Archive
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British paedophile investigated over Madeleine McCann disappearance
A CONVICTED paedophile is being investigated in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, it emerged tonight. Briton Raymond Hewlett was staying near Praia da Luz, in Portugal, when the three-year-old went missing in April 2007. Hewlett
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Electric heater may have sparked fatal house fire
A HOUSE fire in which a man died may have been caused by an electric heater, it was revealed today. Firefighters found the body of a man, thought to be in his 60s, after forcing their way into his blazing home in Bearpark, near Durham, on Wednesday
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May 21 2009
Being Dufay: Field/Potter (ECM New Series 476 6948) Music based on songs by Franco-Flemish composer Guillaume Dufay is revamped by electronic/digital composer Ambroise Field and sung by tenor John Potter. The result is a most unusual juxtaposition
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Four-year-old boy seriously hurt in three car A1 smash
A FOUR-year-old boy was in hospital tonight in a serious condition after he was injured in a car crash. The boy's mother and 11-year-old sister were also hurt in the three-vehicle collision, which happened this afternoon. The incident happened on the
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Fredo Viola – EP Red States
The music of New York singer Fredo Viola is a perfect combination of 21st century technology and that oldest of musical instruments: the human voice. The playful interaction of multi-layered harmonies, intricate shimmering vocal melodies and electro-acoustic
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Durham Diary
THERE are three ex-Durham players in Australia’s Ashes squad, plus two who turned down temporary assignments at Chester-le-Street in favour of a short stint at Lord’s. Alongside Mike Hussey, Simon Katich and Marcus North will be Stuart Clark and Phil
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Patrick Wolf – The Bachelor
Patrick Wolf’s fourth album The Bachelor, reflects his time and experiences whilst travelling and battling the world around him, his self, his desire and tackling depression and bachelorhood. The album is described as his recovery from a dream which became
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Antique owners near Thirsk offer £5,000 cash reward to catch burglars
THE owners of two valuable antiques stolen in a raid on a rural house have offered a £5,000 reward to catch the burglars. Burglars broke into a house at Sutton Park in Sutton-on-the-Forest near Easingwold, Thirsk, at 3am on Wednesday, May 21. They smashed
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Church stages classical concert
THREE classical concertos are to be aired at a concert taking place next month. Howard Shelley is to give a performance with the London Mozart Players at Elvet Methodist Church, in Durham City. The concert will feature works by Mozart and Hadyn written
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Second murder accused found hanging in cell at Durham Prison
A SECOND man accused of murder has been found dead in his cell within three days at a North-East prison. Daniel Phillip Johnson, 23, was found hanging in a cell at Durham Prison, at 5.25am on Monday. Prison staff attended and attempted resuscitation
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Claudia police thank York residents
THE team investigating the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence have thanked the people of York for their help during the filming of a reconstruction of her last known movements. Filming for the BBC’s Crimewatch programme took two days and led to roads
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Support for Neighbourhood Watch
POLICE in Guisborough are looking to work closely with neighbourhood watch co-ordinators in the town. A free event has been organised to develop links between residents, police officers and community support officers. The event, which will be run in
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Greenfingered youngsters grow their own
GREENFINGERED youngsters joined forces with the fire brigade to grow their own fruit and vegetables. And a cash injection from a local company will help boost the new project called Grow n Learn. Firefighters have been working with children and teachers
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North Yorkshire restaurant wins top award
A FORMER coaching house and shooting lodge has been named as The Good Food Guide readers' favourite restaurant in the North East. The Yorke Arms, at Ramsgill-in-Nidderddale, near to Harrogate, in North Yorkshire, has won the accolade. Located in the
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Parents pledge to fight school plans
RESIDENTS of a north Durham village have vowed to fight councillors over £7.3m plans to move a village school. Durham County Council intends to close Esh Winning Primary School and rebuild it on the village green off Woodlands Road. But the move has
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Meter thefts endanger lives
THIEVES are putting lives at risk by attempting to steal outdoor gas and electricity meters in Hartlepool. Police have received a number of reports from residents claiming they have had problems. PC Steve Cranston, the town’s crime prevention officer
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Health centre planned for Stockton
A NEW integrated health centre could be up and running in Stockton by 2013. Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet committee and the Board of NHS Stockton have discussed plans for a centre on Alma Street, where medical services are currently being run.
