Archive
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Dancing in the street.
JENNIFER Anne’s School of Dance were performing near the Pease Monument today in Darlington. Collecting quite a crowd, they showcased an array of lyrical, modern, street and contemporary dance styles. Jennifer said: “We have over 50 dancers
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Durham diary (from Hove)
THERE’S a Jim Parks bar at the ground at Hove, named after the Sussex and England batsman-wicketkeeper of the 1960s. They seem to have been churning them out ever since, and were able to let Martin Speight go to Durham because they had Peter Moores.
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Durham diary (from Hove)
WE know Durham are stout men. But now it can be revealed that their surge to the county title last season was fuelled by Guinness. I discovered this at Hove because it’s one of the few grounds where there’s a reasonably traditional pub just outside
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Sussex v Durham (LV County Championship, 4th day)
FRED Trueman would have observed: “I don’t know what’s going off out there” as spectators who turned up expecting entertainment on a sunny final day at Hove had to witness a lifeless first session, leading to ultimate stalemate. Although he went on to
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Fulop's last-ditch save that could keep Sunderland up
Bolton 0 Sunderland 0 SUNDERLAND took a small step towards securing Premier League football for a third successive season at Bolton this afternoon – even if they failed to record a single shot on target. With Hull City losing, this largely unattractive
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Gateshead Thunder reach Challenge Cup quarter-finals
GATESHEAD Thunder reached the Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-finals this afternoon with a 34-16 victory over Oldham. Playing at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena, Gateshead outscored their opponents by six tries to three in the first professional rugby
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Cisse dropped by Sbragia
DJIBRIL CISSE has been made the fall-guy for Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia's decision to pack the midfield at Bolton today. The French striker has only been named on the bench, with Kenwyne Jones asked to provide the lone threat up front at the Reebok
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Harper hopes Newcastle's home sickness is a thing of the past
STEVE Harper hopes Newcastle's bout of home-sickness will not return to haunt them once again. The 34-year-old goalkeeper is desperate to experience victory at St James' Park for the first time this season when derby rivals Middlesbrough make the short
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King determined season won't end on low point
MARLON King is determined not to end a season which has seen him experience life at both the top and the bottom of the league with relegation. The Middlesbrough striker will run out at Newcastle on Monday night knowing defeat at Middlesbrough could effectively
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Wilks aims to lap it up in Latvia
COUNTY Durham rally driver Guy Wilks is set to debut the MML Sports Mitsubishi Evo X in Latvia next week. Wilks, from Darlington, but now based in Chester-le-Street, will take on four other national champions in Rally Talsi on May 16 and 17 in front
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Serious accident on A19 at Thirsk
TRAFFIC was backed up on the A19 in North Yorkshire after a serious traffic accident this morning. The four-car collision happened within the last hour on the section of road south of Thirsk. A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said: "We have had
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Redcar MP attempted to claim for Christmas decorations, newspaper reveals
REDCAR MP, Vera Baird attempted to get taxpayers to pay for her Christmas tree and baubles, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph. As the row over MPs expenses gathers pace, the newspaper revealed today that Mrs Baird, the Solicitor General, submitted
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Tough of the Track finds new direction
TWENTY years ago he was an international middle distance runner, combining that demanding discipline with being a pipefitter and welder, known – with a nod to kids’ comic hero Alf Tupper – as the Tough of the Track. Now Tony Morrell is sharp
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Junior suite
A night with the family at the four-star Marriott Hotel Gosforth Park, in Newcastle, shows Joe Willis that fancy hotels and children can go together. TEN minutes was a record even by Little Joe’s standards. Normally, it takes him at least an hour
