Archive
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Herbal treatment for “The Grumpy Old Man”
Men - have you been referred to you as a Grumpy Old Man? Women – have you referred to your husband/partner as having Male Menopause? Did you think there was really such a thing? Well, Practicing Osteopath and Herbalist Timothy
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Durham Diary
IF MARCUS North plays in the first Ashes Test, he will be returning to a ground with happy memories. But I’d wager that, like anyone else with North-East connections, he would consider Riverside a more deserving venue. Whether North will recognise the
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Playground plans set for approval after delay
PLANS to create a sports facility and playground are being recommended for approval - one month after a decision was deferred for architectural studies to be carried out. Community leaders and youngsters in Red Hall, Darlington, hope the proposals for
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Milburn: Why should we be surprised?
We really shouldn't be surprised that Alan Milburn has decided to stand down as MP at the next election. And yet, I still got a shock when I got a call from his personal assistant this morning to tell me that he was in the process of telling
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Joint project launched to tackle smoking
FIREFIGHTERS and health staff have joined forces to save lives in a pilot project that tackles smoking. Smokers will be offered advice on fire safety and quitting under the joint initiative in Darlington which could be extended across the region. As
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School plans for playground
A PRIMARY school wants to improve its playground as part of improvements around its site. Plans have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council for High Coniscliffe Primary School to perform £18,000 worth of works. The project would include a seating
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Pure success in US
Viv Hardwick catches up with North-East playwright Graham Farrow, who is in demand in America. YARM-BASED playwright Graham Farrow is enjoying an enduring love affair with the US and is over there now attending the world premiere of his latest work
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Blur, Newcastle O2 Academy
Newcastle O2 Academy WARMING up for forthcoming shows at Glastonbury and Hyde Park, famous foursome Blur arrived on stage in the usual fashion: Graham Coxon with his signature black-framed spectacles, Damon Albarn sporting a black polo, Alex
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Adventure group scoops new award
STUDENTS who took to the great outdoors to help boost their self-esteem and teamwork have scooped an award. Pathways students from Darlington College formed a group known as The Outcasts to secure £2,000 from a project which helps youth initiatives.
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A natural high
Peta King and her partner take shelter from some unseasonal weather at a luxury hotel spa. IT MAY be early June, but an Arctic wind is blowing from the Urals and icy rain is falling relentlessly. Only a few days earlier, we’d been sweltering
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Globe dreams a Dream
Viv Hardwick finds out how Shakespeare’s Globe brings the Bard to North Yorkshire. THE outdoor expanses of Ripley, Castle, near Harrogate, and Newby Hall, near Ripon, and the tiny interior of Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal are worlds apart
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Alan Milburn to stand down
ALAN Milburn, MP for Darlington, this morning announced that he will not be standing at the next general election. Mr Milburn, who became health secretary under Tony Blair, made the surprise announcement to his local party in the town this
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Poles apart
IT’S almost four years since TV presenter Ben Fogle and Olympic champion James Cracknell embarked on a gruelling adventure that saw them row across the Atlantic in 49 days. Along the way, the pair faced waves “bigger than houses”, a blazing sun
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Court complex bid to provide affordable homes
A NEW residential court complex has been proposed to help provide affordable housing in an area of Darlington. Plans have been sent to council officers to build eight new semi-detached homes at Beaumont Hill, Darlington. Malcolm Brunton has submitted
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BNP
GIVEN that the Equality and Human Rights Commission is threatening the BNP with a potential legal injunction regarding the Race Relations Act (Echo, June 24), I am wondering if the same sanction will apply to the Black Police Officers Association
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Birthday honours
RE Hugh Pender’s disapproval of the Queen’s Birthday Honours (HAS, June 20). In my view, they are usually awarded to “working class” people who have given a lifetime of service to the community and deserving causes, and who never expect any personal
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Eco responsibilty
WHEN Sainsbury’s went “green” and promoted the idea that customers should stop using the free orange “plaggy” bags and instead buy reusable Sainsbury’s carriers, all in the name of saving the environment, my wife entered into the spirit of the
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New Speaker
SO, we are now to believe a new Speaker will be the start of a more honest Parliament. Yet, once again, it is all smoke and mirrors. Even while this country is in crisis, these honourable members still play politics. It seems that John Bercow,
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Survey findings
OVER the past couple of months Liberal Democrats have carried out a “One-Minute Survey” about the credit crunch in the Stockton South constituency. From reading the responses of residents and talking to people on doorsteps during the European
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Local shops
IT has been widely reported that high street shops are closing at a dramatic rate – some say up to 100 every day – as businesses struggle with people tightening their belts. This is bad news for local traders, many of whom were struggling before
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Poisoned peregrines
IT was with a mixture of anger and utter dismay that I read of the poisoning of a female peregrine falcon and its three chicks at Houghton Quarry, Sunderland (Echo, June 25). I sometimes (often) despair for the mentality of some people in this
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Buy now, pray later
They may be aisles of a different sort, but supermarket chaplain Margaret Foxall is happy to linger between the baked beans and the sliced bread should staff or shoppers need a listening ear. THERE’S an exercise class going on in the Methodist
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Blacking out
REDACTION, namely the blacking out of MPs’ expenses, must be a new word to most of the population. Will this word be used in future to describe the situation when there is a power cut (so much for transparency)? As a comparison, government authorities
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Anyone for a game of sphairistiké?
