Archive
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Cooper targets promotion
Fresh from adding the FA Trophy to Darlington's trophy cabinet, manager Mark Cooper has already set his sights on success next season: promotion. The campaign only finished on Saturday when Quakers won the FA Trophy by beating Mansfield Town
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Mowbray looks at young Red Devils
MIDDLESBROUGH are keeping an eye on Manchester United's promising talents ahead of a summer of change at the Riverside Stadium. Boro boss Tony Mowbray started to put his close-season plans into place yesterday by announcing the departures of
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Shearer urges Ashley to spend
ALAN SHEARER believes Newcastle United have been a surprise package in the Premier League this season, but warned owner Mike Ashley that he will have to spend big if the club are to progess. The Magpies are safe from the threat of relegation
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Barton warning over next season
JOEY BARTON is not banking on a top ten place just yet, but believes Newcastle United will face a tougher second season in the Premier League if progress does not continue. And Barton, yet to agree a new contract at St James' Park with one
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Cats’ injuries could hamper next season
STEVE BRUCE fears Sunderland's severe injury woes will carry over into next season after admitting five of his sidelined first team squad will struggle to be fit when the action starts again in August. Bruce has been satisfied with the way
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Keane is eager for another chance
FIVE months after his second managerial job came to an end, former Sunderland manager Roy Keane has outlined plans to return to football and take a club to the "very top". Keane, whose two-and-a-half years in charge at the Stadium of Light
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Westwood opts for North-East over Florida
OVER in Florida today, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and Tiger Woods are among a glittering field warming up for one of the golfing calendar's finest tournaments: The Players Championship at Sawgrass. A quick trawl through tomorrow's first round
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Pressure on FIFA over allegations
Pressure was growing on FIFA last night to launch an investigation into fresh allegations that six executive committee members asked for bribes or favours including a knighthood in return for World Cup votes. FIFA's already-tarnished reputation has received
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Mickelson backs Sawgrass
Phil Mickelson has given the Players Championship - golf's richest event - his seal of approval and said the absence of Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy did not change his view of it. "Everybody has got their own personal deal, but I disagree with their
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Haye makes
David Haye claims even German fans want him to beat "imposter" Wladimir Klitschko when they clash on July 2 in the Ukrainian's adopted homeland. The duo's world heavyweight title unification fight this summer is being held in Hamburg, where the Ukraine-born
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Blow for Tykes as knee injury puts Pyrah out of action
Rich Pyrah will be out for up to a month after dislocating his right knee while batting against Kent at Canterbury on Sunday. Pyrah got his studs caught in the turf during the Clydesdale Bank 40 win, although things are not quite as bad as
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Durham struggle against Somerset’s centurions
WHOEVER Graham Thorpe had come to watch at the Emirates Durham ground yesterday it certainly wasn't Marcus Trescothick. Nor is it likely to have been Nick Compton, who will be 28 next month and is never going to aspire to his grandfather Denis
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Family of missing woman, Denise Bees, appeal for her to get in touch
THE family of a woman who went missing after leaving work today have appealed for her to get in touch. Denise Bees, 56, disappeared around 2pm after leaving her workplace on Skelton High Street, East Cleveland. Police say they are worried for the welfare
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Finding their Mojo on the road
IF you thought being in a band was all glamour and swanky hotels, then you should talk to Mojo Fury. The Belfast rockers have spent the last few months well and truly putting in the miles in order to get themselves known by as many people as possible
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Raptor sink claws into modern life
MAX Raptor are no shrinking violets. Ask them their opinion on modern life and you’re likely to get a direct answer in return. Their new mini-album, Portraits, is described as “short, sharp and snappy portrayals of modern existence”.
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Moving House... By Viv Longstaff.
