Archive
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Brown openly challenged to quit as Milburn and Byers named in alleged plot
PRIME MINISTER Gordon Brown was put under further pressure to step down tonight as Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell dramatically announced he was quitting the Cabinet. In a resignation letter, Mr Purnell called on Mr Brown to step
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Big Brother is just the job for North-East contestant
A JOBCENTRE worker from the region was tonight unveiled as one of the 16 Big Brother contestants. Charlie Drummond won the Newcastle heat of Mr Gay UK in 2007 and has worked as a model in the past. The 22-year-old, who works in customer
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Chief Inspector cleared of attacking ex-wife
A SENIOR police officer walked free from court today with his career intact after being cleared of assaulting his then wife. Chief Inspector Fred Elrick denied carrying out the attack on now ex-wife, Pauline, in a row on their return to their home in
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It’s a ‘MUGS’ Game…
Forget the Blankety Blank cheque book and pen, the ‘Cockfield Blog’ has the prize everyone will want! The Northern Echo has kindly provided me (At great expense!!) with five of these unique ‘Cockfield’ mugs. The photograph of the Cockfield sign
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Lancashire v Durham (Twenty20 Cup)
DURHAM’S traditional struggles against spin in Twenty20 cricket continued as they were unable to break free of Lancashire’s stranglehold at Old Trafford. The unbeaten group leaders employed three twirlers to good effect as Durham limped along to 123
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Scores join fight to save homeless scheme
A PROTEST group has formed to fight the closure of a scheme which helps homeless people in Darlington. As of last night, 166 people had joined a group to save the Emma Project on website Facebook. The scheme, run by the charity the 700 Club, finds accommodation
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Police prioritise bad parking
MOTORISTS are being warned that police are clamping down on thoughtless and illegal parking in a busy village centre. Residents of Sedgefield raised concerns about indiscriminate parking in the village at a PACT (police and communities together) meeting
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Bobbies join Facebook
A POLICE team is not just on the beat but online as well in a bid to fight crime and forge stronger links with the community. The Spennymoor neighbourhood policing unit has joined the social networking website Facebook. The team is the first in County
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Last Chance Harvey (12A)
Stars: Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Liane Balaban, Kathy Baker, James Brolin, Eileen Atkins, Patrick Baladi Running time: 93 mins Rating: ★★★ DUSTIN Hoffman and Emma Thompson provide an oasis of calm as the noisy summer blockbuster
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Family Fun Day at animal centre
An animal rescue centre will hold a family fun day on Saturday, June 20 from 10.30pm until 4pm. The event, at the Ark on the Edge Animal Rescue Centre, near Woodland, in Teesdale will feature a police dog handler, reptiles, a trampoline and a bouncy
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Popular hotel up for sale
A POPULAR Teesside hotel is up for sale for nearly £900,000 after going into administration. The Staincliffe Hotel, in Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, is being offered for around £875,000 for the freehold interest. Newcastle-based Christie and Co, has been
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Terminator Salvation (12A)
Stars: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Jane Alexander, Helena Bonham Carter Running time:115 mins Rating: ★★★ ARNOLD Schwarzenegger carries out his threat that “I’ll be back
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Dub Pistols: Rum And Coke
THIS is the fourth album from the Dub Pistols and features musicians such as former Freak Power trombonist Ashley Slater and hip-hop stalwart Rodney P. It’s the kind of album that you could expect to hear at an after-hours Ibiza party, some dance
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Pretenders: Break Up The Concrete/Best Of
WITH its manic rockabilly stomp, lead single and album opener Boots of Chinese Plastic announces loud and clear that at the tender age of 57, Chrissie Hynde shows no sign of letting up. The gaps between albums might grow longer (seven years since
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Paolo Nutini: Sunny Side Up
SUCH is the failure of Paolo Nutini’s attempt to stamp his identity on the masses that it came as something of a surprise to find chart-bothering single Broken Strings had not made his latest album. Further research revealed the logic behind that
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Resort's concerts plan
A RESORT is gearing up for a summer of free concerts in seafront park. Bents Park in South Shields will once again host a series of Sunday afternoon pop and rock concerts through the summer. Punk star Toyah Willcox will be the headliner on
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McTell us more
Barry Nelson talks to singer-songwriter Ralph McTell who found fame with The Streets Of London and ensured that Lindisfarne achieved chart success. A LITTLE-KNOWN fact about legendary singer-songwriter, Ralph McTell, is that he is the man who
