Archive
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Trust gets BBC_award for helping its staff
A HEALTH trust has won an award for the way in which it treats its staff. Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) was awarded the BBC's Big Challenge award for the most improved employer for workplace health. The Big Challenge award is part of a national
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Council to boost tax by 2.3 per cent
DURHAM City Council is likely to increase its share of the council tax by just under the rate of inflation. The Liberal Democrat-controlled authority's cabinet is expected to agree a 2.3 per cent rise next week, which would add £2.71 to the band A bill
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Thieves target air ambulance donations
POLICE have branded thieves who have stolen bags left on doorsteps for charities as dispicable. The Durham force is urging people to be vigilant after a spate of thefts of bags left out for charity workers. On Tuesday, four bags intended for the Great
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Extent of bus cuts are revealed
THE full extent of the threat to North Yorkshire bus services is today revealed by The Northern Echo. The county council is reviewing the future of 89 of its most heavily subsidised services. The review has been launched in an attempt to cut costs. At
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Council losing £3m a year through staff on the sick
SICKNESS among workers at a Teesside council is costing the authority more than £3m a year. Despite improvements in the sickness levels among Stockton Borough Council staff in the past four years, the council failed to meet Government targets last year
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Insurance warning if you fail to lock up
HOUSEHOLDERS are being warned to keep their doors and windows locked after it was revealed that insurance may not cover all items taken in walk-in burglaries. The Safer Hartlepool Partnership says that basic security precautions taking just seconds could
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Expanding sport for the disabled
A CHAMPION gymnast is spearheading a drive to encourage more disabled youngsters to take up sport. Patrick Bonner is seven times British Champion in sports acrobatics. He came third in the 2001 World Games and European Championships and is reigning World
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Pupils learn skills in after-school groups
YOUNGSTERS from across Middlesbrough have been showing off new talents they have learned after the school bell has rung. Students taking advantage of an out-of-hours learning project have been displaying their new-found skills, such as judo, steel band
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Solving case no easy task for scientists
POLICE would have faced tremendous difficulties in successfully building a case strong enough to bring about a successful prosecution over the murder of Ann Heron. The decision to look again at the murder - committed nearly 16 years ago - was prompted
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Competition to encourage engineering
PUPILS from across Derwentside have taken part in an engineering competition, completing tasks associated with efficient recycling. More than 100 year nine youngsters taking part in the Derwentside Schools Engineering Challenge were assessed by teams
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Something new is brewing for drinkers
A Yorkshire Dales brewery is producing an ale that was first brewed in London, in the 1700s. Porter is the latest beer to be sold by the Wensleydale Brewery, in Bellerby, near Leyburn. The 6.6 per cent alcohol ale fell out of favour with drinkers following
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Date set to decide the fate of car park
A DATE has been set for a meeting to decide the fate of a town car park. Hundreds of people are expected to attend the Zetland Centre, in Richmond, on Thursday, February 23. District councillors have called the meeting to discuss a planning application
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£140,000 funding in the aftermath of June floods
YORKSHIRE Forward, the regional development agency, has given £140,000 towards repairing bridges, bridleways and footpaths in the Northern Ryedale area of North Yorkshire following last June's floods. Up to 16 bridges in the North York Moors National
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Charity bikers rescued from killer blizzard in Turkey
TWO British bikers are on the road again following a dramatic ten-hour helicopter rescue after they were caught in a blizzard in Turkey. Rory Elliott and Chris Colling, both 28, narrowly escaped death after becoming trapped in heavy snow. It happened
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Worn tyre blamed for coach crash that killed pilgrims
NINE tourists visiting Biblical sites in Jordan may have died because the tyres on their holiday coach were worn, an inquest heard yesterday. The nine - members of a group of 18 from Britain - died when a four-year-old tyre, which is believed to have
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Ted Moult? Who's he?
