Archive
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3,000 homes in Darlington suffer power cut
MORE than 3,000 homes in Darlington were without power late last night after a fault on a section of cable. Power supplier NEDL said of the 3,013 properties affected, 2,480 had their power restored within three minutes. A further 343 were off for just
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North Yorkshire council leader defends Hitler fancy dress decision
THE leader of a North Yorkshire council has defended his decision to go to a fancy dress party dressed as Adolf Hitler. Mike Gardner, the leader of Harrogate Borough Council, was pictured giving a Nazi salute at a fancy dress party.
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High winds spell danger for coastal visitors, RNLI warns
VISITORS to the coast this weekend are being warned not to put their safety at risk. On Friday night, the RNLI at Redcar issued an urgent sea safety warning, with strong northerly winds expected to create very rough seas this weekend, particularly on
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Mum banned from welcoming late-night visitors
A SINGLE mother is fuming after she was labelled the neighbour from hell and banned from accepting night-time visitors. Helen Lawrence could be arrested if anyone other than her parents calls at her home, on South Street, South Pelaw, County
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The age of the train
A MAJOR £190,000 visitor centre showing the history of the railways across the North York Moors has opened at a popular visitor attraction. The North York Moors Railway has opened the venture at Pickering Station, in North Yorkshire, as part of an upgrade
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Bus services facing the axe
BUS companies last night warned they were being squeezed by Government cuts amid fears that services and fares are in the firing line. The bus services operating grant is being reduced by 20 per cent from 2012, saving the Government £300m by 2014/15.
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Happy homecoming for squaddies
HUNDREDS of troops who returned to the region after gruelling six-month tours of Afghanistan have received a heroes' welcome at parades held in their honour. In Richmond, North Yorkshire, troops from the 4th Mechanized (CORR) Brigade headquarters and
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Farming and Fashion
Catterick Young Farmers are hosting a Fashion Evening at the Catterick Bridge Hotel on Friday 26th November. Ladies and Menswear from Millbry Hill and High Society of Easingwold will be modelled by members of the Young Farmers. There will also
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Local MP praises company's support of rural economy
A RURAL business which has pledged £800,000 on a business project has been praised by a local MP for its work in supporting the rural economy. The Wensleydale Creamery, at Hawes, North Yorkshire, was visited by Northallerton MP William Hague to hear
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Staff facing axe will not learn their fate for months
STAFF at a North East-based quango threatened with the axe will not learn their fate until next year, after a review of child protection checks was announced. The vetting and barring system for those working with children - run by the Independent
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Residents concerns over plan for 1,000 homes
RESIDENTS have criticised plans for nearly 1,000 homes in a village which they claim will destroy its character and cause major problems. Developer Castlevale has submitted an application with Hambleton District Council which seeks to build 920 homes
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Young chorister aims for national title
A YOUNG chorister is to compete in St Paul’s Cathedral in the final of the BBC Radio 2 Chorister of the Year Competition. Tom Willock, a pupil and head boy chorister at Ripon Cathedral Choir School, is to sing in London on October 29. The youngster
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Popular tourist railway opens new visitor centre
A MAJOR £190,000 visitor centre showing the history of the railways across the North York Moors has opened at a popular visitor attraction. The North York Moors Railway has opened the venture at Pickering Station, in North Yorkshire, as part of an upgrade
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Who Dares Wins
MATT LYNN used to be a ghost. Fittingly for an author who makes his living writing about the clandestine activities of special forces, he used to inhabit the shadows of the literary world – often read but never heard of. You might not be
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Darlington library 125: a talk
TWO quick points. We've got a story in today's paper about how the Comprehensive Spending Review has pulled the plug on the widening of the A1 from Bedale up to Barton. This is not really good news, but it does mean that the distinctive lodge houses
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Rooney agrees new five-year contract with Manchester United
WAYNE Rooney has agreed a new five-year contract with Manchester United. The club confirmed the news this lunchtime, ending an amazing week, which included Rooney insisting the Old Trafford outfit no longer matched his ambitions. Yet after a staggering
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Councillors defer planning application
COUNCILLORS have asked for more information before determining whether to grant planning permission for a housing development on land owned by a social club. Castleside Workingmen’s Club near, Consett, in County Durham, wants to sell grassland to the
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Titus Bramble will not be charged over rape allegation
NO charges will be brought against Premiership footballer Titus Bramble over allegations of rape, it has emerged. The Sunderland defender was arrested in the early hours on September 22 at the Vermont Hotel in Newcastle city centre.
