Archive
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John North: The singing centenarian
Jeny Wren has been singing all her life... all 100 years of it, a talent once recognised with a medal at Billy Butlin's holiday camp. THE marvellous Jenny Wren, oldest singer in town, celebrates her 100th birthday today. By way of overture we threw a
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Union says £25m academy plan is a potential disaster
UNION bosses have branded plans for a £25m city academy in the region a potential disaster. Workers' union Unison is pleading with Darlington Borough Council not to press ahead with trying to secure funding for the controversial development. The authority
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Fresh appeal to catch killer
THE mother of a young woman murdered five years ago has issued a fresh appeal to help catch her killer. On November 3, 2000, the naked body of prostitute Vicky Glass was found on the North York Moors, near Danby, close to Whitby. The 21-year-old had gone
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Cyclist may have chatted to raider
A PASSING cyclist may have chatted to a thief as he dragged a trolley packed with money - stolen moments earlier in a nightclub robbery - through the streets of a North-East city. Detectives investigating the raid at the dh-1 nightclub, in Durham City
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Game firm bids for commercial radio licence
THE company behind the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? game show has launched its bid for a commercial radio licence in the North-East. Celador Radio Broadcasting has put forward its Touch bid for a new FM frequency across the region. The station will
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Conservative favourite backs mayor's drive against crime
MIDDLESBROUGH is a town that has re-found its heart, Mayor Ray Mallon said yesterday in his annual address. He was speaking to an audience that included his invited guest David Cameron, the Tory leadership front-runner, who had come to see Mr Mallon's
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Water company splashes its cash on deal with E Wood
A MANUFACTURER of high- performance coatings has signed a seven-figure contract with Northumbrian Water. E Wood Ltd, based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, expects the deal to significantly boost company turnover and open up its world-patented product
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Clarke is forced to back down after rebellion over terror laws
DRACONIAN new anti-terror laws were in chaos last night after the Government caved in over proposals to hold suspects without charge for up to 90 days. Home Secretary Charles Clarke was forced to agree to "urgent discussions to reach a consensus" to avoid
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Fire service warns of danger of home displays
A fire service is warning people of the dangers of fireworks and bonfires. Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority is advising people to attend organised events. Fire chiefs say their appeal is not to spoil people's fun, but to minimise the risk
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Missing Jenny murdered - police
A murder inquiry has been launched by detectives investigating the disappearance of missing shop worker Jenny Nicholl. The search to find the 20-year-old has become a hunt to catch her killer, police say. Major new clues was revealed yesterday as senior
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Flood of entries for competition
ENTRIES are pouring in from across the world for a competition to find the region's top community website. The CommuniGate initiative is run by Newsquest North-East, publisher of The Northern Echo, and has seen more than 2,000 local groups establish free
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Tip top fish shop is named
A FISH and chip shop has beaten the competition to be named best in the North-East. Beedle's Chippy, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, won the regional final of the National Fish and Chip Shop of the Year competition. It will now compete against nine
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Cill Churnain can add to Sue's Haydock tally
SUE SMITH'S superb record at Haydock looks all set to be maintained by the game gelding Cill Churnain in the Harvey Jones Handicap Chase (2.10). The Bingley-based handler has enjoyed some of her highest-profile successes at the venue courtesy of The Last
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Legislation prevents Best Mate burial
Triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate has been prevented from being buried at Exeter racecourse ''because of government legislation'' and he will be cremated instead. Henrietta Knight's champion collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack after being pulled
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Comment from The Northern Echo: Assessing the damage
WITH David Blunkett departing the Government - as we said he should - the question now being asked is how much damage his resignation has caused the Prime Minister? Tony Blair has been lucky during his years in Downing Street to be faced with a weak Opposition
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Takeover hope for car parts manufacturer
ADMINISTRATORS of troubled car parts manufacturer Vickers Pressings Tolwood Automotive yesterday said they were hopeful of a sale. Since VPTA was advertised in the Financial Times on Friday, more than 20 different parties have expressed an interest in
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Pre-Stonehenge remains are hailed as massive discovery
ARCHAEOLOGISTS have uncovered one of the largest neolithic settlements found in Britain. The remains, some of which pre-date Stonehenge, have been found over an area the size of two football pitches at a North-East quarry. The settlement includes at least
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Black day for Blair
