Archive
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Police appeal for witnesses to Middlesbrough assault
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a New Year's Day assault which left a man with facial injuries. The incident happened near the Arena nightclub on Newport Road, Middlesbrough, at about 5am on Friday, January 1. The victim ws attacked by three males
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Corus extension agreed
STEEL firm Corus has tonight confirmed the planned mothballing of its Redcar plant will now not take place until the end of February. The plant had been due to close at the end of January, but an extension has been agreed after a week of negotiations
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Appeal for entries for online directory
A COMMUNITY group is appealing for local organisations to help compile an online directory. Teesdale Village Halls Consortium (TVHC) is currently gathering information to compile an online service directory. Helen Thistlethwaite, from TVHC, said: "We
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Diesel theft appeal
POLICE are appealing for information after fuel was stolen from the tank of a lorry. Around £200 worth of diesel was taken from the white lorry that was parked opposite Alpine Windows, on Furnace Industrial Estate, Shildon. The theft was committed some
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Inspectors praise primary school
INSPECTORS have praised a North Durham primary school for its high quality teaching and the excellent progress its pupils make. Ofsted inspectors described St Bede’s RC Primary School in Sacriston as a good school with many outstanding features.
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Council mourns former councillor's death
REDCAR and Cleveland Council is mourning the death of former councillor Keith Blott, who has died, aged 83. Mr Blott served as a Liberal Democrat councillor for the West Dyke ward in Redcar from May, 1999 to May, 2007. His funeral will be at Teesside
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Fears raised over bogus callers
RESIDENTS in Hartlepool are being warned over bogus callers operating in the area. Community safety officers have launched a new initiative following four attempted deceptions by bogus callers over the last ten days. Information packs are being delivered
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Assurances given over school funding
GOVERNMENT funding of £180m set aside to refurbish schools across Stockton borough has been guaranteed. Concerns had been raised that Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding could be lost if a General Election resulted in a change of power in
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A new morality entering the dot com game
JFK once remarked that the Chinese symbol for disaster also contained the stroke for ’opportunity’. This is an interesting and profound observation on Chinese commercial acumen and their resilient determination. A few days after the news
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'I didn't intend to murder him,' accused tells torture death trial
A MOTHER of four accused of torturing to death her partner today denied she had intended to murder him. Clare Nicholls is alleged to have repeatedly punched, kicked, stamped on, whipped and burnt Andrew Gardner, the father of her youngest child. Under
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£4m unlocked for cancer families
A WELFARE rights service has helped families coping with cancer claim more than £4m in benefits over the last year. The service was set up to offer financial advice to families trying to deal with the likes of hospital car parking charges, increased
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X Factor winner Joe McElderry visits Durham hospital
JOE McELDERRY brought smiles to the faces of nurses and patients earlier today, making an unannounced visit to their hospital. The South Shields-born X-Factor winner dropped in at University Hospital of North Durham (UHND), in Durham City, where he did
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Wartime rail workers recognised
RAILWAY workers who kept the nation’s Second World War efforts on track are being celebrated with an exhibition. Locomotion: the National Railway Museum at Shildon and Head of Steam, Darlington Railway Museum launched the mobile display
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Honours for college students
TOP performing students have been honoured by their college. East Durham College, based in Peterlee, held a ceremony to mark the achievements of students throughout the previous year. Five childcare students shared one award when course leaders found
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Steelworkers "could strike" over Corus closure
STEEL workers facing redundancy could strike if Corus does not talk openly about alternatives to mothballing its Teesside plant, union bosses said today. The giant announced last month that 1,700 jobs would go at Teesside Cast Products in
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Free parking hopes in Thirsk dashed
HOPES of free parking in Thirsk market place due to seemingly faulty parking meters have been dashed by Hambleton District Council. The district authority fitted the machines in October and they have a solar panel fitted to the top to power their batteries
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Pat Hill: Jimmy Pickavance
PAT HILL would like to contact her step-brother Jimmy Pickavance. Anyone with any information can contact her on 01325-749311.
