Archive
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Wycome stun Quakers with injury time winner
FOR the second time this season Wycombe stunned Darlington with an injury time goal, and effectively ended any lingering hopes of reaching the play-offs in the process. Chris Zebroski headed home in the third minute of injury time to cruelly
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Man charged with murdering woman
A MAN has tonight been charged with murdering a woman who was found dead in a block of flats in Middlesbrough. Police launched an investigation after being called to Clairville Road, close to Albert Park, just after 5pm on Monday. Scene
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This is bigger than "Lassie Come Home"
My favourite story of the day is the subject of tomorrow morning's Headline Game on TFM radio. The story of a dog called Sophie Tucker is just fantastic. It's got everything. She was swept overboard from a boat trip and believed to have drowned in shark-infested
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Mart plans in the spotlight
PLANS for a £17m out-of-town auction mart will come under scrutiny tomorrow. Darlington Borough Council's planning committee will be informed on the latest developments in the Humbleton Farm proposals, as well as plans to build 160 homes in Neasham Road
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Chemical plant hit by recession to reopen
A CHEMICAL plant that closed due to the economic downturn will reopen this week. Sabic, based in Saudi Arabia, said there had been an improvement in the commercial situation which meant its cracker plant at Wilton, Teesside, could restart. The 300 employees
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April Events at Town Library
Ferryhill Library will host a range of events during April and May. Children will be able to enter Easter competitions and take part in activities such as decorating paste eggs and spot the dot. During the next two months the library will be
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Arrest over string of armed robberies
DETECTIVES investigating a string of armed raids at post offices across the North-East raided a house on Merseyside today. Officers from Durham Constabulary, backed up by colleagues from Merseyside Police, arrested a 30-year-old man at a house in the
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Community centre under construction
WORK is well underway on a new purpose built community centre in Newton Aycliffe to replace the existing wooden building of Agnew Community Association. The new facility will be a multi-usage community building with one main hall and one smaller meeting
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Vaulkhard happy with Brands performance
HARRY Vaulkhard left Brands Hatch in happy mood after scoring more points in one weekend than he had all last season in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship. Tempus Sport driver Vaulkhard, from Newcastle, achieved a high of eighth position
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Bus campaigners face another wait for service
CAMPAIGNERS who have spent nine months trying to rescue their bus service may have to wait until next year before it returns. New council-subsidised services are set to run to parts of Harrowgate Hill after politicians and residents petitioned for its
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Restoration of The Railway Children locomotive finishes
THE restoration of a locomotive made famous in the 1968 BBC television series The Railway Children is complete. Work started in January to transform the Great Northern Railways saddle tank engine back to its original apple-green livery at Locomotion:
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Top St John Ambulance award for North Yorkshire youth
A ST John Ambulance youngster has received the organisation's highest award possible for a cadet as he gains a Grand Prior Award. Ben Colson, 15, of Ripon, achieved the honour and he was presented with it by Princess Anne, the group’s commandant in chief
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Police campaign to tackle burglary
A SHARP rise in the number of burglaries in an east Durham community has prompted a police campaign to encourage people to make their homes more secure. In the twelve months up to January 2009 there were 347 recorded break-ins to houses and outbuildings
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Runners urged to sign up now for 10km race
ENTHUSIASTIC youngsters are in training for a popular annual fun-run and 10km race which raises thousands of pounds for their village school. The youngsters, from Fountains CE School in Grantley, near Ripon, are also urging their parents and grandparents
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Twenty beers at annual festival
AN award-winning snooker club will run one of its annual beer festivals next week when 20 beers are expected to be on tap. Darlington Snooker Club, which has one the Campaign for Real Ale North-East club of the year for five successive years, will run
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Church unveils new home
A CHURCH’S 12-year search for its own home will end at the weekend when it officially launches a £1.5m facility in a former chemical factory. Emmanuel Church Durham was founded in 1980 and for 17 years Sunday meetings were held in a now long-disappeared
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Bin collections - Easter changes in Hambleton
REFUSE collections across Hambleton will be affected by the Easter holidays. There are no changes to collections this week when the team will be working on Good Friday for the first time. But next week there will be no collections of green bins on Easter
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Donkey stuck in mud near Whitby
A DONKEY had to be pulled free by the fire brigade after it was trapped in a mud pool at an animal sanctuary near Whitby. The animal became stuck in the mud in a field at Whitby Beach Donkeys, a sanctuary at Sleights, and could not free itself
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London diners enjoy Thirsk cheese
A NORTH Yorkshire cheese-maker is celebrating another marketing coup. Thirsk-based Shepherd’s Purse are now supplying top eatery Roast, in London’s Borough Market. The company has secured a contract to supply the restaurant with its traditional English-style
