Archive
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THE WEATHER FORECAST
Did I hear it correctly? Did tomorrow’s forecast really mirror how some people can feel after divorce or separation: “Dreary at first, becoming cheerful again later!” Whatever happened to the usual: “Overcast with sunny spells”?
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Football Betting
A much-needed second win of the campaign at Bolton eased the pressure on Sunderland boss Steve Bruce, pushing his side closer to mid-table and bookies fancy the Black Cats to kick-on by carding another victory, Betfred offering 6/5 for them to get the
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West knocked off the top by Aycliffe
League leaders West Auckland were knocked off the top of the first division on goal difference when they lost for the first time since August by 2-1 against Newton Aycliffe last night. Aycliffe were well on top in the first half, and West
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Cliff wows the Newcastle Arena
CLIFF Richard rolled back the years at the Newcastle Arena tonight as the veteran rocker's Soulicious tour arrived in style. The tour is promoting his new album: a collection of soul cuts, many recorded in Memphis. Produced and directed by David Gest
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First impressions of the new Bishop of Durham
The new Bishop of Durham, the Very Reverend Justin Welby, was in the middle of unpacking when I met him for the first time this week. I was invited to his house in Bishop Auckland ahead of today's formal consecration at York Minster and it's
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Celebrating our rail heritage
BRITAIN’S biggest celebration of the rail industry is coming to the region next summer. Railfest 2012 will be hosted by the National Railway Museum in York and will cover a space the size of 11 football pitches. It will feature an awe-inspiring line
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Taxi drivers protest at deregulation plan
PARTS of Richmond ground to a halt yesterday as taxi drivers flooded the town centre with cars in protest at a decision to deregulate the industry. More than 40 hackney cabs and private hire cars drove into the town at 4pm in an attempt to show what
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Young lifesavers make a splash
EIGHT young lifesavers made a splash in a national competition recently. The youngsters - part of the weekly Rookie lifesaving group, which meets at Bedale Leisure Centre - were representing the Hambleton district in the national lifesaving championships
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Access group looks for new members
A GROUP that gives guidance on how to improve and manage public access a national park is looking for new members. Eight vacancies must be filled on the independent Yorkshire Dales Access Forum, which works with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
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Serious incident on High Northgate, Darlington
A CYCLIST was taken to hospital with suspected head injuries after he was knocked off his bike by an NHS ambulance this afternoon. Police and ambulance crews were called to the scene at High Northgate’s junction with John Street in Darlington at 2.54pm
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Titus Bramble charged with sexual assault
POLICE have today charged Sunderland defender Titus Bramble with two counts of sexual assault and urinating in a public place. The 30-year-old will appear at Teesside Magistrates' Court on 10th November. He was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday
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Unemployment
MY niece was made redundant five months ago and had to undergo the embarrassing ordeal of signing on for Jobseekers allowance. During this period of being stigmatised with labels like "sponger" and "parasite" etc, she has been unable to obtain gainful
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Fuel bills
AS we head into the winter months, sharply rising fuel bills play on many minds and the prospect of an additional expense seems almost too much to bear at a time of such immense financial pressure. And it is so often the vulnerable who find themselves
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Social engineering
AS Europe convulses under the worst economic crisis in living memory, Spain has a new child abuse horror story unfolding. The nauseating saga begins during Spain's General Franco era. This ghastly despot, like Hitler who helped him gain power, was raised
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Sentencing
RECENTLY a Middlesbrough man found guilty of growing cannabis worth £33,000 escaped a prison sentence because the judge said he"came from a good family" was "very ambitious" and was "hoping to better himself by taking a degree." It's at times like
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UB 40
I WAS sad to read that former UB40 singer Ali Campbell was recently declared bankrupt. He joined sax player Brian Travers, drummer Jimmy Brown, trumpeter Terence Oswald and percussionist Norman Hassan who were declared bankrupt at Birmingham Crown Court
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EU go your way
THE narrow view of the EU should not be allowed dominate our politics. The benefits of being a member are not in front of people on a daily basis. The easy focus on negatives is picked up by some politicians eager to capitalise on the electorate's
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Royal women to get equal rights
FEMALE members of the Royal Family are to be given equality with men in the rules of succession to the throne, under historic constitutional changes agreed unanimously today by the 16 nations of which Queen Elizabeth II is monarch. The changes mean that
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Town shopping centre revamp is a step closer
PLANS to improve Billingham town centre's shopping precinct have moved a step closer. The multi-million pound West Precinct revamp, which should begin in the new year, will include new public toilets, improved paving and better lighting. Stockton
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Youngsters and band join forces for dance show
CHILDREN and youngsters are using dance routines and popular music to help them tell a positive tale of life in their town. Stockton group the Wildcats of Kilkenny are working with about 30 young dancers to create a one-off show. The youngsters
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Councils in talks over ways of saving money
TWO councils are drawing up proposals that could result in millions of pounds worth of council services being privatised or merged to save money. Hartlepool and Darlington and borough councils will debate options, one of which could save them a total
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A whole Heap of Olympic prospects
ALTHOUGH the focus is unsurprisingly on London for next year's Olympic Games, the North East will undoubtedly play its part and two-time Commonwealth champion gymnast Craig Heap was on hand this week to ensure those involved are as prepared as possible
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Bookies close the book after flurry of Liddle bets
Darlington's new manager will be Craig Liddle according to bookmakers who yesterday suspended betting on who will succeed Mark Cooper. After receiving substantial backing for Quakers' head of youth, Stan James took action and closed the book despite
