Archive
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Bomb disposal hero's funeral to be held on Friday
A NORTH-EAST bomb disposal expert killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan will be given a full military funeral this Friday. Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie Wood, of Middlesbrough, was killed on December 28 after an improvised explosive device
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First half show puts Shildon into third
Shildon bounced back to form with an excellent 4-1 win at Newcastle Benfield to go third in the STL Division One table. Andy Johnson burst clean through to score the first two goals for Shildon, but Benfield pulled a goal back with a John Campbell penalty
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Cabinet supports deregulation for County Durham's taxis
Durham City will be reduced to gridlock if plans to allow unlimited numbers of taxis to operate across the county are pushed through, a cabbies' leader has claimed. Adrian Fets, chairman of Durham Independent Taxi Association, was speaking after Durham
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It’s Better than Walking the Streets…
There’s a distinct lack of ‘craic’ in the village at the moment and, any tales that are going about seem to be more of the ‘bizarre’ and nonsensical! I was chatting with Jill Waldock on Monday night, asking her if she’d heard any good craic around
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Porsche Cayenne - super powered supertanker
WHAT'S the best-selling Porsche these days? Probably not the iconic 911 with prices starting at £67,270. My money was on the versatile Boxster, which is the cheapest route to a new Porsche at £36,572, or its coupe-cousin the Cayman. I was
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Delays to rail services as train hits cow
RAIL passengers experienced delays this afternoon after a train hit a cow. The incident happened on the East Coast Main Line near Northallerton, North Yorkshire. A spokesman for Network Rail said the cow was among a herd that had wandered onto the line
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Police appeal over Bishop Auckland petrol station attack
POLICE are appealing for information after three men in a taxi attacked a man while queuing at a petrol station. The victim got into an argument with one of the men at the petrol station on Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland. Two other men in the taxi
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Teeing up good service at golf course restaurant
A GOLF club remained busy over the festive period even though there was little play on the snowbound course. Recently promoted former second chef Christine Stothard has overseen her first Christmas and New Year period running the restaurant and function
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Handbag stolen from car
MOTORISTS are being urged not to leave valuables on display in their vehicles after the theft of a handbag from a car. The distinctive Gucci brand bag was taken from a green Peugeot 306 parked on Iron Works Road, Tow Law, on Friday, January 14. The
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Young engineers win challenge
STUDENTS from a south Durham school have won an engineering challenge by making a device to transport organs from a body. Youngsters from six schools competed to build mechanisms from wood, glue and string, that could pick up and move tennis balls representing
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Businesses warned over telephone scam
BUSINESSES across the North-East have been warned to be wary following a telephone scam involving a bogus police officer seeking cash donations. It follows the receipt of an unsolicited call by a business in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, on Monday, from
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Holiday joy for hero's son
THE son of a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan last year is to go on a break with his mother thanks to a national charity. Serjeant (correct) Steven Campbell, 30, of Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was killed by a bomb while he
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Pitman poet remembered
THE life and times of a miner who was fond of writing have been recalled in a book on his life by his daughter. Gordon MacPherson, of Easington Colliery in County Durham, died in 1999 aged 70 from emphysema and chronic bronchitis Fight to the Finish
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No parking outside school
CARS will be prevented from parking dangerously near to a Darlington primary school. Parking restrictions are to be put in place on a back lane near to St Augustine's RC Primary School following concerns that parked vehicles could cause an accident.
