Archive
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An owl with a headache
Saw something amazing at New Blackwell Tennis Club in Darlington this morning. An owl had flown into the clubhouse window and left a perfect impression. I got a photographer down to take a picture and I hope it's good enough for Monday's paper. But
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Sunderland 2 West Ham 2
JUST over 39,000 supporters were treated to an enthralling Premier League encounter contested in an energised Stadium of Light. Fans witnessed four well taken goals, two sending offs, a host of spurned chances and an inconsistent refereeing performance
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Funding for Toronto playground
VILLAGE residents have secured the final slice of funding for a new recreation ground Toronto Community Association and Groundwork North East have drawn up plans to replace their children’s playground, build a multi-use games area and improve access
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Police horse dies
ONE of four police horses put out to grass when a North-East force disbanded its mounted section has died. Viscount, who inspired his new owner to set up a business selling horse training products, retired from Durham police in 1997. With his nobly-named
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Accident witnesses sought
POLICE have appealed for witnesses to an accident on a south Durham crossroads earlier this week. Two cars collided at the junction of Main Road, Eldon Lane, and Close House, near Bishop Auckland, on Tuesday at 2.05pm. They were a silver Vauxhall Vectra
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Quicking thinking policeman praised
A BISHOP Auckland policeman has been praised for his quick thinking and bravery after he stopped a disturbed man from setting fire to himself in the middle of a hospital waiting room. Dozens of patients were evacuated during the drama at Bishop Auckland
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French connection for Vision group
A North-East market town is counting on a pioneering French connection to help attract new business and investment. Barnard Castle could profit from a new economic and cultural exchange with the Northern French town of Harfleur, near Le Havre, and
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Policeman praised for bravery in hospital drama
A BISHOP Auckland policeman has been praised for his quick thinking and bravery after he stopped a disturbed man from setting fire to himself in the middle of a hospital waiting room. Dozens of patients were evacuated during the drama at Bishop Auckland
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Strachan brings back Pogatetz and Arca
GORDON STRACHAN has recalled Emanuel Pogatetz for his first game in charge of Middlesbrough this afternoon, at the expense of young defender Joe Bennett. Pogatetz, who has not been handed the captaincy, is expected to play left-back, while Strachan’s
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New signings on the bench for Darlington
Both of Darlington's two new signings are on the bench for today's game at Hereford United as Quakers aim to bounce back from last week's defeat at Barnet. Manager Steve Staunton makes two changes but there is no place for winger Nathan Mulligan
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Nomination procedure to start
PARTY branches and unions will start to put forward their nominations for Darlington's Labour candidate next week. The person chosen to replace Alan Milburn, as the constituency's Labour candidate for next year's General Election, will come from a list
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Mad scientists help social media project
CHILDREN were enticed to become mad about science to help a social media project. A range of eye-catching science experiments were demonstrated in front of shoppers as part of Darlington Experiment Market. The special stalls, set up in the town centre
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Christmas treat in store for one lucky family
ONE lucky family is set to meet Santa Claus at his home in Lapland in a Christmas competition. The Cornmill Shopping Centre launches its competition on Sunday to fly a family of four to Lapland. The winners will be flown to Lapland for a special day
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Two dead in motorcycle accident
A MOTORCYCLIST and his pillion passenger who were killed when their bike hit a stationary car have been named by police this morning. Craig Poulter, aged 29, of The Green, Bishop Middelham, owned the green Yamaha Ninja which collided with a
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Dettori follows up with 20-1 treble
FRANKIE Dettori came within a whisker of another ‘magnificent seven’ with a brace of Godolphin winners at Newmarket to supplement his fantastic four-timer at Lingfield 24 hours earlier. The front man of British Flat racing dazzled the crowds
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Seven rivals will find number is up
SEVEN Is My Number has made relentless progress this year and can carry on the good work at Ascot. The David Pipe-trained seven-year-old has enjoyed a flawless start to his fencing career, winning three from three in some style. Given the calibre
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Fiery Scot can be misunderstood
Sir Alex Ferguson, Celtic and even Coventry City have all regretted losing the services of Middlesbrough’s new boss Gordon Strachan over the years. Chief Football Writer Paul Fraser explains why. WHEN Sir Alex Ferguson took over at Manchester
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Onions grateful for his chance
WHILE still pinching himself in disbelief that he has made it, Graham Onions is full of gratitude as he prepares to board the plane for South Africa with the England squad today. Top of his list of people to be thanked are his parents in
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Los Campesinos! Newcastle University
LOS CAMPESINOS! are a seven-piece indie pop band from Cardiff whose style is distinct – with glockenspiel and violins among its vast array of instruments. There seems to be a real buzz around this band. Its songs have infectious beats accompanied
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Michael McIntyre, Newcastle MetroRadio Arena
YOU couldn’t get terribly offended by Michael McIntyre. After bounding on stage with all the enthusiasm of a slightly dippy Labrador, he spied a young lad in the front row. “How old are you?” he asks. “Twelve,” comes the reply. “Hm, you might
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Secrets and spies
CAST your mind back to the dying moments of the last series of BBC1’s spy drama Spooks. You will recall that MI5 Section D chief Harry Pearce, having just averted a major terrorist atrocity in London, was bundled into the boot of a car by his
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Oil and gas specialist quick to hit its target
A SPECIALIST oil and gas firm has hit its five-year targets in 18 months and is taking on new staff. R&A Kay Inspection Services, in Stockton, was bought by directors Duncan Jarrett and Ian Johnston in 2007 with the support of a £250,000 investment