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Spring fair at Eldon church
St Mark’s Church in Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, is to hold a spring fair on Saturday May 23. Stalls open at 1pm and a light lunch will be available from 12noon.
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Art Land criticised by Bishop Auckland town councillors
AN art event that was supposed to bring colour to a town centre turned out to be a drab affair, according to its council sponsors. Bishop Auckland Town Councillors slammed last month’s two week-long Art Land festival as dull and disappointing. Organisers
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Babe star to perform in slaughterhouse
HOLLYWOOD star James Cromwell, best known for playing Farmer Hoggett in the 1995 film Babe, is to star in a new theatre production of Shakespeare’s King Lear, ironically set, and performed, in a slaughterhouse. The announcement came as Los Angeles-born
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Eco-friendly crematorium opens its doors
THE Bishop of Durham joined with community leaders to officially open a multi million pound crematorium yesterday. The Wear Valley Crematorium in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, is the first eco-friendly facility of its kind to open in the region. Its
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Disadvantaged to benefit from year of office
DISADVANTAGED people look set to benefit from the fundraising efforts of the new chairman of Ryedale District Council in North Yorkshire. Coun Di Keal, ward member for Norton West, has chosen Next Steps and Jessie’s Fund as her charities for
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Hundreds of litres of alcohol seized from youths
FULL results from a police crackdown on anti-social yobs and underage drinkers in Darlington last weekend have been revealed. Police seized almost 200 cans of lager, 30 litres of cider, eight bottles of spirits and four bottles of wine from underage
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£500 boost for youth club
A YOUTH club will be able to buy new equipment and games after winning a 500 grant. Cotherstone Youth Club, which meets in Cotherstone Village Hall, received the money from the fund for Children and Young Peoples Partcipation in Teesdale and Weardale
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Anti-social drunks to be hit with on-the-spot fines
ANTI-SOCIAL drunks in Darlington town centre will get an £80 on-the-spot fine from police this weekend. From tomorrow night, people who are drunk and disorderly will be issued with a fixed penalty notice and could be banned from the town centre
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Mexico flights reinstated as swine flu fears recede
FLIGHTS to Mexico are being re-instated from the North-East's biggest airport. Newcastle International Airport's flight programme to the resort of Cancun will re-commence on Monday after a three-week cancellation due to fears over the swine flu outbreak
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Police make savings to welcome recruits
THE future of police training in North Yorkshire has been secured after a top-to-bottom review of spending in the force saved £7m a year. The internal review by North Yorkshire Police has been praised by the Audit Commission as ‘notable practice
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After 65m years dinosaurs roar into Yorkshire
THEY ruled the world for 200m years and now they’re back- dinosaurs roam the earth again. In a show 65 million years in the making, Walking with Dinosaurs- the Arena Spectacular, based on the BBC TV series, brings the giant creatures back to life in
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Church plans autumn concerts
A SERIES of concerts are being planned by church officials following the redevelopment of their building. Four concerts featuring local bands and choirs will be held at Grange Road Baptist Church over the coming months. The first event takes place next
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Family history help
EXPERT tips on unlocking the secrets of the past are on offer to local history enthusiasts in North Yorkshire this month. A lunchtime teach-in to help people make the best use of historical documents such as medieval court rolls is being offered by North
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Search for 21st White Rose winners
ENTRIES are now being sought for a competition designed to spotlight the very best in the world of tourism. Yorkshire’s White Rose Awards are now in their 21st year and the deadline for entries this time around is July 10. Organised
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Science teachers experiment with North Yorks lessons
