Archive
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County council receives zero rating by Audit Commission
A COUNTY council in receipt of a Government grant worth £7 million a year to help vulnerable people with housing problems has produced a ''poor'' service with ''uncertain prospects for improvement'' for a second year running, according to an Audit Commission
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Community centre evacuated after roof blaze
MORE than 30 people were evacuated from a community centre this evening - after a fire broke out in the loft space. Two police officers were attending the community meeting at St Aiden's Community Centre, Princes Road, Brunton Park, Newcastle, shortly
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Middlesbrough Lions v Menwith Hill preview
National Basketball in association with Game Time & Ravenwood Roofing in Hartlepool & Teesside (01429 291793) Following the exciting and thrilling climax to the unlikely win over Team Northumbria two weeks ago, Lions face another tough
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Headline Game update
Tomorrow morning's game is about a pot-bellied pig called Alaina Templeton which is the subject of a court case in America. The pig's owner has appeared in court for allowing the animal to triple in weight over just nine months. The owner, Mary Beesecker
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Boy who killed school pal is named after fresh court appearance
A BOY who killed a school friend by trapping him in a blazing skip can now be named for the first time after he appeared in court on new charges. The horrific crime, which was explained away as a “prank”, shocked the nation. Now Kris Cherry can be
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Preview to Durham's County Cricket Season
Last year, less than 2 decades after joining First Class cricket, Durham completed their meteoric rise to the top of the domestic game by winning their first ever County Championship. The previous year, they won their first ever domestic trophy, claiming
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Thompson returns to Touring Cars
FORMER double British Touring Car Champion James Thompson is to make a return to the championship. The North Yorkshire driver will take to the grid at the next round at Thruxton, Hampshire on April 26 - replacing Gordon Shedden in the Team Dynamics squad
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Outdoor pursuits adventure event in Durham Dales
RUNNERS and cyclists are preparing for the first ever adventure racing weekend in the Durham Dales. The iROC racing event - which stands for running, orienteering and cycling - takes place at the former Weardale Cement works at Eastgate, County Durham
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School rides high on £500 cash windfall
A horse riding school for disabled people has been given £500 from Wear Valley rotarians. The president of Crook Rotary Club, Geoff Brown, handed the cheque to Christine Barratt-Atkin, who owns the Wear Valley Riding School for Special People, at Three
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Mistress barred by her faith from being future king’s wife
AN anonymous correspondent from Middleton St George puts us on the trail of Royal scandal by directing us to Nunstainton – now no more than a couple of farms on the west of the Skerne beside the A1(M). A thousand years ago it was a village called
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Of stooks, stacks and a world gone by
THIS glorious picture of “old codgers” turned up in a shop in Wales, and, for a fiver, Echo Memories has brought it home. It clearly has “Northern Despatch” imprinted in the bottom right hand corner, marking it out as having belonged to the
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Famous in Chile!
Word has reached me that I've started to make it big in Chile! Ok, there's a long way to go but at least I've made a start... The news came in an email today from former Northern Echo reporter Alison Lewis, who now works as a press officer
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Work starts on village heart
WORK has started to create a village square outside a new community centre. The development of a new "green heart" for the village of Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, is now underway. The square is to form a gateway to the village’s new community
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Art on the farm scheme launched
FARMERS who want to diversify are being encouraged to apply for funding to convert redundant buildings into art spaces. According to Ryedale District Council artists are struggling to find studio space and venues where they can hold exhibitions. And
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Warning as conman tries to scam money in North Yorks
A WARNING has been issued as a conman tries to scam money from businesses by claiming to be a firefighter collecting donations. The bogus caller rang The Frenchgate Restaurant and Hotel, in Richmond, on April 9, and asked for money to aid fire safety
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Walk or cycle for hospice
A HOSPICE is to repeat its annual sunflower cycle or saunter. The 12th Sunflower Cycle or Saunter, which raises money for St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham, will be held on Sunday, May 17. The course follows a circular route along the former Lanchester
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Banding together for the Quakers
GORDON T SMITH, of Darlington, harks back to when Cockerton Silver Band processed from the town centre to Feethams on matchdays. “That used to swell the crowd,” he says. “There’s no reason why it couldn’t happen at the Arena today.”
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And what exactly were those cooling towers?
DARLINGTON’S Brunswick Street was in the shadow of a giant power station for much of the 20th Century. Margaret Lavender, of Salters Avenue, remembers the pre-Second World War wooden cooling towers. “As a small child, we passed them as we went
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Another reason for street name?
