Archive
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Knees, and "the undying envy and malice of the Northern Echo"
THIS morning's paper explains away the non-appearance of my Saturday column by saying that I am "away". This is true in a minimalistic fashion, for my full predicament is much greater. On Tuesday, I had my fourth knee operation in four years
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Safety the priority when it comes to rubbish collections
DURHAM County Council said today that safety will be their top priority as they battle to collect people's rubbish next week. With more ice and snow forecast into next week, the council mounted a major operation over the weekend in advance of next week's
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Coastguard comes to rescue of ambulance in North Yorkshire
THE North Yorkshire Ambulance Service was assisted by the Coastguard when one of its emergency vehicles got stuck in heavy snow. The ambulance got stranded at Egton in the Esk Valley on the North Yorkshire Moors around 9.15pm last night, as it tried
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Snow and ice refuse to release their grip on Britain
SNOW and ice took its toll on the UK again today, with transport disrupted and sports fixtures called off - and weather forecasters said there is early no thaw in sight. They warned that more heavy snow was sweeping large parts of the country
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Quakers' game rearranged
DARLINGTON'S Coca-Cola League Two game at home to Port Vale, postponed last week, has been re-arranged for Tuesday, March 2, 7.45pm kick-off. Quakers’ last five consecutive games, three of which home ties, have been postponed due to the extreme weather
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Snowfall sends ski bookings soaring
FOLLOWING the unprecedented levels of snowfall in the UK, travel agencies have been inundated with calls from people wanting to book a ski holiday. Sammi Nisbet, of Ski Europe Online, said: “The UK snow has been a life-saver for the ski industry
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Top tips for budget cruising
IF you are thinking about a cruise and want to get the best out of your holiday budget or maximise your time, the followers of cruise.co.uk, the UK’s biggest online cruise community, have the answer for everything. With figures showing that
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Skin Trade by Laurell K Hamilton (HeadLine, £6.99)
IT’S the age of the vampire hunter and professional Anita Blake plays for the highest stakes when she is on the prowl – death to all bloodsuckers. For an excursion into the world of the undead, this is pretty lively stuff and Blake needs to keep
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Chain reaction
A keen, if relaxed cyclist, Nigel Green discovers what he thinks is probably the best cycle route in Europe. FOR a nation that is famous for beer and chocolates, it seems strange that Belgians are generally slimmer and more healthy-looking than we
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Breathless by Dean Koontz (HarperCollins, £17.99)
WHEN Grady Adams has a life changing, ET-type experience in the Colorado mountains, it should hold out promise for the human race. But in a fear-haunted American society, Homeland Security are soon on the case and Grady has to be prepared to meet
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A Rose Among Thorns by Rosie Goodwin (HeadLine, £19.99)
PASSION, betrayal, friendship, devotion and snobbery loom large in this period saga set in Nuneaton when ribbon-weaving was in its heyday. At the heart of this story are working class Sassy and her upper class and uptight mother-in-law, who have
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Deceived by Peter Taylor (Robert Hale, £18.99)
AN up-to-the-minute tale of drugs dealing on the campus of Teesside University. Drugs equals money, lots of it, and when the money is going to the Jamaican Yardies, it also means violence, and lots of that too. Local writer Taylor paints a lurid
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Changing My Mind by Zadie Smith (Hamish Hamilton, £20)
EXPANSIVE, indulgent, therapeutic – Zadie Smith’s book of essays is a perfect excuse to curl up in an armchair with a mug of coffee while the wind howls outside. Changing My Mind reveals Smith as a thoughtful writer who ponders over her culture
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Driving remains hazardous, police warn
HEAVY snowfall and freezing temperatures continue to make driving extremely hazardous around North Yorkshire. "Since 4pm on Friday to 10am today, there have been 36 reports of highway disruption due to the conditions, with many minor roads becoming
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Ethereal goes Material
FROM ghost to fashion designer. No wonder Lenora Crichlow says the lead in BBC1’s new fashion industry series Material Girl is totally different to playing dead in Being Human. “It’s a very different role to playing a ghost and a very
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An Utterly Exasperated History Of Modern Britain (Or 60 Years Of Making The Same Stupid Mistakes As Always) by John O’Farrell (Doubleday, £18.99)
THIS amusing and thought-provoking book takes a sardonic look at the history of Britain from 1945 to 2005. Idiotic blunders by those in power feature prominently. Author, journalist and media wit John O’Farrell admits to a leftish leaning, but
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Bog-Standard Britain: How Mediocrity Ruined This Great Nation by Quentin Letts (Constable, £12.99)
QUENTIN LETTS is the King Cobra of parliamentary commentators. But it’s not so much toxic venom that he squirts on his victims as a compound of derision and ridicule that could scar a politician’s reputation for life. His new book is as explosive
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Pregnant pause
Organisers of Northern Stage’s 40th anniversary celebrations hope they have just the ticket for tots, says Viv Hardwick. LIFE really does begin at 40 for Newcastle’s Northern Stage theatre where a year of birthday celebrations includes recruiting
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Think about it...
