Archive
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Undertones 35th Anniversary tour to call in at Darlington
THE Undertones will be rolling back the years when they play Inside/Out in Darlington on December 2. Celebrating their 35th anniversary, the Derry band have gone out on the road again after a successful tour earlier this year. The Undertones first took
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Andrews special is tonic for Moors
A well-executed goal by Sonny Andrews set up Spennymoor for a 3-1 win at league leaders West Auckland last night. Mattie Moffat gave West the lead on 10 minutes when he turned quickly and beat Craig Turns with an angled right foot shot,
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Newcastle reserves thumped by Everton
A YOUTHFUL Newcastle reserves side slumped to a 4-0 defeat to Everton at the club's Darsley Park training complex this afternoon. Davide Santon, who was one of the few players with first-team experience, played for the opening 75 minutes, but was unable
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Noble scores in Sunderland second-string defeat
RYAN Noble maintained his fine recent scoring run this afternoon, but was unable to prevent Sunderland reserves crashing to a 5-1 defeat at Liverpool. Noble, who was rewarded for his hat-trick in last week's second-string win over Newcastle with a brief
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Claydon to spend winter in New Zealand
Claydon heads to Canterbury CRICKET: Durham pace bowler Mitchell Claydon will again spend the winter with Canterbury Wizards. He will sign for the majority of the one day competition, which the side reached the final of last year, when he took 12 wickets
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Croft Circuit turns back time for Roger Albert Clark Rally
CROFT Circuit will be turning back the clock to the golden era of rallying when it hosts two stages of the Roger Albert Clark Rally next month. The RAC started in 2004 with just a few dozen cars, but this year 100 applied for entry. The event, between
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Memorial garden opens at Frosterley
A MEMORIAL garden to mark 100-years of a village hall has been officially opened by a 99-year-old local. Wilf Humes, 99, has opened the Frosterley Village Hall Centennial Garden. He unveiled a slab of Frosterley Marble on Saturday at the garden which
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World famous artist's work auctioned in Barnard Castle
A COLLECTION of original paintings by one of the region’s best loved artists is to go under the hammer at auction. Works by Mackenzie Thorpe, who comes from Middlesbrough, are to be sold by auctioneers Addisons, of Barnard Castle. He
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Developer under fire for blocking demolition plan
A WAR of words has broken out over a once-iconic Tees Valley building that a council wants to demolish. In a strongly-worded statement, Stockton Borough Council said it condemned the owner of Billingham House, the derelict former ICI headquarters,
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Cadets' 70-year wait for permanent base is over
SEA Cadets in part of the region have moved into their first permanent base after 70 years. Middlesbrough Sea Cadets attended an opening ceremony for their £250,000 premises at Albert Park, in the town. The East Lodge building, which was empty
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Dedication pays off for student Mike
MIKE PEMBERTON devoted many hours of dedicated study to the final year of his degree from Teesside University's School of Computing. The hard work has paid off, as he prepares to graduate tomorrow with a first class BSc (Hons) Computing and Networks
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Fake nurse sparks security alert
A BOGUS nurse has sparked a security alert after calling at elderly people’s homes, claiming to be giving flu vaccinations. The fake nurse, dressed in blue dress and carrying an orange plastic box, initially attempted to gain entry to a 63-year-old
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Action against abuse
POLICE have organised a week of events designed to show that domestic abuse will not be tolerated. The week of action in Durham City began today with a Home Office-sponsored conference at the Durham Centre, in Belmont on tackling stalking and harassment
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Help For Heroes concert
A BRASS band are to play a Christmas concert to raise money for injured servicemen. Durham Constabulary Police Band are to perform at Stanley Indoor Bowls Centre, next to the Asda store in Front Street, on Friday, December 2. Children from East Stanley
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The Stables, Wynard Village, near Billingham
WHILE our three boys have always been on the fussy side, my only “little girl” has always loved her food with an unquestioning passion. When Hannah was six, I wrote in my Dad At Large column how I’d read her a bedtime story and she looked up at
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Something nasty in the air
As the Government comes under fire for not doing more to tackle pollution, Lisa Salmon finds out how the nation’s health is being damaged by poor air quality. THE average person takes about ten million breaths a year, and if those are taken in the
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Banking heroes
Ian Hislop: When Bankers Were Good (BBC2, 9pm) Imagine: Vidal Sassoon – A Cut Above (BBC1, 10.35pm) The Adventurer’s Guide to Britain, (ITV1, 7.30pm) AT the moment, bankers rank somewhere below politicians, tax inspectors and traffic wardens
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Darlington Borough Council cuts debate
Tonight, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet will be debating its latest round of cuts, including the closure of the Arts Centre, Cockerton Library and East Row Toilets, withdrawing bus subsidies, increased Sunday parking charges, 155 redundancies
