Archive
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£12m teenager can handle the pressure
CONNOR Wickham last night insisted he is capable of handling the pressure that will accompany his big-money move to Sunderland. After a whirlwind 24 hours of negotiations, Wickham signed a four-year deal yesterday afternoon to become the joint
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Boro attempt to hang on to Taylor
TONY MOWBRAY will meet up again with his Middlesbrough players again today when they return for pre-season training and he hopes there will be new faces joining them in July. Mowbray spent last night trying to convince Andrew Taylor that his
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Magpies suffer blow in Erdinc chase
NEWCASTLE UNITED’S hopes of landing Turkish striker Mevlut Erdinc have taken a hit by Paris St Germain’s decision to use him as bait in their pursuit of Eden Hazard. The Magpies are still seeking attacking reinforcements this summer despite
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Quakers hopeful
Darlington hope to reveal their latest signing today after making good progress during negotiations yesterday. Talks with the experienced defender, who is a free agent after being released from his previous club at the end of last season, have
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Swan aim to improve
SWAN Yamaha are looking to build on their excellent results at Knockhill in the team's quest for MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship glory. The Guisborough-based team heads to Snetterton this weekend for the sixth round of the championship,
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British man appeals against US murders conviction
A BRITISH man has appealed against his convicted for shooting dead his American wife and nine-month-old daughter. Neil Entwistle, who who met his wife Rachel at York University, says he should get a new trial because police searched his home without
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Blood donors reach 100 unit milestone
TWO North-East blood donors have been recognised for their dedication after giving 200 units of blood between them. David Shield and Andrew Horn were both presented with a crystal decanter from the National Blood Service for each making 100 blood donations
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Art donated for epilepsy funds
A BUILDING society has donated a painting to help an epilepsy charity raise funds for a vital piece of hospital equipment. Darlington Building Society handed over the original work by local artist Bill Battram to Abbies Love which will be raffled off
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Drink-driver awaited police
A DRINK-driver who hit a parked car waited by the vehicle until police arrived, a court heard. Christopher Ross, 35, had been drinking with friends on the evening of June 19 before returning home, where he got into an argument with his girlfriend
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Patrons stopped drinker driving
CLUB patrons gathered in front of a car to stop a man who had been drinking from driving, a court heard yesterday. Patrons of the Rolling Mills Club, in Darlington, stopped Mark Wardell from leaving the car park on May 7. He had taken his girlfriend's
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Tired? Drunk? It must be Christmas!
Cockfield quoits club got through to the semi-finals of the Northern Echo Cup last Thursday night and there was a good crowd out to watch proceedings. I only mention this because Gary Peart was over from Tenerife and with Tupper in close attendance
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Plans being drawn up for horticultural show
PLANS are being drawn up for horticultural show for green fingered locals based near Spennymoor to show off their skills. Details about the Spennymoor Horticultural Show are still being worked out but it is planned to hold it on Saturday, September 3
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Two hunted after woman robbed
POLICE are trying to trace two men who stole a bag of groceries from an elderly woman in Trimdon Village. The 73-year-old victim was walking along Beckwith Drive from the shops in Church Road, in the direction of Springwell Avenue, at about 12.40pm
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Landlord in running for top pub competition
A RURAL landlord is celebrating reaching the final short-list of 12 pubs battling to be named Yorkshire’s Favourite Pub. The Farmers Arms, in Muker, in Swaledale, is hoping to win the competition which is being run by Welcome to Yorkshire. The competition
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Emma on mission to encourage more donors
A TEENAGER is urging more people to become organ donors after a double lung transplant allowed her to spend valuable time with her grandfather. Without the eight-hour operation in 1997, Emma Barrass's grandfather John would have died within weeks,
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Trees to be cut down after attack by vandals
VANDALS have stripped the bark from two trees, meaning they will have to be cut down. A councillor has hit out at the wanton damage to the whitebeams near Kirkbright Close, Lingdale, east Cleveland. Councillor Steve Kay, who represents Lingdale
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Passengers' punch-up over 4am taxi ride
A FIGHT broke out after three people forced their way into a taxi that already had passengers. Police said the assault took place in Saltburn at about 4am on Saturday when a Frontline taxi pulled up at a cash machine outside the NatWest Bank.
