Archive
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Police reveal total of ten arrests in new inquiry into Blakelock murder
A TOTAL of 10 people have been arrested this year in connection with the murder of Pc Keith Blakelock, the Metropolitan Police revealed today ahead of a memorial service to mark the 25th anniversary of his killing. Pc Blakelock, originally from Sunderland
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Ex Horden players destroy their old club
Crook Town climbed into third place in the STL northern League second division with a comfortable 6-0 win over Horden at the Millfield last night. Both sides had good chances in the first half, with a header by ex Horden player Andy Appleby
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Campbell hits five in Benfield rout
Newcastle Benfield striker John Campbell became the first player in the league this season to score five in one game as he led Newcastle Benfield’s 7-0 rout over Esh Winning. Benfield were 4-0 up in the first 20 minutes, as Esh, with new manager Peter
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Changes to The Northern Echo
Feeling quite nervous because some major changes to The Northern Echo are introduced from tomorrow. Readers often don't like change. I remember the initial reaction from traditional readers to the paper going tabloid but it quickly proved to
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A striking reason for buying another paper
There's nothing like bearing a grudge... I'm just going through the latest batch of market research questionnaires, telling me what people like and don't like about the paper. In answer to the question "Why don't you buy The Northern Echo?" one man
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Prime Minister's praise for Tory activist, 96, who founded North Yorks school
A 96-year-old Tory activist who founded a stunning North Yorkshire school was hailed as a hero by the prime minister, during his conference speech. Harry Beckhough - who joined the party in 1929, yet campaigned on a Wiltshire 'battlebus' for the May
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North-East fraudster cheated casinos
A NORTH-EAST fraudster who targeted casinos admitted a series of cheating and fraud offences today, police said. Iranian-born Bahram Sahami, 37, cheated at American roulette by adding or removing chips from the table after the ball had dropped or by
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Charity Event in aid Cancer Research…
I don’t often publicize events outside of Cockfield but I feel that this case is an exception. Jean Peairs was an Evenwood lass who sadly passed away in June through cancer aged 65. She was not only a popular figure in her home village but
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Woman's gunshot death is not suspicious, say police
POLICE tonight confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a young woman from a gunshot wound. The 26-year-old from the historic market town of Middleham, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, died on Tuesday night. It is understood
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Freshers' Week
I was watching an article on the news last night regarding Freshers' Week and how Universities in the North East are trying to combat high alcohol intake by new students. This is becoming an increasingly difficult problem, as young people experience
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New contract for thousands of council tenants
PLANS to introduce a single tenancy agreement for thousands of council householders have been given the go-ahead. Durham County Council’s cabinet backed plans to adopt a centralised contract for tenants of East Durham Homes, Dale and Valley Homes and
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Charity seeks volunteers to help with collections
A CHARITY is appealing for volunteers to help it raise funds by taking part in collections around the county. Macmillan Cancer Support is at Tesco, on Station Road, Thirsk, on Friday, 15, and Saturday, 16, October. They are particularly in need of helpers
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Bridge failure could have been manufacturing flaw
A BRIDGE failure which left a town cut in two earlier this year could have been caused by a manufacturing flaw. The resort of Whitby was effectively cut in half when the swing bridge across the Esk estuary became stuck in the open position during the
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New leader for cancer charity
A NEW face is to take over the reins of a one of the region’s leading charities. Professor Anthony Robards, director and former chairman of York Science Park, has become the new chairman of Yorkshire Cancer Research. His stated aim is to attempt to
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Couple’s plea to insurers after lifeline is stolen
A COUPLE who had their car stolen after they left the key inside have pleaded with their insurance company to show compassion after they were denied a payout. Rose and Chris Wilkin, from Brompton-on-Swale, near Richmond, North Yorkshire, left
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£10m health centre facility
A HEALTH centre worth £10m is to be built. The facility will be in the centre of Seaham and will occupy the site of the former magistrate's court in Viceroy Street. The facility will offer a full range of primary healthcare facilities to include
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New rules for sex club applications
STRIP clubs wishing to open in Darlington will be subject to new licencing rules. Darlington Borough Council has approved proposals to deal with each venue on its own merits, rather than laying down set limits and restrictions across the board.
