Archive
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Hydro-power scheme in Rookhope Burn at Eastgate divides opinion
AS plans for a hydro-electric system on a tributary of the River Wear are given planning permission, Duncan Leatherdale looks at the arguments for and against the stream scheme. WITH a new found zest to let Mother Nature provide our power, it was
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Seaton sign off in trophy winning style
SUPER Seaton FC signed off in style by clinching silverware in their Saturday swansong. After 101 years and a few changes in name, the Seaton Carew football club's final game on the traditional afternoon for football across the country was in the
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North-East holds 'false view' of serial killer Cotton - professor
THE North-East holds a false view of Mary Ann Cotton and needs to accept she was a cold, calculating, psychotic serial killer. So says a TV criminologist. Mark Tallentire reports. “PEOPLE in the North-East genuinely believe she was the victim of
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Chance to learn how to care for horses teeth and back at Middlesbrough charity night
HORSE riders are being given to the chance to learn how to care for their animals' teeth and back. The Riding for the Disabled Association’s Unicorn Centre at Hemlington, near Middesbrough is hosting a talk and demonstration by vet James Emson
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Hospital friends group provides nearly £30,000 of backing
A HOSPITAL friends group has spent nearly £30,000 on improving care for patients at Barnard Castle this year. The Friends of Richardson Hospital, in Barnard Castle, spent £29,300 on improving the hospital in 2012. The group’s funds were boosted
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Collection of maps showing Darlington and the Dales on display
A COLLECTION of maps created by local teacher, cricketer and folk musician Bob Hattersley has gone on display. More than 20 maps drawn by Mr Hattersley, from Darlington, have been exhibited for the first time in Darlington in the Centre for Local
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Acts with eyes on the prize
Britain’s Got Talent is a ratings winner and the format has become a global phenomenon... and now it’s back BRITAIN’S Got Talent and ITV has a format that pays off in the ratings. The Britain’s Got Talent marathon is about to begin, kicking off
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The last dance
The next series of Dancing on Ice will be the last, but golden skating couple Torvill and Dean don’t plan on hanging up their skates yet, as Steve Pratt reports JAYNE Torvill has said it before and says it again. Ask her to name her dream contestant
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Women behaving badly is not funny
WOMEN can be devious at times, can’t they? Especially if they live in Soapland. Women behaving badly, though, is no laugh-aminute sitcom. Claiming you’re pregnant is no joke. Enter Kerry, mother of all mothers. First, there was the little matter
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A road trip with Roth
Producer Richard Johns tells Steve Pratt about his latest movie, Liability, which was shot over just four weeks in locations around the region IT all began with two fathers taking their three-year-olds to nursery school in Suffolk. “That’s
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Family fun at Durham's record office
A COUNTY record office held a family fun day today (Friday, May 31). The Durham County Record Office, in County Hall, Durham, was hosting its fifth annual open event. Visitors had the chance to write with quills, dress up in Tudor costumes
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The hard work is only just beginning for Falcons
NEWCASTLE Falcons centre Adam Powell admits the hard work has only just begun despite the club sealing their promotion to the Aviva Premiership on Wednesday night. Falcons returned to the top-flight at the first time of asking, with a 49-33 aggregate
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Weightman ready for Diamond League outing
LAURA Weightman will make her first Diamond League appearance of the season when she competes in a strong 1,500m field in Eugene tomorrow. The Morpeth Harrier, who was a finalist at last year's Olympic Games, has made a strong start to the domestic season
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New van for village store
A SHOP owner is celebrating after winning a van in a competition for independent retailers. Dave Hull, 30, who runs The Village Shop at Edmundbyers, near Consett, County Durham, with his girlfriend, Louise Oliver, has received the £15,000 Citroen
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Voting to find Yorkshire's favourite pub
AFTER pulling in a record number of nominations and votes, the finalists have been announced for Yorkshire’s Favourite Pub 2013. The final 12, including six from North Yorkshire, will now battle it out for the title which will be announced on July
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Corpus Christi hurch procession revived in Middlesbrough
CHURCH PROCESSION: The traditional procession to mark the feast of Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ, in Middlesbrough will be revived at St Mary's Cathedral, Coulby Newham, on Sunday, June 2 when it is held round the church grounds starting at 2.30pm
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Spaces on photography course at Bowes Museum
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: A Landscape Photography for Beginners class is to be held at the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, to tie in with a display of images by artist Tim Walker. The course will teach the basics of composition, working with natural light
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Mind games
Jenny Seagrove is branching out again to play a governess in a forgotten play, as she tells Steve Pratt JENNY Seagrove plays a sinister Victorian governess in her latest stage role. Was it, I wondered, similar to any other role she’s taken?
