Archive
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Annual show is a blaze of colour
EXHIBITORS turned out in force to display their floral talents at a major competition. Darlington Chrysanthemum and Dahlia Society's annual early show saw the Dolphin Centre's Central Hall turned into a blaze of colour. The number of entries was up on
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A home in the sunshine
AN EXHIBITION is being held this weekend to offer advice to people wishing to move abroad. The Parador Properties overseas event will take place at Hall Garth Golf and Country Club, Coatham Mundeville, near Darlington, on Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. Visitors
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Lean machine biker halves his weight
A KEEN biker lost 13 stones in 13 months after realising he could no longer mount his motorcycle. Bill Richardson was devastated when, weighing 26 stone, he found he was no longer able to ride his bike. But the 57-year-old halved his body weight and went
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Charity theft causes outrage
A PENSIONER who has dedicated 19 years to raising money for charity is angry with thieves who stole a suitcase of tombola prizes from a church. Freda Marchant said she was so sickened by the theft from Willington Methodist Church that she considered giving
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Plan for mobile phone mast near housing is withdrawn
A PLANNING application for permission to build a mobile phone mast on a north Durham housing estate has been withdrawn. Operator O2 UK applied to Chester-le-Street District Council for approval to erect a 15-metre antenna in Pelaw Crescent, Chester-le-Street
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Changing room appeal
YOUNGSTERS have appealed for changing rooms at their new sports pitch. The turf is growing at the new football field in Middleton St George, near Darlington, and young players have asked the parish council about the possibility of building changing rooms
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Charles and Camilla visit Richmond
The Prince of Wales today recalled his days as an actor after watching youngsters perform at the oldest and most complete working Georgian theatre in Britain, located in Richmond, North Yorkshire. The Prince arrived with his wife, The Duchess of Cornwall
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Town gets funding for new street lights
EFFORTS to make Hartlepool's streets safer have received a £10,000 cash boost. Hartlepool Borough Council's grants committee agreed to allocate the money to fund an ongoing programme of improvements to street lighting around the town. The money, which
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Support pledged for youth project
A COMMUNITY group has pledged its support for a youth project which has reduced anti-social behaviour. Members of the Branksome and Cockerton West Community Partnership said the Westside project at Branksome School had been very successful - and they
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New Zealand rugby players pass on advice to schoolchildren
YOUNG rugby players in Derwentside are being trained by coaches from New Zealand. Tasi Tuhana and Daniel Cavanagh are touring schools in the district passing on advice. They both play for Consett Rugby Football Club and Mr Tuhuna, a hooker, is captain
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A little French goes a long way for les enfants
NURSERY children are proving you are never too young to learn a second language. Youngsters aged between three and four are being taught French at the Little Learners Nursery Centre, in Scorton, near Richmond. Nursery manager Sarah Laws said: "The children
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Chance for adults to take up martial arts
PEOPLE can learn self-defence on a course being launched by martial arts experts in Durham. Durham City Aikikai, one of England's oldest and most respected schools of traditional Chiba-style Aikido, will start an introductory course for adults of all
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Support urged for £27m roads plan
HOPES are high that a £27m traffic management scheme will get Government approval. Councillor Eileen Bosomworth, leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said it was vital the project goes ahead as a priority because of the benefits it would have on the
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Volunteers' help adds up for students
VISUALLY-impaired young people at a college have given their common room a makeover in double-quick time. Students from Henshaws College, in Harrogate, took just a day to transform the room and the garden. They were assisted by volunteers from accountancy
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Race against clock to fund new community HQ
CAMPAIGNERS face a race against time to secure £100,000 to provide a community base for a range of voluntary organisations. Unless the money is raised before contractors finish work on the £1.4m project at Ripon, fundraisers will face an increased bill
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Improving quality of life for residents
A HOUSING organisation has teamed up with a specialist training and consultancy provider to improve the quality of life for communities across Redcar and Cleveland. The Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) is helping Coast and Country Housing
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Pupils take a walk on a bus to school
YOUNGSTERS at two Bishop Auckland schools have launched a walking bus to help keep them fit and reduce traffic congestion at the school gates. Children at Woodhouse Close infant and junior schools launched the project on Monday with the help of Sam, Durham
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Man in court on murder charge
A MAN accused of murdering his wife of 18 years made his first crown court appearance yesterday. Michael Luke, 45, who was accompanied in the dock by staff from the hospital where he is being treated, is accused of killing his 37-year-old wife, Johanna
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Police seeking suspects over theft
POLICE want to talk to a couple after bank cards stolen from a purse, in Durham City, were used to buy goods from shops on Tyneside. The purse, containing two cards, was taken from a shop in the city between 1.30pm and 5.30pm on Wednesday, March 9. That