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Plan to give the Denes new life
NEW life would be breathed into parks in Darlington under proposals submitted to the borough's planning department. Work on a £878,000 project to revamp the six Denes, which run along the Cocker Beck through Darlington, could be under way early next
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Land row threatens cash won for viaduct in TV vote
HALF-A-MILLION pounds of Lottery cash secured following a TV vote could be lost to the region amid an entrenched legal wrangle. Transport charity Sustrans won £500,000 towards reopening Durham’s spectacular Belmont Viaduct as a cycleway and footpath
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Works canteen gets the eco treatment
A CAFE has opened at a green business park, following a major refurbishment programme. Canteen will be run by catering company Alexander MacMurray, at Lingfield Point, in Darlington. It follows a £20,000 refurbishment of Lingfield’s former cafe
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Brighter outlook for N-E business
RESEARCH suggests the climate for North-East businesses is improving, and reports a drop in insolvencies. PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PWC) latest analysis into corporate insolvency shows that 103 companies became insolvent in the third quarter of
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Apprentice stars in Sri Lankan show
SIR Alan Sugar’s belligerent boardroom manner returns to the nation’s television screens tonight, but a young North Yorkshire entrepreneur recently came face-to-face with the businessman who arguably boasts an even more fearsome reputation than
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Dull, but never boring
FOREVER disoriented, recent columns have been exploring curious place names. What of Deaf Hill, asks Brian Mulligan in Sedgefield – always a blind spot, Deaf Hill, none has satisfactorily explained it – what of Six Mile Bottom, asks Tony Hillman
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Police investigate Middleham shooting
POLICE are continuing to investigate the death of a woman after a shooting incident. Police and paramedics were called to a house in Middleham, near Leyburn, North Yorkshire, at about 10.30pm last night. The body of a 26-year-old woman
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Worker crushed in buildimg site accident
A WORKMAN is critically-ill in hospital after being crushed by machinery on a building site. The 22-year-old was left fighting for his life after an accident with an excavator on the site of a new Waitrose superstore on Foss Islands Road in York. He
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Honour for Dragon's Den star
ONE of TV’s all-powerful financial dragons is to be honoured by one of the region’s seats of learning. Dragon’s Den star James Caan is to become an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration at York St John University. His is one of three honorary degrees
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Brian Walker: Stockton FA under 18s, 1956-57
BRIAN WALKER is seeking a photograph of the under 18 side he played in during the 1956-57 season. They were the Stockton Junior FA side, and also included G.D. Merrifield, T Garbutt, R Cuchley, H Chapman, D Helyer, J Hague, D.T. Hawke, J Cockerill
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Cameron’s voice of the North
THE Prime Minister was so keen to hear the commonsense views of the man he’s called a “vociferous and outspoken” North-East business leader, he has appointed him as a Government advisor. John Wright, former national chairman of the Federation
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A bar for all Seasons
SEASONS Bar, in Post House Wynd, in Darlington, opens its doors at 8.30am tomorrow. Business partners Ian Woodcock and Jane Gallogly, who run a cafe bar at The Station, in Richmond, have launched the informal venue which will serve food from
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Market report
LONDON’S blue chip share index steamed 1.4 per cent ahead yesterday, thanks to a boost from cheery news on the world’s biggest economy. Better-than-expected service sector survey data in the US sent stocks surging worldwide, adding to investor
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Pub quizzes
I WONDER if your readers can help with the research for a television comedy drama I have been commissioned to write about pub quizzes. From experience I know that competing in these matches has now gone far beyond a little fun. Winning – even
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Pledge plea
I’D like to ask readers of The Northern Echo for help. I first learnt about Parkinson’s disease as a child, from my doctor father, but it wasn’t until my much-loved brother-in-law was diagnosed about seven years ago that I saw for myself the
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Austerity measures
ALTHOUGH the Government’s public spending plans have yet to be announced speculation is rife and I think much of the recent commentary is accurate. We have to make savings, but it is the level or severity of the cuts that is worrying. If we look
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Concern unfounded
THE Pope’s concerns about what he calls “aggressive forms of secularism” are unfounded. Certainly, there are many atheists who think that the world would be a much better, safer and more peaceful place without religion; but most would agree that