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Teenager robbed at knife point
A TEENAGER has had his mountain bike and mobile phone in a knife point robbery. The 15-year-old was threatened with a small knife at around 3.45pm on Sunday, January 9 near to the entrance of Fairy Dell Park coming from Tollesby Bridge in Coulby Newham
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Young footballers take to the pitch in new kits
YOUNG footballers are to take to the field in new strips thanks to a generous sponsor who has backed the team. Thirsk Falcons under-12s have secured sponsorship for new kits which will take them through this season. They have been provided thanks to
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Festive crime clampdown delivers results
A CLAMPDOWN on shoplifters over the festive period has left many criminals feeling a sense of bah humbug. Operation Scrooge saw Neighbourhood Policing Team Officers join forces with PCSOs, members of Redcar Business Against Crime (RBAC), the Redcar and
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Officials give advice on Royal street parties
RESIDENTS in Whitby can get advice on how to have a right royal knees-up. When William and Kate tie the knot on April 29 this year Scarborough Council are offering help for people to hold street parties to coincide with the public holiday. Council officers
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A determined man finally nails down a full time job
A MAN who struggled for ten years to find work has finally nailed down a full time job. Mike Caroll is now a health and safety officer for employment and training experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG). The 46-year-old, of Middlesbrough
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Rescue team called out to the same wood twice in an hour
A MOUNTAIN rescue team had a busy afternoon helping two bikers who were badly injured in woodland within an hour of each other. Cleveland Search and Rescue were called to assist in the recovery of a 35-year-old man who suffered head and back injuries
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11-year-old writes review
A YOUNG writing has penned her first arts review - at the age of eleven. Evie Kerr, of Hutton Rudby, took it upon herself to write the review for the village’s annual pantomime, King Arthur of Hutton Rudby, which finished its run last Saturday
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Boxing night for Mayor's appeal
A BOXING night will be held in aid of a Mayor’s appeal next month. The Big Night Boxing Dinner, The Mayor’s Appeal Boxing Championship, will be held at Abbey Leisure Centre, in Pity Me, Durham, on Friday, February 4. Proceeds will go to Diabetes UK
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Rail firm East Coast accused of cutting jobs to fund first class perks
A RAIL firm is cutting scores of jobs to pay for free travel perks for first-class passengers, a leading union claimed today. The Transport Salaried Staffs Association said East Coast is cutting food trolleys in standard class as well as travel
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Road deaths in County Durham drop to lowest level in 36 years
DEATHS on roads covered by a North-East police force dropped to the lowest recorded level in 2010, in the 36 years since force boundary changes. A total of 16 people died in road traffic accidents in the Durham Police area, taking in County Durham and
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Butcher's vow over road closure: business as usual
SHOPS affected by the closure of a section of cross-country road will be open as normal during the four-week delay, a business owner has insisted. The A684 will be closed from Morton-on-Swale to Ainderby Steeple later this month, while road resurfacing
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Traffic warning
Darlington Borough Council has warned of potential traffic delays in Darlington town centre tonight (Wed Jan 19). This is due to emergency electrical works on St Cuthbert's Way southbound between the fire station and the roundabout at Victoria Road.
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Popular restaurant and pub loses Michelin award
A WELL known pub and restaurant on the North York Moors has lost its Michelin Star in this year’s copy of the famous guide. The Star Inn, at Harome, near Helmsley, has held a Michelin Star since it was first granted one in 2002. The business has been
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Major scheme to improve paths in the North Yorks Moors National Park
A MAJOR £141,806 project to improve footpaths and rights of way across the North York Moors has been launched. The North York Moors National Park Authority is to work with 20 communities to carry out the Community Access Project work over the
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Mortgage advisor denies £40,000 theft and fraud charges
A MORTGAGE advisor has appeared in court accused of stealing more than £40,000 from three of her customers. Building society worker Lisa Anderson denied a string of theft, fraud and forgery charges, and will stand trial later this year. Ms Anderson
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Best man for the job
Echo Memories looks at the life of Henry Hardinge, who bought his way into the Army and rose through the ranks all the way to the very top. It was noted in last week’s Echo Memories that one of Durham School’s old boys was Henry Hardinge, a
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Attention to detail
Where does a hobby end and an obsession start? Memories investigates with the help of a man who might know. “I may be 71, but I absolutely love cars and trucks,” wrote Reg Walton, from Gainford. “Or possibly a more appropriate word is obsessive.”