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The house painter
Whether it’s a fisherman’s cottage in Cullercoats or a chic Paris apartment, artist Sarah Sutherland can capture it with her unique illustrations. She talks to Ruth Addicott about her passion for drawing properties TEN years ago, artist Sarah Sutherland
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Suspended sentence for taxi driver who killed teenage pedestrian
A TAXI driver sobbed uncontrollably as he was given a suspended jail sentence for knocking over and killing a teenager on a coastal road. Teesside Crown Court was told that Craig Williamson could have avoided the collision with Kirsty Louise Fennon
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Go Gatsby
The new Great Gatsby movie is proving a big influence for decor fans who’ve been seduced by its glamorous, glitzy settings. Gabrielle Fagan sources Twenties-style ingredients to jazz up your home THE bold, beautiful and luxurious scenery in The
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Suspended sentence for man caught with hardcore child pornography
A JUDGE spared a man jail after hearing he had made significant steps towards tackling his addiction to hardcore pornography. Former Remploy worker John Lenaghan had more than a hundred indecent photos and movie clips of young children on his computer
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Benefit fraudster used children in "disgraceful lie"
A MOTHER used her children in a benefits scam which netted her more than £3,000 by claiming they lived at home with her when in fact they did not. Karla Hood was accused by Recorder Mark McKone, who gave her a suspended jail sentence, of a “disgraceful
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Walker's Wonderland
With its fairytale sets and inventive images, Tim Walker’s fashion photography is instantly recognisable. An exhibition opening this weekend at the Bowes Museum aims to show him in a new light, says Steve Pratt IT began with a family chat around
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Teenager pleads guilty over Stokesley death crash
A TEENAGER has admitted being a passenger in a stolen car which ploughed into and killed a pedestrian. Delton O'Neill, 18, admits aggravated vehicle taking and allowing himself to be carried in the stolen Range Rover which collided with Douglas
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Durham fencers claim silver in Euro bout
NORTH-EAST fencers have claimed silver in a European championship. Youngsters from Laszlo’s Fencing Club, based at the Regional Fencing Centre in Durham City, took part in the European Youth Sport Exchange, which also featured biathlon, table tennis
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North-East university praised for giving students a second chance
SUNDERLAND University's work in providing access to higher education has been assessed as the best in the UK by the independent body which protects academic standards and improves the quality of students’ learning experience. The Quality Assurance
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Spiritualist church holds evening of mediumship
MEDIUM EVENING: Medium Geoff Errington is to hold an evening of mediumship at Willington Spiritualist Church, Chapel Street, on Tuesday (June 4). It starts at 7pm with a £2 donation requested for entry.
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Rebirth of the blues
The son of radical psychiatrist RD Laing tells Steve Pratt about his late father’s weird ways and why they prompted him to write a novel GROWING up the son of the radical Swinging Sixties “shrink” RD Laing is enough to make you need therapy. For
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Revamp delayed due to business concerns
A £500,000 revamp of King’s Square in York – popular with street entertainers - has been delayed after concerns about the impact on local businesses. The 12-week project to widen and repave the square was due to start on Monday but will now begin
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Asparagus, pancetta and parmesan linguine
The British asparagus season is in full swing, but hurry – there are only six weeks left until it’s off the shelves, says Keeley Bolger. Here is an easy to do recipie featuring asparagus from asparagus.co.uk Ingredients: Serves two 150g
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Church to open for summer fair
ST Mark's Church, in North Road, Darlington, will be hosting its annual summer fair, on Saturday (June 1), from 11.30am. There will be a raffle, tombola, books and a craft stall. Homemade cakes will be on sale. Admission is free.