The owners of England's highest pub are doing their best to beat the winter weather... but it can be a bit like climbing Everest. IT IS to be something of a dales diary, to be honest, and firstly to the top of Arkengarthdale and to the Tan Hill Inn, England's
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Turner set to replace axed Scott
HARTLEPOOL United are likely to turn to former manager Chris Turner after yesterday's sacking of Martin Scott. Scott's reign as Pool boss was ended in a club statement, issued shortly before 5pm. And Turner, who saved Pool from relegation when he was
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Closure of health club stuns members
TEN-PIN bowling enthusiasts and health club members were shocked by the sudden closure of facilities in a former ice rink building this week. The Kascada Bowl and adjoining Meridian Health and Fitness centre, overlooking the River Wear in Freeman's Place
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GP cleared of murder may face civil case
A RETIRED doctor cleared of murdering three of his patients could face civil action from their families. Last night, Gillian Coates, the daughter of Harry Gittins, 74, whose death sparked the murder inquiry, said that she and her family were considering
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Boss denies Murray rift
A FURIOUS Mick McCarthy last night denied there had been any rift between himself and the Sunderland board and refuted claims he always had one eye on relegation, writes Paul Fraser. The Black Cats boss, who was at the Riverside Stadium to witness Middlesbrough's
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Centre plans to go on show
PLANS for a new SureStart children's centre will be on display at a family health and learning day in Teesdale. As well as the plans, the event will feature African drumming and dancing, football coaching, and learning basic Spanish. The children's centre
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Extra-care plan approved
PLANS for 42 flats for elderly people in Darlington have been unanimously approved. Darlington Borough Council's planning committee yesterday gave permission for the development, at Rosemary Court, in Fenby Avenue. The application was made by Hanover
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Police hope tests will reveal clues in hunt for rapist
Forensic tests expected to reveal vital clues in the hunt for a teenager rapist have drawn a blank, detectives revealed. Police in Darlington probing the rape and sexual assault of a 19-year-old girl said that DNA examinations have proved inconclusive
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Homeless funds
A CHARITY to help homeless people has appealed to businesses for financial help. Stop2Night aims to provide short-term accommodation for people aged between 16 and 25 in Darlington and Teesdale, and pays families to offer them a roof over their heads.
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Woman is spared tag that would 'spoil her mini skirt'
DVD counterfeiter Joanne Dunn escaped being tagged after a court heard it would spoil her outfit when she went out on the town in a short skirt. A tagging order would have labelled Dunn, 37, a criminal, Sunderland magistrates heard. Dunn, who wore trousers
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Al Qaida linked to charity organisation in North-East
THE US Government last night accused a charity that was based in the North-East of being a front for an al Qaida terror group. Treasury officials ordered a worldwide clampdown on the Sanabel Relief Agency. The US said the charity, which until recently
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Concern for 700 call centre jobs with Abbey cutbacks
FEARS were last night growing for 700 call centre jobs in the region as bank group Abbey warned up to 2,000 jobs will be axed this year as it continues its turnaround under Spanish ownership. Abbey chief executive Francisco Gomez-Roldan said between 1,000
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BOC underlines valuation after with highest profits
BOC last night posted record first quarter earnings as the gases group underlined its value in the face of a £7.6bn takeover move by German firm Linde. The Surrey-based firm, which employs about 80 people on Teesside, remained silent on the offer situation
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Elementis plans funding bid
REDUNDANCY-HIT Elementis Chromium is looking to turn its future around with cash from regional development agency One NorthEast. The company, which yesterday confirmed 114 redundancies at its Teesside plant, hopes to secure funding through the agency's
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Shattered Giles hoping to play a part in India
Ashley Giles has admitted his attempts to get fit for the tour of India had left him 'knackered' but vowed to join his England team-mates on the subcontinent if possible. Giles, 32, was has been ruled out of joining his team-mates on the flight to Mumbai
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Art project encourages youngsters to take up reading
SCHOOLCHILDREN in Darlington are picking up their paintbrushes as part of a scheme to encourage children to take up reading. Hundreds of youngsters have already read Edith Nesbit's The Railway Children, as part of the One Book for Darlington scheme. This
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Woman is spared tag that would 'spoil her mini skirt'
DVD counterfeiter Joanne Dunn escaped being tagged after a court heard it would spoil her outfit when she went out on the town in a short skirt. A tagging order would have labelled Dunn, 37, a criminal, Sunderland magistrates heard. Dunn, who wore trousers
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Family from Albania become British citizens
AN Albanian family, who once helped a Teesside opera singer learn their country's national anthem, have sworn an oath of allegiance to the Queen in a citizenship ceremony. Kutjim Xepha and his wife, Natasha, helped Teesside opera singer Suzannah Clarke
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Parents' anger over traffic chaos at entrance to school
CALLS have been made for more space to drop off children outside a Darlington primary school. Parents claim congestion outside Alderman Leach Primary School could cause a serious accident. The school, in Alderman Leach Drive, in West Park, has six drop-off
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Residents rewarded for efforts
REMARKABLE residents have been rewarded for their efforts in a special citizenship awards scheme. Two of Ferryhill's most dedicated volunteers were presented with certificates and crystal glasses in recognition of their work with local charities. Nora
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'Beds will go'
