Archive
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Cleveland Police chief constable Sean Price dismissed
CLEVELAND Police’s beleaguered chief constable Sean Price has today been sacked for gross misconduct and told his behaviour was "shameful". Sean Price has been the subject of disciplinary action over allegations relating to the recruitment of the
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Marske part company with Gibbin
Marske United tonight parted company with manager Craig Gibbin, just three months after he was appointed. Gibbin is one of Marske’s longest serving players and took over during the summer from long serving manager Paul Burton. However, Marske dropped
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Newcastle cruise to European success
BORDEAUX is the wine capital of Europe, so perhaps it was only fitting that Newcastle United produced a vintage European display when the French city's footballers came to town. A Europa League campaign that had been somewhat subdued in the opening
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Legal action moves closer over GCSE fiasco
LEGAL action over this summer's GCSE English fiasco moved a step closer tonight after the exams regulator vowed to rigorously defend its decisions. Ofqual has replied to a pre-action letter sent two weeks ago by an alliance of pupils, schools,
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Cabaye and Simpson return for Newcastle
DANNY Simpson and Yohan Cabaye return to Newcastle United's starting line-up for this evening's Europa League group game with French side Bordeaux. Simpson has missed the last five matches with a hamstring injury, while Cabaye was forced to sit
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Survey shows a stagnant economy
THE economy barely grew in the third quarter of the year and is near stagnation, according to the company behind a closely-watched economic survey. The Markit/Cips purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for services found growth in the sector slowed
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Top backing for campaign to support young firms
THE Prime Minister and a governor of the Bank of England are backing a campaign by The Northern Echo and newspapers across the country to support young businesses. The Local Business Accelerators (LBA) initiative, being staged for the second time
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North-East technology company wins multi-million pound contract
AN ambitious North-East technology company has won a multi-million pound deal to manage IT for Edinburgh Airport. Stockton-based Onyx Group will provide the full range of outsourced IT services and act as an extension of the airport’s inhouse team
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More job losses expected as firms prepare to close
MORE North-East job cuts are looming after a drinks firm called in the administrators and an envelope factory prepared to shut. Waverley TBS, one of the UK’s largest wholesalers and distributors of alcoholic and soft drinks, employs 830 staff at
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Journey into the black hole
I FELT like an actress in one of those low-budget TV horror movies as I finally plucked up the courage, broom handle in hand, to approach the room, at the end of a long, dark corridor, which I haven’t dared enter in months. This is the bit where
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Workshop break-in
MONEY was stolen during a break-in at a workshop in Spennymoor town centre earlier this week. Between 10pm and 11pm on Wednesday October 3, the building behind Quinns pub, off High Street, was entered by one or more intruders who cut padlocks on
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Victims saw burglar leave their Newton Aycliffe home
A BURGLAR was spotted leaving the scene of a burglary by his victims. The occupants of a house in Greenlee Garth, Newton Aycliffe, were in at the time of the break-in during the early hours of Tuesday and caught a brief glimpse of the burglar.
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Racing community in shock as young daughter of Middleham trainer dies suddenly
A RACING community is in mourning following the sudden death of an assistant trainer who was discovered unconscious after feeling unwell. Jessica Bethell, 24, assistant to her father James Bethell at the family-run yard near Middleham, North Yorkshire
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Porgie and best?
A man of many interests, George Reynolds finds himself with a finger in yet another pie AFTER night clubs and football clubs, worktops and wondrous wheezes, George Reynolds is now getting his teeth into pork dips, saveloy sandwiches and other,
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Bikers
IAN HOLME is right to express concern about the driver who complained about a motorcyclist when leaving a junction (HAS, Oct 2). Readers may like to read a fascinating piece of research undertaken by the Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) into SMIDSY
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Windlestone Hall
I WAS amazed to read about the total incompetence of Durham County Council in relation to the sale of Windlestone Hall, a grade II*- listed building dating back to 1835 and the birthplace of former Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden (Echo, Oct 1).
