Archive
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Invisible ally
POLICE have unveiled an invisible weapon in the fight against rural crime. Richmondshire police have been given £13,000 to supply 300 farms with SmartWater Tracer. The liquid can be painted on equipment and, if touched, sticks to clothing and skin. It
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Investigation is completed into school bullying claims
AN investigation into allegations of bullying, truancy and unruly behaviour at a pioneering school has been completed, The Northern Echo can reveal. Karen Pemberton was suspended as headteacher of Eastbourne School, in Darlington, in early May after an
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Neat treats for feet
Feet are the most neglected parts of our bodies, but it doesn't take much effort to put the spring back in your step What with strappy sandals and warm weather and holidays with lots of sightseeing and dancing the night away, summer is not a good time
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RBS banks on £1.7bn move into Chinese market
ROYAL Bank of Scotland (RBS) announced a move into China after it led a group of investors in the purchase of a stake in the country's second largest bank for $3.1bn (£1.7bn). The co-investors will take a ten per cent holding in Bank of China in a move
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Black Cats' Gray wants to be first choice
NEW signing Andy Gray has urged Mick McCarthy to stick with him and Jon Stead as Sunderland's first choice striker pairing. The Black Cats £1.1m signing from Sheffield United believes he can strike up a deadly partnership with the former Blackburn man
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Terror attacks dent high street sales
HIGH street sales went into reverse last month as retailers suffered a loss of business in the wake of the London bombings. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said sales volumes were 0.3 per cent down on a month earlier, although this figure was
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Girl survives cliff fall
A six-year-old girl suffered "just bumps and bruises" after she miraculously survived a 150ft fall from a cliff top, coastguards said. Her terrified parents watched in horror as the youngster plunged off the cliff at Filey, in North Yorkshire, and landed
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Sarah celebrates 100th birthday
FAMILY and friends of a Derwentside woman helped her celebrate her 100th birthday yesterday. A party for Sarah Northey was held at the Lamplight Arts Centre, in Stanley. It was attended by Durham North MP Kevan Jones, who gave her a card and chocolates
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Project to beat diabetes
A PILOT diabetes screening service has now screened more than 100 patients. The one-year diabetes screening project, being piloted in the Wear Valley, has so far screened 101 patients. The pilot, which operates in six community pharmacies, got under way
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Invite to join music workshops
CHILDREN are being invited to a music workshop next week. Free Range Music features five three-hour sessions to be staged at Durham Town Hall, daily from Wednesday to Friday. Admission is £1. It will culminate in a city centre carnival parade, during
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Concern over nightclub's plan to stay open until 6am
POLICE chiefs fear that a nightclub's bid to serve alcohol until 6am could spark a rise in violence in the centre of Darlington. Escapade, in Gladstone Street, is one of several venues to have applied to the borough council to stay open later. All pubs
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Hey fiddledy dee, it's an actor's life for me...
THERE will be nothing puppet-like about a performance of Pinnochio in Shildon next week. The Disney classic will be performed by members of The Tearaways dance and drama group across three days next weekend. Youngsters aged between nine and 16 will fill
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Standards board to probe rift affecting parish council
THE deepening rift dividing Stanhope parish councillors is being investigated by the standards board. The board, which regulates the conduct of councillors, is probing complaints against nine members who, between them, attended two controversial meetings
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Volunteer rangers left to clean up after vandalism to ponds
VOLUNTEER rangers have been dismayed that their newly-dug wildlife ponds have been vandalised. Derwentside Volunteer Rangers yesterday moved in to repair the damage caused to the two ponds in Dipton, County Durham. Nature reserve officer Karen Fisher
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Extra police are drafted in to deal with rowdy youths
A BLITZ to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour is under way in Stanley. Durham Police have drafted in an average of 14 extra officers a day as part of a campaign to run for the rest of the summer holidays. The aim is to target youth nuisance, drug
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Staff at food firm vote to strike
FOOD factory staff at the centre of an industrial dispute yesterday voted in favour of further strike action. Workers at Country Style Foods, in Stockton, held crisis talks with the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) after company bosses continued
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Mourners donate £700 to charity
A SAD family farewell has led to a generous donation to a charity devoted to helping adults with learning disabilities. The funeral of Ken Hopkin was held at St Mary's Church, Richmond, in April and the congregation gave donations for Northallerton-based
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Cash wings its way to hospital
The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton has been given £500 by staff at RAF Leeming. Wing Commander David Forster and station adjutant Flight Lieutenant Fi Carpenter visited the Friarage to hand over the money from the base's charity fund. The cash will
