Archive
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The future's uncertain as Tories and Labour woo Lib Dems
BRITAIN was today plunged into uncertainty over its future government, as both Labour and the Conservatives competed for the support of the Liberal Democrats to form an administration. Nick Clegg today held talks with David Cameron on the Tory
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Live Music at Cockfield Club…
‘The Clair Marshall Experience’ is appearing live on stage at Cockfield club on Saturday 8th May; 7-30 till late. Cockfield club is certainly 'on the up’ these days but your continued support is needed to make sure of it’s future. I
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Best of a bad job
So this is where we've landed in the wake of one of the craziest general elections in memory... The people of Britain have rejected Gordon Brown as their Prime Minister - but they don't really fancy David Cameron either. And the temptation to take a
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Kia Sorento CRDI 2.2 KX-3
Price, as tested, £29,795 TO some people buying a Kia might seem like the motoring equivalent of purchasing own brand goods at the supermarket. But while that might have been true a few years ago, it certainly isn't the case these days.
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Clegg the kingmaker
NICK Clegg was facing a momentous decision after opening talks that could see him anoint David Cameron as prime minister within days - perhaps in a formal coalition. The Liberal Democrat leader spoke to his Conservative counterpart by telephone for
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Sedgefield Constituency MP Election
Phil Wilson Labour’s sitting MP held on to his Sedgefield Constituency seat with 18,141 votes. Labour achieved 45% of the vote while the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats achieved 23% and 20% of the vote. Other candidates pooled 15% of the vote.
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Ferryhill Post Office Relocation
One of the oldest established post offices in Ferryhill will finally close its doors to business on Tuesday, May 4th. The West End Post Office in Parker Terrace will relocate to the former Spendwise shop in the town centre. The new branch opens on
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Durham Diary
WHILE Durham University deserve every sympathy after losing five of their nine scheduled days of first-class cricket this season, their promotion to this status is increasingly difficult to justify. The question of the provision of overnight security
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For emergencies only
A certain mobile phone company whose name I won't mention, that starts with a "V" and ends with an "e" has set a new record for highway robbery this week. Pity the poor man who only needs a mobile "for emergencies" and who doesn't want to be bothered
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Bishop Auckland getting ready to Bloom
A TOWN council is urging people with attractive gardens and window boxes to compete for prizes in July. The Bishop Auckland in Bloom contest is open to all residents and businesses in the town centre and the Henknowle, Woodhouse Close and Cockton Hill
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Cockton Hill road to reopen
A MAIN road through the centre of Bishop Auckland is reopening on Saturday after a lengthy closure. Cockton Hill Road has been shut since March 29 while engineers rebuilt and resurfaced the railway bridge over the Darlington to Bishop Auckland line.
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Busy year for CAB
THE recession has sparked a rise in calls to advice workers in south Durham. Wear Valley Citizens Advice Bureau, in Bishop Auckland, dealt with 15 per cent more enquiries over the past year, mainly relating to financial advice, welfare benefits and employment
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Busy year for CAB
THE recession has sparked a rise in calls to advice workers in south Durham. Wear Valley Citizens Advice Bureau, in Bishop Auckland, dealt with 15 per cent more enquiries over the past year, mainly relating to financial advice, welfare benefits and
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Peat bog project beat winter freeze
CONSERVATIONISTS beat this year’s winter freeze to finish a major restoration project. The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership has completed a third year of moorland drain restoration carried out through its Peatscapes project
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New look for school
A PRIMARY school's new look has been given the thumbs up by its pupils. Children from Finchale Primary School, in Newton Hall, Durham City, put on their hard hats for a VIP tour of the £1.5m building that will re-open in time for the new academic year
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Frank is dale's driving force
A LONG serving police officer has proved he is still king of the road more than 30 years since he first passed the force driving test. PC Frank Hewison is the longest-serving operational officer in Durham to re-sit his driving assessment under a rolling
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5.50pm Election latest: Cameron and Clegg set for face-to-face talks as sterling takes a pounding