TONY BLAIR was fighting to restore his authority last night after the dramatic Cabinet resignation of one of his closest allies. And there was further trouble for the Prime Minister when the Government was forced to abandon proposals to hold terror suspects
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3/11/05
REGIONAL POLICE: THE recent articles and letters (HAS, Oct 20) regarding a regional police force for the North-East have raised some interesting points. Part of the theme is to link the southern part of Co Durham to a Tees Valley "division". Let me get
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McClaren steps into unknown
A CAUTIOUS Steve McClaren insists Middlesbrough would be wrong to underestimate one of the UEFA Cup's unknown quantities tonight. FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk are on Teesside for the Group D fixture at the Riverside Stadium having made light work of Scottish
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£4.5m centre opens for teaching healthcare
A £4.5M centre to improve healthcare teaching and learning throughout the region is being launched today. It has its headquarters in Newcastle, but it aims to bring about improvements in medical care across the North-East, meeting the changing needs of
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Henge survey rushed, campaigners say
ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners say a quarry firm is rushing an archaeological survey. The criticism comes after council chiefs delayed a decision on plans to extend Nosterfield Quarry, near Masham, North Yorkshire. It is to give archaeologists time to determine
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Victim will need plastic surgery
A MAN was so brutally beaten that he will need extensive plastic surgery on his face, police said last night. The unnamed 36-year-old suffered multiple fractures to his face and was still unconscious in intensive care last night after being kicked and
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PC faces jail over taxi rank assault
A POLICE officer's career could be in jeopardy after his conviction yesterday for assault while helping to make an arrest at a taxi rank. District Judge Stephen Earl said a custodial sentence could also be a realistic prospect for PC Andrew Davison after
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Rocket Man gives venue the superstar stamp of approval
DURHAM County Cricket Club believes next summer's concert by Sir Elton John will put its ground firmly on the map as a venue for top-class music. The multi-million pound Riverside ground at Chester-le-Street has proved a first-class stadium for cricket
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Henge survey rushed, campaigners say
ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners say a quarry firm is rushing an archaeological survey. The criticism comes after council chiefs delayed a decision on plans to extend Nosterfield Quarry, near Masham, North Yorkshire. It is to give archaeologists time to determine
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A pariah for life
FOR a player who has just won his eighth European Order of Merit, Colin Montgomerie has received precious little praise from his fellow professionals. A plaudit here and a pat on the back there, but hardly anything in the way of spontaneous support for
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£500,000 contract for N-E engineers
AK ENGINEERING Services on Teesside has won a £500,000 contract to provide risk assessment at a number of Anglian Water's sites across the country. The subsidiary of engineering group Aker Kvaerner, which employs about 1,100 people in the North-East,
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81-year-old's home set alight with firework
Mindless yobs caused fire damage to the home of a frail widow after they pushed a lit firework through her letterbox. The 81-year-old woman was about to go to bed when the Roman Candle was thrown into her home. The pensioner was forced to run out of the
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Residents urged to shape town's future
THE first in a series of drop-in sessions is being held tomorrow, urging people to get involved in shaping Darlington's future. Residents are invited to the event at Skerne Park Community Caf, in Coleridge Gardens, from 2pm to 4pm. They can talk to a
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School closure debate: Leader-in-waiting attacks merger plan
DAVID Cameron, the Conservatives' shadow education spokesman, stepped into the Darlington schools closure debate yesterday by saying that the fate of Hurworth School illustrated the failings in the Government's policy on secondary education. At a time
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Cost of Christmas lights to escalate
COSTS to light up a market town for the festive season could increase dramatically, a local council has warned. Barnard Castle Town Council's Christmas Festival Committee says health and safety legislation and the replacement of old equipment means the
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Scientists investigate market blaze
FORENSIC scientists are investigating a blaze that closed a town's indoor market. They were asked by insurance companies to investigate the fire at the Clifford Centre Family Indoor Market, in Stanley, County Durham, yesterday. It follows an investigation
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Fun day hoping to benefit local causes
ORGANISERS of a family fun day taking place this weekend hope to raise £21,000 for charity. The event will be held at Ripon Racecourse from 10am to 7pm on Sunday. Attractions include a funfair and fireworks display. There will also be a classic car show
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Inspector praises SureStart programme
A SCHEME designed to give children the best start in life has been praised by Government watchdogs. The quality and standards of care at SureStart South, in Hartlepool, were rated as good by Ofsted inspectors following an inspection during the summer.
