Archive
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Darlington sign Oakes
DARLINGTON have today completed the signing of released Swansea City goalkeeper Andy Oakes. Manager Dave Penney's interest in Oakes was revealed in The Northern Echo on Wednesday. Oakes has penned a two-year deal with Darlington after being freed by
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Jury returns in hanged boy case
A JURY has returned a verdict of suicide on a 14-year-old boy who hanged himself in a privately-run secure unit. Adam Rickwood was the youngest person to die in custody when he hanged himself with his shoelaces at the Serco-run centre in County Durham
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Magpies consider Ashley offer
THE board of Newcastle United has announced it is to consider an offer from Mike Ashley following discussions with the billionaire businessman today. The board met Ashley, who recently bought a 41.6 per cent stake in the club from Sir John Hall's family
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Man attacked with iron bars
POLICE have appealed for information from witnesses to a concerted assault on a man at a garage forecourt. The 43-year-old victim suffered a suspected fractured skull after being attacked by a group of up to four people believed to be armed with iron
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Man critical after pylon shock
A MAN is in a critical condition after receiving a electric shock at a power station in County Durham. The 41-year-old is thought to have touched a live pylon at the sub-station, owned by utility firm NEDL, in Addison Road station near Bishop Auckland
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pc
St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay taken by Dean Lawton.
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Wedding Daze (15)
YOU might say that Anderson (Biggs) is unlucky in love. He plans a romantic marriage proposal to his girlfriend and he confronts her at the restaurant Cupidstyle, wearing wings and carrying a bow and arrow. Instead of saying "yes", she drops
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The Hitcher (15)
FIRST, an admission. This remake of the 1986 chiller made me jump. A bloody hand suddenly coming out of the darkness and thumping on the window of the car at dead of night always does that to me. But a couple of frights aren't sufficient justification
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Back to the bad guy
Although he said he'd never play a bad guy again, Sean Bean is back with a vengeance in his new role as the iconic John Ryder in the remake of The Hitcher. He tells STEVE PRATT why he thought he'd played too many gentlemen. SEAN Bean is reminded
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Daze dreaming
Judging by the apple pie moment in his first film, Jason Biggs is up for anything, even wearing sequinned panties in his latest movie, Wedding Daze. STEVE PRATT meets the actor with attitude. FIRST the red panties question. Jason Biggs is used to
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Keep mum
Former Hollyoaks actress Katherine Dow Blyton is used to playing the part of mum. She tells Steve Pratt why she ends up Bollywood dancing in her new play. SOUTH Shields-born actress Katherine Dow Blyton has reached a certain age in her life
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Cliff hanger
Actor Joel Fry doesn't think Emily Bronte's anti-hero Heathcliffe is such a bad boy and he's out to prove his theory in a new production at York Theatre Royal. He talks to STEVE PRATT about going to Bronte boot camp to get into the role. HE first
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Who’s funny
Toby Hadoke talks to VIV HARDWICK about how the sadness of moths eating his scarf became a touring triumph set to play Stockton and York. HAVE I pronounced Toby Hadoke's surname correctly I inquire? "No, but you're not the first and you won't
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Made in Britain
Question Time presenter David Dimbleby embarks on a voyage of discovery of Britain's buildings in his latest TV incarnation - and finds a disturbing insight into his own past, as Ellie Genower finds out. HE may be more used to refereeing heated
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Game over
EANNE Battersby should know better than to accept a lift from a stranger. Or even someone she knows, namely Paul Connor, who thinks she's done the dirty on him and told his wife that he's been visiting prostitutes - and not to read their gas
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May 30, 2007
Solutions ACROSS 1 Stable lass. (anag.) 9 Hobo. H(OB)O 10 Leg-spinner. LEG+S+PINNER 11 At rest. AT+REST (TA rev.) 12 Camelot. CAMEL+OT 15 Hectare. (anag.) 16 Ripon. RIP+O+N 17 Agra. (hidden) 18 Bang. B+ANG (nag anag.) 19 Feast
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May 30, 2007
ACROSS 1 Horse worker shifts slate slabs (6,4) 9 Old boy found in house with tramp (4) 10 Delivery by stage to south London suburb (3-7) 11 Dead volunteers brought back with the others (2,4) 12 Animal books discovered in Arthur's castle (7) 15
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Business news
Workers' shock at job losses Employees at a North-East food factory have spoken of their shock at the impending 170 job cuts to be made at the site. The Northern Echo revealed today how Kerry Foods, in Gilesgate Moor, Durham, was making the redundancies
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Dog's life for adopted ducklings
A PAIR of goslings have found an unusual mother figure in terrier Missy. Their owner Kevin Harding, 44, said: "Missy just follows them around and they follow her. "She's like a mother with puppies." Kevin, a builder, from near Alnwick in Northumberland