DAVID Cameron and Nick Clegg are set to hold face-to-face talks this evening in a bid to thrash out a deal that will sweep Gordon Brown from power. The move to hammer out a deal came as markets wiped billions off British shares which slumped
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Locals stumped over mystery of vanishing ducks
MYSTERY surrounds the sudden disappearance of a large number of ducks which caused concern recently over their aggressive mating. Locals in Thirsk are confused as to where the wild birds, which wander free just off the town centre, have gone. At this
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Pit art show returns
AN EXHIBITION exploring the region’s mining history has returned to a Durham library. The Pit Art exhibition, by North-East artist Ron Gray, was at Clayport Library, in Millennium Place, Durham, in December. It has now returned by popular demand. Mr
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Chinese lanterns: Danger warning
AS the wedding season gets in full swing calls are being made for tighter controls - and even a possible ban - on the construction and use of Chinese lanterns. The wire framed lanterns – which lift into the air with a lighted candle inside them – have
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Agent wins top award
A LETTING agent has been named the best in the North-East by its customers. Munro Estates, based in Belmont, Durham, won a gold prize in the prestigious Estas awards for its customer service during 2009. The prize was announced by Phil Spencer, presenter
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Firearms scare at home of Newcastle Falcons
POLICE today appealed for information from witnesses after an election-night firearms scare at the home of the North-East's leading rugby club. A report was received that a youth had entered Newcastle Falcons' Kingston Park clubhouse carrying what was
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Generator stolen
THIEVES stole a generator from a bus parked in a garage compound at Fishburn. Police have appealed for information about the theft which happened between 6pm on Wednesday and 12noon on Thursday at Grierson’s Coaches in Sedgefield Road. Gallons of
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Pools launch appeal after points deduction
HARTLEPOOL United have confirmed this afternoon they have lodged an official appeal after being docked three points by the Football League. Pools, who now need to win at Brentford on Saturday to make sure they avoid relegation, are furious after
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Flats refusal is greeted by cheers
NEIGHBOURS to a proposed apartment block in a conservation area cheered a decision by councillors to refuse the application. Members of Darlington Borough Council's planning committee overturned their own officer's recommendation to allow the application
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2010 North-East results: some thoughts
I CAN'T work out what's happening nationally, so I've spent the morning going through the North-East seats in this extraordinary inconclusive and patchwork election: Bishop Auckland Not as large a swing away from Labour as elsewhere in the
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Locals object to plans to make horror movie in Thirsk
LOCALS fear plans to film a £100,000 horror movie about inbred locals in a market town will lead viewers to think it is based on fact. Film crews hope to begin shooting in and around Thirsk from July on the movie Inbred but so far they have not received
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Durham Uni v Durham
STEVE Harmison was denied the chance of further match practice after vandals slashed the covers at the Durham University ground. After the second day was washed out it was expected that play could have begun on time on the third and final day
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Election 2010
6.49 am. May 6th. There’s a bang on my bedroom door. I wake up startled to the sound of my dad asking me to run to the polling station with him. His aim, like last year, was to be the first voter in the area. I donned my sports gear and we began to jog
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When pets are left behind
WHEN Bess Parker was forced to flee her home because of domestic violence, she left behind her relatives and friends, as well as her two closest companions – mother and daughter terriers Twilight and Bright Eyes. With bruises on her arms, death
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Clegg: "Party with most seats has first right to seek to govern"
LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg said today the party with the most seats had the first right to seek form a government so the Tories should now prove they are capable of seeking to govern in the national interest. He said: "I have said that whichever
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High flyer
Pigeon racing might not seem the natural choice of hobby for a young woman, but Katie Awdas is proving the sceptics wrong. She talks to Ian Noble. THINK of pigeon racing and the image which springs to most people’s minds is a Northern chap
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Foals, Newcastle University
OXFORD five-piece Foals exploded onto the stage and the sound of Eighties pop beats filled the air. They combine rhythmic Casio guitars, pulsing synth, aching vocal melodies and echoing drum beats to create tense dance-pop with a real air of
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Some you win. . .
