Archive
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Proposed sunbed law gets second reading in Parliament
A PROPOSED new law which could stop teenagers like Darlington schoolgirl Katie Turner using sunbeds has received its second reading in Parliament. MPs on Friday approved a bill which will ban all under-18s from using sunbeds, in a victory for The Northern
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Soldier who refused to fight pleads guilty
A SOLDIER said to have refused to fight in Afghanistan pleaded guilty today to being absent without leave (Awol), his legal representative said. Lance Corporal Joe Glenton could face up to two years in prison, John Tipple said. The 27-year-old, from
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Gemini in twin shock
A MAJOR disappointment. You will remember I've been trying to get in touch with Gemini 5. From Crook, they were one of the biggest beat bands in the area in the 1960s. I received a wonderful email from Denmark about them: "Hello Chris, I am working
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Digging a hole for himself
APOLOGIES for the brief but grave error on our website this week. Fresh-faced reporter Jim Entwistle (pictured) attached the wrong link to his video of a Gordon Strachan press conference. Unfortunately, the story about the Boro manager
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Sunderland court Benjani as Magpies attempt deal for Moses
SUNDERLAND boss Steve Bruce was tonight hoping to persuade Manchester City striker Benjani Mwaruwari to head for the North-East as cover from leading scorer Darren Bent. Bruce confirmed the club have opened talks with the 31-year-old Zimbabwean
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Poem for Valentine's couple
A PERSONALISED poem to your Valentine is the prize on offer in a special draw at a hotel. The Morritt at Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, County Durham is offering to create a piece of verse, written especially for couples who book their romantic meal
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Hopes for a golden ninth life for old cat
A CAT who used up many of his nine lives during the big freeze is looking forward to better times with a new owner. Garfield was handed to cat-only vets SimplyCats at Fence Houses, near Chester-le-Street, by the owner of dogs who found him cowering
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Medallist backs swimmers' programme
COMMONWEALTH double gold medal swimmer Chris Cook has helped launch a new workout programme for swimmers. Chris Cook , of Wallsend, a member of Team GB’s 4x100 relay team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and who competed in the 100m breaststroke event, helped
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Youngsters learn about looking after babies
TEENAGERS are looking after cyber babies to help them learn how demanding the real thing can be. Life like dolls are being given to 13 and 14 year olds at Greencroft Community School at Annfield Plain, near Stanley, for two nights this week. They have
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Warning after bogus caller strikes
POLICE are urging people to be on their guard after a man was tricked into giving his bank details over the phone. The elderly Northallerton man was contacted by a person claiming to be from the Department of Work and Pensions. The caller stated
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Arty kids to help beat litter bugs
BUDDING artists in north Durham are being challenged to put their skills to the test to help tackle litter. Children in years five, six and seven at schools in Stanley are being asked to design an anti-littering poster to be displayed on bins around
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Transfer news
STEPHEN McManus has joined Middlesbrough on loan, according to Celtic boss Tony Mowbray. The Hoops captain will join up with former Parkhead boss Gordon Strachan at the Riverside until the end of the season. Mowbray said: "The ink on the
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Tax refund will not reduce funding gap
OFFICERS and councillors will still need to identify £22m worth of savings over the next four years despite being awarded a tax refund. Darlington Borough Council welcomed the receipt of its £2.8m claim from HM Revenue and Customs but said it would not
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Government backs academy plans
MULTI-million pound plans to build three new academy schools have won government support. Durham County Council wants to build academies in Durham, Consett and Stanley - at a combined cost of about £75m. Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has confirmed
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Government backs academy plans
MULTI-million pound plans to build three new academy schools have won government support. Durham County Council wants to build academies in Durham, Consett and Stanley - at a combined cost of about £75m. Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has confirmed
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Government backs academy plans
MULTI-million pound plans to build three new academy schools have won government support. Durham County Council wants to build academies in Durham, Consett and Stanley - at a combined cost of about £75m. Schools Minister Vernon Coaker has confirmed
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Students boost Help for Heroes
STUDENTS have rallied to the cause by raising hundreds of pounds for injured servicemen and women. Students at Northallerton College baked, delivered and served cakes and coffee whilst turning the produce from the college allotment into jam and chutney
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Keeping bikers safe
BIKERS are being offered the chance to improve their skills thanks to a series of "Bikesafe" workshops. North Yorkshire Police and the 95 Alive York and North Yorkshire Road Safety Partnership are offering the classes as part of the continuing drive
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Former Newcastle star Martins wins High Court case
FORMER Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins has today won a High Court battle with his former management company. Judge Richard Seymour QC, dismissing all the claims, said the Nigerian had been dazzled by promises of glittering business
