Archive
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Synners move into the top nine
Billingham Synthonia moved into the top nine of the ENL First Division with a 2-0 home win over Sunderland RCA last night. Synners opened the scoring on 33 minutes when Nathan Porritt hit the post, and Joel Callender followed up to score. Callum
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Witness plea after petrol station robbery
POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a knife-wielding robber targeted a North-East petrol station. The incident took place at Snax 24 on Ormesby High Street in Middlesbrough, at 1.30pm today. Police said a man walked into the petrol station
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Wriggling in a straitjacket
For a Chancellor in a financial straitjacket, George Osborne at least found some room in which to wriggle. After last year's disastrous Budget, which required a succesion of U-turns, Mr Osborne can be credited with at least coming up with some
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Teenage pregnancy rates in Darlington rise despite falls across North-East
TEENAGE pregnancy rates in Darlington have risen despite most other areas in the North-East recording big drops. In 2010 for every 1,000 teenage girls in Darlington there were 37.2 pregnancies. In 2011 that number rose to 39.5, putting Darlington
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Budget 2013: "It was a huge disappointment"
IAN Malcolm, managing director of Redcar car parts maker ElringKlinger (GB) thought the budget was "a huge disappointment." He added: "I felt it didn't do anything for UK plc or for manufacturing. He doesn't look like someone who knows where he
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Is Osborne the right man for the job?
GEORGE Osborne is fortunate that he doesn't work for the trigger happy bosses of Blackburn Rovers who this week sacked their third manager of the season. The fried chicken magnates who own Rovers operate the kind of ruthless hire and fire approach
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Government carbon capture snub is “devastating blow” to Teesside
A MAJOR green energy project in the region that aimed to create up to 1,250 jobs has been rejected by the government. The Teesside carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, which would have been based on the Wilton International chemical complex
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Serving up a great charity night
A CHINESE restaurant in Stockton is holding a special event to raise money for the town’s Butterwick Hospice. Tickets for a special buffet at Peking Garden in Bridge Road cost £10 and the event will take place on Friday, March 29 at various times throughout
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Tape Boy comes to town
A SILENT comedian who sold out his show at last year’s Edinburgh Festival is coming to town. The comedian, who calls himself The Boy With Tape on his Face, is due to play Middlesbrough Town Hall Crypt on Monday, June 3. The Boy, also known
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Budget offers "small beer" to the region
GEORGE Osborne was accused of offering small beer to a region hit by recession and plunging living standards – despite slashing 1p off the cost of a pint. The Chancellor also cheered motorists, homebuyers, taxpayers and small business leaders,
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Stand-alone role of Durham mayor faces axe
THE stand-alone role of mayor of Durham, which dates back more than 400 years, could disappear, under a shake-up announced today (Wednesday, March 20). Durham County Council leader Simon Henig said having one person serve as mayor and council chairman
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Cuthbert's Day tribute to campaigner John
AN ANNUAL St Cuthbert’s Day pilgrimage ended in a tribute to its former organiser today (Wednesday, March 20). For many years, John Danby had organised the Northumbrian Association’s annual March 20 walk from Chester-le-Street to Durham Cathedral
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Lights off to save planet
LIGHTS on three of Stockton’s town centre bridges will be switched off on Saturday for an hour to support a world-wide environmental awareness campaign. Stockton Council is switching off the feature and decorative lights on the Infinity, Newport
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Student support for community groups
UNIVERSITY students have created new websites for five community groups. Second year software engineering students at Durham University developed new websites for Blind Life in Durham, Durham City Fair Trade Partnership, Cornerstone Supported Housing
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Sedgefield hotel hosts charity ladies day
HARDWICK Hall Hotel in Sedgefield, County Durham, is hosting a Ladies Day in aid of the Butterwick Hospice from noon to 6pm on Sunday, April 28. Guests will be treated to a two course lunch and will be entertained by Shaun Conley Foster, of ITV comedy
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Children name new streets
YOUNGSTERS at a primary school were given the chance to be streetwise and name new roads in a housing development. Pupils at Colburn Community Primary School entered a competition to name six new streets in the new Woodside Chase development in
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Mixed reaction to beer duty cut
GEORGE OSBORNE may have brought cheer to the pub trade by announcing a cut in beer duty, but drinkers have been warned not to expect substantial savings. The chancellor also axed the controversial duty escalator, blamed for hundreds of pub closures
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Business leaders respond to Chancellor's Budget
IT was a case of polar opposites. While the House of Commons descended into a pantomime of derisive caterwauling, the North-East business community remained calm, quiet and attentive. There may not have been rousing support for Chancellor George
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Tours to top of Penshaw Monument
VISITORS will be able to climb a hidden staircase to the top of a North-East landmark during this summer. The National Trust is running tours to the summit of Penshaw Monument, near Sunderland, every weekend and Bank Holiday from Good Friday to