Nigel has just caught me outside the Co-op and asked me for the thousandth time to write a blog for him. “Nigel” says I, “it’s not that easy, I have a mundane life” but promised to have a go. Words always flow better with a nice glass of crisp
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A question of judgement
THE role of a police officer is one which relies heavily on sound judgement. When you happen to be the highest ranked officer in the force, there is a reasonable expectation that particularly sound judgement will be displayed. The Chief Constable of
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Radio programme shortlisted for award
A COMMUNITY radio station has been nominated for an award which recognises Christian broadcasting. Radio Teesdale’s series of Lent readings has been nominated for a Christian Broadcasting Council Media Award, which celebrates the best of the UK's religious
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New bus will help rural community
YOUNGSTERS from remote farming communities have been given a new lease of life thanks to a purpose built all wheel drive minibus paid for by a supermarket. Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Service (UTASS) took delivery of the 15-seater last week
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Grand National must be safer, Cabinet minister says
THE Grand National must be made safer following the "tragic" deaths of two horses in the world's greatest steeplechase, a Cabinet minister said today. Quizzed at Westminster, Sports Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the public had been "shocked" by the gruesome
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Boots store approved
PLANS to open a major new Boots store on an edge-of-town retail park have been approved despite claims from community leaders it would damage existing pharmacies, as well as the struggling city centre. Durham county councillors yesterday gave their
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Effects of new legislation
THERE will be more pensioners in the future... and those pensioners will live for longer. This is going to put a massive strain on the state pension system. To alleviate this burden the Government is making changes to the basic state pension
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Market report
A FRESH downgrade to Greece’s credit rating and a hefty compensation bill for the banking industry troubled traders yesterday as the London market closed in the red. The FTSE 100 Index was 34 points lower at 5942.69 after Standard and Poor’s
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New chief to announce plan to cut costs after fall in profits
HSBC’s new boss will announce a major strategy review tomorrow in a bid to cut costs after the global banking firm unveiled a drop in firstquarter profits. Group chief executive Stuart Gulliver is expected to undertake a crackdown, with branch
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Assessing the real wealth of the world’s nations
IMAGINE you have an apple tree, and this apple tree produces the best apples in the local area. Word spreads. Before long an international cider maker gets wind, and applies for permission to use your apples for their product, only they do not
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Durham made to be patient
AFTER taking a wicket with the seventh ball of the day against Somerset, Durham had to wait 60 overs for the second. Marcus Trescothick provided a master class in making 144 before he went for a big drive off Scott Borthwick and sliced a high catch to
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Beauties sought for bike photoshoot
A CHARITY is looking for fashion-conscious females to take part in a photoshoot for their latest campaign. Cycle hire charity Darlovelo wants to hear from girls and women who would like the chance to show off their style by on their bikes getting
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Leisure centre set to re-open after £18.5m revamp
A NORTH-EAST leisure centre will open next month following an £18.5m refurbishment. Work to transform Sixties-built Billingham Forum has now finished and will open to the public on Friday, June 3. To mark the official opening there will be a three-day
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‘More incentives needed to aid North Sea investment’
As the coalition Government marks one year in power this week three of the region’s leading business figures discuss its impact on industry and commerce. OVER the course of the past year, I have been encouraged by the Coalition’s support of
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Annual festival set to attract thousands of visitors
THOUSANDS of people are expected to attend a festival of entertainment organised by a community group. The annual Zetland Park fun day is taking place on Saturday, June 4, from 11am to 4pm, with a host of activities for all the family. The ever-popular
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Committee challenges question time move
PLANS to reduce the amount of time MPs have to question ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been attacked. Anne McIntosh, chairwoman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee, has written to Sir
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Autism charity raises £14,000
A CHILDREN’S autism charity has raised £14,000 from a race night. Norton-based Daisy Chain held the event at Sedgefield Racecourse to raise vital funds to continue to be able to support families who are affected in the region. The evening was hosted
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Drax powers on with dedicated farm plan
DRAX has become the first electricity generator in the UK to create a farm dedicated to testing and developing energy crops for producing power. The 70-acre Energy Smart Farm has been set up in partnership with Masstock Arable (UK) and Brown and
