Archive
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Specials rewarded for work with the public
PART-time police officers in the North Yorkshire force's eastern area have been honoured for their efforts to help the public. The awards were presented at police headquarters in Newby Wiske, Northallerton, by Chief Superintendent Sue Day and operations
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Rape victim speaks of ordeal
A WOMAN who was beaten and raped by a stranger 16 years ago branded her attacker a monster last night as she spoke for the first time about her ordeal. The woman, now a married mother in her early forties and who cannot be named, said she still bears
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Fire's threat of deadly smoke
A FIRE blew a cloud of potentially lethal smoke across a town last night when a derelict office block burst into flames. Residents were told to keep doors and windows closed because of the threat of potentially deadly asbestos spreading from Billingham
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Northern investors trade more often
PEOPLE in the North-East are the most active investors in the UK, trading shares more often than those in the traditional stockbroker belt, research showed last night. Investors in the North-East - and Northern Ireland - have carried out an average of
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Region still has UK's worst employment level
THE North-East still has the highest levels of unemployment in the country, official figures showed last night. The amount of people claiming unemployment benefit dropped to 81,000 from last month's 83,000 - but still showed that 6.8 per cent of the population
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Campaign hopes to cut number of flu deaths in N-E
PRIMARY care trusts have joined forces to encourage people to get vaccinated against flu. People in County Durham and Darlington, particularly those aged 65 and over or with health problems, are urged to visit their GP to claim a free jab. Darlington,
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Man jailed over elaborate fraud
A FAILED businessman who masterminded an elaborate fraud to fund a luxury lifestyle for his partner has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Stephen Hoyle stole the identities of dozens of unsuspecting people across the North to take out loans, mortgages
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A choice we'd rather not make
Choice is the latest buzz word. In fact, it's been around since Margaret Thatcher's day, but politicians of all persuasions are still shouting about it as if they'd only just come up with the idea. Of course, we all want to have choices in our lives.
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13/10/2005
TERRORISM: THE attack on Iraq was presented as part of the war on terror, but in terms of dealing with the threat of international terrorism, it can only be described as a monumental blunder. It brought no terrorist ringleaders to justice and, as widely
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Links on course to complete an impressive hat-trick
Archerfield Links, who is improving at a rate of knots, is fancied to complete the three-timer in the NGK Spark Plugs Nursery over a mile at Newmarket this afternoon. Neville Callaghan's juvenile, who showed promise on his debut, turned in an improved
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Patients told 'Go private or find another dentist'
Thousands of patients are being given an ultimatum - go private or start looking for another NHS dentist. In the latest blow to dentistry a long-established practice in Bishop Auckland is going private. More than 4,000 patients who are registered with
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IT group moves up a class with expansion
A FAST-GROWING IT company in North Yorkshire has doubled the size of its offices and is expanding its workforce. Richmond-based thecitysecret, which designs bespoke computer software for some of the world's top investment banks, has outgrown its converted
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Soldiers test positive for drugs
A soldier from a regiment which had 14 personnel who tested positive for drugs last month is being investigated in connection with substance abuse, the Ministry of Defence confirmed last night. The Royal Military Police is questioning a member of the
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Family are brought together in mourning for Stephen
FAMILY reunions are usually happy occasions, filled with joy as long-lost relatives share memories of their missing years. But for Eddie Humphries and his son Colin, the mood was somewhat different, as the pair struggled to come to terms with the death
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Councillors unanimously oppose plan to create mine
A PLAN to create an opencast mine on the border of County Durham and Northumberland appeared to have been blocked last night after councillors unanimously opposed the scheme. Gateshead Council received petitions with more than 16,000 names and 750 letters
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Gas course students get kitted up
STUDENTS are cutting a dash at their college after receiving a set of work wear. East Durham and Houghall Community College has teamed up with Lomax training centre, in Sunderland, to provide a gas maintenance course. Students were this week provided
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Witnesses sought after forklift truck is stolen from building site
RESIDENTS may have witnessed the theft of a forklift truck from a building site without realising what was happening. Police are appealing for witnesses after the vehicle, which is worth £20,000, was stolen from the West Park building site, in West Auckland