EVER wonder why Noah didn’t swat those two mosquitoes? George Appleby, Clifton, York.
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BMP candidate
I READ Kerry Siddle’s letter (HAS, Jan 1) regarding Bishop Auckland BNP parliamentary candidate Adam Walker with interest. Only a few months earlier, I had occasion to approach Mr Walker after he had posted his vile literature through my letterbox
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Islam4UK march
I AM sure I am not the only person to be disappointed to read of Islam4UK’s intention to apply for permission to march through the Wiltshire town of Wootton Bassett. Due to the perceived disrespect this would show to our soldiers killed in Afghanistan
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Working model
The chapel celebrates its centenary, the times change, The Northern Echo makes amends. WHATEVER happened on Christmas Day in the workhouse, on New Year’s Day the inmates – as still they were called – really did seem to get a shift off.
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Still waiting
ON November 9, I wrote to Durham County Council with regards to it allocating social housing under its new Choice-based Lettings Scheme. I wanted to know for the constituents of North Durham what the council’s new criteria under this scheme would
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Terrorism
PETER Mullen (Echo, Jan 6) highlights the threat from “home grown” terrorism, but omits to mention that there was no such threat until Tony Blair led this country into the disastrous attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq – attacks which Mr Mullen enthusiastically
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Religion
RE your letter from Robert Meggs (HAS, Jan 6). Clearly, he has little understanding of the workings of the Church and even less understanding of the Bible. It is very easy to pluck an isolated passage from the Bible to suit your own argument
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Winter weather
BY now, many people will have benefited from the extra grit and salt spread on previously untreated roads and paths in County Durham. But just as importantly as the prevention of all those broken bones and bruised bums is to see a practical example
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New Year Honours
I WAS delighted to see that the two remaining original members of Status Quo – Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi – have been awarded OBEs (Echo, Dec 31). They have been performing for well over 40 years and have donated millions of pounds to various
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Tough love
Ray Winstone likes a cuddle. He loves his wife. He’s proud of his daughters. Steve Pratt discovers that under the image of a “little fat geezer from the East End” there’s a big softie waiting to get out. MINDFUL of his reputation as the hardest of
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The great grit gamble
THE idea that the NHS should help pay to grit the roads is a novel one which may be about to gain a grip across the country. But is it right that health service cash should be spent on what is traditionally the remit of councils? Kath Toward’
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Fathsta can repeat Lingfield triumph
FATHSTA can prove the star turn at Lingfield when he lines up for the Betdaq The Betting Exchange ‘‘Super 7’’ Handicap at Lingfield. The former David Nichollstrained gelding was distinctly useful in his younger days, and has shown renewed appetite
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Murray faces tough test in Edinburgh
Chester-le-Street's Scottish 4K champion Freya Murray lines up against some of the world’s leading women athletes in this afternoon’s televised Great Edinburgh Cross Country International. Murray, who has already qualified for the Scottish Commonwealth
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Smart work earns Makin 76-1 treble
BRYAN SMART and Phillip Makin were certainly the men to follow at Southwell as they combined for a 76-1 treble at the Nottinghamshire venue. Makin started the day in the best possible fashion when Master Leon confirmed even-money favouritism
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Freeze forces early verdicts
TODAY’S all-weather fixtures at Kempton and Lingfield are under threat with officials at both tracks set to stage 6.30am inspections. Although Lingfield raced yesterday, the possibility of further frost and snow prompted clerk of the course
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The ‘Lake Room’ almost lived up to its name
AT the ever-welcoming but presently snow-carpeted Stockton Cricket Club, the large lounge has become the Lake Room. The renaming was to prove unexpectedly appropriate. Officially it was to mark Gordon Lake’s 60 years service to the club and
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Saturday Spotlight: Singh strikes optimistic note for Quakers
Britain is in the grip of one of the coldest spells of weather in a generation, but in a footballing sense, nowhere has suffered a harsher winter than Darlington. Yet in his first major interview since taking over the club, chairman Raj Singh tells Chief
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Tykes trio in hunt for IPL spots
