Archive
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Lucky escape for baby as car mounts pavement
A SIX-WEEK old baby was among a number of people who had to be treated when a car mounted the pavement and ended up on its roof in a busy Darlington street. Metal railings were left bent and broken and nearby shops were showered with debris
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MIMA
Yesterday I found myself in the company of other family lawyers in a room piled high with broken crockery. A scene from a domestic dispute open to forensic examination you might guess. No, I was being entertained in the somewhat novel surroundings of
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Workman's devastation after thieves steal van with his dog inside
A WORKMAN has spoken of his devastation after thieves stole his van with his beloved dog inside. Luke Hopkinson, of Richmond, North Yorkshire, has been left distraught by the incident, which happened in Hurworth, near Darlington, on Friday
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Angler airlifted from beach after injuring leg
A MAN had to be airlifted from the beach at Horden, County Durham this evening after falling and damaging his leg. The man, who it is believed had been drinking, was fishing on the beach and sustained the injury while the tide was inbound. He was found
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Walk for Christmas lights appeal
FAMILIES are asked to put their best foot forward on a sponsored walk that will raise money to light up their town this winter. Chilton’s Christmas lights committee is appealing for people, particularly families with children, to take part in the walk
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Wilks leads Proton's rally challenge
GUY Wilks is to lead Proton's assault on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Darlington's Wilks will drive the Proton Satria Neo Super 2000 - designed and built by British team Mellors Elliot Motorsport and which will contest all seven remaining rounds
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Teams make plea over F1 rules
THE Formula One Teams Association have today called on the World Motor Sport Council and FIA Senate to intervene in the budget cap row. The FIA's announcement of the 2010 teams has, as expected, caused further uproar, notably Ferrari's inclusion against
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Only points will make prizes for Collard at Croft
ROBERT Collard says he has to finish in the points in all three races at Croft this Sunday if he’s to keep up his challenge for this year’s HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship. Collard has certainly been one of the most exciting drivers to watch
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Choir given music after concert
Staff at town hall have thanked a school band for a successful recent concert by buying them some sheet music. No Added Sugar the community choir based at Teesdale School recently played at The Witham Hall in Barnard Castle. Some of the proceeds from
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Apathy over play area's future
RESIDENTS will get one last chance to voice their thoughts on the future of a children’s play area. Spennymoor Town Council is considering whether to maintain or remove play facilities from The Dene. When it was installed more than 20
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Motorists urged to act responsibly
CLEVELAND Police is urging motorists to think about the consequences of driving while under the influence of drink and drugs. The plea comes after officers spent an evening stopping drivers to check they were acting legally. The Summer blitz is part
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Volunteers help out in Hartlepool
VOLUNTEERS from Ethiopia are to spend 12 weeks helping community organisations in Hartlepool. The nine African participants are being joined by nine from across the UK to take part in the Global Xchange scheme. The project, which is being run by Voluntary
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Helicopter education for pupils
SCHOOL pupils have been educated about the role of a police helicopter after it paid them a flying visit. Cleveland Police’s Air Operations Unit touched down in the grounds of Oak Tree Primary School, in Stockton, this morning. Students from nearby
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Changes to housing applications
PEOPLE applying for social housing in Hartlepool will be able to request a specific house from next week. Housing Hartlepool and Hartlepool Borough Council are bringing in the changes from June 18. Under Choice Based Lettings (CBL), homes being allocated
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Hospital Friends donate new TV service
Richmond MP William Hague has visited the Friary Hospital, in Richmond, to unveil a new television system for patients, donated by the Friends of the Friary Hospital. Mr Hague met with members of the group and staff from the hospital at the
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Dieter loses half her body weight in six months
A WEIGHT loss programme that makes followers totally rethink their relationship with food has helped a Northallerton woman to shed almost half her body weight in just six months. Marie Alderson, 35, was 18st 12lb and 5ft 4in tall when she started the
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Postman bitten by missing pet snake
A POSTMAN was bitten by a snake while out on his rounds. The incident happened as he was delivering letters in the Kipling Close area of Stanley and felt something drop on his shoulder as he walked past a bush. He automatically flicked it off him and
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Support Needed for Market
Residents and visitors to Ferryhill are being asked to support the weekly Friday Market. Market traders are continuing to offer their produce and goods, and new traders are hoping that Ferryhill will provide a permanent spot for them to trade
