Archive
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Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Stockton next week
THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the North-East in one of their first public appearances since the infamous topless photos scandal. Prince William and Kate Middleton took court action to prevent further publication of the intimate photos
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Duncan Bannatyne takes to Twitter to reassure fans after suspected heart attack while in Darlington
DRAGONS’ DEN star, Duncan Bannatyne, was tonight in hospital after fears he had suffered a heart attack. The Darlington-based entrepreneur and philanthropist was admitted to the town’s Memorial Hospital this morning after falling ill
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Hair-raising adventure
Steve Pratt talks to playwright Mike Kenny about his many successes with children’s theatre WRITER Mike Kenny still remembers a review of the first children’s play that he wrote. The critic called it “sub-Grimm” and clearly it wasn’t
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Dancing costume queen
Strictly Come Dancing is as well known for its fabulous frocks as it is for its sambas and waltzes. Ruth Campbell meets the quiet girl from Stanley who is about to put the sparkle back into our Saturday nights IT doesn’t seem that long
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Six appeal
One of the most environmentally-friendly houses in County Durham is on the market. Sarah Willcocks talks to owner Sally Marshall about how to maintain a balance between style and sustainability A PASSION for sustainable living and a desire to recreate
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2,200 redundancies as JJB Sports enters administration
ABOUT 2,200 staff at JJB Sports are being made redundant after the retailer collapsed into administration. Rival firm Sports Direct, controlled by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley,is buying up 20 of the sporting goods chain's shops. The deal
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Unwinding road
Peter Barron, editor of The Northern Echo, drives into the heart of North Yorkshire and finds himself in a stress-free zone EVER since going there on a school coach trip in the 1970s, I’ve had a soft spot for the market town of Helmsley. I
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I should cocoa
A city’s latest tourist attraction is already proving a mouth-watering success. With National Chocolate Week nearing, Peta King gets a taste of the sweet story of York I FEEL like a wine connoisseur. As flavours swirl on my tongue, I’m asked “What
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On top of the world
Following in the footsteps of explorers and celebrities, Jennifer Cockerell attempts to climb Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa SLOWLY we trudge through the thick snow, every single step a struggle. During the final push to the summit
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The billion dollar man
North-East film director Paul WS Anderson explains to Steve Pratt how he’s made a mint out of being Mr Resident Evil IT’S always a good start when you ask the interviewee how he is and he replies “Awesome”. Newcastle-born director Paul WS Anderson
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Strictly Cinderella
Dani Harmer is a workaholic, she tells Steve Pratt, as the former Tracy Beaker star tries to murder the opposition on the dancefloor in Strictly Come Dancing, before opening in pantomime at York TV’s Tracy Beaker, Dani Harmer, is going from rags
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Sprinting into a role
Leonora Crichlow is in awe of sports people after taking up the challenge of making the film Fast Girls BEING Human star Lenora Crichlow watched the London Olympics with a fresh eye after her starring role in new British picture Fast Girls. The
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Pregnancy goes with a bump for Jai
EXPECTANT father Jai should expect the unexpected when he least expects it in Emmerdale (ITV1). He has great expectations as he plans to accompany the pregnant mother of his secret child Rachel for her first scan in hospital. Okay, so he’s omitted
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Josh victorious in 'man v food' charity showdown
A COW pie eating contest has raised £2,000 for charity. Ten Northumbrian Water staff raced to see who could eat a ten-ounce beef burger quickest, cheered on by their workmates who paid to watch the spectacle. The winner was payroll assistant
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Schizophrenic who repeatedly raped prostitute told he won't be freed in years
A paranoid schizophrenic man who repeatedly raped an escort in a nine-and-a-half hour ordeal at a hotel has been told it will be years before he is safe to be freed. David Roderick, 35, paid for a 22-year-old prostitute to stay for one hour with
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Newcastle United blows final whistle on Virgin Money sponsorship
NEWCASTLE United has chosen to end its two-year sponsorship deal with Virgin Money at the end of this season. The agreement would otherwise run until the end of the 2013/2014 campaign, but either party had the right to terminate the agreement early
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Durham firm C&A Pumps to close