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Warning after thefts from cars
MOTORISTS are being urged to hide valuables following a spate of vehicle break-ins . Thieves got into seven cars, many of them unlocked, overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 28/29) in Seaburn and Fulwell. Items stolen included a laptop,
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Military band to perform
THE Band of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers will perform a concert at the St Paul's Centre, Spennymoor, tomorrow (Saturday, June 1) at 7pm. Tickets are £9, including light refreshments, and are available from the centre or by calling 01388- 813404
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Chance to join Alice in National Trust Wonderland
SUMMER revellers are being invited to join Alice and take a step into Wonderland. Beningbrough Hall and Gardens – a National Trust property north of York – is joining forces with a local theatre company for an evening to remember. In partnership
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Join in junior football
YOUNGSTERS are being invited to join new football sessions which kick off next week. (From Monday, June 3) The pay and play sessions are part of Durham County Council’s Join In programme, cost £1 and are aimed at children aged 11 years and over
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Two held after ram-raid burglary on Stockton cycle store
TWO men have been arrested on suspicion of burglary after they ram-raided a store in Stockton. The Stockton Running and Cycling retail store on the Bowesfield Industrial Estate, Stockton, was targeted at around 10pm on Wednesday, May 29. A
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Radio and television writer, Wally K Daly, and one time chairman of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain speaks in hometown
A free public lecture by playwright Wally K Daly is being held at Teesside University on Wednesday, June 19, at 6.30pm, as part of the Middlesbrough Literary Festival. Visitors can turn up on the night and there is no need to book. For more details
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Novice parachutist rescued from 60ft tree in Peterlee after drifting off course
A NOVICE parachutist had a lucky escape today when he fell into a tree and got entangled 60 ft above the ground on his maiden jump. The 21-year-old came to grief in Peterlee town centre, in east Durham, after drifting two miles from the Peterlee
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Drink-drive crackdown to be held this weekend
ROAD safety officers from the region’s police forces are this weekend launching a summer campaign to tackle drink-driving. Staff from Cleveland and Durham Police’s joint specialist operations units are warning motorists that alcohol consumed the
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Tea Report: Yorkshire heading for a draw
The LV= County Championship match between Yorkshire and Somerset at Taunton will end in a draw. After Somerset avoided the follow-on by posting 310 all out in reply to 450-5 declared, Yorkshire have reached tea at 65-3 from 27 overs of their second
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Mysteries of Ormesby Hall revealed
NORTH East artist Rachel Powell will take visitors on a creative exploration of Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough on June 8 and 9. The exhibition, The Colourful Threads of Ormesby Hall, is part of the Festival of the North East and will reveal the hidden
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Pilot hero's grave tidied up by fellow RAF veteran
THE grave of a Battle of Britain hero which had become overgrown has been given a spring clean by a Northern Echo reader. Earlier this week, the Echo revealed the state of the grave of Flying Officer Oswald St John “Ossie” Pigg, who died after
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On course to run through Paradise
RUNNERS have the chance to compete in two events in the grounds of a stately home. The Lambton Estate at Chester-le-Street, County Durham - where TV series Paradise was filmed - will host its third annual 10k and 3k runs on Sunday, June 30 for
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March for Lee Rigby to be held in Consett
DETAILS of one of the first marches against extremism to be held in the North-East have been revealed. The Stand Strong event will be in Consett, County Durham, and is one of 70 across the country being staged on June 23. Marchers plan to leave
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Animal magic at Teesside Shopping Park
A SHOPPING trip turned into a wildlife adventure for youngsters at a North-East retail outlet. A free animal magic day was held at Teesside Shopping Park in Stockton starring snakes, tarantulas, lizards, mongoose, skunks, frogs, parrots and macaws
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Green award for black-and-whites
NEWCASTLE United FC has won a Green Hospital Award for its catering, hospitality and banqueting offer at St James’ Park. The club is carbon neutral. The awards were announced at Reading’s Madejski Stadium. RTS AWARDS: Young broadcasters and filmmakers
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Work on new HQ is ramped up
DEVELOPMENT work on a new council headquarters building is being ramped up – quite literally. Contractors are working on a 70m long ramp which will guide customers into the Richmondshire District Council’s new building – Mercury House on Station
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LATEST: Somerset v Yorkshire
The LV County Championship match between Yorkshire and Somerset at Taunton will end in a draw. After Somerset avoided the follow-on by posting 310 all out in reply to 450-5 declared, Yorkshire have reached tea at 65-3 from 27 overs of their second innings