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Sandra Colley: John Francis Brown and Douglas Jackson
SANDRA COLLEY is trying to find families of two Second World War airmen. They are John Francis Brown, from Sunderland, and Douglas Jackson, from Gipsyville, Hull. They were both on board a Halifax Bomber LV778 C6-B, which was based at RAF Snaith, Pollington
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Refuse collections missed, report says
MORE than 100 refuse collections for disabled or ill people were missed in the first three months of the year, a report has shown. Councillors who set up a review group to investigate assisted refuse collections were initially concerned by the figures
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Domestic incident in Darlington - police close road
POLICE sealed off an area of Darlington while they dealt with a domestic incident. Armed officers were called to the scene of the incident on Corporation Road, off North Road. It is understood a 20-year-old man from the Northumberland-area
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German artists celebrate link
GERMAN performers are to appear in an evening of poetry and music to celebrate a long-standing international link. Poets Henning Ziebritzki and Carolyn Murphey Melchers will be giving a free public poetry reading, in German and English, at the Clayport
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College to tidy up beauty spot
A BEAUTY spot in north Durham is to be given a facelift. Staff at Newcastle College will join volunteers, recruited from across the region by Durham County Council's Countryside Service, to start the big clear up on October 26. The volunteers, who work
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Boss – I’m moving in
It works for some, but for many the idea of living at the home of our employer is the stuff of nightmares. MOVE over, Mr Editor, we’re all moving in... Newcastle footballer Andy Carroll, 21, has appeared in court charged with assaulting
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Alter Bridge, Newcastle O2 Academy
SINCE they formed in 2004, American rock band Alter Bridge, hailing from Florida, have built up a loyal fan-base through relentless touring, selling more than a million albums and are in the process becoming one of the most respected rock bands
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Darwin Deez, Other Rooms, Newcastle
BRANDED by NME as being “the bodypopping Zen guru for a new generation of cool kids”, Darwin Deez is an American indie folk artist from New York City. His songs are mostly stripped down, kept simple and unadorned, which is his style – he recorded
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Watching silence
The Big Silence (BBC2, 7pm); The Event (C4, 9pm); Come Dine with Me Soap Star Special (C4, 8pm). BENEDICTINE monk Christopher Jamison points out that “many of the world’s religions believe there’s one simple path that leads us towards God. It’s
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Defence cuts
IF the defence cuts reveal that two new aircraft carriers will be built, but that there will be no aircraft to fly off them for some time, perhaps the Ministry of Defence should bring back the Second World War Fairey Swordfish biplanes – like
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Spending review
SMALL businesses will play a key role in rebalancing the economy and helping reduce the deficit. To help achieve this, small business needs to be given the confidence to invest and help increase job creation. Therefore, it is vital the Government
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French protests
RE the protests in France about government plans to increase the retirement age in that country. I do not always agree with the French people’s actions against their government’s policy. However, apart from any violent action, you have to admire
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Train travel
I APPRECIATED the advice given in the excellent article by Sharon Griffiths – “Fare Comment” (Echo, Oct 18), but I was surprised that she did not mention the service offered by thetrainline.com. I have just booked a return trip from Darlington
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Pronunciation
RE recent correspondence (HAS, Oct 12, 16 and 19), I admit not being aware of the “sic” rather than “sixth” pronunciation. I also admit that like many others my own diction may occasionally leave something to be desired. However, I am most annoyed
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N-E private sector
IN a question to the Prime Minister, Darlington Labour MP Jenny Chapman totally misrepresented the efforts of the private sector to create employment in the North-East. By asking David Cameron to name three businesses creating jobs in the region
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Afghanistan
NOBODY likes a war. Unfortunately, at times, they are a necessary evil and it annoys me to hear so many people complaining about our position in Afghanistan when they say: “It has nothing to do with us.” I seem to have heard these words before
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Take heart from their example...