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Cities come bottom of national fitness table
PEOPLE in Sunderland and York need to get fitter, according to a survey that has ranked the cities in the bottom-half of a league table for fitness and healthy lifestyles. The cities have been branded two of Britain's least fittest cities by private medical
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Gardeners call on village for support
ALLOTMENT holders have called a public meeting in a last-ditch attempt to save their gardens. Howden-le-Wear Allotments Association is hoping villagers will turn out in force to the meeting tonight. Representatives from Wear Valley District Council, George
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Burger man defends patch
THE OWNER of a fast food catering van has set up a petition after being told to leave his patch. Paul Williamson has been operating Paulie's Pig Out on a lay-by near Harperley for the past five weeks, but Durham County Council has asked him to move. The
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From the start of one great career to the launch of another
A SCHOOL once attended by a comedy legend could become a tea shop. Teesdale District Council is expected to approve a change of use at 16 High Green, Gainford, near Barnard Castle. The building was once part of Gainford Academy, whose most famous former
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Quarry inspires some tall tales to a young audience
A WEARDALE quarry provided the setting for story-telling sessions aimed at capturing the imaginations of primary school children. Story-teller Malcolm Green was joined by students from Wolsingham School and Community College at Harehope Quarry in Frosterley
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YMCA kept me off streets, recalls officer backing plan
A SENIOR police officer is backing a bid for YMCA premises in a market town. Kevin Tuck, the community inspector at Barnard Castle police station, said YMCA premises would help keep anti-social behaviour off the streets. Inspector Tuck said he will champion
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Pupils tour the planet
PUPILS at a Darlington secondary school got an insight into how human life has affected the planet. A national tour of Our Planet - Our Future visited Hummersknott School and Language College on Tuesday. The tour, organised by the Institute of Physics
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Ale fans raise a glass and cash for charity
BEER lovers who enjoyed this year's Darlington Rhythm 'n' Brews Festival also did their bit for charity. The town's branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) raised £111 for the Great North Air Ambulance. The cheque will be handed over this week and
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Students get involved in designing for real
PUPILS from a Darlington primary school are taking part in a competition to design bus shelters for the borough's latest housing development. Children from Alderman Leach Primary School are taking part in the competition as part of National Construction
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Club praises top runner
DARLINGTON Rotary Club has praised the top fundraiser in the borough's 10km run. Simon MacConachie raised £530 for the event's chosen charities, the Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital and St Teresa's Hospice. Mr MacConachie, who runs the Chevrolet
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Councils are breaking glass ceiling
WOMEN have started to break through the earnings glass ceiling in local authorities, accounting for about half of the top-paid posts in a number of councils in the North-East, according to research. The GMB union yesterday revealed that in Darlington
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Former town mayor dies aged 73
A FORMER mayor of Pickering has died suddenly at the age of 73. Councillor Tom Bateman, who was mayor of the town last year, had been a member of the town council for eight years. London-born Coun Bateman spent 27 years in the Royal Navy as an aircraft
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Guidance for private foster carers
ANYONE involved in private fostering arrangements is urged to take advantage of a free advice and guidance service. It is estimated that at least 10,000 children in England are privately fostered. Private Fostering refers to circumstances in which any
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Officers get new powers to curb gangs of unruly youths
POLICE have secured new powers to stop gangs of unruly youths causing problems in South Bank, near Middlesbrough. Cleveland Police have successfully applied to the courts for a dispersal order. It means they can order groups of two or more people to leave
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Group formed to protect site from developers
RESIDENTS living on an upmarket estate are to form their own parish group to protect against over-zealous developers. People who own homes in and around Wynyard Woods hope that by forming their own parish meeting they will be kept abreast of any planning
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Youngsters given sporting chance with pitch and suite
SPORTS facilities in a North Yorkshire town have received a boost with the opening of a £840,000 floodlit pitch and fitness suite. The development at Bedale High School was opened yesterday by former pupil and professional football Simon Grayson. The
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England come out on top as Rooney stars
ALL'S well that ends well and, after a week of soul-searching and strife, England signed off their World Cup qualification programme in style last night with an impressive 2-1 win over Poland. Goals from Michael Owen and Frank Lampard ensured Sven Goran