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£150k study launched into closing police HQ
A £150,000 study has been launched to consider closing North Yorkshire Police’s headquarters and a police station and replacing them with a new northern base in the Thirsk and Northallerton area. Julia Mulligan said an initial review had found
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Constituency chairman calls on MP to make decision
THE chairman of the Thirsk and Malton constituency Conservative Party has called on its MP to decide upon how its candidate should be chosen for the next General Election. More than 150 party activists attended the association’s annual general
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The custodian’s tale
The owner of one of the North’s most popular stately homes says the government should do more to help families living in historic houses look after this vital part of Britain’s heritage. Ruth Campbell gets a rare glimpse of life behind the scenes at
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Tickets go on sale for Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition
AN EXCITED queue of people dressed as choristers, Anglo-Saxons, monks and sportsmen today snapped up tickets for one of the North-East's most eagerly awaitined homecomings. One of the world’s greatest books and a remarkable landmark of human cultural
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Making your money go further
If you’re on a budget, you may have to choose which home improvements to do as a priority. Julia Gray looks at some of the best investments you can make YOU do home improvements to make your home more suited to your lifestyle and taste, but unless
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Judge orders fitness to plead report on Darlington man facing police gbh charge
A JUDGE has called for a report on a man in order to assess his fitness to plead. Ryan Watt is accused of causing grievous bodily harm to a police constable, Peter Hoole, in Darlington on December 23 last year. He is also charged with dangerous
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Middlesbrough mum exiled on Tyneside writes 'Teesside dictionary' and has internet smash
A PROUD Teesside mum has caused an internet sensation by writing a ‘Smoggie Dictionary’ to help her Tyneside neighbours and friends understand her. Nichola Ridley, 25, initially attracted at least 50 people per day to read her Bridget of the North
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Cooking up a storm
The sights and smells of sleepy Kerala are a million miles from the frantic India Laura Harding had pictured SPRAWLED out on cushions on the bow of a houseboat, drifting along a river in glorious sunshine, I am a world away from the India I imagined
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"The Budget, was that today?" Osborne Road reacts to Chancellor's economic plans
ONE is a millionaire politician, top Tory strategist, and the man with Britain’s financial future in his hands; the other is a street of 18 two-bed, £125,000 houses. What do they have in common? Only a name, it seems, as Chancellor George Osborne
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Students jump to it for the region
TWO Teesside students will jump into action this weekend when they represent the region at a major national sporting event. Lucy Stephenson, 18, from Stockton and Antonia Twizell from Billingham, both students at Stockton Riverside College, will
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Lindisfarne Gospels Community Choir takes centre stage in Durham Cathedral
IF anyone told me this time last year that I would be part of a choir singing in Durham Cathedral I would never have believed them, says reporter LIZZIE ANDERSON. Yet, today (Wednesday, March 20), I joined fellow members of the Lindisfarne Gospels
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Region welcomes Chancellor's "bold" Help-to-Buy scheme
HOUSE builders and estate agents in the region today welcomed “bold” measures to get the housing market moving, although critics said the Chancellor’s Help-to-Buy scheme did not go far enough. The initiative offers shared equity loans worth £3.5bn
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The ‘villain’ who can’t say no
Mark Strong is used to playing the bad guy – it’s something British actors enjoy, he tells Steve Pratt ‘WHO did you just have?” asks Mark Strong, entering the room for his round table interview. Your director Eran Creevy, we tell him. “Now he’s
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Ancient ring could have been lost by a king
A SPECTACULAR sapphire ring found in a North Yorkshire field could have belonged to a king from the Dark Ages, experts have concluded. The gold ring was unearthed four years ago by York metal detectorist Michael Greenhorn in a field at Escrick,
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Coastal defence plans for Skinningrove near Redcar
A CONTRIBITION of £200,000 towards a planned coastal defence scheme in east Cleveland will be discussed next week. The work, expected to cost a total of £2m, will reduce the risk of tidal flooding at Skinningrove, and involve the reconstruction
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Punch drunk
James McAvoy gets physical in his new film and also gets beaten up nightly on stage. But it’s all part of the job, he tells Steve Pratt IT’S surprising the things you find out interviewing actors. I now know from James McAvoy that his wife, the
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'Durham' plate sells for £2,600
A CAR licence plate that looks like it reads “Durham” has sold for more than £2,500. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) today (Wednesday, March 20) began a three-day auction of personalised registration plates at the De Vere Village
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Going to blazes
Drinking really is bad for your health in Soapland POPPING down to your local for a quiet drink isn’t an option on Soapland. There’s always something happening. Not just a karaoke night but a punchup, birth, death or a fire to go with your
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Hurts find their bearings in Exile