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Golf club can extend its drinks hours
PLANS to extend drinking hours at a Teesside golf club have been approved, despite opposition from two doctors. Stockton Borough Council's licensing committee gave the go-ahead to Wynyard Golf Club's application to extend its licence to 1.30am, Thursday
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Mercury spill: Nine treated
NINE people, including children, were treated in hospital after they came into contact with highly toxic mercury that had been dumped. The alert was sounded by Cleveland Police on Monday after the discovery of a glass vessel containing about 2oz of the
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Flood defence schemes approved
FOUR flood defence schemes were approvedby council planners yesterday. The projects will see embankments built to hold back flood waters from Turker Beck, at Northallerton, and Ing Beck, Winton Beck and North Beck, at Brompton. The plans were drawn up
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Emre back for City in ten days
TURKISH midfielder Emre is in line to make a return to the Newcastle United line-up to face Manchester City in ten days - meaning manager Graeme Souness' faces a selection crisis this weekend. As well as Emre's unavailability for the trip to Blackburn
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Drive for safety pulls no punches
AN award-winning road safety scheme for young drivers got into gear yesterday. For the next eight days, nearly 500 future motorists from County Durham and Darlington will visit Durham Police headquarters to take part in the Wise Drive - Drive For Life
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Delight as school gets the go-ahead
GOVERNORS spoke yesterday of their delight after planning permission was granted for a village primary school. North Yorkshire County Council's planning committee voted seven to two in favour of outline permission for the school in Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe
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Durham police may have to cut front-line officers
Prime Minister Tony Blair's local police force could be forced to axe up to 100 front-line officers because of Government spending cuts, it was claimed today. Durham Police, who maintain law and order in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency, today warned
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Roof replacement for Bowes Museum
Work has begun on a £2.5 million project to safeguard the future of one of the region's favourite museums. After three years of planning, the first phase of work began this month to replace the main portions of the roof at the Bowes Museum, in Barnard
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Caught in the fuel queues as panic begins to take hold
FOR days, the message from the industry has repeatedly been the same -don't panic. Sitting impatiently in a line of traffic snaking its way from a petrol station entrance, round the corner and on to the main street, it is apparent that the message is
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Woman who had husband killed fails in appeal
A WOMAN who had her husband killed to claim almost £500,000 in insurance money has failed to have her sentence changed. Debt-ridden Christina Button encouraged her nephew, Simon Tannahill, to bludgeon George Button to death as he walked his dog. Mr Button
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Low turnout for fuel protests
Protests over fuel prices got under way outside oil refineries today. A series of ''peaceful protests'' over the level of duty has been taking place. Andrew Spence, the farmer and haulier who was a prime mover in the 2000 protests with the People's Fuel
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Masks may be needed to stop fumes
EXPERTS have warned that children may need masks to protect them from toxic pollution as they head to school if no action is taken against fumes. New figures have revealed dangerous levels of toxic pollutants across the North-East. The results, carried
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Plan for mobile phone mast near housing is withdrawn
A PLANNING application for permission to build a mobile phone mast on a north Durham housing estate has been withdrawn. Operator O2 UK applied to Chester-le-Street District Council for approval to erect a 15-metre antenna in Pelaw Crescent, Chester-le-Street
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Suzanne's magic touch
SUZANNE France's love affair with Efidium continued in earnest at Thirsk yesterday when she won on the gelding for the fifth time, writes Janus. The young apprentice jockey certainly has the magic touch when it comes to steering the seven-year-old, who
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Slugging it out in the slow lane
AFTER the jubilation of England's Ashes triumph and the fury over the nation's footballing displays, a slightly lesser-known sport took centre stage yesterday - slug racing. Finely-honed competitors lined up for a contest that was hardly a thrill-a-minute
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Heavenly charm of the Hebrides
HOME from the Hebrides, glorious in its haste-ye-back improbability and welcoming in its autumn embrace. They kept the severe weather warnings until we'd returned. Holiday reading included Andrew Marr's autobiography, in which the former BBC political
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Brothers accused of running brothel
Two brothers from the North-East charged with running a brothel in the region have had their case committed to Teesside Crown Court. Mark Cass, 32, of Corporation Road, Darlington, and Daniel Cass, 24 of Rothbury Avenue, Stockton, appeared before District
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M&S will move to retail park
MARKS & Spencer last night confirmed it had signed a deal with the owners of Teesside Retail Park to open a 33,000 sq ft store. The company has agreed a lease from British Land, the owner of the retail park near Stockton, and said it planned to open
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Not so wild about Harry
It has been a turbulent last 12 months for the third in line to the throne with Prince Harry being in the public eye for many of the wrong reasons. But, as the Prince turns 21 tomorrow there are signs the royal wild child may at last be calming down.