‘IT isn’t rain, it’s the angels crying,” I heard someone say as we made our way to the spot where we were all to assemble. It was rain all right, cold rain teeming from a leaden sky on an all too typical North- East July day. But the company didn
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Marching orders
A group of musically-challenged buskers is annoying North Yorkshire shop workers. Joe Willis investigates. WHEN the boss says “go and find t h o s e buskers” and you can’t think of an excuse quickly enough, there’s only one option. A-hunting
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Motorcyclist critically hurt in crash
A MOTORCYCLIST was in a critical condition in hospital today after a rush-hour accident involving a four-track vehicle. The 46-year-old rider, from the Stanley area of County Durham, was on a Suzuki machine which was in a collision with a Nissan X-Trail
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Paul Gascoigne arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs
PAUL Gascoigne has been arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, it has been reported. The former footballer is understood to have been arrested at an address in Burradon, Killingworth, North Tyneside, yesterday afternoon. Northumbria
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Hitting the front line
THE Coalition Government has been at pains to stress that the aim is to protect front line services from the public spending cuts outlined by Chancellor George Osborne this week. But, as we said yesterday, the devil is in the detail and the unpalatable
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Woman killed trying to save pet dog
AN ELDERLY woman was killed when she ran out into traffic on a road in pursuit of her pet dog. The tragedy took place outside the village doctor's surgery in Wheatley Hill, County Durham, at 5.20pm yesterday. Durham Police said it appeared the 72-year-old
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Busy year ahead for Yorkshire
YORKSHIRE’S players face another jam-packed season of county action next year after the ECB yesterday revealed there would be few changes, if any, to the schedule in 2011. A six-man panel, including White Rose captain Andrew Gale, have recommended
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Brathwaite to join Durham as Evans leaves
DURHAM have released 6ft 7in seamer Luke Evans and are confident that West Indian paceman Ruel Brathwaite will fill the vacancy. Evans, 23, from Sunderland, joined the academy in 2004 and was appointed to the fulltime staff four years later.
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Cassidy is appointed
SHAUN Cassidy, the Middlesbrough- based former England Under 21 flanker, has been appointed assistant manager to the England Counties XV in succession to another Teessider, Michael Old. The son of former England fly half Alan Old, Michael has
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Falcons chief wants some improvement
HAVING spent the last two weeks on European duty, Alan Tait admits Newcastle Falcons will have to step up a gear when they return to domestic action against Saracens tonight. Tait’s side experienced mixed fortunes in the Amlin Challenge Cup,
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No resolution from Rooney talks
THE Manchester United future of Wayne Rooney remained shrouded in mystery last night despite Sir Alex Ferguson’s claim that he wanted to “put the matter to bed”. Instead, after a frantic day of comings and goings, United released a statement
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Ambition or avarice
IN the end, the juxtaposition was impossible to avoid. On the same day that the Government was announcing the loss of up to half-a-million public-sector jobs, a footballer earning £90,000-a-week was outlining why he intends to renege on his
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Ritchie making plans
RITCHIE HUMPHREYS is eyeing up a manager’s job – once the Hartlepool United hero calls time on his playing days. He is nursing a hamstring problem that has prevented him from playing since the victory over Walsall on September 25 and will not
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Magpies boss is not feeling the pressure
CHRIS Hughton insists he does not feel under pressure despite seeing his side suffer a dip in form. The Magpies have failed to win since their trip to Goodison Park in September and were minutes away from a third successive home defeat until
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Manchester City 3 Lech Poznan 1
Manchester City 3 Lech Poznan 1 EMMANUEL Adebayor made a compelling case for a start against his former club Arsenal on Sunday by firing Manchester City to a Europa League victory with his first Blues hat-trick. The former Gunners star enjoyed
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Bruce fears interest in Bent could mount
STEVE BRUCE fears Wayne Rooney’s desire to move away from Manchester United could lead to a sudden burst of interest in his star striker, Darren Bent. A Rooney transfer to one of Europe’s top teams would automatically lead to a transfer merry-go-round
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Snooker circus heads to Brazil
WORLD Snooker will break new ground next September when it stages a £130,000 (200,000) invitational tournament in the Brazilian city of Sao Paolo. The Brazilian Masters, the first world event to be staged in South America, is set to feature the
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Quakers slash tickets
Darlington are trying to tempt stay-away fans to return to The Northern Echo Arena by slashing prices for their next league game. In a one-off promotion the game at home to Tamworth on Tuesday November 9, fans can buy tickets for just £5.