ANTHONY McGRATH, Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid could all be involved in the next edition of the Indian Premier League in March. The Yorkshire trio have expressed an interest to play in the mega rich Twenty20 competition. McGrath and Bresnan will
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Rocket turns to Bolt
RONNIE O’Sullivan has taken inspiration from Usain Bolt as he enters the new decade with a new approach to his snooker. The ‘Rocket’, like Jamaican sprinter Bolt, has no peers in his sport, but his drive for perfection has contributed to the
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Clubs could recall African stars following gun attack
PREMIER League clubs are preparing to bring their African stars home if assurances cannot be provided over their safety following yesterday’s attack on the Togo team bus two days before the start of the African Nations Cup in Angola. Manchester
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Boro line up Celtic quartet
MIDDLESBROUGH will hold talks with Gary Caldwell and Barry Robson within the next 48 hours after agreeing a fee of around £1.7m with Celtic for the pair. And boss Gordon Strachan has also lined up two more Bhoys – Willo Flood and Chris Killen
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Corus blow gives Wheater reminder
IT has not been an easy two months to be either a player or supporter of Middlesbrough Football Club. Eleventh in the league, boasting just two wins from their last 12 matches, things have not exactly gone to plan since Gordon Strachan replaced
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Turner hits back at critics
DESPITE steering his Hartlepool United side to a comfortable mid-table spot in League One, Chris Turner has not been without his critics this season. But the club’s director of sport, who is also in control of first team affairs at Victoria Park
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Vieira signs for City and sets sights on winning title
PATRICK Vieira checked in for Premier League duty once more and immediately set his sights on taking Manchester City to the number one slot. Vieira is set to earn an estimated £10m if he spends the next 18 months with City, after quitting Inter
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We asked The Legends: Would you sell one of your club’s most saleable assets this month?
BERNIE SLAVEN THERE’S no way in this world I would sell Adam Johnson now. We have got a paper thin squad as it is at Middlesbrough and I keep reading that Gordon Strachan is looking to bring in three players from Celtic. If he is successful in
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Guthrie urges stars to join Magpies party
DANNY GUTHRIE regards the Newcastle of January 2010 as a different club from the one he joined at the start of last season, and he urged any of the Magpies transfer targets they should “jump at the chance” to join the Championship title-favourites
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Irvine the choice for Owls
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY have confirmed the appointment of Alan Irvine as their new manager just ten days after the Scot was controversially sacked by Coca-Cola Championship rivals Preston. The 51-year-old, who has signed a three-and-a-halfyear
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‘Bulldog’ spirit will be key to England success
‘‘BRITISH BULLDOG’’ Paul Collingwood personifies the mettle Andy Flower hopes will help England deliver a series victory in South Africa. Collingwood was one of three players who covered themselves in glory as England somehow clung on with
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Bruce insists £11m bid for Kenwyne will fail
STEVE BRUCE last night claimed Kenwyne Jones remains integral to his plans at Sunderland, despite scouring the market for another striker to bolster his options. Bruce opted to cancel his scheduled press briefing yesterday after it became clear
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Bolton get their man with Coyle confirmed as boss
BOLTON have finally confirmed the appointment of Owen Coyle as their new manager. The former Wanderers striker has been on the verge of succeeding Gary Megson all week and was officially announced as the club’s new manager last night. Coyle
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Pakistan games confirmed
ENGLAND will play two Twenty20 Internationals against Pakistan in Dubai next month ahead of their tour to Bangladesh, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed today. The games, which will take place at Dubai Sports City, provide an extra
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Boro and Cats join freeze casualties
THE sporting weekend has fallen victim to the snow and sub-zero temperatures disrupting Britain – and there are already concerns midweek fixtures could follow suit. At all levels, the sporting calendar has been decimated by the cold snap, which
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Digard makes Nice move
DIDIER Digard has completed a loan move to French club Nice that is expected to turn into a permanent transfer in the summer. Digard joined up with his new team-mates yesterday morning after Middlesbrough officials completed the technicalities
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Legal action fear over path gritting
A CONSERVATIVE candidate has been told he could be sued if he grits a pavement outside his home. Earlier this week, Paul Bristow sent an email to customer services at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council asking for advice about gritting the