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Library plan 'no threat to garden'
A multi-million pound plan to transform Harrogate's public library and expand community services will have little impact on a rose garden, say experts. When the scheme was first mooted concern was expressed about how the expansion would affect the Victoria
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Invisible ally for crime-hit farmers
POLICE have unveiled an invisible weapon in the fight against rural crime. Richmondshire police have been given £13,000 to supply 300 farms with SmartWater Tracer. The liquid can be painted on equipment and, if touched, sticks to clothing and skin. It
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Keep fit qualification
PEOPLE in Sedgefield can achieve a qualification while helping elderly people keep fit on a new ten-week course. The Age Concern Sedgefield office is preparing a programme of physical activity sessions in the Sedgefield area and is recruiting volunteers
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Teesdale to lure Swiss visitors
A COACH party from Switzerland is to visit Teesdale next month. The visit comes as part of the Discover Teesdale Travel Trade Project, which was set up to encourage tour operators to include the area in holiday itineraries. Dorset-based tour operator
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Platinum Gas on fast-track
A SMALL plumbing and heating engineering company launched a year ago has played a key role in improving people's living standards. In a fast-track programme of work, Platinum Gas, in Yarm, near Stockton, has installed central heating systems in 300 homes
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Aliens point the way to a safer life
THE aliens have landed in Ferryhill - thanks to a scheme at a local education centre. Youngsters from the town's Ladder Centre, in Coniston Road, have developed a film about safety, based around the antics of alien visitors Weedo and Electra. Their mission
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Checking out to head to the Andes
A SUPERMARKET worker will swap the aisles for the Andes when he sets off on a trek in aid of charity. Trevor Smith, from Newton Aycliffe, will navigate the South American mountains to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice. He works at Somerfield supermarket
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Magnificent seven keep agricultural show on the road
SEVEN family members spread across four generations are preparing for an agricultural show. With just over a week to go before the Wensleydale Show, event secretary Gill Harrison said the talk around the dinner table was of little else. At the show her
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Scott hopes Pool profit from Black Cats clash
HARTLEPOOL United will enjoy the benefits of this week's friendly with Sunderland - and Martin Scott hopes the Black Cats feel the same. Despite a reserve game on Wednesday, Scott arranged a game at the Academy of Light for his squad players and those
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Fighting menopause
FOR many women, the choice between dealing with the menopause naturally or using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with its potential side-effects is becoming an increasingly difficult one to make. In recent years, major studies have linked HRT to an
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Darlington poised to top A-levels league
STUDENTS in Darlington look likely to achieve the best A-level performance in the country, education bosses said last night. Last year, Darlington was second in the country for the percentage of students achieving at least two A-levels at grades A to
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Wellock's World
FAR from snoozing on the sofa, cricket's soaring television audience are suddenly more likely to watch from behind the sofa and Rupert Murdoch must be rubbing his hands at the thought of rocketing dish sales. As Channel 4's audience peaked at 7.7 million
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Durham welcome paceman Williams with another to follow
DURHAM took delivery of one new overseas player yesterday and hope to announce another one today. Paceman Brad Williams flew in from Perth but will have the company of his Western Australia captain Mike Hussey for only 11 days. The Durham skipper leaves
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Hundreds mourn Dean's 'sad and needless death'
RED and white floral tributes in the shape of footballs and a Sunderland strip adorned the funeral hearse carrying the body of Dean Pike yesterday. Hundreds of mourners attended the service for the 11-year-old, who died after a fire at the home he shared
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Armagnac has plenty in tank for Chester
NORMALLY a double figure draw over seven furlongs means curtains at Chester, but in the case of Armagnac (3.30) stall ten could prove to be a blessing in disguise. As a result of racing with the choke out at Sandown earlier this month, Mark Buckley's
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Once upon a time in Byker
It has been more than ten years in the planning, but the new centre for children's books finally opens its doors today. Nick Morrison takes a tour of all Seven Stories. IT'S a fair bet that, at least as far as most of the exhibits at the new centre for
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Cost of wasp's nest removal may have a sting in the tail
HOUSEHOLDERS who want a wasps' nest removed could be stung for anything up to £70 by their local council. A survey by The Northern Echo has revealed a wide range of charges for removal of wasps' nests from private properties. Those lucky enough to live
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Neat treats for feet
Feet are the most neglected parts of our bodies, but it doesn't take much effort to put the spring back in your step What with strappy sandals and warm weather and holidays with lots of sightseeing and dancing the night away, summer is not a good time
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Higher costs and delays hit Wembley builder's profits