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Electric cars
NONE of the claimed distances achieved by electric vehicles ever state if they were recorded while using heaters, lights, or devices such as air conditioning – essentials in today’s world. The life of batteries is limited and no mention of the
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European Union
IMAGINE yourself, an MEP, sitting in the EU Parliament among other Europeans whose political philosophy is deemed to be roughly the equivalent of your own. You are all clutching identical instructions telling you when to vote for or against new
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North-East LEP
IN the face of the coalition Government’s intention to do without all regional institutions there has been a desire in business, local government and your editorials to retain what was best here, including the One North East regional development
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Why the EU will never be a target
ONE prediction can be safely made about our coalition Government. Whenever it ends, Britain will still be in the European Union. Despite strong scepticism about it from the Tories before the General Election, the EU is very much on the
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A flawed proposal
IT is right that tough decisions have to be taken to tackle the deficit and it is right that we all have to make a contribution to filling that enormous black hole. But there is a glaring flaw in the coalition’s plan to cut child benefit that simply
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The state of Teesside
A recent BBC survey named Middlesbrough as the worst place to live in Britain. Dani Webb talks to a former Teesside planner about what the future holds for the area. "TEESSIDE is ready for the 21st Century, but we’re just being kept at the
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Impressive Jaaryah
MICHAEL Jarvis is still knocking in the winners as the flat season reaches its conclusion and Jaaryah can augment the statistics with victory at Kempton today. The once-raced daughter of Halling made quite an impression when winning on her
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Makfi retired to stud
MAKFI, this year’s 2,000 Guineas hero, has been retired to stud after suffering a bout of ringworm. The Mikel Delzangles-trained three-year- old was a hugely impressive winner of the Newmarket Classic in May, and enjoyed further Group One glory
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Chester-le-Street women dominate in road relay race
CHESTER-LE-STREET underlined their great strength in depth by winning the North of England women’s four-stage road relay championship for a fifth year in succession at Manchester. The Cestrians lost the services of three established veterans
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Olazabal keen on cup role
JOSE Maria Olazabal insists he would love to captain Europe in the 2012 Ryder Cup, health permitting. The 44-year-old, who was one of the vice-captains in the victorious effort at Celtic Manor over the last few days, has been named as outgoing
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Saunders makes an instant impact
BRADLEY Saunders made an impressive start to life in Delhi as he beat Grenada’s Dominic Boatswain in just 48 seconds. After a chaotic opening to the boxing competition, which included catastrophic organisation during the weigh-in, Sedgefield-born
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‘Time to switch off and reflect on glory’
COLIN Montgomerie yesterday relished an opportunity to start assessing the magnitude of his achievement as a winning Ryder Cup captain – a six-hour drive home. Montgomerie was in no particular rush to leave the Celtic Manor Resort, scene of
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Pensioner dies after accident with cyclist
A pensioner has died following an accident involving a cyclist near a primary school. Police are seeking witnesses to the incident in which the un-named 71-year-old suffered head injuries as he crossed Station Road in Ampleforth, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire
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Turner upbeat over Black Cats results
MICHAEL Turner claims Sunderland’s players have drawn considerable confidence from their unbeaten run against three of the Premier League’s established big four. The Black Cats’ last three league games have pitted them against Arsenal, Liverpool
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Rushden and Diamonds 2 Darlington 1
Danny Powell’s first goal for the club had put Darlington ahead but their run of poor form continued as Rushden fought back and were full value for their victory. Manager Mark Cooper could not hide his frustration and even said that had
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Hartlepool United 1 Bradford City 0
His goal against Bradford City in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy may not have been anywhere near as spectacular as his strike at Home Park at the weekend, but it was just as important. Pools don’t win many games at home; they can do it in
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Break is ideal for injured O'Neil
GARY O’Neil feels the current international break has come at the perfect time to help kick-start his season. The Middlesbrough skipper has struggled to complete a full training schedule in the last two months as a combination of knee and thigh
