Archive
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Wilks secures fine fourth in Monte Carlo
GUY Wilks has finished in fourth place on the Monte Carlo Rally. The Peugeot driver, from Darlington, was debuting for his new team in what is the 100th running of the event. Wilks had a chance of snatching third as the first round of
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VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Consett shop blaze rescue
TWO people have been rescued from a shop fire in County Durham. Firefighters were called to the Best Foodstore and Off Licence off Delves Lane around 7pm tonight. A spokesman for County Durham fire and rescue said two adults were helped
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£342m bid submitted for Northern Foods
THE owner of the Harry Ramsden's restaurants tonight made a £342m bid for Goodfellas Pizza-maker Northern Foods. Northern's management are recommending that shareholders accept the offer, made by Ranjit Singh Boparan's investment company Boparan Holdings
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Teesside teen who died suddenly was "our little angel" say parents
A TEENAGER who died unexpectedly in her sleep has been described as "our little angel" by her parents. Mystery still surrounds the cause of death of Demi Sharif. The 13-year-old, who had no known underlying health problems, was discovered in bed on
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Teenager attacked outside bakery
A TEENAGE girl was left with a cut lip after being assaulted outside a bakers. The 14-year-old was attacked outside Greggs Bakery on Brenda Road in Hartlepool at around 8.25am on Wednesday. She was standing outside of the bakers when she was approached
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Town's celebrations up and running
THE celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the founding of Saltburn have started with the arrival of a new exhibition. The exhibits include a log book showing the number of people who crossed the now-demolished Halfpenny Bridge in the 1880s, bridge
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High flying students pass the test
HIGH flying students have achieved an impressive 100 per cent pass rate in this years Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). In total 24 students from Guisboroughs Prior Pursglove College sat the exam, which is taken alongside traditional A levels and
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Views sought on creative housing
RESIDENTS are being urged to give their views on plans to encourage more creative housing developments. Redcar and Cleveland council has drawn up guidelines which should lead to improved designs for residential areas, from schemes of just a few houses
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Area of Dalton cordoned off after cylinders discovered in garage fire
FIRECREWS have set up a 200 metre cordon while they deal with a garage blaze in Dalton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire. Four crews were initially called to the incident in the Scots Dyke Lane area, which was reported around 5.30pm tonight. The garage
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Simpson still out to prove a point
FOR a number of players at Newcastle United, this season has been about making amends for the year they went down. For Danny Simpson, this season is a chance to prove he can handle the Premier League. Simpson graduated through the Manchester
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Pardew backs Nolan for England
ALAN PARDEW thinks Kevin Nolan's reward for scoring more goals than any other English midfielder this season should be a call from Fabio Capello. Nolan's backheel from Shola Ameobi's knock down in the Wear-Tyne draw last Sunday put the Magpies
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Bothroyd or Fuller for Bruce?
SUNDERLAND were last night weighing up whether to strengthen their interest in either Jay Bothroyd or Ricardo Fuller as they failed to bring in Darren Bent's replacement in time to face Blackpool today. The Black Cats' attempts to add a
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Five vehicle smash appeal
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a crash involving five vehicles on the A171 Guisborough bypass. A 22-year-old man is recovering in after suffering multiples fractures to his leg and cuts to his head. The collision happened about half a mile east
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Battle lines drawn over opencast hope
BATTLE lines are being drawn over whether two areas of green land should be earmarked as potential opencast mining sites. Opencast operator ATH Resources has proposed that Durham County Council declare two sites near High Pittington, east of Durham City
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Taking risks with poachers
TO swim in the murky whirlpool of 24-hour news, political leaders increasingly feel the need to appoint spin doctors from the other side of the fence. Tony Blair had Alastair Campbell. David Cameron had Andy Coulson. Both of them with tabloid backgrounds
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Coach driver airlifted to hospital
A BUS driver has been airlifted to hospital after a coach crashed on the A1. The coach collided with a Mercedes car on the southbound carriageway at the A69 turn-off, just before 3pm. The coach passengers have been taken off the bus to transfer to another
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Our feathered, hooved and web-footed friends
It’s amazing what you get used to. I was flicking through my text messages the other day when I found one from an American friend living here. "Hey, nothing much happening at my place. We slaughtered a sheep this morning and had it for lunch. Things
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Local filmmaker honours war heroes with new project
WAR time heroes who daringly raided Nazi occupied France are being honoured in a local filmmaker’s new project. Tim Reynard, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, is to direct a £7,000 short film about the men involved in the St Nazaire Raid in March 1942.
