Archive
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Former Stewart Downing agent denies five fraud charges
THE former agent of ex-Middlesbrough player Stewart Downing has pleaded not guilty to five counts of fraud. Ian Elliott was arrested in September 2007 in relation to allegations made by the Middlesbrough-born player of financial irregularities concerning
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ITN boost for University of Sunderland
A MAJOR provider of television news is to partner the University of Sunderland in a new media project - which may help shape the North-East's future news provision. ITN, which makes ITV's News at Ten and Channel 4 News, will be broadcast partner
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Bad weather? Snow it's not.
I was told by a colleague that the past couple of weeks has been "the worst winter weather for 20 years". I have to disagree, in my view the three weeks of snow we've had has been the best winter weather for 20 years. Bad winter weather is when it
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WOW off the road
A fitness facility is out of action due to the severe weather. Durham County Council has had to taken its mobile gym, Wellness on Wheels (WOW), off the road until weather conditions improve. The trailer is in storage until further notice and once the
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Have your say at GAMP
RESIDENTS in the Newton Aycliffe and Middridge area are invited to influence local services at a meeting later this month. The Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Partnership (GAMP) board will meet at Oak Leaf Sports Complex, on School Aycliffe Lane,
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Plea for return of dogs
A FAMILY of dog fanatics are appealing for help to get two of their beloved pets home safely, after they went missing in the snow. Andrew and Clare Smith, of Ramshaw, near Bishop Auckland, are offering a reward for the safe return of Sugar and Maadam
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Search for young music stars
THE search has been launched to find the finest young musicians in the Ripon area. The city’s annual Young Musicians of the Year contest is to take place in May and all young players and singers are being encouraged to take part. The
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Project to keep vulnerable women out of jail
A GROUND-breaking new service has been launched in North Yorkshire to improve the lives of vulnerable women and their families. The area’s first Government-backed Women’s Community Project will cover Whitby, Scarborough and Ryedale. The £200,000 project
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Cars stolen as owners defrost them
OPPORTUNIST thieves have been taking advantage of the grim weather to steal the cars of conscientious motorists. It follows two incidents in North Yorkshire where drivers left their cars unattended while defrosting them - only to have them
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Search is on for Darlo's best snowman
THE Northern Echo's search for Darlington's best snowman has attracted a blizzard of entries. As the flakes continue to fall, creative readers show no sign of losing their enthusiasm for the traditional winter past-time. This latest
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Man accused of operating pirate music website OiNK in court
THE TRIAL of a North-East man accused of being the administrator of one of the world’s largest illegal music file sharing websites was adjourned today. Alan Ellis, 26, was arrested in 2007 as part of an Interpol-led operation to shut down Oink
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Partnership vows to continue work
A COMMUNITY group rocked by the resignation of its secretary over the alleged student takeover of Durham has vowed to continue, focusing on its local environment. Mike Costello quit as secretary of Crossgate Community Partnership (CCP), of which he
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Exhibition for steelworks at Beamish
HISTORIANS at a North-East museum are planning an exhibition to mark the 30th anniversary of the closure of the steelworks at Consett. Beamish Museum is asking people to get involved by sharing their memories, pictures, letters and any other interesting
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Students launch new clothing brand
EAST Durham College have announced the launch of a small range of college branded clothing. East Durham College have designed a range of branded hoodies. They have been developed to have a ‘varsity’ look and feel. A number of designs were created
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Weather chaos - latest train travel information
Train operator East Coast is operating a revised timetable today as wintry weather affects large areas across England and Scotland. East Coast is operating 85 to 90 per cent of its normal weekday timetable, running a broadly hourly service
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Bruce hit with FA charge
SUNDERLAND manager Steve Bruce has been charged with improper conduct following his comments about referee Andre Marriner's performance in last month's match against Manchester City, the Football Association has announced. Marriner awarded
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Airport bosses slammed for snow chaos
A NORTH-EAST airport has come under fire after its timetable was decimated by snow and ice. Durham Tees Valley Airport (DTVA) reopened yesterday afternoon after several days of canceled and diverted flights. Several airport enthusiasts have contacted
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Chubby Brown denies car park assault
COMEDIAN Roy Chubby Brown today denied assaulting a woman during a dispute in a car park. The blue comic, real name Royston Vasey, faces trial in March accused of the common assault of Kelly Oliver. The Middlesbrough-born entertainer
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Landlord sets up community fund
A SOCIAL landlord has set up a fund to help community groups in the district that it serves. Cestria Community Housing, which runs the former Chester-le-Street District Council’s housing stock, launched its community development fund with the County
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Dick's Durham in-house panto success
A HOME-PRODUCED pantomime has become the most successful in-house work staged at a city’s theatre. The curtain came down on the 34-day run of Dick Whittington at Durham’s Gala Theatre, on Sunday. It achieving critical and audience acclaim, becoming