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Electric vehicles group terminates Ford project
EARLY success for a North- East electric vehicle firm’s US operation has led to it turning its back on a much-heralded partnership with Ford. Smith Electric Vehicles US Corp (SEV US Corp), which is 49 per cent owned by the Wearside-based Tanfield
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Royal connections
Andy Walker and Dani Webb soak up the atmosphere at a discreet central London hideaway. EVER fancied staying in a hotel that looks out over the Queen’s back yard? Hotel 41, a super-trendy boutique five-star in London’s Buckingham Palace Road
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Sloping off to Andorra
Richard Jones discovers what has made the tiny principality of Andorra such a popular destination for both family and party-animal skiers. MY young daughter’s eyes lit up with excitement and bewilderment – like her mum, she’d never been
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Horseback healing
Christine and Nick Barratt-Atkin’s dream was to open a centre providing riding therapy for the disabled. Health Editor Barry Nelson pops in for a ride. THE Wild West-style whoops coming from the riders showed that they were having the time
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MP family jobs
COUNCILLOR Carol Woods, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Durham City, wrote (HAS, Oct 29): “If elected at the next General Election, regardless of what the rules permit, I will not employ any relatives, and pledge to advertise
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Londonderry: Au Revoir?
SO, the Londonderry statue has been taken away for “cleaning” (Echo, Oct 29). My wife was lucky enough to be present and got a number of photographs of the loading work, including Lord Londonderry’s head being removed. The alleged destination for this
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Bike sharing
BIKE and car sharing is being suggested to conserve fuel and minimise CO2. My dad bought me a second-hand bike when I passed my scholarship to go to Nunthorpe Grammar, York, in 1939. It cost a pound and was made up from random parts by a bloke
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Pensioners
SO now we know what has brought this country of ours, once the financial capital of the world, to its financial knees. Was it the bankers with their untold billions of pounds a year in bonuses? Was it our MPs’ expenses, not just this year, but
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Tony Blair
WHAT a first-class letter from Fred Holdstock (HAS, Oct 28) about Tony Blair. I would almost fully endorse everything Mr Holdstock so eloquently states. The important point he misses regarding Mr Blair’s attendance at the Iraq memorial service
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Tally-no
NEITHER Gordon Brown nor Tony Blair gave a monkey’s about blood sports, but at least the mere promise of banning the cruelty was certainly an enormous vote-winner throughout their tenure. However, it took nine years to produce a dog’s dinner of
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Benefit scroungers
DURING the time that former minister Tony McNulty “mistakenly” claimed living allowance against an address at which he no longer resided (Echo, Oct 30) he was the Government frontman in a well-publicised campaign to target those benefit scroungers
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Tailpiece...
YOUR item about a great green bush cricket having been discovered in Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire (Echo, Oct 29) – above – was incomplete. The final sentence read: “Experts at York University who confirmed the species’ identity
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Missing out on Europe
IT is becoming less likely that Tony Blair will become president of the European Council despite Gordon Brown coming out in glowing support of his former rival. Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty, which would create the post, is moving ever closer
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Postal dispute
WHAT on earth is the Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier doing being reportedly paid £3.5m when many British people are practically living below the breadline? These highly-paid executives have made a right mess in trying to run our mail system
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BNP/Lord Carey
IT’S tiresome to read letters such as that from JM Gowland (HAS, Oct 27) which start off with one argument and then jump to a self-contradiction. He welcomed the BNP’s appearance on Question Time as “we still live in a country which allows freedom
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Counting on a blood relative
Dracula has risen from the grave in a new book as the public appetite for vampire stories remains unabated. Steve Pratt talks to the descendant of Bram Stoker who’s breathing new life into the bloodsucking count. DESPITE his famous relative,
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New bridge over troubled waters
PEDESTRIANS who had to take a lengthy detour after a footbridge was washed away in floods are back on the right track. Kenneth’s Bridge, over the River Wear, in Frosterley, County Durham, was swept away in a torrent of water in September last
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Hugger delays felling of ‘dangerous’ tree
WORK to fell two diseased ash trees overlooking a children’s play area was held up for more than an hour yesterday, while a peaceful protest was made. Jane Markham, of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was spoken to by police officers after stepping
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Former land army girl has tea at palace
A PENSIONER has spoken of her day out with the Queen as recognition for serving in the Women’s Land Army (WLA) during the Second World War. Irene Atkinson, 85 from Hutton Rudby, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire, travelled to Buckingham Palace to
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Family overwhelmed by support for cancer fight
A TEENAGE leukaemia patient and his family have helped to raise more than £4,000 for a charity helping fellow cancer sufferers. Sporty 14-year-old Harvey Gaydon has already returned to the tennis court and is looking forward to getting back to
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All systems Go for Durham Monopoly
YOU can pass Go and collect Durham Cathedral, with the launch of a County Durham edition of the world-famous board game. More than 20 landmarks and institutions are included in the game, which is expected to prove popular for Christmas after
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Hospice fundraisers drive each other up the wall
ROCK climbers were scaling new heights yesterday in aid of a hospice appeal. Dozens of people teamed up at Rock Antics, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, to climb the 8,848-metre height of the world’s highest peak – Mount Everest.