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Railway history 'is not ignored'
THE man in charge of celebrating a town's heritage has hit back at claims that its world-renowned railway history is being ignored. Reuben Kench, the head of culture and leisure at Stockton Borough Council, responded to arguments by Robert Harbron
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Mugger jailed for two years
A MUGGER is starting a two year jail sentence for punching a man to the ground and stealing £20 he had just withdrawn from a cashpoint. Christopher Docherty rifled through the pockets of his victim, Michael Clayton, after the attack in Stockton town
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Improvement work starts at Tees Heritage Park
WORK has started on improving a newly-created park. Developments at the £600,000 Tees Heritage Park, in the south Stockton area, include: New steps, handrail and platform at one of the water bodies in the reserve; Improvements to paths in
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Tsonga dumps Federer out of Wimbledon
JO-WILFRIED Tsonga has dumped Roger Federer out of Wimbledon after a five-set epic on Centre Court. Frenchman Tsonga recovered from two sets down to beat the six-time champion 3-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Tsonga will now play Serb Novak Djokovic in Friday's
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Clean up your community
PEOPLE in north Durham are being encouraged to get involved in helping to make their community cleaner, safer and greener. Derwent Valley Area Action Partnership is funding eight ‘weeks in action’ throughout the area as part of an ongoing environmental
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Durham beat Lancashire as Benkenstein enters the record books
DALE Benkenstein became Durham's all-time record run scorer as the County Championship leaders held their nerve to beat Lancashire at Aigburth. Durham have moved 23 points clear of their opponents at the top of the table after securing a five-wicket
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Woman who shouted 'bang, bang' at Moat PC spared jail
A WOMAN who shouted 'bang, bang' at blinded PC David Rathband while making a gun gesture has been spared jail. Kelsey Donkin, 22, of Goschen Street, Sunderland, admitted a charge of disorderly conduct over the incident, which happened during
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For valour
The story of the 4ft 10in soldier who won the VC – while his father was interned in an English camp. COOL as you like, recent columns have recalled the North-East’s Anglo- Italian ice cream men. Both Michael Clark and Margaret Rochester express
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Hartlepool Council takes on PR work to counter budget cuts
A NORTH-EAST council is using an innovative approach to media relations to save jobs and services. Hartlepool Borough Councils public relations team was told to find £27,000 or one member of their three-man team and a number of services could
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Pupils learn about recycling
CHILDREN from north Durham have been learning how to make the most of their rubbish. Pupils aged three-seven at South Stanley Infant and Nursery School were asked last week to bring in materials to be recycled. The brought in yoghurt and flower pots
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Wickham completes big-money move to Black Cats
SUNDERLAND this afternoon completed the signing of Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham. The highly-rated 18-year-old has penned a four-year deal on Wearside, and arrives for an initial fee of £8.1m, a sum that could rise as high as £12m
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Driving lessons for 14-year-olds in bid to cut road deaths
A driving instructor is offering lessons to 14-year-olds in a bid to cut deaths on the roads. Craig Ramshaw has launched 'Teendrive' to try and curb the number of young people involved in accidents on the roads. The scheme has already proved
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£1,000 reward to catch Durham cable vandals
A REWARD of £1,000 is on offer after thieves set fire to railway cable in an attempt to steal it from the line in the early hours of this morning. British Transport Police (BTP) detectives are currently investigating the incident which took place
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Up close and personal
Embarrassing Bodies: Live From The Clinic (C4, 8pm) Lewis (ITV1, 8pm) Afghanistan: The Battle For Helmand (BBC2, 9pm) DON’T sit down with a spaghetti bolognese to watch Dr Christian Jessen in action in Embarrassing Bodies: Live From The Clinic
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14-year-olds offered driving lessons to prepare them for the road
A DRIVING instructor is offering lessons to 14-year-olds in a bid to cut deaths on the roads. Craig Ramshaw has launched 'Teendrive' to try and curb the number of young people involved in accidents on the roads. The scheme has already proved successful
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Teachers
MEMBERSHIP of the present Government has become synonymous with an absence of brain cells. Absurd policies on justice, health, national forest sell-offs and welfare are announced and then reversed under the guise of an administration that listens
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What a raquet
IT must be an incredibly strenuous job being a contender at Wimbledon this year – rushing from corner to corner, racing back and forth, maintaining that essential fluid intake and grabbing ample portions of food that will keep one sustained during
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Darlington carnival
YET again, there was a magnificent effort made by those participating in this year’s Darlington carnival. The stalls in Stanhope Park were perhaps rather disappointing with little variety. Click here to view pictures from the event Could Darlington
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Overseas aid
CT RILEY suggests that foreign aid should be linked to programmes to encourage recipient countries to curb population growth (HAS, June 24). This is not necessary. There is compelling evidence that increasing prosperity and improving literacy
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Lancashire v Durham: Edging closer
DURHAM closed in on victory during a gripping morning session, reaching 113 for five with a further 68 still needed. Paul Collingwood initially shouldered the responsibility for guiding them towards their target. Collingwood was on two when Durham resumed
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NORTH YORKSHIRE: News in brief
GOLF DAY: The Disabled Golf Society is holding an open day at Thirsk and Northallerton Golf Club, in Thornton-le-Street, near Thirsk, on Tuesday, July 12, at 9.30am, to encourage disabled people of the therapeutic benefits of the sport. The event
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Bedlington win first game on Rich tour
Bedlington Terriers comfortably won the first game of their Rich tour in the early hours this morning. Bedlington, who have been invited out to Canada and the US by American businessman Bob Rich, defeated Candian side Niagara United 4-1 this morning.