SPRING has shown its face at last, which means it’s the key season to rewrite your budget. April was the big price-change month for the NHS, local authorities, utility firms and more. The current raft of movements is a bit perverse. Normally
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Glen Campbell, The Sage, Gateshead
VINTAGE stuff this from country and western legend Glen Campbell, with a lot of help from his family and friends. Now 74, the US star made his debut at The Sage to a near-capacity audience of about 1,700, nearly halfway through his 15th tour
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Bedale and Seaton Carew girls shine
THREE North-East golfers claimed top 12 places in the EWGA North regional medal final this week. Bedale's Terri Williamson ended tied for second at Crompton & Royton, finishing seven shots shy of winner Neeve Fisher (Hebden Bridge) after posting
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Xenophodia
AS an EU national living and working in the North-East I am mortified by the xenophobia of such a huge number of British people which accumulated during the General Election campaign. Do you really wish British citizens living and working abroad
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Xtraordinary week
MAY 17 to 23 has been designated as Xtraordinary Week, which aims to raise awareness and focus on the strengths and talents of dyslexic children everywhere. To coincide with the event I have written a free and simple fact sheet which provides
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Play kicks off
SUNDAY will see another football season wrapped up with mixed fortunes for the North-East’s teams. But now is the time for fans eagerly awaiting the start of the World Cup to whet their appetites for success by watching the comedy, Alf Ramsey
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Why it was so hard to decide
THE reason so many people were undecided about who to vote for in the General Election right up to polling day is simple. The main parties had not dared to tell the truth about public spending cuts and our enormous multi-billion yearly trade
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A kind of living
How To Live A Simple Life (BBC2, 9pm); E20 (BBC3, 8.30pm); Shanties and Sea Songs With Gareth Malone (BBC4, 9pm) HAVE the day-to-day realities of getting by in the modern world led us to abandon something fundamental in the way we live our
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Unusual birth dates
RE your letter about the above subject (HAS, May 5). I was born on 4/7/47 which I feel fits the category of unusual. I wonder how many more are out there? Keith Rowland, Darlington.
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SSAFA help
LAST year, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) Forces Help assisted more than 500 people across County Durham. The branch’s trained volunteers are an integral part of one of Britain’s oldest national military charities
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Fair play
SOME workers cannot leave their work station, not even for a toilet break, without permission. Even then, a time limit is imposed. Such workers are often lowly paid and may be “fined” if too many breaks are taken. You may know such a worker, and
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Isreal
DAVID Lacey’s recent letters (HAS, April 28 and May 5) have sought to justify Israel’s Operation Cast Lead attack, and its continuing stranglehold on Gaza, on the grounds of Gaza’s “endless rocket fire” into Israel. Hamas in the past has, indeed
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’Nuff XXXs saved for Cameron
THIS column has been an election-free zone for the past few weeks. But, today of all days, that’s changing. As I write these words, people are still going to the polls. When you read them, the election may still be in the balance. But I am going
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That’s Life
The International Centre for Life in Newcastle opened ten years ago. Health Editor Barry Nelson talks to chief executive Linda Conlon about the centre’s first decade. "HOW much do I have to pay you for a cloned liver?” That was the question
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No time for dithering
AS the outcome of the General Election hung in the balance last night, the size of the challenge awaiting the new Government was becoming frightening clear. It was always the case that whoever ended up in power would face some of the biggest
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Delight for Dods as he rakes in huge double
MICHAEL Dods enjoyed one of the biggest days of his training career as he celebrated a 194-1 double on the second day of Chester’s prestigious May meeting. The Piercebridge handler enjoyed a successful start to the afternoon as 13-2 shot Sweet
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Storm hoping for birthday forgiveness
GRAEME Storm will seek forgiveness for missing his daughter’s second birthday after claiming a share of the clubhouse lead in the rain-delayed Italian Open. Storm, from Hartlepool who plays out of Rockliffe Park near Darlington, carded an opening
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A welcome challenge
GIVEN the recent dominance of the ‘Big Four’, it is no surprise that Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Manchester City on Wednesday was greeted as a welcome challenge to the established order. For the first time in five years, someone other than
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Great relief - but the story goes on
We were flying by the seat of our pants so much that they are well and truly threadbare. But it's always a great relief to wake up after election night to see that the paper has got it right. The swings were so inconsistent as the night wore on that
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Patterson blasts Essex away to keep Tykes on top
YORKSHIRE captain Andrew Gale hailed Steve Patterson’s form after the seam bowler claimed six wickets yesterday to hand Yorkshire a thumping three-day County Championship win over Essex at Scarborough. The 26 year-old took four wickets in