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Budget pressures on county council to increase in coming years
A COMBINATION of events has resulted in ‘a perfect financial storm’, county councillors have been warned in a new budget report. Lower government grants and the unexpected damage caused to roads by the recent severe weather look set to put pressure on
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Police praise for youngsters who brought vandals to justice
POLICE in Richmond have praised a group of schoolchildren who helped bring a pair of vandals to justice. More than £80,000 worth of damage was caused to the new gym facility and youth club at Richmond Middle School in June 2009 after a vandalism spree
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Reader's question: Starting a potato patch
Rosie, from Norton, Stockton, has emailed. She fancies growing a selection of potatoes in a patch at the bottom of her garden. She has never grown them before and would like to know the basics. YOU really can’t beat the taste of potatoes that you
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Dying to be in control
More than a million people in the UK are affected by eating disorders. Health Editor Barry Nelson talks to a sufferer who seems to be winning her long battle. AS Sarah Golder poses for the cameras, every bone in her spine is sharply defined
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Money for beginners: Fly high, pay less
Here’s how to make what appear to be good deals on cheap flights a good deal better. WITH the weather still miserable, a £1 flight to the sun sounds like a dream. Yet, while you’ll often see incredible promotions advertised, unless you do it
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Big brother
Celebrity Big Brother Live (C4, 8.30pm); The Review Show (BBC2, 11pm); Latin Music USA (BBC4, 9pm) AND so the countdown to the end of Big Brother continues. It’s one of those end of an era occasions, as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2010
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Cocaine arrests in Darlington
MEMBERS of a suspected organised crime gang who were found in possession of tens of thousands of pounds worth of cocaine have been arrested during a police operation. Drugs officers arrested three men and seized 2kg of the class A drug during a raid
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Torture case
SURELY the parents of the two brothers recently locked up for torturing two young boys at Edlington, near Doncaster, should be held accountable. They should also be sterilised to prevent them producing more unwanted, delinquent children. Vicky
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What's to hide
YOU reported that evidence relating to the death of government weapons advisor Dr David Kelly is to be kept secret for 70 years (Echo, Jan 25). If nobody in the government has anything to hide regarding the so-called weapons of mass destruction
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US healthcare
ERIC Gendle expresses surprise that an “anti-healthcare” US Republican Party full of church-going Christians seems less caring than expected, given its Christian learnings (HAS, Jan 22). What he failed to mention is that just as the British public
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The economy
IT’S official – the economy has started to turn the corner out of recession. A tiny step back towards normal, but some have been doing very well out of the collapsing banks and credit crunch and still are. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair – above
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Pensioners: ignore them at our peril
THE fact that two million pensioner households remain in poverty is a national disgrace. It is something we should all be ashamed of and something that we should all pledge ourselves to do something about. We should do that not only because it
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Joined apart
WHEN George Appleby asked why – if flying was so safe – airports are called terminals (HAS, Jan 23) I was reminded of something similar from my boyhood. While taking a summer stroll in the Forties a family friend asked me: “What keeps building
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Local jobs
ANY claims that the Liberal Democrats make to support local jobs go out of the window when you inspect their recent round of election leaflets and letters. They have been using printers in Sheffield and London rather than here in the North-East
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Muslim extremism
COLUMNIST Peter Mullen had the courage to mention the unmentionable about Muslim fundamentalism and two insidious and overtly racist organisations lurking within the ranks of the police force (Echo, Jan 26). Sooner or later the issues Mr Mullen
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Politics
WE have been going through what some consider to be a hard time (recession, winter conditions) with most of us bemoaning our lot. This is as nothing when we witness the horrific scenes emerging from Haiti. TV pictures show people living in indescribable
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Care homes
THE challenge to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of 102-year-old dementia sufferer Sarah Rutter (Echo, Jan 22) is just about right and not before time. Lawyers will claim Stockton Borough Council breached Mrs Rutter’s human rights
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Crime
GRAHAME Morris makes an interesting observation (HAS, Jan 25) relating to crime. He comments on how it has fallen by an “amazing 39 per cent in Seaham, County Durham”. I would argue that crime across the country has not fallen. It is the reporting
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Alchohol problems
AMATEUR dramatic societies have become more rare. Local choir membership seems to start at 50 years of age. Rambling, cycling and youth clubs are scarce on the ground. What are young people to do for social activities these days? For many, the
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We want answers, Mr Blair
Tony Blair appears before the Iraq Inquiry today to explain why he went to war in 2003, to rescue his reputation, and to reassure the County Durham voters who put their faith in him as their MP. Chris Lloyd gives Sir John Chilcot the questions
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Judgement day for Blair