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Blind
FOR people with sight loss, buses are often the only affordable way to travel independently to work, for appointments or to visit friends and family. However, the difficulties blind and partially-sighted people face in making journeys that other
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JJB closure
IT is sad to see the JJB store in Darlington closed so quickly. I thought there would be a closing down sale for a couple of weeks. JJB has always been too expensive – even the firm’s own brands. Imposing a car park charge didn’t help and the passing
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Airport
I WISH people like the North Durham MP Kevan Jones would keep their noses out of the future of Durham Tees Valley Airport (Echo, Oct 2). The inhabitants of the Tees Valley are fed up with politicians from other areas ranting on about our local
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English lessons
THE danger in giving readers a lesson in English usage is that you fall flat on your face. The Reverend Peter Mullen certainly did this in his tirade against all and sundry over the recent trials of Asian men who abused white girls (Echo, Oct 2
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Wheelie bins
AS a Hurworth resident, I am not in favour of wheelie bins but accept that they are inevitable. Recently, I looked on the Darlington Borough Council website and, as residents of flats were to get one or two of the larger communal bins, I rang to
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Songs of a lifetime
GREG Lake, tours to Pocklington and Newcastle with his Songs of a Lifetime show, in November, offering a shared musical journey full of drama and laughter. Lake has long been considered a legendary voice and musical powerhouse whose impact changed
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The perils of being in power
THE danger for David Cameron is that next week’s Conservative conference will be dominated by ‘two Bs’ – when voters want to hear about one particular ‘A’. The first B is Boris, the larger-than-life Mayor of London who torments his fellow Etonian
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Gallows are ready to rock
Punk outfit Gallows aim to take the Newcastle Academy 2 by the scruff of the neck on Monday. Matt Westcott puts the questions to bassist Stuart Gili-Ross. The band’s latest album is out now YOU have been described as the best British punk band
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First-class shambles
BEFORE she was shuffled out of David Cameron’s cabinet, the then Transport secretary Justine Greening insisted the West Coast contract process had been robust and fair. As recently as September 12, her successor, Patrick Loughlin, told the Commons
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Perfect pizza in a dessert desert
Tony Kearney checks out Dean’s Trattoria, at Lanchester, and finds the restaurant has made a good start to life LANCHESTER is midway between the two points of Durham and Consett, and for years a diner in the village could only choose between the
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Nik Bartsch’s Ronin Live (ECM 371 4093)
This double album of Bartsch’s brooding jazz was selected by the band themselves from more than 50 concerts. As well as Amsterdam, Mannheim and Tokyo there’s also one from the Sage – Modul 48. Despite the wide variety of venues it’s very well sequenced
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Mike Stern/All Over the Place (Heads Up HU-33186-02)
Guitarist Mike Stern also won me over in Gateshead last year and this CD builds on that. Musically, it’s very broadly-based but, throughout, Mike plays compelling guitar with another star-studded line-up which includes Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Kenny
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Bela Fleck & the Marcus Roberts Trio/Across the Imaginary Divide (Rounder 11661-9142-2)
Pianist Marcus Roberts’ Trio was a great success at this year’s Gateshead Festival and here they join forces with virtuoso banjo player Bela Fleck. On an all new programme they inspire each other constantly with absolutely sparkling playing.
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Off the rails?
In the light of the Government’s decision to cancel the competition for rail firms to run the West Coast Main Line – at a cost of £40m to taxpayers – and previous problems with the awarding of contracts to operate East Coast rail services, is it now
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Across the Atlantic
AS I make my way across the Atlantic, where I’ll be spending the next month entertaining our colonial cousins, I’m almost sorry to be missing some of the great music coming up in our region in the week ahead. Not least, among a varied array of
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Adrianna Freeman Either You Do Or You Don’t Musik and Film Records
IT’S claimed that Nashville marketing people believe that audiences won’t buy a black female country album. So, Adrianna Freeman had to convince record company moguls otherwise when pitching her musical career. She is about to prove the critics
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Rachmaninov: Vasily Petrenko 2CD (EMI Classics 9154732)
Vasily Petrenko conducting the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, presents a brilliant rendition of Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 2; known for its lush Adagio. Dances from Aleko provide a dramatic counterpoint. Highly recommended.