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Champion Pietersen hails team-mates
KEVIN Pietersen’s man-of-the-match innings was lauded as ‘‘champion’’ and ‘‘exceptional’’ in the England and Pakistan camps – yet his own response was coy. Pietersen’s captain Paul Collingwood and Pakistan coach Waqar Younis both spoke in glowing
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Harmison to edge back into action
DURHAM will concentrate today on assessing the fitness of some of their most experienced players for the return to championship action at Trent Bridge on Monday. Following the washout of the second of three days against Durham University their
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Benitez and Reds content with talks
LIVERPOOL last night claimed the meeting between Rafael Benitez, chairman Martin Broughton and managing director Christian Purslow was ‘‘constructive and cordial’’. The Spaniard was hoping to be given an idea of what transfer budget is likely
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Tait sets his sights towards the top
IT is more than a decade since Alan Tait claimed a Premiership winners’ medal with Newcastle Falcons, but the club’s new head coach claims there is no reason why he cannot engineer another title triumph at Kingston Park. Tait was confirmed
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Magpies arrange friendly matches
NEWCASTLE will begin their preparations for next season’s Premier League return with pre-season trips to Carlisle United and Norwich City. Chris Hughton’s squad will return from their summer break to begin pre-season training on Thursday, July
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Halliday signs on at Boro
GORDON STRACHAN added to the growing Scottish contingent at Middlesbrough following last night’s capture of left winger Andy Halliday on a three-year contract. The boss hailed the 18-yearold as a potential bargain after agreeing a deal thought
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Why Hodcroft won’t take FA decision lightly
KEN Hodcroft has three stringent rules to abide by at Hartlepool United: Enjoy the work you are doing, don’t embarrass yourself or the club and don’t get relegated. The second of those ideals has been well and truly broken and there’s the
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Pools plunged into a battle
THE Football League could be set for a summer of chaos in the coming weeks after Hartlepool United were yesterday deduced three points, with the outcome of their season now riding on tomorrow’s game at Brentford. The club has not ruled out
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Bookmakers’ boss is a winner
THE manager of a bookies has proved she is a safe bet after winning a top award. William Hill shop manager Jane Noble has been crowned manager of the year at the Betview Awards, dubbed the betting industry’s Oscars. Mrs Noble, who manages
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Yorkon secures £10m contract at hospital
YORKON has been awarded a £10m hospital contract in one of its most complex projects to date. Kier Eastern has awarded the contract to the York-based Portakabin subsidiary, for the off-site construction of a building at Colchester General Hospital
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Five finalists named in entrepreneurial contest
THE five finalists of the If We Can, You Can entrepreneurial challenge were revealed last night, with one set to go on to receive a “money can’t buy” package of support to grow their business. Since its launch two months ago, If We Can
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German base for flueless fire firm
A COUNTY Durham fire manufacturer has opened its first showroom in Germany as part of its continued expansion, in a move which could bring new jobs to this region. CVO Fire has been approved for sale in the country after two years of testing
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Axed rail workers in fresh protest
WORKERS who lost their jobs following the collapse of a rail maintenance firm will stage the latest in a series of protests today as part of a campaign to win back their jobs. Former employees of Yorkbased Jarvis from across the UK will attend
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Jewellery company to open store in London
A NORTH-EAST jewellery company started by a motherand- daughter team is to open a store in London after national demand for its products. Lebeado, which only opened its first store in Durham City in 2007, is planning to open the store during
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Solid trading puts Arriva in the driving seat
NORTH-EAST Transport group Arriva made a solid start to the year as it prepares to be taken over by a German rival. At the Sunderland company’s annual meeting in Durham City yesterday, chairman Sir Richard Broadbent, said 2010 had begun well
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‘I’ve achieved all I wanted to in the force’
The leading detective in Cleveland Police will clear his desk today as he retires after 27 years with the force. Graeme Hetherington talked to Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite. AFTER starting out walking the beat on the streets of
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It’s back to the desk job after a drilling time
A competition to find Britain’s best tradesman came to the region this week. Among the entrants was The Northern Echo’s Jim Entwistle. I HAVE the sort of physique you would expect of an office worker. My skin is pale and my hands are
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Hotel fire body identification may take weeks
A BODY found in a landmark hotel which was seriously damaged by fire could take weeks to identify, police said yesterday. More than 130 guests and 25 staff were evacuated from the Majestic Hotel, in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Wednesday when
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Paedophile is facing lengthy prison term