Following their successful debut album, Happiness, was never going to be easy, but Hurts have pulled it off. Frontman Theo Hutchcraft, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, tells Andy Welch how they returned to their roots for inspiration WHEN Hurts
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Price tag for parking meters branded "a disgrace" by MP
AN MP has branded the cost of installing pay and display parking on Yarm High Street as “a disgrace.” James Wharton, Conservative MP for Stockton South, has opposed pay and display parking on Yarm High Street and said the £50,000 price tag for
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Police find ecstacy on man after spotting him climbing through house window
POLICE found three ecstasy tablets in the possession of a man who was suspected of being a burglar. Officers saw Stuart Fleming climbing through the window of a house in Middlesbrough on November 21 last year and believing he was about to burgle
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MP changes track
A NORTH-EAST MP has removed his name from an official parliamentary motion to support a £1bn train carriage contract for Derby instead of Newton Aycliffe in County Durham. Alex Cunningham, MP for Stockton North, explained he simply didn’t realise
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Mini market
A COMMUNITY hall will host a mini market this weekend. Byers Green Village Hall, near Spennymoor, will host the event on Sunday March 24, between 2pm and 4pm. There will be a range of stalls including those selling material, jewellery, fish
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LAST LEAD New community carnival chairman urges communities to get involved
THE new chairman of a popular annual carnival is urging community groups and businesses to get involved to ensure the future of the event. Steve Rose, a former chief executive of Darlington Partnership, has taken on the role of chairman at Darlington
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Medical centre worker forged prescriptions to feed codeine addiction, court told
A former RAF paramedic who was addicted to codeine forged prescriptions at the medical centre where she worked, a court heard. Julia Dawn Martin was working as a summariser at Yarm Medical Centre in Yarm where she created false prescriptions.
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Ongoing investigations into A67 landslip
INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into a landslip which led to a busy road being closed to traffic. The A67 at Low Carlbury, between High Coniscliffe and Piercebridge, near Darlington, was closed yesterday (Tuesday, March 19) after further movement
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Raiders escape with off-road bike
POLICE are appealing for help after an off-road motorcycle was stolen in a farm raid. Sometime between March 16 and 19 thieves broke into a shed at a farm on Town Street, Old Malton, and stole a Suzuki RM125 off-road bike and a motorcycle helmet
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Man injured in road accident between Murton and Seaham
A man was injured when his Renault Megane was in collision with a bus on Times Inn Bank on the B1285, between and Murton and Seaham, County Durham, at 1.40pm today (Wednesday, March 20). A spokesman for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue
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North Yorkshire church plans to cross the county boundary and establish base in Barnard Castle
A CHURCH in North Yorkshire is hoping to convert a disused industrial unit into a place of worship for its new congregation in a County Durham market town. The Richmond-based Influence Church hopes to establish a permanent presence in Barnard Castle
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Property developer convicted of mortgage fraud
A PROPERTY developer who built up a £1.5m “buy-to-let” portfolio by giving false details in mortgage applications could be jailed after he was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud. Jason Omar was said to have told a series of lies in the applications
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Limited edition ales will take on 19th century poet's life
“HOW do I love thee? Let me count the beers.” It may not be an enticing chat up line, but it is the title of a new range of beers to be brewed in the North-East. The set will be created over coming months at the Sonnet 43 Brew House, in Coxhoe
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Poppy packs a prize for mum
MOTHER’S Day was extra special for one mum, after her daughter won a themed competition. Dr Julie Herring, 41, of Aykley Heads, Durham City, was treated to a Boots makeover, a Toni & Guy haircut and a new outfit from Monsoon after her daughter
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Farming family give cautious welcome to fuel duty freeze
THE chancellor’s decision to scrap a planned fuel duty increase was given a cautious welcome by one farming family - who say their industry is being hit on all sides by rising costs. Nicho Mortimer and Jill Killick, from Woundales Farm in Borrowby
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Puppet spectacle to mark Stockton festival finale
A HERD of 20-foot tall ‘giraffes’ will parade down a high street to celebrate the finale of the Stockton International Riverside Festival this summer. The massive puppets, called Les Girafes - An Animal Operetta, will be the last of more than 100
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Beer duty cut by 1p a pint while duty escalator is scrapped
THE Chancellor brought some cheer to the nation's beer drinkers by scrapping a duty escalator blamed for closing pubs - and going further by cutting duty by 1p. The beer industry and campaign groups have been warning the Government that the escalator
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Micro pig dies after being stolen from Newham Grange Leisure Farm, Middlesbrough
A NEW-BORN micro pig stolen from a leisure farm which was abandoned on a doorstep in a cardboard box has died. The four-day-old piglet was snatched from Newham Grange Leisure Farm in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, on Saturday at about 4.15pm.