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A career on the line
A picture of children playing in the street at the start of the Sixties throws up a perhaps unexpected link with one of the region's newest luxury hotels. Echo Memories has been captivated by the picture of boys playing football in South Terrace
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John Simpson: Greta Walton-Lee
JOHN SIMPSON is trying to find a former friend who he has not seen since leaving the area. She was Greta Walton-Lee, who lived in Barnard Castle. Mr Simpson lived in Geneva Road, Darlington, and has been away from the area since 1991. To help contact
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Shopper’s champion
Mary Portas: Secret Shopper (C4, 9pm) Hattie (BBC4, 9pm) Cowboy Builders (Channel 5, 8pm) MARY PORTAS switches channels for new series Secret Shopper in which she begins a crusade to improve service in Britain’s shops. “In the past, my shows have
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Teesside hotel manager killed in road accident
A TEESSIDE hotel manager has been killed in a road accident while he was away visiting family. Liam Cotgreave, 34, the operations manager at Grinkle Park Hotel, near Easington, in east Cleveland, was a pedestrian when he was hit by a black BMW car on
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Homes group to outsource repairs
CHANGES to a social housing provider’s repairs service will see 150 North-East staff transfer to new employers. Home Group, based in Newcastle, said it was setting up contracts with external organisations to provide repairs, meaning the work of
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Joint scheme helps students into industry
A TEES Valley training organisation has launched a programme to bridge the gap between college and advanced apprenticeships. Six students will spend a year on the TTE Technical Training Group’s Apprenticeship Progression course, a joint move with
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Homes group to outsource repairs
CHANGES to a social housing provider’s repairs service will see 150 North-East staff transfer to new employers. Home Group, based in Newcastle, said it was setting up contracts with external organisations to provide repairs, meaning the work of
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Market report
THE FTSE 100 Index pushed to a new two-and-ahalf year high yesterday, buoyed by reports that Europe’s bailout fund may be enlarged. The FTSE rallied more than one per cent or 70.7 points to 6056.4 as banking and mining stocks recovered from
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Steel firm may seek London listing
THAI firm Sahaviriya Steel Industries (SSI) could seek a listing on the London Stock Exchange if its bid to buy a North-East steel plant is successful. The firm is expected to complete a £320m deal for Tata Steel’s mothballed Teesside Cast Products
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Jobs loss blamed on Arctic weather
NEARLY 100 North-East workers have lost their jobs after December’s Arctic weather pushed one of the region’s biggest construction firms out of business. Family-run John W&S Dorin, which traded under the name Dorin Construction, along with four
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Fund scores for James
A FOOTBALL coach is among almost 3,000 young people in the region who have been helped back to work by the Future Jobs Fund (FJF) initiative. James Keep, 24, has landed the coaching job at Newcastle United Foundation, thanks to the programme
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Poker games
ON Her Majesty’s Service may not in the least be like a guvvy job. Working up an interest, we pondered the latter last week. A “guvvy job” appears originally to have been anything in which company time, material and equipment was employed – as
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NHS
SO the Tories are trying once again to dismantle the NHS, this time with the support of the Liberal Democrats, who are betraying long-held principles. After years of investment by the Labour Government to vastly improve the failing mess it inherited
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Helpline
DAVE BROTHERS (HAS, Jan 18) seems to attribute the closure of The National Bullying Helpline to pressure from the previous government but this is a deliberately misleading interpretation of the events leading to the demise of the charity. In
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Duke of Edinburgh
THE Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme began in 1956. It is dedicated to the personal development of young people from all backgrounds. The scheme has helped more than four million people in the UK and on its 50th anniversary in 2006 was awarded Royal
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Banking – is it the worst job?