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Terminally-ill woman uses her birthday party to raise funding to help hospital
A TERMINALLY-ILL woman charged friends a fee to come to her birthday party - to raise funds for a hospital. Pauline Martin asked her pals not to buy presents for her 60th birthday, but instead to buy a ticket for the party, with the money raised
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Child abuse parents to receive supervision
TEENAGE parents were given probation supervision yesterday for cruelty to their baby who had a fractured arm, leg and rib. Daniel Ayres was 17 and his partner, Claire Peacock, 18, when three-month-old baby Katie suffered her injuries at their home
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Home safety scheme for vulnerable people
A FIRE brigade is launching a scheme to increase home safety for drug and alcohol abusers and their families in Middlesbrough. The initiative, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, has been successfully piloted in Hartlepool
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Landmark venues for arts festival
TWO landmarks are to become the stages for an arts festival this summer. The grounds of Kirkleatham Museum, in Redcar, and the backdrop of Gisborough Priory will be the venues for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's annual Outdoor Theatre Festival
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Partnership brings more security to troubled estate
CCTV cameras and extra police patrols have been introduced to a troubled estate as part of a partnership with residents. A number of agencies have formed a deal with people living on the Norton Grange Estate, near Stockton, to try to eradicate
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Learner driver drove to shop after drinking
A LEARNER driver has been banned from the roads after he went to buy cigarettes using his girlfriend's car after a night out. Brett Kipling, 21, pleaded guilty to four driving offences when he appeared in Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday
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Anger as thieves take £17,000 computers
A HEADTEACHER has condemned thieves who broke into a school and stole computers worth about £17,000. Lynne Ackland, headteacher of Sedgefield Community College, said the laptops were a important for pupils. Students preparing to sit GCSE exams
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Mother’s anguish after birth certificate mystery
A WORRIED mother protested yesterday after her birth certificate was lost - along with her 20- year-old son's - after they were sent to a passport office. Pamela Hoyle posted the documents to the Durham office when her student son, Christopher,
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Sanctuary on edge of new era with centre’s opening
A WILDLIFE sanctuary in Teesdale will officially open a new £50,000 education centre and wildlife trail this weekend. The Ark on the Edge, at Wooley Hill Farm, near Woodland, will hold a fun day on Saturday to mark the opening. A cow barn has
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Quarry plans will cement jobs at brickworks plant
THE owner of a brickworks plant wants to extend a clay and sandstone quarry to prolong the life of the site. The proposed extension of Eldon Brickshale Quarry would allow brick manufacturing to continue for about 35 years. Without the expansion
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Children salute school visit by Gurkhas
CHILDREN were well drilled when Gurkha soldiers visited a Darlington school. A dozen Gurkha soldiers travelled from their training base at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, to spend the morning at Abbey Junior School, in Darlington. The children
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Tesco mini-market plans stalled after public outcry
CHEERS erupted yesterday as councillors unanimously rejected plans for a Tesco mini-market in Darlington. Darlington Borough Council's planning committee voted against the recommendation of officers and refused planning permission for the mini-market
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Limit height of buildings and residents
RESIDENTS living near the proposed redevelopment of a former school have asked for buildings to be limited in height. Darlington Borough Council has asked people living near the former Beaumont Hill School for comments about a housing development
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Lib Dem leader says party has big future
THE new leader of Darlington's Liberal Democrats believes the party will finally establish itself. Councillor Martin Swainston, who represents Hurworth, was elected leader by his fellow Lib Dem councillors earlier this month. The previous leader
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Mayor: We don’t need a council shake-up
DARLINGTON's new mayor believes an elected mayor would be "terrible" for the town. Councillor Marian Swift, who could be the town's last ceremonial mayor, said Darlington's mayoral system was the "envy of the region". She took on the role earlier
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Plans for shops and leisure to be debated
PLANS for a shopping and leisure complex in a rapidly growing residential area will go before councillors next week. The proposals for five acres of land at Brough with St Giles, near Catterick Garrison, include shops, restaurants, a nursing home
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Railway responds to criticism as carriages branded eyesores
CARRIAGES stored in a siding by a railway company that revived a country branch line have been criticised as an eyesore. Aiskew and Leeming Bar Parish Council is writing to Wensleydale Railway about the condition of the carriages, which the company