CONTINUING the royal theme, a fortnight ago we dawdled in Brunswick Street in Darlington (or Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, York, South Shields or Whitby for that matter) and puzzled over how it got its Germanic name. Martin Snape, in Durham, adds
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Pedalling ice cream in the North - a viscous cycle...
This week Memories looks back to a time when Italians from poor mountain villages arrived in the country to seek their fortunes. Some found it, others had to settle for making great ice cream. ALEX MARTINO wheeled the streets broad and narrow, shouting
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Cup runneth over
THREE weeks ago, we were averaging out Darlington FC’s attendance since the financially-troubled Quakers entered the Football League in the 1921- 22 season. Jane Taylor, of the Yorkshire Dales Cheese Co, sends a copy of the Newcastle Evening
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Hair-raising challenge to boost Ripon play
A HAIR-RAISING challenge has been made to help raise funds for a street theatre show to mark the 1,300th anniversary of St Wilfrid’s death. Ripon Cathedral is putting on a play called St Wilfrid of Ripon or a Tale of Two Tonsures later this
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New ranger service launched for parks
A NEW ranger service which has been launched to be the public face of Darlington's parks and nature reserves was put on its toes with its first customer - botanist David Bellamy. Darlington Borough Council's park rangers will speak to the public and
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Traders helping each other through credit crunch
TRADERS from around Bishop Auckland have united to help the town centre through the credit crunch. The group, set-up with the Bishop Auckland Town Centre Forum, was organised by town centre manager Steve McCormick for store managers to meet up and discuss
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Expansion plans of famous shop
ONE of the region’s best-known retailers is planning to defy the credit crunch and expand. Food and wine shop Lewis and Cooper has been meeting the culinary needs of shoppers in Northallerton store for almost eleven decades. Eight years ago it opened
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Survey shows patients happy with level of care
PATIENTS across North Yorkshire say they happy with the level of care they receive and the length of time they have to wait for it. According to a survey commissioned by local health bosses patients believe they are getting an excellent or
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Much-loved mums
TWO much-loved mums were singled out for special praise from their children in a competition at Bedale Leisure Centre. As part of the Mother’s Day contest they were asked to explain why they loved their mums in less than 50 words to win her a prize.
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Youngsters near Thirsk make perfume
YOUNGSTERS made a unique gift for Easter as they created perfume made from wild flowers for mothers as part of a play scheme. The Hambleton and Richmondshire Play Ranger project worked with the children at Sessay, near to Thirsk, over the Easter holidays
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Making the most of a weak pound
AS the new chairman of the Tees Valley North-East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), this is my first column. Those of you who already know me will be aware that, as a long-standing member of a wine tasting group, I enjoy buying, talking about, and (most
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Pub caught serving alcohol to youngsters
POLICE are planning to apply to have the licence of a family pub revoked for selling alcohol to children. Licensing officers say The Jolly Drover at Leadgate, near Consett, County Durham, has failed test purchase operations three times. Landlord Ronnie
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Carrot and stick when it comes to job dismissals
AS an employer, unless you have managed to avoid employment disputes or are lucky enough to be long retired in some exotic sun-drenched paradise, you will be aware that in October 2004 the Government introduced a statutory dismissal procedure. This
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Irrational behaviour in the stock market
EVERYONE knows that the key to a profitable investment strategy is to buy at a low price and sell at a higher one. Of course, in practice, things aren’t quite that simple. For one thing “cheap” investments can become even cheaper. In addition
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Goldman profits signal positive signs for battered banking sector
HOPES of a turnaround in the battered banking sector sent bank stocks soaring yesterday after better-than-expected profits from US investment banker Goldman Sachs. Shares raced as much as 13 per cent ahead as the London market resumed trading
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Double whammy if you are planning your holiday abroad
THE weakness of sterling against other currencies – especially the euro and dollar – means millions of British travellers face a double whammy on foreign spending this year. The poor conversion rate is an obvious trap, but most people find this
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Investors return after £200m is wiped off values
THE retail investment market has had a particularly turbulent two years as values have fallen by an average of 35 per cent. The retail sector was hit hard and fast during the credit crunch and many thought retail values had overcompensated.