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Rodgers & Hammerstein At the Movies: The John Wilson Orchestra (EMI Classics 3193012)
Gateshead-born John Wilson directing his eponymous orchestra, along with the Maida Vale Singers, presents a fascinating album feauting hit songs and music from The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, Carousel, The King and I and South Pacific. Lovely singing
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Jeux d’Ete: The Galliard Ensemble (Deux-Elles DXL 1149)
Galliard Ensemble, present a stunning collection of wind quartets by a range of French composers. The album includes Paul Taffanel’s quintet, which gives each instrument an individual voice in counterpoint, while combining them euphoniously in harmony
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The couple in love with panto
Steve Pratt talks to former Page 3 girl Linda Lusardi and soap star and man of musicals Sam Kane about the chance meeting which has led to marriage and a long career in pantomime PANTOMIME won’t be such a family affair for Linda Lusardi this year
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Barbra Steisand
Release Me BARBRA Streisand is the diva who just keeps giving. With more than 60 albums to her name, the tentime Grammy winner’s back catalogue is quite something. This 11- track album features a collection of previously unreleased tunes, highlighting
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Muse
The 2nd Law WHEN you’re one of the top rock bands on the planet, what do you do when it’s time to make a sixth album? Letting the bass player sing and write a couple of numbers, while stretching to new directions which don’t alienate your existing
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One last dance for Nolans
Viv Hardwick talks to Maureen Nolan about next year’s tour marking the end of The Nolans SURELY this isn’t “one last time” for The Nolans, I ask Maureen about the announcement that she and her sisters, Coleen, Bernie and Linda, aren’t going to
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Ugly mugs after Alice is attacked in square
DODGY Derek is on the warpath in EastEnders (BBC1) after daughter Alice is left bloodied and bruised after being mugged. The person he blames for the attack is Tanya. Not that she was the mugger. It’s just that Derek blames the makeover Alice
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Ex-Newcastle keeper receives England call
Roy Hodgson has today named Ryan Shawcross, Kieran Gibbs and Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster in his England squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland. With John Terry now retired from international football,
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Police spread safety message
YOUNGSTERS will get lessons in safety next week with a little help from the police. From Monday, members of the Catchgate Neighbourhood Police Team are taking part in a series of events in six schools in the Stanley area - Catchgate Primary, Annfield
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Champions League: Manchester City 1 Borussia Dortmund 1
Final Score: Manchester City 1 Borussia Dortmund 1 JOE HART was content to take a point as Manchester City had to rely on his heroics to grab a 1-1 home draw against Borussia Dortmund. Hart produced a string of outstanding saves to frustrate
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Champions League: Arsenal 3 Olympiacos 1
Final Score: Arsenal 3 Olympiacos 1 ARSENAL assistant coach Steve Bould admits the weekend defeat to Chelsea affected his side’s confidence in last night’s Champions League tie with Olympiacos. The Gunners came into the Group B clash fresh
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Symphony in tune
IT should pay to keep Symphony Star on-side ahead of her return to Southwell, writes TATTENHAM. The Paul d’Arcy-trained three-yearold has finished second on her last two visits to the Nottinghamshire circuit, which bodes particularly well for the
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Match Report: Middlesbrough 2 Derby County 2
Final Score: Middlesbrough 2 Derby County 2 THE Riverside Stadium's lowest ever league game crowd was subjected to some late drama as another double from Lukas Jutkiewicz failed to pinch Middlesbrough all three points. In front of just 13,377
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Men jailed after high-speed chase through Blackhall Colliery
A JUDGE branded this piece of driving “appalling” as he jailed two men for a high-speed chase which he said could have turned a sunny spring afternoon into tragedy. Banned driver Wayne Rogan tried to outrun police on narrow village streets
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Flood defences stood up to recent storms
NEW flood defences aimed at protecting homes in a Darlington village stood the test during the recent deluge as water levels reached a record high. The defences, built in Neasham, which is located on the River Tees where it meets Kent Beck, stood
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Gray axes Ellison for Sunday league outing
ANGRY Darlington manager Martin Gray last night axed Marc Ellison after discovering the midfielder played for a Sunday league team at the weekend. Ellison is understood to have played for Hetton Lyons in the Durham Sunday League, breaking an agreement
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Efforts to brighten city honoured
COMMUNITY efforts to brighten up the streets, parks and gardens of an historic city have been honoured at an awards ceremony. The results of this year’s Beautiful Durham competition have been announced in a ceremony held in the Town Hall last night.Judges
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Kaymer reveals fine line
Martin Kaymer has arrived in Scotland as a Ryder Cup hero - and fully aware of how close he was to being "the biggest idiot". The 27-year-old, who now tries to follow European success with Dunhill Links Championship victory just as he did two years ago
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Smith still unbeaten
NORTH-EAST Champion Rosie Smith continued her unbeaten start to the cross country season by winning the senior women's race in the Davison Shield meeting at Temple Park, South Shields. The 27-year-old Durham City Harrier, who won last month's Sunderland
