John's Primary School, along with parents and teachers, made a clean sweep of the Lascelles Park area. The
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Five times over limit
A BANNED motorist who was nearly five times over the drink-drive limit when she crashed her car during a morning rush-hour, has been warned by magistrates that she faces jail. Court chairman David Davies told Helen Freeman he believed she had driven intentionally
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Residents'objections block plan approval
RESIDENTS fighting a housing plan, tabled a 22-point protest to win the first round of their campaign. Twenty nearby residents opposing the scheme to build two semi-detached homes near a former pear orchard turned up at a Harrogate borough planning meeting
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MP applauds moves towards integration
AN MP is calling on residents to respond positively to moves by a town's muslim community to improve integration. Stockton South MP Dari Taylor is tonight attending a celebration at Stockton's International Family Centre, to mark plans for a £2.5m mosque
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Emergency service boost as ambulance station opens
A PURPOSE-BUILT £250,000 ambulance station will be opened today in a Ryedale market town. The station, at Keldholme in Kirkbymoorside, has been built beside the old one, which has now been demolished. It has four ambulance bays with automatic doors and
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Computer firm booting up for festival of walks
A FIRM that has quality of life at the heart of its foundation is supporting a walking festival this autumn. Computer software company thecitysecret is sponsoring a number of walks as part of the Richmond Walking Festival, from September 23 to October
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Students invited to become eco wardens
COUNTRYSIDE wardens are helping students into jobs by offering vital work experience. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is offering students and graduates the chance to work at its three countryside sites. Three assistant countryside warden placements
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Aussies exorcise their demons at Riverside
AFTER a week in which they had been plagued by ghosts and ghastly defeats, Australia's cricketers exorcised their demons at Riverside last night by brushing aside England by 57 runs. Just four days after going down to the same opponents at Bristol, Ricky
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Burglars on lookout for open windows
SIZZLING residents enjoying the summer heat are being urged by police to lock doors and windows. Burglars are increasingly targeting open and unlocked doors and windows to enter people's homes. In the first half of this month, the Middlesbrough district
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Slick combat for the console
MEDAL OF HONOR: EUROPEAN ASSAULT, Publisher: EA. Formats: PS2, Xbox. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Too much violence for younger children. IT may be the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War but this is getting ridiculous. I've lost count
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Workshop on regeneration
YOUNG people learned about the regeneration of the Tees Valley at a workshop this week. Students from three Teesside schools took part in the event, part of National Architecture Week. The pupils, all aged 14, from Redcar Community College and Bydales
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Wide support for smoke-free pubs and workplaces
A SURVEY has revealed strong public support for banning smoking in pubs and clubs in Derwentside. One thousand people were asked about their knowledge and views on smoking and asked who should be protected from secondhand smoke. Support was strongest
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Boro hoping to seal £1.5m Pogatetz deal
AUSTRIAN Emanuel Pogatetz will arrive on Teesside early next week to undergo a medical and complete a £1.5m move to Middlesbrough. Boro have been pursuing the 22-year-old since February and Bayer Leverkusen agreed to sell him after boss Steve McClaren
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Fortnight of culture for the region
A GHOST story by Henry James, an evening with a top fiction writer and a top orchestra will feature in Ripon International Festival from September 3-17. The event, now in its eighth year, has widespread backing from sponsors, donors, audiences, its group
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We will continue to fight car park bid - protestors
PEOPLE protesting about the proposed sale of a town car park yesterday vowed to fight on following a major setback in their campaign. Councillors on Richmondshire District Council's resources committee voted to proceed with the sale of York Square car
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Planner's move brings conflict of interest fear
STOCKTON Council has hit back at claims that the defection of its chief planning officer to a local solicitors' firm could lead to a conflict of interests. Steve Barker is leaving his post as head of planning at the borough council to work for the Darlington-based
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Ten-year delay to rail safety system on main line in N-E
A RAIL safety system that can better prevent high-speed crashes may not be fully in use on East Coast Main Line services until at least 2020. It was recommended the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) was fitted to all trains running at more
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News from the WIs