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Burglary suspect arrested in York following Northallerton car theft
POLICE have praised a vigilant member of the public after a man was arrested on suspicion of burglary. They received a call just after 11pm on Monday from a member of the public who had noticed a suspicious vehicle and its occupant in Danesgate
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Man injured as loose horse careers through racecourse
A member of the Sedgefield racecourse staff had to be taken to hospital after a loose horse careered off the course during this afternoon's meeting. Braddock Island charged off the track, over the rail and into the area between the pre-parade and parade
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Restaurant celebrates national competition titles
A FAMILY-RUN restaurant had a double reason to celebrate during a national culinary competition. The Spice Island restaurant, in Barnard Castle, was national finalist in the Spice Times Restaurants Awards, where it was crowned best in County Durham
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Shopkeeper suffers fractured skull in brutal attack
A SHOPKEEPER was beaten senseless during an attempted robbery at his store. Father-of-four David Basrai suffered a fractured skull and suspected broken jaw when intruders beat him about the head with a weapon at his business in Washington,
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Green solution to rising power bills
A COMMUNITY centre has found an enlightening solution to soaring power bills after having solar panels installed. Managers at Firthmoor Community Centre came up with the eco-friendly solution after seeing their annual electricity bills rising
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Fitness team raises funds
A FITNESS society has thanked its members after raising £1,000 for a vital emergency service. The Great North Air Ambulance, which receives no Government funding, was given the money by Darlington Keep Fit Association. The money was raised at
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Charity cake contest goes down a treat
KIND-HEARTED cooks created some unusual culinary masterpieces, including tomato soup cake, to raise money for a cancer charity. Darlington coffee shop Golden Brown held a cake competition in aid of Cancer Research, with a chef from North Yorkshire
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Risque business
Ian Wallace is the man who bought a seaside postcard empire – and the intellectual property rights, too. IAN Wallace lays his cards on the table straight away, a bawdy bumper bundle in a ribald rubber band. An old favourite shows a surgeon berating
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The Arab Spring has failed us
THERE is going to be a war in the Middle East. I don’t know exactly where it will start, it could break out at any one of half a dozen or more flashpoints, or exactly when: but it will be soon. When the socalled Arab Spring began with all those
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The euro
VJ CONNOR’S letter, (HAS, Nov 15) mentions the EU’s responsibility for causing the Eurozone crisis. This point is all too rarely being heard. Obviously, the credit crunch didn’t start in Europe but the nature of the Eurozone crisis is unique
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Tory Party
I THINK of the Tory Party in the same way that I think of a magician because, when the Tories are in government, things start disappearing in County Durham. In my time, I’ve seen railway stations, pits and a whole lot more just vanish from
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Pie in the sky
THE other day my wife went out on a shopping spree and left me to cook a vegetarian pie that she’d prepared. She left me with detailed instructions, although I thought this a little over the top. How difficult could it be? At the allocated time
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Taxes
THE Tories, like all before them, are taxing pensions, making it hard for pensioners to live. Have they forgot they paid taxes on them already while working? The Tories have now cut the fuel allowance by £50, making it more worrying for old people
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A pseudonym writes
RECENTLY, a reader wrote to ask if I may actually existed and that I might just be a Northern Echo journalist writing under a pseudonym (HAS, Nov 17). I would like to point out, as I was stopped a couple of times at the weekend regarding this
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Economics
FIFTY years studying economics induces a deep cynicism towards whatever is the latest fad. In the Sixties, it was the balance of payments on our foreign trade that brought governments down. In the Thatcher years money supply was the craze. Today
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Second chances
DO people deserve a second chance after committing a crime? Take the position of the best 100m runner in Great Britain, Dwain Chambers. He is a guilty drugs cheat but he is also the UK’s best chance of a medal in the sprint races at
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Seaside rubbish
EVERY Sunday I walk by the sea on our headland promenade at Hartlepool. I often remark to my husband and grand-daughter how much plastic rubbish is strewn about. I have resolved to take a big carrier bag and pick up as much as I can. The damage
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Skin deep
RACISM of any kind is unacceptable. There are those who will say that there is too much fuss about racism. Some might even say that there is room to use humour, but making fun can be a disguise for causing an offence. Kicking out racism has been
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Lighting up the place?
