Archive
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Downing Street apologises for 'juvenile' emails
ONE of Gordon Brown's officials was forced to apologise for sending juvenile and inappropriate emails from a Number 10 account, it emerged tonight. The private missives featured ideas for potential smear stories about senior Conservatives, it was claimed
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First blood to Stoner
CASEY Stoner struck the first blow in the 2009 FIM MotoGP World Championship as he beat title rival Valentino Rossi in the first practice session of the opening grand prix in Qatar. The Ducati Marlboro rider set a quickest time of one minute 57.053 seconds
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Remorseful Hamilton says sorry to FIA chief
A REMORSEFUL Lewis Hamilton issued a private apology to FIA race director Charlie Whiting after he was caught lying to stewards. Whiting has offered an insight into the events that will now see McLaren face the World Motor Sport Council in Paris later
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The Durham Singers, Ushaw College
The magnificence of JS Bach’s St John Passion was laid out in all its glory by the Durham Singers in the perfect setting of St Cuthbert’s Chapel at Ushaw College, near Durham. Reflecting on the spiritual message of the Passions in a traditional
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MCC v Durham: Century for debutant Blackwell
Final Report Durham: 311-4 (89.0 overs), MCC: 126-7 (47.0 overs) The remaining two days of the match were disrupted by rain. Day Two: 4.15pm Yes, the cricket season has well and truly arrived and the rain which reached Lord's
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Sharing the secrets of cafe's success
THE team behind one of the region’s most popular eateries are publishing another book. The Magpie Café in Whitby has featured in the Good Food Guide for three decades and is famous for the queues outside. Now, following the success of
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South Park green days.
Environmental themes emerge at the South Park on April 19th from 12.00pm to 4.00pm. Children can show off their recycled fashion in a show from 1.00pm to 3.30pm. Stalls and representatives will range from Durham Wildlife Trust to Farmers Market
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Woman dies in house fire
A WOMAN has died in a house fire. The emergency services were alerted to the incident, in Grampian Road, Billingham, by a neighbour who noticed smoke coming from the house. When police arrived at 11am this morning they found the body of the woman inside
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Star of lamb video gets a name
THE star of A Lamb’s Tale – the video diary of a Wensleydale lamb destined for the show ring at the 2009 Great Yorkshire Show – now has a name. The female lamb owned by Mark Elliott of Providence Farm, Ferrensby, has been officially named Atlas Mabel
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Trailer solves band's growing problem
A BAND has taken to the road thanks to the generosity of local people. Since its revival five years ago, Leyburn Band has gone from strength to strength - acquiring along the way timpani, a xylophone, a glockenspiel, tubular bells and a bass
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Herriot centre's new exhibition
A NEW exhibition has opened at an attraction dedicated to the country’s most famous vet. The show at the World of James Herriot centre in Thirsk highlights favourite places in Yorkshire – including those of vet and author Alf Wight. His family have
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Flat out for a repeat of 2008
AMONG the 15 trainers opening their doors to the public today is James Bethell, whose Tupgill Stables are at Coverham. Mr Bethell and his staff are looking forward to the annual open event and with good reason after a hugely successful flat
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Beauty and the beasts
MIDDLEHAM’S history is inextricably intertwined with horses – and horseracing. Situated in the heart of Wensleydale, the town nestles on the hillside between the River Cover and the River Ure, two miles from the busy market town of Leyburn,
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There’s life after racing for horses
THE Retraining of Racehorses (RoR), which is represented at Middleham today, is a charity committed to helping a racehorse to have a life after racing if the horse is physically and mentally able to enjoy a second career. Established, the
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Riding out the recession
Middleham is the archetypal racing town. Nearly a third of its adult population depends on the sport for employment. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson reports on how the impact of the downturn in the economy is being felt. IF you’re going to write
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Town celebrates as it gets greener
GREEN campaigners are celebrating their work in preparing for future climate change and dwindling fuel supplies at a special event later this month. For the past four years members of the Kirkbymoorside Environment Group have been organising events and
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April 10, 2009
Reader's question Michael, nine, and his sister, who’s six, are new to gardening, and with the help of their mum would like to grow some tomatoes from seed. They would like to know what varieties to try, what conditions they need and any hints and
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Regional higher education gets £3m to weather storm
CAR workers at Nissan are among North-East employees to benefit from millions of pounds of Government funding given to universities to help businesses weather the economic downturn. Seven of the region’s colleges and universities yesterday received