Annfield Plain WI: THE president Genia Collin welcomed members to the June meeting. The secretary Miss Ellwood dealt with correspondence and Mavis Crawford, the new treasurer, gave the financial report. Ruth Bates, the retiring treasurer, was presented
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Breaking the taboo of toilet talk
The British loathe talking about bodily functions, but for sufferers of Crohn's disease or colitis, toilet talk is a way of life. Women's Editor Lindsay Jennings meets a mother and daughter to have coped with colitis. CHRISTINE Jackson is running through
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Anger at inaction on climate change
THE Government has been strongly criticised for not doing enough to tackle global warming. The NFU is so frustrated that it has complained to the European Commission about Government inaction. Tim Bennett, NFU president, hoped it would embarrass the Government
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Cleveland's shame as young lead fire attacks
SHOCKING new figures have revealed that children as young as seven are responsible for an increasing number of attacks on Cleveland firefighters. The 54 assaults in Cleveland in the year to the end of March was the highest in the country outside the major
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Show they'll never forget
PUPILS were given a taste of what to expect when one of the region's top festivals starts later this year. Performers taking part in the Stockton Riverside Festival, in August, gave a sneak preview of their show at the Arc, in Stockton, yesterday. In
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Slashing opening hours -will secure the Hall's future'
VOLUNTEER workers at Teesside's only National Trust property are angry about plans to almost halve its opening hours The trust says the cut-backs are necessary to safeguard the future of Ormesby Hall. Plans were announced last month to close the hall
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Patricia follows in her mother's footsteps to earn some lolly
A NEW school crossing point will be supervised by a town's youngest lollipop lady. Patricia English, 26, is the latest member of Darlington Borough Council's crossing patrol team and will be in charge of a site on Brinkburn Road, at its junction with
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Dinwiddie triumph turns the heat up on selectors
AFTER claiming his second amateur title in the space of a week, Rob Dinwiddie hopes his achievements have forced Walker Cup team selectors into an impossible position. On Sunday the Barnard Castle golfer added the Welsh crown to the Scottish championship
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Hill and Jayasuriya play starring roles as East Harlsey upset leaders
IT was a good night for the underdogs as the halfway stage was reached in the Sam Turner and Son Northallerton and District Evening League. Leaders Silton were missing a few key players when they entertained East Harlsey, although the visitors were also
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A beast of a pub and it could have been perfect
I HAD looked forward to this Friday night visit to Crayke for a long time. Perched on a hill at the edge of the Vale of York on the way to Easingwold, it's one of my favourite views. As well as staking a hotly-disputed claim to having been the mound up
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Fundraisers ready to take plunge
FAMILY friends of a boy suffering a degenerative eye disease are preparing for a big plunge to raise funds for the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). Bradley Wood, agd 11, from South Moor, Stanley, has been diagnosed with the condition Stargardts
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Pub site home plans rejected
DETAILED plans for housing on a key gateway to Durham have been rejected. Durham City Council, which previously granted outline planning permission for housing at the site of the former Cock o' the North pub, was unhappy with detailed proposals for a
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Campaign aims to stop job cuts
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to stop the closure of benefits offices across the region and save thousands of jobs. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) has not ruled out taking strike action. The Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) wants
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Work transferred to region for cutting-edge technology
A GLOBAL electronics company gave its North-East workforce a second boost yesterday, as it moved production of its high-tech lawnmower to the region. Electrolux announced its Outdoor Power Products plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, will manufacture
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24/06/05
CRASH: I AM trying to locate a couple who were loading shopping into a green vehicle - possibly a Subaru Justy - at approximately 1.05pm on Saturday May 21, 2005, in Morrison's car park, Bishop Auckland. They were in an end parking bay on the through
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Men jailed after savage attack on soldier
Three men who attacked a soldier so savagely he was brain damaged after his head was kicked like a "football" have been jailed for a total of 18 years. Green Howards corporal Scott Halliday, 26, was paralysed down his right side after his head was "kicked
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Can't beat a good fete - if the sun shines
THE thunderclaps are rolling round the office roof and a torrential five-minute downpour has brought some drowned rats in to start their shift. It's a weekend in June. All over the country, there will be ftes, fairs and festivals depending for their success
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Tributes paid as leading academic dies