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Tour dates for Lindisfarne Gospels comedy
TOUR dates have been announced for a new play celebrating the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North-East. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham, by Ed Waugh and Trevor Wood, is a comic look at the history of the region. It opens
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Baby's death inspires family to fundraise for charity
THE family of a baby who died minutes after being born are raising money to help people affected by the condition that claimed his life, and other causes close to their hearts. Claire and David Vickery, from Spennymoor, lost their first child,
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World experts on implantable hearing systems attend North-East symposium
A NORTH-EAST hospital trust is hosting a major international conference next week. The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which implants more devices to aid hearing than any other centre in Europe, is hosting an international symposium on
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Hartlepool cabbie named best in the country
A FUNDRAISING cabbie has been crowned taxi driver of the year after raising more than £50,000 for charity. Funnyman Stephen Picton organised two comedy nights to raise cash for Hartlepool Hospice after a friend of his received treatment in the
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Family's appeal to missing Newcastle student
THE family of a missing teenager have renewed their appeal for him to come home. Jason Fyles, 19, was last seen on Helmsley Road, Sandyford, Newcastle, at 2.45am on Thursday, May 16. His father, Ian Fyles said: “Jason you are more than just
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Coffee morning to celebrate Queen's Coronation
ROYAL CUPPA: A coffee morning to mark 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation will be held by St Cutherbert’s church, tomorrow (Saturday) between 10am and 1pm in Lazenby Village Hall. Admission is £1.50, including a drink and scone. There will also
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Gray signs five-year deal at Darlington
Darlington manager Martin Gray has pledged his future to the club by penning a new five-year deal. Assistant manager Brian Atkinson and coach Sean Gregan have also agreed new deals covering the same length of time while talks with Quakers' other
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Two new stores for The Gates, Durham
TWO new stores have opened in a city shopping centre. Bright House, a weekly payment retailer, and Triple S, a fashion store, have moved into The Gates, in Durham. The moves have created a total of 12 new jobs. Daniel Tabiner, The Gates
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92-year-old beekeeper honoured for 80 years of service
A MAN with a life-long passion for bees has been honoured for an incredible 80 years of dedication to beekeeping. Ashley Barnard reports. GEORGE Birks was introduced to bee farming by his uncle in the late 1920s. That early interest sparked
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A new star presenter has been announced to host Stockton engineering festival
THE organisers of a festival of engineering are announcing a line-up change after the man due to front the event was forced to pull out. Steve Mould, television science presenter, founder of ‘Festival of the Spoken Nerd’ and of the Guerrilla Science
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Asparagus and shallot soup
The British asparagus season is in full swing, but hurry – there are only six weeks left until it’s off the shelves, says Keeley Bolger. Here is an easy to do recipie featuring asparagus from asparagus.co.uk Serves four Ingredients: 12
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Santander launches social enterprise funding awards
SOCIAL enterprises have been urged to bid for funding of up to £50,000 from a scheme being launched by Santander. The Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards open on June 3 with an increased number of prizes available this year for social
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Summer fun in Hartlepool
Revellers are being invited to pack a picnic on Sunday if they are visiting Hartlepool’s Ward Jackson Park from 1pm to 4pm. It is hosting the ‘big lunch’, an annual community get-together and ‘bandstand unplugged’, part of the Festival of the North
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Travelling community's response to anti-Gypsy comments
Hundreds of members of the travelling community descended on Darlington for a four-day gathering last week. Apart from one morning of commuter chaos, the event passed off largely peacefully. Despite this, a string of negative comments have been left
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Speakers debate impact of austerity on social welfare
SOCIAL justice researchers and activists are taking part in a conference next week to discuss the impact of austerity on social welfare. The free half-day event takes place on Wednesday, June 5 at the launch of Sunderland University's new Centre
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Longer than expected road closure worries village pub
A BUSY road will be closed for up to five weeks to allow for bridge repairs – three weeks longer than local businesses expected. Work to repair a crumbling 19th Century bridge over a beck in Manfield, near Darlington, will start tomorrow (Saturday
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New 1,200-place school aims to open in Hartburn by September 2014
MULTI-MILLION pound plans to completely rebuild a school have been approved. The Government will fund the rebuilding of Ian Ramsey C of E School, in Hartburn, Stockton and it is hoped it will be opened by September next year. Stockton Borough