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Driving ban for car smash teen
A TEENAGER who stole his flatmate’s car and crashed into a former doctor’s surgery has been banned from driving. The 17-year-old, from Blackhill, Consett, lost control of a Ford Fiesta on Queens Road, not far from home while going to pick up friends
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Bridge re-opens to traffic after three months of repairs
A HISTORIC grade II listed bridge which has been shut for repairs since October re-opens to traffic this weekend. The 238-year-old single carriageway bridge across the River Swale located at the A61 at Skipton-on-Swale, near Thirsk, opens on
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Tributes at funeral of bomb disposal expert
GLOWING tributes were paid at the funeral today of a heroic and popular bomb disposal specialist who was killed in Afghanistan. Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie Wood, 34, was killed on December 28, days after organising Christmas festivities
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Hunt for jewellery thieves
POLICE are hunting for a group of people responsible for a spate of unusual jewellery thefts in a single day. On Thursday afternoon, a couple were taking their shopping back to their car at the Morrisons supermarket, in Consett, when they were approached
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Students warned against crooks
POLICE are urging students to be on their guard against thefts and burglaries. Durham Police have launched Operation Westcliffe, aimed at raising awareness among Durham University students of opportunist crime at their term-time accommodation. Officers
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Sir Ian drops by
STAGE and screen star Sir Ian McKellen will visit two North-East theatres next week. The Shakespearean actor and star of films including Lord of the Rings and X-Men will visit Durham’s City Theatre and Sunderland’s Royalty Theatre on Tuesday. Sir Ian
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How rugs are helping Afghan workers
A FORMER North-East university student who became an Afghan rug trader to help jobless youngsters in the wartorn country will talk about his experiences in the region next week. Former Durham University student Chris Beales founded a Kabul-based rug-making
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Coulson resigns as Tory PR chief
ANDY Coulson today announced he had resigned as Downing Street communications chief. Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "very sorry that Mr Coulson had felt compelled to resign due to continuing pressure over the row". Last week Mr Cameron refused
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Pete Wall: Old Dun Cow
PETE WALL is trying to catch up with former friends from when he was a DJ. Mr Wall worked in the former Old Dun Cow pub, in Post House Wynd, between April 2005 and the end of December 2005. Anyone can text or phone Mr Wall on 07528-223882.
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Look Smart and Silver
SILVER Turn appears to be a filly on the upgrade and she can make it a quick double for trainer North Yorkshire Bryan Smart at Wolverhampton. The three-year-old was limited to just one start as a juvenile, finishing a fair fourth in a moderate
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Hughton is rewarded
FORMER Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton was last night named Sports Personality of the Year at a prestigious regional awards ceremony held at the University of Sunderland. He was one of eight North- East elite sports stars, including legendary
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Resignations throw tourism centre plans into chaos
PLANS to continue a tourist service in a rural market town are in disarray as the leading members of a volunteer led group behind the scheme resign. Hambleton District Council wants to close the current Tourist Information Centre, in Thirsk
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Prior relishes his surprise World Cup challenge
MATT PRIOR is confident he will prove the England selectors right following his recall for the World Cup. Prior was the surprise selection in Wednesday’s 15-man squad when, despite having not played a one-day international for almost a year, he
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One in the eye for drunkards
The aim of a good night out nowadays? To drink copious amounts and down a vodka or two through your eyeball... NOW call me unimaginative if you like, but though in my time I have done many things with vodka – mainly drink quite a lot of it – I
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The Producers, Durham University Light Opera Group, Gala Theatre, Durham
‘WHEN you’ve got it, flaunt it’ sings Swedish bombshell Ulla (delightfully played by Kate Hunter). That’s certainly true of Durham University, unashamedly flaunting an abundance of talent in its bright restaging of Mel Brooks’ The Producers
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Sawdust and Stardust, Live Theatre, Newcastle
KICKING off experimental proceedings at Live Lab, the Live Theatre’s season of new works, workshops and ongoing experiments is the tricksily-titled Sawdust and Stardust (say it fast, I dare you). This one-woman show is actually a two-women
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It’s ice work if you can get it
Ice Road Truckers (Channel 5, 8pm); Legends (BBC4, 9pm); Planning Outlaws (C4, 7.30pm). SINCE debuting four years ago, Ice Road Truckers has become an unlikely hit. Who’d have thought that a series about Alaska-based drivers would have caught the
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I disregarded legal advice on Iraq, says Blair
TONY Blair said today he disregarded his top legal adviser's warning that attacking Iraq would be illegal without further United Nations backing because the guidance was "provisional". The former prime minister held to the position that another UN Security
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MPs' travel
I HAVE just had a good idea. Why don’t we introduce the walking school bus system to MPs? When they need to get from Downing Street to the House of Commons they could put on dayglo jackets, pick up their little brief cases and have a leader guide
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Supporters are football’s only constant
THE most disappointing thing about the Darren Bent affair is the realisation that he wasn’t different after all. Management, supporters, journalists, we all bought in to this idea that Sunderland had found a footballer who was an antidote to
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DIY
IN the Classified adverts (Echo, Jan 15), the following appeared in the Disability Equipment Section: “FERM 24V cordless drill, complete with charger, case and two batteries.” I understand that also included is a Do It Yourself Hip Replacement
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Catholic church
SATURDAY’S front page (Echo, Jan 15) carried a report of a Roman Catholic priest being jailed for child pornography offences. This, sadly, has been all too familiar a tale for many years now and in many parts of the world. It is surely symptomatic
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Bruce to step up transfer hunt
SUNDERLAND have stepped up their pursuit of Stoke City striker Ricardo Fuller, and are also hoping to complete the permanent signing of attacking midfielder Stephane Sessegnon and loan capture of Sulley Muntari before the transfer window closes.