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Le Tallec wants a WBA win
ANTHONY LE TALLEC is relying on past experiences and a few jokes from manager Mick McCarthy to lighten the mood as Sunderland try to lift themselves off the foot of the Premiership table. Le Tallec suffered the ignominy of relegation during his season-long
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Darley at home on lucky track
KEVIN Darley looks all set to improve an already decent record at Beverley by riding a treble aboard Stage Flight, Lazzoom, and Fruit Salad. Doubtless Darley will still be mourning the impending retirement of dual 1000 Guineas heroine, Attraction, who
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Thomas can go on loan
DAVID HODGSON last night reassured midfielder Stephen Thomas that a temporary move away from the club could enhance his long-term prospects at the Darlington Football Stadium, writes Lee Hall. On the same day that striker Clyde Wijnhard turned down a
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Decision-makers urged to reject quarrying near henges
THE long and often acrimonious battle over the future of one of Britain's most important archaeological sites will come to a head next week. At a meeting in Masham town hall, North Yorkshire county councillors will decide on the future of quarrying operations
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Arc marks its anniversary
A TEESSIDE arts centre will celebrate its anniversary with a day of dance and drama. Since it reopened two years ago, more than 200,000 users have visited Arc, in Stockton's Dovecot Street. To mark its success, it is holding an open day on Saturday, September
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Keeping a firm tab on businesses
A DARLINGTON business is hoping to take advantage of its expertise in microchip tracking technology. Agility Systems, part of Chelford Group, is creating a subsidiary company to help businesses take advantage of Radio Frequency Identification Technology
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Man sentenced for possessing cocaine
A Darlington man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine. Jed Kirby, of Hammond Drive, admitted having 473 milligrammes of cocaine for personal use. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge after appearing at Darlington Magistrates
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Court is told of worst case of nuisance noise at house
A MAN who ran a 24-hour party house was described as the worst offender that noise investigators had ever come across, a court was told. Day and night, the volume of music was so loud that one neighbour was forced to move house to get some peace from
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Racecourse underpass art is damaged by vandals
VANDALS have ruined work by young offenders who have been carrying out a clean-up at the Redcar Racecourse's underpass. Community safety wardens are now trying to track down the graffiti vandals, who have "signed" their work - Jazz and Anth 05. Graffiti
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Tree walk
A one-mile walk exploring the world of tree folklore, customs and medicine is being led by countryside ranger Darryl Cox this Sunday. Walkers are asked to meet at Bowlees picnic area near Middleton-in-Teesdale at 2pm. No booking is required and the walk
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Bishop replaces a favourite on the board
Wallace and Gromit have found a new favourite cheese - but Wensleydale still holds a place in their hearts. Details of the plot for the Curse of the Were-Rabbit have been leaked from the studios of production firm Aardman Animations. Rumours suggest that
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Taking the travel out of job hunting
AN initiative has been launched to help the unemployed get out of the dole queue and back into work. It allows people across North Yorkshire the opportunity for specialist job search help and advice without having to travel to the nearest JobCentre. Outreach
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Cyclists' aid for patients is suite gesture
FOUR intrepid cyclists tackled three days of tough off-road riding to help hospital patients. The friends, all from Ripon, covered 100 miles of the North York Moors in aid of the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton. The big-hearted mountain bikers - Paul
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MP is hospital cleaner for day
SCARBOROUGH and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill fulfilled a promise made during the General Election campaign and spent a day as a cleaner at Scarborough General Hospital. He took up an offer from hospital staff after expressing concerns about the MRSA bug.