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Solar panel subsidy cut threatens jobs
JOBS in the North-East's burgeoning solar panel industry are at risk from a cut in the subsidy given to householders for their installation, it was warned last night. Climate Change Minister Greg Barker yesterday warned the renewable industry's annual
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FA Cup Local Heroes: We're aiming for 1 in 100 -- Bennett
Hebburn manager Paul Bennett is aiming for 1 in 100 when the second division club go to Gateshead in a local derby for a place in the first round proper of the FA Cup. Hebburn have captured the imagination with a magnificent run to this stage from the
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FA Cup Local Heroes: We won't be overawed says Clarke
Ashington striker Jamie Clarke says that the Colliers won’t be overawed by their trip to Grimsby’s Blundell Park in the last qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday. It’s only nine years ago that Grimsby started the competition in the third
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New boss Proudlock to sit in stands
Easington’s new manager, Mark Proudlock, will sit in the stands for their away game at Northallerton while caretaker manager Steve Riley picks the team. Northallerton are hoping to include a new signing, while striker Colin Anderson and midfielder Gary
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First game in charge for new Shields boss King
South Shields manager Jon King takes charge of his first game when Shildon visit Filtrona Park today in the STL Northern League first division. King took over from Gary Steadman, who quit the job after they were beaten 5-2 at Billingham Town last Saturday
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FA Cup: "We'll have a real go" -- Bennett
Hebburn manager Paul Bennett says that the little STL second division club will have a real go at their Conference Premier opponents in their FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie on Saturday. Never before have Hebburn played at this stage of the competition
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Church's apology to victims of abuse
CHURCH leaders have apologised to the victims of a paedophile preacher after an investigation revealed “systematic failings” which may have enabled him to continue his abusive behaviour. The Methodist Church’s internal inquiry into US national
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County's adopted ship to visit region
THE Royal Navy’s new flagship berths in the North-East next week on its latest goodwill visit to its adopted county. HMS Bulwark arrives on the River Tyne on Monday, at the start of a five-day visit to renew affiliations with County Durham. The
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I found God, and my voice, serving in Iraq
A FORMER soldier who says she found God when under attack in Iraq is quickly becoming the nation’s brightest gospel singing star. Nikki Hopkins, 26, a shy single mother who never sang in public until a few years ago, has won a national gospel
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Marksman tells inquest why he shot bowman
A POLICE marksman has told a jury that the man he shot dead with a sniper rifle had taken aim at him with a crossbow and was trying to kill him. The officer, identified only as Officer E, was giving evidence from behind a curtain at the inquest
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Brown feeling good according to Wadsworth
HE only has two brief substitute outings to his name of late after an all-too-familiar injury problem, but Mick Wadsworth is sure James Brown is ready to get his career back on form. The talented Hartlepool United attacker has spent more time on the
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Santon backs Newcastle to bounce back
DAVIDE Santon is confident his Newcastle team-mates will not allow Wednesday's extra-time defeat at Blackburn to derail their unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign. Santon could not have wished for a more dramatic introduction to life in English
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Mowbray confident Gibson will fund January spending
TONY Mowbray is confident Steve Gibson will provide the funds for some January strengthening if Middlesbrough are still involved in the promotion hunt come the turn of the year. In the summer transfer window, Mowbray was charged with the task of reducing
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Private sector losing jobs as well - report
NEW figures have thrown doubt on the Government’s strategy for a jobs recovery in the North-East – by revealing private companies are also culling thousands of posts. David Cameron has insisted the huge loss of public-sector jobs would be outweighed
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Council says death crossing has to stay
A MOTHER says she is disappointed, but understands why, a road crossing where her teenage son was knocked down and killed cannot be closed. Madeline Walker’s 13-yearold son, Brandon Nugent, of Gilesgate, Durham City, was hit by a car while crossing
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Bishop to receive formal welcome
THE new Bishop of Durham will be formally consecrated at York Minster today. The Very Reverend Justin Welby, previously the Dean of Liverpool, will be welcomed and commissioned to the North-East by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, in
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X Factor's Joe steps in to headline spectacular
A CHARITY music and fireworks celebration has been saved at the 11th hour after a popular boyband pulled out. Organisers of TFM’s Spooky Spectacular which is set to take place tonight from 5pm in Darlington’s South Park were thrown into a panic
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Coalmine plans include £55,000 for community
A PUBLIC inquiry has been told that up to £55,000 has been made available for community projects if plans to create an opencast coalmine are approved. UK Coal’s operations director Dave Bolton told the hearing at Leadgate Workmen’s Social Club,
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Men facing prison for £100k council con plot
FOUR men are facing prison sentences for their parts in a plot to swindle a council out of £100,000 with bogus invoices for machine hire and labour costs. A jury convicted Michael Skirving, Martin Dougherty and James Burns of conspiracy to
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Regular doses of aspirin 'help reduce hereditary cancer risk'
ASPIRIN slashes cancer rates in people with hereditary risk by more than half, according to a major drug trial led by a North- East scientist. The groundbreaking research proves that taking a regular dose of aspirin reduces the long-term risk
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Time for the FA to stand firm
BRITISH football has made giant strides in combating racism since the low point of the 1970s and 80s. Speak to the likes of Gary Bennett or Chris Hughton and they will tell you tales of vitriolic abuse from the terraces, monkey chants taken up by hundreds
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Carillion and Prince's Trust tackle youth unemployment
A PARTNERSHIP between a youth charity and a leading building firm has helped disadvantaged youngsters in the region to get a foothold on the jobs ladder. Record levels of unemployment among people aged 16 to 25 has prompted calls for businesses