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Seminar to deal with equality awareness Act
SOCIAL housing providers will be urged to place equality awareness at the centre of their business at a seminar, next week, organised by Crutes Law Firm. Crutes, which has offices in Teesside and Newcastle, is holding the seminar at its Teesside
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Group helps sale of 15th Century prophet’s cave
A LAW firm has helped secure the sale of the former cave home of a famous prophet who is said to have predicted the end of the world. Business law firm DWF advised entrepreneur Francis Martin about the purchase of Mother Shipton’s Cave, in North
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Charity needs homes for young people
A CHARITY is desperately seeking people who can provide temporary accommodation for young people. Barnardo’s, in Hartlepool, wants to hear from people living within 20 miles of the town who have a spare room, can provide a stable environment and have
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Just the job
The Apprentice (BBC1, 9pm) Supersize Grime (Five, 8pm) Home Is Where the Heart Is (ITV1, 9pm) LORD SUGAR is back with The Apprentice, but he’s changed the rules. No longer will the 16 hopefuls be vying for a six-figure salary job in his company
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Visitor numbers increase at museum
A POPULAR North-East attraction, which is undergoing a multi-million refurbishment, has seen visitor numbers rise by 80 per cent. Preston Hall Museum and Park, in Eaglescliffe, Stockton, welcomed 37,000 visitors through its doors between February and
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One of the world's rarest supercars - abandoned and left to die
THERE'S always something a little depressing about an abandoned car. Maybe it's the fact that someone's pride and joy can end its days so unloved that an owner couldn't even be bothered to give it a decent send off. But this sad-looking
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Umpie ride
They’re bag ladies, and proud of it. Patricia Allen gets a handle on a business which has become a real family affair. UMPIE Bags is a new business which weaves a family history into the bag you carry. It is the brainchild of three women in the
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Greece is the word
THE UK could again be liable for a bailout under the controversial eurozone support agreed by the previous Labour government. A new rescue package for Greece, on top of a £95bn deal last year, could bring Britain’s contribution to more than £15bn
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On the beat
THE public want more police to patrol our streets, yet this Government wants police officers with 30 years service to take early retirement. Where is the logic in this? Saving money again. According to The Northern Echo (May 6) “forcibly retired
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Voting
I HOPE voters at the next General Election think about their vote. A lot of people just vote as previous generations before them. It is a formality. Such a view is an injustice to the people who do care about their votes and have to suffer from
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Crazy taxi
ON a recent visit to Durham I was amazed to see how many taxis were on the rank near the Fighting Cocks. I timed some of them while we were shopping and, incredibly, some of them were parked there for more than 30 minutes I cannot see how the
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Libya
ANY respect I may have had for David Cameron was dashed when he was asked about the deaths of Gaddafi’s youngest son and three grandchildren. He had no regrets at all for killing these children. So, in pursuit of our pathological hatred of Gaddafi
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Healthy choice
YOUR recent article about the new regulations governing the sale and supply of herbal medicines (Echo, April 30) contained the astonishing suggestion that to avoid problems customers “should only buy online from reputable sources such as Boots
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Memories of Wembley
WHAT a day! What an absolutely wonderful day I had at Wembley where Darlington won the FA Trophy. To be there in our national football stadium and seeing my team – Darlington – turn out on the same pitch that, in a few weeks time, will host probably
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Phones
ON April 10 our phones went off. During the evening my husband collapsed. If I had not had a mobile I would not have been able to call an ambulance. Sadly my husband died, as the paramedics could not revive him. Since then, the whole street has
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May Day
CT RILEY (HAS, May 5) says the May Day festival “is believed to be over 900 years old”. Actually, it’s much older than that. Its origins have been lost in the remote mists of pre-Christian antiquity. In those days, May Day was undoubtedly celebrated
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Road rage
HOW dare Lee Norman class all Darlington motorists alike (HAS, May 4). I have been driving for years and I don’t need him to tell me when and how to use my indicators. Is it only Darlington he has a problem with? If that’s the case don’t come
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Bin Laden
CHRIS NICHOLSON and Rob Meggs make some telling points regarding the death of Osama bin Laden (HAS, May 7). Sovereign states do indeed enjoy their legitimacy through the rule of law and it is a novel sense of justice for a state to order the execution
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Dumbed down TV? You bet
IT’S not many years since TV documentaries were the best programmes of the week. You could turn to them with confidence for a bit of respite from the blaring trash that makes up the rest of the schedules. Documentaries didn’t used to dumb down.