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Liam to go to Japan after impressing in competition
AN apprentice cabinet-maker who was pipped at the post in a national competition will travel to the international finals in Japan after all. Liam Gardner, 18, from Gilling West, near Richmond, was second in the UK Skills contest in Warwickshire
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Restrictions on bridge discussed
A LISTED bridge frequently damaged by lorries may be protected by restricting access. The grade II-listed Blakey Bridge, near Thirsk, has sustained more than £30,000 worth of damage, mainly from heavy goods vehicles, in the past 15 years. The
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Delight as tourism service gets funding
A TOURIST service that was under threat of closure has reopened for the summer season. Great Ayton Tourist Information office was opened in 1989 by Hambleton District Council. The service ran until 2005, when budget cuts meant the council could
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Japanese mime to pay a visit
JAPANESE duo Gamarjobat bring their comical mime show to the North-East as part of a world tour, on Tuesday, June 12. The show, Rock and Roll Penguin, features a mix of free-flowing mime, gentle acrobatics and humorous sketches, said to be suitable
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Concert as tribute to band supporter
SOLO instrumentalists are joining forces to perform in memory of a former North-East bus company boss who championed brass music in the region. Chris Moyes, a former chairman of Durham University Council, and a founder and subsequent chief executive
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Work by northern artist on exhibition
A DURHAM UNIVERSITY college is playing host to an exhibition of work by northern artist Pamela Knight. The display is on show in the entrance to Trevelyan College and will be open until Tuesday, June 8. Ms Knight studied fashion and textiles
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Raffle prizes from former Coronation Street star
A TELEVISION actress has donated two raffle prizes for an event to launch a refurbished church hall. Former Coronation Street star Denise Welch has donated a signed script of her latest show, Waterloo Road, and a signed photo for the raffle, to
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Pub appeals to public in bid for later hours
A PUB chain has moved to reassure residents about plans to extend drinking hours at a city centre bar, saying it operates "the safest venues on the high street". Regent Inns has asked Durham City Council for permission to keep its Walkabout pub
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Fahey's jumping for joy
INSTRUCTOR (7.05) should be able to teach his rivals a thing or two in this evening's Maiden Hurdle at Sedgefield. Richard Fahey's former smart middle-distance handicapper has now turned his attention to the jumping game and it surely cannot be
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Moxon against taking control from umpires
YORKSHIRE Phoenix will have their first opportunity to query umpires' decisions today when they take on Derbyshire Phantoms in the televised Friends Provident Trophy day-night match at Derby. But the new three-referrals regulation, which applies
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Patterson back in the swing as County ace
DAVID PATTERSON had never played in the Durham County Championship before but he reminded the region of his golfing talent with a triumphant debut this week. Playing in only his second tournament since serving a two-year exile imposed by the R
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Newcastle finish fifth in wage-bill league
DESPITE failing to finish in the top half of the Premiership last season, Deloitte's annual review of football finance yesterday revealed that Newcastle United still boast the fifth-highest wage bill in English football. The Magpies paid out £52m
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Just a little bit more grown up
THERE were tears at the school gates as the mums and dads gathered to see the bus leave for Poland. Ten days is a long time. Poland is a long way from home. And parenthood means a lifetime of worry. As well as being a lesson for children in independence
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End of the DIY church
Dismissed as ugly by many, the villagers of Bowburn will nevertheless be sad when their landmark, the Pineapple Church, is pulled down. DEMOLITION began this week on the building they called the Pineapple Church, an extraordinary example of ecclesiastical
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European Union
HOME Information Packs (Hips) have inevitably descended into the shambles that results from illthought out and unnecessary legislation. In an attempt to salvage something, the Government has been forced to delay implementation and fiddle with the
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Scotland
WHAT a pity David Lacey has it in for the Scots (HAS, May 23). The main plank in his argument seems to be that Scots per head of population receive more cash from the Westminster government. Surely he is aware that many English regions have similar
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Unitary authorities
I DISPUTE the claim of Councillor Fraser Reynolds, leader of Durham City Council, that my council was invited to participate in the district councils' "referendum" (HAS, May 25). We were not approached. We made inquiries when we first heard about
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Multiculturalism
IT is odd that Christopher Wardell (HAS, May 21), Ralph Musgrave and Des More (HAS, both May 25) seem to think that criticising British foreign policy amounts to hating Britain, as they criticise other aspects of government policy themselves.