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Teenagers make the news
MEDIA students about to start a new chapter in their lives have launched their own magazine. Pupils from Guisborough’s Prior Pursglove College designed, wrote and edited ‘ERA’ which features articles on holiday destinations, fashion trends, local
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Piercing studio at the cutting edge of their craft
For most of us, the thought of needles is enough to bring on a cold sweat, trembling hands and a sick feeling in our stomachs. But imagine having 28 of them stuck through your skin in the same day, all in the name of art. That was exactly what
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Charity challenge is on the buses
KEEN travellers are being asked to take part in a bus-based treasure hunt for charity. The Great North Bus Challenge will see participants tour the North-East by bus, hoping to get a “passport” stamped at various locations. They will be given
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Cyclist dies after crashing into parked car
A CYCLIST died after crashing into the back of a parked BMW during rush hour traffic. It happened on Carmel Road South in Darlington at around 8am this morning (Friday, May 31) and the cyclist - believed to be in his late forties or early fifties
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March marks 100 years since Emily Davison's death
A SUFFRAGETTE march will be re-enacted to mark the centenary of the death of North-East campaigner Emily Davison. The recreation of the 1911 Common Cause Poster Parade will take place in Newcastle city centre next Saturday (June 8) – 100 years
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Tornado's support vehicle hoisted from road to rail
STEAM enthusiasts have helped a famous locomotive stay on track, by moving its new support vehicle from road to rail. Tornado made history in 2008, becoming the first steam locomotive built in Britain for 48 years, cementing its place among Darlington
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Cause of waste depot fire may not be known for several weeks
OFFICIALS say it may be several weeks before the cause of a major fire at a North-East waste depot is determined. Work is continuing to deal with the aftermath of the fire at Albert Hill Skip Hire, in Darlington. Dozens of firefighters tackled
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Consultant welcomes approval of new eye treatment for the NHS
A NORTH-EAST eye specialist has welcomed a move to make a new treatment for a condition potentially causing blindness available on the NHS. James Talks, a consultant ophthalmologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, said he was "very
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LATEST: Somerset v Yorkshire
Yorkshire will almost certainly have to settle for an LV County Championship draw against Somerset at Taunton after the hosts avoided the follow-on by passing 301 in reply to 450-5 declared this morning. Steve Patterson and Moin Ashraf both struck during
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Police probe restaurant manager's claims Facebook account was hijacked by right wing group
AN investigation has been launched by Durham Police into a restaurant manager's claims his account on the social networking site Facebook was hijacked. Zak Ahmed, manager of Spice Island, in Barnard Castle, said he received threats and abuse after
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Disgraced former chief constable faces £400,000 claim from Cleveland Police
A FORMER chief constable is facing a claim for almost £500,000 paid to him before he was sacked from the force in disgrace. Sean Price, ex-chief of Cleveland Police, lost his job last October after being found guilty of gross misconduct following
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Residents urged to get involved
PEOPLE in Chester-le-Street are being invited to have their say on local issues. The South Pelaw Residents Association hopes to attract more residents to its meetings. These are held on the third Thursday of each month (except August and December
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Newsagent granted alcohol licence despite opposition
A NEWSAGENT has been granted a drinks licence, despite opposition from members of a north Durham community. Residents and councillors objected to the alcohol application from Barry Seymour at Everyday News, on Front Street, in Sherburn Village,
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Awards for South Moor curry house
A CURRY house in north Durham is celebrating after winning two awards. Monju Indian restaurant on Park Road, South Moor, near Stanley, has received an exceptional quality award in the Fast Food Guide. The family-run business, which has been
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Has the High Street had its day?
ARE we all shopped out? Shops are closing at a record rate. By 2018, the Centre for Retail Research reckons we’ll have lost a fifth of our shops. The High Street as we once knew it – a cluster of small specialist family- owned shops – has probably
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Theatre Review: Birds Of A Feather, Newcastle Theatre Royal
FULL marks for (A) getting the original team back together and (B) for doing more than simply cobble together a few old episodes from the original TV series. After 15 years away, the Birds fly back in a new play that hangs the old gags, insults
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Soul legend
The Time Traveller’s Guide to Elizabethan England (BBC2, 9pm) Otis Redding: Soul Ambassador (BBC4, 9pm) UNDERSTANDABLY, perhaps, historical documentaries usually focus on the big stars of the era – kings, warriors, knights and reformers.