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Smelling a rat
There are times when editors breathe a huge sigh relief... Yesterday, at 3.36pm to be precise, the sports desk received an enticing and very professional-looking press release headed: "Fan's bid to save club." It was accompanied by an
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Durham v Lancashire (second day, tea)
AFTER the hammering of Hampshire, Durham sounded an even bigger warning that the title will take a lot of wresting from their grasp when they dismissed second-placed Lancashire for 116. The wilting of the Red Rose began with the first two victims
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Garrison invites the public in
A CRACK team of parachutists will be among the highlights when Europe’s biggest military base throws open its doors to the public. The Black Knights from the 14th Regiment Royal Artillery will be dropping into the arena at Catterick Garrison in North
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Funeral director who stole keys to rival's hearse spared jail
A FUNERAL director who stole the keys to a hearse belonging to a rival Middlesbrough firm while it was parked outside a church was spared jail today. David Leslie Wood, 49, ruined the dignity of Patricia Thorburn's funeral, and her dying wish
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Entrants needed for Thirsk's Got Talent competition
THE hunt is on to find the best acts in Hambleton as a Thirsk’s Got Talent competition is launched. Local businesses the Crab and Lobster, in Asenby, and the Frankland Arms, in Thirsk, have teamed up to run the event. Auditions are to take place over
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Skoda Superb SE 2.0 TDI
WHEN you name a car Superb you are leaving yourself open to a lot of criticism if you don’t get it right. Skoda’s Superb has been around for a long time, a lot longer than you might think in fact. It was first manufactured between 1934 and
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Textile tycoon bid for Newcastle is a stitch-up
REPORTS a mystery north-east textile tycoon is bidding for Newcastle United appear to have been a hoax. A press release sent to The Northern Echo on behalf of businessman Rick Parkinson claimed he was heading a group prepared to invest £150m
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Suzuki Splash DDiS
THE old Suzuki Wagon R may have been a practical mini-people mover-but it was never going to win hearts as well as minds. With its tiny wheels and square profile, it looked a bit like a shoebox on wheels. But, having dipped a toe in the
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Why Heather enjoys a gamble
Steve Pratt talks to Heather Graham about playing a poledancing stripper in the latest adult-sized comedy, The Hangover. BEING cast as a pole-dancing stripper in the new American comedy The Hangover didn’t faze Boogie Nights and Austin Powers
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Flying the flag for the services
A FLAG-RAISING ceremony will take place in Richmond to honour Britain's armed forces. The first national Armed Forces Day is on June 27 - and to mark the occasion, a special flag will be flown at Richmond’s Friary Gardens. The flag will be formally
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Youngsters learn more about the countryside
THOUSANDS of youngsters from across Yorkshire have been learning more about rural ways. They descended on the Great Yorkshire Showground at Harrogate for the annual Countryside Days event, held by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society. Now in its ninth
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The Hangover (15)
Stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor Running time: 100 mins Rating: ★★★★ PHIL, Stu and Alan wake up hungover in their plush Las Vegas hotel suite after the mother of all stag
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Looking For Eric (15)
Stars: Steve Evets, Eric Cantona, John Henshaw, Stephanie Bishop, Gerald Kearns, Lucy-Jo Hudson Running time: 116 mins Rating: ★★★ WHAT we expect from British director Ken Loach is gritty social realism not a mischievous football comedydrama
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Euro-visitors for college
MORE than 30 people from across Europe visited a college campus as part of an international schools networking programme. Staff and pupils from across the continent visited East Durham College’s Houghall campus, near Durham, as part of the Comenius Project
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Council leader chooses charities
THE newly-appointed chairman of Richmondshire District Council has announced the charities that she will support over the coming year. Coun Helen Grant has served Colburn ward for some 20 years, and was previously chairman during the 1999 - 2000 Millennium
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Sarah wins art competition
A YOUNGSTER from north Durham has been named as the North-East winner of a charity art competition. Five-year-old Sarah Brown, from St Patrick’s RC Primary School, Dipton, near Stanley, took part in Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Paint Your Mini Pot competition
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Planning concerns over Sowerby street
RESIDENTS upset the character of a village street is being changed by modern developments are urged to act to protect it. Sowerby Parish Council has voiced concerns regularly over changes to Front Street including the replacing of wooden windows by plastic
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Council gets tough on bad tenants
A NEW "get tough" policy has been adopted for letting council accommodation in Richmondshire. The authority’s Strategy Board has backed a new introductory tenancy scheme, which puts new tenants "on probation" for the first 12 months of their tenancy.