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Rubbish collections
ENVIRONMENT Secretary David Miliband can't seem to recognise that people don't trawl the streets looking for rubbish to put in their bins, but bring most of it home after making purchases on various shopping ventures with most things grossly over-packaged
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Who can we trust to run the buses?
THE Tory antipathy to bus travel was summed up by Margaret Thatcher's famous comment that any man riding a bus to work after the age of 26 was a failure in life. Under Labour, bus passengers are not insulted to quite that extent - but they still
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A ban long overdue
THERE was a time - not very long ago - when the idea of banning smoking in pubs was so politically sensitive that even the dithering Cabinet couldn't agree on whether it should be pursued. We found that indecision at the heart of government difficult
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Work starts on £3m upgrade
WORK has started on a £3m upgrade of a North-East retail park. The investment in Mercia Retail Park, in Durham, will link the site with the nearby Arnison Retail Centre, in an attempt to increase popularity of both shopping centres. The scheme
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Up to 170 Kerry Foods jobs to go as operation review ends
A READY meals manufacturer last night confirmed it was making up to 170 staff redundant at its factory in the North-East. Kerry Foods said the job losses at its chilled food factory in Durham were regrettable, but necessary for the business to
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Glass company pledges jobs and growth
GLASS manufacturer Romag yesterday pledged there would be "significant" job creation at its County Durham base as sales of its PowerGlaz range continued to soar. The Consett company, which revealed a 25 per cent rise in pretax profits to £733,000
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Pay dispute forces union to ballot over future action
UP to 700 workers at engine maker Cummins' North-East plant are to be balloted over possible industrial action as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The Northern Echo revealed last week there was unrest at the site, in Darlington, after a new pay
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Work starts on longest golf course in Europe
WORK on Europe's longest golf course will start today, with bosses expecting the complex to create at least 500 jobs. Up to 250 of the jobs are expected to be permanent once the complex, at Hurworth, near Darlington, is complete in 2009. Course
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Matthew's football dream to come true
FOOTBALL-MAD Matthew Chesney's dream will come true when he steps out at the new Wembley stadium as an England mascot. The 11-year-old has been chosen from thousands of hopefuls to walk out with the players when England play Brazil tomorrow night
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Joy as ghost ships contract scrapped
CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed the news that nine of the fleet of US ghost ships will not be recycled at a North-East shipyard. Able UK won a controversial contract to dismantle up to 13 vessels at its Hartlepool shipyard. But delays caused by environmental
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Business Echo PDF - May 30th 2007
Business Echo PDF - May 30th 2007
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Woman took £70,000 from deceased clients
A NEW mother has been jailed after pocketing more than £70,000 from the estates of deceased clients at the legal firm where she worked. Lindsey Rafter used her position in the probate department at Murray Humphries solicitors, in Seaham, County
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Please be eagle-eyed for saker my falcon
A FALCONER is appealing for people to look out for a bird of prey that went missing after it was startled by a sheep. The saker falcon was entertaining the crowds at a fete at West Burton, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, on Monday when it dropped
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Soldiers are reunited with family and friends
SOLDIERS who returned to Catterick Garrison from Iraq have been reunited with their families and friends. A plane carrying 150 troops from B Company of the 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment touched down on Tuesday night at Durham Tees Valley
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Casino plans on rocks after legal threat issued
MIDDLESBROUGH'S casino plans looked doomed last night after the Government said there could be a High Court challenge if it was approved. The scheme - aimed at bringing at least £10m worth of investment and 300 jobs to the town - has been in limbo
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Driver in Macauley case in court for the first time
A VAN driver charged in connection with a crash in which four members of the same family died, made his first appearance in court yesterday. Scott Easton, 22, of Hebburn Road, Stockton, is accused of four counts of causing death by dangerous
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Scout leader honoured for lake rescue - 12 years ago
A SCOUT leader who jumped fully clothed into a lake to save three children from drowning has received an award for gallantry - 12 years later. John Moore, now 42, was astonished when called before the Durham County Scouts commissioner Jeff Ledger
