Archive
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Hitachi deal means its full steam ahead for County Durham factory
THE final piece of the jigsaw to bring train building back to the North-East has been put in place, paving the way for jobs and investment. Hitachi Rail Europe Limited has signed the contract with Newcastle-based Merchant Place Developments (MPD
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Wear Valley Arthritis Care group raises awareness in Boots
A SUPPORT group for people with arthritis has set up shop in a town centre chemist to raise awareness about their existence. The Wear Valley Arthritis Care Support Group will have a stall in Boots in Bishop Auckland for the week as part of National
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Petition demands urgent repairs to crumbling walls of Barnard Castle
A PETITION has been launched demanding urgent repairs to a County Durham market town's crumbling castle walls. Part of Barnard Castle's walls facing onto Bridgegate collapsed four years ago and have yet to be repaired as a row between Raby Estates
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Councillor Frank Harrison to continue as mayor of Barnard Castle
TOWN councillor Frank Harrison will wear the chains of office as Barnard Castle mayor for another year. Coun Harrison, the current mayor, was returned to the post unopposed at the town council's annual meeting. Coun John Blissett will continue
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Bus operator's revised service between Darlington and Gainford comes under fire from residents
A BUS company has come under fire over the quality of its service to a Teesdale village badly affected by the A67 landslide. Arriva altered its timetable to Gainford after the road was closed to traffic and pedestrians at Low Carlbury, between
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Durham University archaeologists conduct survey to discover what lies beneath Boldron village green
ARCHAEOLOGISTS from Durham University today (Tuesday, May 14) began work to discover what secrets lie beneath a Teesdale village green. Members of the local history group in Boldron, just south of Barnard Castle, made a successful bid to Teesdale
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Information appeal after allotments vandalised
FIVE greenhouses have been smashed and a poly plant tunnel damaged by vandals on a south Durham allotment. The plots on the allotments behind Dale Street in St Helen Auckland were targeted between 6.30pm on Saturday, May 11, and 8.30am on Sunday
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Two for one burglary in Witton Park
THIEVES took a Land Rover after breaking into a house and stealing the keys in what police are calling a two-in-one burglary. The thieves broke into a house on Phoenix Row in Witton Park on Thursday, May 9. The intruders made off with several
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Community centre given reprieve from closure after councillor wants a chance to make it work
A COUNCIL has delayed the closure of a community room after a councillor asked for a chance to give it a new lease of life. Dovedale Community Room in Sunnybrow is currently being used two nights a week for bingo, and due to its low usage Durham
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Loco delights rail enthusiasts as it visits County Durham
RAIL fans got a treat when a rare locomotive rolled into town. The A4 Union of South Africa engine will spend tonight (Tuesday, May 14) at Stanhope Station in Weardale, County Durham. The locomotive and its 12 carriages are in the area as part
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SWD Witton-le-Wear Primary is officially outstanding
A SCHOOL is celebrating after inspectors officially declared it outstanding. Ofsted had previously labelled Witton-le-Wear Primary School as good with outstanding features after an inspection in October, 2007. But their latest visit from the
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Man City sacks Mancini
Manchester City has sacked Roberto Mancini - exactly a year since he guided the club to win the Premier League. However, it is Mancini's failure to build on that achievement that has seen his three-and-a-half year tenure brought to an end.
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RCA relegated for now as Benfield win
Sunderland RCA were relegated to the ENL Second Division last night when fourth bottom Newcastle Benfield won 2-1 at Consett. Gary Ormston and Steve Bowey scored twice inside five minutes approaching half time, with Michael Mackay replying just
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Let's see the full truth on wrongful arrest scandal
THE police commissioner for Cleveland, Barry Coppinger, has today called for a report on the wrongful arrest of a North-East solicitor to be made public. He is right to do so because the circumstances surrounding the treatment of James Watson,
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Large frontal lobes do not account for man's superior intelligence
HUMAN intelligence cannot be explained by the size of the brain's frontal lobes, according to a study which involved North-East researchers Research into the comparative size of the frontal lobes in humans and other species has determined that
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Results show North-East university is world class
DURHAM University has reinforced its position as a world-leading centre of scholarship according to the latest world rankings by subject. The University's Department of Geography was ranked fifth in the world, and four other subjects; Earth and
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Female lawyer retrains as a welder
A NORTH-East lawyer has turned her back on the courtroom to begin a new career as a welder. Blanche Debenham, 52, from Newcastle, made the dramatic job switch after being made redundant from her role as an in-house lawyer for national energy efficiency
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Chinese chess garden in Newcastle
A QUIET haven for chess lovers with a distinct oriental theme in the heart of Newcastle will be officially opened tomorrow. (Tuesday May 14) The fourth ‘pocket park’ on Stowell Street in Newcastle’s Chinatown comes equipped with four sustainable hardwood
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Wealth management firm winds up pension schemes
TWO pension schemes, affecting hundreds of UK investors, are being wound up by a North-East wealth management company and the individual plans sold to another provider. Wealth management company Pearson Jones plc in Bishop Auckland in County Durham
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Farm set to be new attraction
THE region’s tourism capital could soon have a new attraction. Planning officers at City of York Council have advised councillors to approve the transformation of Beetle Farm, at Murton the eastern fringe of city, into a tourist attraction as well
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North Yorkshire news in brief