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Crewe v Hartlepool - Matchfile
CREWE Ruddy Brayford Baudet Lawrence Jones Broomes Woodards Sigurdsson Zola Donaldson Pope Parker Nardiello Monkhouse Clark Sweeney Jones Humphreys Collins Nelson Liddle Budtz HARTLEPOOL Crewe subs (from): Westwood, Elding, Collis
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Going live
Would you be prepared to run the risk of dying to save someone else’s life? Health Editor Barry Nelson looks at plans to start the region’s first liver transplant programme involving live donors. THE region’s leading football teams may be languishing
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Challenge enters its final month
SCORES of aspiring entrepreneurs have already entered the If We Can, You Can challenge, with four weeks still remaining. More than 50 people have put their name forward for the challenge, which seeks to re-instill a belief and can-do culture
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IT placement for Brinn
FABRICK Housing Group has appointed a new ICT apprentice as part of Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon’s Youth Agenda. Brinn Keeling, from Grove Hill, Middlesbrough, applied for the post after Mr Mallon launched his Mayor’s Apprentice Scheme. Fabrick
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A village home with so much to offer
IF YOU’RE in the market for a bargain why not take a look at this semi-detached three bedroom house in the quiet village of Sutton Howgrave which is being offered for sale complete with all its contents – and a vehicle thrown in – subject to offer
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Sunderland v Man United - Matchfile
SUNDERLAND Gordon Bardsley Ferdinand Ben-Haim Collins Malbranque Whitehead Yorke Leadbitter Richardson Jones Ronaldo Tevez Rooney Giggs Carrick Fletcher Evra Vidic Ferdinand Neville Van der Sar MAN UNITED Sunderland
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New home brings a whole new way of life
JAYNE and Allan Hancock are enjoying making the most of their new rural lifestyle in North Yorkshire after having relocated from Shipley near Bradford. The couple and their one-year-old son, Thomas, recently moved into a new home on George Wimpey
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DIY springs back into favour
AACCORDING to a recent survey by MyHammer, DIY is enjoying renewed popularity because of the recession. It found that 85% of people would rather make improvements to their home than sell up in the current economic climate. More than half
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Garden Jobs
■ Take cuttings from sturdy young shoots on border perennials and root them in pots of cuttings compost in a garden frame ■ Remove faded flowers from spring-flowering bulbs and give the plants a sprinkling of general fertiliser; ■ Begin
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Easter plea for missing Claudia
AS families all over the region get together to enjoy the holiday, a desperate Easter plea for help has been made by another family in the depths of despair. York University chef Claudia Lawrence has now been missing without trace for more
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Ask The Experts: Window Privacy
What’s a good way to get privacy on my lower windows without having net curtains? Plain frosting film is inexpensive and easy to fit yourself. If you want something less permanent, bottom-up blinds work like upside-down roller blinds, so you
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B&Q team up with shutter specialist
B&Q has teamed up with shutter specialist The California Company to offer made-to-measure shutters on its website. The online service guides you through every step of the process, from selecting and measuring to ordering and DIY installation. You
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Top tips for removing polystyrene ceiling tiles
POLYSTYRENE ceiling tiles are unsightly and old-fashioned, but removing them isn’t much fun, so be sure you want to. Once you’ve started scraping them off, you can’t just stop. Make sure you have a ladder tall enough to enable you to reach the
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Best of the Bunch: Forsythia
THESE shrubs produce masses of zingy yellow flowers each spring and are lovely grown as informal hedges or towards the back of a border. They’re also great for covering walls and bare ground, particularly if you haven’t much else flowering around
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Safety in numbers at Westpark!
ACHANCE meeting has resulted in a Darlington estate agent sharing premises with a property safety inspection and energy-saving products and services company. Allan Pool, regional manager for gas-elec, was carrying out a boiler inspection at Westpark
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Skoda Octavia VRS 2.0 FSI DSG
TECHNOLOGY in the wrong hands can be a dangerous thing. Take Skoda’s DSG gearbox, for instance. In the hands of someone who knows what they are doing, it is probably poetry in motion. A flick up here, a flick down there – power increased or decreased
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Time to go potty
WHEN it comes to summer containers, gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh has plenty of ideas. “I have agapanthus in pots, olives in large tubs, lots of clipped box orbs and domes and cones and 16 tubs of camellias. I tend to go for perennials and evergreens
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Celebrate with move2
MOVE2DIRECT is celebrating its second birthday by holding an exciting prize draw. The estate agency has teamed up with The Mill Race Hotel, in Wolsingham, to offer one lucky customer and guest complimentary dinner, bed and breakfast at this award-winning
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A stable home!