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Keeping a firm tab on businesses
A DARLINGTON business is hoping to take advantage of its expertise in microchip tracking technology. Agility Systems, part of Chelford Group, is creating a subsidiary company to help businesses take advantage of Radio Frequency Identification Technology
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Joining panel
BEAMISH Museum has joined the judging panel for the North-East Tourism Awards, to be held on Wednesday, October 19, at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. The museum, near Stanley, County Durham, cannot enter this year because it won last year
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Suspected stroke
A SUSPECTED stroke victim has gone missing from a North-East hospital. Christian Tyler left the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, on September 5, the day after he was taken in. The 38-year-old is from Hertfordshire, where he also went missing from hospital
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Better security for elderly
A GROUP of elderly residents has switched on to modern technology. Warden Call equipment has been installed at six sheltered housing complexes across the district. It allows existing devices, such as flood detectors and fall alarms, to be linked to the
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Transporter Bridge appeal
Age Concern Teesside is looking for volunteers to help with their latest fund-raising effort - a walk over Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge. Anyone interested in acting as a marshal or first-aider for the event, on October 15 and 16, is asked to call
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Team effort in aid of cancer charity
A COMPANY accounts team hopes the pounds will roll in after they complete the region's biggest charity run at the weekend. Six colleagues from property, energy and waste management firm HJ Banks' head office, at Thrislington Industrial Estate, West Cornforth
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Now that's a family reunion
MORE than 150 members of the same North Yorkshire family will gather later this month. The Metcalfe family can trace its history back to the 15th Century when members fought alongside Henry V at Agincourt. The family, which is from Wensleydale, will gather
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Unveiling plans to cut crime by 15pc
A PLAN to cut crime in north Durham by 15 per cent is to be unveiled on Friday. The Derwentside Community Safety Partnership (CSP) aims to hit its target over the next three years. An event has been organised to tell people how it intends to reduce anti-social
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Thomas can go on loan
DAVID HODGSON last night reassured midfielder Stephen Thomas that a temporary move away from the club could enhance his long-term prospects at the Darlington Football Stadium, writes LEE HALL. On the same day that striker Clyde Wijnhard turned down a
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Great Dickens
The Northern Touring Theatre Company is staging a version of Great Expectations in Mickleton village hall in Teesdale on Thursday, September 22. Tickets are available from Stan Walinets by calling (01833) 640066.
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'Petrol pumps will not run dry'
FUEL campaigners last night promised not to stage refinery blockades and assured motorists their demonstrations would not lead to shortages at the pumps. Drivers continued to flock to filling stations yesterday, but in some places the message not to panic
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Darley at home on lucky track
KEVIN Darley looks all set to improve an already decent record at Beverley by riding a treble aboard Stage Flight, Lazzoom, and Fruit Salad. Doubtless Darley will still be mourning the impending retirement of dual 1000 Guineas heroine, Attraction, who
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Reiziger takes parting shot
MICHAEL REIZIGER faces a hot reception back on Teesside should he ever return - after stating new team PSV are 'a bigger club . . .with a more successful history'. Reiziger turned his back on Teesside only one season for life back in his native Holland
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Major delays for rail users
PASSENGERS faced major disruption yesterday after signal failures at opposite ends of the East Coast Main Line. The signal problems primarily hit GNER services, which experienced severe delays, but Cross Country trains operated in the North by Virgin
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Lunch invitation by football club chairman
A GROUP of pensioners has been offered free Sunday lunch at a North-East football club for the foreseeable future. The invitation to the group of 13 elderly people, who live in sheltered accommodation in Firthmoor, Darlington, came from Stewart Davies
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Plane safety role
A TEESSIDE company is to ensure the safety of aeroplanes flying in and out of many Spanish airports. Flight Precision Ltd, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, will be responsible for checks on airport navigation and landing equipment at destinations
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Defence review on course to help troubled businesses
A GOVERNMENT review of defence contracts will be concluded in time to help North-East businesses -including troubled shipbuilder Swan Hunter - it has been revealed. Defence businesses across the region will know by the end of the year what work they could
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Ryder Cup influx expected
LEGENDARY Spaniard Seve Ballesteros believes the North-East will be graced by many of next year's Ryder Cup stars if they use The Wynyard as a stepping stone to facing the Americans. Despite being deprived of star names like Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke
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Murder-charge businessman will be sent to Singapore, judges rule
A NORTH-EAST businessman will be extradited to Singapore this week to face double murder charges after he lost a last-ditch attempt to fight deportation yesterday. Michael McCrea, from Penshaw, County Durham, was "devastated" by a decision from Australia's