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Stamp desperate to kickstart his Quakers career
A month after joining the club, Phil Stamp has yet to make his Darlington debut, but David Hodgson insists the midfielder will be a success. Stamp took another important step towards making his long-awaited Quakers bow when he returned to full training
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Authority declares war on hoardings
PLANNERS in the North York Moors National Park are clamping down on illegal signs, which they say are spoiling its picturesque landscape. They say there has been a considerable rise in the number of inappropriate signs in the park, such as advertising
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David returns to Peru for aid trip 18 years after adoption
A BABY boy rescued from a poverty-stricken shanty town in South America and flown to the North-East 18 years ago will return to help other children. David Austin has been brought up by Dr Peter Austin and his wife, Dianne, of Middleton-in-Teesdale, County
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No short cut to hair cure
THE race is on to turn a hair-raising North-East invention into a money spinner. It is exactly six years since a pioneering hair transplant involving two North-East scientists was announced in the science journal Nature. The scientific first, which involved
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A safety milestone
A CAMPAIGN to reduce road accidents and make children safer has reached a milestone. The number of pupils in Hartlepool who have received training on how to cross the road safely has topped 4,000. Hartlepool Borough Council's road safety unit introduced
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Food is honoured at excellence awards
THE county's food producers have been honoured at an awards ceremony. Winners at the first Deliciously Yorkshire Awards for Excellence include Wensleydale Products Ltd, from Hawes. The firm's Betty Guys Little Pies brand won the class for the most innovative
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Andrew takes the helm at NGI
THE Destination marketing agency for the NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) last night announced the appointment of Andrew Dixon as chief executive. Mr Dixon will oversee NGI's activities, which include leisure and business tourism marketing, expanding
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Warning of roadworks
ROADWORKS will be in operation for the next ten days in a busy residential area. Ingleby Way, in Ingleby Barwick, could see some traffic congestion during work to build a new school and roundabout. To maintain two-way traffic, the bus lay-by, on the south-bound
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Promises up for grabs in auction
ALMOST 100 lots will go under the hammer at a charity auction of promises next week. The event, in aid of Bainbridge Primary School, will be held on Friday, November 11 at the village hall. Promises up for auction include gym membership, a day's pheasant
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Course to boost restaurant trade
RESTAURANT owners are being offered a one-day course in public relations and targeting customers to boost their business. Held on Monday, December 7, at Krimo's Restaurant, in the Hartlepool Marina, it costs £20 per person and places will be reserved
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Losing the rat race
THESE are hard times to be a dad - even harder than usual. With my wife going back to work, the pressure has become unbearable. She leaves at 8am, which means I have to get four kids breakfasted, washed, toothbrushed, dressed, and off to school amid chaotic
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Invitation to hockey club
BUDDING young hockey stars can develop their skills at a junior club. Hartlepool Caledonian's Hockey Club is looking for people aged ten to 15 to join the club, which will run every Tuesday between 6pm and 7pm at English Martyrs School, in Catcote Road
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More to 'Mad Dog' Pogatetz than his bite
AS MIDDLESBROUGH aim to take another step towards the last 32 of the UEFA Cup tonight, Emanuel Pogatetz has insisted there is more to his game than the 'Mad Dog' style for which he is renowned. Despite only arriving in the summer, the £1.8m buy is a favourite
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Does David have the X-factor?