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Four to fight election
FOUR candidates will contest a by-election for a vacant seat on Durham County Council. The election of a new councillor for Easington division follows the death in September of Coun Richard Burnip, who held the seat for Labour. The seat will be contested
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The Big Freeze souvenir
There has been very strong feedback about today's souvenir supplement featuring photographs of the big freeze from the air. Some stunning pictures of the North-East from photographer David Wood. I have to say that Durham looks particularly
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Permission for care home
A CARE home is to be built on the site of a former landmark pub after councillors gave the scheme the go-ahead. The 70-bed home is to be built on the site of the former Bute Arms pub, in Front Street, Dipton, which burnt down in a fire in 2007. Members
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Lack of funds bars rescue teams Haiti mission
A SEARCH and rescue team from the region is barred from aiding Haiti earthquake victims due to a chronic lack of funds due to the recession. The International Rescue Corps, which has a North Yorkshire base, is trained to deal with missions like finding
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The opposite end of the cultural spectrum
Hi, my name's Ian Richmond (my Chinese name is Lin Bin Can). I'm a senior lecturer in English at the Aeronautical department of Nanchang University in China. I’ve resided in China almost three years in various cities from Canton to Xian. I am a Darlo
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White returns to Quakers
Defender Alan White has re-joined Darlington after completing a loan move from Luton Town. The 33-year-old centre-back has signed for his homwe town club until the end of the season and becomes Steve Staunton’s sixth signing of the January
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New swimming pool opens
A NEW swimming baths has opened its doors to the public. Hetton Community Pool and Wellness Centre, in Hetton-le-Hole, Wearside includes a 25m pool, along with learner pool, exercise suite, sauna and steam room. The new facility was built to replace
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Man dies in sea off North Yorkshire
A MAN has died after being pulled from the sea, police said today. The RNLI received a call just before 4.50pm yesterday reporting a man in the sea off Scarborough, North Yorkshire, near the Sea Life Centre in the North Bay. Crews including Scarborough
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Cannabis user grew drug for economic reasons
A 'CHRONIC' cannabis user grew his own supply of the drug for economic reasons, a court heard. Police found 34 flowering cannabis plants, plus lighting, heating, watering and other growing equipment in a bedroom at Lee Walker's home, in Victor Street
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Bryan Blakelock: Fred Black and Gunner Dean
BRYAN BLAKELOCK is looking for two former army friends with links to the region. Fred Black and a man known as Gunner Dean, or Deano, served with Mr Blakelock in 40 Battery 18 Field Regiment in Germany and Hong Kong from 1962 to 1968. Mr Black is from
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Skate park plans for Sowerby criticised
CRITICS of a proposed £100,000 skate park in a rural market town fear youths using it were cause vandalism to their homes. The Skate8 project, in Thirsk, is seeking to develop land off Gravel Hole Lane, in nearby Sowerby, but it has run into strong criticism
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Cycle path approved
AN application to create a cycle path through North Park, on Whessoe Road, Darlington, has been approved by members of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee. The track will run alongside a tree-lined footpath to the south of the new Harrowgate
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Councillors training sessions on the agenda
COUNCILLORS in Darlington attended nearly 600 training sessions between them last year. A report will be made to the standards committee next Monday about the number of sessions attended by each councillor in 2009. Councillors are required
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Talking about Peases and Backhouses
I'VE got to get up onto my new knees next week and walk because I'm due to give two talks. On Monday, I'm giving Of Fish and Actors to Gainford Local History Society at 7.30pm. My diary doesn't say where, but I guess it is the hall, opposite the fish
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Darlington make two more signings
Darlington have today signed two more players to take their January arrivals total up to five. The latest to join Steve Staunton’s ever-changing squad are striker Patrick Dean from Hibernian and midfielder Gareth Waite from Spennymoor Town.