PRIMARY school teachers across North Yorkshire have been tasked with making science lessons more exciting for pupils. A Science and Creativity conference is being held to show staff more innovative means of teaching the subject. It is run by North Yorkshire
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New Newby Hall furniture range unveiled
A REPECTED furniture maker has designed an exclusive range to go on sale at the 17th century Newby Hall. Treske, of Thirsk, was commissioned earlier this year to create the Newby range of hand-crafted goods. The stately home, near Ripon, brought in
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Technology award for school
A SCHOOLS use of a state-of-the-art online learning platform has been recognised by a national award. Staindrop Business and Enterprise College uses the Fronter system to relations between itself and schools from across the world. At the Fronter Awards
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Pupils' views on new school
PUPILS and staff have been having their say on their new school. The views of teachers and youngsters from Durham Johnston School, which was rebuilt at a cost of £23.8m, can be seen on Durham County Council’s website. A two-minute presentation features
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Lap dancing bill passes through Commons
A BILL to change the rules governing lap dancing clubs has passed through the House of Commons. Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods called for reform after Vimac Leisure tried to open a lap dancing club on the city's North Road. The MP
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Pupils' thanks to teenagers
GREEN-FINGERED teenagers are to be thanked by their neighbours at a school assembly being held tomorrow morning. Sixteen-year-olds from St Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive, in Peterlee, have helped develop a garden at Our Lady of the Rosary RC School, Peterlee
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Loyalty scheme hopes to welcome 2,500th customer
A LOYALTY card scheme designed to encourage shoppers to support local businesses has signed up almost 2,500 members. The Shop Local North Yorkshire project, launched in Bedale last month, now has more than 80 businesses on its books.
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Police question teenagers after car ploughs into house
TWO teenagers were being questioned by police today after a suspected stolen car careered off a road and into a house wall. The black Ford Focus was still embedded in the property in Thornley, County Durham, today as council structural engineers
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Chris is on watch
Well-known presenter Chris Packham and newcomer Martin Hughes-Games are joining the BBC Springwatch team as Bill Oddie departs. Viv Hardwick reports. THE Oddie effect on watching wildlife is far from over, even though Springwatch presenter
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Double act
Steve Pratt sees Ricky Gervais and Ben Stiller make an exhibition of themselves for Night At The Museum 2 THE law of press junkets states that if you put two comedians in the same room they’re rarely twice as funny as having a single comedian
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Queen B
Viv Hardwick chats to Brenda Edwards about her X Factor days and why she’s enjoying being the villainous Killer Queen in We Will Rock You. I’M not the only one who thought that Brenda Edwards should have won ITV1’s X Factor in 2005. Brenda Edwards
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Top Ten To Rent
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL 1 (-) Quantum of Solace 2 (-) The Spirit 3 (-) Role Models 4 (3) The Day The Earth Stood Still 5 (1) Defiance 6 (2) Mirrors 7 (7) Yes Man 8 (9) Changeling 9 (4) Australia 10 (8) Max Payne Supplied by blockbuster.co.uk
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New stage for Emmerdale
Viv Hardwick talks to Christopher Villiers, Paul Opacic and Helen Weir about their days in TV soap Emmerdale as the trio arrive to promote Darlington Civic Theatre’s tenth anniversary summer season. CHRISTOPHER Villiers has just left long-running
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Life’s a beac
LUKE who’s talking. Underworld boss Luke Strong knows how to woo a girl. It’s not flowers or chocolates that’ll win her heart according to the knicker entrepreneur in Coronation Street (ITV1). No, what a girl likes is a trip to the seaside. But
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South Pacific West End Operatic Society, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
IT might have been regarded by some as a safe option, following last year’s imaginative choice of the Witches of Eastwick, but the operatic society’s decision to back the tried and trusted for one year was justified by a brilliant opening night