Jobs cash: City of York Council has allocated £200,000 to employment and skills programmes over the next three years. The funding, from the council's £28.5m Economic Infrastructure Fund, will be put towards activities aimed at plugging gaps in the
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Father and daughter in court over business fraud allegations
A FATHER and daughter have appeared at Durham Crown Court charged with contravention of the Company Directors’ Disqualification Act. Geoffrey Auston, 59, faces to nine counts alleging participation in a fraudulent business, being a disqualified
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Call for report to be released after investigation costs Cleveland Police more £500,000 in damages
A POLICE chief is calling on the Independent Police complaints Commission to release the findings of its investigation into the wrongful arrest of a leading solicitor that cost his force more than £500,000 in damages. Barry Coppinger, the Police
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Trio of giant offshore vessels sail into North-East port
A TRIO of giant offshore vessels is the latest sign of success at a North-East port. The Normand Pioneer, Maersk Responder and MPI Resolution have been docked at Port of Sunderland over the last week, after choosing Wearside’s waterside as a base
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Durham on top of the table after Surrey win
Scott Borthwick led the way with bat and ball as Durham moved to the top of the LV= County Championship Division One table after completing a five-wicket victory against Surrey at the Oval. Borthwick first polished off Surrey's second-innings with career-best
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Race slur halts football final
A FOOTBALL linesman has told of his upset after allegedly being racially abused at a Sunday league cup final. The Northern Echo understands Tony Pattison, of Hartlepool, was accused of being an illegal immigrant despite coming from the region.
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TEESSIDE NEWS IN BRIEF
CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE: A teenage shoplifter has been given a conditional discharge for 12 months after pleading guilty to stealing a bottle of vodka from Asda in Stockton on April 24. Jack Copping, of Nursery Gardens, Yarm, also pleaded guilty to possession
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Inmate threatened to go on killing spree on release
AN inmate at a top security prison threatened to go on a killing spree when his sentence ended. As a result of his threats to shoot members of his family, police officers who dealt with his case, co-accused and witnesses, David James Willoughby
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Online maps for North Yorkshire
Historic online maps showing the shape of North Yorkshire have been extended by the county council to cover the 1950s. The maps now include the Ordnance Survey's publication from that decade at a scale of about 1:10,000. They can be found on the
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Pupils start petition over complaints about cold Spennymoor school
STUDENTS who claim they suffered freezing conditions to take a GCSE exam have launched a petition to make their school turn the heating up. Youngsters at Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form, Spennymoor, County Durham, complained the school was
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Sage IT has bases in tax havens
SAGE IT has nearly a quarter of its subsidiary companies in tax havens new figures have revealed. The North-East based computer software designer has 43 out of its 180 subsidiary companies based in tax havens including 10 in Delaware, four in Singapore
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Drunken Redcar woman fined for assaulting police officer
A DRUNKEN woman has been fined after she assaulted a police officer as she struggled to avoid being arrested. Claire Kostarelo (CORR) pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly and assault on a constable on March 30 when she appeared before Teesside
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Football sessions for disabled youngsters on offer
YOUNG people with disabilities are being offered the chance to try football and other sports at a series of Saturday sessions. Run by Hartlepool Council’s Sport and Recreation Team in conjunction with Hartlepool Families First and funded through the
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Creative students to see their work developed into specialist scheme in Middlesbrough
CREATIVE students are about to see their ideas turned into reality as part of a specialist scheme that will bring financial know-how to them. Sixteen teenagers studying at Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD) have put their ideas to paper
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Cash injections will create up to 700 new North-East jobs
CAR parts maker Gestamp Tallent, clothing firm Barbour, and UK Steel Enterprise have received cash injections from the government’s flagship jobs scheme. The three North-East projects, which were pledged the funding last year, were awarded a
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Yorkshire V Somerset: (YB 40 League)
Yorkshire V Somerset YB 40 League Yorkshire, who won the toss in the 40-over clash, conceded a record-breaking total of 338-5 against Somerset, which they replied to with 207 all out in 30 overs. They lost by 131 runs. England one-day wicketkeeper
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Bus service relaunched to help military families visit the Dales
A BUS service linking Darlington with the Yorkshire Dales has been revamped to help military families in Europe's biggest Army base visit the countryside. The Northern Dalesman service will now travel via Catterick Garrison on Sundays and Bank
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Yorkshire V Somerset: Day Four (County Championship)
Day Four Yorkshire V Somerset LV County Championship YORKSHIRE can blame the weather for missing out on a third successive LV County Championship win following what turned out to be a thrilling draw against Somerset at Headingley. Rain
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Five bikers killed in North Yorkshire this year
A POLICE force said it is continuing its efforts to improve motorbike safety following two fatal accidents in one day. Five riders have now died in North Yorkshire over the last eight weeks - the same number as were killed in the county in the
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Jail bird? Prisoners make boxes for nesting tits
BIRD boxes made by prison inmates have been spotted among picturesque woodlands. Criminals serving sentences at Durham Prison made the nest boxes, before they were installed around Durham University’s Durham City woodlands. Around 100 have
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Spate of catalytic converter thefts