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Guides in Northallerton study youngsters in Africa
GIRL Guides locally have learnt about the lives of youngsters from poor countries as the movement nationally looks to mark 100-years in 2010. Northallerton and District Brownies, guides and senior section members have supported Plan UK’s Because I am
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Spot on, Parky
Michael Parkinson has caused quite a stir with a Radio Times attack on the media circus surrounding Jade Goody. Parky said that Goody represented "all that's paltry and wretched about Britain". He added: "Her death is as sad as the death
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Thousands of kids falsely diagnosed with dyslexia, North-East expert claims
AN education expert from the region has sparked debate by claiming thousands of children are being falsely diagnosed with dyslexia. Professor Joe Elliott, from Durham University, believes many parents with children who have difficulty in literacy lessons
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Easter treasure hunt at Ripon's Newby Hall
YOUNGSTERS can search for hidden treasure helped by a host of strange characters in the grounds of a stately home. Newby Hall, near to Ripon, is playing host to an Easter weekend woodland adventure with the help of Animundi. Costumed characters drawn
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Teacher quits job after allegations made
A TEACHER has quit his job after being suspended over misconduct allegations. A concerned parent complained in February about the conduct of the teacher at High Tunstall College of Science, in Hartlepool. Bosses at the school launched an internal investigation
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Parking enforcement put to public opinion
PUBLIC opinion about possible changes to parking enforcement in Darlington will be put before councillors in June. Darlington Borough Council has launched a public consultation about changes to parking regulations. Parking enforcement is expected to
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Cathedral's secrets revealed
TICKETS have gone on sale for a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the region’s most iconic buildings. Visitors will be able to explore parts of Durham Cathedral which are normally closed to the public at the charity event on April 22. The tour has been
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The Prodigy, Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
FOR a group that once snubbed Top of the Pops to prevent overexposure Prodigy last night smacked of a band dislocated from their underground fan base. Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena was busy with old school die-hards and new fans ready to witness the
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Donation to young musicians
A MUSIC rehearsal ended on a positive note when a youth orchestra was awarded a donation, The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, made up of 160 of the country’s best young musicians, is currently rehearsing at Durham University ahead of a concert
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Approval for Nissan funding
THE European Investment Bank today approved a £340m funding package for vehicle company Jaguar Land Rover as well as around £180m for Nissan's Sunderland plant. The loans, which will be guaranteed by the UK Government, are part of a £2.3bn
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£6m windfall for schools thanks to unwanted clothes
A COMPANY that raises funds by taking in unwanted items of clothing has celebrated a major milestone. Northallerton-based Bag2School was set up in 2001 and has now paid out a total of £6m to schools across the UK. To mark the occasion, staff joined
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£500,000 scheme to reduce flood risk
A WATER company is to spend £500,000 to try to protect more than 50 homes from flooding. Fifty-four properties in the Belmont and Carrville areas of Durham will benefit from the Northumbrian Water scheme. The firm plans to upgrade the surface water
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7,500 gather to watch Shearer train Magpies
NEWCASTLE boss Alan Shearer today threw open the gates at St James' Park as he called for a united front in the battle for top-flight survival. Thousands of fans turned up to watch an open training session during which the 38-year-old and his coaching
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Officer in death crash trial tells court his driving was safe
A POLICE officer who knocked down and killed a 16-year-old schoolgirl in his patrol car while going more than 90mph without blue lights or sirens told a court today he still believed his driving was safe. Pc John Dougal, 41, denies causing the death
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Stephanie cuts the ribbon on new supermarket
A NINE-year-old girl who suffers from leukaemia has officially opened a village’s new supermarket. Stephanie Bell was chosen to cut the ribbon at the Tesco Metro, in Langley Moor, near Durham, with store manager Brian Taylor. The High Street North shop
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New era of comfort and light at Ripon Cathedral
ONE of the region’s great seats of worship entered a new era yesterday when two long-held projects finally came to fruition. Ancient Ripon Cathedral took on a 21st-century touch as its new lighting was switched on following a major fund-raising
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Christian festival to take place in historic town
A RELIGIOUS parade in a North-East town with historic links to Christianity is to take place over the weekend. Easter in Chester-le-Street will combine religious reflection, with a creative celebration of song and dance. The local Christian community
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Jade, I salute you
From a mother’s perspective, Jade Goody’s decision to live out her final days in the limelight are totally understandable, says Lucy Richardson. I DIDN’T think I had much in common with Jade Goody, but her last-ditch attempt to cash in on her fame
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Plenty of puff
Ruth Campbell’s pastry-making skills rarely extended further than opening a packet from the freezer, until Bettys’ experts showed her how... WHEN it was first suggested I go on a pastry-making course, I thought it might be a waste of time.