TRIBUTES have been paid to a retired senior Durham University lecturer who has died. Dr Geoff Endean was known as a world authority on ball lightning and published papers on cosmology. He died last Wednesday after years of suffering from progressive supranuclear
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What TV could have told them
Build a New Life in the Country (five): SOMETIMES you just have to wonder at people. If I were thinking of turning a rundown pile into my dream home, which is admittedly a long way from my thoughts, one of the first things I would do is watch a programme
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Ages-old Vietnamese puppet show making a splash in North-East
THE MAGIC of water puppetry captivated onlookers old and new in an unusual outdoor city centre setting yesterday. Members of a Vietnamese water puppet troupe gave a series of displays of the age-old far eastern craft for hundreds of invited guests. The
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Man charged with murder of teenager
A MAN will appear in court this morning charged with the murder of North-East teenager Scott Pritchard. Robert Frederick Stacey, 52, of Deerness Road, Hendon, Sunderland, will appear before Sunderland magistrates. He is accused of killing the 19-year-old
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Dog returns home after a century
THERE was an outcry when it was announced that Newcastle Brown Ale was no longer going to be brewed at the Tyne Brewery in Newcastle and moved south of the river to Gateshead. Drinkers felt it was being shifted from its rightful home. Even academics at
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Youth worker dies trying to rescue boy from sea
A MAN died after he and his partner's six-year-old son were swept out to sea by freak currents. Tony Christon was paddling with the youngster on the island of Jersey when the tragedy happened. Surfers and swimmers risked their lives to try and save the
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Council is accused of dirt tricks over tenants ballot
CAMPAIGNERS fighting a proposed shake-up of a borough council's entire housing stock have accused the authority of playing dirty tricks. Sedgefield Borough Council hopes to transfer its 9,200 homes to a housing organisation believing it will lead to extra
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Learning how to make a difference
HUNDREDS of families learned how they can make a difference to the future of the world when they attended a fun day. More than 3,000 people visited Whitworth Hall, Spennymoor, on Sunday, for the third annual Action Packed Futures event. The event, organised
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PTA raises £10,000 for library
PARENTS of children at a Chester-le-Street school have raised £10,000 to create a library for their youngsters. Pupils at St Cuthbert's Infant School, in Ropery Lane, will have more than 1,000 books to choose from. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
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Council progress limited - report
A COUNCIL heavily criticised in a Government report has only made limited progress in addressing its problems, according to officials. Teesdale District Council was rated poor in a Comprehensive Performance Assessment last year. A new Audit Commission
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Gold all round at the mini Olympics
A NEW generation of potential sports stars struck gold at a mini Olympics for Wear Valley youngsters yesterday. Schools from Weardale, Crook and Willington sent 400 year two pupils to the day-long event at Maiden Castle, near Durham. Under the flags of
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A fun way to tell a serious message
TOTS at a Darlington nursery have been learning about the importance of road safety. All the 68 children, from just six months old to four years old, at Ferndene Nursery, in Elton Parade, took part in a Travelling Is Terrific project. The toddlers made
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Racing night for charity
RACING and pub punters are invited to a charity race night at the Old Royal George in Morton-on-Swale on Saturday. Licensee Mike Miles is hoping for a good response to the event in aid of the Nigel Clare Network Trust, which offers practical support for
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Coroner's appeal after man dies
OFFICIALS are trying to trace relatives of Deryck Pilcher, found dead at his home in Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, yesterday. The 78-year-old is believed to have a son, who may be in Oslo, Norway. There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the
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Airport awaits investigations
AVIATION authorities have revealed there were four near misses involving passenger aircraft and RAF jets near Durham Tees Valley Airport in the last three months. The latest incident was on May 4 and involved an inbound Boeing 737 and a military aircraft
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Ex-boxer asks for jail term to beat his heroin addiction
A FORMER boxing champion pleaded with a court yesterday to send him to jail after he was convicted of a string of offences. Terrence Rowley was locked up for seven months for crimes including assaulting a police officer and stealing T-shirts from a football
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Pathway closure decision awaited
A FIGHT to close a pathway which has become a haven for criminals is to go to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The lane was built to connect Ullswater Avenue with newly-built Railway View, off Neasham Road. But within months of being opened, residents
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Churches aiming tplure tourists