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Stepping out or charity
HOUSING association staff plan to walk 100km in 30 hours for charity. A team of four from Chester-le-Street social landlord Cestria Community Housing will participate in the Oxfam Trailtrekker 2013 challenge on June 1 and 2 in Yorkshire . The
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Income tax personal allowance plans hit £10,000 target one year early
WORKERS will not pay any tax on the first £10,000 of their wages from next year - 12 months earlier than planned. Bringing forward the increase in the income tax personal allowance will mean a cumulative cash benefit for typical basic rate taxpayers
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Miliband attacks "more of the same" Budget
LABOUR leader Ed Miliband attacked a "more of the same" Budget from "downgraded Chancellor" George Osborne. He seized on growth forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility which had been slashed from 1.2% this year to 0.6% and said "Britain
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Make most of dead space
YOU can never have too much storage at home, butit’s somethingthat a lot of houses and flats lack, and unless you like cluttered living, it’s not something you can do without. One room where storage is essential is the bedroom. While a walk-in
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Work starts on Millfields site
TAYLOR Wimpey has revealed plans for its new development at Lingfield Point in Darlington. Millfields – which will have a sales office open this spring – will include a range of contemporary homes. The innovative designs are part of a £1m regeneration
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Record month at auctions
LAST month Auction House recorded the most successful month in its six-year history, with record numbers of lots entered and sold, and its highest ever monthly total raised. The company hosted 19 auctions across the UK in February, with 385 lots
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Osborne scraps planned fuel duty increase
CHANCELLOR George Osborne eased the pressure on motorists today as he scrapped the fuel duty increase planned for autumn 2013. The rise would have put around 3p a litre on to the already-high price of petrol and diesel at the pumps. Mr Osborne's
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Halcyon days at the Manor!
HALCYON Manor is a stunning stone barn conversion that offers buyers the chance to enjoy the best of both worlds: panoramic and far-reaching views over the surrounding countryside, and the convenience of being within easy reach of Durham City and all
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Chancellor gives first-time buyers leg up on to housing ladder
FIRST-TIME home buyers were given good news today as the Government outlined plans to breathe life into the ailing housing market and boost the construction industry. A new help-to-buy scheme for those struggling to find mortgage deposits will
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Rare owl takes up residence in castle
A RARE owl, which stands which more than two feet tall and hunts foxes and small deer in the wild, is the newest resident at a medieval castle in North Yorkshire. Cleo the Turkmenian eagle owl, has become the latest bird of prey housed in the gardens
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The Budget: Key Points
CHANCELLOR George Osborne delivered his Budget statement to the House of Commons earlier today as he attempted to kick-start the economy. Here are some of the key points. Economy :: The GDP growth in 2014 is forecast to be 1.8%, then 2.3% in
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War widows gather in Durham
WAR widows from across the country will descend on the North-East next month (April 4-8). About 100 members of the War Widows Association of Great Britain are expected for the group’s annual general meeting, to be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel
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Appeal for donation for foodbank to meet rising demand
A CHARITY has made an appeal for donations to its food bank to meet an "exploding" demand caused by the tightening recession and benefits changes. The East Durham Trust, established several years ago to tackle the effects of poverty and unemployment
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Have your say on tackling crime
A public meeting for people to discuss crime is being held at Annfield Plain Methodist Church on Railway Street from 6pm-7pm on March 28. The meeting will be attended by a representative by the neighbourhood policing team and will be specific to
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New cancer support group
A NEW support group has been set up in Northallerton to help patients with myeloma - a type of cancer arising from plasma cells which are found in the bone marrow. The North Yorkshire Myeloma Support Group will support patients living with myeloma
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Homes plan for playing field
PLANS to build new houses on a playing field near Spennymoor are being opposed by residents and sports organisations. Durham Villages Regeneration Company has applied to Durham County Council for permission to build 48 houses on the former Middlestone
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Band of Yorkshire Regiment to play Middlesbrough Town Hall
A concert by The Band of the Yorkshire Regiment takes place this Sunday (March 24) at Middlesbrough Town Hall. Tickets are £5 each, with all proceeds from ticket sales going to the Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Fund which supports soldiers after
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Pharmacy healthy living experiment pays dividends for couple
A MAN in his seventies has completed his first 40 mile bike ride after taking part in a social experiment to improve his health. David Wells, 73, and his wife Ann, 72, from Ripon, North Yorkshire took part in a year-long survey to see if taking