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That'll teach her
Playing The Part (BBC1, 8pm) THE day before she’s due to become a teacher, actress Denise Welch is wishing she hadn’t agreed to go back to school. “I think I would rather be on that programme where you swap wives,” she says. “Honestly, I’d rather
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The final winning post
MY dad died last Friday. Tomorrow, we’ll celebrate his life at the church where he was baptised nearly 85 years ago – St Peter’s at South Bank, near Middlesbrough. He wasn’t perfect by any means, but he will be remembered, in all kinds of ways
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Best in Britain (and that’s no porky-pie)
Prince Charles loves them and they have been lauded in the national Press as the ‘best in Britain’. Ruth Campbell discovers what makes an Appleton pork pie so special and why the man who makes them would make a terrible celebrity chef. THE people of
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HAS contributors
SUSAN Willis asked why I think that people may be interested in reading my views in Hear All Sides (HAS, May 19). I certainly do not think I am above anyone and, just like the many other contributors, I feel no shame in airing my views. If people
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Lasting impression
LAST week, I visited several renewable energy projects by Community Energy Solutions (CES) with my colleague, North-East Liberal Democrat MEP Fiona Hall (Echo, May 14). We saw projects in Gateshead, North Blyth, Derwentside and Middleton-in-Teesdale
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Afghanistan
I CAN see a parallel with the war in Afghanistan, where the American and British governments have decided to increase the number of soldiers, with the past war in Vietnam. In the mid-1960s, military advisors told President Johnson to increase
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Mr Speaker gives cause for cheer
HOW can MPs have claimed for moats, manure and home loans that did not exist – and yet have done so with the agreement of the House of Commons authorities? The question goes to the heart of a puzzle behind the expenses scandal, albeit one that offers
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Sell-offs
THE wanton plundering of the public purse by those who were honour and duty bound to be of exemplary behaviour now begs the question: “Are they fit to govern?” What now of the latest plans to privatise parts of the Royal Mail? This, on the pretext
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Bevin Boys
MINERS are held in high esteem by the Bevin Boys, who admired their courage, loyalty and compassion. During the dark days of the Second World War, they were as father figures to us and we remain eternally grateful to them. Acceptable as Bevin
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Tall ships parking
SOME time ago, I questioned the figures on the budget relating to the Hartlepool Tall Ships Race and as a result of these questions it emerged that the borough council was apparently pinning its hopes on a £10-per-vehicle fee for park-and-ride
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Pay equality
WOMEN in the North-East are paid 13.9 per cent less than men for doing the same or equivalent work, despite the fact that pay discrimination was made illegal nearly 40 years ago. The Government has pledged to tackle this unjust pay gap through
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What a relief from MP greed
AFTER reading constantly, it seems, of the appalling greed of bankers and politicians, what wonderful light relief it was to read your two recent Fostering Fortnight articles. The first was about selfless, caring, ordinary, unsung heroes like
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MPs' expenses
YOUR report and Comment column about publication of MPs’ expenses claims (Echo, both May 15) need clarification and correction. The report said “all Labour MPs have been told to open their books” while the Comment column said your reporter asked
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Quakers – a fresh start
WE welcome news that Darlington Football Club has found a way to survive administration, but appreciate that many fans will still feel uneasy about the way the deal has apparently been done. The club’s statement poses as many questions as it answers
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Robert back and firing
ROBERT DINWIDDIE returns to the scene of one of the finest moments of his short European Tour career – Wentworth’s West Course where he hit a course record 63. Twelve months ago he shot the round of his life at the BMW PGA Championship, and
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Fans' View: Newcastle’s problem is...