A PERVERT who helped to run a worldwide paedophile network is facing a lengthy prison sentence after confessing to a string of crimes. Former serviceman Paul Hagan was yesterday described in court as “the administrator” for a website which
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Bird eggs obsession led to worldwide smuggling
A WILD bird eggs collector whose “obsession” saw him become an international smuggler was spared jail yesterday. Suspicion was raised over Andrew Seed’s activities when 5,800 emails relating to the location of birds’ nests and the trading of eggs
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Airline boss will face fraud charges
NIGERIAN entrepreneur Victor Bassey will appear in court next week to face fraud charges connected to the proposed launch of a North-East airline. The businessman was yesterday charged with fraudulent trading, possessing articles for use in
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Crunch leaves families in limbo
PEOPLE who expected to sell their homes for clearance and redevelopment have become the latest victims of the credit crunch, according to a council which says it can no longer afford to proceed with the plan. Nearly 200 homes in Chilton
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Woman dies in house inferno
INVESTIGATIONS are under way into a house fire that killed a North-East woman yesterday. The woman, named locally as Estelle Teesdale, who was 52, died in the fire at Scott Street, in Shildon, County Durham, which broke out just after 12.30pm
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Claudia force rejects ‘rude police’ attack
THE spokesman for the family of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has launched a stinging attack on the police – and called for fresh personnel to be involved in the case. He accused officers in the investigation of developing a “bunker mentality”
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Faces change but Doris’ vote is always the same
The Conservatives have been able to count on 102-year-old Doris Manning for her vote for more than 80 years and this time it is no different. Dani Webb went to meet her. WHEN the postal vote dropped through the letter box of Doris Manning’s Hartburn
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Jukebox provides fitting soundtrack for election
IN the Bishop Auckland constituency, a pub doubled as a polling station, with the jukebox providing a fitting soundtrack to proceedings. Europe’s The Final Countdown was playing yesterday as voters turned out to have their say at The Bridge
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There’s no place like home for clerk
A FORMER schoolhouse was called into service to act as a polling station for a North Yorkshire village. The Old Schoolhouse, in Great Langton, near Northallerton – the home of local polling clerk Linda Williams – was taken over as the best place
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Election 2010: The vote
Northern Echo reporters and photographers worked through the night to gather the results and reaction from counts across the region. Here, they reveal some of the winners and losers from the vote, and show how the North’s political map is shaping
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Kilgallon has no regrets over Sunderland move
SUNDERLAND defender Matt Kilgallon has labelled his spell in the first team wilderness as the toughest of his career, but insists he has no regrets about making the move to Wearside. The York-born centre-half admits its been a season of "mixed emotions
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Anger as queuing voters unable to have their say
HUNDREDS of people were unable to vote at polling stations last night because they were still queuing when the ballot boxes closed at 10pm. Voters in Hackney, east London, were turned away from one polling station after some had been forced
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Exit polls show no sign of Cleggmania
THROUGHOUT the campaign, politicians of all colours across the North-East reported that “something funny was going on” within the electorate that they couldn’t put their finger on. The exit poll and the first results last night proved them
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Clegg attacks election chaos
Thousands of people were denied the right to vote due to a higher than expected turn-out and poor organisation. Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg attacked the chaos that had effectively disenfranchised many voters. Last night, police had to be called
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Purcell to exit Quakers
Leading scorer Tadhg Purcell has turned down Darlingtons contract offer and will leave in the summer. The Irishmans current deal expires at the end of June and Quakers had offered him a contract to play in the Blue Square Premier next season
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Baird: TCP closure cost me my job
THE closure of the Corus Teesside Cast Products plant has delivered a fatal blow to Vera Baird’s hopes of holding onto her Redcar seat. Liberal Democrat Ian Swales swept to victory with a massive 6,000 vote majority - overturning
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Hague: the North-East is very important to the Tories
WILLIAM HAGUE, one of the Conservatives’ most senior politicians, was safely returned as an MP early this morning. The 49-year-old former party leader and shadow foreign secretary, effective second-in-command to would-be Prime Minister David
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Prime Minister arrives back in London
Gordon Brown has returned to London for talks with senior colleagues. He told journalists he was "enthusiastic" about electoral reform - a clear move to reach out to the Liberal Democrats. Mr Brown said he had done better than some people had predicted
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Labour lose Stockton South and Redcar
Labour's inability to do anything concrete to save thousands of steel job has cost it two seats in Stockton and Redcar. In Stockton South Dari Taylor found herself edged out by the Conservatives by just a few hundred votes.