WHAT did you make of Lumiere? An amazing 140,000 people crammed into Durham City’s tiny streets over four nights – so many that the lightshow became a victim of its own success. Click here to view pictures from this year's Lumiere light festival
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Is the writing on the wall?
As local authorities implement public service cuts, Paul Cook wonders if they may be writing the last chapter for public libraries. CARS speed past on their way in and out of Darlington, customers walk from shop to shop and readers flow through
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Samsung Galaxy Tab - an iPad killer?
SAMSUNG must be feeling pretty chipper right now. The Korean giant has just pulled ahead of Apple in the battle for smartphone dominance. In fact, it's not so much moved ahead as sprinted off into the far distance. Samsung shipped 27.8m
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Last-ditch talks over Durham phone mast
LAST-ditch talks will be held tomorrow over controversial plans to build a mobile phone mast near schools and homes. As reported in The Northern Echo today, Telefonica O2 gained planning permission to build a 15m-high mast near the Co-op car park, in
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Couple threatened by masked gang
A COUPLE endured a terrifying ordeal when up to five masked men burst into their home armed with a weapon. Cleveland Police were called to a secluded house in Thorpe Road, Carlton village near Stockton just before 10pm last night. The heist sparked
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Searching for Raymond...
A BOOKMAKER is struggling to find the North-East winner of its online bingo contest. Williamhillbingo.com picked a competition winner from Durham on Wednesday, October 26, but have so far failed to track them down. The latest blip comes after the first
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Inquest told of last moments of worker
AN inquest has been told of the last hours in the life of a mental health worker who was stabbed to death in a knife attack as she visited a client. Ashleigh Ewing, 22, of Hebburn, South Tyneside, was stabbed 39 times in Ronald Dixon’s home in
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No commitment given over return of Lumiere festival
A DECISION on whether to stage a third Lumiere light festival in the North-East could be only months away, it emerged last night. Click here to view picture from this year's Lumiere light festival More than 140,000 people are thought to have visited
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Praying with the people
THE new Bishop of Durham has begun a week of prayer in the build-up to his enthronement in Durham Cathedral. The Right Reverend Justin Welby, who will be installed at Durham Cathedral on Saturday, began his high-profile Prayer of the People campaign
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Trust chiefs slammed over changes to care
NORTH-EAST health bosses are coming under pressure from an MP and a trade union over claims that they are planning to close a ward at one hospital and reduce beds at another. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in the region said it was alarmed
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Vicar's letter helps lead thief avoid jail
A CHURCH raider who left a cash-strapped congregation thousands of pounds out of pocket walked free from court - thanks partly to a forgiving vicar. Reverend Paul Neville wrote a letter in support of Matthew Swinbank, who struck at St George's
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Durham foodbank gets curry boost
A NEW charity foodbank has been boosted by a curry night fundraiser. The Durham Foodbank was set up by a group of churches in the city this summer, in response to a growing need for emergency food supplies. Leaders have since held their first two food
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Council cuts on meeting agenda
THE first meeting to discuss the latest round of council cuts will take place tonight. Campaigners, union leaders and councillors will be among those who will speak at Darlington Borough Council's cabinet meeting. The cabinet produced
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Poppy sellers raise tidy sum
THE Darlington branch of the Royal Signals Association raised £11,274.13 for this year's Poppy Appeal by selling poppies to customers at Sainsbury's in Victoria Road, Darlington. A spokesman for the group said: "Through the generosity of customers,
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Bairstow relishes an India return
Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow is relishing the prospect of exorcising a few demons in India during the next month. The wicketkeeper-batsman is heading back to the cricket mad country with the elite group of England Performance Programme players
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Stanley man intended to carry out 'serious harm'
A MAN on trial for the murder of his former girlfriend wept yesterday as he admitted his use of extreme violence against her over the years was intended to cause serious harm. Paul Northey, under cross examination by Adrian Waterman, prosecuting
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Four jailed after £100,000 Darlington council fraud
A DISGRACED former council official who got businessmen mates to invoice his authority for work which was never carried out is starting an 18-month jail sentence. Michael Skirving, 50, was told by a judge yesterday that his “systematic” fraud
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Campaign group appeals for Darlington Arts Centre reprieve
AN arts campaign group has appealed to influential councillors to overturn plans to close a popular venue, ahead of a crucial meeting. Darlington for Culture has sent a letter to members of Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet group on the
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Widow's donation to struggling Grangetown footballers
A STRUGGLING youth football club has received cash from the widow of an MP and former football scout. Alan Keen, who represented Feltham and Heston, in London, picked out talented players for Middlesbrough in the South for many years, having