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BBC's folk musician of year to help celebrate Washington club's 35th anniversary
THE Davy Lamp Folk Club at Washington celebrates its 35th anniversary this Saturday night, and helping them to get in the mood will be Tom McConville, a man with plenty to celebrate himself this year. He's just won the coveted Musician of the Year
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June 4, 2009
WHAT'S ON Tonight Gwilym Simcock, St Andrew's Church, Grinton, 01748-880019. Saturday, Steve Melling/Clark Tracey Septet, Darlington Arts Centre, 01325-486555. CD REVIEWS Scottish National Jazz Orchestra/Rhapsody in Blue (Spartacus STS013)
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June 4, 2009
WHAT'S ON Durham Cathedral Choir, Durham Cathedral Consort of Singers and The Palatinate Ensemble, Sage Gateshead, 7.30pm, tomorrow. Profits to the new Te enage Cancer Trust unit, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle. Hosted by Bill Bryson
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Safety on offer at shop
A NEW shop will offer crime prevention and fire safety advice. The community safety advice centre will open in The Gates shopping centre, Durham, on Monday, June 15. It will give shoppers and visitors the chance to talk with police and officials and
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Travel firm ceases trading
HOLIDAY company Scottravel has ceased trading, disrupting scores of tourists' holiday plans. The Scottish firm provided charter holidays from Newcastle International Airport to Bodrum and Dalaman in Turkey. An estimated 1,300 of the
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Daniel O Donnell: Country Boy (DMGTV 035)
IT was when I attended one of the Peterborough Festivals that I was asked to interview a young man from Ireland who I was told was destined to be a big star. He came from a musical background and his sister, Margo, was already a top artist in the Emerald
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Firefighters to march 240 miles for armed forces charity
Firefighters from North Yorkshire are to take part in a 240-mile speed march, from London to York, to raise money for armed forces charity Help for Heroes. Justin Rowe from Malton fire station, Pete Schofield and Mark Naylor from Whitby fire station
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Two arrested after family of swans found dead in popular North-East nature reserve
ANIMAL lovers have spoken of their outrage following the killing of a family of swans at a popular North-East nature reserve. One male adult swan and four cygnets were found dead at Gut Pond, Ryton Willows - a site of special scientific interest
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D-Day hero remembered at Richmond museum
THE only man to win a Victoria Cross for acts of heroism on D-Day is to be remembered this weekend, on the 65th anniversary of the landings. Sergeant Major Stan Hollis, of The Green Howards, was awarded the VC by King George VI for two acts of exceptional
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Kung Fu star Carradine found dead
David Carradine star of the seventies cult TV series Kung Fu has been found dead in a Bangkok hotel room. According to unknown police sources, the 72-star star of the Kill Bill movies was found hanged with the rope from the hotel room curtains. Carradine
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Boy hit by bus outside school
A 16-YEAR-OLD boy was airlifted to hospital this afternoon, suffering from suspected severe head injuries, after being hit by a bus outside his school. The incident happened close to Richmond School, in North Yorkshire, shortly after 3pm, just before
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Cinema club gets thumbs up from residents
A SURVEY into a possible cinema club in Barnard Castle has returned encouraging results. Over 120 people completed questionnaires regarding the development of a cinema club at The Witham Hall. The surveys were completed by people off all ages and showed
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New role for Morrisons' founder
THE founder of one of Britain’s supermarket giants is to take on a new role - as the president of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. Sir Ken Morrison, founder and former chairman of the superstore chain that takes his name, has agreed to take on the
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Headline Game update
Due to being tied up at the Darlington Volunteering Awards tonight, I'm having to make a hasty decision about tomorrow morning's Headline Game on TFM. I quite fancy a story about a Croatian farmer who hid his £34,000 savings on his farm to keep it safe
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Celebrating the stars of volunteering
IT is my privilege to host the Darlington Volunteering Awards at Blackwell Grange Hotel tonight. I'm just working on the script and it's a long job! Obviously, I can't give away any secrets about who wins but I can promise that some wonderful individuals
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Schoolgirls honour their choir leader
THREE schoolgirls have stepped out for charity in memory of their choir leader. Twins Frankie and Danni Phillips together with Grace Coleman completed an eight-mile sponsored walk to raise funds for the Barbara Chambers Memorial Fund.