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Plugging the gaps
IN countless ways, volunteering is the glue which holds our society together. People who volunteer gain vital experience and build confidence. And organisations which are lucky enough to attract volunteers benefit by saving costs and creating important
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Losers and winners
As The Apprentice returns to BBC1, Lisa Williams catches up with some of the show’s most memorable contestants and finds that losing is the best way to win. IN BBC1’s The Apprentice, sometimes it’s not the winning that counts. The potential
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Learning award for care worker
A CARE home worker who went from being an activities co-ordinator to managing a residential dementia care unit has won a regional learning award. Val McLoughlin, from Chester-le-Street, has won a Regional Individual Award as part of the 20th annual Adult
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Week of action for village
PET owners are being encouraged to bring their dogs in for free micro-chipping at an event being held at the weekend. The service is being offered as part of a drop-in information event taking place at Dipton Community Centre, in Dipton, near Consett
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Families plan memorial event
A CHARITY set up to help bereaved families coming to terms with stillbirth is to hold an event this weekend to plant flowers in memory of a loved one. The Durham and Wearside branch of Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is to hold a "Forget
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Head teacher moves on
A RESPECTED headteacher who helped transform the fortunes of his school is to leave his job after eight years. Jonathan Morris, head of Moorside Community Technology College, in Consett, has been appointed as new headteacher of Marden High School, in
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Village champion honoured
A VILLAGE champion has been presented with an award to mark her work for the community. Irene Gray has been awarded the Chairman’s Medal by Duirham County Council chairman Coun Mac Williams for her sterling service to the community of Pelton Fell, near
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That Wembley feeling
THE Railroad to Wembley reached its discursive destination on Sunday, for Whitley Bay FC almost an annual occasion – like a Sunday School treat without the egg and tomato sandwiches. They played Coalville, a Leicestershire town with a name
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National honour for green students
GREEN-fingered youngsters have been named runners-up in a national environmental contest. Youngsters from St Leonard’s RC School, in Durham City, were national finalists in npower’s Climate Cops SOS competition, which encouraged young people to devise
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Brass is back
A BRASS festival is returning for a fifth year. Brass: Durham International Festival will run from July 1 to 17, with street theatre, multi-media installations, international collaborations and an extensive community programme. There will be music from
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Opening partnership success key
Joe Sayers believes a successful opening partnership is crucial to Yorkshire’s chances in the County Championship. The left-handed opener made an impressive return to first-team action in the draw against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last week
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NORTH YORKSHIRE: news in brief
HEALTHY WALKS: The latest round of free walks by the Richmond Swale Valley Walking for Health group will start at the following times and locations: Monday at the bus stops near Tesco, at Catterick Garrison, at 10.15am and at the Richmond Trading Estate
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Halle Orchestra, The Sage Gateshead
Britain's oldest orchestra has established a firm bond with audiences at the country's most modern concert hall. And the Halle orchestra's latest visit to The Sage Gateshead served to reaffirm that relationship, with a varied programme of music
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Workshops look at childhood stories
TWO new writing workshops that tackle very different types of storytelling are to be hosted by a professional author. The workshops, which will be held at The Station, in Richmond, are Writing for Children and Looking Back, an introductory class on writing
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Parking concerns laid bare
Got talking to a nice fella called Michael Castle in the shower this morning. I should probably explain - we'd both been to the gym so it was all perfectly above board. I've never met Michael before but he's organiser of the local branch
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Outdoor club to tackle marathon charity bike ride
A TEAM from an outdoor activities club are to tackle the Lands End to John O’Groats bike ride for charity. The 12 members of the Swaledale Outdoor Club are aiming to complete the 956 mile ride in four days and nights by cycling as a relay, in aid of
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Brigade commander 'humbled' by charity donation
A SENIOR commander in the British Army has said he is humbled by a large donation to his soldiers from a charity motorbike ride. A Ride of Honour by more than 750 motorcyclists took place at the beginning of April and completed a route between the Squires
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Green ideas for the national park in line for financial support
GREEN ideas that will bring a lasting benefit to a national park could be in line for financial help to get started. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) aims to support new business ideas, community schemes
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Rural pub to attempt world record breaking fish and chip supper
A COUNTRY pub is aiming to break a world record by creating the largest ever serving of fish and chips. Staff at the Wensleydale Heifer, in West Witton, have started preparations for the record breaking attempt by taking delivery of the enormous pan
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Teens' efforts on show at museum
AN exhibition designed by sixth formers has opened in a popular museum. Items for the Illness and Medicine exhibition, which has gone on display at Durham University’s Oriental Museum, were chosen by youngsters from Durham Sixth Form Centre, Framwellgate
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Man dies in Sunderland house fire
A MAN has died after a house fire in the early hours of this morning. The blaze broke out in the bedroom of a house in the Millfield area of Sunderland shortly before 1am and the first fire crews on the scene found the building well alight. A woman
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House converted to stage for rehearsals
YOUNG actors have been preparing for their biggest performance yet, by rehearsing in the director’s front room. Turrets Youth Theatre will perform Frank Ferdinand at the multi-million pound Northern Stage, in Newcastle, on Thursday.