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Fun is the aim, fitness the goal
Jenny Laue speaks to a Teesside soccer centre manager who is on target to beat the recession and childhood obesity. FORGET the statistics that say North-East children are the most obese in the UK because they don’t do any exercise. You only
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April 7th, 2009
THE NAKED TRUTH… You may think that I’m barmy, you may think that I’m mad, For living with my sister or even with my dad, But when you sit in Parliament you soon come to your senses, For even adult movie porn can be claimed upon expenses
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Rattle and Rap by Susan Steggall (Frances Lincoln,£11.99)
BRIGHT and beautiful pictures, accompanied by a minimal but deliciously rhythmic and onomatopoeic text make this a great book to share with someone small who’s ever enjoyed a train journey. (Age 2+) Rosalind Kerven
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Ferocious Wild Beasts! by Chris Wormell (Jonathan Cape, £10.99)
A BEAR meets a boy in the forest, crying because he’s lost – and because his mum says the forest is full of ferocious wild beasts! On hearing this, the bear is terrified too, so he throws in his lot with the boy and they travel on together. Soon
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Bottoms Up! by Jeanne Willis and Adam Stower (Puffin, £5.99)
THIS anarchic and cheeky picture book is a celebration of bottoms for toddlers. Written in irrepressibly jolly verse, it points out that humans are the only creatures in the animal kingdom that feel the need to cover up: “So why must you wrap us
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It's the thought that counts
I love it when a plan comes together... On February 16, I wrote a blog about a photograph which won the Big Snap competition in the Best of Darlington Awards. The evocative picture, entitled High Row in The Fog, was taken by Darlington
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Love, Splat by Rob Scotton (HarperCollins, £5.99)
EVEN quite young school children seem to have girlfriends and boyfriends, so this funky picture story about a lovesick cat will attract sympathy as well as sniggers. Scruffy Splat the cat is madly in love with beautiful Kitten, but she just teases
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Zulu Heart by Saul David (Hodder and Stoughton, £12.99)
GEORGE Hart is illegitimate but with aristocratic connections in late Victorian England and he is found a place in a crack regiment. Also part Zulu, it is ironic but almost inevitable that when his Army career fails, he takes off for South Africa
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Neighbours share lottery jackpot
LADY luck knocked on the doors of three neighbours who scooped the postcode lottery jackpot. Three properties on High Street in Willington, County Durham, shared £25,000 in the People’s Postcode Lottery - only weeks after two recipients joined the game
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Man held after woman found dead
A 49-YEAR-OLD man is continuing to help police with their enquiries after a woman was found dead in her flat. Officers were called to the property on Clairville Road, Middlesbrough, shortly after 5pm yesterday. A postmortem is expected to take place
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The Ignorance of Blood by Robert Wilson (HarperCollins, £17.99)
SEVILLE detective Javier Falcon is out to catch the perpetrators of a terrorist outrage, and the death of a Russian gangster on the Costa del Sol offers him a clue. But this is a clue which not only plunges him further into the terrorist underworld
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The Red Velvet Turnshoe by Cassandra Clark (John Murray, £18.99)
PLAGUE and political upheaval dominate the horizon for Yorkshire nun Hildegard and her secret mission across Europe is fated to end in death or destiny. The year of 1383 is one in which she finds herself trapped in national and international intrigue
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Police appeal over man missing for more than a week
DETECTIVES are today appealing for help to find a 52-year-old man who has been missing from home for more than a week. Timothy Jude Trew, also known as Pete, who lives in York, was reported missing by his family on Friday April 3, but has not been seen
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The Rotting Spot by Valerie Laws (Red Squirrel Press, £6.99) redsquirrelpress.com; theskullhunter.wordpress.com