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£400m development given the go-ahead
PLANS for a £400m development to breathe new life into a town eyesore could be given the go-ahead next week. Proposals to develop the north shore along the River Tees, in Stockton, are being recommended for approval by the town’s planning committee.
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Homeowners warned about telephone fraud scam
HOUSEHOLDERS have been warned to be careful when giving financial and personal details over the phone to callers claiming to be from well-known companies. The warning comes from North Yorkshire Police, after an incident in Pickering when a person handed
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Pakistani flyers meet North Yorkshire counterparts
FLYERS from the flying instructors school of the Pakistan Air Force have visited their counterparts with the RAF in North Yorkshire. Their visit to RAF Linton-on-Ouse was part of a fact-finding mission with the RAF's Central Flying School at Cranwell
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Life-size Dalek makes a killing at auction
A life-size model Dalek that was up for auction this week beat all expectations by selling for £1,500. Several Doctor Who enthusiasts attended the auction, at Lithgows, in Stokesley, with one even dressed as Tom Baker’s Doctor, complete with hat and
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Novice cyclist tackles London to Paris ride
A NOVICE cyclist is pulling on some Lycra to take part in a four day charity bike ride from London to Paris as part of a butchers on bikes team. Richard Hoskin, 42, a meat hygiene inspector, from Thirlby, near Thirsk, will join more than 20 butchers,
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Swine flu: Family quarantined at RAF base
THE second case of swine flu to hit North Yorkshire involves the son of an RAF family, it was confirmed yesterday. The teenager is understood to be one of those to have picked up mild symptoms of the virus while at top public school Eton, in Berkshire
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Friends take on longest golf challenge for charity
FOUR teenage friends are to take part in a marathon golf challenge that will see them complete four different golf courses in one day to raise money for a cancer charity. Jack Stephenson, 16, James Wallace, 18, and Harry Payne, 18, who all study at
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Sticky stuff causes road closure
A MAIN route in the North-East has been closed by police after a sticky substance was spilled onto the road. The A689 heading westbound out of Hartlepool towards the A19 was shut following the incident at noon today. A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire
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Claudia: Doubts over "secret life" claim
CLAIMS that missing chef Claudia Lawrence may have led a secret life have been called in to question by her distraught father. Solicitor Peter Lawrence has expressed his doubts over police revelations that his 35-year-old daughter was involved in relationships
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Ambulance service launches consultation
ONE of the region’s ambulance services is launching a three month period of public consultation on whether it should become an NHS foundation trust. All of the main NHS hospitals in the North-East and North Yorkhsire have become foundation trusts in
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Blears hasn't done herself any favours
I'm not shedding any tears over the disintegration of the Government, amid the expenses scandal. Nevertheless, I can't help disliking Communities Secretary Hazel Blears for the way she has plunged the knife into Gordon Brown. There she is, pictured
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Crackdown on under-age smokers
WARDENS have launched a crackdown on under-age smoking on a housing estate. Durham County Council neighbourhood wardens decided to get tough with child smokers after residents of Framwellgate Moor, in Durham, complained of large groups of youngsters
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Sunderland to play in Amsterdam Tournament
Sunderland have been invited to play in the prestigous Amsterdam Tournament alongside Dutch giants Ajax, Spanish side Atletico Madrid and Portugal's Benfica. Taking place between the 24th and 26th of July, the Black Cats' inclusion represents a significant
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Variety night raises money for club
A WORKING Mens club will benefit from a refit after hosting a busy night of entertainment. Mark Hodgson, organiser of the variety night at Barnard Castle Workingmens Club, said 5,000 had been raised from ticket sales, a raffle, bingo sales and takings
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Secrets of mystery scroll to be unlocked
THE mysteries contained within a small and fragile scroll written well over a century ago are about to be unlocked. The scroll has been part of the collection at the Green Howards Museum in Richmond for many years. It was brought back to Britain by
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Man appears in court accused of breaking father's neck