POLICE are urging motorists to be vigilant after five catalytic converters were stolen from vans across Darlington. It follows an incident several weeks ago in which four converters were stolen from refrigerated vehicles at a transport company
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Darlington Borough Councillor calls on the authority to do more to tackle potholes
A DARLINGTON councillor is calling on the local authority to do more to tackle town’s pothole problem. Following a number of complaints from angry residents, Conservative councillor Bill Stenson is calling on the borough council to do more to fix
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Vince Cable urges more North-East firms to export
VINCE Cable was in Newcastle today (Monday) promoting the simple message that Exporting is GREAT – as a campaign targeting over 100,000 businesses across the North gets underway. UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) wants to reach small and medium-sized
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Lindisfarne emerge from the Fog on the Tyne
A NEW version of the 1970s North-East band Lindisfarne is to hit the road. Ten years after the group's last line-up called it a day, original frontman Ray Jackson has revealed that the band assembled for December’s revival of the band’s legendary
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Bafta winning animation takes to the stage
A BAFTA award-winning animation takes to the stage for the first time at Darlington Civic Theatre on May 29 and 30. The show, Ben anHolly’s Little Kingdom, is from the makers of the popular Peppa Pig series and features a fantastical story of elves
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Van driver in serious condition after collision
TWO van drivers were airlifted to hospital after their vehicles collided in the Yorkshire Dales. The 52-year-old male driver of a burgundy Citroen Berlingo van who lived locally was today (Monday) in a serious condition at James Cook University
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Environment issues on the bill for Community Partnership meeting
COCKERTON East residents are being invited to discuss their local environment at the next meeting of the Cockerton East Community Partnership. Officers from Darlington Borough Council will be on hand to discuss a number of environmental issues
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Crime chief to speak at meeting
DURHAM Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg will talk to residents about policing. The County Durham Residents Association (CRDA) is hosting a conference on Thursday (May 16) that will look at changes in law enforcement and legal representation
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Police appeal after three car collision on Grange Road, Darlington
POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a collision between three vehicles that caused significant damage to one of the cars. The incident happened outside Grange vets on Victoria Road, in Darlington, at about 2.40pm on Saturday, May 2. A black
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School football team win Darlington trophy
A SUCCESSFUL school football squad are celebrating after winning the final trophy of their five-year stint together as a team. Hummersknott Academy under-16s football team won the Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge Darlington schools’ football trophy, the
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Heritage railway line steps in to boost Fraja Ellie Appeal
A HERITAGE railway has announced plans for a fundraising day to increase a five-year-old girl's chances of surviving a rare cancer. There will no charge for travelling on Wensleydale Railway trains on Saturday, May 18. Instead, volunteers will
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Surrey v Durham (day four, tea)
DURHAM were in danger of turning a stroll into a scramble when they slipped from 107 for one to 126 for four. But Paul Collingwood and Ben Stokes have steadied the ship and they are 149 for four at tea, needing a further 32 to win. Mark Stoneman
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Ladies cycle challenge to raise money for charity
A MARATHON exercise bike ride has been held to raise money for charity. Members of the Ladies at Leisure Gymnasium in Chester-le-Street undertook the 24 hour challenge at the weekend. They cycled from 9am on Saturdays to 9am on Sunday in support
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Family bonds cultivated by City of Durham Freemen strengthened
THE strong family bonds cultivated by the City of Durham Freemen were further strengthened today (Monday, May 13) when three new members were sworn in. Award-winning construction site manager Chris Fenwick, a member of the Joiners’ Company, was
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Export Week: North-East firms celebrate their success as export “graduates”
NORTH-EAST firms are celebrating their success as export “graduates” at the start of a special series of events to help more companies export to new markets. A graduation ceremony took place today (Monday) at Wynyard Park House, Wynyard, as part
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Downgraded college is told to raise its game
BOSSES at a North-East further education college have been told they must improve their performance after a slump in exam results. Following an inspection by a team from Ofsted, Hartlepool College of Further Education was given an overall mark
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The Antenatal Group by Amy Bratley
ACCORDING to recent research, women make an average of nine new friends in the year after giving birth. In Amy Bratley's Antenatal Group, it's more like five, but these very different women become each other's best friends before birth - and are the
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Durham church open to visitors
A CHURCH is to open its doors to visitors during the day. St Cuthbert’s Catholic Church, off Old Elvet, Durham City, will be open from 8.30am to 3.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays and from 9.30am to noon on Saturdays. The new hours will begin
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The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
ON a chilly winter evening, a glamorous supermodel's life is tragically cut short after she falls from the balcony of her Mayfair apartment. A thorough police investigation concludes suicide, but her brother John Bristow believes otherwise and
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People are ignoring the power of music to combat dementia
BEING forgotten or losing personal connections are the two main concerns for people in the North-East worrying about a loved one developing dementia, according to new researcher. Music is a powerful form of therapy that can help to evoke memories
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Fundraising coffee morning for charity targeted by thieves
A VOLUNTEER with a charity that was targeted by thieves who stole vital computer equipment has organised an event to replace the stolen items. Michelle Edwards hopes to replace the games and four laptops stolen from Advocacy in Darlington, which