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Forces set for 50% council tax cut
SERVICEMEN on certain overseas operations are having their council tax bills halved, the Ministry of Defence said. The MoD is doubling Council Tax Relief (CTR) for personnel on eligible operations overseas, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent,
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Former focus
AN article in the Northern Echo (June 27) reports that the disused former Focus store at Tindale Crescent, in Bishop Auckland, is to be demolished. Good riddance. A police source says that building and site has become an eyesore, but I would submit
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Watchdog rejects controversial airfield expansion plans
A LONG-RUNNING planning saga over plans to extend a rural airfield looks to be at an end, after the Planning Inspectorate published its adjudication on the row. Martin Scott has been seeking to develop Bagby Airfield, near Thirsk, four several years,
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Litter is a major problem
JEREMY PAXMAN is the latest celebrity to express outrage over Britain’s ever-rising tide of litter. “Who wants to live in a rubbish dump?” he asks. “We spend a fortune every year picking up litter.” Paxo is joined by other high-profile names, including
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Children create Gospel tribute to 'Apostle of the North'
YOUNGSTERS from 12 schools are helping create an illustrated Gospel in tribute to the ‘Apostle of the North’. Children aged eight to 11 from schools around Houghton-le-Spring, on Wearside, are making their own copy of Mark’s Gospel, to celebrate the
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Louise Lemon: Margaret Ryder
LOUISE LEMON is trying to find one or her mother's bridesmaids to her celebrate her parents' 50th wedding anniversary. Her parents, Norma and Cliff Stevens, celebrate their gold anniversary on March 3, 2012. Mrs Lemon is trying to find Margaret Ryder
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Collections for injured heroes
SHOPPERS will this weekend be asked to help support the UK’s injured servicemen and women. Supermarket chain Tesco is holding collections at 830 of its stores nationwide on Friday and Saturday, to raise funds for military charity Help for Heroes. Rob
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Saving the high street
IT is not surprising that the high street is struggling. Consumer confidence is low, sales are falling, and the internet is an increasingly convenient way to shop. Thorntons is among the latest casualties, with the chocolate maker announcing that
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Fighting for change
The courtroom treatment of the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler came as no surprise to the parents of a North Yorkshire murder victim. Joe Willis reports. IS it not strange that unfaithful footballers can use super injunctions to protect
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Cook begins with huge win
ALASTAIR COOK praised his side for their perfect performance after his reign as England’s one-day captain started with a crushing 110-run win over against Sri Lanka. The tourists spoiled Stuart Broad’s debut as Twenty20 captain on Saturday
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By George! Benjamin set for success
GEORGE Benjamin can gain deliverance on his return to Catterick. Dandy Nicholls’ four-yearold is a nice horse, and was widely expected to strike over this course and distance on his final start in May. Although he fared with great promise as
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Brothers meet a market demand
A FAMILY butcher has expanded its market operations by taking over a stall which closed suddenly earlier this year, aftermore than 100 years in business. Fenwick's Family Butcher now has two stalls in Darlington's indoormarket aftermoving into
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Toddling along for charity
FIFTY-FIVE children completed a fancy dress toddle to raise money for charity. The youngsters, aged from four months to four-and-ahalf years, donned fancy dress for the sponsored walk around a field at Stapleton, near Darlington. The Big Toddle
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£300,000 bill to keep theatre open
A COUNCIL will spend £300,000 to keep its town's theatre open while it seeks a new operator. As reported in The Northern Echo, Darlington Borough Council will continue to subsidise the town's Civic Theatre until July next year. The council has
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Strawberry fields for Hurworth
HURWORTH Scout Group holds its annual strawberry fair on Hurworth Village Green on Friday, July 8, at 6.30pm. As well as strawberries, there will be a variety of other refreshments. There will be a raffle, tombola, various games, stalls selling books
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Artist's exhibition to raise funds for the Three Peaks
THE Three Peaks of the Yorkshire Dales will be the centrepiece of a new art exhibition that will help to raise funds for their upkeep. Pastel artist Lucia Smith will be showing some of her work in the Yoredale offices of the Yorkshire Dales
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Wickham £10m bid accepted by Town