A MAN has appeared in court accused of breaking a father-of-three's neck in an assault two days ago. Robert James Matthews, of Willow Walk, Shildon, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court this morning. The 21-year-old is accused of unlawfully
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Chicken farm extension approved
EXTENDED plans for a chicken farm have been given approval despite concerns it could harm a hidden gem of Darlington. Councillors have approved plans for a fourth poultry house for 24,000 more chickens at Manor Farm, near Neasham, south-east of Darlington
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School plans 'an absolute nightmare'
A COUNCIL is coming under increasing pressure to re-think plans to move a village school, after governors officially objected to the scheme. Durham County Council intends to close Esh Winning Primary School and rebuild it on a village green off Woodlands
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Kevin goes Pop
KEVIN Kennedy wouldn’t say no to one last chance on TV’s Coronation Street, but for now the man known to millions of soap fans as Curly Watts is happy to make an unusual impact in the touring musical We Will Rock You, which will be spending
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Double acts
Viv Hardwick talks to Hannah Waterman about returning to BBC’s New Tricks, alongside famous dad, Dennis, and her double act start to the summer repertory season at Darlington. YOU could say “like father, like daughter” when it comes to Dennis
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Top Ten To Rent
UK DVD/VIDEO RENTAL 1 (-) Seven Pounds 2 (-) Twilight 3 (4) Bride Wars 4 (2) The Reader 5 (1) The Wrestler 6 (5) Underworld – Rise Of The Lycans 7 (8) Defiance 8 (7) The Day The Earth Stood Still 9 (3) Milk 10 (6) Frost/Nixon
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Andy snaps
IT’S what we in Soapland call, without wishing to be unkind, a “Susan Boyle moment” as farmer Handy Andy Sugden goes into meltdown in Emmerdale (ITV1). He loses his marbles as well as his trousers, he breaks down not break dances, he behaves
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A free decade of musical might
Viv Hardwick talks to Middlesbrough Music Live co-ordinators Graham Ramsay and Judith Croft about the event’s success. "I THINK we are just about at capacity,” says Graham Ramsay when asked about the growth of Middlesbrough Music Live, the free
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Unreal, Customs House, South Shields
THE Customs House has linked up with Tyneside production company Cloud Nine for a three-year writing partnership that gives hopeful writers the chance to shine. Director Jackie Fielding is always worth checking out, and she puts her stamp of
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The Band Of Heathens, Jumpin’ Hot@The Cluny, Newcastle
FLEDGLING Austin, Texas, award-winners The Band Of Heathens brought their raw and keen-cut brand of Americana to the Cluny on Tuesday. With the weather warm and sticky, the multi-talented fivepiece could be forgiven if they woke up the next morning
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Dancing to a new beat
NINE years after she started dancing lessons as a sweet eight-year-old, my little girl – now on the cusp of womanhood – has performed in her farewell show. It all began in the days of missing teeth, tiny tutus, and faltering steps at the Tiffany
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Painful lesson
A World Of Pain: Meera Syal On Self-Harm (BBC1, 9pm); Big Brother Launch Show (C4, 9pm) MEERA SYAL points out that she’s “not just a pretty face in a granny wig” – a reference to her appearances in the BBC comedy show The Kumars At No 42. She also
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Teenage scooter rider seriously hurt in crash
A SCOOTER rider is being treated in hospital today for serious injuries suffered in a three vehicle collision. The 17-year-old rider was thrown from his 125cc scooter in a collision with a car at the junction of Brandon Lane with St Agatha's Close,
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Parliament
FROM his response, Geoffrey Bulmer (HAS, June 1) missed my point entirely. I am aware that the title of Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition is largely ceremonial. However, David Cameron would be perfectly within his rights to write to the
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Ghettos
JOHN Gilmore’s poignant anatomy of ghettos in the UK (HAS, June 2) should be an essential reading for all schoolchildren, industrialists, social scientists and politicians alike. Mr Gilmore neatly teases out the underlying factors in the causation
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Heroes and villains
JAMES Fawcett was 12 when appointed the local rate collector, could speak 14 languages when he was 13, 33 by his 25th birthday and for 17 years was aide-de-camp to Lord Kitchener. He lies in an unmarked grave. Rex Warneford was the first
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Jacqui Smith
I THINK we should all echo Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling in his Commons congratulation to Jacqui Smith on being the country’s first female Home Secretary. Let’s face it, there’s precious little else to congratulate her on. Phil Robinson