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Unit to prevent another Soham
A NEW unit has been set up which is responsible for checking staff and volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults in North Yorkshire. It will act as a central point of contact between the county council and the Criminal Records Bureau - which
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Spotlight falls on fighting labourers
HISTORIAN and author John Sheen is to look at the background and service of the Durham Light Infantry's famous fighting labourers this weekend. He has researched the stories of four DLI battalions at the Western Front during the First World War for a
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Dance marks decade
A CARING organisation from north Durham is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a party this weekend. Derwentside Carers' Centre, in Delves Lane, Consett, is holding a dinner dance at Consett Civic Centre on Saturday evening. It was established as Derwentside
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Recycling is child's play
A chemical company has helped realise a dream for Priory Woods Primary School on Middlesbrough's Netherfields estate. The school started raising funds two years ago to buy a new soft play surface. Dow Chemical Company, in Wilton, saved the school an estimated
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Recycling's gotta lotta supporters
Council officials are now using a modified electric milk float to collect residents' garden waste from outside their homes. The community composting initiative was launched in Hartlepool earlier this year, following a successful bid to the European Regional
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Crematorium refurbishment due to start
AN £18,000 refurbishment of part of Darlington Crematorium will start next week. The Book of Remembrance Hall, at the West Cemetery site, will be closed from Monday until Sunday, November 6, to allow the work to be carried out. During that time, the books
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Farmers rewarded for bird watching
FARMERS are being urged to watch the birdie, particularly tree sparrows and corn buntings. Decades after being encouraged to remove hundreds of miles of hedgerows, creating prairie-like vistas - central government is paying farmers to put them back. Farmers
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Reunited in tragedy
TODAY our hearts go out to a father and son reunited yesterday for the first time in almost 40 years. Their get-together should have been such a joyous family occasion - sharing memories of all those missing years. But we are sorry to report that, for
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Jumpers not Aloud in Posh style guide
POPSTAR Cheryl Tweedy will be picking up style tips from Victoria Beckham in the run-up to her wedding. The Girls Aloud star, from Heaton, Newcastle, is about to become a real Footballer's Wife when she ties the knot with Arsenal and England left-back
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England come out on top as Rooney stars
ALL'S well that ends well and, after a week of soul-searching and strife, England signed off their World Cup qualification programme in style last night with an impressive 2-1 win over Poland. Goals from Michael Owen and Frank Lampard ensured Sven Goran
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Contest to find beauty queen
A PAGEANT is to be held to choose a town's beauty queen. The Miss York competition returned in May after a break of almost 20 years. It was won by Georgia Horsley, who went on to reach the final 12 in the Miss England competition. Women aged between 17
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Jurys' buyout
A family consortium owning more than 40 per cent of Jurys Doyle has launched a £859m takeover bid for the Irish group, it was announced yesterday. JDH Acquisitions, representing the Doyle family, said it would pay £13 per share. The board has unanimously
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Suicidal father breached bail
A SUICIDAL father spent a night in a police cell after his lover dropped off their baby son to cheer him up, a court heard yesterday. Kirk Stockdale was not allowed to contact the mother of his 20-month-old son under bail conditions imposed after he appeared
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Elms grow with force contract
A TRAINING company set up by a former County Durham police officer has been awarded a contract by one of Britain's biggest police forces. Elms Associates Ltd, based in Darlington, was set up by director Michael Wilkinson to train others in crime prevention
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Multi-million pound boost for school refurbishment
NEARLY £25m is to be invested in massive redevelopment projects at the two secondary schools in the west end of Darlington, it was announced yesterday. The Government said the money would dramatically improve Hummersknott School and Language College,
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On TV last night
A Brush With Fame (ITV1) A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away (C4) Come Dine With Me (C4) STRIPPING in the daytime is all the rage, although it has nothing to do with wallpaper, comics or dusting in the nude. This is the practice of TV schedulers showing
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Cities come bottom of national fitness table
PEOPLE in Sunderland and York need to get fitter, according to a survey that has ranked the cities in the bottom-half of a league table for fitness and healthy lifestyles. The cities have been branded two of Britain's least fittest cities by private medical
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Man charged with animal cruelty offences