SUNDERLAND are hoping to push through a £10m deal for Connor Wickham before Liverpool harden their own interest in the Ipswich Town striker. Black Cats officials tabled an improved offer for Wickham early yesterday morning in an attempt to
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Call for VAT cut as more stores to shut
THOUSANDS of jobs were at risk last night as the crisis on the high street deepened. In a grim day for retailers, department store TJ Hughes called in administrators and scores of store closures were announced by Thorntons, Jane Norman and Carpetright
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Family's anger at flights decision
A FAMILY grounded by a sporting accident are furious after their airline refused to rearrange their flights – because they had already checked in online. The Robson family were due to fly to the Greek island of Rhodes for a week’s holiday today
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Universities shake-up plan revealed
UNIVERSITIES will be forced to reveal all spending as low as £500 to persuade would-be students that their tuition fees are not being squandered. A shake-up of higher education proposes that institutions be required to “provide the sort of material
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Bogus police officer breaks into university building
A BOGUS policeman who broke into a student accommodation building is today being hunted by the real thing. The man was dressed in a high-visibility jacket with a plain front, but with the word Police written on the back, black trousers, black boots and
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Murder suspect seen washing his clothes, court told
A MAN seen hanging out his washing hours after allegedly bludgeoning a vulnerable man to death was trying to get rid of evidence linking him to the crime, a jury was told yesterday. Andrew Albert Johnson's clothes would have been covered in
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Fourteen-year-old boy left paralysed while playing in the sea
A TEENAGER has been paralysed from the neck down in a freak accident, while trying to keep cool during the weekend heatwave. Dale Milne, 14, dived into a wave while playing with friends in the sea at Whitby and cracked his head on the seabed. He was
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Parents of Jenny Nicholl back calls to protect witnesses
THE parents of murder victim Jenny Nicholl have backed demands for witnesses to be given more protection during trials. Brian and Ann Nicholl have spoken out after the courtroom ordeal suffered by the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler
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Mayor to apologise over 'shandy' pub ban
A MAYOR banned from a pub in his town after an argument over a pint of shandy has apologised to the landlords. Barnard Castle Town Mayor, Tony Cooke, still denies any wrongdoing, but will write to Andy and Sue Hill, who run The Beaconsfield in the County
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Liquid explosive scanner goes into operation for first time
A REVOLUTIONARY bottle scanner for detecting liquid explosives will go into operation for the first time today when it is installed at a North-East airport. The device developed by Kromek has been installed at Durham Tees Valley Airport for an operational
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TTE upbeat despite impact of war in Lybia
THE conflict in Lybia has hit demand at a Tees Valley training business, which is closing one of its North-East sites and making 25 people redundant. TTE Technical Training Group remains confident that a restructure will make the business more sustainable
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Half of schools in the North hit by strike
PUPILS have been told to stay away from around half of the region's schools tomorrow as teachers walk out over pay and pensions. More than 500 schools in the North-East and North Yorkshire have so far confirmed they will close or partially
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Jail for woman who slashed love-rival neighbour
A JEALOUS attacker who almost killed her victim when a long-running feud ended in bloodshed has been jailed for nine years. Katie Hull launched the near-deadly assault months after her neighbour April Watt had an affair with her boyfriend while
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Hospital research reveals true scale of alcohol-related violence
PIONEERING research being carried out at two North-East hospitals is revealing the true impact of alcohol related violence in the region. The study, which has been commissioned by alcohol charity Balance, has shown that the scale of the problem is much
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Accused man held knife to girlfriend's throat
A FACTORY worker held a knife to his girlfriend's neck and locked her in their home before threatening to blow up it up, a court has heard. Keith Andrew Allison, 44, was said to be upset about an alleged theft he was accused of and wanted to talk to
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More organs missing from Durham man who died in France
MORE organs from a North-East man found dead in a French country lane have gone missing. A pathologist has found that one of Andrew Watt's lungs, part of his liver and his throat were not returned to the UK with his body. It has also