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Sex attacker jailed for five years
A SEX attacker whose trial had to be started twice after a Geordie juror branded him a “mackem rapist” has been jailed for five years. The juror – believed to be a Newcastle United fan – said he could not give David Blake a fair trial, just 24
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All systems go for Beamish Safety and Reliability Run
THE ANNUAL Beamish Safety and Reliability Run will be held on Father's Day next month, it has been revealed. The 43rd event of its kind, following some of the motor trial and test routes of the 1920s and 1930s, will start leaving the Beamish Museum
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Fashioning a future for gifted young designers
NORTHUMBRIA University students will showcase their colourful collections at the annual Fashion Show today. This year's sell-out fashion show will be held at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art on Tuesday 14 May. For those attending, it
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Two airlifted to hospital after serious crash in Yorkshire Dales
POLICE are still at the scene of a serious road accident near Middleham in the Yorkshire Dales. The crash was reported at 10.40am today and involved two vehicles, a light blue Ford Transit van and a burgundy coloured Citroen Berlingo van which
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Building Society staff give pupils a helping hand
DARLINGTON Building Society staff have been helping children develop their maths, business and communications skills. Julie Bourne and Ben Harland led an interactive class for youngsters in Years Four, Five, Six and Seven at Prior Pursglove College
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TV presenter George Clarke returns to his old college
TV personality and architect George Clarke returned to his former college to share his advice and expertise with students. As part of their studies, students on a HNC construction management course are set complex tasks to challenge them. Second
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North-East graduate helps win national award for website
A TEESSIDE University graduate whose company designed the Channel 4 Paralympics website is celebrating after picking up a major national award at a star-studded ceremony. The Channel 4 Paralympics website was awarded the prize for digital creativity
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Colleges to hold talks on closer working arrangements
MIDDLESBROUGH and Gateshead Colleges have announced their intention to consider ways of working closer. The aim is to ensure their students have the best possible access to expertise, job opportunities and links with employers. The colleges
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Injured trainees benefit from horticultural therapy
INJURED trainees are seeing the green shoots of recovery thanks to an innovative project which uses horticulture as therapy. And trainees from Finchale College, Durham, proved to be so green-fingered that their efforts secured them a top award
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Dogs benefit from PDSA health check
MORE than 100 dogs in Darlington benefited from the PDSA’s free pet check scheme. The charity brought its mobile clinic to the town last week as part of its nationwide scheme to improve the well-being of the country’s canines. Dogs were given
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Scheme urges people to be good neighbours
A PIONEERING scheme encouraging people to be good neighbours is set to be launched in Darlington. The project is being run in partnership with Age UK Darlington, Darlington police, and Darlington Neighbourhood Watch Association and will urge people
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Story session for arts festival
STORY SESSION: A Step Inside a Story session, with Barefoot Books, will take place at Café Create, in Parkgate, Darlington, as part of the Darlington Arts Festival. The event is on Thursday (May 16), between 10.30am and 11am, and is aimed at babies
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Call to save Durham CVS from closure
A LONG-standing charity which helps Big Society-style community groups is facing closure, it has emerged. Leaders of Durham City District Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) have called a special general meeting to discuss a proposal to close the
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Darlington College students design new police meeting logo
TALENTED students have got creative and helped Durham Police to redesign their Pact logo. A group of thirty art and design students at Darlington College were asked to create a new logo for Durham Police’s Police and Communities Together (Pact)
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First for wind band
Northallerton College Concert Band and Darlington Community Wind Band are giving a joint concert in the Forum at Northallerton on Saturday, May 18. Proceeds in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support and Help for Heroes. Each band will play separately and
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Art exhibition aims to show what The Bridge has to offer
AN exhibition highlighting the talents of artists who use a community arts centre has gone on display as part of the Darlington Arts Festival. The Building Bridges exhibition aims to show the wide choice of artistic forms that people can try at
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Charity cycle marathon to raise funds for hospice
A CHARITY cycle marathon is to be held at Spennymoor Leisure Centre in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice. Residents are invited to join professional cyclists in the Clyclenergy Extreme challenge, organised by Durham County Council and Lifestyle Fitness
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Police hunt teenagers after attempted trailer theft
POLICE APPEAL: Police are seeking two teenagers who tried to steal a trailer from a field near Ferryhill. The youths were disturbed as they tried to take the trailer from Cedar Villas, West Cornforth, on Saturday, 11, at 5.20pm. They were 12 to 14-
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Charity football match marks 10th anniversary
A CHARITY football tournament held every year in memory of a much-loved woman who died from cancer will mark its 10th anniversary this month later this month. Hundreds of supporters are expected to take part in the competition at the Sacriston
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Lee Grainger, accused of murdering Darlington pensioner, Sybil Sibthorpe, appears at Crown Court
A MAN accused of murdering a grandmother near a flat she owned made his first appearance before a judge today (Monday, May 13). Lee Grainger is alleged to have beaten to death 80-year-old landlady Sybil Sibthorpe in Darlington last Wednesday.