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Scheme brings variety to farmers
AN ORGANIC farm in County Durham is highlighted in a national report outlining the benefits of environmental stewardship. Chris and Liz Hodgson rear beef, cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens at Piercebridge Farm, Piercebridge, near Darlington. They
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First year is a success for training courses
A TRAINING body which focuses on the farming, forestry and horticultural sectors is celebrating a successful first year. LandSkills, in Yorkshire and Humber, has spent more than £360,000 helping 870 people improve their skills on more than
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Farmers ‘should vaccinate against bluetongue disease'
A DUTCH farmer who has first-hand knowledge of the devastating impact of bluetongue has urged the region’s farmers to vaccinate against the disease. Jakob Pustjens has completed a tour of UK auction marts where he has passed on his experience
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Seeking to ease the burden over rates on empty properties
One year on from the removal of full tax relief from Empty Property Rates, businesses are being forced to take drastic action to escape the burden. Deputy Business Editor Deborah Johnson looks at why the importance of reinstating relief has never
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Boost for mental health charity
A GRANT of almost half a million pounds will help to improve mental health services in a North Durham town. The Big Lottery Fund has awarded a Reaching Communities grant of £480,037 to the Chester-le-Street branch of the Mind charity. The money will
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From a loft to a business park
AN electronics company which started in a loft a decade ago has taken on 12 staff after moving premises. Parmley Technologies, which specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for use in military and industrial
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25-year-old firm has jobs for people with right skills
AN engineering business celebrating its silver anniversary said it would recruit more staff, if it could find people with the required skills. In 25 years, family-run Industrial and Marine Hydraulics, based in Snowdon Road, Middlesbrough, has
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Solicitors will be of ‘highest quality’
A NORTH Yorkshire law firm is one of the founder members of what is being hailed as the UK’s first national legal brand. QualitySolicitors.com has been established to promote the use of solicitor firms over what is described as the “call centre
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Accountancy associates appointed directors
CHARTERED accountants Benson Wood Limited has appointed two directors. Benson Wood, based in Stockton, describes the promotion of Danielle Carolan and Sharon Woolley, both previously associates, as a long-term investment. The move increases the
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Ex-TV Apprentices raising bar for businesses
TWO past contenders to be Sir Alan Sugar’s Apprentice who set up their own consultancy have held their first event. Kristina Grimes, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has joined Jennifer Celerier to form KGJC, which provides business analysis and
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Not-for-profit groups offered £6m funding
NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisations are being encouraged to take advantage of a £6m regional fund which could help regenerate deprived areas and help the unemployed back into work. The newly-launched Third Sector Capacity Fund has been created by regional
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Darchem looks to nuclear growth
JOBS could be created by an engineering firm’s £4m expansion to take advantage of plans for a “nuclear renaissance”. Darchem Engineering will start work next week on expanding its facilities at Stillington, near Stockton, with the largest proportion
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Free face painting for children
A FREE face-painting event has been organised for children in north Durham. It is taking place at the park area on Avondale Terrace in Chester-le-Street on between 10am and 12pm. The family friendly event will provide children visiting the recreation
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Rubbing shoulders with Obama’s make-up artist
NOT many businesses can boast to have worked with one of the US President’s inner circle within its first year of existence. But for County Durhambased online men’s make-up company astonmitchell, that is exactly what they’ve done. Although they
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Firefighters tackle blaze at recycling plant
A 200 metre cordon has been placed around an waste recycling plant after a massive fire broke out. More than 70 firefighters attended the blaze at Hartlepool Fabrications, on Greythorpe Industrial Estate, shortly after 9.15pm last night. Although the
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Cannabis farm seized in drugs raids
A CANNABIS farm was seized today when 120 police officers carried out raids at 13 North-East addresses. Officers arrested 14 people - 13 men and a woman, all aged between 20 and 53 - when they swooped on a dozen properties in Darlington and
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Fare comment
From overpriced train tickets to nonsensical bus fares, the column has had its fare share of public transport. US poor provincials, as insular as we are ungrammatical, like to suppose that the national press rarely leave London. Certainly most of
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Brown’s ‘brilliance’
GEOFFREY Bulmer (HAS, April 11) stated that “Gordon Brown is a man of undeniable intellectual brilliance”, the latest of many similar comments from a variety of sources that I’ve read in the past dozen years or so. I wonder, is it a mark of brilliance
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We can’t afford retail therapy
With more women going bankrupt than ever, when will we stop falling for marketing gimmicks like retail therapy? YES, of course you’re worth it – but that doesn’t mean you can afford it. The bad news is that the number of women – especially
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Email smears
WHEN Gordon Brown sneaked into the role of Prime Minister almost two years ago, he promised many things, one of which was pertinent to this past weekend’s email smear events – ie, “a different kind of politics” and “a more open and honest dialogue