A NORTH-EAST poet and playwright who hit the headlines with her unique random sheep-generated poetry has now turned to a life of crime. Valerie Laws made headlines worldwide when she came up with the idea for Quantum Sheep. Using paint that farmers
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The complete single's guide to being a dog owner by Betsy Rosenfeld (David and Charles, £9.99)
THE single gal’s guide to making sure her four-footed friend is just that and not a noisy, aggressive and anti-social nuisance. Dealing with the dog from the early days to the golden years, there is advice on breeds, training, travel and diet and
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RAF officers celebrate graduation
THREE newly-qualified RAF officers from North Yorkshire are flying high after graduating from military college. Chris Thornton, James Carlton and Andrew Longbottom graduated as Flying Officers from the officer and air crew cadet training unit at RAF
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How your horse moves by Gillian Higgins and Stephanie Martin (David and Charles, £19.99)
THIS visual guide to how a horse uses its body is an eye-opener in many respects and gives a new perspective on training. Warming up and stretching routines to help guard against injury figure strongly, and there are practical exercises that help
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Six steps to a schooled horse by Susan McBane (David and Charles, £19.99)
ONLY six steps you might ask? But these are six vital steps to give any rider the confidence and ability to train their mount. Classical riding instructor Susan McBane uses effective German Scales of Training as the bedrock of her system which
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VW Golf SE 2.0 TDI
WHOEVER coined the phrase familiarity breeds contempt obviously hadnt driven a Volkswagen Golf. It's been around since 1974 and in the intervening 35 years VW have stayed largely true to the original design brief. Now in its sixth incarnation, the Golf
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Have you seen missing York man?
DETECTIVES are appealing for help to find a 52-year-old man who has been missing from home for more than a week. Timothy Jude Trew, also known as Pete, who lives in York, was reported missing by his family on Friday, but has not been seen since
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Jumpin’ Hot Club@the Cluny, Newcastle
NEW York’s one-man band, banjoist Curtis Eller, isn’t your normal musician – while playing his beloved banjo he stands rather than sits on the stools. That is when he isn’t wandering off stage or performing the splits while never missing a beat
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Speaking out for youth
The Speaker (BBC2, 8pm);Freaky Eaters (BBC3, 8pm); The Hospital (C4, 9pm) ANOTHER reality show, but not to find a new Speaker of the House of Commons. This series is aiming to find the nation’s most eloquent and inspiring teenagers. Comedian Jo
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Climate change film to get Northallerton screening
AN internationally acclaimed film about global warming is to be shown in Northallerton this month. Former-US Vice President Al Gore’s film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ is being shown by the Northallerton and Villages Community Forum in a bid to raise awareness
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Bankers
AS an afterthought, it would be interesting to hear what targets the bankers had to achieve to receive their large bonuses and if these targets were fair to both parties, employees and employer. JW Davison, Ferryhill, Co Durham.
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Right man?
LOOKING at claims that the Conservatives warned voters at the last General election “Vote Blair, get Brown” (HAS, April 1) it must be possible to reason that the Prime Minister was elected. When did the electorate ever directly elect a PM anyway
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Middle East
DAVID Lacey (HAS, April 4) attributes the Likud Party’s success in the Israeli general election to the activities of Hamas and Hezbollah. This is a perverse analysis. One reason why the ferocious attack on Gaza was launched during the run-up to
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Whitby jettison
The column dodges the long queues at the Magpie Cafe and tries out Whitby fish and chips at the Quayside. IT’S a heresy punishable by being fed to the seagulls – and some of those fat fellers look like they could eat a poor columnist at a single
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Shining beacon?