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Lovely Lanzarote
The promise of guaranteed sunshine is enough to lift the blues for most people. Graeme Hetherington found a trip to Lanzarote was also the perfect cure for the financial gloom. THE Canary Islands have long been a favourite destination for Brits
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Change for the better
Janet Dibley has discovered Daniel O’Donnell thanks to comedy Women On The Verge Of HRT SHE’S definitely not on the verge of HRT (and frankly admits to knowing hardly anything about hormone replacement therapy) but 50-year-old actress Janet
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The Northern Sinfonia, Gateshead Sage
ILVAN VOLKOV’S career has blossomed since being appointed young conductor in association with Northern Sinfonia at 19, and the first conductor of the Young Sinfonia ten years ago. Now chief conductor with Scottish Symphony Orchestra, he returned
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The White Crow, York Theatre Royal Studio
IN this same theatre space, American political playwright Donald Freed has already shown us a straitjacketed President Bush in a mental asylum, in Patient No 1. The White Crow’s subtitle of Eichmann In Jerusalem gives an indication that this is
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No vacancies
WHEN I wanted to interview Connie Booth for a stage production 25 years ago, I was first obliged to write her a letter stating that I wouldn’t ask her about Fawlty Towers. Face to face, I side-stepped my promise and dared to mention the BBC comedy
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Scotland
WE are now “celebrating” ten years of the Scots Parliament. Most matters, including education and health, are devolved to Edinburgh. Residents of Scotland are represented by MSPs. Which begs the question: what is there for Scottish MPs in London
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Margaret Thatcher
JOHN HESLOP writes perceptively and eloquently in defence of Margaret Thatcher (HAS May 6), and I certainly agree with him about one thing – she was the only Prime Minister who had the guts to stand up to the union bosses, and that was entirely
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Government
IF I have interpreted Jeremy Whiting’s comments correctly (HAS, May 5), he believes our Government is not responsible for our current economic catastrophe, nor for our educational standards. Sadly, some 25 per cent of the country’s 11-year-olds
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Durham memories
THE Durham pub at the foot of Hallgarth Street referred to by Peter Gray of Stamford (HAS, May 7), was the Spread Eagle. Farther up the street on the same side was The Sun Inn, now a house. Though I lived in the street till a young man, I never
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Building a thirst for odd words
IF nothing else, the recession is creating a boom in fascinating words. For instance, this week the nation’s tegestologists have been in their cups because, hit by falling beer sales and closing pubs, the company that produces two-thirds of Europe
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Low and behold
The column climbs up Swaledale to join a congregation celebrating its chapel’s 200th anniversary. LOW Row, like all things, is comparative. In truth it’s quite a climb up Swaledale, beyond Reeth, a hilly, stone-built little village with a well-regarded
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Out of space
IN his hilarious letter (HAS, May 1) about mystery lights, Christopher Wardell tells us that he hopes aliens have not come to take him away. I wish they would, preferably to a planet in a distant galaxy that is moving away from us at almost the
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Euro elections
THE European Union Parliament may seem remote, but as the elections draw near, it is worth reminding ourselves of the principles under which it works. The basic principle is that decisions should be made as near to the people affected as possible
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Sats
WHY do we have to put our children through the Sats tests? Can schools not take a percentage of each term’s work to give them a grade? Some children get very upset and worried, make themselves ill, such as vomiting, not sleeping or not wanting
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Feeling of emptiness
GATESHEAD has the Angel of the North, Darlington the Brick Train. Has anyone noticed that the new sculpture for Newton Aycliffe entitled In Our Image is an empty head? This is so like our town with its empty shops, empty factories, most of
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What went wrong?