All three of the region’s Premier League sides have their top-flight status on the line when the relegation battle concludes on Sunday. The Northern Echo has spoken to fans of all three clubs to discover who they blame for the crisis and today,
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Copper returns with high hopes
GODOLPHIN will be hoping Copperbeech can buck the statistics and go on to Investec Oaks glory after she has bagged the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood. Formerly known as the Lupe Stakes, this ten-furlong heat was claimed by Love Divine nine
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The season of shame
IT’S been long, it’s been emotional, and for a lot of the time, it’s been downright awful. But on Sunday, the most gruelling of North-East football seasons will finally come to an end. So in a mood that is half celebration and half despair,
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Rana to decide on ICL deal
YORKSHIRE hero Rana Naved-ul-Hasan will decide today whether he wants to be released from his controversial contract with the rebel Indian Cricket League, which would pave the way for him to feature in next week’s Twenty20 Cup. The 31-year-old
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Ferguson predicts great final in Rome
RYAN GIGGS has dubbed it the ‘‘dream final’’ and Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping Manchester United’s showdown with Barcelona in Rome next week can buck the trend of drab European showpieces. With the notable exception of Liverpool’s amazing clash
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Pietersen misses one-day series
KEVIN PIETERSEN will miss the NatWest one-day series against West Indies through injury but insists he will be fit for the summer’s big events. The England batsman, 28, sits out the three matches, starting at Headingley today, with an Achilles
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Durham’s big hitters ready for Twenty20
LEFT-HANDED leather-bashers Phil Mustard and Ian Blackwell tuned up for the Twenty20 Cup as Durham beat group winners Gloucestershire by four wickets in the final Friends Provident Trophy tie at Riverside yesterday. Durham had already failed
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Exodus continues as Kennedy heads for Rochdale
JASON Kennedy last night became the second Darlington player inside 24 hours to leave for a League Two rival as he agreed to join Rochdale. On the same day that Ricky Ravenhill completed his move to Notts County, Kennedy signed a two-year deal
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Devils have a will to win says Dowie
ALAN SHEARER’S number two claims it is “disrespectful” to suggest that Sir Alex Ferguson will field a weakened team for a match that could send Newcastle United into the Championship. On the day that officials inside St James’ Park dismissed
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McLeish may make move for Wheater
BIRMINGHAM CITY are weighing up a summer move for David Wheater, but fear they will be priced out of any deal for the Middlesbrough defender. City manager Alex McLeish has been watching Wheater closely in recent weeks and has raised the possibility
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Sbragia in no mood to give up manager’s job
RICKY SBRAGIA wants to stay as Sunderland manager next season – whatever division they are playing in. The Black Cats boss’ primary goal when he took over in December was to keep the side in the Premier League and he remains optimistic he can
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Biggest bike ride on track
PEOPLE are being urged to get on their bike and join hundreds of others in pedalling through the North-East countryside. The third Durham Big Ride – the biggest mass participation cycle ride in the North- East – was launched yesterday and organisers
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Denise is face of The Mall
TELEVISION celebrity Denise Van Outen is to front a promotional campaign for a North-East shopping centre. Van Outen will be the face of The Mall in Middlesbrough, fronting a campaign focusing on the centre’s entertainment retailers. Van Outen
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Business agencies join forces
TWO of the region’s leading business development groups have formed an alliance to push forward their members interests abroad. NOF Energy and Northern Defence Industries (NDI) will work together to plan visits for members to meet with the supply
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New home for digital company
A NORTH-EAST digital media company impressed one of its clients so much, they offered it an office in their building. 7Presentations, which provides visual images for pitches and seminars, has worked with a range of businesses, from law firms
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News in brief: Corus meeting is still going ahead
AN MP will meet the head of an Italian steel firm as planned tomorrow, after quashing rumours about the future of Corus Teesside Cast Products Corus, in Redcar, east Cleveland. It was reported yesterday that a director of Corus owners Tata Steel
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Public sector pressure leads to more pain
GROWING pressure on the public sector will bring more pain to the North-East economy, a leading market analyst has said. Renowned commentator Nick Parsons, head of market strategy at the National Australia Bank and UK economist for Yorkshire
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Euro MP highlights work at factory
WORK at a specialist lighting factory in the region has been praised by a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). Fiona Hall, MEP for the North-East, recently visited Thorn Lighting’s Academy of Light, in Spennymoor, County Durham.