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Surrey v Durham (day four, lunch)
SCOTT Borthwick took the last three Surrey wickets this morning to earn career-best bowling figures of six for 70. But he scarcely had time to draw breath before he was back at the crease. Durham lost Will Smith to the sixth ball, caught behind
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Perfecting the classroom of tomorrow - today
NEWCASTLE University experts have carried out the first-ever study of interactive tables in the classroom as part of a major trial to understand the benefits of technology to teaching and learning. Working with local school students for six weeks
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Teddies replace tickets on heritage line
A HERITAGE railway is about to swap tickets for cuddly toys. The North York Moors Railway is holding its own week-long version of a teddy bears' picnic to coincide with the half term holiday. From May 25 to June 2 children taking their teddy
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Wire sheep will have people flocking to Chelsea Flower Show display
EWE wouldn’t believe it but these wire sheep will take pride of place in this year's Chelsea Flower Show. Made by Whitby sculptor Emma Stothard, they will be at the heart of a special garden designed by Bedale group Alistair W Baldwin Associates
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Hopes that new blood test could be early warning for lung cancer
A COMPANY founded by York University scientists is working on a blood test for the detection of early stage lung cancer. Cizzle Biotechnology Limited, a spin-out company from York University and Fujirebio Diagnostics Incorporated (FDI) have announced
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High-flying Durham head quits for 'new challenge'
THE headteacher of one of the region’s leading comprehensives is leaving. Carolyn Roberts has been head at Durham Johnston Comprehensive School, in Durham City, since 2005. In that time, Johnston has been recognised as one of the best performing
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Bedale gets in tune for first major music festival
MORE than 80 performers are coming from all over Britain and Ireland to take part in a town’s first ever music festival. Local musicians have worked for months to bring together the line-up for the Bedale Acoustic Music Festival which is being
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Healthy boost for life enhancement project
A SENIOR Citizens Club has received a £516 donation to boost its life enhancement project. The Hurworth Grange Senior Citizens club, which operates from the Hurworth Grange Community Centre, received the money from Four Seasons Health Care through
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Centre holds Tai-Chi class
A weekly class in Tai Chi aimed at beginners will be held on Tuesday mornings from 9.50am to 10.50am in the Chester-le-Street Community Centre, Newcastle Bank. The cost is £2. Deutsche sprechen: A weekly class in Intermediate German language will
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Guided walk into the past
LOCAL historian Neil Reed will be leading a walk back in time later this month. Birkby is a village some six miles north of Northallerton and on the hillside above the River Wiske is an intact example of a deserted medieval village which is still
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Islamic pilgrimages explored at Durham public lecture
PROFESSOR Madawi al-Rasheed, professor of anthropology of region at King’s College London, will present a free public lecture entitled Islamic Journeys: Contested Pilgrimage in Contemporary Islam in room 201 of Durham University’s Elvet Riverside building
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Sponsors needed for environment awards
AN authority is looking for sponsors to back a prestigious awards scheme. The long-running County Durham Environment Awards take place later this year and organisers are looking for sponsors to get behind the scheme, with packages available from
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Bid to trace owners of suspected stolen property
POLICE have issued photographs of seized property which they suspect may have been stolen. It follows an incident on April 30 when officers stopped a blue pick-up truck laden with scrap metal and waste materials on Mount Farm Close in Whitby.
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Moroccan chickpea burgers
Once a Eurovision hopeful, chef Donal Skehan is nowadays happier cooking than singing. Recipie from Kitchen Hero: Great Food For Less Serves four Ingredients: 1 x 400g tin of chickpeas, drained and rinsed 60g breadcrumbs 2tbsp tahini
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Police mobile units going into community
OFFICERS in north Durham are taking their crime-fighting to the community with a mobile police station. Police in the Stanley area will be spending hours in the town centre and surrounding villages to create more direct contact with residents.
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Medium holds psychic session at Spennymoor club
PSYCHIC NIGHT: Medium Debra Chalmers is appearing at Low Merrington Club, Spennymoor, on Thursday, May 23 from 7.30pm. Tickets are £9 and they can be obtained from www.debrachalmers.com or on the door.
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Original Skin by David Mark
A SOFT-hearted detective who even obligingly helps his wife by taking his baby daughter with him while he sleuths wouldn't seem an obvious or ideal candidate to tackle gritty inner-city crime and a sleezy web of sex, drugs and vicious murders.