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Help on offer for abuse victims
HELP is at hand for people across North Yorkshire who have become victims of domestic violence. Some families living in the Hambleton and Richmondshire areas may have experienced domestic abuse over the Christmas period - when the stresses
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Quakers' matches rearranged
DARLINGTON'S Coca-Cola League Two game at home to Lincoln City, postponed on December 28, has been re-arranged for Tuesday February 9, 7.45pm kick-off. Quakers’ last four consecutive games, three of which home ties, have been postponed due to the extreme
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Investigation underway into body discovered in River Ouse
POLICE have confirmed that an investigation is underway after a body was found in the River Ouse. The unidentified body of a man was spotted face down and caught up in fencing under the toll bridge in Selby by passers-by yesterday afternoon. Jeff Rodgers
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Go fishing
REGISTRATION has now opened for one of the region’s biggest annual angling competitions. The Open Sea Angling Competition, run by Durham County Council, will take place on Sunday, 17 January between 11am and 4pm, when anglers will be able to take their
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School closures
Wednesday, January 6 Selby Barlby Bridge CP School Brayton College Selby Abbey CE Primary School York Copmanthorpe Primary School will be closed in the morning and will open at midday All Saints Secondary
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Apprentice scheme brings benefits
THE UK’s only mine which excavates potash for the fertiliser industry is taking steps to expand its workforce. Since Cleveland Potash started mining in East Cleveland in the early Seventies, it has developed into a major organisation and employer
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Green award for dogs’ home
AN animal sanctuary has shown its green credentials by being given an award from a North-East council. Dogs Trust Darlington was presented with the Green Business of the Year Award by Hartlepool Borough Council. North-East education officer Louise
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After the split, Northern Rock needs a new suitor
NATIONALISED lender Northern Rock yesterday began its first week after it was split in two, as speculation over potential buyers – including the owner of another regional bank – intensified. The Newcastle-based lender officially separated into
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Call to keep staff safe this year
EMPLOYERS in North Yorkshire need to work harder at keeping their workers safe, according to Britain’s safety watchdog. Research by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) shows that last year, 33 work-related incidents occurred across the region
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Trip of a lifetime ends with a new job
AFTER learning he had secured a job on the other side of the world, the furthest thing from finance professional Jonny Harrison’s mind was booking flights. Instead, Mr Harrison decided to combine his two-year secondment from PricewaterhouseCoopers
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The Dudley Arms, Ingleby Greenhow, Stokesley
ITS former glories notwithstanding, Battersby Junction may be one of those places which chiefly and incorrigibly lends itself to a limerick, probably beginning “A porter from Battersby Junction...” There was something similar about an Andover
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Waghorn seals Foxes loan extension
SUNDERLAND striker Martyn Waghorn has extended his loan deal with Leicester City until the end of the season. The Black Cats, on the look out for a new striker this month, have accepted the Foxes' proposal in the hope that Waghorn will continue to gain
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General election
THIS year will bring possibly the longest General Election campaign ever known with people going to the polls at a time of unprecedented disillusionment with the political process. Amid scandals over MPs’ expenses and bankers’ bonuses, there
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Corus and Cumbria bridges
INSTEAD of mothballing the Corus steelworks at Redcar – above – and taking into account all the recent flood devastation in Cumbria with so many bridges washed away, wouldn’t it be a good idea to rebuild these bridges with steel from our own foundries
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Not-so-remote
MORE than 50 per cent of people in hospital are there through tobacco-related illness. The filters in the stubs thrown away take 15 years to biodegrade. These matters affect all the citizens of the UK in one way or another. However, our actions
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Politicians
I ENTIRELY agree with John Heslop’s perceptive analysis of the problem which many leading politicians have about speaking the truth (HAS, Dec 23). Of course – however cynical it might sound when put bluntly – no one expects politicians to tell
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Unemployment
“LABOUR actually cares about the fate of unemployed people,” says Grahame Morris (HAS, Jan 1). After 39 years of paying into a system that was supposed to help me in bad times I received – my council tax paid for – £64.30 a week Jobseeker’s Allowance
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Cameron challenge
IT was an interesting experience to read about the documents released under the 30-year rule concerning Margaret Thatcher’s early days as Prime Minister (Echo, Dec 30). Despite the advice of Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington, who was sympathetic
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Uplifting job
EIGHT years of my sales career were spent in the most practical, beneficial and heavily utilised art of physical and mental uplifting. Whenever I was asked what I did for a living I used to say: “I’m in the meat-packing business.” I got away with
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Search continues for missing man
THE search for a man who went missing after leaving his home at the weekend is continuing today. Ian Simpkin, 36, has not been seen since when he left home on foot at South View, in Wath, near Ripon, North Yorkshire, on Sunday at 10am.