COUNTY Durham headquartered C&A Pumps is being closed by parent company Renew. The business based in Bowburn, near Durham City, which was bought by Renew in October 2008, had found it increasingly to trade profitably. A trading
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Driver arrested over fatal three-car pile-up
A DRIVER has been arrested following the death of a 41-year-old man in a three-car pile-up. The collision, on the B6265 Boroughbridge Road, near the Copt Hewick junction, at 10.30am, on Sunday, September 23, involved a black Fiat hatchback
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£5.9m junction set to ease congestion hot-spot
RESIDENTS, traders and motorists are celebrating following the opening of a £5.9 million junction designed to alleviate one of North Yorkshire’s most notorious congestion hotspots. After an eight-year campaign by Ryedale and North Yorkshire
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Contrast in fortunes for Billingham's Evans boys
THANK Evans should be a popular refrain at Billingham, and rarely more so than on Saturday after full back Peter Evans scored all their points. His admirable efforts could have been in vain, however, when brother, Joe, was harshly sin-binned with
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Stoppage angers Hepper as Fox marches on
DEFEATED but determined is how Darlington's Neil Hepper was feeling last night after Fishburn's Gary Fox got his hands on the first pro title of his career. A stinging right from Fox did the damage and, despite a frustrated Hepper's best attempts
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Mowden maintain their momentum
DARLINGTON Mowden Park’s fourth successive win lifted them to fourth place in National Two North as they romped to a 42-27 victory at Huddersfield. Mowden capitalised on good conditions to score five tries and fly half Grant Connon converted four
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Ward sets sights above English title
PROMISING Durham boxer Martin Ward took the latest step on the road to the top when he claimed a comfortable win over the experienced Jason Booth to win the English bantamweight title yesterday. The 16th win of a 17-fight professional career at
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Bulman leads the way in Redcar
NEW Marske veteran James Bulman showed his younger rivals a clean pair of heels to win yesterday’s 30th Redcar Half Marathon by nearly three minutes to claim the North-East championship. It was the 41-year-old Teessider’s 21st half marathon of
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Pressure no problem for England's Morgan
EOIN MORGAN’S senior statesman role for England has perhaps been forced on him – but it is one he is relishing as crunch time approaches in the ICC World Twenty20. England retain realistic prospects of defending their title only thanks to Saturday
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Relief for O'Neil as Cats seal first victory
AT last, Martin O’Neill could afford a wry smile in Saturday’s post-match press conference. His side had won in the Premier League for the first time this season, beating Wigan 1-0, after staying unbeaten in the previous four outings, where criticisms
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Six-goal Willington stretch winning run to 11 games
WILLINGTON stretched their magnificent winning sequence to 11 games when they hit Silksworth Rangers for six on Wearside. The home side conceded just one goal in the opening half to Jason White but then the floodgates opened. Adam Thacker doubled
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Moors hit four to keep perfect record
SPENNYMOOR maintained their perfect start to the league season when they wontheir eighth game 4-0 at South Shields, but assistant manager Gavin Fell says records are not on their minds. Moors are six points behind Darlington, but have three games
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Quakers hit five in best performance of season
DARLINGTON’S desire to win promotion from the Ebac Northern League at the first attempt is no secret, and it has been made abundantly clear over the past week. They recorded a fifth successive win when they beat Durham City 3-1 last Wednesday,
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Confidence low - Flinders
SCOTT FLINDERS admits confidence is eroded within the Hartlepool United camp. Pools slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Colchester on Saturday, their fourth loss of the League One season and they already have a goal difference of minus eight. Add the
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Match Report: Colchester United 3 Hartlepool United 1
Final Score: Colchester United 3 Hartlepool United 1 ON October 1 last year, Hartlepool United suffered their first League One defeat of the season, going down 1-0 to Sheffield Wednesday. Twelve months on and with Sheffield United visiting
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Hines set to step in as Woodgate replacement
TONY MOWBRAY has backed Seb Hines to make the most of his opportunity to shine in a Middlesbrough shirt again after Jonathan Woodgate’s latest injury set-back. Woodgate’s hamstring problem will be assessed this week but he has already been ruled
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ANDY WILLIAMS: BLAND AND DISINTERESTING?