IT is natural for the leader of any organisation – no matter how big or small – to worry about their legacy. How will they be viewed in years to come? Tony Blair’s legacy was important to him and it is easy to forget that, during his ten years
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Take Tat to party down at Newbury
TATANIANO can book his ticket for the Cheltenham Festival with victory in the MC Seafoods Novices’ Chase at Newbury. The six-year-old is already prominent in the Arkle market after a superb start to his chasing career. A classy performer in
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Regan confident Shahzad will play role
YORKSHIRE chief executive Stewart Regan has dampened fears Ajmal Shahzad’s England call-up will affect his county commitments. The club’s latest international star has been selected for the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh after a superb County
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Robson into last four
ENGLISH teenager Laura Robson stormed into the semi-finals of the Australian Open girls’ championships with a comfortable 6-1 6-0 victory over Ester Goldfeld yesterday. Robson, who turned 16 last week, took just 43 minutes to progress
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Inspired Murray books his final spot
ANDY MURRAY believes he is in the form of his life after he booked his place in the final of the Australian Open with a four-set win over Marin Cilic. The fifth-seeded Scot, inspired by a match-turning flash of inspiration in the second set
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Serena aiming to spoil fairytale
WORLD number one Serena Williams will need to end the fairytale return of Justine Henin if she is to successfully defend her Australian Open title after they reached the final with contrasting wins yesterday. Williams, who is bidding to win her
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Alonso happy to talk down his title hopes
FERNANDO ALONSO may be pocketing an eye-popping £20m a year to drive for Ferrari, but the double world champion has refused to bet even one euro on himself adding a third title this year. Alonso’s caution, on the day Ferrari unveiled their new
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Andy Murray - fully-fledged British sporting icon
WE’VE been here once before of course, but this time it feels very different. When Andy Murray walks onto the court for Sunday’s Australian Open final, which – and some of you will be able to confirm this depending on when you’re doing your
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Hull City
Manager Phil Brown has discussed a new contract with Stephen Hunt in an attempt to stave off persistent interest from Wolves. The Republic of Ireland winger, who joined the Tigers on a four-year deal last summer, has been the subject of three
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Egypt 4 Algeria 0
Egypt 4 Algeria 0 DEFENDING champions Egypt easily made it into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations as eight-man Algeria bowed out in ignominious fashion. The game was evenly poised until Rafik Halliche felled Emad Moteab in the box eight
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Richardson hopeful Whelan can still play his part
NOEL WHELAN was said to be devastated after his fourmonth wait for first team football lasted less than two minutes of Tuesday’s defeat to Northampton Town. But Darlington assistant boss Kevin Richardson has confirmed that the striker who suffered
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Wigan prepared to repel all interest in Figueroa
SUNDERLAND have been told to forget about signing Maynor Figueroa this month after Roberto Martinez labelled the bids Wigan have received as “insulting”. Black Cats boss Steve Bruce has been keen to raid his former club for the Honduran this
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Magpies chasing Moses
NEWCASTLE UNITED are ready to compete with their two main Championship promotion rivals for the services of Crystal Palace teenager Victor Moses, writes PAUL FRASER. Both West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest have already made offers for
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Routledge keen to settle on Tyneside
WAYNE ROUTLEDGE might have joined the eighth club of his relatively short career, but he is now ready for continuity after outlining a desire to stay with Newcastle United for the long haul. Routledge was amazed by the reception he received from
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Robinho seals City exit
MANCHESTER CITY have bid farewell to Robinho, knowing it is almost certain their record signing will never return to Eastlands. In a short statement on the official club website, City effectively declared their ambitious £32.5m investment in
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Johnson keen on City talks
GORDON STRACHAN has told Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson he wants Adam Johnson to stay for the remainder of the season, despite learning the winger wants to talk over a possible move to Manchester City. And while trying to fend off the attentions
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Move to save ‘last of its kind’ plane
AIRCRAFT enthusiasts are hoping to raise £30,000 in a bid to save an historic North-East jet aircraft which is the last of its kind. Campaigners from the Save the Trident group are hoping to restore a Hawker Siddeley HS121 Trident. The group
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Winning snapshot of Army life
A NORTH-EAST soldier has been named professional photographer of the year in an Army photographic competition. Sergeant Ian Forsyth, from Saltburn, east Cleveland, received the main award, and £600 prize money, for his portfolio of eight photographs
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Fund aims to boost skills of workforce
EMPLOYERS in the North-East will be supported by £8m to help improve the skills of their workforces as they emerge from recession. The funding, from the European Social Fund through the Train to Gain service, is aimed at helping people in work
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Cleaning business launches franchise
A YOUNG entrepreneur who won the backing of Duncan Bannatyne on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, is to franchise his industrial cleaning business. UK Commercial Cleaning Services (UKCC), which founder Tony Earnshaw grew from a window cleaning round