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Top cabbies
I DISAGREE with the survey which named taxi drivers as the nation’s grumpiest workers (Echo, June 1). Those who answered the survey must never have travelled with Clarks Taxis, Ferryhill, also known as Ferryhill Taxis and Advance Travel. All the
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MPs' expenses
MAY I add my opinion about the appalling behaviour of our MPs. The public want action, not sweet words from our so-called leaders. What we want, or should I say demand, is that all MPs who are proven to have committed fraud or theft to be dismissed
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Vital research
CHRIS Davies, Head of Admissions, Investigative Research (Hair), listed a number of projects which his group proposed to undertake (HAS, June 1). With regard to that list I know why the British drive on the left as opposed to the rest of Europe
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People power
IN the Eighties, it was the will of the British public which stopped starvation in Ethiopia. This gave birth to what became termed “people power”, an idea which spread to other countries helping to bring down the Berlin Wall, brick by brick, leading
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Doomed swimming pool will not be saved for community
A SWIMMING pool and gymnasium in a Darlington school which is set for demolition should be saved for the local community, according to the former mayor. The old Eastbourne School building is to be knocked down and pupils will move to the new £16.4m St
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Financial control
YOUR Comment column, “Time for a change” (Echo, June 2), missed out on the main reason why the country’s tripartite system of financial regulation (the Bank of England, the Treasury and the Financial Services Authority) failed to do their jobs
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Vince: a suitable candidate for the Summer Wine Party
BY common consent, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable is the only British politician to have enhanced his standing in recent months. He has managed to have a “good” recession, often appearing to have a clearer grasp of the main
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Getting into really bad company
THERE is a party seeking your vote in today’s Euro elections with policies so dangerous they seriously threaten Britain’s future prosperity. However, I’m not talking about the thugs, racists and fascists of the reviled British National Party, about
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Election? What election?
Today is the day we elect our MEPs, but how many of us will actually bother to vote? Journalist Daniela Städter, who works in Darlington’s twin town of Mülheim, says there is plenty of apathy in Germany too. TODAY it’s Britain’s turn. On Sunday,
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A black day for Brown
YESTERDAY, we commented on a Cabinet falling apart. Another part of it has become unhinged following Communities Secretary Hazel Blears’ decision to throw in the towel. The fact that she did so on the eve of the European and local elections – the
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‘Little benefit to industry’
MANUFACTURING firms have seen no improvement in access to finance and complain that the cost of borrowing continues to rise, according to a report today. Nearly half of the 600 firms surveyed by the Engineering Employers Federation said the cost
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Three contracts secure firm’s expansion plans
A HIGH-LEVEL maintenance and building repair firm has won North-East contracts worth £40,000. The three contracts have been awarded to Darlingtonbased Stone Technical Services, which has become a leading national company in its sector. It has
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Engineering drive
AN organisation founded by an engineer who played a vital part in the D-Day landings visited the region as part of a drive to encourage more youngsters into engineering. Pipeline Engineering, in Catterick Bridge near Richmond, North Yorkshire
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Dairy Farmer of Britain calls in administrators
DAIRY Farmers of Britain (DFOB), the milk co-operative, has gone into receivership. One of the UK’s biggest milk providers, DFOB, which has a dairy in Blaydon, Gateshead, employing several hundred people, struggled after losing one of its biggest
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'Rates are unlikely to change’
THE Bank of England could adopt a “wait and see” approach for as long as the next 12 months over whether to readjust interest rates, Price- WaterhouseCoopers (PwC) predicted yesterday. The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is expected to make
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Apprentice winner to host free business event
A FORMER winner of television’s The Apprentice is to host a free advice and networking event for small businesses in the North-East. Michelle Dewberry will host the regional O2 X Awards event at the O2 Academy, in Newcastle, on June 18.