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Village makes £500,000 energy-saving funding application
VILLAGERS are hoping to win their share of up to £500,000 worth of funding for carbon reduction measures as part of a two-year research programme. Sadberge Parish Council has applied on behalf of the village for a grant from the Low Carbon
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Residents claim they are ignored over Thirsk Clock move
RESIDENTS claim they have been ignored by a church over plans to move a youth club close to their homes. Locals on St James Green, in Thirsk, are angry over plans to move Thirsk Clock into a building just behind their homes. The Thirsk
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Snowdrops
Reader's question: Stacey from Middlesbrough visited her aunt in Cheltenham last January and was impressed by her display of snowdrops. She would love to have a selection growing in her own garden, but doesn’t know where to start and would like
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Eyes right
Hundreds of people with diabetes will keep their sight thanks to the pioneering work of North-East scientists. Health Editor Barry Nelson reports. A NORTH-EAST research project that started with a handful of scientists and a second-hand ambulance
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Meeting the playwright
DIRECT a play by Alan Bennett and you get an invitation to meet the playwright at his Yorkshire home. “I’m very fortunate to have done several of his plays and part of the ritual is to go and have tea with him,” says Christopher Luscombe, who
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Reality opera
Popstar To Opera star (ITV1, 9pm); Neil Sedaka: That’s When the Music Takes Me (BBC4, 9pm); Sings the Beatles (BBC2, 11.05pm) THOSE suffering from withdrawal symptoms following the end of X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing might find some relief
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Money for beginners: Wealth warnings
Here are some golden rules to help you have a more prosperous new year. I ONCE met a man with £80,000 in savings earning less than one per cent interest, while he had £80,000 outstanding on his mortgage – yet he said he was good with money.
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Home closure
MY mother is a resident of Shafto House, Newton Aycliffe, and as you can imagine our family is very worried about the threat of closure by Durham County Council (Echo, Jan 12). Labour policy, we hear, is to keep people in their own home and this
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Path clearing
I’D like to point out that contrary to Harry Mead’s comment in his recent column, headed “Icy pointer to slippery slope…” (Echo, Jan 13) – and other press reports – that the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has not issued guidance
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Winter weather
IN this spell of winter weather, it is not only snow and ice that the average motorist needs to be aware of. Additionally, there is the odd lunatic on the loose, usually in what he/she considers to be the “total safety” of a 4x4 vehicle. I was
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Stroke services
IN light of your story, “‘Loss of specialist nurses if hospital unit is closed’” (Echo, Jan 13), I am writing to reassure readers that no specialist nursing or ward nursing staff will lose their jobs as a result of the discussions about stroke
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Vital period will shape our future
IT may seem a little early to say this, but the next few weeks will determine what kind of year the people of Teesside are going to have. In fact, I’ll go further. These events will determine what kind of place our towns and communities will be
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Gordon Brown
AS a result of the latest coup-bid “silliness” surrounding Gordon Brown he claims he is determined and resolute in the contribution he has to make to the future of “our party and the country” (Echo, Jan 11). I believe that this is questionable
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An ill wind?
Wind farms are springing up everywhere, but are they bad for your health? Health Editor Barry Nelson, who lives near a proposed wind farm site, weighs up the arguments. LOVE them or loath them, we could be seeing a lot more giant wind turbines in
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Quinn rounds on agents over transfer window
SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn believes the 'stupid' transfer window system is little more than a money-maker for football agents. The Irishman is currently working to push home manager Steve Bruce's interest in his own targets at a time of
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The subsidy dilemma
MEMBERS of Parliament will today urge the Government to pay the wages of Corus workers while efforts to save steelmaking on Teesside continue. It is a bold, passionate appeal, coupled with calls for ministers to explore other ideas such as buying
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Haslam to retire
PATRICK HASLAM, who has sent out more than 1,000 winners since taking out a licence in 1971, is to retire next month and handing over the reins at his dual-purpose Middleham stable to his son Ben, 25. As well as holding the distinction of saddling
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Snowball eyeing return to Darlington
FORMER Darlington captain Richard Snowball is contemplating a comeback with the club in preparation for his long-delayed Championship career. The 28-year-old former England Counties lock has missed a season and a half following a knee operation
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England get off to poor opening
ENGLAND collapsed to 180 all out inside two sessions of the final Test as South Africa fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel shared nine wickets on a rain-shortened first day. Only a fifth-wicket stand of 76 either side of lunch between
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Falcons can expect a tough French test
HE might have helped rack up 45 points against Albi already this season, but Newcastle Falcons flanker Josh Afu is expecting the French side to provide a much stiffer test on home soil tonight. Newcastle play their penultimate Amlin Challenge
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Why Brown’s comments were ill-thought