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Cancer patient criticises NHS for not funding drug
A former fitter who is dying from asbestos-related cancer has criticised his local NHS trust for refusing to fund a drug which could improve his quality of life. Bernard Hoyland, 63, from Marske, east Cleveland, developed problems with his chest in December
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Government could face strike action over pensions
The Government was on a collision course with millions of public sector workers today after union leaders warned of a series of potentially crippling strikes over pensions. Leaders of 13 unions representing more than three million workers in the NHS,
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Captain Collingwood returns to Riverside
DURHAM need seven points from their final championship match against Northamptonshire starting at Riverside today to ensure promotion, and the requirement will come down with each point they deny their visitors. Although they lie sixth, Northants have
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Cricket authorities inundated as euphoria grips nation
CRICKET authorities in the North-East aim to build on the euphoria and interest in the sport in the wake of England's Ashes success. Durham's cricket development officers, Nick Brown and Graeme Weeks, said their phones had not stopped ringing in their
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Bakery's production line restarts after fire destroys premises
A NORTH-EAST bakery is back operating at its old home 17 months after the building was destroyed in a mystery blaze. Peters Cathedral Bakers had to transfer production to a disused food factory in Peterlee after the fire gutted its long-standing production
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Friend wins bet after Pratt's test performance
A friend of England substitute fielder Gary Pratt has won more than £3,000 after betting he would one day play Test cricket, it emerged today. Neil Stoker, who went to school with the Durham cricketer, wagered £100 at 33/1 that his former school pal would
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Merry-go-round thief steels carousel car
Police were today hunting a thief who stole a toy car from a children's merry-go-round. The thief will find the bright pink Barbie Beetle has no steering or power and can therefore only travel in a straight line, if pushed. The fibreglass car, which is
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On TV last night
Medium (BBC2) The Man Who Faked His Life (C4) ALLISON du Bois sees dead people which, to be brutally frank, can ruin your love life. Imagine how it could affect your relationship with your loved one if you kept seeing his father in bed with you. "Can
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Record crowd anticipated for show
A THREE-DAY flower show, recognised as the top autumn event in the country, is expecting another record-breaking attendance. Last year, 37,385 people visited the event on the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, beating the previous record by more than
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Take care with health services
PROPOSALS to change the structure of local health services are a matter of significant public concern. We are in favour of the principle of cutting management costs and red tape in the National Health Service and redirecting resources to the front line
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Outcry over plan to merge health trusts
FORMER Health Secretary Alan Milburn has made an outspoken attack on Government plans for a radical shake-up of local health services. The outburst puts him on collision course with NHS chiefs. The Darlington MP has condemned what he called a "ludicrous
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£3bn Sure Start is failing - study
A FLAGSHIP scheme to give children from struggling North-East families a better start in life is failing to deliver improvements, according to a leaked study. The first major evaluation of the Government's £3bn Sure Start programme has found it has failed
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Why we crave the world of cricket
SSHHH, whisper it gently, but the yobbish worm might just be turning. Not very far and not very fast but there are some small signs that we are fed up with our graceless, grabbing, gloating modern society and yearn, though we hardly realise it, for gentler
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14/09/05
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: THERE has been a considerable amount of correspondence in your columns recently about bus services in parts of County Durham, essentially those provided by Arriva. When bus services were privatised we were told that this would encourage
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Why we crave the civilised world of cricket
In today's yobbish society, we've been bowled over by the gentlemanly good manners of English cricket. SSHHH, whisper it gently, but the yobbish worm might just be turning. Not very far and not very fast but there are some small signs that we are fed
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Geisha to visit North at invite of company
A NORTH company specialising in Japanese culture has announced plans to bring a geisha to the UK. Jill Clay and Katie Chaplin, from Vintage Kimono, in Richmond, North Yorkshire, have organised events for the visit of the geisha and a maiko -a geisha apprentice
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Blown away by Ashes turnout
England's Ashes heroes celebrated with tens of thousands of fans in jubilant scenes across the capital yesterday - after a long night spent toasting their extraordinary triumph. Cheering crowds packed streets throughout the city to hail captain Michael
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Winning the Ashes, losing the game
'Let's have a last look at that haircut.'' Interviewed after the final Ashes Test by former England opening bat Michael Atherton, Man of the Match Kevin Pietersen duly obliged, raising his cap to reveal his blond-streaked hair. We enjoyed a good back