A man has been charged with cruelty in connection with the discovery of nearly 30 dead animals at a stables, it emerged today. Lee Howard is to appear before magistrates in Co Durham next week charged with causing unnecessary suffering to 13 horses, 11
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Teamwork helps to defeat the vandals
FED-UP homeowners have teamed up with a property company to tackle a recurring vandal problem. Residents in Horden have been working alongside East Durham Homes (EDH) to stop repeated attacks on fencing in the village. Wooden fencing in the Davies Walk
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Apprentices learn old crafts to preserve moors
APPRENTICES are being trained in age-old rural skills as part of a job-creation project in the North York Moors National Park. They are being taught how to build dry stone walls, lay hedges, erect post and rail fences, and other traditional crafts under
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Contest to find beauty queen
A PAGEANT is to be held to choose a town's beauty queen. The Miss York competition returned in May after a break of almost 20 years. It was won by Georgia Horsley, who went on to reach the final 12 in the Miss England competition. Women aged between 17
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Walter Wall's policy pays off
WALTER Wall, the UK's biggest independent chain of factory carpet clearance superstores, yesterday announced a growth sales and the launch of a store in County Durham. Company chief executive Simon Heptinsall said the "pile it high, sell it cheap" approach
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School nurse who shared porn barred by professional council
A North-East primary school nurse who shared almost 200 pornographic pictures of young boys with other Internet perverts has been kicked out of the profession after a hearing in London. Stephen Paul Green, 25, who worked with the Hartlepool Care Trust
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Links on course to complete an impressive hat-trick
Archerfield Links, who is improving at a rate of knots, is fancied to complete the three-timer in the NGK Spark Plugs Nursery over a mile at Newmarket this afternoon. Neville Callaghan's juvenile, who showed promise on his debut, turned in an improved
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Karanka's 'come and get me' plea to Boro
ATHLETIC BILBAO defender Aitor Karanka is hoping Middlesbrough resurrect their interest in him next summer. The former Real Madrid star was closing in on a move to the Riverside 12 months ago, only for the deal to collapse at the last minute. However,
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Warne is relishing battle of spin kings
Shane Warne did more than any Australian to prevent Ashes defeat this past summer and he could not have landed in a better place to repair any damage to their reputation. Veteran leg-spinner Warne was phenomenal despite Australia's 2-1 defeat, taking
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County steps in with loan for station project
A GROUP of volunteers hoping to redevelop an old railway station has received a £250,000 loan to ease cash flow problems. North Yorkshire County Council has lent the money to Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust. The trust has launched a £2.3m project
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Reunited in grief
THE father and brother of a disabled man who was beaten to death behind a town-centre pub were reunited yesterday for the first time in almost 40 years. Stephen Humphries' grief-stricken father, Eddie, and brother, Colin - who had not seen each other
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Hot rocks make for a hot topic
THE "hot rocks" crucial to the success of plans for a renewable energy model village in Weardale, County Durham, feature in an event at Newcastle University tomorrow. Experts will give a presentation on the proposed geothermal scheme for Eastgate during
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Tea shop proposal for former academy
A SCHOOL once attended by a comedy legend could become a tea shop. Teesdale District Council is expected to approve a change of use at 16 High Green, Gainford, near Darlington. The building was once part of Gainford Academy, whose most famous former pupil
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Warning issued after teen targets elderly
ELDERLY residents in the Crook area are being warned to be on their guard following a spate of distraction burglaries. Police are searching for a teenage boy and are appealing for witnesses. The most recent incident took place on Tuesday morning in Waterloo
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YMCA kept me off streets, recalls officer backing plan
A SENIOR police officer is backing a bid for YMCA premises in a market town. Kevin Tuck, the community inspector at Barnard Castle police station, said YMCA premises would help keep anti-social behaviour off the streets. Inspector Tuck said he will champion
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Services will get better, say police
SENIOR police officers said changes to policing patterns in south Durham will not affect rural communities. Residents of Teesdale have been told they will get a better service. From next year, the police will switch from a four-shift system to a five-shift
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MMP gains £1m of work in a week
CONSTRUCTION company the MMP Group has clinched work worth more than £1m in one week. The seven contracts will see Newton Aycliffe-based MMP work with contractors on restoration and new-build projects across the North-East. The work has been won by MMP's
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Sales increase for Nissan in September