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Expert calls for store card control
A LEADING North-East insolvency expert has called for a ban on shop staff offering store cards to customers. Linda Farish, incoming chairwoman of the North- East arm of insolvency trade organisation R3 and director of Recovery and Insolvency
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Funding offered to develop Apple iPad in North-East
DIGITAL technology firms in the North-East are being offered funding to develop applications for the new Apple iPad. Yesterday’s announcement by regional screen agency Northern Film and Media (NFM) that it was launching a dedicated fund, came
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Bacon butties raise aid for Haiti
COUNTY Durham farm shops involved in a campaign to highlight farm food businesses will be using sales tomorrow to raise money for Haiti. Bradley Burn Farm Shop, near Wolsingham, and Broom House Farm, near Witton Gilbert, will be using sales
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Arriva confirms talks with French company
TALKS about buying a large stake in a major French bus and rail company, potentially creating a European transport giant, have been held by North-East-based Arriva. The Sunderland-based transport group confirmed yesterday that it had held preliminary
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£36,000 heritage grant to protect hall’s rare Tudor wall paintings
RARE Tudor wall paintings discovered in the one-time home of one of England’s great writers are to be saved for future generations, along with the fabric of the house. English Heritage has pledged £36,000 to help keep rainwater from damaging
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Lib Dems suspended for insensitive action
TWO parish councillors have been suspended for three months after breaching a national code of conduct for their behaviour towards a parish clerk. Ian Fawcett and Colin Clark were found to have broken the guidelines with their repeated questioning
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First with ‘no-lose’ bid for shirt deal
A TIMBER and builders merchant has become the first company to enter a competition giving the chance to be Darlington FC’s next shirt sponsor. Joseph Parr Limited, a Middlesbrough-based company, has signed up to Business Backing Darlington
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New bridge over the River Rye
VISITORS to a National Trust property this spring will be among the first to use a new bridge connecting the historic hall to its car parks. The bridge, which has been a year in the planning, was hoisted into place at Nunnington Hall, near
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Landlords facing crackdown to stop the spread of ‘ghettos’
THE Government has pledged to crack down on bad landlords, giving councils powers to stop them creating ghettos in the region’s towns and cities. Housing and Planning Minister John Healey announced new powers requiring landlords to seek planning
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Maggie brews up cancer cash
A WIDOW who has lost two husbands to cancer has helped raised £500 in their memory. Maggie Winship’s first husband, Tom Cordner, died of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1976, aged 37. The couple had been married 17 years. Mr Cordner, a journalist
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Dawn farewell to their hero
HUNDREDS of people gathered at dawn yesterday to pay their respects to a soldier killed in a suspected friendly fire incident in Afghanistan. The hearse bearing the coffin of Lance Corporal Christopher Roney arrived at Holy Trinity Church,
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Question Time for Blair
It's a huge day for us today. Tony Blair, former MP for Sedgefield, faces six hours of questioning before the Iraq war inquiry. It is unprecedented for a British prime minister to face such a public examination for taking the country
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Online shopping trend blamed for call centre axe
NINE HUNDRED North-East call centre workers are facing redundancy because of the growing popularity of websites, it was claimed yesterday. Littlewoods owner The Shop Direct Group announced yesterday it was planning to shut its Sunderland call
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Brown sets Afghanistan deadline
GORDON BROWN set a deadline of the middle of next year for “turning the tide” against the Taliban yesterday – suggesting that could be when British troops start coming home. The Prime Minister insisted the Nato campaign had to deliver swift
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Blair faces grilling over why Britain went to war
TONY BLAIR will be grilled on why he took Britain to war with Iraq when he makes his appearance before the inquiry into the conflict today. More than two-and-a-half years after leaving Downing Street, the former Prime Minister and MP for Sedgefield
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Family raises more money in memory of a ‘little angel’
A HOSPICE has been presented with more than £2,000 in memory of a girl who suffered from cerebral palsy. The family of Samantha Leah Tingle, who died in October last year after suffering a chest infection, last night presented Butterwick Children
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On board for city’s culture bid
SIBLINGS who serve on one of the biggest ships in the Royal Navy sailed back into their native North-East yesterday. Scott and Stephanie Gafney, from Barnard Castle, were on board HMS Bulwark when it docked in North Shields for a four-day stay
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Standing strong against closures
CAMPAIGNERS fighting the possible closure of councilrun care homes are planning a public show of strength. Brothers George and David Dutch, whose 93-year-old mother, Margaret, lives in Shafto House, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, have called
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Iraq Inquiry: Tony Blair
TONY Blair made his long-awaited appearance before the Iraq war inquiry today. The Northern Echo's website covered his appearance live with real time updates. The former MP for Sedgefield appeared before Sir John Chilcot in two sessions