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Boro boss bemoans Derby’s late strike
A CLEARLY frustrated Tony Mowbray last night emerged from the referee's dressing room at the Riverside Stadium claiming Middlesbrough had been robbed of a fourth victory in five home games this season. After a pretty unexciting 80 minutes against
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Burglars jailed for raid at store
THREE ham-fisted burglars were found hiding in a dales town after breaking into a supermarket in the early hours of Valentine’s Day. Mark Riddell, Christopher Dent and Keith Johnson forced their way into the Co-op in Stanhope, Weardale, County
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'Selling off' NHS services under way claim Labour
THE “biggest act of privatisation the NHS has ever seen” is under way, Labour claimed yesterday – revealing nearly 400 community services are up for grabs. The party released a dossier listing contracts worth £250m that are being signed from this
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Bobby the bunny beats the battle of the bulge
A BULGING bunny has shed nearly a third of her bodyweight after taking part in an animal fat camp. Bobby was forced to cut down on the rabbit food after weighing in at 2.38kg, which left her struggling to move around her hutch and groom herself
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Bordeaux boss hoping Newcastle sever their French connection
BORDEAUX head coach Francis Gillot is hoping Newcastle boss Alan Pardew severs his side's French connection ahead of this evening's Europa League group game at St James' Park. Newcastle boast as many France internationals as Bordeaux, and with
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Tykes hold upper hand
Yorkshire have an immediate advantage over their opponents in next week's Champions League qualifying competition, according to key batsman Joe Root. "With us coming straight out of a season, I think we'll be slightly more prepared than some of the other
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Pietersen pursues a return to England reckoning
Kevin Pietersen wants to resume his England career in time for the impending Test tour of India, but has a narrow window in which to convince team director Andy Flower that is feasible. Pietersen yesterday agreed a central contract, initially for four
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Teenage computer hacker in police raid
A BORED teenager who joined a computer hacking group in his summer holidays risked being arrested by MI5 after trying to break into a North-East police force’s computer system. The 16-year-old’s attempts to penetrate the Durham Police computer
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Mother tells of terror as car mounted pavement pinning her against shop
A MOTHER has spoken of her terror after a car mounted the pavement and ploughed into women and children before pinning her against a shop. Michelle Daggett was talking to a friend in the Market Place, in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, with her 18-month-old
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Murder trial: 'I didn't want this to happen'
A MAN accused of murdering his stepfather’s drinking friend during a row over name-calling has told a jury: “I didn’t want any of it to happen.” Christopher Morgan, 24, began his defence at Teesside Crown Court yesterday and insisted he did not
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Lily's metal bone can grow with her
A LITTLE girl fighting cancer has been given metal bones that can be extended as she grows. Lily Willis, aged eight, of Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was found to have a cancerous bone tumour, called osteosarcoma, in her
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Olympic swimmers in Africa bike ride
A FORMER swimming world record holder said she felt like a fish out of water when she set off for a 280-mile charity cycle ride across Africa with three fellow Olympians. Jo Jackson, of Richmond, North Yorkshire, said while she was looking forward
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Husband may never be found
THE WIFE of a missing walks guide author accepts he may never be found after returning from a search for him in Spain. Wendy Simm’s husband of 41 years, Gordon, disappeared in July while hiking in mountains near Nerja, on the Costa del Sol.
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Hospital slammed over care failures
A SEVERELY-ILL patient suffered brain damage and contracted a potentially fatal disease because of systematic failures at one of the region’s biggest hospitals, a coroner said yesterday. Standards of hygiene and care at The James Cook University
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East Coast rail timetable 'will not be affected' by contract fiasco
THE Government has pledged to stick with its timetable for returning the East Coast rail route to the private sector, despite the fiasco over the awarding of a West Coast contract. A spokesman for the Department for Transport (DfT) said its plans
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Manchester City trip holds no fears for Black Cats, says Wickham
CONNOR WICKHAM insists Sunderland will not be fazed by their opponents when they come face-to-face with champions Manchester City on Saturday. The Black Cats travel to the Etihad Stadium for the lunchtime kick-off against Roberto Mancini's men,
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Newcastle ready for European campaign to ignite
FOUR games in, and it is finally time for Newcastle's hitherto underwhelming Europa League campaign to ignite. A healthy crowd under the St James' Park floodlights, a talented opposition in the shape of French side Bordeaux and in a break from
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Football stand roof may be too costly to build
A ROOF for a new stand at the temporary home of a North- East football club may prove too expensive, bosses have admitted. Durham County Council yesterday granted planning permission for the £50,000, 300- seater structure at Bishop Auckland FC’