Thousands of steelworkers on Teesside are facing an uncertain future. Nigel Burton looks at what led to the latest announcement and considers what the future may hold. UNTIL last month, the thousands of workers at Teesside Cast Products, the sprawling
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A question of trust
TRUST between businesses is vitally important in a global economy where decisions are often taken thousands of miles apart. Without it, no business can survive for long. And the best way to earn trust is to keep your word. Sadly, as thousands of
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Strauss relishing a bright future
ANDREW Strauss saw a glimpse of England’s future in their ten-wicket dismantling of the West Indies at Lord’s – and the captain is excited at the prospect of more to come. The performances of debutant seamer Graham Onions, emerging all-rounder
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Yorkshire fail to build on Naved’s Warwickshire demolition job
RANA Naved demolished Warwickshire’s middle order yesterday but a century from Jonathan Trott and some poor Yorkshire discipline with the ball in the final session looks to have cost the Tykes victory. The overseas star took three wickets for
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Saturday Spotlight: The Tees-Tyne derby win that saved Middlesbrough from relegation
Middlesbrough and Newcastle go head-to-head on Monday with both fighting against relegation. Sports Writer Andy Richardson recalls the last day of the season drama in 1990 that saw Boro dramatically avoid the drop by beating their local rivals. WITH
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Today's prospects by Tattenham
AIDAN O’Brien appears to have his usual wealth of possible Classic contenders again this season and Age Of Aquarius is ready to stake his Epsom claim at Lingfield today. The Ballydoyle team bagged the totesport.com Derby Trial with Alessandro
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Mixed day for Hamilton
LEWIS Hamilton was rendered almost speechless twice within a matter of hours – but for startlingly different reasons on another day of see-sawing emotions. Hamilton was initially lost for words after unveiling a special commemorative plaque to
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Babatunde in hunt for title
NEWLY-CROWNED British Universities triple jump champion Ade Babatunde goes for his first senior title in the two-day North-East Track and Field Championships, which start at the Gateshead International Stadium today, WRITES FRANK JOHNSON. The
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Chandler wants to reate history
WHITLEY Bay manager Ian Chandler is aiming to make history at Wembley tomorrow. He scored the winner for Whitley against Tipton at Villa Park in the 2002 final, and now he is aiming for a unique double by managing a winning team in different
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Mowden Park Sharks face biggest ever test
DARLINGTON MOWDEN Park Sharks ladies rugby team will tomorrow play the most important game in their history as they compete to retain their Championship Cup title against Bath Ladies. The Sharks, recently crowned champions of Championship North
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Super League dream for Thunder supremo Findlay
GATESHEAD Thunder chief executive officer Rod Findlay dreams of watching his side take on Super League opposition. This afternoon, if Thunder beat Oldham at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena in the fifth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup
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Award for May on exit
TOM MAY signed off his Newcastle Falcons career in style last night when he won the Player of the Season award at the club’s ‘Big Bash’ awards night at Kingston Park. May, who will leave Newcastle to join French club Toulon this summer, claimed
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Stockton hope to kick-start season
Dukes NEPL preview NEWCASTLE travel south to take on Stockton this morning in the Dukes NEPL, and the bad news for the Teessiders, who are bottom after losing their first two matches, is that their visitors will parade their new overseas player
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Rivals Pools and Boro meet
NYSD League preview THE SCENE is set for a big meeting that could set the tone for the rest of the season for the two teams concerned as leaders Hartlepool take on champions Middlesbrough today. Pools, who were engaged in a season-long struggle
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Fighting talk from Boro boss
GARETH Southgate last night slammed suggestions that Middlesbrough have “lacked fight” during their relegation battle. Boro go into Monday night’s Tyne-Tees derby with Newcastle three points adrift of safety, having won just two of their last
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Woodhouse Close Estate residents create book of art
A BOOK of photographs and artwork celebrating life on the Woodhouse Close Estate in Bishop Auckland is launched on Wednesday. As part of the Woodhouse Arts Programme, funded by Wear Valley District Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal, Neighbourhood Elements
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French duo playing the crying game
SIX years after Sebastien Bassong was left on his knees following a French youth cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Le Havre, Didier Digard wants to reduce his fellow Parisien to tears by giving Middlesbrough a Premier League lifeline.