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‘Progress being made at troubled school’
A SCHOOL rocked by accusations of the bullying of teachers has been told it needs to improve, but that progress is being made. Coundon Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, was investigated by Durham County Council. Headteacher Linda Halliday
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Women allowed to join 700-year-old group
WOMEN will be allowed to join a group for the first time in its 700-year history. The City of Durham Freemen, which dates from the 14th Century, yesterday made the historic decision to admit women to its ranks. The organisation overwhelmingly
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They think it's fall over...
THE Quakers face a race against time to fix the FA Trophy ahead of their civic reception tomorrow after it was dropped by their goalkeeper. Darlington fans will turn out in their thousands in the market place tomorrow to see their heroes hold
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Police need you to work for no pay
A POLICE force is embracing David Cameron’s Big Society vision by enlisting unpaid volunteers into core policing roles. People are being offered voluntary jobs in CID, event planning and Neighbourhood Watch after Darlington Police announced
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Smith set to feature for Magpies
FORGOTTEN midfielder Alan Smith is set to feature in the final two matches of the Premier League season after returning to full training with Newcastle yesterday. Smith has been sidelined since shattering his ankle in a challenge with Sunderland's
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Steele hoping to follow in footsteps of England number one
JASON Steele is hoping to follow in Joe Hart's footsteps by representing England at the European Under-21 Championships in Denmark this summer. Two years ago, Hart was Stuart Pearce's first-choice goalkeeper as England's Under-21 side finished
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Firms rush to sign up for Hitachi showcase
MORE than 1,000 business people have registered interest in the massive opportunities on offer to supply a multi-million pound train assembly project in the region, it emerged last night. Organisers have been forced to lay-on extra sessions to cope
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New biotechnology centre already booked for a year ahead
A NEW centre aimed at helping companies and researchers to prove biotechnology breakthroughs are commercially viable already has a years worth of work on its books. The £12m expansion to the National Industrial Biotechnology Facility (NIBF), the Government's
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Call for rail line to stay in public hands
MPs yesterday called for the East Coast Main Line to remain in public hands after hearing of “improved performance” since it was taken out of private hands. Margaret Hodge, the chairwoman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC), asked
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Jump in thefts of rail metal
METAL theft from railways is up by a third in 12 months and has cost train passengers more than £1.5m in the past three years, figures show. Network Rail said the North-East was a hotspot for criminals targeting cables to sell for scrap, which
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Tragic father in court for child abuse images
A FATHER whose life has been rocked by a series of tragedies is facing a prison sentence for child abuse images. Bernard Swift, known as Ben, yesterday admitted three counts of making indecent images and three of possessing indecent videos
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Something borrowed...something NYPD Blue
NEW YORK’S mean streets may be thousands of miles away, but North-East revelers could find a wild night out in Durham, Darlington or Newcastle ends with a ride home in a real NYPD car. Former police officer Marc Waggitt, from Darlington,
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Hip op patients facing recall
A HOSPITAL trust is contacting 450 patients who have had metal-on-metal hip replacements, in one of the biggest recalls of its kind in the region. The move by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust follows last year’s recall by the trust
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Austerity measures cut into council budgets
In the second part of a series marking the coalition Government’s first anniversary in power, The Northern Echo looks at the region-wide impact of public sector cuts. A SURVEY by The Northern Echo today reveals the full impact the Government
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Arnison content if he has to go out on a high
PAUL Arnison will learn whether or not he has a future at Darlington later this week, but if he is to be released, the full-back is delighted to be going out on a high. Arnison's current contract expires at the end of the month and, like
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Bruce to offer Zenden a new Sunderland deal
STEVE Bruce will hold contract talks with Bolo Zenden before the end of the season in an attempt to persuade the Dutchman to sign a new short-term deal with Sunderland. Zenden's current contract is due to expire next month, and having made
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Mock shop designers secure vital funding
CREATING 3D virtual shops for blue chip fashion brands such as Adidas and Hugo Boss has set one of the region's leading software firms on the road to global success. VR Software, based in Boroughbridge near York, is eyeing further expansion after securing
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Police chief gets final written warning
THE Chief Constable of North Yorkshire police, Grahame Maxwell, has been given a final written warning after admitting disreputable conduct, it has emerged today. Yesterday, North Yorkshire's top officer, became the first chief constable in