EVERY time a well-known entertainer dies, tributes pour in from around the world. Chris Wardell paid tribute to Andy Williams (Echo, Sept 28). It is, of course, sad when anyone dies of cancer and Andy Williams’ death is regrettable in that
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TUITION FEES
THE Defence Secretary Liam Fox claimed expenses at the cost of the taxpayer to take a friend around the world with him. Earlier this month he called for “radical” cuts in the country’s welfare budget to help fund a series of tax reductions to get
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BIKER
I WAS horrified by the story of biker Lukas Wisniewski pulling a wheelie at 103mph on the A63, near Selby (Echo, Sept 20). We all know the speed limits and should obey them. Yet on the A1 many motorists drive past me at 90mph. In July last
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PRIVACY
I DO understand the young royals being annoyed at the invasion of their privacy. However, they must be very naive if they did not learn from what happened to Princess Diana. The royals have a very privileged life. They never have to wonder
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CATS
TAFF DAVIES wrote of his difficulty keeping cats off his new lawn in Fishburn (HAS, Sept 15). There is a plant nicknamed “scary cat” which has a very strong unpleasant smell which deters cats from fouling in your garden. I too tried various
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ARMED POLICE
ONE of my remaining pleasures is writing to the papers. Sadly, on the subject of routinely arming the British bobby, there is nothing left to say following the Echo’s magnificent coverage (Echo, Sept 19). The editorial plus the excellent article
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Match Report: Middlesbrough 1 Leicester City 2
Final Score: Middlesbrough 1 Leicester City 2 CLOSE encounters have become something of the norm at the Riverside Stadium, but Nicky Bailey’s flying object was not sufficient to edge Middlesbrough to a fourth successive win on Teesside this
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HILLSBOROUGH
WITH reference to the angry concert-goers walking out at Gerry Marsden’s “tirade against the police” during a concert at Darlington Civic Theatre (Echo, Sept 18). I was at the Sixties Gold event and thoroughly enjoyed it. The people who complained
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RIGHT OF REPLY
ALTHOUGH I am not a golfer I would hate to see an amenity such as Stressholme golf course, in Darlington, close. Then again, I hated the closure of Darlington Arts Centre (nobody seemed to question why it cost quite so much to run). I also
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BISHOP SHOPS
REGARDING the decision by McDonald’s to close its restaurant in Bishop Auckland ’s town centre (Echo, Sept 18). The fast food firm has closed its premises in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, after concerns were raised over a fall in trade.
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BISHOP SHOPS
I DON’T think any new shops should have been built in either Bishop Auckland or St Helen Auckland until the empty shops in the town centre were filled. Building new shops in either place is bound to lead to closures of some of the main stores.
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Echo reigns in bad weather
THE day of the deluge will be remembered in the North-East for many years to come. Millions of people were affected last week – stuck in villages turned into islands, evacuated from their homes, going nowhere on roads turned into waterways. Even
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Comeback kings enjoy an incredible victory
Kaymer was up against Steve Stricker. Level with two to go, the American bogeyed the short 17th after hitting his chip far too strongly. Kaymer, bunkered off the final tee, found the green and had two putts for it once Stricker missed his long
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The story behind the picture
THIS brilliant picture, which appeared on our front page on Wednesday, became a national talking point because it captured the A1 as it had never been seen before – under water. Chief photographer Richard Doughty was driving on the A168 on his
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Cheese maker celebrates deal with supermarket
AN artisan cheese maker has agreed a deal with a supermarket chain to sell its products at more than 100 stores nationwide. Shepherds Purse, of Thirsk , North Yorkshire, has secured listings for its latest innovations, Harrogate Blue and Bluemin
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Queen and country
THE Ministry of Defence has been forced onto the back foot once more over plans to fast-track redundancies. Civil servants rushed to deny weekend reports that 8,000 British soldiers will be told they are no longer required – days after Christmas
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Ex-pat calls for bridge webcam revival
A NORTH-EAST man now living in the US has started a campaign to restore a webcam at one of the region’s most famous landmarks. Guy Bailey is calling for a webcam which previously broadcast live images of Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge to be
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Firm gives would-be Paralympian a helping hand
A PARALYMPIC torchbearer, who hopes to compete in the 2016 games, has had a helping hand from a North-East business. Lee Maddison, from Sedgefield , County Durham, made history when he followed in the footsteps of his Olympic torchbearer grandfather
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North-East workforces showing strong growth
NORTH-EAST companies are increasing their workforces at the highest rate since the recession hit, according to a business survey. Staffing levels are increasing more rapidly than at any time during the past four years, reflecting the downward trend
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Samantha's in good voice for talent title bid
AN aspiring singer is through to the regional finals of a nationwide talent contest. Thirteen-yearold Samantha Lavery is hoping to win a place in the finals, performing at London’s O2 Arena. She competes in the North-East round of the Open
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Survival architect praised
A CARE home is being investigated by police over claims of financial irregularities. Norton Court Care Home, in Stockton, was at the centre of a probe into the treatment of its residents earlier this year. A report published by the Care Quality
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Son’s home truth makes parents losers
A COUPLE were compelled to lose weight after their nine-year-old son called them fat. Thomas Hodgson’s direct, but well-meant, comments inspired his parents, Mark and Gail Hodgson from Newton Aycliffe , County Durham, to dramatically change their
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Warning to give seals a wide berth
CONSERVATIONISTS have urged the public to avoid contact with seals along the North-East coast as the pupping season gets under way. The charity British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) responds to stricken marine mammals on the UK coastline.