ARE you enjoying the “sphairistiké”? It’s a most diverting tournament this year, don’t you think, what with a Brit in with a chance. Yes, one can’t beat a good old game of “sticky”. Major Walter Clopton Wingfield didn’t know what he was unleashing
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The myth will live on
Michael Jackson was an oldfashioned entertainer who became one of the biggest music stars the world has ever seen. Stuart Arnold examines his legacy. IT could have been one of the greatest – and most fascinating – comebacks of all time.
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Open window for Dougherty
NICK Dougherty put his ‘‘shocking’’ finish to the Wales Open behind him and moved into contention for the BMW International Open in Munich yesterday. While South African Retief Goosen retained the lead by adding a 68 to his opening 64 – at 12
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Lions will stand up to Bok bullies
WARREN Gatland has backed the British and Irish Lions to cope with South Africa’s ‘‘bully mentality’’ in a crunch second Test showdown at Loftus Versfeld today. Victory for the world champions at a stadium where they have won 71 per cent of their
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Jackson eyes a treble
JO JACKSON’S bid for triple glory at this summer’s World Championships is alive and kicking after another recordbreaking swim at the British Gas Scottish National Championships. The 22-year-old finished second behind double Olympic gold medallist
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Fortune favours brave Pavershooz
A ‘‘LUCKY OMEN’’ before racing convinced trainer Noel Wilson that Pavershooz would win the Piramal Healthcare Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle last night. And so it proved as the bottom weight landed the £20,000 dash under a fine ride from Duran
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Franco rules at Slaley Hall
PARAGUAY’S Angel Franco has a one-stroke lead over former Ryder Cup player Gordon Brand Jnr and South African Christopher Williams at the halfway mark of The De Vere Collection PGA Seniors Championship. The South American, chasing his first Senior
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Sea The Stars hoping the sun shines
A WARM Friday and a positive weather forecast provided hope for the organisers of tomorrow’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby that Sea The Stars will be among the lineup. The colt’s trainer, John Oxx, was concerned about conditions becoming too soft
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Keenes could make it a special Day for Johnston
IT IS amazing to think Mark Johnston has bagged the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate just once in his career, but Keenes Day can double that tally at Newcastle. The Middleham handler has his horses in excellent order, as a double at Royal Ascot
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Time far from up for battling Lions
Lawrence Dallaglio, the former England skipper and British Lion, writes for The Northern Echo during the summer tour of South Africa. IF only referees in rugby union Test matches could take the same flexible approach to time-keeping as their cousins
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Bedale’s green shoots of recovery
Drops in memberships at courses across the country have become all too familiar in these tight economic times, but Paul Fraser has found that Bedale Golf Club is blossoming at just the right time. WHILE the top of the game is awash with huge
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Murray looks for a top-class result
WALLSEND middle-distance runner Ross Murray has vowed to take his revision frustration out on the track when he makes the trip to the European Junior Championships trials this weekend. The 18-year-old’s blossoming athletics career has taken a
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Pakistan make England home
THE England and Wales Cricket Board have agreed to stage two Tests and Twenty20 internationals between Pakistan and Australia in July 2010. A deal was struck between the ECB and their Pakistani counterparts as the security situation in the south
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Aussies rack up the runs in Ashes warm-up game
HALF-CENTURIES from Ricky Ponting, Phillip Hughes and Michael Clarke coupled with 40s by Simon Katich and Michael Hussey ensured Australia’s pre- Ashes batting mission was accomplished in Hove. The tourists amassed a turgid 379 for seven declared
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United England stand
KEVIN Pietersen admits the controversial demise of his captaincy is a distant memory as England prepare to enter the Ashes series with a united team. Pietersen’s brief reign as skipper was terminated in January, when he was forced to resign in
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Chester-le-Street still fighting on all fronts
Dukes North-East Premier League CHESTER-LE-STREET face another major weekend as their quest for honours both inside and outside the Dukes North-East Premier League gathers pace. After last night’s final 20/20 group game they are back
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Marton’s revival continues in style
Darlington Building Society NYSD Premier League THE first major final of the NYSD League season takes place tomorrow at Park Drive, Hartlepool when Blackhall take on Marton in the Hotel Tall Trees Macmillan Cup. For Marton this represents another
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Cup dream over as Yorkshire fail again
YORKSHIRE are out of the Twenty20 Cup after allowing their opponents to get out of jail for the second time in three days. Martyn Moxon’s side put their place in the top division of next season’s T20 in serious jeopardy with defeat to Leicestershire