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NHS reforms
HAVING spent a bit of time in hospital lately, and having been very well treated, I am concerned about the major changes our Tory Prime Minister is going to implement. Many people will probably agree some changes need to be made, but this is a
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DTV Airport
IT is so annoying that Ryanair has stopped flying from Durham Tees Valley Airport (Echo, Jan 12) as it was the only budget airline operating from there with reasonably priced flights. Once upon a time in Darlington, we could see aircraft regularly
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Dog takes the biscuit
WHATEVER one may think of a local authority pursuing a man for taking a dog out without a lead (Echo, Jan 20), the expression of the dog as he regards the photographer outside Teesside Magistrates’ Court is alone worth the price of the day’s copy
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Man kicked officer in face
A MAN kicked a police officer in the face during a frenzied attempt to escape, a court heard. The flying boots of Andrew Hunter caught an officer in the face during an attempt to restrain the 18-year-old in the Albion pub, in Yarm Road, Darlington
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Environment
OUR planet is going through an unsettled phase. Who cannot be overawed by the horrendous television scenes of the floods in Australia and elsewhere? All the politicians in the world cannot stem Nature, no matter how much money they pledge to
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Politicians
I WONDER if any of our politicians do any serious homework? In 2008 we had fumbling Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, now the Deputy Prime Minister, who, during a speech entitled “connecting with people” thought a retired person’s pension
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Council cuts
A FEW weeks back the Echo screamed “money taken from poor North to fund affluent South” – a point so easy to dispute that it displayed journalism at its most lazy. Now more drivel from the silver-spoon socialist Councillor Simon Henig, the leader
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Celebrity chef wins highest accolade
A CELEBRITY chef has picked up a national accolade for his restaurant. Kenny Atkinson at The Orangery has become one of 13 establishments across the UK to be awarded the three AA Rosettes, which is the highest rating the organisation gives. The
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A happy way to start new year
A FOOTBALL fan has started the new year happily after scooping a free match ticket and signed memorabilia from his favourite team. When life-long Manchester City supporter Michael Hemsley said that his ultimate dream was to see his team play at their
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A debt of honour and gratitude
TODAY, Middlesbrough will stand still for a moment. It will reflect. It will show its respect as a town and community to Charlie Wood. This column is dedicated to him and to the values that he and thousands of his fellow servicemen and women stand
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Bjornsson to get a chance?