HOSPITAL bosses have warned that beds, clinics and possibly staff will have to go in a desperate battle to curb overspending. Yesterday Russell Hart, the recently-appointed chairman of North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Trust, told journalists he
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Dallaglio threat a spur to England skipper Corry
England captain Martin Corry is ready to fight for his place during this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship. Corry admitted the surprise challenge to his place was 'keeping him on his toes'. Corry has an unexpected challenger for the number eight jersey
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Tribunal rules that council clerk was sacked unfairly
COUNCIL tax payers face a £2,686 bill after an employment tribunal yesterday found that a parish council clerk had been unfairly sacked. A long-standing rift between two factions on Stanhope Parish Council was exposed at the hearing in Newcastle, which
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Pupils take to the catwalk
STAFF and pupils at Barnard Castle School strutted their stuff on the catwalk to raise money to send their sports teams round the world. The recent fashion show raised more than £750 and is the latest bid to raise cash for a summer sports tour of New
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Council not to blame for holes
A COUNCIL has said that they are not to blame for holes in the road, a number of temporary traffic lights and road congestion in Crook town centre. Some residents have complained about the disruption caused by ongoing work, but Durham County Council say
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Scott's dreams of glory have a nightmare ending
SOMETIMES the best-laid plans fail to materialise, as Martin Scott has found out to his cost after his career as Hartlepool United manager ended yesterday. Scott left the club knowing he could have done no more to secure success at Victoria Park this
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Starving dog had been tied to a tree
A GERMAN Shepherd dog was abandoned and left to starve. The dog, named Solar by RSPCA staff, was found tied to a tree in woods near Wylam Street, Stanley, County Durham, by someone walking their dog. Officials believe it had been there for at least four
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Special offer leads to death threat
A CURRY house boss who ran an offer for new mothers has received death threats, accusing him of encouraging the growth of Britain's non-Muslim population. Abdul Latif, 51, has reported the threats on his life, which he says began when he started running
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Ex-policewoman drops tribunal claim
A FORMER policewoman has dropped her claim to be heard by an employment tribunal which has cost the taxpayer £20,000 - because she felt intimidated giving evidence in front of senior officers. Deborah Wadey, 37, said she could not give evidence in the
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Villages to get dedicated youth worker by Easter
RURAL parishes in Darlington have been told they should have their own youth worker in place by Easter. A round of interviews for a rural youth worker had taken place before Christmas. None of them were successful and the council has had to re-advertise
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Racecourse boss in controversial renewal project
A BUSINESSMAN has been appointed to head an organisation behind controversial plans to erase a Teesside neighbourhood. Neil Etherington has taken over as part-time chairman of Tees Valley Living (TVL), a partnership of five district councils and landlords
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Council tax to rise less than expected
DARLINGTON Borough Council is to raise its council tax less than expected. Council tax in the borough is set to rise by 4.38 per cent, after the authority got more than it expected in a government settlement. The council was planning to raise tax by 4.5
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Award for children's service
A DARLINGTON children's service has picked up an award for its work in the community The Children's Information Service (CIS) at Darlington Borough Council has been given the national Matrix Quality Award. The award is for excellent customer service by
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Tributes to the artist who captured lives of miners
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the North-East's most celebrated artists who captured life in the mines on canvas - and was busy painting until the day before he died. The death yesterday of Tom McGuinness comes months before a major retrospective of
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Dat At Large
AS time goes by, there are things I'm not allowed to write about. When the kids were little, I could get away with almost anything. But now they're getting older, I'm censored on the grounds that it's just too embarrassing. I'm therefore not at liberty
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Al Qaida link to Teesside?
THE US Government last night accused a charity that was based in the North-East of being a front for an al Qaida terror group. Treasury officials ordered a worldwide clampdown on the Sanabel Relief Agency. The US said the charity, which until recently
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Comment from The Northern Echo: An artist of his people
IT is with great sadness that we report the passing of Tom McGuinness, for he was a truly remarkable man. For all the recognition that his wonderful talent brought him, Tom never strayed from his County Durham roots. He remained in the same little side
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Hasselbaink winner helps lift Boro gloom
THE passion manager Steve McClaren claims lies within his squad, as well as in the stands, was evident in spells as a turbulent five days ended with Middlesbrough booking a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's ninth goal of
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Nosworthy hangs on to dream
THE prospect of returning to the Championship may be looming large but Nyron Nosworthy feels there is not one member of the Sunderland squad with eyes on a summer move away from the Stadium of Light. If, or rather when, the Black Cats' fate is decided
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On TV
Brat Camp (C4) Natural World: Big Sky Bears (BBC2) WHO'D be a parent? Archie and Luke cause their mum lots of worry by getting up to all sorts of mischief - climbing trees, catching fish and eating ants. But they're angels compared to the fresh intake
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Record profits for drug firm GSK
PHARMACEUTICALS group GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said soaring sales of its asthma drug Advair and diabetes medication Avandia drove profits up 16 per cent. GSK's haul for 2005 of £6.73bn beat expectations in the City and came on the back of an eight per cent