Car maker Nissan has boosted new car sales in Europe by almost a third, figures showed. New car registrations in September jumped by 31 per cent on last September, leading the advance with South Korea's Kia Motors, which saw the number of new car sales
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'Apartments may jeopardise road safety'
PLANS to build 30 apartments in a picturesque village have met with opposition from the local community. Villagers from Shotley Bridge, near Consett, fear the plan to develop land on Snows Green Road will increase traffic. They fear this will jeopardise
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Snippets from the town's latest author
PENSIONER Betty Shaw is proving how keeping an active mind is helping to keep her young at heart. The 81-year-old has launched her second book and plans to donate the proceeds to the Air Ambulance Service. Mrs Shaw, from Darlington, is a member of the
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Waste collection scheme improves recyling
A waste collection scheme has helped divert hundreds of tonnes of rubbish from landfill in the past week. City of York Council introduced alternate weekly collections for garden waste and household rubbish two weeks ago. Recycling boxes and bags are collected
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Sadness as pensioners' group folds
THE founder of a Teesside pensioners' group has spoken of his sadness at its imminent demise. Former post office union official and Redcar and Cleveland Borough councillor Mike Findley formed the Cleveland Pensioners' Forum in 2000 to give a voice to
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Last night's football
Last night's football ANL Division One: Brandon v Chester-le-Street (postponed) League Cup first round: West Allotment v Hebburn (postponed) l ANL Second Division club Guisborough are looking for a new manager following the departure of Tim Burn, who
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Bread binned in healthy eating plan for ducks
A COUNCIL is extending its healthy eating policy to ducks. Officials at South Park, in Darlington hope visitors will feed the ducks seed instead of bread. The tradition of feeding the ducks is not under threat, officials said last night, but they hope
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Brothers jailed for attack on drinkers
TWO brothers have been jailed for attacking other drinkers at a pub. Matthew Sowden, 36, was jailed for two years for smashing a pool cue across the head of Wayne Bennett. His brother, Karl, 38, was jailed for eight months for punching Mr Bennett and
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Whitehead hoping he wins game of family fortunes
DEAN Whitehead has revealed he is preparing for this weekend's visit of Manchester United to the Stadium Of Light with a family feud looming. Whitehead admitted his father used to take him to watch the Red Devils as a youngster and confessed he was under
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DNA tests to trace Vikings and Celts
HUNDREDS of volunteers are being sought to give their blood for their ancestors. People from rural Durham, the Tyne Valley, Northumberland and Cumbria have been asked to help investigate the biological influences of Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes
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Homes are set for rejection by council
EIGHT terraced houses should not be built on the site of a derelict garage on a main road into a city, planners have said. Romulus Developments wants to build the houses on the site of Tower Garage, in Palace Road, Ripon. The site was last used for car
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Loan deal on the cards for keeper Bossu
DARLINGTON are ready to offer Bert Bossu first-team football by granting the unsettled goalkeeper a loan move. Bossu has been a peripheral figure in manager David Hodgson's plans since joining the club on a free transfer during the summer. The Frenchman
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IT group moves up a class with expansion
A FAST-GROWING IT company in North Yorkshire has doubled the size of its offices and is expanding its workforce. Richmond-based thecitysecret, which designs bespoke computer software for some of the world's top investment banks, has outgrown its converted
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Councils are breaking glass ceiling
WOMEN have started to break through the earnings glass ceiling in local authorities, accounting for about half of the top-paid posts in a number of councils in the North-East, according to research. The GMB union yesterday revealed that in Darlington
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Man tries to mix fireworks into one
A MAN lost his thumb after dangerous chemicals exploded as he tried to mix two fireworks into one. Police were called to Laygate, in South Shields, South Tyneside, on Tuesday night after an explosion was heard. They discovered a 31-year-old man who had
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Talks to tackle Army bullying
ARMY chiefs have met anti-bullying campaigners for the first time to discuss ways of forging a partnership to tackle the problem. Delegates from Daniel's Trust and the Forces Helpline, both set up to help bullied Armed Forces staff, were invited to visit
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£1.5m centre has industry support
A £1.5M development to put a college at the forefront of the food industry has been opened. The Centre for Vocational Excellence in Food Chain Technology, at Askham Bryan College, near York, has support from across the food industry. It was opened by
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A catalyst for true peace
SADLY, it is not unusual to see gangs of youths roaming the streets in Abidjan, the impoverished capital of Ivory Coast. Six years of vicious civil war have ripped the West African nation in two, creating an environment of fear and recrimination in which