THE Australian construction company behind the new Wembley football stadium posted lower-than-expected annual profits yesterday as it counted the cost of problems on the flagship project. In a statement, Multiplex blamed the change in steel contractor
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Two-year EU study finds the CAP doesn't fit
RESEARCH published today by North-East academics supports Prime Minister Tony Blair's call for Europe's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to be reformed. In the first comprehensive study of the effect of the CAP on Europe's regions, a team from the universities
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The not so Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four Publisher: Activision Format: PS2 Price: £39.99 Family friendly? 12+ HEADS up True Believers... here comes the game of the movie that's based on the Marvel comic books. The film happened to be better than many fans' expectations so can
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Cement injection that heals backs
AN extraordinary new operation is bringing hope to patients whose lives have been wrecked by back pain, and a Middlesbrough surgeon is at the forefront of the revolutionary technique. Spinal surgeon Sotiris Papastefanou is one of a handful of UK specialists
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New museum boss outlines vision
THE new man at the helm of an attraction celebrating the region's railway heritage has told of his hopes for the future. Bob Clark has been appointed manager of Darlington Railway Centre and Museum, in the town's North Road. Mr Clark, who has experience
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The carrot cake of customer service
It was only 3.30 in the afternoon and the caf didn't close for another half an hour. But the lady wasn't for serving. Just about everything on the menu was off, she said. Well, there was still carrot cake, but I didn't want carrot cake. There was coffee
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Star student Fatima vows not to let setbacks get in her way
A STAR student who has always achieved top results will not give up on her ambitions to be a doctor, despite being rejected by four medical schools. Both of Fatima Malik's parents are doctors at Darlington Memorial Hospital, and she had dreams of following
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Cathedral hosts celebration of traditional craft
A SPECTACULAR display of embroidery is adding to the attractions at a World Heritage site during the traditionally-busy month of August. Tens of thousands of visitors flocking to Durham Cathedral over the next fortnight will see the array of work produced
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Shearer's blast for Eriksson
ALAN Shearer has blasted Sven-Goran Eriksson's handling of England striker Jermain Defoe during Wednesday night's 4-1 friendly defeat in Denmark. Eriksson hauled Defoe off at half-time, despite his replacement, Michael Owen, being suspended for England's
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Judge warns town's warring factions
A JUDGE has warned warring factions in a North-East market town that the trouble must stop - or they will go to jail. Judge Peter Armstrong spoke out after dealing with a case involving violence in Stanhope, County Durham. Teenager John Newby was chased
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Adversity no obstacle to success in A-levels
A TEENAGER who overcame great adversity to win a place at university was one of thousands of North-East students celebrating their A-level results yesterday. Helen Foster, 18, had to learn to read, write and walk at the age of 12 when she suffered brain
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Homeless riverbank campers could be re-housed
A HOMELESS couple who have camped on a riverbank for three months have been told they could soon be found a new house. Kevin and Susan Howe, who are living in a tent at Barnard Castle, County Durham, were told this week a housing team wants to come to
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Shock loss a wake-up call, declares McClaren
STEVE McClaren last night insisted England were still on track for the World Cup finals, but admitted Wednesday's humiliating 4-1 defeat to Denmark had been a wake-up call for the entire nation. The England number two returned to domestic duties with
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The cement injection that can cure bad backs
Every year thousands of back patients are told they have vertebral fractures caused by osteoporosis. Health Editor Barry Nelson meets a surgeon at the cutting edge of treating such crippling conditions AN extraordinary new operation is bringing hope to
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Shock loss a wake-up call, declares McClaren
STEVE McClaren last night insisted England were still on track for the World Cup finals, but admitted Wednesday's humiliating 4-1 defeat to Denmark had been a wake-up call for the entire nation. The England number two returned to domestic duties with
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Mo Mowlam loses fight for life
Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam has died. Dr Mowlam, Labour MP for Redcar between 1987-2001, who previously suffered a brain tumour, died at the Pilgrim's Hospice in Canterbury, Kent, at 8.10am. She had difficulties with her balance as a result
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The carrot cake of customer service
It was only 3.30 in the afternoon and the caf didn't close for another half an hour. But the lady wasn't for serving. Just about everything on the menu was off, she said. Well, there was still carrot cake, but I didn't want carrot cake. There was coffee
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Health classes organised for diabetes sufferers
HEALTH officials are recommending exercise for people who are suffering from diabetes. Ten weekly sessions of education and exercise will be held by the Derwentside Primary Care Trust's (PCT) community diabetes team at two venues in the district from
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Is the gold standard failing our children?