THE alarm was raised within minutes of the attack that killed three members of the Togo entourage as they travelled to their opening match of the African Cup of Nations in Angola. Commentators from all four corners of the world predicted a
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O’Sullivan wins, but out of sorts
RONNIE O’Sullivan was again thoroughly underwhelmed with his performance after beating Peter Ebdon 6-3 in their Pokerstars.com Masters quarter-final at Wembley Arena. O’Sullivan delivered a scathing appraisal of his game after fighting back
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Turner to give Gamble his Pools bow
JOE Gamble will make his Hartlepool United debut at the first available opportunity, when his new side takes on MK Dons at Victoria Park tomorrow. The Irishman has been with the club almost two weeks, but the visit of Paul Ince’s side presents
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Injuries stun Reds
RAFAEL Benitez suffered a serious blow in his battle to salvage Liverpool’s shattered season yesterday as he lost the services of three star players. Top scorer Fernando Torres, talismanic captain Steven Gerrard and Yossi Benayoun, arguably the
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England left with a giant mission
■ Strauss opts to bat and is out first ball ■ England go from 39-4 to 180 all out ■ South Africa ease to 29-0 at stumps ENGLAND are disappointed but far from despairing after their poor 180 all out on the first day of the final
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Anderson heading back to Scotland
RUSSELL ANDERSON is trying to engineer a move back to Scotland after Sunderland manager Steve Bruce paved the way for the start of his January transfer dealings yesterday. Despite being short of numbers, Bruce confirmed he has reached an agreement
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Staunton signs up Madden
SIMON Madden yesterday became Darlington’s third January signing and Steve Staunton hopes to complete deals for two more players today. The right-back has arrived from Shamrock Rovers and is likely to make his debut at home to Aldershot tomorrow
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Shittu in line for Magpies as Enrique sets target
CHRIS Hughton might be about to reinforce his defensive ranks with a move for Bolton defender Dan Shittu, but Jose Enrique has claimed he is willing to make a halfcentury of appearances this season in order to help Newcastle return to the top-flight
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Boro boss is satisfied
GORDON STRACHAN has been quick to outline an intention to keep strengthening his Middlesbrough squad after explaining the reasons for recruiting three players from his former club. Despite being eventually knocked back by Gary Caldwell, who
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School bosses slammed for 40-mile round trip
A MOTHER has criticised education chiefs for refusing her disabled daughter access to her chosen special school – leaving her with a potential 40-mile round trip every day. Kirsty Flintoft, from Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, wants to send
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Factory staff go walkies to help Dogs Trust
STAFF from a North-East factory have spent time lending a hand at a charity for dogs. Seven workers from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), at Barnard Castle, spent a day at the Dogs Trust Re-homing Centre at Sadberge, near Darlington. The day was organised
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Bogus callers taking advantage of cold snap
AN elderly woman has been targeted by a bogus caller as police say criminals are taking advantage of the bad weather. Claiming to be an official from the water board or council, thieves say water pipes have frozen or burst to gain entry to elderly
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Region adds its voice to accelerate vehicle funding
THE North-East is among a consortium of European cities and regions, vehicle manufacturers and electricity providers who have teamed up to ask the European Commission for funding to accelerate the take-up of electric vehicles in Europe. The
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Bumper year for ferry service
THE region’s tourism industry has received a boost with a ferry operator reporting that a long-established route connecting the North-East with the Continent had enjoyed its most successful year on record. DFDS Seaways said there had been a ten
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Charity opens doors
A TRAINING charity is throwing open its doors to encourage companies to prepare for the upturn by taking on apprentices. Middlesbrough’s TTE Technical Training Group launched its Apprentices For the Upturn campaign in November with the aim of
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Healthcare group bought by The Priory
THE Priory, best known for providing celebrities with help to overcome their addictions, is to run its first North-East facility. The Priory Group is expected to take ownership of Middleton St George Hospital, near Darlington, after agreeing to
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Tree-felling to reveal views of cathedral
STUNNING views of Durham Cathedral could be revealed, as part of a treefelling project. More than 100 trees on Durham’s riverbanks could be felled, in a cathedral scheme aimed at securing the woodland’s future. Cathedral officials say the felling
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£233m Navy contracts won by North-East companies
KEY contracts for the Royal Navy’s new supercarriers, worth £233m, have been awarded to three North-East companies. AEI Cables, based in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, and Imtech Marine and Offshore, based in Hebburn, South Tyneside, will provide
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Woman spared jail after stabbing her bullying boyfriend
A YOUNG mother who stabbed her bullying boyfriend after years of abuse has walked free from court after a judge told her he could understand why she armed herself. Natalie Leeming plunged the potato knife into Christopher Gill’s back after the
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Search continues for missing fisherman
FEARS were growing last night after the search for a missing fisherman continues. Police have scoured the cliffs, beaches and caves between Grants Houses and Easington Colliery, in County Durham, for George Derbyshire, of nearby Blackhall.