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Shearer desperate for favours from Stoke and Bolton
THEY might not play until Monday, but an honest Alan Shearer has admitted that Newcastle’s Premier League fate could be sealed within the next 24 hours. Newcastle entertain Middlesbrough in the biggest North-East derby for 19 years on Monday
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Bruce a fan of Mowbray
WIGAN manager Steve Bruce has expressed admiration for the way West Brom counterpart Tony Mowbray has stuck to his principles. The Latics go to The Hawthorns knowing a victory would virtually condemn their opponents to relegation – even if Hull
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Keep the faith, Benitez urges Reds
RAFAEL Benitez has urged his Liverpool players not to lose their belief ahead of another vital Barclays Premier League clash at West Ham. Victory for the Reds at Upton Park will put them back on top of the table on goal difference, at least for
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Megson vows to go for it
Bolton manager Gary Megson has warned Barclays Premier League strugglers Sunderland and Hull not to expect an easy ride at the Reebok Stadium. The Black Cats are the first to visit today and Megson insisted that although his side’s top-flight
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Blades have the edge
Preston North End 1 Sheffield United 1 SHEFFIELD United will fancy their chances of reaching Wembley after Brian Howard’s strike secured a 1-1 draw at Preston in the first leg of their Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final. The Blades midfielder
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Emotion moves Fergie
SIR Alex Ferguson feels the raw emotions involved in trying to win football matches often makes people behave in a manner they regret once the battle is over. Chelsea have attracted plenty of adverse publicity for the way they reacted to their
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Fan Jeffries hopes to inspire Black Cats’ fighting spirit
OLYMPIC boxer Tony Jeffries will be among 5,000 travelling fans at the Reebok Stadium this afternoon hoping that a much-needed victory will leave Sunderland’s North-East rivals on the ropes. With Newcastle and Middlesbrough not meeting until
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Villagers ‘deeply saddened’ by Bishop’s death
FAMILIES in an isolated dales village were yesterday coming to terms with the death of a bishop who was making his home among them. The Right Reverend Ian Cundy, Bishop of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, first came to Lanehead, in Upper Weardale
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World’s top cyclists in region
MORE than 500 cyclists, including Olympic and international bikers, will head for a forest in the region this weekend. The second round of the British Mountain Bike Race Series is being held in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire,
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Teenager Phillip takes musical hat-trick
A YOUNG brass musician is celebrating a hat-trick of successes. Cornet player Phillip Tait won prizes in the James Etherington Music Competition, Wansbeck Music Festival and Tynedale Music Festival. The 16-year-old, from Durham City, said: “
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Five family members face EU fraud charges
FIVE members of a family have been charged following a long-running police investigation into alleged European Union funding fraud. The five, involved in running two County Durham companies, are accused of siphoning off almost £1m of European
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Houghton may be only hope – Maddo
NEIL Maddison last night conceded that accepting George Houghton returning as chairman may be Darlington’s only hope of survival. Darlington-born Maddison, now the club’s centre of excellence manager, is well aware many supporters are against
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Company reveals £2m fleet of new buses after complaints
A £2m fleet of new vehicles has been welcomed as the “first step” towards improved bus services in County Durham. MP for North West Durham Hilary Armstrong called a public meeting in March after a surge of complaints from constituents about
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Dog show will raise cash for riding school
Waggiest tale and most handsome dog will be among categories at a charity dog show next weekend. The just-for-fun competition will take place on Sunday May 17 at the Wear Valley Riding School For The Disabled at Three Lane Ends Farm in Escomb near Bishop
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Collins: Time to blame the players, not Sbragia
JUST days after scooping the supporters’ player of the year award, Danny Collins has attempted to lift the pressure on Ricky Sbragia’s shoulders by blaming the playing squad for Sunderland’s precarious position. A failure to emerge from Bolton
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Miller launches attack on ‘cowardly’ administrators
ANGRY Darlington defender Ian Miller last night blasted the handling of the club’s administration, saying players and other members of staff have been “treated like battery hens”. He also branded Brackenbury Clark & Co, Quakers’ administrators
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News in brief: Turning to their investors
TAYLOR WIMPEY and private equity firm 3i asked investors for £1.2bn yesterday in an attempt to bolster their strained balance sheets. As well as reducing debt, the pair said the fundraising put them in a better position to seize on investment
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Market report
THE FTSE 100 Index capped a bullish week yesterday with another 1.4 per cent rise thanks to economic cheer and a betterthan- feared update from Royal Bank of Scotland. RBS soared by 14 per cent after reporting strong investment banking results
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Competition success gives firm growth plan
A GRAPHIC design and print company is geared for growth after receiving a tailored business support package thanks to The Northern Echo. County Durham firm Designs Unique won a competition six months ago run by the newspaper in conjunction with
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D-day for Durham skipper
DURHAM face a tricky declaration decision today as they go into the final day of their match against Sussex at Hove leading by 181 with eight wickets standing. They will look for quick runs in the hope of leaving themselves at least 60 overs
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Charity ball
A WATER company is hosting a ball that will help save lives in the developing world. The Seventies-themed ball, organised by Northumbrian Water to raise money for its adpoted charity, WaterAid, will include a tribute act to Swedish superstars
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Business park plans go on view
PEOPLE living near a North Yorkshire hotel are being invited to view plans for a sustainable business park. Plans for the park, adjacent to Scotch Corner Hotel, show opportunities for businesses and employment and will be on display on Monday
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MP William opens disability charity’s new shop
A CHARITY that helps people with learning disabilities has begun trading in a new shop opened by MP William Hague. Northdale Horticulture, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, works with people who have learning disabilities to grow plants.