IN 1982, the world record for the women's marathon stood at two hours, 25 minutes and 41.3 seconds, set by Norwegian Grete Waitz in New York two years earlier. Since then, it has been broken nine times, with the current record of two hours, 15 minutes
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School boilers may be converted
SCHOOL boilers across County Durham could be converted to burn wood pellets in an attempt to cut carbon dioxide emissions blamed for global warming. The county council's cabinet was told that 1,800 tonnes of C02 emissions would be prevented if all the
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Potter's Trotters inspired by cancer fight to raise £1,000
A WOMAN who was treated for breast cancer inspired her work colleagues to raise £1,000 for charity. Sheila Potter, a Darlington Borough Council social worker, organised a team called Potter's Trotters to run the 5km Race for Life course in South Park
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Opportunity to enrol for courses
NEWTON Hall Community Centre, in Durham, is the venue for three ten-week courses next month. Painting for Pleasure will be held on Mondays and Fridays between 1.30pm and 3.30pm, starting on September 12 and 16. Computers and More, Laptop Computers, for
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Comic puts his home on the market to fund legal battle
A COMEDIAN is putting his £80,000 cottage on the market to pay for legal action against a council in a seafront planning dispute. Stand-up comic Chris McGlade is to mount a legal challenge against Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council over its proposals
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Council to simplify parking controls
CHANGES are to take place to the way parking controls and restrictions are enforced in Stockton. From Monday, September 5, attendants employed by Stockton Borough Council will take over responsibility from police for both on and off-street parking. The
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Romans march into shopping centre on promotional mission
TOWN centre shoppers found themselves invaded by Romans yesterday. A Roman senator accompanied by his soldiers and womenfolk invaded the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, in Hartlepool, and set up camp in the Curiosity Shop mobile exhibition. Claire Munroe
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Artist's work on display at shopping mall
A PROFESSIONAL artist says his work and outlook on life will be richer after working with a group who have all suffered varying degrees of mental illness. Adam Baldwin, an artist with Platform Arts, in Thornaby, has been working with the Phoenix Art Group
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Police support call for market day traffic ban
POLICE are backing moves to make part of Pickering traffic free on Monday market days. Ryedale's police chief, Inspector Neil Burnett, was replying to criticism from market traders that they were "sick" of abuse from drivers negotiating the Market Place
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Four store chains move into shopping centre
FOUR new shops are opening in a city's shopping centre. Store chains Shoe Zone, MOJI, Start Fitness and Cartridge World have all taken up vacant premises in Durham's Millburngate Centre. All have, or will be opening by the end of the month, with three
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Council puts reading aid on its website
A COUNCIL is hoping to help residents with reading problems through the introduction of a programme on its website. The Browsealoud system, which is aimed at people with dyslexia, learning disabilities, or who speak English as a second language, has been
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Rail operator in pledge to get tough on fare dodgers
FARE dodgers who are costing a train company £1m a year were last night warned: "We'll track you down and take you to court". First TransPennine Express, whose services include a Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport rail link, has pledged to prosecute
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National accolade for professor
A COMPUTER expert has won one of Britain's top teaching prizes. Professor Philip Barker's will receive £50,000 for research purposes at the University of Teesside, in Middlesbrough. The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme award is the fifth that the university
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Souness poised to make a late move for Kanoute
NEWCASTLE United last night attempted a last-ditch attempt to hijack Fredi Kanoute's move from Tottenham Hotspur to Sevilla. The Primera Liga outfit claim they have agreed a £4.4m deal with Spurs for the Mali international, subject to a medical being