THE Old Stables, 1 Park Terrace, Howden-le- Wear, Crook, is a wellpresented, fourbedroom converted barn, which has been extended above its original specification. Retaining many original features, including beams, the property now offers spacious
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Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
IT must be tough growing up in the shadow of a glamorous brother. Just ask Eric Roberts about his sister Julia, or Luke Wilson what he thinks about brother Owen. In the automotive world, the Mitsubishi Lancer has always had to contend with
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Falcons ready for cup quarter-final
NEWCASTLE Falcons are back on the trophy trail on Sunday, with director of rugby Steve Bates claiming a European Challenge Cup success would be a fitting reward for his players' efforts in the second half of the season. Newcastle travel to Vicarage Road
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Red alert
Red Dwarf (Dave, 9pm) TEN years have passed since a new episode of space comedy Red Dwarf has been seen on TV, although the series has rarely been off our screens. The arrival of Freeview channel Dave has ensured there’s been what appears to be
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Tesla Model S Sedan
WHILE the world’s biggest car manufacturers promise action on green motoring, a bunch of internet investors has gone ahead and produced one. The Tesla Model S Sedan is due on sale in 2012 and test mules are already pounding around Los Angeles
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Childminders First Aid Training
Four local childminders completed a first aid course last weekend. (4th and 5th April) Laura Wratten from Catterick, Belinda Briggs from Topcliffe, Sharon Atkinson from Reeth and Laura Stephenson from Ravensworth underwent a 12-hour Paediatric First
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Resistance: Retribution
Format: PSP Publisher: Sony WHAT would you do if you had been forced to kill your own brother to prevent him becoming a monster? If your name is James Grayson and you’re crack marine commando, you’d launch a oneman mission to destroy
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The pitfalls of credit card borrowing
HERE is a cautionary tale for you. A student on a stag night in Dublin, wanting cigarettes and having spent the last of his euros, used his credit card to get money from a cash machine. Bad move. When the credit card bill arrived on his doorstep
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Catterick Young Farmers AGM Report
Club officers were elected as follows: President: Mr David Wood Vice Presidents: Mr John Budden, Mrs Judy Hugill, Ms Kath Pullan Chairperson: Laura Stephenson Vice Chairperson: Rob Morris Secretary: Louise Hill Minutes Secretary
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Town swans try again
MANY readers will have been pleased to see the swans return to Darlington town centre again this year. Last year, they produced young which, sadly, did not survive. Let’s all hope they fare better this year – they already have two eggs in their nest
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Pretty useful things
A love for making beautiful things from scraps of materials led one woman to opening her own manufacturing business. Jenny Laue speaks to accessories designer Kerrie Murray. TURNING a hobby into a business is always risky, but for Kerrie Murray
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Virgin bills
I RECENTLY visited my 92-year-old mother-in-law in Darlington and was horrified to read a letter she had just received from Virgin Media. Dated March 2009, she was being informed of all the good things which Virgin Media had to offer. Included
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MPs' expenses
I FEEL I have to reply to Peter Hardy’s outburst (HAS, April 6) against “certain” members of this Labour Government exploiting the allowances system, which I agree is disgraceful, but this practice is being carried out by various individuals from
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Teddy's backing
WE are now almost at the end of the Keep Your Eye On The Ball “Focus Fortnight” (March 30 to April 12), which aims to get football fans thinking about their testicles and the importance of checking for any unusual lumps or bumps, but the campaign
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Concierge service
RESIDENTS who live in the Stockton Borough Council area are angry to discover that for the past 14 years they have been paying half of the cost of the pay of concierge employees who work in the authority’s blocks of flats in Stockton, Billingham
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Returning troops
ON BBC Teletext – viewers’ letters – there was a variety of opinions about soldiers taking part in parades after coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. No blame can be attached to the soldiers who do what they are told – as they do when they
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Not claiming
CORRESPONDENT Charles Snowdon (HAS, April 4) criticised members of Durham Police Authority for being “money-grabbers” in voting for their own increase in the annual allowances to which they are entitled. He and other readers may be interested
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Cycling code
I READ with incredulity an article in Darlington Borough Council’s Town Crier magazine about the proposed code of conduct for cyclists using the pedestrianised town centre. The normal Highway Code requirements are never enforced – ie, bells, brakes