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Power survey to be carried out by helicopter
A FLEET of airborne engineers are to be used to survey the region’s power lines. Northern Powergrid is planning to use helicopters to check all 3,000 kms of its power lines and 15,000 pylons and support structures for damage or decay. The survey
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Northern Echo story about Hartlepool engineer hailed local hero in China preserved for posterity
A story in The Northern Echo about Hartlepool engineer, John Johnson, who has been hailed a local hero in China for his charity work, is to be preserved for posterity in a Chinese museum. The story, which appeared in Monday’s edition, is to be
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Feel the charm of Coach House
HOMEBUYERS for whom the call of the countryside is strong could quite easily create their rural idyll at The Coach House. This country house has been well loved and cared for by its present owners – from the immaculate interior presentation to
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Silent tribute to former councillors
A FULL meeting of Durham County Council today (Wednesday, March 20) observed a minute’s silence in honour of two former councillors who have died recently. Father John Caden, a Roman Catholic priest in Sedgefield, was an independent council member
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Police arrest six in Newcastle over football violence
SIX men have been arrested in a police operation against football violence in Newcastle. On Thursday (March 14) Northumbria force officers seized three men on suspicion of affray. They are aged 43, 40, 43 and from Rowlands Gill, Lanchester
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Rugby club sponsored by luxury car dealer
A RUGBY CLUB is being driven forward thanks to a generous sponsorship deal with a luxury car company. Representatives from Darlington’s Mowden Park RFC will drive around in style after BMW donated vehicles to help them with their community work
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Students host culinary extravaganza
STUDENTS hosted a culinary extravaganza as part of National Apprenticeship Week. The students and staff at Darlington College hosted “The Great British Menu – Cook-off!” inspired by the popular BBC Two cooking programme of the same name. Participants
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Robots battle it out at museum
FUTURISTIC mechanical machines will be taking centre stage at one of the region’s top attractions this weekend. The National Railway Museum in York is celebrating National Science & Engineering Week with robots of all shapes and sizes in live
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Bus fares could rise across North Yorkshire because of money-saving move
BUS operators have warned fares could increase and bus routes lost across North Yorkshire as the county council seeks to save £1.4m and cut reimbursements for concessionary fares. Councillors were told they had little choice as they were simply
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Easter event to raise funds for abandoned pets
A FARM is opening its doors to children for a special Easter egg hunt at the end of this month, to raise money for abandoned pets. Treetops, at Helmersdale Farm at Crosby near Northallerton has organised an afternoon of Easter activities to take
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Darlington soldier set to take part in one of the last combat operations in Afghanistan
A SOLDIER from the North-East is to take part in one of the last combat operations in Afghanistan. Territorial Army soldier Lee Soanes will work in the war zone to recover vehicles broken down or battle damaged. The 22-year-old civil engineer
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Slowhand tribute gig
CLASSIC CLAPTON: North-East tribute band Classic Clapton will play The Sage Gateshead on Good Friday, March 29, the day before blues/rock guitar legend Eric Clapton’s 68th birthday. The gig starts at 7.30pm and tickets cost £12.50 from the box office
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Cannabis found in young motorist's car
A YOUNG driver caught with cannabis in his car pleaded guilty to possessing the drug but claimed it didn’t belong to him. Jake Mangle, 21, of Burnside Road, Darlington, told the town’s magistrates’ court on Tuesday that he wasn’t a regular cannabis
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No money on Budget day
A REMARKABLE fact that many people forget to think much about is that the Government has no money. In order to “spend” money, it must raise money from the public via taxes. Indeed, Liam Byrne, outgoing Chief Secretary to the Treasury of the
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Sainsbury’s reveals a surge in sales after horse meat scandal
ONE of the UK’s largest supermarkets has seen sales rise and welcomed record customer numbers after defying the horse meat scandal. Sainsbury’s said total sales for the year were up by 7.1 per cent, with bosses saying it had benefited from increased
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Donating can build a surprise nest egg
EASTER is about faith, hope and charity. Okay, it’s about chocolate eggs and a long bank holiday. But this year, with Easter falling directly between the Budget and the end of the tax year, many people will be using the extra time to think about
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Job is mostly a walk in the park
ALAN ANDERSON, 59, has lived and worked in Weardale all of his life. For the past 14 years he been park keeper at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland. How did your career start? I just fancied a total change. I’d been a supervisor at Durham
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Can the hopes of North-East business fit in a little red briefcase?