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MP says Government is doing all it can for jobless
AN MP whose constituency is set to suffer another jobs blow has said only 80 people in the area have been unemployed for longer than 12 months. Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, in County Durham, claimed the figure was proof the Government was “
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Market report
THE FTSE 100 Index slid into the red yesterday, as retail stocks came under pressure for the second day in a row. Tuesday’s dividend cut from Marks & Spencer cast a shadow over many players in the sector, including Argos owner Home Retail Group
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Time for tea
A BUILDING society is encouraging people to pop in for a cup of tea. Newcastle Building Society is working with North-East tea company Ringtons on a campaign designed to encourage people to review their insurance arrangements. Every customer
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Family rehearsing for epic fort battle
A FAMILY are preparing to engage in an epic battle along one of the world’s most famous frontiers. Liz and Richard Walsh, from Durham, will join hundreds of other reenactors in the seven-day Living Frontier event along Hadrian’s Wall, from Sunday
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Union official claims of academy pressure
EDUCATION chiefs have accused the Government of forcing academy schools on them against their wishes, a union leader said last night. Jerry Bartlett, from the National Association of Schoolteachers Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT), said Durham
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Mystery benefactor donates £10,000 to town museum
A MYSTERY man has given £10,000 to help a museum buy art treasures, with another £10,000 added to match his donation. The £20,000 has been put into a collection fund so a quick bid can be made for any object that is wanted by officials at Bowes
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Mum praises service for cancer sufferers
A WOMAN diagnosed with cancer when she was 28 weeks pregnant has praised a new NHS service that will boost the morale of patients who lose their hair. Danielle Wales, 23, from Chester-le-Street, was pregnant with daughter Layla- Grace when
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Dinnerladies stars take a tea break for charity
A CAST of actors have been taking tea to get behind a charity campaign raising funds to combat a life-limiting disease. The cast of Dinnerladies, who are performing at Darlington Civic Theatre until Saturday, visited Diabetes UK in Darlington
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Green power plant could bring cheap energy bills
VILLAGERS could see their energy bills slashed by 20 per cent if plans to build one of the UK’s greenest power stations in the region are approved. French-owned Dalkia hopes to build a £40m combined heat and power (CHP) plant in Chilton, County
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Arson attacker’s shame over drunken spree
A TEENAGER stole a neighbour’s car and drove it around on three wheels after a crash, before dumping it and returning the next day to set it on fire, a court heard yesterday. Daniel Mills woke the morning after his drunken spree and thought it
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Crime show follows in Claudia’s footsteps
A RECONSTRUCTION of the last-known movements of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has been filmed for the BBC’s Crimewatch programme. The shoot, at Melrosegate Bridge, in York, recreated the moment a passing cyclist saw a woman fitting Claudia’
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Bluebird’s return given the go-ahead
DONALD CAMPBELL’S Bluebird could return to the water for a one-off attempt to reach 100mph, national park officials have decided. A bylaw enforcing a 10mph speed limit on Coniston Water was amended for the attempt, using the jet-powered boat on
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Public come to aid of heart attack victim
A MAN was resuscitated by air ambulance staff after having a heart attack at the wheel of his van. The man’s heart stopped beating for half an hour after he became ill while driving down Salters Lane North, in Darlington, at about 4pm yesterday
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‘Region has more hazardous drinkers’
MORE patients are being admitted to North-East hospitals because of alcohol than in any other part of England, according to a new report. The report, from the NHS Information Centre, concluded that about one in four adults in England are now
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Michelle in final of supermum competition
A CANCER patient who dedicated her life to fundraising when her teenage sister died from the disease has reached the final of a competition to find Britain’s best mother. Michelle Thompson, from the North Road area of Darlington, will go head-to-head
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Funding lifeline found for Quakers
DARLINGTON Football Club took the first steps to survival last night when the businessman who put the club into administration announced he had secured a funding lifeline. George Houghton said he planned to remain at the club for the foreseeable
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Love cheat fraudster fleeced her family
A SHOCKED couple told last night how their sister-in-law stole tens of thousands of pounds from them to fund a lavish lifestyle with her secret lover. Although Fiona Gibson admitted stealing £42,000 from her husband, sister-in-law and mother-in-law