He's gone from also-ran to firm favourite in the Tory leadership race in the space of a few weeks, and is now talked about as a good bet for Prime Minister. But what does David Cameron stand for? Chris Lloyd finds out. DAVID Cameron's tall, angular frame
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Scott's new boys are beginning to show their true potential
MARTIN SCOTT believes Hartlepool United's much-changed squad are finally beginning to prove to supporters that they are just as capable of securing a play-off place as the class of last season. But the Pool manager has warned his players not to ease off
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Tip top fish shop is named
A FISH and chip shop has beaten the competition to be named best in the North-East. Beedle's Chippy, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, won the regional final of the National Fish and Chip Shop of the Year competition. It will now compete against nine
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Plunkett stars as England snatch win
DURHAM'S Liam Plunkett proved the hero in Rawalpinbdi yesterday as England claimed a morale-boosting victory in their opening tour match after a woeful batting display. Plunkett's four-wicket haul is an early indication to selectors that the Teessider
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Doctor to appear before council
A FAMILY doctor who forged patient's prescriptions to satisfy his addiction to painkillers is due to appear before the General Medical Council (GMC) next week. In June, Dr Robin Wade was fined by a judge at Teesside Crown Court after pleading guilty to
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Dad At Large
THESE are hard times to be a dad - even harder than usual. With my wife going back to work, the pressure has become unbearable. She leaves at 8am, which means I have to get four kids breakfasted, washed, toothbrushed, dressed, and off to school amid chaotic
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Black day for Blair
TONY BLAIR was fighting to restore his authority last night after the dramatic Cabinet resignation of one of his closest allies. And there was further trouble for the Prime Minister when the Government was forced to abandon proposals to hold terror suspects
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Police told to improve call handling
Two North-East police forces have been told a "quantum leap forward" is needed in the way they handle calls from the public. Both Durham and Cleveland forces were rated only "fair" in a detailed performance analysis carried out by Her Majesty's Chief
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Solano's return meets with Taylor's full approval
STEVEN TAYLOR may not have had the privilege of playing with Nolberto Solano in the past but has hailed the Peruvian as one of the main factors behind Newcastle United's recent turnaround in fortunes. Since making his second debut for the Magpies in the
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Do we need traditional mayhem?
Last week, an Asda store in Liverpool was threatened with an Asbo for allegedly marketing eggs to children in the run-up to Halloween. A spokesman for the store claimed they were for baking Halloween delicacies. Oh yes? Is a quiet evening in the kitchen
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On TV
Rome (BBC2) THERE'S a saying that "when in Rome do as the Romans do". This isn't advice I suggest you follow after watching the start of the expensive HBO/BBC sword-and-sandals saga. This blend of Gladiator, I Claudius and Carry On Cleo revels in sex,
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Workers raise £250 for cancer charity
WORKERS at Darlington's Lingfield Point business park have united to raise more than £250 for Breast Cancer Research UK. Staff from many of Lingfield Point's businesses paid £1 to wear an item of pink clothing to celebrate Wear it Pink day and a feast
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Firm to run flats
A PROPERTY management company in Darlington has won a contract to manage 126 luxury flats in Newcastle's affluent Jesmond area. Town & City Management Services was awarded the contract by London-based Freehold Properties GR Ltd and will be responsible
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Chocs away as Time Warner's profits rocket
TIME Warner reported an 80 per cent rise in its third-quarter profits yesterday while more than doubling the proposed value of its share buyback to 12.5 billion US dollars. The world's largest media company reported profits of $897m (£507m) for the three
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'Workers are stunned - they thought jobs were safe'
A UNION official said yesterday workers at Elementis had been left stunned and angry at plans to axe 120 jobs at the firm's Teesside plant. The Amicus and T&G unions met representatives at the chemical company, in Eaglescliffe, near Yarm, after it
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Farmers fight big stores' low prices