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Fuel costs hit water firm’s profits
A WATER utilities firm attributed a ten per cent drop in annual profits on volatile energy costs and lower usage by recession-hit industry. The firm – which operates as Northumbrian Water in the North-East and Essex, and Suffolk Water in the South
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Market report
THE FTSE 100 Index shed more than two per cent yesterday. The top flight fell 93.6 points to 4383.4 at the close despite a survey signalling a return to growth for the country’s powerhouse services sector. An factor behind the fall was several
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Lloyds jobs blow
THE finance industry was hit with a fresh jobs blow yesterday when staff were told that Lloyds Banking Group was to axe more than 500 posts and close one of its sites. A former Halifax processing centre near Chatham, in Kent, will close with the
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Bid to dispel health and safety myths
MYTHS about children being banned from playing conkers could be undermining efforts to ensure companies in the North-East take health and safety issues seriously. Research has shown that more than a third of the region’s employees wrongly believed
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Quarry protestors going to High Court
CAMPAIGNERS are preparing to take their seven-year fight to prevent quarrying near an ancient monument to the High Court. A judicial review into a planning application to quarry land at Ladybridge Farm, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, will take
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Headline fails to Shine
I knew I was taking a risk with this morning's headline on the story about Take That and Oasis coming to the Stadium of Light in Sunderland. We went with "Wear will, Wear will rock you!". After all, these concerts are going to be some of the
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Director to shout about the region
ENVIRONMENTAL body Natural England has appointed Rob Aubrook as its regional director for the North-East. Mr Aubrook, who has lived in the region for the past nine years, has worked for Natural England since 2006. He succeeds Martyn Howat, who
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Doctors ‘hanging on by fingernails’ to save ward
A SENIOR doctor at a North-East hospital has revealed that he and his colleagues have been “hanging on by our fingernails” to keep a threatened children’s ward open. Difficulties in recruiting doctors have prompted NHS bosses to close the ten-bed
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‘Pupils being denied triple science exams’
MOST schools in the region are failing their pupils by not teaching them essential science skills, a study by the Tories claimed yesterday. The party said students were being entered for a much-criticised single “core science” GCSE, instead of
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Missing Claudia's father expresses doubts over secret relationships
THE father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence today expressed doubt that his daughter was involved in a secret relationship prior to her disappearance 11 weeks ago. Peter Lawrence, 62, a solicitor from North Yorkshire, was commenting after police revealed
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NHS drug refusal couple release medical report
A NORTH-EAST couple whose request for NHS funding for a new cancer drug was turned down because it had “no clinical benefits” have released extracts from their consultant’s report describing its effects as “dramatic”. John Brewis, 54, from Seaton
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Dramatic return for writer
A BILLY Elliot writer has returned to his old school to talk to youngsters about film. Screenwriter Lee Hall was going back to Benfield School, in Newcastle, for the first time in 30 years. He chatted with students and his old drama teacher
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Father and teenage son arrested on terror charges
A TEENAGER was yesterday re-arrested under anti-terror laws and taken for questioning along with his father on suspicion of involvement with a white supremacist group. Nicky Davison, 18, from Grampian Court, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County
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Hard training keeps Adam on the ball and in the fast lane
A TEENAGE sportsman trains in the pool every day of the week in a bid to reach his dream of competing at his chosen sport’s top level. Adam Woods’ all-round sporting talents see him compete on the athletics field, rugby pitch and in the swimming
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Wear will, Wear will rock you
160,000 fans will flock to stadium TENS of thousands of music fans will flock to the Sunderland Stadium of Light over the next few days, in the biggest week of rock and pop seen in the region for decades. An astonishing total of 160,000
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Today's prospects
Flame Of Gibraltar ran a race full of promise when second on debut at Newmarket and can get her head in front for the first time in the Bet 1% In Running - Betdaq Maiden Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield. Henry Cecil’s charge was not unfancied
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Durham in need of a win to justify the delayed arrival of Warner
AS the frustration surrounding their overseas signings continues to grow, Durham desperately need a win in tonight’s Twenty20 Cup tie at Old Trafford. Another defeat would leave a question mark over whether it is worth bringing in Australian
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Wright wraps up victory