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Region to celebrate Peel day
THE life of DJ John Peel will be celebrated today as part of a national event commemorating his contribution to music. Venues across the region will be hosting musical events for Peel Day. The veteran BBC broadcaster died suddenly last year while on a
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999 merger warning issued
MERGERS of emergency services across the North-East will make it harder to respond to a "New Orleans- style" disaster, the Tories said yesterday. They warned that the amalgamation of fire and emergency crews, as well as police forces, was a receipe for
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Multi-million pound boost for schools refurbishment
MORE than £63m was promised by the government yesterday to rebuild or replace crumbling school buildings across the North-East - including £15m for Cleveland. A further £21.5m was allocated to North Yorkshire, including £19.2m for a new secondary school
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Investment attracts more than 40 businesses
Investment of £3m in two industrial estates in Hartlepool has attracted more than forty new businesses to the area and created over 200 jobs. The Longhill and Sandgate Industrial Estates have undergone major improvements, with the first phase of the programme
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'Constabularies need 4,000 officers'
The region's police forces are facing their biggest shake-up for years. Stuart Arnold looks at the key questions about the planned reforms. Q Why is the restructuring taking place? A Home Secretary Charles Clarke announced a review of the 43 police force
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John North: Breakfasting like a Lord
Bishop Auckland's Lord Foster may have lost his stripes but he was a scintillating speaker at a men's breakfast. A GOOD start, as it were, the column found itself at 8am last Saturday at a breakfast, men only, organised by Barnard Castle's churches. The
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Approval likely for £170m plan
PLANS for a £170m development that could create more than 2,000 jobs in the region are expected to take a major step forward next week. The Central Park regeneration project, the biggest in Darlington for decades, is seen as one of the most important
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DNA tests to trace Vikings and Celts
HUNDREDS of volunteers are being sought to give their blood for their ancestors. People from rural Durham, the Tyne Valley, Northumberland and Cumbria have been asked to help investigate the biological influences of Celts, Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes
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Support grows for one-force option
A DAY after being described as a lone voice calling for a merger of all three North-East police forces, it seems that Durham Chief Constable Paul Garvin is not alone after all. The description of Mr Garvin by Cleveland Police Authority chairman Dave McLuckie
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The curse of the cringeworthy mum
IT is hard to believe that my devoted three-year-old, who now thinks his mummy is just about the best thing in the world, will, one day, consider me little more than a total embarrassment. But I know this is true. I just have to look at his biggest brothers
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Girls reflect on artist's stained glass creation
STUDENTS at Durham High School for Girls have been given a preview of a stained glass window that is soon to be installed. The window, which was designed and made by former school governor Dr Ruth Etchells, was dedicated by the Bishop of Jarrow, the Right
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Cuts to council jobs and services would be last resort
A TOWN's mayor has pledged that job losses and cuts to key services will be a last resort if a predicted budget shortfall of £8.8m comes to fruition. Financial forecasts have warned that Hartlepool Borough Council could face a deficit of almost £9m during
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Another clean sweep
CLEANING staff are celebrating after winning official recognition for the quality of their work. Hartlepool Borough Council has been awarded a Chartermark by the Government following a rigorous two-day inspection during the summer. The council was first
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Caravan park operator in takeover talks
Britain's second-largest caravan park operator has confirmed it is in takeover talks. Newcastle-based Parkdean Holidays plc, which has 20 sites in Cornwall, Scotland, Wales and Norfolk, said in a statement that it was in talks which could lead to it being
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The spectre at the party
Today marks Margaret Thatcher's 80th birthday. As the Conservatives prepare to elect a new leader, Nick Morrison looks at how the former prime minister is still casting a shadow over her party - and the country. IT will be a fairly low key affair. Just
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Wind farm plan rejected
The rejection of plans to install two wind turbines has blown away the future financial stability of a County Durham farmer. Easington District Council turned down the application from A7 Energy because the turbines would have been too close to the dropping
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MMP gains £1m of work in a week
CONSTRUCTION company the MMP Group has clinched work worth more than £1m in one week. The seven contracts will see Newton Aycliffe-based MMP work with contractors on restoration and new-build projects across the North-East. The work has been won by MMP's