THOUSANDS of farmers across the country have launched an anti-supermarket strike in protest at low prices paid for produce. More than 3,500 farmers are expected to withhold milk, vegetables and meat supplies from stores until the weekend. Farmers for
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No new transfer cash, board tells McCarthy
MICK McCARTHY has been told he will have to generate his own funds if he is to spend his way out of trouble when the transfer window re-opens in January. Sunderland's latest set of financial results were released yesterday, revealing an £8.8m loss in
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Prisoner on the run
A prisoner is on the run after escaping from a Middlesbrough police station. Anthony Harker, 23, was serving four months in prison for burglary when he escaped from North Ormesby police station on Wednesday. He had been taking part in a video identification
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'Your father will not be getting out of bed again'
A doctor accused of murder told a family that a cancer sufferer would not be getting out of bed again after being injected with morphine, a court has heard. Dr Howard Martin shocked the family of father-of-two Harry Gittins, who only days before had been
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Elton to play at the Riverside
POP legend Elton John is to play an outdoor concert in the North-East next summer, The Northern Echo can exclusively reveal. The singer-songwriter, who has had a string of hits stretching backing more than 30 years, will perform at the Riverside, Chester-le-Street
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David returns to Peru for aid trip 18 years after adoption
A BABY boy rescued from a poverty-stricken shanty town in South America and flown to the North-East 18 years ago will return to help other children. David Austin has been brought up by Dr Peter Austin and his wife, Dianne, of Middleton-in-Teesdale, County
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Warning as thefts from cars increase
POLICE have issued a warning to people living in the Eastbourne area of Darlington after seven thefts from vehicles were reported over the past month. This was an increase of two incidents from the previous month and police believe they were opportunistic
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Stroll in the park for good cause
TODDLERS took a stroll among the autumn leaves yesterday - all in the name of charity. Groups of youngsters at George Dent Nursery, in Elms Road, Darlington, enjoyed a sponsored walk to raise money for the NCH children's charity. They took advantage of
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Cabinet issues
DARLINGTON Borough Council's cabinet considered the following matters at its monthly meeting on Tuesday: SCHOOLS SUCCESS: The cabinet expressed its delight at Darlington securing more than £20m of Government funding to improve Hummersknott School and
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Car gadgets being targeted by thieves
POLICE are warning motorists to take care of valuable car gadgets following the theft of a satellite navigation system from a parked vehicle. The Road Angel system, worth about £200, was stolen from a parked Alfa Romeo, in Clyde Terrace, Spennymoor, in
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Club seeks new fitness instructor
RESIDENTS who fought to build their own community centre are looking for a fitness instructor to lead new activities. The Jubilee Fields Community Centre was built after residents from the Jubilee Housing Estate, in Shildon, joined forces to apply for
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Post offices are on the move to protect rural service
MOBILE post offices are going on the road to save services for six County Durham communities. Counters are being set up a few hours a week in Escomb, Toronto, Witton Park, Fir Tree, Witton-le-Wear, all in Wear Valley, and Cornsay Colliery, near Durham
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No short cut to hair cure
THE race is on to turn a hair-raising North-East invention into a money spinner. It is exactly six years since a pioneering hair transplant involving two North-East scientists was announced in the science journal Nature. The scientific first, which involved
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Cheerful pupils in fine voice to impress judge in contest
YOUNG singers have struck a chord with a judge in a singing contest. Pupils at Barnard Castle School, County Durham, performed in front of Newcastle Cathedral's master of music Scott Farrell in the annual house singing competition. The honours were taken
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Fire service warns of danger of home displays
A fire service is warning people of the dangers of fireworks and bonfires. Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority is advising people to attend organised events. Fire chiefs say their appeal is not to spoil people's fun, but to minimise the risk