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Locals fight plans for £4.5m factory expansion near Ripon
ANGRY villagers are fighting plans for a major £4.5m expansion of a mushroom factory over fears it will lead to traffic accidents with delivery lorries. Greyfriars UK, of Wath, near Ripon, wants to develop its facility despite the locals’ protests.
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Shakespeare accused Raymond Scott misses court date
AN antique dealer charged with stealing a £3m first edition of Shakespeare's works missed court today because he was in hospital recovering from surgery. Raymond Scott, 51, was due to be in Durham Crown Court but instead he was Hartlepool General
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Schools combine for concert
Two schools will combine to perform in a concert in July. Teesdale Schools Soul Band and Barnard Castle Schools Jazz Band will each play a 45-minute set at the concert on Thursday July 2, at 7pm, at Teesdale School before joining forces for the finale
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The Abduction From The Seraglio, Opera North, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
THIS two-hour piece contains none of Mozart’s later anthems, but it’s an unmistakable, up-tempo score by the maestro when he was but a bairn. Written in 1782, when he was 26, this is as populist an opera as you’ll get. With only eight main characters
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Thai cheek
Air Force Afghanistan (five, 8pm); My Life in Verse: Cerys Matthews (BBC2, 9pm) ONE chap is in need of muscle relief, so heads for the Thai massage parlour. Taking his pick from six Thai girls, he strips off for the session. It feels good. “I
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Don Carlos, Opera North, Theatre Royal, Newcastle
THIS is regarded as a grand opera and they don’t come any grander than Verdi’s four-act masterpiece. Three and a half hours in length, a massive cast, huge sets and a plot that encompassed murder, revolt, adultery and betrayal. This was a stonking
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June 12th, 2009
Reader's question: Mary and Andrew brought me a large mid-brown beetle-like insect in a jar for identification. They said that it flew straight into their open kitchen window and landed in the washingup bowl. Apparently it took Mary several minutes
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Man due in court on terrorist charges
A NORTH-EAST man appears before a special court in London today accused of offences brought under the Terrorism Act 2000. Ian Davison, 41, of Burnopfield, County Durham, was charged last night with the preparation of terrorist acts, contrary
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Money for beginners: How to cover your home
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis, Consumer Journalist of the Year 2009, is a writer, TV and radio presenter and bestselling author who specialises in getting you a great deal. In the first of his columns, which will run every two weeks, he explains
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Uplifting sounds
I ATTENDED the Gala Theatre, Durham, on Monday night to see my nephew perform alongside other students from New College Durham in a music show called Acceptable in the 80s. They performed many songs that were hits from the Eighties and, as a now
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Hazel Blears
I THINK the reaction to the antics of former Communities Secretary Hazel Blears by correspondent Ian Sadler (HAS, June 8) perhaps tells us more about what he expects women to be rather than an appreciation grounded in plenty of experience. Whenever
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My sense of fun
OVER the years of writing to HAS, I have read complaints about me and also letters of support. I may, at times, come across as an idiot, but deep down I am a normal chap with a strange sense of humour. It has got to the point now where I feel