AFTER speaking up for the grey squirrel I have another unpopular cause to support – bankers. Let them have their bloated bonuses – expected to total about £7bn. With millions allocated to the top brass, even the average investment banker can expect
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Demolition given go-ahead
PLANS to demolish eight homes which are suffering from structural problems have been approved by councillors. East Durham Homes tenants in St Bede Crescent and St Chad Square, in the Thornlaw South area of Thornley, reacted with anger when Durham County
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Divisive ignorance
WE keep hearing from the Government that “we are all in this together” in respect of the economic challenge facing Britain and the consequent cuts in the public sector. Ministers should, therefore, be embracing the whole country and not being
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School meals
FOR children from low-income families, free school meals are a right, not a privilege, yet many parents do not claim. If all eligible families did claim, Middlesbrough schools would benefit by an additional £1.2m a year (Echo, Jan 10). In addition
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True grit
NOW that the snow has finally melted of its own accord and warmer days are with us, isn’t it time for local councils to tidy up the mess left following their belated attempts to clear the streets? While piles of grit on street corners may have
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Global warming
ERIC GENDEL (HAS, Jan 18) says none of the correspondents who disagree with his views on global warming have answered his question about the role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and those scientists that are supportive
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Pirate fun for youngsters
YOUNGSTERS got a taste of life on the ocean waves when their school held a pirate-themed day last week. Pupils in year two at Aysgarth School, near Bedale, got the taste for adventure when they were invited to dress as pirates on Friday, as part of their
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Look what the tide washed in
Three years after he admitted faking his own death as part of a life insurance scam, John Darwin has returned to Seaton Carew after being released from prison. Dani Webb reports. THE words “John woz ere” can plainly be seen in the whitewash
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Better news for Pady
FORPADYDEPLASTERER has made pleasing improvement since found to have been clinically abnormal after the William Hill King George VI Chase. Plans are on hold for the 2009 Arkle Trophy hero after he was pulled up before the 12th fence in his
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Negus fancied at Newcastle
NEGUS DE BEAUMONT holds major claims in the three-mile Parklands Golf Course Handicap Chase at Newcastle. He finished a creditable second at this track earlier in the month and given that he is still on the comeback trail following a lengthy lay-off
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‘Olazabal is right choice’
SEVE Ballesteros believes European golf is “in very good hands” after Jose Maria Olazabal was named Ryder Cup captain. Just as Olazabal was talking about “my proudest moment – a great day for me,” the man who has inspired him his entire career
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Mowden’s McLean made England captain
DARLINGTON Mowden Park Sharks fly half Katy McLean has been named as the new captain of the England women’s team. She makes the step up from vice-captain and has described her new captaincy as “a massive honour”. The 26 year old, a fly half,
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Injuries give Easter chance as skipper
NICK EASTER is expected to captain England in their RBS Six Nations opener against Wales after manager Martin Johnson was dealt another crushing injury blow. Flanker Lewis Moody, skipper for this season’s autumn Tests, is set to miss the first
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Bridge-Wilkinson signs deal at Darlington
DARLINGTON have pulled off a transfer coup by convincing Marc Bridge-Wilkinson to move to The Northern Echo Arena. The 31-year-old has signed an 18-month contract with the Quakers and his arrival brings to an end Darlington’s protracted move
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Bristol Rovers 0 Hartlepool United 0
Bristol Rovers 0 Hartlepool United 0 AFTER what Mick Wadsworth described as ‘the collywobbles’, Hartlepool United are back on the straight and narrow and back to normal. Five successive wins was instantly followed by three defeats on
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Marske boss Burton blasts poor performance
Marske United manager Paul Burton said that his team was "very poor" against Grangetown in their North Riding Senior Cup tie last night. Marske won on penalties after being held to a 1-1 draw in ninety minutes by the Teesside League club, and Burton
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Teenager to support X Factor winner at concert
A TEENAGER dubbed Britain’s answer to Alicia Keys is preparing for a charity gig supporting Joe McElderry – days after headlining London’s O2 Arena. Harriet Wigley-Smith, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter who performs under the name Etta Smith
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Campaigners call for cuts meeting
CAMPAIGNERS and trade union officials have demanded a public meeting with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to question how severe Government-imposed cuts will be. They also asked senior members of Darlington Borough Council to defend the town
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Students protest over plans to cut EMA
STUDENTS joined a national day of action to protest about the coalition Government’s plans to scrap the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA). The protests come ahead of a Commons debate and vote later today. A number of students gathered outside
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‘Minimum drink price not enough’