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Unitary council
DURHAM City Conservative parliamentary candidate Nick Varley rightly attacks the new Labour-controlled Durham County Council unitary authority for breaking a promise to reduce council tax to an average of zero per cent while condemning politicians
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Euro elections
I AM sorry Ralph Musgrave (HAS, April 13) had such difficulty finding out the boundaries for the forthcoming European Parliament elections on June 4. I just tried a Google search under the terms “European Parliament elections” and I am pleased
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Park-and-ride
I HAVE recently sent an email to Councillor Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council, asking him to explain the reasons for awarding the new Durham City park-and-ride contract to Arriva, and why it is not being renewed with Scarlet Band, which
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Gems apart, what a slum of a country
WITH the next month, my wife and I will make two annual springtime pilgrimages. The first, during a Lake District holiday to mark our wedding anniversary, will be around the Wythop Valley. The what? The Wythop Valley. It’s between Bassenthwaite
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Hillsborough answers that never came
TWENTY years ago today, the Hillsborough disaster shocked the world, and changed the face of football as a spectator sport. The Taylor Report, published in 1990, recommended all-seater stadia and criticised police chiefs for failing to control
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BBC
IF Peter Mullen has anything favourable to say about the BBC he took care to show no hint of it in his column (Echo, April 7), which was a torrent of complaint covering the corporation’s activities and, indeed, questioned its very existence. His
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The fight for justice goes on
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, when 96 Liverpool supporters died in Britain’s worst sporting tragedy. Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson recalls the day and examines the ongoing search for justice. ON the morning of
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Police hunt North Yorkshire sex attacker
DETECTIVES are hunting a man who subjected a teenager to a serious sexual assault as she made her way home after a night out. The attack took place around 4.30am on Friday, March 13, at Pannal, Harrogate, as the 17-year-old was dropped off by friends
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Coronation Street star victim of alleged attack in North Yorkshire
POLICE were today investigating an alleged attack on Coronation Street star Mikey North which left him with a broken jaw. The 22-year-old needed emergency surgery following the incident in the early hours of Saturday. It is understood the trouble started
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Medical advisor denies Turner licence to race
Trainer Michael Bell is waiting to see if Hayley Turner receives any further medical advice after she was stood down from riding for 12 months. The Newmarket trainer is sympathetic to the 26-year-old’s cause as she faces an absence from competition
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Meade in fine form
NOEL MEADE was the man to follow on day three of Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival with a significant double courtesy of The Fist Of God and Fisher Bridge. The former’s success in the opening Weatherbys Ireland GSB Hurdle set the ball rolling. The
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Gosden can land with Wajaha
JOHN GOSDEN has started the season in sparkling form and it is worth taking a chance on his Wajaha coming out on top in the Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket. In what is really the first genuine Classic trial of the season
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Gollings picks up Market Double
LOUTH handler Steve Gollings secured a 16-1 Market Rasen double courtesy of Viscount Rossini and Springfield Raki – both ridden by rising star Rhys Flint. Flint successfully teamed up with Viscount Rossini for a second time in the 17th May Is Countryside
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Harmison given the all-clear
STEVE HARMISON will begin his build-up for what he hopes will be a repeat of the 2005 Ashes triumph at Durham University’s Racecourse ground today. The paceman is in the Durham squad to play the students in the three-day fixture after his request
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Downing wants focus
STEWART DOWNING has urged his Middlesbrough team-mates to forget about what other teams are doing at the foot of the Premier League – and devote all of their attention to ensuring they claim another victory against Fulham on Saturday. With Sunderland
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England place hope in Flower
ANDY FLOWER is expected to be revealed as England’s new director of cricket at Lord’s today Zimbabwean Flower made a worthy impression as standin coach during the 11-week tour of the Caribbean despite the unexpected defeat to West Indies in the
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Turner weighing up options
THREE games to go and Chris Turner has admitted Ritchie Humphreys could have a different role to play in the final weeks of the season. Hartlepool United, according to Turner, need one more win to make sure of League One safety. With top scorer
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Martins very much in Shearer’s plans
NEWCASTLE manager Alan Shearer has resolved his differences with Obafemi Martins, and the striker will return to the squad for Sunday’s trip to Tottenham provided his groin injury heals in time. Shearer was furious when Martins was forced to withdraw
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Penney explains change of shape
DARLINGTON’S switch in formation on Monday came following a bout of trial and error explained manager Dave Penney. With Liam Hatch and Danny Carlton left out for the second successive game as their eligibility remains an issue, Penney handed
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Champions League preview
Manchester United and Arsenal are in Champions League action this evening, and Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson expects supporters of both to be biting their fingernails as they attempt to make the last four. ARSENAL (1) v VILLARREAL (1)
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Problems In Darlington