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‘I wanted to stay in my own home’
If you’re getting on and finding it difficult to live independently, there is an alternative to going into a residential home. Health Editor Barry Nelson marks National Carer’s Week by interviewing someone who is being supported in her own home
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Second chamber
THE House of Lords seems to have degenerated into a resting place for drop-ins (ermine-clad hereditary peers), drop-outs (ex- MPs), rewardees and a group of deluded churchmen. There lies the reason we are desperately in need of a second elected
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Guerilla cat Sam
RECENTLY, the control of grey squirrels has received much coverage – but it seems only fair to record that squirrels have other predators than man. For instance, when my daughter started at New College Hall, Cambridge, in 1998, she found that
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BNP
LAST Saturday, June 6, the country commemorated and paid tribute to the servicemen who died on that day 65 years ago in order to liberate Europe from the fascist Nazi regime that had taken control of Europe. And yet, two days before, people whose
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Labour’s Italian Job moment
A WHILE back, they asked 1,000 film buffs for their favourite line from the movies. Top of the poll was Michael Caine’s “You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off” from The Italian Job. I’m tempted to say “not many people know that”, but
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Home from home
There’s a shortage of people in Darlington willing to provide lodgings for young people leaving care. Steve Pratt meets one of the lucky ones, whose room, rather mysteriously, is in the garden. SIAN’S bedroom is much like that of any other 18-year-old
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Euro poll outcome
WHAT a fantastic European Parliament election – a shame a few more of the electorate did not participate. The system of proportional representation used, which I oppose, gives voters a chance to kick the main parties and promote the up-and-coming
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Driven to a challenge
RAY Mallon is a man who is well known for shooting from the hip – and he is certainly shooting from the hip when it comes to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. He has accused the Government agency of operating a “scam” in generating millions
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A big-name signing
Martin Lewis is Consumer Journalist of the Year, a well-known broadcaster and best-selling author. And I'm delighted that he has today joined The Northern Echo as a new columnist. Martin will be writing fortnightly for the paper, advising readers on
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Racing prospects
PAUL Cole believes there is more to come from impressive York winner No Hubris as he prepares to step up in grade for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. The son of Proud Citizen was not unfancied for his racecourse introduction on the Knavesmire
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Moxon speechless after a Yorkshire collapse
OLD habits die hard, and Yorkshire’s trend of allowing wickets to tumble in quick succession reared it’s head on day one at Headingley as Somerset were allowed to take control, leaving Martyn Moxon fuming. Moxon was too angry to talk at the close
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Warner seeking Durham games
AUSTRALIAN David Warner revealed yesterday that he expects to play his second first-class game during his brief stay with Durham. The 22-year-old lefthander, who has played once for New South Wales, believes he might be required for next week
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Will Mallon's mission pay off?