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£4.5m centre opens for teaching healthcare
A £4.5M centre to improve healthcare teaching and learning throughout the region is being launched today. It has its headquarters in Newcastle, but it aims to bring about improvements in medical care across the North-East, meeting the changing needs of
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Drama to explain local government
STUDENTS are to learn more about local government in two events to mark Local Democracy Week. The focus for the events on Friday will be a drama production, called Who Runs This Place? from the Solent People's Theatre. The show, at Hartlepool Civic Centre
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Memories of war
A SERIES of educational workshops are being held as part of a £10m Second World War exhibition. York Archaeological Trust is hosting the events, which will teach schoolchildren about rationing, field kitchens and 1940s hair and beauty. Vehicles from the
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Strategy to focus on views of over-50s
A STRATEGY focusing on the well-being of the over-50s will be launched today. The Mayor of Hartlepool, Stuart Drummond, and Councillor Ray Waller, the council's cabinet member for adult and public health, will attend the launch at The Grand Hotel. It
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Celador bids for commercial radio licence
THE company behind the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? game show has launched its bid for a commercial radio licence in the North-East. Celador Radio Broadcasting has put forward its Touch bid for a new FM frequency across the region. The station will
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News in brief
EVENT CANCELLED: Due to lack of interest, the Gunpowder Plot event organised by Guisborough Town Pride at the Parish Hall tomorrow has been cancelled. FLEA MARKET: The Saltburn Community and Arts Association will holding its next flea market and collectors
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£721,464 from Government will improve bus services
PLANS for an innovative bus link connecting parts of Teesside have won £721,464 boost from the Government. Stockton Borough Council and Arriva have been awarded the funds for a service between Stockton and Ingleby Barwick with Middlesbrough and the James
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'No' to merger of ambulances
PLANS to merge local ambulance services to create a super-trust are to be opposed by politicians in North Yorkshire. The merger proposal stems from the Department of Health's plan to create 11 health trusts serving the whole of the country, which will
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Getting children to eat their greens
TWO North Yorkshire mothers have launched a range of children's ready meals after the dishes proved popular at brownie camp. The recipes, created by Andrea Hayes and Elaine Stephens, from Easingwold, are already being stocked by a supermarket chain. The
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Takeover hope for car parts manufacturer
ADMINISTRATORS of troubled car parts manufacturer Vickers Pressings Tolwood Automotive yesterday said they were hopeful of a sale. Since VPTA was advertised in the Financial Times on Friday, more than 20 different parties have expressed an interest in
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Financial boost to schools in recycling pledge scheme
PRIMARY schools are being offered the chance to win thousands of pounds worth of equipment through a scheme to encourage recycling. Recycling Rewards for Schools, launched by the County Durham Waste Partnership, will give points to schools that register
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Pupils discover the appliance of science can be fun
YOUNGSTERS found that science could be fun when a school celebrated the workings of life and the environment. Pupils at Hartburn Primary School, in Stockton, are marking National Science Week this week with a range of activities and experiments which
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Widowers' benefit deadline
DURHAM County Council's welfare rights service says men must apply today to claim widowers' benefit. Men whose wives died before 2001 may be able to make a claim for the benefit, which they were not able to claim before 2001. But the claim must be put
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Crash death drug dealer jailed
A disqualified driver who killed his 18-year-old friend in a high-speed car crash while being pursued by police was jailed for eight years yesterday. John McNaughton drove at speeds of 70mph in icy conditions before crashing the Vauxhall Vectra he was
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Festival so popular it needs businesses to take the reins
A POPULAR town festival is going public in an effort to build on its growing success. Thirsk Festival has gone from strength to strength since it was launched by the town's rotary club in 1999. Organisers say the event is now too big to be run by the