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My Criminal World by Henry Sutton
AMIABLE crime novelist David Slavitt seems to be losing the plot. The pressure is mounting, as he battles writer's block, plummeting book sales and a publisher who refuses to take his calls. His domineering agent is threatening to drop him,
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Home Front Girls by Rosie Goodwin
AS the end of 1939 approaches, the Second World War has just broken out, and Annabelle, Lucy and Dotty are three 20-year-old women whose personalities and lives couldn't be more different. However, they all live in Coventry and find themselves
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The Book Of Fate by Parinoush Saniee
IRANIAN author Parinoush Saniee has created an inspiring and resilient heroine in this critically acclaimed title. Her astounding first novel, banned twice by authorities in her home country, spans 50 years in the life of Massoumeh, from before
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Latin flavour coming to region
A FESTIVAL of Latin culture is coming to the North-East. The month-long Vamos programme, which runs in Newcastle and Gateshead, from June 14 until July 14, is a celebration of all things Spanish and Portuguese. Organisers have arranged a host
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Golden days at Pittington church
NEW College Durham students who helped launch golden anniversary celebrations at St John’s Methodist Church, in High Pittington, in November by planting daffodil bulbs in the church grounds were invited back for a coffee morning to see the flowers.
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Taking Paddington home
A NORTH-East mum is taking her beloved Paddington Bear doll “home” as she takes part in a charity trek in Peru. Laura Cowap, who has daughters aged nine months and six, left her home in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on Friday (May 10) for the
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Homecoming show for Castleside actress
A BUDDING actress has travelled back across the pond to perform in front of a home crowd after completing a drama course in America. Billie Aken-Tyers, 20, from Castleside, near Consett, has graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts
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Durham school's debating triumph
A SCHOOL has triumphed in a debating competition. The year ten debating team at St Leonard’s Catholic School, in Durham City, defeated rivals from Durham School in Durham Union Society’s Youth Speak debating contest. During the event, the team
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Stuart Hall's latest victory tees up world of opportunity
DARLINGTONS Stuart Hall is ready to take on the world after the biggest win of his career. The reigning Commonwealth champion stopped Sergio Perales, the man ranked the fifth best bantamweight around, on Saturday night to claim the vacant IBF inter-continental
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Yorkshire V Somerset: Day Three (County Championship)
Day Three Yorkshire V Somerset LV County Championship ANDREW HODD believes his Yorkshire team-mate Tim Bresnan is back to his best ahead of a busy summer of international cricket, which starts next week with England’s first Test against New
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The Fall (BBC2, 9pm)
IT’S been 11 years since Gillian Anderson last played FBI agent Dana Scully in The X Files on the small screen, and five since the last film. She’s appeared in heaps of different projects since then, including Oscar-winning film The Last King of
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Only Connect (BBC4, 8.30pm)
THERE’S been a lot of talk about TV companies dumbing down, but Victoria Coren Mitchell’s returning series Only Connect could never be accused of appealing to the lowest common denominator. Some of us are still trying to work out the first question
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Shocking turn of events for Sean
WHEN Sean Spencer asks Megan to light up his life he doesn’t expect to find himself plugged into a live electrical circuit. He turns into a right little jumping Jack flash during the latest confrontation with Megan in Emmerdale (ITV1). Let’
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Armed and dangerously ignorant...
ZUT ALORS! It may not have been stupid Hartlepudlians, led by their stupid mayor, who hung a monkey in the mistaken belief that it was a French spy. It might, according to Tim Brown, of Ferryhill, have been men from Durham, Stockton or even Darlington
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Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild (Channel 5, 9pm)
SO far during Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild, we’ve seen him roughing it in some fairly extreme conditions, but in the last episode, he gets to experience a little bit of comfort. He’s in Texas to meet John Wells, a former fashion photographer who
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Fall girl
Gillian Anderson made her name as an FBI agent probing the paranormal, but in The Fall she plays a British detective hunting a serial killer. She tells Albertina Lloyd why she took the part IN the first episode of new BBC1 drama The Fall, Gillian
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A world of big wigs
Steve Pratt goes behind the scenes to wade through the award-winning costumes for Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, the most colourful show on the road WHEN costume designer Lizzy Gardiner collected an Oscar for her work on the film Priscilla Queen
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‘I blew that pipe!’