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Boy's terror as man tried to pull them into van
TWO boys have spoken of their terror after a stranger tried to drag them into the back of a van. Joshua Sparrow, 13, and his nineyear- old cousin, Luke Fletcher, were rescued by a member of the public when the man attempted to bundle them into
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Smoking ban in pubs win North's support
SUPPORT for smoke-free pubs is stronger in the North-East than anywhere else in England, according to research. Figures published today, on World Tobacco Day, show that 78 per cent of people in the North- East who were questioned supported smoke-free
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Driver, 82, hits out at tagging 'injustice'
AN 82-year-old war veteran claimed last night he has been made a prisoner in his home after becoming the oldest person in Britain to wear an electronic tag. John Burns is to appeal after being fitted with a tag and placed on a curfew, preventing him from
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Pools to face AZ_Alkmaar
HARTLEPOOL UNITED will host ambitious Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar in a mouth-watering pre-season friendly at Victoria Park this summer. Alkmaar, managed by former Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal, were the conquerors of Newcastle United in last season's UEFA
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Saint's window restored to all its 15th Century glory
ONE of the most important areas of medieval stained glass in the world has been restored to its former glory after ten years of painstaking work. Experts believe the St William Window at York Minster now looks much as it did when it was new in the early
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'Being locked up saved me'
THE first time Paul Jones went into care he was eight years old. His parents had separated when he was six, which was to be the last time he saw his father. After two years living with his mother, she found she could no longer cope with her young headstrong
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Pay dispute forces union to ballot over future action
UP to 700 workers at engine maker Cummins' North-East plant are to be balloted over possible industrial action as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The Northern Echo revealed last week there was unrest at the site, in Darlington, after a new pay scheme
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Smith's unhappy summer
MARTIN Smith is dreading a summer of daytime TV after undergoing a knee operation that will keep him out of action until September. After putting surgery on hold until the end of the season, the Darlington winger is not expected to return to action until
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Countess guest of honour as hospice opens new unit
SOPHIE, Countess of Wessex, opened a £3.2m hospice wing yesterday, before visiting a farmers' market and browsing a collection of paintings once owned by the Queen Mother. The Countess, who is married to Prince Edward, cut the ribbon to open a ten-bed
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Driver in Macauley case in court
A VAN driver charged in connection with a crash in which four members of the same family died, made his first appearance in court yesterday. Scott Easton, 22, of Hebburn Road, Stockton, is accused of four counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
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Ajax axe a major blow for Allardyce
PREPARATIONS for Sam Allardyce's first season in charge are already being hindered by a failure to put firm plans in place for Newcastle United's pre-season schedule. Allardyce - who reportedly must deal with a £8.5m offer from West Ham for Scott Parker
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Sunderland fans back Keane's revolution
SUNDERLAND fans are turning out in force to back the Roy Keane revolution with the club on course to pass the 30,000 season-ticket-sale mark for their return to the Premiership. At this stage, with the June 5 deadline approaching for supporters to take
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Public misled over unitary authority support - claim
PEOPLE are being misled over the level of grassroots support for controversial plans to create a unitary authority in County Durham, it was claimed last night. Durham County Council has submitted plans to abolish the seven district councils and replace
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Woodgate frustrated to miss Beckham reunion
DURING a week in which David Beckham was handed a high-profile recall to the England squad, Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate has admitted that joining his former Real Madrid team-mate on the international stage would have been the perfect way to end
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Photograph released of explosion van driver
POLICE yesterday released a photograph of welder Andrew Herd, who died when his van exploded in the centre of a market town.The 33-year-old was driving his red Ford Transit box-van through Wolsingham in Weardale, County Durham, at about 7am on Saturday
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Mother speaks of transplant hopes for daughter Alice, six
A MOTHER preparing to donate a kidney to her daughter so she can live a normal life last night said it could bring them even closer together.Nicola Andrews has agreed that doctors can use one of her kidneys to give to daughter Alice after tests showed