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Hague boosts Richmond majority
William Hague has increased his majority in Richmond this morning. Results: William Hague (Cons) 33,541. Lawrence Meredith (Lib Dem) 10,205. Eileen Driver (Lab) 8,150. Leslie Rowe (Green) 1,516.
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Ireland's first minister is first casualty
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson sensationally lost his east Belfast seat today in the biggest political upset in the history of the region. Naomi Long’s stunning victory for the Alliance Party sent shockwaves through the country and
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Recount in Stockton North
DARI Taylor is facing the fight of her political life - as the battle for Stockton North goes down to the wire. The Labour stalwart has lost by 300 votes on the first count - and the ballot has now gone to a recount. Although Labour
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Frank Cook polls fewer than the BNP
FORMER Labour stalwart Frank Cook polled fewer votes than the British National Party in Stockton North. Mr Cook, who resigned from the Labour party to stand as an Independent, polled a mere 1,577 votes. The BNP candidate gained 1,724
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Labour hold Bishop Auckland
Helen Goodman (Labour) 15,023 (5,218 majority) Barbara Harrison (Conservative) 10,805 Mark Wilkes (Liberal Democrats) 9,189 Adam Walker (BNP) 2,036 Sam Zair (Local Liberals People Before Politics) 1,964 David Brothers (Ukip) 1,119
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Miliband holds South Shields
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Hung Parliament - Britain facing battle over who governs the country
BRITAIN is heading into uncharted waters this evening with both main parties vowing to form a new Government. With just a handful of results declared so far David Cameron's supporters have made it clear that they believe the Conservatives have
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Glass pledges to follow in her predecessor's footsteps
PAT Glass pledged to follow in Hilary Armstrong's footsteps after retaining the Durham North West seat for the Labour party. With Armstrong, a former Government chief whip, having retired after 23 years as an MP, Glass was elected with a reduced
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Labour hold Durham North West
LABOUR has held the Durham North West seat. Pat Glass polled 18,539 votes, to beat Liberal Democrat Owen Temple into second by more than 7,500 votes - he polled 10,972. Michelle Tempest was next for the Conservatives with 8,766
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Labour hold Sedgefield
LABOUR'S Phil Wilson has held on to Sedgefield polling 18,141 votes. Neil Mahapatra (Conservative) secured 9,445 votes, while Paul Gittins (Independent) received 1,049, Alan Thompson (Liberal Democrat) 8,033, Mark Walker (BNP) 2,075 and Brian
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Brown will try to hang on
GORDON Brown won't go quietly - even if he loses the election. The Labour leader will try to form a coalition government to keep Labour in power if there is a hung parliament, Downing Street sources confirmed tonight. The news came as
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Conservatives gain first seat from Labour with massive swing - constitutional battle looms
DAVID Cameron may be on course for a small overall majority after gaining the Kingswood seat from Labour with a swing of more than 9%. If that 9.4% swing were replicated nationwide the Tories would have a majority of between 20 and 30 seats
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Darlington - Labour hold
LABOUR have successfully fought off a strong Conservative challenge to hold Darlington. Retiring MP Alan Milburn will be replaced by his former assistant Jenny Chapman. However, there was a 9.1 per cent swing from Labour to the Tories
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Durham North - Labour hold
DEFENCE minister Kevan Jones has held the Durham North seat polling 20,698 votes. David Skelton (Cons) 8622 Ian Lindley (Lib Dem) 8617 Pete Molloy (BNP) 1686 Bruce Reid UKIP 1344
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Britain braced for election 'cliffhanger'
BRITAIN was braced for an election cliffhanger, as the Tories were forecast to be the largest party at Westminster - but fall short of an overall majority. A TV exit poll said the Conservatives would win 305 seats, Labour 255 and the Liberal Democrats
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Darlington result in 15 minutes - too close to call
The first count at Darlington is due in 15 minutes with Labour and Conservatives neck-and-neck.
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News from Redcar count - Lib Dems closing in
THERE appears to have been a huge swing from Labour to the Liberal Democrats in Redcar. News from the count suggests a swing of more than 20 per cent. Early indications in Redcar showed that Vera Baird should hold her seat but with a reduced