I've known Ray Mallon for a long time now and I've seen him get pretty animated over the years. But I've seldom seen him as passionate as he is about the issue on the front page of this morning's edition of The Northern Echo. For want
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Murray ready to go hunting for Fish
ANDY Murray insists there will be no old pals’ act when he takes on the USA’s Mardy Fish in the quarter-finals of the AEGON Championships later today. The British number one wasted little time in cruising through the third round at Queen’s, easing
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Highway robbery
A lorry driver had his load of Sugar Puffs stolen when thieves broke into his wagon in a layby in Northamptonshire. And I have to say that I know exactly how he feels after being the victim of highway robbery on the Headline Game this morning. Our headline
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England suffer a thrashing
ENGLAND failed their first major test of their credentials as potential ICC World Twenty20 challengers after a comprehensive defeat to highlyfancied South Africa. Having secured their progress to the Super Eight stage of the event with an impressive
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Redmond shines for the Kiwis
AARON Redmond brought his unexpected power hitting from league to international cricket as New Zealand eased to an 83-run World Twenty20 win over Ireland. Redmond’s 63 from only 30 balls provided the impetus needed at the start of an innings
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Boro want a record fee for Williams
PREMIER LEAGUE newcomers Burnley may have to break their transfer record if they are to stand any chance of prising promising defender Rhys Williams away from Middlesbrough. The 20-year-old is rated highly at the Riverside Stadium, where manager
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Terry: England needed a shock
CAPTAIN John Terry admits the England squad needed a ‘‘kick up the backside’’ after failing to qualify for Euro 2008 – and revealed how a session of video nasties from Fabio Capello helped guide them back towards next summer’s World Cup finals
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Real are leaving their rivals behind
Cristiano Ronaldo’s £80m move is another part of the jigsaw Florentino Perez has in mind for Real Madrid. With Xabi Alonso, David Silva and David Villa also in the president’s sights, Chief Football Writer Paul Fraser looks at how his team is shaping
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Calum seeking return
CALUM DAVENPORT will have talks with Sunderland when he returns from holiday next week in the hope that he can still secure a move to the Stadium of Light. New manager Steve Bruce has made an early move to bolster his squad’s defensive options
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Region’s outlook remains at low ebb
CASHFLOW remains a major headache for North-East firms as business confidence in the region continues at a low ebb, new research has shown. The UK Business Confidence Monitor (BCM) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
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Deadline approaches for Shell business scheme
SMALL and medium-sized businesses have less than a month to apply to take part in the Shell Step scheme, which matchmakes them with bright young students on summer work placements. Last year, 48 per cent of Step students added more than £5,000-
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Club will guarantee its fixtures in league
A CASH-STRAPPED football club will tell the football league it can guarantee its fixtures next season. The annual meeting of the football league takes place today, in Portugal. Darlington FC’s commercial director Christine Balford has
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Social workers failed to protect children
SOCIAL workers failed to protect a young child and two babies from abuse at the hands of their parents over a fiveyear period. It emerged that the mother of the siblings, who suffered both neglect and emotional abuse, had already had her first
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Revving up for great weekend
TENS of thousands of motorsport fans will descend on the region’s premier racetrack for one of the biggest events in its calendar this weekend. The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is to be held at Croft Circuit, near Darlington, tomorrow
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Businesses link up to fight downturn
A SERIES of workshops designed to help North-East businesses through the economic downturn are being held this month. The Keep Your Business Fighting Fit events, run by Business Link, will provide practical advice and assistance on what it takes
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SeaDragon – lack of answers is ‘totally unacceptable’
ANSWERS as to why the £300m SeaDragon oil rig project was lost from the region – and with it 1,000 potential jobs – have still not been given despite increased pressure on both the Government and Lloyds Banking Group to provide explanations.
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Market report
BANKING stocks rallied higher yesterday amid reports of Government plans to offload its bank stakes. Part-nationalised Royal Bank of Scotland was one of the leading risers – up five per cent – as investors cheered speculation the Government may
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New in brief: Restoration firm plans to grow
A SPECIALIST steeplejack and building restoration firm which has helped to restore buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral is now working to maintain a historic North-East church. Darlington-based Stone Technical Services is carrying out £40,000
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Picnic at the proms
A FINE food firm from North Yorkshire has teamed up with an emerging events company to offer off-thepeg picnics to concertgoers at some of this summer’s most glamorous events. Lewis and Cooper, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire has put together
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Diversity helps agency to ride out recession
THE largest independent marketing agency outside London believed its diversity made it well placed to ride out the recession as it undergoes a subtle “refreshment” of the brand. RobsonBrown’s chief executive, Alan Brown, said despite firms slashing
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Go-ahead expected for supermarket deal
A SUPERMARKET deal that could give a North-East town a second new store and safeguard hundreds of factory jobs is expected to be approved next week. Durham County councillors are being advised to agree to a plan from businessman John Elliott
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Tyne tease...