A GROUP of churches hopes to attract summer visitors by offering a glimpse of their "fascinating features." The project in Richmond, supported by the district council, is part of a three-year Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB) initiative to promote church
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Pig industry training to be on national scale
A NATIONAL training programme is to be introduced for the pig industry. It will help producers and their staff to improve productivity, animal welfare and overall professionalism. A group is to be appointed to introduce the industry's new Professional
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"Help find new site for skate equipment"
A BUSINESSMAN has challenged councils to help create a long-term venue for skateboarders and BMX riders. On Sunday, the last BMX Jam will be held at Hangar 2 Skate Park, in Thornaby, before the venue closes to make way for housing. David Scott, the owner
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Furniture shop to help those in need
A FURNITURE store for people in need was opened yesterday in Northallerton. The new Richmond and Hambleton Furniture Store, on the Standard Way industrial estate, will take referrals from agencies dealing with people in need. A nominal charge for furniture
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Memorial match for popular worker
A POPULAR youth worker, who died following a car accident will be remembered in a memorial football tournament. Imran Yaseen, from Middlesbrough, died in hospital more than a week after he was thrown from the passenger seat of a car which was involved
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Time to gather bracken seeds, dig up mugwort and light the fire
TODAY has long been regarded as a very important date in the rural calendar. Not only is it Midsummer Day, it is also the feast day of St John the Baptist, while yesterday was the Eve of St John, Mugworth Digging Night, Need Fire Night and, of course,
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Prime Minister will hold talks over schools' future
PARENTS battling to retain the village location of one of the region's leading schools last night delivered an ultimatum to Tony Blair: "If you won't come to us, we'll come to you". But, after staying out of the recent furore surrounding the fate of Hurworth
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Open day
Askham Bryan College, Guisborough, holds its annual open day on Thursday, in the college grounds from 10am until 7pm. The prospectus for 2005/2006 is now available and enrolments for courses will be taking place. A new course is the diploma in countryside
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Farmer found guilty of assault
A FARMER kicked a female trading standards officer and threatened her with a mallet, a court heard yesterday. David Bowe, of Blewery Grange, Hunton, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, was charged with assault and threatening behaviour following the incident
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Police recover £50,000 stolen property
NEARLY £50,000 of stolen items have been recovered following a police operation in the Durham Dales. Twelve people were also arrested in Operation Voluble, a joint operation between Durham Constabulary's Road Policing Unit and police officers in Teesdale
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Two modern medical units planned for town centre
HEALTH chiefs have applied for planning permission to create two £17m medical centres in Stanley town centre. Derwentside Primary Care Trust (PCT) wants to demolish the Clifford Road building and replace it with a modern health centre. It also wants to
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On TV
Build a New Life in the Country (five) SOMETIMES you just have to wonder at people. If I were thinking of turning a rundown pile into my dream home, which is admittedly a long way from my thoughts, one of the first things I would do is watch a programme
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Bond Boy back to best form
BANK on Bond Boy (7.15) to boost the kitty in this evening's Newcastle feature, The Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup. Trainer Bryan Smart, fresh from his first-ever Royal Ascot success courtesy of last Saturday's winning nap, Titus Alone, has finally got
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Work transferred to region for cutting-edge technology
A GLOBAL electronics company gave its North-East workforce a second boost yesterday, as it moved production of its high-tech lawnmower to the region. Electrolux announced its Outdoor Power Products plant in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, will manufacture
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Students' practical solutions to everyday problems go on show
A 21-YEAR-OLD student from Redcar has designed a new enclosed gearing system for pedal bikes. Andrew Finkill developed the system as part of his BSc honours degree in product design technology at Northumbria University. "The system was designed with downhill
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Neighbours' dilemma
POLITICAL allies as they are, Tony Blair and Alan Milburn will not relish their neighbouring constituencies being locked in a bitter educational dispute which is creating national interest. The Labour Party does not want the Prime Minister and one of
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Grand conclusion to months of hard craft
FASHION students from Darlington College of Technology became catwalk kings and queens for the day, bringing their studies to a spectacular conclusion. About 40 students staged Chaos, the college's fifth annual fashion show, at Darlington Arts Centre.