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Record profits for drug firm GSK
PHARMACEUTICALS group GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said soaring sales of its asthma drug Advair and diabetes medication Avandia drove profits up 16 per cent. GSK's haul for 2005 of £6.73bn beat expectations in the City and came on the back of an eight per cent
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Vandals set fire to club's old stand
ARSONISTS set fire to part of the former home of Darlington Football Club last night, causing a "significant" amount of damage. The West Stand of the derelict Feethams stadium, made almost entirely of wood, was set alight at about 8pm. Firefighters fought
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Charity event
A charity clairvoyance night will raise money for the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team. The event will be held at the White Rose Club, in Catterick Garrison, from 7.30pm on Friday, February 24. Tickets cost £6 from Chakra, in Richmond, or the White Rose
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Young people shape plan for their future
DOZENS of young people will come together today to help shape a plan which aims to safeguard their future. The event, at the Mayfair Centre, in Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, is part of the second round of consultation on the Children and Young People's
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Mayor needs people to help
AN appeal for helpers to sort the clothing for the Mayor of Sedgefield's Chernobyl clothing appeal in Sedgefield Parish Hall, on Saturday, has come from Mayor Maxine Robinson. She said: "It looks like there will be a good response to the appeal and what
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Rail operator has second-worst record in country
A TRAIN company serving the North-East and North Yorkshire cancels 35 services a day - the second-worst record in the country. No fewer than 12,884 trains were axed at the last minute by Northern last year because of staff shortages, breakdowns and track
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Health service changes going to public
PROPOSALS to re-structure health services are to be put to public meetings in east Cleveland. Changes are planned to the management and administrative structures of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities in County Durham and Tees Valley
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Reivers' supporters should be over the Moon
REIVERS MOON (3.20) might be worth chancing at a potentially double-digit price in this afternoon's Kelso feature, the £14,000 Persimmon Homes Handicap. There are precious few seven-year-old mares in training but as a rule of thumb it's often worth following
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Should I see Jerry Springer?
'You've got to go and see Jerry Springer: the Opera", said my friend. "It's a matter of principle, to support free speech." She's got a point. After all, I'm on record as not wishing to be pigeonholed alongside the evangelical Christian lobby, many of
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Hunt support for Air Ambulance
HUNT supporters have given £2,000 to support the Great North Air Ambulance. The Braes of Derwent Hunt Supporters Club raised the money by putting on a panto before Christmas. Dick Whittington was produced by Liz Parker and performed at Blackfyne Community
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Outlining role of new PCT
THE proposed new North Yorkshire-wide primary care health trust (PCT) needs to work with local people to help them take greater care of themselves said Michael Whitworth, chief executive of Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale PCT. Mr Whitworth told community
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Rugby players cry foul over dog dirt
YOUNG rugby players have appealed for people to stop walking their dogs on playing fields. Pupils at Bedale High School say they are fed up with having to clean dog dirt from their rugby kits and are worried about the associated health risks. The school
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Bates stakes his claim
GUY BATES may have provided manager David Hodgson with a reminder of his goalscoring instincts yesterday but the Darlington striker does not expect to walk straight into his new side. Bates and young defender Alex Janes were both on target as Darlington
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Fancy a spot of otter spotting?
PEOPLE who want to know more about otters can join Tees Valley Wildlife Trust on Sunday, February 26, on an otter spotting training course with local expert Arthur West. Part of the Mammal Action Tees Valley Project, the session will include a short introductory
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Ann Heron killing: Case against her husband called off
PROSECUTORS have discontinued their case against a retired businessman accused of murdering his wife more than 15 years ago. The Northern Echo has learnt that the case against Peter Heron will not go ahead after a review of the evidence by a forensic
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Goodnight Mr Tom
Quiet and unassuming, Tom McGuinness vividly captured the hardship and camaraderie of working down the pit. Lindsay Jennings looks back at the life of one of the North-East's most celebrated artists. HE was born in 1926 - the year of the General Strike
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Police vow that search for murderer will go on
DETECTIVES interviewed 4,500 people, took 300 sets of fingerprints and spent 45,000 man-hours hunting the killer of housewife Ann Heron. The person leading the investigation changed a number of times, but the unstinting desire to solve the apparently
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The ifs and butts of short-lived love
AS time goes by, there are things I'm not allowed to write about. When the kids were little, I could get away with almost anything. But now they're getting older, I'm censored on the grounds that it's just too embarrassing. I'm therefore not at liberty
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Dry winter might hit water bills
WATER rate-payers in the region could be footing the bill for water shortages in other parts of the UK under controversial Government plans, it emerged last night. Proposals from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and the
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Ann Heron killing: Case against husband halted
PROSECUTORS have discontinued their case against a retired businessman accused of murdering his wife more than 15 years ago. The Northern Echo has learnt that the case against Peter Heron will not go ahead after a review of the evidence by a forensic