PRESUMABLY the shining beacon which the leader of the new Durham County Council, Councillor Simon Henig, wishes to create (Echo, April 2) will be the one seen by the people of the county as distinct from that beamed at government inspectors. If
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Cowboy clampers
WELL, at last someone in the Government is doing something for the poor motorist. Yes, good old Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is putting the boot into cowboy clampers by bringing forward proposals to regulate the industry (Echo, March 24) – and
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Peter Mullen
COLUMNIST Peter Mullen can never resist an opportunity to air his prejudices. Describing last week’s G20 summit in London (Echo, April 3), he is unable to stop himself commenting on Bob Geldof’s efforts to help the Third World’s poor. He cynically
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Doorstep concerns
THE downturn in the economy is affecting local people in different ways. At the weekend, myself and local Liberal Democrat activists, including all the local Lib Dem councillors, visited homes in the Parkside and Oxbridge areas of Stockton with
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Society
RECENT events give just reason for changes as to how financial institutions are run and how MPs’ expenses are paid. But whether it’s an MP’s expenses, a banker’s pension, a stockbroker’s bonus or children causing trouble, what causes them to do
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MPs' expenses
PUBLICATION of MPs’ allowances and expenses is supposed to let the public see exactly what they cost us to run. But do we see everything? Take pensions. Our MPs have one of the best pension schemes in the world. They can make contributions of
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Back on screen – for now
THE return of Mark Warr to the early morning local news summaries on GMTV has been a great pleasure. What spoils this is that it is apparently for only a few weeks. His professional and pleasant presentation of the news makes it worthwhile to
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TV licence fee is an absurdity
ARE you pleased by the news that the BBC has been fined £150,000 by regulator Ofcom for the lewd and disgusting comments by Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross? Are we to suppose that the BBC will pay the fine with its own money? But the BBC has no
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War and peace
As the crisis in Sudan continues, with its president recently expelling aid agencies, a new book chronicles the experiences of a child soldier in the beleaguered country. Sarah Foster speaks to its author, Emmanuel Jal, who says he was saved by an ‘
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Closing the trough lid
MPs have been warned that they face “big changes” in their system of pay and expenses as the “snouts in the trough” scandal continues to undermine public confidence in politicians. In declaring yesterday that things are going to have to change,
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Police officers hospitalised after man dies from apparent chemical exposure
FOUR police officers were being treated in hospital today after a man apparently died from exposure to an industrial chemical. The officers are under observation at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary following the incident at Berwick upon Tweed in Northumberland
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Carroll on song for reserves
STRIKER Andy Carroll staked his claim for a role in Newcastle's fight against relegation with a double for the reserves in front of manager Alan Shearer. The 20-year-old handed his side a 16th-minute lead over Manchester City at St James Park, and after
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Police probe after mix-up sees wrong body cremated
POLICE were investigating today after a mix-up led to the wrong body being cremated. Officers were trying to discover who was cremated in place of Heather Brierly who died in a car crash in Spain. The 59-year-old was on holiday with neighbour Ruth Robson
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Elliott makes return
GORDON ELLIOTT, who would have enjoyed such a thrill seeing Silver Birch at the head of affairs until he fell in the Grand National, makes another of his frequent trips to England with Spearman. A winning point-to-pointer, he could be a cut above
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Skipper’s role in Twenty20 for Fred?
ENGLAND selectors will consider Andrew Flintoff as skipper for the ICC World Twenty20 after leaving Andrew Strauss out of the squad for the tournament in June. Strauss will carry on leading the Test and one-day side this summer but not for
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Tales of highs and Lowestoft
IT was always going to be a difficult day. The bairn rang at dawn crack to cry off, there was no hot water for the shower and even before the 7.30am train had crossed the Tees it had proved impossible to open a packet of rhubarb and ginger biscuits
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Tykes gear up for pre-season Old Trafford encounter
WHEN Yorkshire travelled to play Lancashire in the County Championship three years ago, a 17-year-old pace bowling prospect called James Lee was thrown in at the deep end for his senior debut. As he quite happily admits, the chance came through
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New era as Smith gets ready for captaincy bow
PICTURE the scene. It’s the Riverside dressing room ahead of one of the most crucial sessions of the season, and rookie skipper Will Smith is about to deliver his team talk. To his left sits Paul Collingwood, former England oneday captain and
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Toure relishing big test
KOLO Toure knows the atmosphere against Villarreal at El Madrigal tonight will be “unbelievable” – but believes Arsenal can come through safely if they remain focused on their quest for Champions League glory. The Gunners head to Spain following
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Cardiff fan is charged
A MAN has been charged with throwing a coin which hit referee Mike Dean in Sunday’s Welsh derby between Cardiff and Swansea. Wirral official Dean was left bleeding from an injury above his right eye during the game between Cardiff and Swansea
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MP joins residents' campaign for pelican crossing
PEDESTRIANS fearful for their safety on a busy road in Bishop Auckland are calling for the installation of a safe crossing place. Residents on the Henknowle Estate submitted a 360-signature petition to Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman asking for help