I am a student at university in Leeds and don’t live in Darlington anymore. Where I live in Leeds, there doesn't seem to be any of the same issues that I have every time I visit Darlington. In my street I am welcomed by groups of teenagers around 14 –
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14 arrested in drug raids
A CANNABIS farm was seized this morning when 120 police officers carried out raids at 13 North-East houses. Officers arrested 14 people - 13 men and a woman, all aged between 20 and 53 - when they swooped on a dozen properties in Darlington
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No plans for Black Cats to parachute Curbishley in
SUNDERLAND will not be appointing Alan Curbishley as an interim manager – no matter what happens in Saturday’s crunch relegation clash with Hull City. It was reported that Curbishley is being lined up as an experienced alternative to current
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Blues hit back to end Reds' Euro hopes
Chelsea 4 Liverpool 4 (Chelsea win 7-5 on aggregate) CHELSEA denied Liverpool the glory of another sensational European comeback to reach the semifinals of the Champions League. Liverpool, trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Anfield, stunned the
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Formula One chiefs rule Brawn diffuser is legal
THE FIA International Court of Appeal have today ruled that the design of the Brawn, Toyota and Williams cars is legal and complies with the applicable regulations. During an eight-hour hearing yesterday Ferrari, Renault, Red Bull and BMW Sauber challenged
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Beardsley remembers the pain of Hillsborough
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster when 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives. Peter Beardsley was playing for Liverpool that day and Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson discovers the tragedy is something he still finds difficult
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Hartlepool earmarked as potential site for new nuclear power station
A LIST of potential sites for new nuclear power stations - including one in the North-East, was unveiled by the Government today. Nine of the locations have previously been home to nuclear reactors - including Dungeness in Kent and Sizewell in Suffolk
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No sympathy for Jack the thug
Jade Goody's widower Jack Tweed is all over today's papers, with his family moaning about the fact that he's been jailed for 12 weeks. Well, he shouldn't go around acting like a thug then, should he? Tweed was out on licence early after being jailed
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Transplant a success after use of pump
THE first patient in the region to be fitted with an artificial heart pump outside his body is doing well after undergoing a transplant. Terry Purchase, 60, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was kept alive by a Berlin battery-powered portable
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Racy Headine Game
Today's Headline Game was one of the raciest in the three-year history of the competition. The story was about a Norweigan couple caught having sex while speeding on a motorway. A 22-year-old woman was on a 28-year-old male driver's
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Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
This is the first book from the controversial, yet brilliant author Dan Brown, published in 2000. Brown has written four books so far, but only Angels and Demons, and his second book, The Da Vinci Code follow on in a series. Angels and Demons
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Father tables plea in search for chef
THE father of university chef Claudia Lawrence yesterday unveiled a table-top box displaying images of his daughter, who has been missing for four weeks. The Filpot normally carries adverts and is used in pubs and bars for discarded crisp packets
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Parents and staff in protest over merger
PARENTS and teachers have staged a doorstep protest against plans to merge two secondary schools into a new academy. About 40 people took part in the demonstration outside Durham’s County Hall, carrying placards and chanting: “Save Our Schools
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Free guided walk on the Weardale Way
WALKERS can share all the sights, sounds and scents of spring in the North Pennines on a free guided walk this week. The North Pennines AONB Partnership is hosting a springtime guided walk on Friday (April 17), following the Weardale Way from Ireshopeburn
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Tributes paid to mum who died during night out
TRIBUTES have been paid to a loving mother-of-three who collapsed and died while out with friends. Joanne Sayers fell to the ground in the Coach and Horses pub, in Consett, County Durham, late on Sunday night. It was a rare night out for the
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Shock increase in pupil exclusions
AT least 51 pupils were suspended from the region’s schools more than ten times, it was revealed today. The numbers are included in a record total of 867 pupils in England suspended more than ten times during 2007-8. The Conservative shadow schools
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Accused carrying guns for court date
THE man accused of stealing a £3m Shakespeare folio yesterday attempted to carry two guns into court while dressed as Che Guevara. Police were called to Consett Magistrates’ Court after security staff alerted them shortly after self-styled antiques
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Milburn 'sickened' by emails scandal
ALAN MILBURN last night described how the smear campaign by a sacked No10 advisor had left him “sick to my stomach” , as the Tories demanded an inquiry into what Gordon Brown knew of the scandal. The Darlington MP and former Cabinet minister
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Hope for Quakers as deadline looms
FOUR seperate parties are expected to make bids for a football club in administration, it has been revealed. Cash-strapped Darlington FC is hoping that the bids will be received before the April 20 deadline, which was set by the administrators
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MP to host climate change fair
BISHOP AUCKLAND MP Helen Goodman will host a climate change fair in Barnard Castle next month. The event on Saturday, May 16, will enable local companies and organisations to showcase their environmentally friendly products, technology and services.