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Tait is back for Falcons
NEWCASTLE Falcons have made two changes to their side for tomorrow’s Guinness Premiership visit of Worcester Warriors to Kingston Park. Fit-again full back Alex Tait returns after two weeks out with an ankle injury, with a back line reshuffle
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Pools boss is confident goal will give Hartley a big lift
THE last time Hartlepool United enjoyed a run of victories, Brighton and Hove Albion were in the thick of it. Walsall and Huddersfield were dispatched before the Seagulls came next, followed by Carlisle. That was back in October last year and
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Richardson happy with Quakers' spirit
DARLINGTON are struggling with only one win, yet morale within the squad is high as the team set about their task of moving up the table. Relegation-threatened they may be, but Quakers are not letting their plight affect them. So says assistant
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Renaming St James’ Park is another insult to the fans
WE ASKED the Three Legends, what did you make of Mike Ashley’s three big announcements this week? Handing Chris Hughton a permanent contract, taking the club off the market and his intention to sell the naming rights to St James’ Park. BERNIE
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Smith expects a rough ride
AS Alan Smith prepares for a return to his native Yorkshire for Monday’s encounter at Sheffield United, he warned that Newcastle must avoid staying more than one season outside the Premier League. Leeds United, Smith’s hometown club, offer the
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Gordon happy with Bruce’s methods
CRAIG GORDON has hailed the support Steve Bruce gave him while he recovered from a thigh injury but revealed that he has not been given any assurances that he is Sunderland’s number one goalkeeper. Tellingly, the £9m signing from Hearts has not
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Celtic pal gives Jones the nod
BRAD JONES was told what to expect from his new boss by a close friend up in Scotland – and Gordon Strachan has so far lived up to his billing. Celtic’s Aussie striker Scott McDonald was quick to offer his compatriot memories of working with the
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Strachan impressed by Riverside set-up
MIDDLESBROUGH might have had their problems in the last 12 months, but Gordon Strachan has warmed up for the opening match of a new era at the Riverside Stadium by paying tribute to the set-up he has inherited. Strachan has spent the last five
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War veteran spared jail after club attack
A SOLDIER has been spared jail for a nightclub attack after a judge heard how his war zone experiences left him with post-traumatic stress disorder. Jonathen McSporran smashed a glass in the face of former classmate Aaron Caplin after asking
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Football’s finest impressed by statue campaign
THE man behind the campaign to honour Arthur Wharton, the world’s first black professional footballer, has spoken of the “overwhelmingly positive” response after addressing some of the game’s leading figures. Darlington businessman Shaun Campbell
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Pope invited to make first visit to North-East
AN invitation has been sent to the Vatican that could see the first papal visit to the North- East. University and religious leaders hope Pope Benedict XVI will accept their invitation to become the first world leader of the Roman Catholic
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Sister pays tribute to farmer killed in road crash
A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and causing death by dangerous driving after a farmer died when his tractor was hit by a car. Raymond Handley, 71, was driving his tractor on the westbound A66 in County Durham at about
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Cannibal victim’s son ‘out of control’
A TEENAGE boy whose mother was murdered by cannibal killer David Harker in 1998 has gone off the rails in recent years, a court heard. Julie Paterson’s 19-year-old son, Freddie Newman, has become violent and has had numerous scrapes with law
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‘I felt as if my heart had been ripped out’
Ashleigh Hall waved goodbye and promised to be back home the next day. Then she slipped out of the door never to be seen again alive by her family. David Roberts hears a mother’s anguish. ANDREA HALL has only just been able to summon up the
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Art & Craft Fair
Ferryhill Town Hall is holding an Arts and Craft Weekend. Ferryhill 2000 Committee along with the town council are supporting artist and crafts people in the town and surrounding areas. Artists have been invited to display their work
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Woman mugged outside Newcastle bank
A MAN grabbed an amount of cash from the hands of a 30-year-old woman outside Lloyds TSB in Westgate Road, Newcastle, at 12.35pm on Friday. Police said that the woman, who was unhurt but shaken by the incident, was approached from behind.