ONE of the UK’s leading campaigners for a minimum price for alcohol told a North-East audience yesterday that the Government’s proposals to ban alcohol sales below cost price would affect less than one per cent of drinks. Professor Sir Ian Gilmore
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Murder trial told of suspect’s anger
A MAN accused of pushing his partner to her death from a multistorey car park was seen shouting abuse as he tried to find her, a jury has heard. Teresa Parkin, 29, originally from Colburn, North Yorkshire, died in June last year after she fell
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MPs row over North transport funding
A ROW blew up last night after a Government minister promised the region’s councils a “huge wodge” of cash for new transport schemes. Norman Baker said local authorities would be able to tap into the £560m sustainable transport fund for projects
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Opening hours reduced at death punch pub
THE family of a man who killed a customer outside their North- East pub have seen its opening hours dramatically reduced. Durham Police were monitoring the Beehive, in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, before Maurice Rowell, 27, killed Stephen
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Appeal over odd-job man
PEOPLE have been warned to be on the lookout for a man offering to do odd household jobs. The man, who may work alone or with two others, has been knocking on doors in and around Darlington offering to clear household and garden waste. He was
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Recovering addict stole presents
A RECOVERING drug addict stole items for Christmas presents a fortnight after Christmas Day, a court heard. Shaun Eric James struggled with security guards on January 8 after stealing a toothbrush from Wilkinson's, and a make-up kit from Claire's
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User hid cannabis between buttocks
A CANNABIS user who has taken the drug since he was 13 was found with a package of the substance between his buttocks, a court heard. Unemployed George Robert Hall, 20, had already handed one envelope containing the drug to police before two
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Sammie hoping to represent Labour
A YOUNG woman is hoping to represent the north of England on the Young Labour National Committee. Sammie Weller, 19, is hoping that members of the Young Labour party will vote for her when they receive their ballot papers in the next couple of weeks
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Former patient spat at health worker
A FORMER patient spat at a mental health worker while he was on a works' night out, a court heard. Kavina Leyanna Kennedy assaulted Robert Welburn in late-night bar Retro, Darlington Magistrates' Court heard. David Maddison, prosecuting
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Union warning over Remploy redundancies
A UNION will refuse to negotiate over calls for voluntary redundancies at a firm which employs dozens of disabled people in the region. Remploy has factories in Gateshead, in Spennymoor, County Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland. Yesterday
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Mother smashed window with boot
A MOTHER broke down in tears as a court heard how she smashed a window at her estranged husband's home with her riding boot. Jayne Harrison was shouting and swearing as she took off her footwear and threw it at the window, Darlington Magistrates
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‘Dream funding is really a nightmare’
THE leader of the region’s biggest local authority last night revealed how he plans to cut £125m from its budget – only hours after a Government minister claimed the council receives funds that other authorities “can only dream of”. Conservative
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Mystery arrest of medical director
THE medical director of one of the North-East’s biggest hospital trusts has been suspended after he was arrested by Durham Police, The Northern Echo can reveal. Last night, the force would only confirm that an unnamed employee of the County Durham
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Tories hit out at delay in Labour leader vote
CONSERVATIVES in Darlington have condemned their Labour counterparts for delaying an announcement on the party's new leader until after the council elections. Council leader John Williams will step down as leader and councillor at May's election,
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Boro looking for Taylor to stay
TONY MOWBRAY has told Andrew Taylor that he has a future at Middlesbrough - if he wants it. The Hartlepool-born full-back has been the subject of an offer from Watford in the last ten days after a impressing during a three-month loan there.
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Brumwell to sign for Bishops -- "We need him" says Myers.
Bishop Auckland manager Colin Myers is hoping to sign veteran defender Phil Brumwell before their away game at West Auckland this Saturday. Brumwell, who has played at Anfield and Wembley in a career going back nearly two decades, is about
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Bruce launches withering attack on Bent
Steve Bruce last night launched a withering attack on Darren Bent, accusing the striker of being a “massive let down” following his club-record £24m move to Aston Villa. Bent signed a four-and-a-half-year contract worth around £80,000-a-week
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Wright-Phillips' agent confirms Newcastle interest
SHAUN Wright-Phillips' agent has confirmed Newcastle's interest in the winger and insisted that money will not prevent his client from moving to St James' Park. With Wayne Routledge expected to complete a surprise return to QPR in the next
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Crunch match tonight, says Niven
Shildon assistant manager Stuart Niven is hoping that the Railwaymen can return to form in their crunch match at Newcastle Benfield tonight. The Railwaymen have failed to win any of their last three Vase and league matches – until the enforced