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New acts hit the right note for shoppers
TWO of the UK’s most promising new music acts entertained crowds of shoppers in the North-East at the weekend. Lula and To Kill A King performed a gig at Middlesbrough’s Cleveland Centre shopping mall yesterday afternoon. Self-taught on piano
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Feats of strength that are no pushover
MUSCLE men have battled it out to be named the strongest men in the region. Events at Meadowfield Leisure Centre, near Durham City, included a dead lift, truck pulling, an axe hold, log press and a tyre flip. Chris Lonsdale, Durham County Council
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Dismay as firm forced to say no to £13m grant
AN MP has called for the Government to use more common sense after a North-East company turned down a £13m enterprise grant to give it time to conduct more research. Cleveland Potash revealed it is unable to accept the money from the Regional Growth
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Hazel warms up for part in carnival
PARALYMPIAN Hazel Robson led a parade ahead of an annual carnival. The international athletics star took part in the event on Saturday to promote Houghton Diamond Jubilee Feast, which starts at the weekend. The event is organised by Houghton-le-Spring
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‘I was a heart attack waiting to happen...’
A NORTH-EAST mother who gave up smoking after more than 40 years is encouraging others to give quitting a go on the day a new Governmentbacked campaign gets under way. Lyn Fenton, 66, from Darlington, was shocked into quitting smoking when her
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Father and children hurt in horror crash
VILLAGERS came together yesterday to pray for a father and two children left fighting for their lives after a head-on car crash. A 45-year-old man, his ten-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter were critically injured in the crash on the A688
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Inquiry over police credit card bill
A FORMER police chief executive ran up a bill of nearly £80,000 on his corporate credit card, it has been revealed. Joe McCarthy, former chief executive of Cleveland Police Authority who is currently under investigation as part of a corruption
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Bogus police target pensioners
BOGUS police officers who have targeted the home of two elderly people have been described as “cowardly and despicable”. A man in his 70s was at his home at Stump Cross, in Guisborough , east Cleveland, when two men wearing dark blue fleeces and
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Stately home is finally sold
A 19TH Century stately home which was the birthplace of a former Prime Minister and regarded as one of the most historically significant buildings in the North-East has been sold – six years after it was first put on the market. Windlestone Hall
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Warning to heed flood closures
SEVERAL people were rescued from floodwater at the weekend – but rain forecast for the coming week is unlikely to cause further flooding. A woman had to be rescued from the bonnet of her car in Naburn, near the Designer Outlet in York, on Saturday
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Chef thought Michelin honour was "a joke"
THE owner-chef at a fine dining restaurant is celebrating after securing the North- East’s only Michelin star in the same week he had to overcome a flooding crisis. James Close, who runs the Raby Hunt, in Summerhouse, near Darlington, found out
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Elderly driver hits four pedestrians
POLICE are investigating whether a mechanical failure led to an elderly driver’s car mounting the pavement and striking four pedestrians, including a four-year-old girl. Officers were called to Thirsk Market Place, North Yorkshire, at 9.15am on
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Girls say thanks after dad's life saved
THE daughters of a man left severely injured after falling 15ft off a pub balcony have thanked a retired fire chief and nurse who saved his life. Bethany and Caitlin Edwards, from the Langley Park area of Durham, said the rapid and expert actions
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MP calls for common sense over jobs grant
AN MP has called for the Government to use more common sense after a North-East company turned down a £13m enterprise grant to give it time to conduct more research. Cleveland Potash revealed it is unable to accept the money from the Regional Growth
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Pardew rejects talk of an injury crisis
ALAN Pardew insists Newcastle United are not facing a defensive injury crisis despite being without two of their three established centre-halves. Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor will both miss Thursday's Europa League home game with Bordeaux
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Match Report: Reading 2 Newcastle United 2
Final Score: Reading 2 Newcastle United 2 TWO stories have dominated Newcastle United's season so far, and both have concerned contracts. The first was put to bed last week when Alan Pardew signed an eight-year deal that silences any questions
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Farage: Ukip will return North-East MEP in 2014
IT is regularly caricatured as a bunch of retired Lieutenant Colonels living in Wiltshire. So what relevance does the United Kingdom Independence Party (Ukip) have for the North-East? Mark Tallentire meets Ukip leader Nigel Farage. HIS publicity