THERE was a strange chimney in the background of last week’s picture of the men at West Auckland engine shed in 1960. ‘IT is the works tower scrubber at Fielden Bridge gasworks, which was used for the removal of ammonia and tar vapours from the
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Ghost of a chance
Blogs are stuck in the past, says web developer John O’Nolan. So he’s building a new system, called Ghost, to bring them up-to-date JOHN O’Nolan knows a thing or two about blogging. He’s been a professional blog builder and developer for years
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Watching Brief
SHAUN the Sheep’s plan for world domination continues. Not content with a TV series, stage show and video game, the sheepish superstar is to get his own feature film. StudioCanal is teaming up with Aardman Animations to produce the movie debut of Shaun
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Meatballs with linguine
Once a Eurovision hopeful, chef Donal Skehan is nowadays happier cooking than singing. Recipie from Kitchen Hero: Great Food For Less Serves four Ingredients: For the meatballs: 500g sausagemeat 100g breadcrumbs 2 garlic cloves
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Constant cravings
Those insatiable sugar pangs, or a sudden yearning for a juicy steak, could reveal more about your general health than you realise. Or, they could just mean you’re hungry. Abi Jackson reports Salt IF you love the taste of salt and habitually
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Community meetings
PARK East and Faverdale and West Park residents can discuss their crime concerns with local councillors and police officers on Wednesday. The Park East Pact – police and communities together – meeting will be held at 6.30pm at the Skerne Park Community
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Land sale cash proposal to improve education facilities in Stockton
A PLAN to sell land to raise £4.8m to spend on schools across a Tees borough is to be considered this week. Ideas to be considered by Stockton Borough Council include selling Crooksbarn Primary School in Norton to developers and building a new
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Flap-ability
With a new Great Gatsby film out soon, everyone wants the flapper girl look. Lisa Haynes reveals how to transform yourself into a 1920s icon FUELLED by the Great Gatsby blockbuster to be released on May 16, the beauty world is getting into a flap
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Dixons Retails continue to benefit from Comet downfall
ROYAL Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group will face shareholders amid mounting speculation over Government plans for the preelection sell-off of taxpayer stakes. The 81 per cent stateowned bank has reported its best quarterly performance
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A dam good effort
“Bomb dropped. Wizard,” wrote Flight Sergeant Vivian Nicholson in his logbook, as his Lancaster rattled and shook, pulling up into the dark night while pin-pricks of antiaircraft fire exploding all around it. AS the aircraft rose, the bomb bounced
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Barely there
Dare to bare with this season’s sheer trend. Lisa Haynes reveals how to work the see-through style ON paper, the trend for seethrough clothing sounds too showy and scary to even contemplate. Put it into practice, however, and transparency has the
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Marton make most of a break in the weather
LUCK with the weather and some dynamic bowling combined to stretch Marton’s lead at the top from one point to 12 as Guisborough moved ominously into second place. A freak hailstorm left the Great Ayton ground saturated and washed out Darlington
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Moyes bows out of Goodison in style
Final Score: Everton 2 West Ham United 0 DEPARTING manager David Moyes admits if he was an Everton fan he probably would not have liked his decision to leave for Manchester United in the summer. However, the usually stoic Scot was visibly moved
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Community theatre group to stage musical
AN amateur dramatic company is putting on an Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical in north Durham this week. Spotlight Community Theatre is performing 'Whistle Down The Wind' at the Empire Theatre in Consett from Wednesday to Saturday at 7pm. Set
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Sturridge steals show with hat-trick
LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers showered praise on Daniel Sturridge after watching the striker gun down Fulham with his first Premier League hat-trick. Liverpool stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches thanks to three strikes from the 23
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Sir Alex and the end of Fergie time
IN itself football doesn’t interest me. The acquisition of trophies is as pointless as the list Moll Flanders was able to make of the possessions she had stolen from other people who she had outwitted when she awaited judgement about whether she was
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Mancini facing the sack
MANCHESTER CITY are reportedly set to sack manager Roberto Mancini later this week. The Blues have not commented about the stories, however the Italian has been under increasing pressure over the past couple of weeks amid apparent City interest
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Queen's Speech
THE Queen’s speech offered nothing for the unemployed (Echo, May 8). In a few weeks’ time the Government’s flagship Work Programme will be two years old. Thousands of unemployed in the North-East will leave the programme no further on than when
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Mourhino praise
REAL MADRID coach Jose Mourinho congratulated Barcelona after his side’s 1-1 draw with Espanyol ended the title race. Holders Madrid needed a victory at the home of Barca’s city rivals to prevent Tito Vilanova’s men from taking their title.
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Heritage
I WAS saddened and disappointed to read the letter from Shirley King (HAS, May 8) about Darlington’s railway heritage. Shirley has contributed to the Railway Heritage Group, set up by Councillor Chris McEwan and chaired by Chris Lloyd, the deputy
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Funding
I WAS interested to read that 12 hard-up North-East councils, presumably including Darlington, have found nearly £1.4 m each year for two years to fund Fresh and Balance, two public health campaign groups (Echo, May 8). This works out at approximately
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Berserk
I WRITE to you as a “berserker”, Peter Mullen’s latest term of abuse for anyone prepared to accept the evidence of climate change, i.e. the vast majority of scientists and advisors worldwide who are qualified to make a judgement (Echo, May 7).
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Crash Appeal
ON July 17, 2012, my dad, Brian Pattinson, was involved in a fatal car crash. Dad’s injuries were truly horrific. He had to be cut free from the wreckage of his car and was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle.
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When is it right to tell the police?
WHEN is it right for a newspaper to intervene in the news? Is it our job to merely report what happens or do we have a duty to occasionally step in ourselves? There has been some reaction to my decision to alert the police to the vile racist comments
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A roadmap to peace?