ENGLAND finally settled on their opening partnership to lead them into the ICC World Twenty tournament after Luke Wright and Ravi Bopara smashed them to a nine-wicket warm-up victory over West Indies at Lord’s. Since playing their inaugural
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Federer feeling nervous
FRENCH Open title favourite Roger Federer is receiving overwhelming support both on and off the court as he moves a step closer to greatness. The Swiss star reached his 20th consecutive grand-slam semi-final with a convincing 7-6 (8/6) 6-2 6-4
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No drug problem in rugby says Johnson
ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson has denied rugby has a drug culture and claimed players are aware of the consequences if they take prohibited substances. Just over three months after England prop Matt Stevens received a two-year ban for using
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The nomad happy to ply his trade where wanted
Steve Bruce returns to the region 30 years after leaving. Deputy Sports Editor Adam Murray takes a look at the career of a man who supported Newcastle as a boy and for whom Sunderland represent his seventh managerial appointment. STEVE Bruce’s playing
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Lions back on track with a ten-try rout
Golden Lions 10 British and Irish Lions 74 THE British and Irish Lions put down the marker assistant coach Shaun Edwards demanded to give their South Africa tour lift-off. The Lions mauled their Super 14 opponents with a display light years ahead
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Bruce gets the chance to land his big targets
AFTER finally signing a three-year contract to become Sunderland’s new manager, an excited Steve Bruce last night revealed he can now compete for a different calibre of player to those he has targeted before. Following more than a week of
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Quinn gets his top man
STEVE BRUCE was always Niall Quinn’s number one choice to take over at Sunderland this summer and the beaming chairman is confident the Wearside supporters will quickly see why. Throughout last season a major reason for the Black Cats’ failure
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Bruce is back where he belongs
IT sometimes takes a man who’s been away from the North-East for 30 years to remind us what makes this region such a special place. Steve Bruce speaks with a Tyneside brogue that makes him sound like someone who never left Wallsend. His possessive
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From D-Day to Burma – ‘without a scratch’
A D-DAY veteran who was on the beaches at Normandy has spoken about his wartime experiences in the Royal Navy. Horace Hornsby, 85, of Clifford Avenue, Bishop Auckland, served with the Royal Navy from June 1942 to April 1946 as an able seaman.
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Proud daughter tracks down dad’s war record
A NORTH-EAST miner who joined he Army at the age of 17 and saw action all through the Second World War is being given a place in history thanks to his proud daughter. Walter Cowans, from Ryton, near Gateshead, enlisted in the Light Infantry
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A ride on the wild side
SCORES of horses are expected to take part in a new endurance riding event in a North- East forest later this month. It has been 15 years since Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland, has hosted a competitive endurance horse riding event.
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Crash survivor’s neck broken again in attack
A MAN whose neck was broken in a collision which killed two fathers last year has suffered the same injury after being attacked near his home. Father-of-three Kevin Chapman sustained a broken neck, and back injuries after being assaulted at lunchtime
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Big screening keeps ballet fans on their toes
THE magic of ballet and opera has been broadcast live in the North-East, direct from London’s Royal Opera House. The Royal Ballet’s Ondine last night was the first of three performances to be shown on a big screen in Centre Square, Middlesbrough
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Show’s first-class delivery
FOUR young women have been trying out their pregnancy bumps – in preparation for a play. The actors – none of them mothers – were keen to get to grips with being pregnant, so donned bumps ranging from three to eight months. They will be spending
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Union’s threat of strike by rail staff
TICKET office staff working for National Express East Coast are being balloted over potential strike action, The Northern Echo can reveal. The TSSA union said the ballot, which will affect about 400 staff, including ticket office, clerical and
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Premier League is big cash attraction
PREMIER League revenue smashed through the £2bn barrier last season, prompting financial analysts to claim football is proving “recessionresilient”. But the Annual Review of Football Finance published by Deloitte today warns that, while top
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Chef celebrates victory on TV show
A NORTH-EAST chef is celebrating his triumph at a national competition by serving up a special menu for regulars at his home restaurant. Kenny Atkinson, appeared on the BBC2 programme Great British Menu, with viewers voting his regionallyinspired
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Four days for Brown to salvage the wreck
DESPAIRING Labour MPs last night gave Gordon Brown four days to save his job after the bombshell resignation of a second Cabinet minister threatened to force him out of Downing Street. Backbenchers said the Prime Minister would not survive if