Today’s Budget represents one of the last opportunities for the Coalition to inject growth into the economy. We asked North-East businesses what they would like to see in George Osborne’s red briefcase. PENSIONS TONY SLIMMINGS, director at
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Anna and Katy (C4, 10.35pm)
IF you’re a Coronation Street fan, you’ll recognise Anna Crilly and Katy Wix – they’re the two furniture- obsessed women who appeared in the show’s ad breaks before the meerkats took over. You might also have seen them in a couple of sitcoms. Katy
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Insect Dissection: How Insects Work (BBC4, 9pm)
WE take them for granted, but if you look closely enough, insects are as endlessly fascinating – and downright weird – as any aliens Hollywood has imagined. In Insect Dissection: How Insects Work, we get as close a look as one could imagine, as entomologists
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A Very British Wedding (BBC2, 8pm)
IF it really is lucky to have something old and something new at a wedding, then the couples featured in A Very British Wedding should enjoy long and happy marriages. The programme looks at how people from different cultural backgrounds are incorporating
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The Ladykillers Newcastle Theatre Royal
IT was a classic 1950s Ealing comedy and one of the studio’s great British films. Graham Linehan’s inventive stage adaptation, directed by Sean Foley and fresh from huge critical acclaim in the West End, has turned black and white into brilliant
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Suffering, but more expected
AS if the public sector hasn’t suffered enough cuts under this Government, the Chancellor is expected to use today’s Budget to further squeeze public sector pay and spending. Ministers were told this week to find an extra £2.5bn of savings from
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War in Iraq: 10th Anniversary
MONDAY marked the tenth anniversary of when Tony Blair took Britain to war against Iraq. Since then hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children have been killed or injured. Thousands have been abducted to be brutalised in camps
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The EU
WHY is it only the Greens and Ukip want us to have a referendum this year on our membership of the EU? The other parties will pay a heavy price in forthcoming council elections if we do not see a change of heart from them. For 50 years we have
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Bedroom tax
THE latest nasty idea from this nasty Government is the bedroom tax. Many of those unable to pay the tax will be forced to move a considerable distance, leaving behind friends, family and neighbours. Children may have to be moved to a new school
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NHS
I UNDERSTAND the gratitude expressed by VJ Connor regarding treatment he received on the NHS (HAS, Mar 12) but this does not reflect its performance in the wider spectrum over recent years. There is a darker side. Reaching the age of 75 both my
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Winston Follies
WINSTON is a little village not far from Darlington sporting a church and a village hall. What it lacks in amenities it makes up for in the pleasure it gives to so many people each year, all in the name of charity. It is with great sadness
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Labour
I WOULD have thought the Echo might have kept John Phelan’s latest letter (HAS, 16 Mar) for publication on April 1. It was full of the same points that have previously been disproved on a number of occasions. Mr Phelan advances his clear dislike
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Drones
I WAS born in Hertfordshire in 1943 and my mother told me how she used to hide with me under the kitchen table when the German V2 doodlebug bombs overshot London. If this sounds a little crude its how people learned to cope with this particular
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Easter egg appeal
EGG APPEAL: The Virgin Money Store in Darlington is collecting Easter eggs to donate to local charity St Teresa’s Hospice. To donate, visit the store. EASTER MARKET: An Easter themed market, with several stalls and featuring an Easter Colouring
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Lone rangers
Living alone doesn’t automatically mean you’re lonely, but social isolation can play its part – and it can affect anybody. Abi Jackson reports ‘ICAN spend weekends not speaking to a soul. I’m lucky to have a full, rich work life, but once I’m home
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Travelling the avian motorway
ON my daily walk the other day I wasn’t thinking of the date. Then came a reminder. No, not a jolt bringing the sudden awful realisation that I’d overlooked my wife’s birthday or our wedding anniversary. I learned long ago of the paramount necessity
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Oh, what an unlovely war
Ten years ago, soldier Matthew Midgley found himself in the desert waiting to go to war. He tells Steve Pratt how the experience influenced him to write a play about soldiers in Iraq WHEN he left school at 16 and joined the Army, Matthew Midgley
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Conjuring some hope
BUDGET day coincides with our grim front page news that hundreds of jobs are at risk due to the planned closure of a high-profile factory in County Durham. The decision to shut down the the RF Micro Devices (RFMD) plant at Newton Aycliffe and move
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Refugee Boy Quarry Theatre, West Yorkshire Playhouse
BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH’S novel, first published in 2001, has been adapted for the stage by another poet and playwright, Lemn Sissay. The result is fast-paced, funny, moving, dramatic 80-minutes of theatre. Teenager Alem (Fisayo Akinade, excellent)
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Making our case to Mr Osborne