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Loan recruit Parker happy to stay at Pools
KEIGAN Parker admits his long-term football future remains in the air – and in the short-term he just wants to help Hartlepool United stay in League One. Signed on loan from Huddersfield, where his chances have been limited under Lee Clark,
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Penney reflects on missed opportunity
DARLINGTON this evening face another side whose promotion hopes have suffered, though Wycombe are unable to blame a financial crisis. Tonight’s game at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena was due to be played at the beginning of February, when
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Carroll at the double
ALAN SHEARER and Iain Dowie last night watched Andy Carroll grab a brace to secure Newcastle reserves an impressive 2-1 victory against a strong Manchester City lineup. Both Carroll and the impressive Nile Ranger did their chances of being
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Sbragia rues a ‘lack of talent’
RICKY SBRAGIA has claimed that Sunderland lack the strength in depth to feel comfortable about changing things regularly, despite two years of heavy recruitment on Wearside. Sbragia has witnessed the Black Cats drop to within three points of
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The bull run continues as optimism returns
THE bulls are snorting again. The bears are hiding in the woods. It should not have escaped your attention that the stock market has been soaring in value over the past month. From a six-year low on March 3, the FTSE has rallied by more than
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Champions League preview
With all four Premier League teams still gunning for Champions League glory, Andy Richardson previews tonight’s first two quarter-finals. Man Utd v FC Porto AT the businesses end of the Champions League, Alex Ferguson is boosted by the
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Goals the difference for Boro
GARETH SOUTHGATE believes goal difference could be a crucial factor in deciding which of the North-East’s Premier League sides avoid the drop this season. But confirmation that Gary O’Neil – Boro’s star performer last Saturday – will serve a
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Little changes for boss Shearer
ALAN SHEARER will not attempt to change every problem he encounters during his initial eight-match reign as Newcastle United manager – but he has already altered the players’ eating habits. Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea has left Newcastle embroiled
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Jelly bad show
My Mum's just been on the phone to say I was robbed in the Headline Game on TFM radio this morning. She's right. The story was about a sweet shop in Masham which is displaying a portrait of The Queen made out of jelly beans. Our (quite brilliant) headline
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Hordon on BCO Awards panel
THE British Council for Offices (BCO) has invited Tony Hordon, head of DTZ’s Newcastle office, to join the judging panel of this year’s prestigious BCO Awards. Tony, pictured right, will be part of a judging panel of five, who represent a high-profile
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Buyers still making quality purchases
COMMERCIAL property values across the North-East have fallen by about 25% since the start of 2008, when the credit crunch started to bite, according to property consultants King Sturge. “Values are expected to fall further as would-be buyers
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Shares race ahead as bookmakers celebrate a dream National result
SHARES in Ladbrokes and William Hill raced ahead yesterday after Mon Mome’s Grand National success proved to be the dream result for bookies. The 100-1 outsider romped home at Aintree after finishing in tenth place in last year’s race. With
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Pound notes
■ WHAT’S the long-term future for building societies after the sinking of the Dunfermline cuts the number of building societies down to 50, asks Kevin Mountford at Moneysupermarket.com? He fears surviving building societies have lost “competitive
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Monitor your ISAs and get better rate of interest
EVEN before a London couple admitted that a £300,000 mortgage cost them monthly repayments of only 1p, many savers must have been wondering why they bothered to salt their spare money away. Plunging interest rates have slashed income on savings
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Student helps tourists trace their Irish roots
A STUDENT who set up a firm to help US tourists trace their Irish roots has won a university business award. Howard Kingston founded Irish Ancestral Holidays after spending summer holidays working in the field. Now the Durham University student
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Jobs created in energy sector
A RENEWABLE energy company has announced plans to create ten jobs in the next 18 months. Access Renewables, which started trading from Coundon, County Durham, in January, provides renewable energy products and services. The jobs are expected
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Future of care home group still undecided
A DECISION has still not been made on whether to sell a care home group which employs hundreds of North-East workers, it emerged last night. Four Seasons Health Care Group, which employs 200 people in Darlington, yesterday appointed Deutsche
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Accolade for family lawyer
A FAMILY lawyer at North-East law firm Gordon Brown Associates has been recognised by Resolution, formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA). Ian Lawson has been a partner at the firm since 1989, initially specialising in family
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Tribunal sessions guidance
NORTH-EAST law firm Mincoff Jacksons is holding mock employment tribunals to help companies during the economic downturn. Mincoff Jacksons, based in Stockton and Jesmond, Newcastle, is staging the events to help employers understand the logistics
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Reaching the heights of success
Specialist repair company Stone Technical Services has worked on British treasures such as St Paul’s Cathedral, in London, and the Bowes Museum, near Barnard Castle. As part of this month’s Success feature, in conjunction with the North-East Chamber
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Calls mount for scrapping incentive