MICK Wadsworth won't feel under pressure if skipper Sam Collins isn't fit for tomorrow's trip to Peterborough. The centre-half and captain has missed the last four games with a medial knee injury. He was on the bench for Tuesday's draw at Bristol
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Carver back on home turf
JOHN Carver was back on the Newcastle United training ground yesterday, working alongside his new boss Alan Pardew. The Tynesider returned to the club and is relishing his chance to impress. "I've only got a contract until the end of
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Cooper happy to add more
After bringing in six players recently, Darlington manager Mark Cooper is pleased with the squad strengthening he has carried out during January, but says he is not finished yet. Marc Bridge-Wilkinson this week became the latest to join the club following
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Wheater off with Mowbray praise
TONY Mowbray insists Middlesbrough must move on after David Wheater finally completed his transfer to Bolton Wanderers, but praised the defender for his attitude in the run up to the conclusion of the deal. The centre-back joined a host of ex-Boro Academy
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A fish out of water
THE timing of Alan Johnson’s resignation as Shadow Chancellor is certainly a surprise, but he has never looked comfortable in the role. Indeed, there have been times when he has been embarrassingly short of basic knowledge about the financial
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Recruits march into Army life
TWO Army recruits have followed in the footsteps of their fathers after being among the first to sign up this year. Kyle Brown and Jake Batey, both 19, from Darlington, have sworn Oaths of Allegiance at the Darlington Army Careers Information Office
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Prescribing a smoke-free life
A little-known drug is revolutionising Stop Smoking Services in the region. Health Editor Barry Nelson reports on the rise of Champix. HEALTH experts insist that the best possible move anyone can make to improve their health is to give up smoking
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Drink-driver may face jail
A WOMAN was four times the drink-drive limit when she drove into a family car before fleeing the scene, a court heard. Kelly Lousie Myers could be heading to prison after she admitted charges of driving without due care and attention and drink-driving
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Teenage pregnancies still above UK average
TEENAGE pregnancy rates are still higher in Darlington than the national average, despite a ten-year programme to address the problem. Although the pregnancy rate has been reduced by 20 per cent over the past decade, the borough has fallen
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Bucking trend with initiative
A RACECOURSE in the region has bucked the economic trend to record the UK’s second highest percentage increase at the turnstiles. Sedgefield Racecourse, in County Durham, saw a total of 23,001 punters through the gates last year which is a 16
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Get on course for a warm welcome
COURSES in giving a warm Yorkshire welcome are being offered to businesses. Tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire is launching Yorkshire Pride courses to help firms ensure their staff make visitors feel at home. Gary Verity, chief executive of
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Budget hotel to create 700 jobs
BUDGET hotel chain Travelodge is building 35 hotels this year and creating 700 jobs in the UK. The company has no plans to build any hotels in this region, but is spending £300m to boost its portfolio to 495 hotels. In addition, the company
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Inquest told biker died on blind bend
A MOTORCYCLIST died when he overtook a car on a blind bend, an inquest heard. Richard Milwain suffered head injuries after he was thrown from his bike when he was involved in an accident with a Peugeot in Saltburn Road, near Brotton, east Cleveland
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Vauxhall to sponsor Hartlepool team
HARTLEPOOL United is the latest team to agree terms with Vauxhall following the car firm’s recent multimillion- pound deal to become sponsors of the England national team. Earlier this month. Vauxhall announced it will replace Nationwide, which
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Design it yourself with online tool
NEWCASTLE-BASED Digitalab has launched an online tool that enables firms with little or no design experience to create their own promotional material. The service follows a period of strong growth for the firm, having enjoyed a 28 per cent
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£495m job creation fund could be oversubscribed
BUSINESSES in the region bidding for a slice of the Government’s £495m job creation fund could be disappointed as the scheme is predicted to be heavily oversubscribed ahead of today’s midnight deadline. Ten days ago, Lord Heseltine, who has
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Market report
FEARS over plans to curb inflation in China hit the FTSE 100 Index hard yesterday as it slumped nearly two per cent. The London market closed 108.8 points lower at 5867.9. Mining stocks suffered, with silver miner Fresnillo dropping 84p to 1346p
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Nissan drives positive signs of UK recovery
NISSAN is helping to drive a manufacturing recovery with overseas demand for its vehicles. The firm, which employs 4,900 staff at its Sunderland plant, revealed that last year was a record year for production of its cars, due, in part, to the
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Rome wasn’t built in a bidet
A PLUMBER has spent six months building a Roman villa for a TV documentary. Kevin Fail, from Woodland, near Barnard Castle, was one of six contractors who took part in the challenge for Channel 4 documentary Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day.