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Amazing role for stricken Boro footballer
A FORMER professional footballer suffering from a rare and devastating illness has been given a remarkable role by his hometown club. Gary Parkinson has been rating potential transfer targets for Middlesbrough after the Championship club’s
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Geohagon completes his Darlington Exodus
Exodus Geohagon's protracted move away from Darlington finally reached a conclusion last night. The centre-back completed an emergency loan switch to Dagenham & Redbridge, leaving The Northern Echo Arena after playing in only six matches. He signed
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Controversy rages over Rock sell-off
SIR Richard Branson is not the principal buyer of Northern Rock, Labour warned yesterday - as controversy over the sale continued to rage. The Opposition piled pressure on the government by highlighting how billionaire Wall Street investor Wilbur Ross
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Amber plans to open more North-East pubs
PUB operator Amber Taverns has secured an additional £5m in funding to enable further expansion in the region. The company has a strategy of taking on struggling community pubs and investing in turning them around. Included in the 70-strong chain are
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MP steps in to resolve Redcar union protests
REDCAR MP Ian Swales has written to union chiefs in a bid to resolve the industrial action that has been taking place outside Redcar steelworks. In his letter to the General Secretary and the President of the TUC as well as the Community and Unite unions
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Teenager appears in court accused of stabbing stepfather to death
A TEENAGER has appeared in court accused of stabbing his stepfather to death. Christopher Gordon Hodgson, appeared before Consett Magistrates’ Court yesterday, accused of murder. The 19-year-old was arrested following the death of Steven
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'Killer went to pub after strangling best friend' in Redcar
A MAN carried on with his own life as normal hours after throttling a frail pensioner and setting fire to his home in an attempt to hide the evidence, a court heard yesterday. The Crown Prosecution Service says that Malcolm Harland shopped for alcohol
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Hartley yellow card appeal is lodged
HARTLEPOOL United yesterday lodged their appeal with the Football Association over the booking issued to Peter Hartley at the weekend. The centre-half was yellow carded in the first half by referee Andy Woolmer, but it was for a foul committed by left-back
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Westwood could already have done enough
HE had to wait for his chance, but Keiren Westwood has already made a favourable impression on Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, which could spell bad news for Simon Mignolet. Westwood has made a number of telling saves in his first three Premier League
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Simpson out to avoid Sir Alex on return
DANNY SIMPSON will be steering clear of Sir Alex Ferguson when he returns to Old Trafford for the first time in three-and-a-half years this weekend - as he aims to dent his old manager's title bid. Simpson spent four years as a professional
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Holloway full of admiration for Boro
THERE may only be four places separating Middlesbrough and Blackpool in the Championship, but Ian Holloway thinks the two clubs are a million miles away in terms of stature. Holloway, whose side only came down from the Premier League last season
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Caterpillar is back on track
A HEAVY vehicle maker is helping to keep traditional engineering skills in the region as staff numbers at its North-East factory return to pre-recession levels. Two years after the collapse of the construction industry forced Caterpillar to axe 400 jobs
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North-East builders welcome housing reforms
NORTH-EAST construction companies welcomed the Prime Ministers drive to get "Britain building again" amid calls for a more radical revamp of the housing sector. Buyers of new homes will be able to borrow up to 95 per cent of their value as part of plans
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NECC Column by James Ramsbotham
ANYONE studying last week’s regional business news would probably conclude I have been suffering from violent mood swings, writes James Ramsbotham, North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) chief executive. Each time I was asked to respond to a seriously
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Ofgem crack down on business energy suppliers
OFGEM, the energy watchdog has announced plans to help businesses change their energy supplier more easily. One of the regulator's concerns is that some firms are being automatically rolled over into new contracts, which can last up to three years,
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West have chance to go four points clear -- but Moors can go third
West Auckland can open up a four point lead at the top of the table if they beat Spennymoor at Darlington Road. West go into the game a point ahead of Dunston, but they have several injury problems. Midfielders Alex Francis and Adam Nicholls , defender
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Superbikes off the calendar at Croft for 2012
CROFT Circuit has vowed to get back on the British Superbike Championship map within 12 months, after the shock news that the track will not feature next year. Series promoters, MSVR, announced its calendar for the 2012 MCE Insurance-sponsored
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Double prize joy for Hagos
ETHIOPIAN Yared Hagos collected the £150 first prize and a bonus of £100 for a sub-49 minutes run as he won the North of England ten mile championship by nearly three minutes in the 60th Brampton-Carlisle road race. Newcastle-based Hagos clocked a personal-best