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‘Chinese couple had received threats’
A CHINESE couple involved in a football betting scam who were murdered in their flat had received threats over the internet before their deaths, a court heard yesterday. Xi Zhou and Zhen Xing Yang, both 25, were killed in August last year in Newcastle
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Haulage boss made £9m while flouting court ban
A HAULAGE boss made more than £9m running three transport businesses while flouting a ban on being a company director. But only one per cent of that figure will be recovered from Gordon Glendinning, 57. He was jailed for four months at Durham
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Friends on the ball in Malcolm’s memory
A POPULAR council worker died of cancer days before a fundraising football match in aid of the hospice where he was spending his last days. Malcolm Shotton, 56, of Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, was looking forward to being at
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Braced for more scrutiny
EVERY MP in the region is braced for embarrassing details of their expenses claims being revealed within days following the exposure of lavish spending by Cabinet ministers. A breakdown of claims made going back four years is expected to published
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Apology after ‘players gone’ statement released in error
ADMINISTRATORS at Darlington Football Club last night apologised for issuing a statement that said players at the crisis-hit club had been released. A notice issued by the administrator, Brackenbury Clark and Co, on the official club website
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Killer jailed for mindless attack on grandfather
THE family of a grandfather who died after he was punched outside a pub were still struggling to come to terms with his death last night as his killer was starting a three-year jail sentence. Michael Kelly, who was told by a judge yesterday that
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Bus services are laid on for cricket fans
A BUS company will take cricket fans to and from next week’s Test match between England and the West Indies. Go North East will provide a regular bus service from the railway station in Durham City to the Riverside, Chester-le-Street, and a park-and-ride
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Allison overcomes pain to win award
A YOGA teacher who doctors said would need to use a wheelchair because of back problems has been nominated for an award. The dedication and commitment of Allison James, 37, from Haswell, County Durham, is being recognised by the Learning and
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Nissan to re-employ 150 axed workers
NISSAN will re-employ 150 of its temporary workers made redundant earlier this year to help its North-East plant accommodate a significant short-term rise in work, it was revealed yesterday. The Japanese car maker said that as a result of scrappage
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Steelworker’s job at risk... a second time
WHEN Graham Taylor left Blackfyne secondary school in Blackhill, near Consett, County Durham, at 16, his family told him he would need a trade. His father, Stan, worked at the town’s British Steel plant along with his brother, uncles and cousins
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Ripple effect left town devastated
A FORMER council leader who helped revive a community devastated by the closure of a steelworks believes the Government should intervene over Corus. Alex Watson, who led Derwentside District Council before it was replaced by a single unitary
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Man, 80, in hospital after fending off robber
AN 80-year-old man was taken to hospital after he fought off a would-be robber. Beat officers are mounting extra patrols after attacks on elderly people in Bishop Auckland over the past week. The victim, from Gent Road, in the town, had been
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Crisis at Corus
3,000 jobs at risk as steelmaking on Teesside faces meltdown. THE future of steelmaking on Teesside and the fate of thousands of workers looked grim last night after an international consortium tore up a crucial supply contract. The
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Another community left staring into the abyss...
Mothballing of plant could affect 10,000 THE long-term mothballing of the Corus steel plant at Redcar will have a “significant impact” and could affect as many as 10,000 workers, it was claimed last night. Alastair Thomson, dean of the Business
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Teacher wins battle to have DNA destroyed
A NORTH-EAST teacher has won his legal battle for the destruction of a DNA sample taken by police who unlawfully arrested him over a pupil’s false assault allegation. Matthew Wren, 37, of Chester-le-Street, County Durham, who has now quit teaching
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Man's momentary lapse caused death of cyclist
AN unlicensed motorist whose careless driving caused the death of a cyclist walked free from court yesterday. Denis Moore’s “momentary inattention” at the wheel of his partner’s Hyundai Matrix mobility car led to it clipping the back of James