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Murray brothers team up to help Guisborough cause
THE absence of captain David Towse is a big blow to Guisborough for their premier division game against Hartlepool at Park Drive tomorrow. He has been the most economical bowler in the league in recent years and regularly delivers 25 overs at little cost
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Hundreds trapped in rail chaos
Hundreds of rail passengers were trapped in overheated carriages for hours yesterday after a power failure left trains stranded outside stations. Police, fire crews and paramedics were drafted in to treat passengers after six trains were left stranded
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Blood Brothers, Sunderland Empire
WILLY Russell's musical play about twins separated at birth is the sort of show you can revisit again and again and still discover something fresh. This production features Linda Nolan in the role she seems to have been born to play, the feisty Liverpool
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You write
Sad loss: Durham intends to bulldoze community sport and leisure facilities in favour of posh apartments. At least this is the impression given by the glossy, hi-tech video presentation and accompanying questionnaire that is currently on display at Durham
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Cash relieves SFI jobs pressure
A LEADING pressure relief systems manufacturer received a £220,000 boost yesterday. Elfab received the cash as a Selective Finance for Investment (SFI) grant from One NorthEast. It will help safeguard more than 50 jobs at the plant in North Shields, North
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Pilgrimage of faith from Uganda reaches archbishop's palace
A CLERGYMAN born in Uganda who fled Africa to escape from brutal dictator Idi Amin has been named as the next Archbishop of York. Dr John Sentamu, 56, was appointed last week to succeed Dr David Hope - now Lord Hope and a parish priest in Yorkshire. The
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Bellamy takes the plunge at wetlands site
BOTANIST and broadcaster Dr David Bellamy has never minded getting wet in the cause of conservation. He did not think twice yesterday before plunging in with both feet to launch a major wetland project at one of his favourite nature reserves. As president
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Fall in school expulsions bucks national trend
FEWER North-East pupils are being expelled from school, despite claims by teaching unions that classroom discipline is collapsing. There were 460 permanent exclusions across the region last year, an eight per cent fall compared to the 500 students barred
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Murraymania takes over as Henman era begins to fade
IT was the day two eras in British tennis collided as Tim Henman made a sad early exit from Wimbledon and Andy Murray took his place as the great new British hope. Henman failed to reach the second week of Wimbledon for the first time in a decade and,
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Teenage rapist locked up
A 16-year-old sex offender who was bailed by a court after admitting sexually attacking a young woman went on to beat and rape a mother-of-one. Today, his victims said Michael Hudson should never have been freed to continue his reign of terror. He was
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Author to hide copies of book
AN author is urging would-be readers of his latest work to find copies of his book instead of buying them. John Donoghue plans to leave the North-East circulation of his book, Shakespeare my Butt, to chance, by hoping people stumble on copies he leaves
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Bond Boy back to best form
BANK on Bond Boy (7.15) to boost the kitty in this evening's Newcastle feature, The Northern Rock Gosforth Park Cup. Trainer Bryan Smart, fresh from his first-ever Royal Ascot success courtesy of last Saturday's winning nap, Titus Alone, has finally got
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Burton's Bytes: Slick combat for the console
MEDAL OF HONOR: EUROPEAN ASSAULT, Publisher: EA. Formats: PS2, Xbox. Price: £39.99. Family friendly? Too much violence for younger children. IT may be the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War but this is getting ridiculous. I've lost count
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Watching Brief: Old dog still has the tricks
THE pace has dropped a few miles per hour, the locks cropped to skinhead proportions and the home county switched 200 miles down the M1, but Darren Gough's competitive edge remains as honed as ever. He may be 34 years of age but the Barnsley-born speedster
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Farmers face huge losses for uninsured crops
RURAL insurer NFU Mutual had staff from local offices in Helmsley and Kirkbymoorside, as well as its regional base in York, out at dawn on Monday to help policyholders whose homes, vehicles or businesses had been damaged. Chief claims manager David Sweeney
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High Farndale reach semi-finals after surviving exciting climax to cup tie
THE first round Lady Feversham Cup tie between Harome and High Farndale proved to be an excellent advertisement for the league with plenty of good cricket played by both sides and an exciting climax which kept the spectators enthralled. Harome, who field