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Magpies call on FA to punish City's de Jong
NEWCASTLE have written a "strongly-worded letter" to the Football Association criticising the tackle from Nigel de Jong that left Hatem Ben Arfa nursing a double break to his left leg. Ben Arfa underwent surgery in Manchester on Monday and
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I’ll continue web tribute to my friend Sir Norman
A NORTH-EAST man who runs one of the most popular Norman Wisdom websites on the internet is to continue his work following the comedian’s recent death. Mark Kipling, of Barnard Castle, set up normanwisdom. co.uk four years ago and, in doing so
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Putting the tea in Teesside
A NORTH-EAST firm renowned for its beverages has struck a tenyear deal that will see tea imported through Teesport. Taylors of Harrogate has awarded PD Ports, in Middlesbrough, the contract to handle all its tea and coffee, creating about 20 jobs
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Climbing skills will take him fir
IF the route to success is a greasy pole, then life should hold no fear for Richard Batson. E i g h t e e n - y e a r - o l d Richard is celebrating after finishing second in the 2010 World Pole Climbing Championships. The teenager scaled an
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Tourist groups win accolades at awards
TOURIST attractions are celebrating after winning accolades at a competition to promote tourism. Nine of this year’s annual White Rose Awards, run by the Welcome to Yorkshire tourism group, went to venues in the North Yorkshire area. Tourism
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Marriage tax break plan to be revived
DAVID CAMERON will today revive plans for tax breaks to reward marriage to try to calm Conservative anger over child benefit cuts for 1.2 million better-off families. In his close-of-conference speech, the Prime Minister will offer up one of
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Row erupts as bookie rejects £4,300 win
A BOOKMAKER is investigating after a gambler was refused his £4,300 winnings because his betting slip was unreadable. Gavin Boland, 31, placed two £150 bets on greyhound races at Coral, in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, on Friday. Mr Boland
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Business forum accused of being ‘fifth columnist’
AN acrimonious row has broken out over the economic future of the Tees Valley. Ray Mallon, Mayor of Middlesbrough has hit out at the Northern Business Forum (NBF) claiming it has “reneged” on its support for a Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership
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Museum to apply for world icon designation
THE list of cultural and natural icons granted World Heritage status is a long and impressive one. Among the 911 entries are Sydney Opera House, the Acropolis in Athens, Durham Castle and Cathedral, Venice, Mont Saint-Michel, in France, Moscow
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Killed by indoor barbecue fumes
A MAN accidentally gassed himself while trying to cook on a barbecue, an inquest heard yesterday. Richard Longstaff, 62, described as an “experimental” cook, was found slumped in a deckchair behind his kitchen door after worried neighbours
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Row over prank ‘led to murder’
A MAN died after being stabbed by his neighbour when a petty row about a practical joke erupted into violence, a court was told yesterday. Someone had put a “for sale” sign in the garden of James Thornley’s home in Chilton, County Durham, and
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‘Internet safety to be put back years’ by move
A MOVE to end the independence of an agency tasked with combating online paedophiles was last night criticised by victims’ families. The family of murdered Darlington teenager Ashleigh Hall joined the parents of missing Madeleine McCann and
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First game in charge for Mulcaster
Esh Winning manager Peter Mulcaster takes charge of his first game tonight when he takes his new side to Newcastle Benfield in the STL First Division. Esh are rock bottom of the table, and previous manager Adam Furness paid the price for the team’s
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Finer food to dog food
Well I have to say since my last blog It’s definitely been a roller coaster ride, just when you think things are starting to turn around they come crashing down again. Friday 1st October will be a night that I remember for the rest of my life. We
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Man charged over bar death
A MAN will appear in court charged with manslaughter this morning over an incident outside a Newcastle city centre bar. A 37-year-old man suffered serious head injuries when he was assaulted outside Sgt Peppers, in Vine Lane, late on Friday, and died
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Village collision leaves pensioner and cyclist seriously hurt
A PENSIONER and a cyclist have been seriously injured in a collision in a North Yorkshire village. Police said a 72-year-old local man was crossing Station Road in Ampleforth, near Helmsley, at 4.30pm yesterday when he collided with a cycle being ridden