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Hanagan flying high at Doncaster
PAUL Hanagan and Richard Fahey have proved a potent combination this term and they can score a local victory with Flying Statesman at Doncaster. Champion jockey-elect Hanagan still holds a doublefigure lead over Richard Hughes as he bids to
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Darlington are still looking for a leader
MARK Cooper has revealed the club missed out on re-signing defender Sean Gregan after the former Quakers man opted to join Fleetwood Town. Quakers’ boss has made no secret of his desire to bring in an experienced centre-back to lead his side
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McManus says squad should take the blame
STEPHEN McMANUS was saddened by the departure of Gordon Strachan this week, but feels the whole squad is responsible for Middlesbrough’s failings and not any individual. He is well aware there are now question marks over the future of every
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Pupils try evacuee’s life for the day
PUPILS were evacuated from their school to give them a taste of life in the Second World War. Pupils at Mill Hill Community Primary School, in Northallerton, were given a farewell speech from their headteacher at 9.30am yesterday before their
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Drunk spared jail following threat to petrol-bomb hostel
A DRUNK who threatened to petrol-bomb a hostel for homeless people has walked free from court after he was told by a judge he was being given a last chance. Steven Watson became involved in an early-morning argument that had nothing to do with
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Super carriers to go ahead
FEARS that Government cuts would hit North-East defence jobs were cooled after the decision to press ahead with a super carrier programme. However, BAE Systems, which has a plant on the River Tyne, announced plans to work with the Ministry of
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New technology to create many jobs
SCORES of jobs could be created after a North-East firm pioneered new technology for grinding bulk raw materials into fine powder. International Innovative Technology (IIT), based in Gateshead, has patented the new powder milling machines which
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Working together – precedent is now set
UNIONS and management working together to secure the future of mothballed Teesside Cast Products (TCP) have set a precedent for the future, the man bidding to lead Unite the union said. Les Bayliss, who is standing for general secretary of Britain
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North-East expected to be at forefront of wind energy
FIRMS which may never have considered their skills suitable for the wind energy sector may be missing out on an opportunity, it was claimed yesterday. About 250 representatives of companies from across the North-East and UK as a whole, as well
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Cycle parts distributor enjoys continued success
A NORTH Yorkshire cycle supplies business is riding high after scooping a national industry award, as its ability to weather the recession sees it go from strength to strength. Owned by husband and wife team Julie and Simon Ellison, Zyro, based
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Gillford Park to stage first home game
The STL Northern League has announced that Gillford Park are set to stage their first home game. The Cumbrians have been involved in a wrangle with their landlords, but this appears to have been resolved, as Gillford will now be playing Morpeth at home
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Businessmen to pay £180,000 or face time in jail
TWO businessman who failed to pay VAT for nine years were given a six-month ultimatum to pay back a further £180,000. Business partners Robert McLean and John Hind were given a four-month reprieve in June to begin repaying an estimated outstanding
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Disabled soldier’s 125-mile tribute to legion
A DISABLED ex-soldier is today starting a 125-mile wheelchair journey across the North-East to launch this year’s Poppy Appeal in the region. Wheelchair-bound Paul McClintock, 36, will visit ten towns, from Berwick to Croft, near Darlington
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Cigs raids after calls to hotline
FOUR months after a public appeal for information about illegal cigarette sellers, trading standards officials have carried out raids across the North-East. Since the appeal was made in June, the Crimestoppers phone line has had 40 tip-offs
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Rapist jailed for sustained sex attack
A DRINK and drug-fuelled rapist who struck as his victim walked home from a night out has been jailed for ten years for his “monstrous” attack. Craig Campbell was told he had devastated the life of the young woman he stalked and attacked in the
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Bishops' big day is here!