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Royals hunting Hoggard
WORCESTERSHIRE bowling coach Matt Mason believes signing Matthew Hoggard would be ‘‘priceless’’ in helping the county’s crop of promising young pacemen develop their games. And he thinks the 32-yearold would benefit from a change of county after
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Lovenkrands keen on Sunderland switch
PETER Lovenkrands is hoping to join a select band of players who have swapped Newcastle for Sunderland. The Danish winger will officially become a free agent next week when his shortterm deal with the Magpies expires. Having moved to
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Yeates joins ‘best’ in the Championship
MARK Yeates signed a three year contract to become Middlesbrough’s first summer signing yesterday, and immediately claimed he had joined the best squad in the Championship. Yeates completed a £500,000 move from Colchester United yesterday after
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Flinders signs for Pools
CHRIS Turner yesterday solved his goalkeeping problem by signing Scott Flinders. Released by Crystal Palace at the end of the season, the 23-year-old is Pools fifth signing of the summer. Pools released both goalkeepers at the end of
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Shearer catalyst for fans
Shearer catalyst for fans NEWCASTLE United’s biggest supporters’ groups have joined forces to launch a campaign calling for the immediate appointment of Alan Shearer as manager. With the club’s players due to return for the start of preseason
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Borwell in rare win at SW19
SARAH Borwell has won only her second ever match at Wimbledon after partnering Colin Fleming to a mixed doubles victory at the All England Club. The 29-year old made her SW19 debut in 2003 but has only reached the second round once, in the women
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Windass an asset on and off pitch
DARLINGTON manager Colin Todd has spoken of his delight at teaming up again with striker Dean Windass. The veteran Hull forward is dropping down from the Premier League to become player/ coach at The Northern Echo Darlington Arena meaning Todd
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Scott Wilson's Wimbledon Diary
ANDY Murray was on and off court so quickly after his second-round win over Ernests Gulbis that he clearly had time on his hands. He spent his evening twittering about rivals on the ATP Tour with foodrelated names. Around 10.30pm, he wrote:
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Serena exorcises court’s demons
IT’S a good job Serena Williams doesn’t take offence or, more importantly, she doesn’t take offence publicly. However, you could sense that the two-time champion and second seed wasn’t happy about being posted on Wimbledon’s new court two. The
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Walker’s walk on wild side
NEWCASTLE schoolgirl Alex Walker is hoping she’ll be top of the class at Junior Wimbledon after being handed a wildcard to the All England Club. The 16-year-old has just completed her GCSEs but now faces the biggest test of her tennis career
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Federer happy with his routine
YOU can tell how well Roger Federer has played by the amount of post-match questions he gets asked about tennis. After all, how many times can you ask the five-time champion about his forehand or his first serve percentage? He held court
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England’s final appeal for goalkeeper Hart
England Under-21s 3 Sweden Under-21s 3 England won 5-4 on penalties after extra time, score at 90mins 3-3. ENGLAND Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce will appeal against Joe Hart’s booking during the penalty shoot-out win against Sweden which will rule the
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Troicki backs aggression to derail Murray’s hopes
ANDY Murray is favourite to win Wimbledon – and that’s according to Viktor Troicki, his opponent at the All England Club today. Murray’s week has eased into a predictable routine of practice, sleep, practice and sleep, punctuated with updates
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Durham can still progress
VICTORY away to Leicestershire tomorrow will take Durham into the quarter-finals of the Twenty20 Cup, despite last night’s washout at home to Lancashire. A win at Grace Road, where play starts at 2.30, will lift Durham above their hosts to finish
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Ronaldo deal is finalised
REAL Madrid and Manchester United have finalised an agreement for the £80m transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to the Spanish club. United confirmed earlier this month they had accepted the world-record bid from the Primera Division side. A statement
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Children race towards a healthier future
HUNDREDS of children took part in a fun run in County Durham yesterday – though hundreds more were left disappointed when the afternoon session was rained off. The event, held at Belle Vue Leisure Centre, in Consett, County Durham, was organised
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Ill-timed phone conversation costs Olympic boxer £600
AN ill-timed mobile phone conversation has cost North-East Olympic boxer Bradley Saunders £600. A police community support officer on foot patrol reported seeing Saunders using the phone in his car in Hawthorn Road, Sedgefield, County Durham, at
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Twice as many in Big Drink Debate