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BNP kiss-off
KERRY Siddle asks if I was “lost for words” or if I “merely had nothing intelligent to say” (HAS, Jan 1) when I posted a BNP leaflet through her door recently in Spennymoor. I can assure Ms Siddle that I am never lost for words and I always find
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Extremists: action here needed now
FOUR weeks ago I wrote in this column that the war in Afghanistan is a senseless waste of our soldiers’ lives. I added: “In any case, the leaders of al Qaida are not only in the border country shared by Afghanistan and Pakistan: they are in Somalia
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Historic plane leaves region for Windsor Tattoo
A REPLICA of a famous Second World War Two fighter is to leave its home in the region to take part in a major historical memorial. The Hawker Hurricane based at the Yorkshire Air Museum us to head to the Windsor Tattoo to take pride of place. The full
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What's in a word?
I ENJOYED Peter Barron’s review of 2009 in his extended From the Editor’s Chair column (Echo, Dec 28), but was rather concerned to come across a swearword (part of) previously unknown to me: “kn*b” as quoted by celebrity Jordan. Try as I might
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Gambling for votes
AS we step gingerly into the economic uncertainty of 2010, it is clear that election campaigning is under way in earnest. Nationally, David Cameron has declared that the NHS will be his number one priority, amid Labour complaints that there is
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Gimme that gizmo
Glow in the dark wallpaper, 3-D TV and the long-awaited iTablet from Apple are some of the digital delights we can expect this year. Nigel Burton looks back on a vintage 2009 and predicts the must-have gizmos for this year. THE Noughties will
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Villagers anger at planning application process
RESIDENTS of a village say they are astonished at the actions of planning officials over an application for a controversial extension to a nearby caravan site. Villagers in Kirkby in Cleveland are angry that officers at Hambleton District Council recommended
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How hard is it to get to work?
Just back from having my first haircut of 2010 and some food for thought from my haidresser Nigel Dowson. Nigel, who works in Darlington but lives out in the County Durham wilds of Cockfield, posed the following question: "How come that because I woke
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Thought for today...
It's so cold, even the council tax in Darlington has been frozen.
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Residents encouraged to recycle Christmas cards
VISITORS to a district council’s headquarters are being encouraged to drop off their Christmas cards for recycling this month. Hambleton District Council is supporting the Woodland Trust’s aim to plant 12,000 trees - an area half the size of London
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Machinist has winning look
SOUTHWELL is the only course to beat the weather and the opening contest looks a penalty kick on paper for David Nicholls’ Machinist. Only five runners will go to post for the Bet Carling Cup - Betdaq Claiming Stakes, yet on ratings the veteran
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Moxon backing Tykes pair
MARTYN Moxon has backed Yorkshire pair Azeem Rafiq and Joe Root to have a major future in the game as they prepare to shine with England at the forthcoming Under 19s World Cup in New Zealand. Off-spinner and national captain Rafiq and opening
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Bishops legendary custodian
EVER the eccentric, legendary goalkeeper Harry Sharratt was no less flamboyant in the classroom, his wife reveals. Harry played for Bishop Auckland in the glory days, gained three Amateur Cup winner’s medals and six England amateur caps, was
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Big freeze continues
PROSPECTS of a resumption of jump racing before the weekend remain remote as the cold spell continues to grip the country. Plumpton gave enthusiasts brief respite on Sunday but there was no racing over obstacles yesterday. Today and tomorrow
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Mother arrested on suspicion of murdering baby
A MOTHER has been arrested on suspicion of murdering her 11-month-old baby. The boy, named by neighbours as Bevin, died on New Year's Day at an address on George Stephenson Way, North Shields, North Tyneside. The 30-year-old was seen by neighbours
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Cook and Prior make sure England stay in the hunt
ENGLAND had to bat deep on day two of the third Test at Newlands to stay on course to protect their 1-0 series lead over South Africa. Alastair Cook (65), Matt Prior (52no) and Ian Bell all displayed admirable determination to keep the first-innings
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Monkouse gets rewarded with an upturn in fortunes
ANDY Monkhouse is enjoying the rewards of a change in his outlook. The Hartlepool United winger has long been encouraged by Chris Turner and Colin West to play a more attacking game. His reward this season has been eight goals from the left