CALLS for a car scrapping scheme to revive the ailing motor industry have received backing from the North-East. Figures show the arrival of 09 number plates has failed to stop a slump in sales of new cars. A total of 313,912 vehicles were registered
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Cable firm makes connections at G20
A LAST-MINUTE request to a broadcast equipment manufacturer ensured the world was kept up to date with events at the G20 Summit. Canford Audio, which employs more than 100 people at its headquarters in Crowther Road, Washington, Wearside, had
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Tenants may have claim over eviction
TENANTS who have been evicted or face eviction from their homes may have a claim against their landlords, a North-East law firm has said. Clark Willis said it is dealing with increasing numbers of housing issues involving tenants, and that some
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Law firm negotiates a meaty deal
LEGAL firm TBI Solicitors has overseen the introduction of a corporate structure to help the growth plans of one of the North- East’s most successful catering industry suppliers. The structure has enabled Mike Fenwick, the wholesale catering butchers
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Tracing origins of your goods
CONSUMERS can find out whether the goods they buy were made in acceptable conditions, thanks to a new North-East website. Madeinnations.com aims to give consumers more information about where in the world a wide range of popular goods are put
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Paving way for links to Germany
BUSINESS solutions provider ITPS has won a contract to develop an innovative eco-friendly and multilingual infrastructure to help with a North-East company’s expansion into Germany. The company has won the deal with Newcastle-based property group
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Making sure all partners are covered
MANY businesses start life as partnerships between two or three people. No legal formalities are needed, although any lawyer would advise that the partners sign an agreement detailing how the partnership is to run, to avoid default assumptions applying
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Digital supplier is hailed with awards double
A DIGITAL company has been recognised with two regional awards. Different Digital, was named as digital supplier of the year in the NE Digital Awards, held at the Discovery Museum, in Newcastle. The Newcastle business fought off competition from
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Bats get temporary home at police HQ
A POLICE training centre has made it easier for some univited guests to sneak in and out. A colony of bats has made Durham Police’s Harperley Hall, near Bishop Auckland, their home. The Grade II-listed hall at Fir Tree, built in 1858, is undergoing
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Fresh calls for Dales-Lakes ‘bridge’
A FRESH call for a “bridge” between two North national parks has been made. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) wants the countryside between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District to be afforded the same protection as the landscapes
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Closing in on solution to clean up polluted beck
A TEAM of researchers is closing in on the solution to a pollution problem that has turned a North-East beck red for the past decade. The experts from Teesside University’s Clean Environment Management Centre (Clemance) has identified a way
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Kevin McLean : Developing a presence on the worldwide web
WEBSITES have become a necessity of any modern business. Whether you are just starting out, or your company has managed without one until now, then there are a few things to consider before taking the plunge. Firstly, take time out to sit down and
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BBC director to attend conference
THE director of future media and technology at the BBC, Wired UK’s deputy editor, and two design experts are the latest leading technology figures who have signed up to speak at the region’s Thinking Digital Conference. In total, 25 speakers will
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Recycling efforts benefit Kids’ charity
A SIGN company’s recycling efforts will help disadvantaged youngsters in the region. Astley Signs, based on the Team Valley, Gateshead, was awarded a £100 donation to Cash for Kids because of its unblemished recycling record, which resulted in
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Unused Northern Rock office bought by npower
THE £60m office built by Northern Rock two years ago, as a symbol of its status and ambition, was yesterday sold having been vacant since its completion. The building, at Rainton Bridge, near Sunderland, has been bought by energy provider npower
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Nissan may get £364m green loan
NISSAN’S plant in Sunderland could today benefit from a £364m loan to develop cleaner vehicles. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is expected to approve the loan for a research and development project into cleaner cars, to be split between the
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Figures reveal sorry state of children’s teeth
MORE than 850 teeth were pulled out among children under five across the region last year, in what critics claimed was a damning indictment of British dentistry. The total number of patients who had a tooth extracted under general anaesthetic topped
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Boarders skate over difficult times
A WOMAN who started a skateboarding school two years ago to help keep youngsters fit and off the streets, says it has helped her business beat the credit crunch. Sarah Agar, who runs Popcorn, a skate clothing and accessories store, in Northallerton
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Police stage dawn raids on dealers
MORE than 80 police officers have carried out dawn raids on suspected major drug dealers in Stockton. Cleveland Police struck at a number of premises in the area, looking for dealers believed to be involved in the conspiracy to supply Class A
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Killer facing jail for street attack
A FACTORY worker is facing a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of killing a grandfather in what prosecutors last night described as a motiveless and unprovoked attack. Cliff Palmer, 73, was punched in the side of the head by Michael
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Mark’s running story
A REPORTER from The Northern Echo is to run the London Marathon to raise money for a hospital in Zambia. Mark Tallentire, who works at the Echo’s Durham office, will run the 26.2 miles in aid of St Francis Hospital, in Katete, Zambia.