THE number of people taking part in the North East Big Drink Debate has more than doubled in the past week. A total of 7,158 people have taken part in the region’s biggest public health survey, either by completing questionnaires, going online
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Knifeman stabbed girlfriend and dog
A VIOLENT man who told a court he loves dogs more than he loves his girlfriend has been jailed – for stabbing them both. Anthony Moroney was already serving a 21-month prison sentence after admitting attacking Gemma Nicholls at the home they
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New in brief: BSkyB to take legal action
SATELLITE broadcaster BSkyB has vowed to use all available legal avenues to challenge the communications regulator’s plans to force it to sell its sports and movies content to rivals at regulated prices. The satellite firm said it disagreed “
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Market report
FTSE 100 Index ended a lacklustre week with more losses yesterday as US markets turned lower. After a bright start, the FTSE followed Wall Street down and closed 11.6 points lower at 4241 amid signs of caution from US consumers. Miners were
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Ex-ITV director goes to university
THE outgoing regional director of ITV in the North-East has been appointed Dean of the University of Sunderland. Graeme Thompson, who leaves his role with Tyne Tees at the end of this month, will begin his role as dean in August. He
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Walk-out comes to an end
MORE than 1,000 North-East workers who have spent six days on unofficial strike in protest at the sacking of 650 people at the Lindsey refinery are to return to work after a resolution was reached. Workers at the Ensus biofuel plant at Wilton,
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Flooding will get worse, green conference warns
THE North-East should brace itself for more extreme weather events as a result of climate change, a greenthemed conference has been told. The Greener Darlington Assembly, set up by the Darlington Partnership, attracted a host of community groups
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Mother pleads for help over ‘difficult’ daughter
A DISTRAUGHT mother-offour is considering taking legal action over alleged failings in the care and treatment of her teenage daughter. It follows the arrest and detention of her 14-year-old daughter at Aycliffe Secure Children’s Home, in Newton
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Bikers targeted in drive to cut deaths on roads
A SAFETY partnership will this weekend warn bikers of the dangers they face. The 95 Alive partnership will target nine popular meeting places for bikers in North Yorkshire tomorrow. Volunteers will encourage riders to sign up for courses to increase
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‘Funding fiasco’ halts college plans
FOUR college rebuilding schemes were effectively scrapped yesterday, after a widely-condemned funding fiasco at a Government quango. The plans to revamp further education colleges at Stockton (£23m), South Tyneside (£89.2m), Darlington (£6m) and
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Rewarding failure
THE public mood over rewarding failure with fat bonuses should be abundantly clear by now. Ordinary people, having to cope with pay cuts or freezes in the midst of the worst global recession in a generation, have been left thoroughly sickened by
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Anger at railway bosses’ bonuses
THE award of six-figure bonuses to Network Rail bosses sparked widespread anger yesterday from passenger groups, politicians, rail regulators and transport unions. Despite problems on the Virgin Trains-operated London to Scotland West Coast
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Dozen deacons take holy orders
TWELVE deacons will be ordained by the Bishop of Durham tomorrow. The Right Reverend Dr Tom Wright met and chatted with the 12 at Durham Cathedral on Tuesday, before conducting tomorrow’s ceremony. The new deacons are: David Carr – St
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Flying high
THOUSANDS of fans turned out last night for the first in a two-night series of open-air concerts. Chart-toppers McFly, whose hits include It’s All About You and Five Colours in Her Hair, performed a selection of their best-known numbers at
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Smokey and the miracles
A LITTER of kittens may have already used up several of their nine lives after being born in a combine harvester – and being nursed there for six weeks. The kittens, who were hidden in the combine unbeknown to the farmer until earlier this
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Family’s disappointment over killers’ sentences
THE family of a grandfather who died after a New Year attack close to his North-East home last night criticised the sentences given to his killers – one of whom will be freed from jail within days. Devastated relatives of fatherof- two Ron
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Bedale's green shoots of recovery
Drops in memberships at courses across the country have become all too familiar in these tight economic times, but Fraser has found that Bedale Golf Club is blossoming at just the right time Paul Fraser. Published: June 27, 2009 WHILE the top
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Driver killed as HGVs, petrol tankers and cars crash in dense fog on A19
A DRIVER was killed in a multiple pile-up involving three separate crashes in dense fog which closed the A19 in County Durham. Firefighters described a scene of "absolute devastation" after the three accidents, which all happened between Peterlee