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Children of courage
OUR hearts go out to Kellyanne Bell and her two children, whose story is featured on page one of today’s paper. Doctors were shocked when Kellyanne’s daughter, Stephanie, fell ill with leukaemia, only two years after her son, Daniel, had been given
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Once more unto the breach
As the country’s top counter-terrorism officer resigns over photographs of sensitive papers, Steve Pratt blunders into the world of stolen laptops, missing memory sticks and top secrets exposed in public. BRITAIN’S top counter-terrorism officer,
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Middlesbrough vs Hull - MATCHFILE
Possible line-ups: MIDDLESBROUGH (4-4-2): Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Taylor, Tuncay, Shawky, Bates, Downing, Alves, King HULL (4-5-1): Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Fagan, Geovanni, Barmby, Ashbee, Mendy, Manucho Middlesbrough subs
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Spring sounds
I WOULD like to draw the attention of Ms Jacquie Bell, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Stockton South, who wrote about a doorstep survey over the credit crunch (HAS, April 7), to an article in the same day’s Business Echo by Anthony Platts
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Just so...
BENEFIT fraudsters are quite rightly pursued and taken through the court process. Is it not also a fraud to not disclose to a benefit claimant his full entitlement of benefit? Personally, I think it is a greater fraud not to pay anyone less than
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Population: We ignore it at our peril
AL GORE’S thought-provoking film – An Inconvenient Truth – on the environment and global warming was on TV last week. I hope you had the chance to see it. Apparently, ex-US President George W Bush said it was one movie he would never watch. Could
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Hail to the champions
THE annual MCC vs Champions match at Lords may have got underway in traditional British Bank Holiday weather yesterday, but not even drizzle and bad light could dim our pride in Durham County Cricket Club. While it is safe to say there will be
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Stoke v Newcastle - Matchfile
STOKE Sorensen Wilkinson Shawcross Ab Faye Higginbotham Lawrence Delap Whelan Etherington Fuller Beattie Martins Owen Duff Nolan Butt Gutierrez R Taylor Bassong Coloccini Beye Harper NEWCASTLE Newcastle subs:
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Backing for Dales "back to nature" scheme
AN ambitious "back to nature" project in the Yorkshire Dales has won the financial backing of the Forestry Commission. Through its English Woodland Grant Scheme, the organisation is to pump more than £100,000 into the initiative. It should ultimately
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Air boss says region’s links crucial to success
MAINTAINING the region’s air links with the rest of the world is vital if the North- East is to prosper, the chief executive of Newcastle Airport says. David Laws said other parts of the UK had already benefited from being able to offer a comprehensive
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Street named after popular Dale builder
A STREET has been named in honour of its builder, who died of cancer. About 150 friends and relatives of Rob Kirkbride gathered in his home town of Hawes, North Yorkshire, for the unveiling of the signs at Kirkbride’s Way. Mr Kirkbride, 46, who
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Spotlight on Gilesgate
A NEW local history course is to put the spotlight on a part of Durham City. The five-week course for adults starts at Durham County Council’s Clayport Library on Monday, April 20 week and looks at Gilesgate. It is one of a series of local history
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Engineers group in trouble
A GROUP of engineering companies that has worked on projects throughout the region and nationally has gone into administration. The Allerton Group, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, which has been based in the town for more than 50 years, employs
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Gerrard fear for Benitez
LIVERPOOL are awaiting the results of a scan that could rule skipper Steven Gerrard out of the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Chelsea. Gerrard had the scan on his troublesome groin problem yesterday afternoon, with the results yet
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Volunteer DJ tunes up against national talent
A VOLUNTEER DJ has been nominated for an “Oscar of the airwaves”. Katey Wallace fronts a show five days a week on community station Radio Teesdale, but will compete against DJs from national and regional stations for the Sony DAB Rising Talent
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Tractor fans preparing for road rally
VINTAGE tractor fans will visit the region this weekend for the country’s biggest road run. More than 250 tractors from as long ago as the Thirties will be on display as the National Vintage Tractor Road Run comes to County Durham. The vehicles
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19th-century retreat centre gets complete makeover