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‘Private police force’ boss to attend summit
TWO months after setting up a controversial “private police force” in a North-East town, the company’s boss has been invited to speak at a Westminster debate on the future of policing. Francis Jones, of Darlington, will appear alongside leading
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Donation boosts sick children charity
A CHARITY which supports the families of sick children has been given a financial boost by the publishers of The Northern Echo. Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity has received a cheque for £1,625. The grant was made by the Gannett Foundation, the
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Sailor rescued as yacht hits rocks
A SAILOR from the region was one of 16 crew members rescued after a yacht struck rocks in Indonesian waters during a round-the-world race. Sarah Bell, from Ripon, North Yorkshire, was on board the Cork clipper when it was holed, in high winds,
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Court files blunder sees shoplifter’s jail term cut
A PROLIFIC thief with more than 100 previous convictions had his latest jail term cut – because of a mistake in the court’s files. Heroin addict Terry Cook was given a suspended prison sentence of 20 weeks last year but has since breached the
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They’re not Brad or Angelina...
A KENNELS is seeking new homes for two strays – after they were repeatedly overlooked by potential owners for more attractive dogs. Vicky, a three-year-old crossbreed, and Walter, an 18-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross, have both been
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Boy who cries for the father he never knew
SIX-YEAR-OLD Spencer Manders includes his father in everything he does – yet he will never meet him. The youngster, born only months after his father’s death, struggles to make sense of what happened, although he is so far blessedly ignorant
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Murder trial told: I caused injuries
A WOMAN accused of torturing her long-suffering boyfriend has told a murder jury that she inflicted most of the 100-plus injuries found on his body after his death. Clare Nicholls, who yesterday admitted killing 35-year-old Andrew Gardner, blamed
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Ashleigh’s legacy is on the cards
EVERY child in Darlington is to be given a card containing vital advice about keeping safe on the internet. Nearly 15,000 cards will be given to young people in the town in the hope of averting another tragedy such as the death of Ashleigh Hall
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MPs urge action on council newspapers
MPS have urged the Government to safeguard local newspapers from the “unfair” competition of council-run publications. Liberal Democrats urged ministers to take action against council newspapers during a debate in London’s Westminster Hall.
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Ten arrests in inquiry over £20m share scam
POLICE have arrested ten North-East men as part of a £20m international scam. The investigation led detectives across the country and Europe and raids were carried out on homes in Sunderland, following reports that hundreds of investors had been
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‘Risking lives for kicks’
CHILDREN are playing a deadly new game clinging to the backs of moving buses. Last night, experts warned that “bus surfing” could end in tragedy. Lauren Pyrah reports. AS a car driver cautiously followed a bus negotiating an ice-covered road
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Plans for action group to battle Crook development
PLANS to build council houses in Crook are meeting with strong opposition from local people. Durham County Council is to receive £3.5m to build 67 homes in the town. The two proposed sites, at Park Avenue Close and Greenside Place, contain
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Claims of hate crime over social networks
POLICE have vowed to clamp down on hate crimes across Teesside after claims two people were targeted through social networking sites. The Safer Middlesbrough Partnership and partner agencies operate a monthly Hate Crime Case Group to tackle harassment
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School bosses slammed for 40-mile round trip
A MOTHER has criticised education chiefs for refusing her disabled daughter access to her chosen special school – leaving her with a potential 40-mile round trip every day. Kirsty Flintoft, from Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, wants to send
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MPs urged to pay Corus wages
THE region’s MPs will today urge the Government to pay the wages of Corus steelworkers to keep them from the misery of the dole while rescue efforts continue. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson will be told that a “wage subsidy” scheme, already