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Forecasters monitoring risk of thaw floods
THE region is at risk from flooding if the snow and ice thaws quickly, officials have warned. The snow and freezing temperatures are to continue for several days. However, forecasters at the Environment Agency said last night they were already
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Concern mounting for missing man
POLICE have renewed appeals in a bid to trace a man missing from home for approaching a fortnight. As prolonged wintry weather grips the North-East concern has grown over the whereabouts and safety of 50- year-old John Nelson. The last known
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Net sex offender is spared prison term
A SEX offender who met his teenage victim on Facebook has been spared jail because he will not get the treatment he needs behind bars. David Leach was warned that he will be locked up if he does not comply with the programmes designed to reduce
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Coastal wind farms could create thousands of jobs
UP TO 200 jobs to be created in the Tees Valley as a result of the expansion of wind farms off Britain’s coastline could be the first of thousands, it was claimed last night. The Tees Alliance Group yesterday received a £1.5m Government grant
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Judge brands murder charge case shambles
A JUDGE has branded a murder prosecution a shambles after the case was dropped and reopened minutes later. The case against Paul Northey, who is accused of killing former partner Kathryn Cook, was briefly discontinued yesterday on a legal technicality
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Alan prepares for palace trip
ACCOUNTANT Alan Ribchester will be keeping space in his busy diary for a trip to Buckingham Palace this year. Mr Ribchester, 64, who runs the Ribchesters chartered accountancy firm, will become an MBE for charitable services to community groups
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More in court for failure to pay taxes
MORE of the region’s families are being taken to court because they are unable to pay sky-high council tax bills, the Conservatives said yesterday. There were 211,080 applications for liability orders – allowing town halls to take payments from
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Jailed for torching widow’s bungalow
A PENSIONER was left unable to pass on an inheritance to her grandchildren after her uninsured home was torched by a burglar who tried to cover his tracks. Sean Wood’s girlfriend had been the home-help of 83-yearold widow Marjorie Breet and he
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Anger at minister backing for NHS gritting payment
A HOSPITAL governor who resigned from the NHS in protest against a £1m payment to grit roads has expressed outrage that the scheme may go nationwide. It follows an endorsement of the controversial scheme by Transport Minister Sadiq Khan, who
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Councils face ‘desperate cash shortages’ – summit
PUBLIC finances are so tight it is like councils are “scrabbling down the back of the sofa for loose change”, a conference has been told. Margaret Eaton, chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA), said councils would be “desperately
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Fatal crash victims are named by police
A PEDESTRIAN killed in an accident involving a lorry as she walked along the A1 has been named by police. Sarah Ann James, 40, from Colburn, North Yorkshire, died at the scene, on the southbound A1 near Catterick at 2.30am on Wednesday. Bad weather
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1,800 cases of swine flu recorded across the region
DESPITE the perception that swine flu is a decreasing threat, there were still more than 1,800 cases across the region over the past three weeks. The latest figures released by the NHS show there were 1,836 new cases of swine flu in the North-East
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Two men arrested over death of woman
POLICE investigating the suspicious death of a woman were last night questioning two men. Lawrence Martin, 57, was arrested along with a 43-yearold man after police were called to Rium Terrace, in Hartlepool, yesterday. They discovered the body
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Family return from holiday to farmhouse devastation
A FAMILY have returned from holiday to witness the devastation a blaze caused to their home. Vivien and Tony Smith are heartbroken their farmhouse and holiday cottage business, Bowlees Farm, was gutted by a fire on New Year’s Day. Hampered by
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Badger-baiters spared prison for offence
TWO men have been spared jail after they were found guilty of a badger-baiting incident in which a dog was forced into a sett and attacked. The black terrier, called Blackie, was put into a sett in woods near Catterick, in North Yorkshire, in
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Jailed for killing in football row
A MAN who killed his neighbour with a single “haymaker” punch, after rivalry between pub football teams led to violence, was yesterday jailed for seven years. Maurice Rowell struck Stephen Wilson with the killer blow outside The Beehive