A MAJOR restoration project has been completed on a conference and retreat centre used by thousands every year. Wydale Hall, the York Diocesan Conference and Retreat Centre, has reopened after work which has made the 19th-century hall a more
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Harrington off to a solid Masters start at Augusta
A SMILING Padraig Harrington, doing a brilliant job of handling all the pressure on him, began his bid for a third successive major title with a three-under-par 69 in The Masters at Augusta National. It was a better score than he had produced
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Driver critical after bus stop crash
A MAN is critically ill in hospital after the car he was travelling in crashed into a bus stop in the early hours of this morning. Fire crews had to cut the 24-year-old out of a blue Fiat Punto on Yarm Road at the junction with Sunningdale Drive in Eaglescliffe
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Quinn makes a call for common sense
SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn has called for greater consideration for fans after the timing of two of his club’s remaining Barclays Premier League fixtures were altered to suit television. The club’s home game with Everton, originally planned
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Penney faced with a tame season finale
AS Darlington prepare for the final weeks of the season, Dave Penney is resigned to his first failure as a manager, though he can point to a hugely significant mitigating factor. Darlington are 12th and Penney admits his team has little to play
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Moxon's positive start
YORKSHIRE director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon says the Tykes have done “everything we can” in preparation for the new county season. Moxon watched a youthful White Rose side fall to a 16- run defeat against Lancashire at Old Trafford
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Blackwell makes an instant impression in curtain raiser
WHEN Durham were dismissed for 67 at Lord’s in 1996 a swift return to the Minor Counties Championship seemed more likely than an appearance at headquarters as county champions. The unknown David Follett took eight for 22 on that occasion before
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Porter is a big doubt
JOEL Porter is Hartlepool United’s main doubt for tomorrow’s relegation encounter at Crewe. The striker suffered a groin strain as he took his tally to 21 for the season in helping Pools to a vital win over Hereford last weekend. But tomorrow
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Southgate turns to history for comfort
WITH the Premier League form chart providing precious little cause for optimism, Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has delved deeper into the history books in an attempt to remain positive ahead of tomorrow’s crucial home game with Hull. Middlesbrough
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Sbragia lauds Evans
RICKY SBRAGIA could tomorrow come face to face with a former protege who Sunderland would love call their own. Manchester United’s Jonny Evans is hoping to recover from the groin injury he picked up against Porto on Tuesday evening in time
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Care home row continues
THE latest in a series of revised plans for a controversial care home that has run into opposition from residents has been lodged with planners. John Oates and Premier Quality Developments are applying to Durham County Council for approval for a 99
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Shearer now part of 'mad' house'
WHEN Alan Shearer spent part of this week asking previous occupants of the Newcastle manager’s office for their advice, the message from the likes of Kevin Keegan and Bobby Robson came back loud and clear: "Welcome to the mad house." With an injury
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Farewell Little Blacky Tyres
HUNDREDS turned out to pay their last respects to a prominent figure in the North-East travelling community. The coffin of Kenny “Blacky” Eilbeck, also known affectionately as “Little Blacky Tyres”, was placed on a cart drawn by Friesen horses
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Children’s brave fight with cancer
A NORTH-EAST mother has hailed the courage of her two young children, who were diagnosed with unrelated cancers within three years of each other. Doctors were stunned when Kellyanne Bell’s daughter, Stephanie, fell ill with leukaemia, two years
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Shortfall in North's TA ranks 'worrying'
A RECRUITMENT crisis in the region’s Territorial Army battalions has been triggered by a failure to allow members time off with their families, it has been claimed. The two battalions, based in Durham City and York, are 230 part-time soldiers
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Babysitterwho hit girl, one, is spared prison by judge
A MOTHER has spoken of her outrage after a man walked free from court after hitting her baby. Kevin Sykes lashed out at the 14-month-old while babysitting in April last year. The 35-year-old said the child had fallen, but doctors confirmed she
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Five charged following raids on post offices
FIVE people have been charged following a spate of robberies in the County Durham area. On December 8 last year, two masked men, one armed with a shotgun, raided the post office in Front Street, Wingate, County Durham, escaping with 1,700 and giro cheques