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Sex offences rise as the region’s crime rates fall
CRIME rates are continuing to fall across the region despite a rise in sex offences. New figures show a 13 per cent drop in recorded crime in the North-East for the 12 months to last September, compared to the previous year. In North Yorkshire
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Big drop in critical care flu patients
THE number of flu patients needing critical care in the region has halved in the past week, according to new figures. The sharp drop in people needing to be treated in either a high-dependency bed or an intensive-care unit because of flu complications
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Expansion will lead to ‘Belfry of North’
A MULTI-MILLION pound expansion funded by building executive homes on greenbelt land will make a luxury hotel the Belfry of the North, its director says. John Adamson, director of Ramside Estates, was speaking after his company applied to build
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Secure centre’s boss defends restraint rules
THE director of a privately-run secure training unit where a teenager died said the use of physical restraint on young inmates who disobeyed orders was lawful at the time. Trevor Wilson-Smith, who described the practice as a “structured hug
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Money lender told: Pay up or jail
AN illegal money-lender was yesterday ordered to hand over the cash he made from crime – or face six months behind bars. David Naylor was given a six-month deadline to meet a £9,000 confiscation order certified by a Teesside Crown Court judge
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Royal command on menu
BUDDING young cooks are to get the Royal seal of approval by preparing a meal at Clarence House for the Duchess of Cornwall and her lunch guests. A team of four teenagers from Greencroft Business and Enterprise Community School, near Stanley
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Air quality fines shock for councils
COUNCILS could face even deeper cuts to services under shock plans to make them pay environmental fines imposed by the European Union, the government was warned yesterday. A row has broken out over smallprint contained in a flagship Bill that
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Mumbling attacker is jailed for spray terror
A MAN with a record for violent crime is starting his latest long prison sentence after carrying out a “terrifying” attack on a householder. Russell Frederick Snowdon, 36, was jailed for four years and four months after Durham Crown Court heard
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And in a flash, everyone was singing along
UNASSUMING students milling about in a college reception staged a spontaneous performance of hits from West End musicals. The choreographed “flash mob” at Middlesbrough College was the finale in a three-day masterclass taught by internationally
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Mother dies on the day thief son told to pay up
A MOTHER defrauded of £500,000 died on the day her thieving son was ordered to pay compensation. Lady Denys Pain, 86, died yesterday in a nursing home in Kettering, Northamptonshire. She was the widow of Lieutenant- General Sir Rollo Pain, a
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Coaches put youngsters through their paces
A NEW street football competition has been launched to sharpen players’ skills. Middlesbrough FC has teamed up with youngsters in the town’s Thorntree Park to give them the chance to pull on a Boro strip and show off their talents in a variety
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Axed council workers facing postcode lottery
BIG differences in council redundancy packages have been revealed with some authorities paying twice as much as their neighbours. An investigation by The Northern Echo has found council workers in the North- East and North Yorkshire are receiving
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Row as donor’s firm secures £53m work
MORE than a year after a company chairman’s wife donated £21,000 to the office of Health Secretary Andrew Lansley, the same company has been awarded a £53m NHS prison health contract. The contract, awarded by the North-East Offender Health
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Parents face bill for school buses
PARENTS could be charged hundreds of pounds a year for school bus passes under controversial plans being drawn up to axe free home-to-school transport. One local authority in the region has already put forward a proposal to charge up to £200
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Pair sent to prison for fatal attack at party
A MAN who killed his mother’s boyfriend after an argument at a family birthday party was yesterday jailed for five years. The attacker’s cousin was also jailed for four-and-a-half years for the manslaughter of father-of-two Robert Aunger. Dean
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Twitchers urged to flock to shopping centre
AN outlet shopping centre is inviting twitchers to its surrounding park land for this year’s annual bird ‘census’. Dalton Park, at Murton, County Durham, has 55-acres of green space round its borders which are home to many varieties of wildlife. As
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Small pipe expert's city folk club date
A MUSICIAN who gives a big airing to the North-East’s small pipes will be playing to an intimate pub audience in the region next week. Northumbrian small pipe aficionado Keith Davidson has taken regional folk music to a global audience. But the Honorary
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Two new defenders for Bishops
Bishop Auckland will give two new defenders their debuts in their local STL Northern League derby at West Auckland today. Bishop boss Colin Myers, who is keen to strengthen his defence for their battle against relegation, has signed former
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Promotion clash in second division
The big game in the second division is between leaders Newton Aycliffe and sixth placed Marske United. Aycliffe went eleven points clear on Tuesday with their win at Gillford Park – although how long that result will stand depends on Gillford Park’s
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Prepare for the unexpected: Ainsley
Spennymoor manager Jason Ainsley says that his players must be mentally prepared for their FA Carlsberg Vase fourth round tie at Cadbury Heath today. Moors are won of six STL Northern League clubs in the last 32 of the competition, and Ainsley has
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Blair faces second grilling over the reasons for war in Iraq
TONY Blair faces fresh questions about his decision to take Britain to war with Iraq when he makes his second appearance before the Chilcot Inquiry into the war today. The former prime minister and MP for Sedgefield has been recalled to explain
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Ian Sedgwick of Peugeot UK recounts Thursday's events on the Monte Carlo Rally
"Yesterday, the second day of the 2011 Monte Carlo Rally, kicked off in cold but snow free conditions, as Peugeot UK's Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh headed into the first of the day's stages. The first stage of the day was a long climb up to over 1200m