The day that Bishop Auckland fans thought they might never see finally arrives on Sunday when they open their new ground at Tindale Crescent. After an agonising and sometimes frustrating eight year wait, Heritage Park will be officially opened. There
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Disabled face losing benefits in crackdown
SOME disabled people will be stripped of benefits altogether under a fresh crackdown on the long-term sick, it emerged yesterday. The Government’s plan to slap a 12-month time limit for one million people on sickness benefits and introduce means-testing
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Group says it may have to reduce workers by third
A NORTH-EAST business support service that says it has helped to create more than 5,000 jobs in the region may be forced to make about a third of its 416 workers redundant. The boss of the Business and Enterprise North-East (BENE) group, which
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‘Cameron has treated region with disdain’
A NORTH-EAST MP yesterday said Prime Minister David Cameron has treated the North-East with disdain. During Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Darlington MP Jenny Chapman asked Mr Cameron to name three growing North-East businesses. Mrs
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Poverty action urged at event
WORK to tackle child poverty in the North-East must be kept in the spotlight, according a national charity. Jonathan Ewen, the director of Barnardo’s North-East, said the situation in the region was above the national average. Speaking at a
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Thornaby play on in tribute to late secretary
Thornaby are still going to play at Guisborough on Saturday, as a tribute to their secretary Peter Morris, who suddenly died this week. Mr Morris suffered a heart attack while refereeing a Civil Service game last weekend, and died on Wednesday in the
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£500m fund concern
A £500M regional growth fund set up to attract private sector jobs to the North must also pay to build local roads and to demolish slum housing, The Northern Echo can reveal. Deputy PM Nick Clegg hailed the fund as proof the coalition Government
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Opera star returning home for two concerts
AN internationally-acclaimed opera singer is returning home from her Australian base to perform A Night at The Opera. Guisborough-born Sarah Sweeting is leaving her role as principal mezzo-soprano at the Sydney Opera House to sing in east Cleveland
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£125m for street light scheme is ditched
GOVERNMENT funding for a £125m scheme to replace street lights has been scrapped under the spending review, it has emerged. Durham and Stockton councils had provisionally secured £125m of Government cash to set up a Private Finance Initiative
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Billingham Town's last home game?
Billingham Town could be playing their last ever game in the STL Northern League when they face Dunston at Bedford Terrace on Saturday. Town are due in court next week to defend themselves against Football League neighbours Billingham Town over their
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Flashback on fashion for region’s residents
PEOPLE in a North-East village will be transported back to the Forties when they attend a wartime wedding with a difference. The nostalgic presentation looks at the rationed fashion that commemorates the makedo- and-mend era and focuses on a
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Losing track of time
Village begins search for clock sent to repairer nearly 100 years ago. RESIDENTS think it is about time their village hall clock was returned – nearly a century after it was sent away for repair. The clock was removed from the village hall in
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Axing of A1 upgrade ‘real disappointment’
BUSINESS and community leaders have reacted with disappointment to the cancellation of a multi-million pound project to upgrade a stretch of the A1 to motorway standard. The Department for Transport axed the A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade, in
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‘Firefighters to go’ as cuts bite
A North-East chief last night warned that firefighters could be among 180 jobs likely to be axed as a result of public spending cuts. Cleveland Fire Brigade expects to have an £8.8m shortfall in its budget over the next four years and believes
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RA hope for floodlight special
Darlington RA manager Nick Harrison is hoping that his side will turn on a floodlight special against Newton Aycliffe tonight in the last Friday night fixture in the STL Northern League. The RA go into this local derby in good heart after pushing Billingham