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Ice-cool raiders target council snowploughs
police were last night hot on the trail of thieves who stole three huge snowploughs. Officers are appealing for the public's help in tracking down the thieves who took the vehicles, which each weigh a tonne. The theft comes weeks after council gritters
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Boss slams attempted hijack
A FURIOUS Steve McClaren has accused "another club" of scuppering Middlesbrough's move for Rudolph Douala, but refused to call time on his attempts to sign the Sporting Lisbon star. The Boro boss thought he had secured the versatile winger's signature
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The not so Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four Publisher: Activision Format: PS2 Price: £39.99 Family friendly? 12+ HEADS up True Believers... here comes the game of the movie that's based on the Marvel comic books. The film happened to be better than many fans' expectations so can
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No time for more delays
LONDON'S police chief Sir Ian Blair has dismissed claims that there was an attempted cover-up over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. But the statement by Independent Police Complaints Commission chairman John Wadham - that the Metropolitan Police
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Swedish student studied Shearer
SWEDISH student Jenny Lindstrom has spent four months in Britain studying Newcastle striker Alan Shearer. The trip helped Jenny produce a 14,000-word, 32-page dissertation, which she described as an ethnographic essay on the construction of a modern day
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19/08/05
HUMAN RIGHTS - There is a certain irony in the claim by human rights lawyers that the deporting of these dissident Muslim clerics to their own country could be dangerous for them when the alternative of letting them stay here is certainly dangerous for
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McCarthy hopes to have a fit Kyle back for new year
MICK McCARTHY is optimistically looking for Kevin Kyle to be back in Sunderland action by the turn of the year - after the striker had a career-saving operation in America. Kyle, who has not kicked a ball in the Black Cats first team for 12 months, has
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AA call centre jobs to be axed
THE AA last night announced plans to cut 100 call centre jobs, 48 hours after the RAC said it was shedding 1,700 posts as part of an £80m cost-cutting measure. More than 50 jobs will go in AA's Newcastle insurance centre, and the rest in Cardiff, as part
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Three times the effort, three times the success
TRIPLETS Alison, Helen and Katie Prescott will soon be separated for the first time thanks to their sparkling A-level results. The three, who have been pupils at Durham High School since they were four, opened their envelopes together yesterday to find
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Truant's mother on parenting order
A MOTHER-OF-TEN has been placed on a six-month parenting order after one son repeatedly missed school. Magistrates heard that Angela Ashley's 15-year-old son, Daniel Nelson, only turned up to 33 school sessions out of a possible 127. It meant he attended
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Kendrick ponders move North of the border
JOE Kendrick is training with Dunfermline after the Darlington defender turned his back on a move to Hamilton. Dunfermline yesterday made their move for Kendrick after learning first choice full-back Scott Morrison faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines
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Horror smash: suicide feared
A STUDENT may have deliberately killed himself in a high-speed crash because he could not face being sent back to prison. Lawrence Koppert, 23, died early on Monday when his silver Peugeot crashed into an ornamental archway straddling a public road by
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Scaife set for big race
DARLINGTON 10K winner Martin Scaife is one of three Morpeth Harriers picked to represent the North-East in the AAA Championships which are part of the big Auckland Castle 10K on Sunday. The 33-year-old supermarket manager, who was only five seconds away
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Medals of fearless major are given to museum
MEDALS awarded to a Green Howards officer have been presented to the regiment's museum. Major Derek Cartmel, who died in May, aged 83, received the Military Cross while serving in Italy during the Second World War with the Indian Army. He won the medal