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Sir Alex is under fire from fans
IF Sir Alex Ferguson needed any reminding of the fickle nature of football supporters, he would have got it by tuning into MUTV immediately after Manchester United’s FA Cup demise on Sunday. Ferguson is a man who has delivered 11 league titles
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Pogatetz is wanted by Panathinaikos
GORDON STRACHAN’S intention to build his defence around Emanuel Pogatetz will be tested this month when Panathinaikos make an approach to Middlesbrough for his services. The Greek club have money to spend and have identified Pogatetz as the ideal
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Cana wants to repeat his French cup success
LORIK CANA feels Sunderland have every right to set their sights on reaching an FA Cup final this season and feels winning trophies would be a far greater achievement than qualifying for Europe. Cana might have only been in England for six months
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Quakers to hold two fans forums
DARLINGTON are to hold two supporters’ nights next week to make up for the disappointment of their last four matches being postponed. Heavy snow and freezing temperatures put paid to home fixtures against Northampton Town, Lincoln City, Port
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Magpies hope to land key recruits
NEWCASTLE are confident of completing a deal for defender Matt Kilgallon before the end of the week, but their pursuit of Jermaine Beckford could be hampered by competing interest from clubs in the Premier League. Having held preliminary talks
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Cancer sufferer is denied operation in France by NHS
A FORMER nurse battling a rare cancer says she feels let down by the NHS after she was denied funding for a potentially lifeextending operation in France. Pat Deuchar, 55, from Darlington, has an advanced form of stomach cancer called linitis
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Council thief spared prison
A COUNCIL worker who stole more than £13,500 from the authority’s accounts to help her boyfriend’s struggling business was yesterday spared a prison sentence. Abigail Clement was told by a judge that she was being saved from jail because she quickly
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Forum plea over choice of schools
A SO-CALLED “star chamber” with far-reaching influence over which children get into a county’s schools is facing cross-party calls to go public. The admission forum for County Durham makes recommendations on new admission rules. Its advice is
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Water power will fuel 1,000 homes
A £2.5M hydroelectric station at a reservoir will generate enough power to meet the annual needs of about 1,000 homes. Work on the station at Selset Reservoir, near Barnard Castle, is due to begin in the next couple of months. The scheme will
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No let-up in sight as cold snap continues
THE region has seen the coldest December for more than a decade – with no let-up predicted this month. Last month’s freezing conditions meant it was the coldest December since 1995. The average minimum temperature was 0.3C (32.5F) at
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Dad ‘tortured to death at home’
A MAN was tortured for weeks by his girlfriend, her brother, her lover and her children before he was found dead at the house they shared, a court was told yesterday. After the discovery in Chilton, County Durham, doctors were said to have
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No rise in council tax – but jobs to go
THOUSANDS of families will have their council tax bills frozen as a result of a proposed efficiency drive. Darlington Borough Council plans to cut £4.7m from its budget – and last night promised to pass the savings on to tax payers.
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Afghanistan war veteran given his job back
A TERRITORIAL Army soldier who was made redundant on his return from serving in Afghanistan has been given his job back. Simon Sunderland was laid off as a production operator at the Cummins factory, in Darlington, only days after returning from
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The Blair hitch project
The long-awaited first board meeting of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation in Newcastle had to be cancelled this morning due to the snow. I'm on the board with Tanni Grey-Thompson, Steve Cram and North Durham MP Hilary Armstrong and, now the foundation
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Heavy snow causes travel problems
HEAVY overnight snow has caused severe travel problems and left scores of schools across the region closed. More than 140 schools in North Yorkshire are closed, while a section of the A66 between County Durham and Cumbria has been shut.
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A botanist's bridge?
ONE of the questions floated in the recent Memories article about the Winch Bridge - Britain's first suspension bridge - in upper Teesdale was why it was called winch? Robin Fletcher emails with a suggestion. "There was a very interesting individual