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Armed raid led to high-speed chase
ARMED robbers threatened two security guards outside a supermarket before taking police on a high-speed chase across the country. Two masked men threatened security guards delivering cash to the Co-op in Newton Drive, Thornaby, near Stockton,
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£1m unit opens to treat skin disorders
TENS of thousands of patients, including many with suspected skin cancer, will benefit from a £1m dermatology unit which opened in the region yesterday. The new unit, at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, provides improved
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Boxer in a hurry to promote exercise
OLYMPIC bronze medal-winning boxer Tony Jeffries won a race against a 109-year-old tram yesterday as he launched a campaign to promote exercising outside. The North-East fighter took part in the challenge at the Beamish open-air museum to encourage
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Girlfriend’s warning over track dangers
THE girlfriend of a man who was killed taking a “stupid shortcut” over railway tracks has issued a plea for others not to risk their lives in the same way. Charliene Durham, was the partner of father-of-two Liam Hayton, who died in December
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Tunes help to get a Scotsman’s pipes steaming
AS Scots all over the world celebrated Tartan Day yesterday, a lone bagpiper ensured North Yorkshire didn’t miss out. Ed Arnold player some jaunty north-of-the-border tunes at the National Railway Museum, in York, to promote the Steam Our Scotsman
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Failed asylum seeker ‘rotting in custody’
A TALENTED African footballer could be allowed to stay in the country despite being a failed asylum seeker. A judge released Ballo Ousame on conditional bail while he appealed against the immigration service’s decision. At an earlier hearing,
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Beanz means Highness
PICTURE of the Queen is wowing visitors to a sweet shop in one of the region’s market towns. Customers at Bah Humbugs, in Masham, North Yorkshire, are being greeted by a four feet square portrait of the monarch made with thousands of jelly
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Last hopes dashed over £300m SeaDragon work
ANY remaining hopes that the £300m SeaDragon oil rig would be constructed in the region were dashed last night as it emerged a contract has been sealed with Singapore. After increasing speculation that the oil and gas platform – which would have
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Toddler’s sharp hearing saves pensioner from blaze
AN alert toddler helped save a elderly man from his burning home, thanks to his good sense of hearing. Two-year-old Liam Cairns was returning home with his grandad in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, at about 3pm, on Sunday, when he heard a smoke
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‘In the wrong place at the wrong time’
A young man who had never before been in trouble was yesterday convicted of killing a grandfather. Neil Hunter reports. THE death of Cliff Palmer was a classic and tragic tale of a person being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was a
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Woman stole old folks’ pocket money
A CARE home administrator stole more than £60,000 from the premises to enable her to enjoy a life of luxury, a court heard. Julie Elizabeth Everett, 51, was yesterday jailed for 15 months after admitting two charges of theft, covering the six
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'Drained' father of missing Claudia Lawrence issues fresh appeal
THE father of missing university chef Claudia Lawrence today appealed to anyone protecting her possible abductor to come forward. Peter Lawrence said he felt ''drained and empty'' as he made an emotional plea from his home in Slingsby, North Yorkshire