Riders and drivers have enjoyed an uneasy relationship with other countryside lovers, but recent problems have provoked a police backlash. Hugh Cleary rides the green lanes of North Yorkshire and, as he explains, bikers have every right to enjoy their
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Sir Alex: I made decision to retire last Christmas
SIR ALEX FERGUSON has confirmed he made his mind up to retire in December. Ferguson announced on Wednesday morning that he had decided to quit at the end of this season after nearly 27 years as Manchester United manager. His final game at Old
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Match Report: Sunderland 1 Southampton 1
IT was another of those afternoons Sunderland fans have become accustomed to this season at the Stadium of Light. Gaps in defence, weak in attack, an over-reliance on goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and a familiar outcome. Sunderland, despite threatening
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Lawyers batting for Michael
A WICKET keeper is in safe hands with his new sponsor. Michael Richardson, a wicket keeper and batsman with Durham County Cricket Club (DCCC), has attracted sponsorship from law firm Sintons. The Newcastle-based company will sponsor the South
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Milky Way's formation discussed at astronomical society meeting
THE origins of the Milky Way will come under the microscope at Durham Astronomy Society’s next meeting. Dr Tom Theuns, an astronomer from Durham University, is the guest speaker, discussing the Milky Way’s formation. There will also be a short
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Asda chief joins trust to get youngsters into retail
Meet The Boss: Andy Clarke, chief executive of Asda THE UK boss of one of the world’s biggest employers believes a tough start in life should not prevent young people from building successful careers. Andy Clarke, chief executive of retail
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Special concert to mark church's 150th anniversary
A CHURCH celebrates a landmark in its history with a special concert, this weekend (May 18). The 150th anniversary of St Cuthbert’s Church, in North Road, Durham, will be heralded with an evening of classical and modern music performed by young
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Week-long crackdown on speeding drivers nets more than 700 offenders
A CRACKDOWN against speeding drivers resulted in more than 700 speeding motorists facing police action. Results have been collated from the week-long operation across the roads of County Durham and Cleveland force areas. Conducted as part of
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Prison offending
DO short-term custodial sentences really work? Evidence suggests they do not. Ministry of Justice figures for 2010- 11 show that nearly 60 per cent of prisoners who served less than 12 months were found guilty of a new crime within a year. Depressingly
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Di Canio promises a summer of change
Final Score: Sunderland 1 Southampton 1 PAOLO DI CANIO has promised to change everything at Sunderland after claiming a 1-1 draw with Southampton which has left the Wearside club on the brink of Premier League safety. The Black Cats failed
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Pardew relieved after surviving 'toughest relegation fight'
ALAN Pardew last night expressed his relief at Newcastle United's Premier League survival and claimed the financial incentive for remaining in the top-flight had made this the toughest relegation battle he could remember. Newcastle's 2-1 win at
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Match Report: Queens Park Rangers 1 Newcastle United 2
Final Score: Queens Park Rangers 1 Newcastle United 2 TIME to crack open the champagne? Not exactly. But having secured their Premier League status with one game to spare, at least Newcastle United can draw a line under this thoroughly miserable
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Durham aiming to hand out capital punishment
LONDON is the latest venue and if there wasn't already a big enough buzz in this throbbing city our visit was guaranteed to add to the entertainment. Durham will always provide the drama and excitement that spectators wish for. Very seldom do we take
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Cooper set to be named Pools boss
COLIN Cooper is expected to be named Hartlepool United manager. The Middlesbrough under-18 coach is the club's choice to replace John Hughes, who was sacked last week. Cooper is understood, following their game with Newcastle on Saturday, to
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Tykes hopes Brooks will make a quick return
Yorkshire are hopeful that fast bowler Jack Brooks will make a swift recovery from his broken thumb and return to action sooner than the original six-week time frame put on his injury. The 28-year-old new signing from Northamptonshire suffered the break
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Durham wary of Oval pitch
DURHAM will have the chance to establish a clear lead at the top of the LV County Championship today, but for the second successive game they will face a tricky run chase. Time was their enemy in the thrilling win at Trent Bridge, but at least
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New measures to help reduce crime spree in the North-East by reoffending prisoners
NEARLY 6,800 offences were committed in just 12 months by prisoners leaving the region's jails after short sentences, new figures have revealed. More than 70 per cent of inmates released from most prisons - after less than one year behind bars
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Memorial unveiled to Second World War bomber crew
A memorial to a Second World War Halifax bomber crew has been unveiled, 68 years after it was shot down by a Luftwaffe ace over a North Yorkshire village. Stuart Minting reports. IN the early hours of March 4, 1945, eight weeks before the war ended
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Couple angry at being accused by doctor of "wasting NHS money"
A COUPLE have spoken of their anger after a doctor accused them of “wasting NHS money” when an operator at the non-emergency 111 helpline insisted on sending an ambulance to attend to their sick baby. Lisa and David Lewarne of Gilesgate, Durham
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Darlington FC pair take on Lakes challenge for charity
A DARLINGTON FC player and club volunteer are preparing to embark on a grueling challenge to cross the Lake District in 24 hours. Quakers midfielder Adam Nicholls and fundraiser Joanne Cameron will paddle, cycle, walk, scramble and abseil their
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Rocking Strike memorial to undergo £45,000 facelift
THE £45,600 restoration of a memorial to the first miner’s strike has begun along with the creation of a new riverside heritage path. The Rocking Strike Memorial, also known as The Tub, in Sunnybrow will undergo a major facelift while 1,100m of
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Vince Cable supports North-East growth and apprenticeships
BUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable will be in the region today to hand over cash from the government's flagship jobs scheme and back an ambitious drive to create more apprentices. Dr Cable will begin the day by launching the Exporting is Great campaign