SUNDERLAND fans have heaped misery on their greatest rivals – with a pair of comedy road signs mocking Newcastle United. One sign, on the A184 leading into the city, has an arrow pointing towards Tyneside and reads: “Sid James’ Park, the biggest
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Flintoff is back with a bang
LANCASHIRE may have erected a smokescreen around yesterday’s return of Andrew Flintoff, but their threat to Durham’s status as champions was clear to see. Glen Chapple justified his decision to put Durham in through his own superb bowling as
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Reduced prices at St James’
NEWCASTLE UNITED revealed a reduction of season ticket prices yesterday, but there was still no concrete development on either the managerial or ownership front. The Singapore-based Profitable Group confirmed that they have “expressed an initial
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Ronaldo heading for Real
CRISTIANO Ronaldo is heading for Real Madrid. After a summer of haggling, followed by 12 months of rumour and speculation, Madrid finally dropped a mega-bid on the Old Trafford mat late on Wednesday night that was enough to end Ronaldo’s six
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Park-and-ride contract may provoke passengers’ fury
ARRIVA was a step closer to taking over a popular parkand- ride service last night after council officials backed the firm’s bid for the flagship contract. Papers released ahead of next week’s Durham County Council cabinet meeting reveal officers
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Spennymoor Mayor 'At Home'
A TOWN mayor is inviting residents and community groups to join her at one of the first events of her term in office. The Mayor of Spennymoor, Coun Sarah Armstrong, will hold an ‘At Home’ event at Spennymoor Town Hall on Saturday June 27.
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Ban after drunken drive on railway line
A DRUNKEN 40-year-old woman travelled hundreds of yards along a railway line before her vehicle broke down as a train approached, a court heard. It was only good fortune that the Metro train – carrying 20 passengers – was on the opposite side
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Queen guitarist champions hit musical
QUEEN guitarist Brian May and playwright Ben Elton were in the North-East yesterday to promote their hit musical. We Will Rock You is playing at the Sunderland Empire, starring Jonathan Wilkes, soap star Kevin Kennedy and X Factor finalist
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College bursar told to pay back £179,500
A FORMER bursar jailed for stealing £488,281 from the college where she oversaw finances must pay back £179,462. The sum was agreed at a confiscation hearing in the case of Christine Starkey, at Durham Crown Court yesterday. And it emerged that
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Only 12 arrests at Oasis concert
THE Oasis concert at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light was hailed yesterday as a big success, despite long queues and transport headaches. Police said only 12 arrests were made from the packed crowd of more than 48,000 at the single North-East date
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Countess of Wessex raises some cheer
CHILDREN waved Union flags for a royal visitor at the official opening of their £4.3m school. Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, watched youngsters from Bishop Ian Ramsey C of E Primary School, in Medomsley, near Consett, County Durham, performing
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‘Like two peas in a pod’ – wedding day for Jim and Ethel
ROMANTIC couple Jim Allman and Ethel Pearson have proved that it’s never too late to fall in love. For the pair, aged 85 and 84 respectively, got married yesterday in the care home where they live and first met only 17 months ago. Even though
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Bravery award for hero Dominic
A DOWN’S syndrome youngster who saved a fellow school pupil from drowning has been given a bravery award. Dominic Laycock, 11, of Dalton, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, won a Stray FM child of achievement award. A pupil at Mowbray School
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£110m Darlington shopping complex on hold
DEVELOPERS have admitted that plans to open a £110m shopping mall in a North-East town have been put on hold amid the economic gloom. The Oval concourse, in the centre of Darlington, was planned to include a multiscreen cinema, 30 shops, bars
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Mallon's drive to expose DVLA 'con'
Mayor calls for police probe into ‘illegal’ fines for motorists. A CONTROVERSIAL former police chief is to take on the Government over millions of pounds-worth of motorists’ fines, which he believes are illegal. Ray Mallon, now the Mayor
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Blast by judge as teacher cleared over sex charges
A JUDGE has criticised “unacceptable” delays in the case of a teacher who was yesterday cleared of sexually assaulting his pupils. Judge Peter Armstrong made his comments after Neil Francis was found not guilty of all charges at Teesside Crown