GEORGE Osborne must use today's budget statement to deliver on his promises to get Britain building, according to North-East construction chiefs. Measures are needed to ease the public works famine that has contributed to 20 firms failing or closing
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North-East teenager arrested for malicious Tweet to Wigan player over 'horror' tackle
A TEENAGER has been arrested over malicious tweets sent to the footballer at the centre of controversy over the tackle which injured Newcastle’s Massadio Haidara. The 17-year-old Northumberland youth was arrested following a report of malicious
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Halliday stays with Boro despite Rangers interest
ANDY HALLIDAY has told how an ambition to help Middlesbrough back to the Premier League convinced him to resist a temptation to move to the club he has supported all of his life this summer. When Halliday penned a new two-and-a-half year contract
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Men against boys admits Hughes after humiliation
Oldham Athletic 3 Hartlepool United 0 START planning for League Two, get the road maps out for Accrington, Barnet and Morecambe and forget trips to the likes of Southampton, Norwich and Leeds United as they have enjoyed in recent years. Any hopes
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Taylor hoping England debut will provide a career high
STEVEN Taylor claims it will be "the proudest moment of his career" if he is selected to make his England debut in Friday's World Cup qualifier with San Marino. Taylor was called up to replace the injured Gary Cahill yesterday morning and immediately
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Things to get worse for Sunderland's Irish trio
SUNDERLAND'S Irish contingent can focus on something other than the club's relegation fight this week, but Seb Larsson has warned that their worries are only likely to increase. Larsson is gearing up for Sweden's World Cup qualifier with the Republic
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Darlington hoping to maintain run against Celtic Nation
Darlington aim to make it a Quakers dozen this evening when they go in search of a 12th successive victory - weather permitting. After recording their 11th win in a row when defeating Ashington on Saturday, Cumbrian club Celtic Nation are the visitors
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Furious Llambias brands FA procedures 'not fit for purpose'
NEWCASTLE United managing director Derek Llambias has branded the Football Association's disciplinary procedures "not fit for purpose" after Wigan's Callum McManaman avoided punishment for his horror tackle on Massadio Haidara. Haidara suffered
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COMMENT: Why Michael Owen never quite lived up to his billing
WHEN Michael Owen announced he would be retiring from football at the end of the season, it was tempting to wonder what season he was referring to. As anyone who witnessed the dying days of his time with Newcastle United can attest, the former England
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Stelling proud to celebrate best of Newcastle United
HE is best known as a supporter of Hartlepool United, but thanks to his County Durham roots, Jeff Stelling regards himself as a champion for the whole of North-East football. The popular television presenter has entertained audiences in Hartlepool
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Working Men's Clubs in rift with CIU over bid to axe president
WORKING Men’s Clubs in County Durham have come out in support of their president after the national union attempted to axe him from the position. Clubs in the county received a short letter from the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Club
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Eric Pickles pledges to halt fire service 'privatisation'
ERIC Pickles pledged yesterday (Tuesday, March 19) to stop a shake-up described as “privatisation” of the fire service – insisting he will never allow firms to answer 999 calls. Quizzed by The Northern Echo, the Communities Secretary insisted his
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Could region finally dump the weed?
EXPERTS will discuss whether the North-East could stub out smoking totally within 20 years. The idea will be considered at a conference in Durham city today (Wednesday, March 20) called Making Smoking History. The event is being co-hosted by
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School students get the chance to influence new generation of washing machines
SCHOOL students from Bishop Auckland have been stepping up to the challenge of producing designs for the UK's only manufacturer of washing machines. Ebac, which is developing a production line to start manufacturing the appliances from Spring 2014
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Alliance between business school and RAF is one of the first in the UK
IN one of the first educational programmes of its kind, Durham University Business School has joined forces with the Royal Air Force to provide senior officers direct access to the school's Global MBA programme. RAF officers who have completed
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Michelle sets high standards in new care role
A NORTH-EAST carer who only joined a company just over a year ago has secured a new role overseeing its overall care policy. Michelle Tart has taken on the role as care manager for Caremark (Redcar and Cleveland), after swapping a financial career
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Cricketer turns hand to restaurant business
A FORMER cricketer hopes to hit the competition for six after taking on a restaurant business. Nick Peng-Gillender, who previously played for Durham County Cricket Club, is the new owner of Sale Pepe in Jesmond, Newcastle. Mr Peng-Gillender
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Haulage firm on the road to success
When Stan Fraquet founded Fracks Transport 40 years ago, its bank balance stood at just £40. Sheer hard work and determination has since put the company on the road to success. Deputy Business Editor Steven Hugill takes a look behind the scenes.
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Fees discount could benefit postgraduates
POSTGRADUATE study benefited Teesside University graduate Daniel Kolodziej by allowing him to establish himself as one of the region's leading tech entrepreneurs. And now there are new opportunities for postgraduate students to benefit from a fees
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Sherwoods gives students a look under the bonnet
STUDENTS have been given an insight into the internal workings of the car business thanks to a successful initiative designed to get young people into work. Vauxhall and Chevrolet dealer Sherwoods invited a group of students from Haughton Academy
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Technology firm works on pioneering electronic clothing
A PIONEERING technology firm has developed new electronic clothing which could be used to save lives in the chemical industry. Peratech, based near Richmond, North Yorkshire, is using its unique touch sensitive Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC
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Supermarket reveals rise in sales after defying horsemeat scandal
ONE of the UK's largest supermarkets has seen sales rise and welcomed record customer numbers after defying the horsemeat scandal. Sainsbury's said total sales for the year were up by 7.1 per cent, with bosses saying it had benefited from increased
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The Government has no money
TODAY is Budget day. Oh, what joy! writes Anthony Platts. A remarkable fact that many people forget to think much about is that the Government has no money. In order to ‘spend’ money, it must raise money from the public via taxes. Indeed, Liam
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Thief banned from shop after stealing coffee and choclate
A THIEF has been banned from a shop for nine months after admitting stealing coffee on two occasions. Richard Edward Wilson stole the jars from the Premier Store in his hometown of Shildon on February 20 and 22, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were
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Student banned after drink driving to get McDonalds
A STUDENT who was found drink driving after going out to get fast food in the early hours of the morning has been banned from driving for 20 months. Engineering student Thomas Charles Leach was found to have 83mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath
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Oil painting by Turner added to The Bowes Museum permanent collection
AN oil painting by one of Britain’s most celebrated painters, J M W Turner, has been added to the permanent collection of The Bowes Museum, at Barnard Castle. The painting, Lowther Castle - Evening, was in family ownership until it was given to
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Award for Bishop Auckland community stalwart
A RETIRED painter and decorator has received a top honour for his work in the community. Des Graves has been awarded the Chairman’s Medal by Durham County Council, for his dedication to Escomb, near Bishop Auckland. The popular pensioner has
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Tourist attraction launch in Ireshopeburn cancelled by weather
LAUNCH CANCELLED: The launch of a new tourist trail around Methodist chapels across the North-East has been cancelled. The event was due to be held at High house Chapel in Ireshopeburn, Weardale, on Friday night (March 22), but it has been postponed
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Heavy snow expected this weekend
Snow continued to fall in the region today (Wednesday, March 20), despite it being the Spring Equinox. Despite that, Spring still seems a long way away - and the wintry weather is forecast to continue with light flurries over the next few days
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Wine proves to be an expensive drink for shoplifter
STEALING wine from a shop after a day of drinking has cost a Coundon man almost £240. Michael Steven Bugg admitted stealing the alcohol worth £23.68 from Sainsbury’s in St Helen Auckland when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe.
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Thief who stole from leisure centre locker days after being given suspended sentence is jailed
A THIEF who rummaged through lockers in a Darlington leisure centre six days after being given a suspended prison sentence has been jailed for 22 weeks. Magistrates in Newton Aycliffe were told that Christopher Vincent Paul Henderson had gone to
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Mother claims budget fails to help families
A MOTHER-of-one believes the Government has done little to help families with its latest budget and said politicians need to look more at “here and now”. Julie Nisbet, of Shildon, has recently returned to work at Butterwick Hospice, in Bishop Auckland
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Author visit rewards school bookworms
STUDENTS have been rewarded with a visit from an author after reading more than 3,600 books since September. Author Jeffrey Norton visited Year 7 pupils at St John’s RC School and Sixth Form, in Bishop Auckland, today (Wednesday, March 20).
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Daffodil supper at St James' Church, Coundon
DAFFODIL SUPPER: St James' Church, Coundon is to host a daffodil supper, inclduing entertainment, raffle and tombola on Tuesday, March 26. The event starts at 7pm and tickets are £5. All proceeds will go to the church. BLUES BAND: The Dun Cow,
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Energetic fitness fans take part in fundraiser
FITNESS fans used their energy for a worthwhile cause when they took part in a lively fundraising event in Ferryhill at the weekend. Disco Bokwa Inferno saw participants enjoy the dance inspired exercise craze in a nightclub style setting, with
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Last chance to sign up for super fast broadband in rural Teesdale and Weardale as deadline extension is discounted
A NORTH-EAST MP has labelled the Government's efforts to introduce super fast broadband to rural areas as a disgrace. Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman's comments came as she urged residents, community groups and businesses in far-flung parts of