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Deerness gym club hosts family fun day
DEERNESS Gymnastics Academy, in Ushaw Moor, near Durham, will hold a family fun day on Sunday (June 2). There will be gymnastics displays, balloon modelling, nails and hair treatments, face painting and a fun fair. The event runs from 10am to 3pm.
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Defender leaves Darlington
Joe Tait has left Darlington to sign a one-year contract at Conference club Gateshead. The centre-back was a mainstay of the team as Quakers marched to the Northern League Division One title and he attracted interest from a number of clubs.
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Gig Review: Midge Ure, Stockton Arc
MIDGE URE is undoubtedly a man comfortable in his own skin. Now nearing 60, the Scottish singer-songwriter played an intimate acoustic set to an appreciative and packed audience at the Arc. Reflecting on a career with the likes of Slik, Visage
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Cathedral packed as people remember the well-loved Dean of Ripon.
CLERGYMEN and residents left reeling by the sudden death of the well-loved Dean of Ripon, poured into Ripon Cathedral today (Friday, May 31) . The Very Rev Keith Jukes, 59, died just days after being diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his stomach
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Training centre plan gets green light
OFFICERS at Durham County Council have approved a planning application for a unit at Dunns Bowes Offices, Lambton Park, Chester Le Street, to be transformed from an office to a training centre. PUB GIG: Rock band Zephyr will play the Red Lion,
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Theatre Review: Cats, Sunderland Empire
THE story is inspirational. Not the actual narrative, a mainly episodic, zany collection of tall feline tales that have about as much profundity as a Bowie classic. Amazing, but what does it actually mean? No, the tale of getting said musical on
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Community says it has been subjected to bullying tactics by doorstep charity canvassers
A COMMUNITY has started a petition to ban cold calling, saying residents have been subjected to “bullying” and “emotional blackmail” by charity canvassers. Residents living in the Valley Road area of Northallerton have started a petition to keep
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Railway heritage
THE report on the steampowered brewery which is being proposed to open on the site of Darlington’s Head of Steam museum in the building currently occupied by the Darlington Railway Preservation Society (DRPS) (Echo, May 28) raises a number of questions
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Ice rink melts into history
ON Tuesday, the twenty eighth day, in the merry month of May, in the year two thousand and thirteen, Anno Domini, there came an end of an era in Durham Old Town. Icy Smith’s Ice Rink was demolished The Durham Wasps have lost their sting. Bill Craggs
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Canadian farming pioneer celebrates 100th birthday
A MAN who travelled as a youngster to become a farming pioneer in Canada has celebrated his 100th birthday. Ross Stobbart enjoyed his 100th birthday with family and friends at Willowdene Care Home, Fishburn, today (Friday, May 31). As a youngster
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Entrepreneurs urged to follow in footsteps of successful business leaders
ASPIRING North-East entrepreneurs are being urged to enter a competition responsible for helping to boost a DJ's career, a second-hand clothing store chain and a public relations firm. The If We Can You Can challenge (IWCYC), run by The Northern
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Forced to leave
A YOUNG man, a member of our church congregation, who has been doing fine work studying and teaching at Durham University, is being forced to leave the UK next month. What is his crime? Terrorism perhaps? Or drug smuggling? Incitement to religious
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Dogs Trust's annual summer fair
DOGS Trust Darlington is holding its annual summer fair at South Park on June 30. It runs from noon to 4pm and there will be dog agility classes, fairground games and a range of stalls. A drop-off station will be onsite for people to donate
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Bedroom tax
STOCKTON SOUTH MP James Wharton should realise that social landlords and councils are too busy coping with the fallout from the disastrous bedroom tax to “sing from the rooftops” about the right to buy (Echo, May 28). In Stockton, more than 2,400
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Hartlepool United fan runs for Muamba
A FOOTBALL fan who has dedicated the last six years to running met up with Fabrice Muamba before he took part in the BUPA Great Manchester Run in his beloved Hartlepool United colours. Paul Smith was one of the representatives running on behalf
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Motorcycling fundraisers set off on their latest adventure for the Great North Air Ambulance
A PAIR of fundraising motorcyclists have set off on their latest adventure to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance. Craig Jones and Mark Brown, who are both members of the Boundary 500 Motorcycle Group, will be travelling 3,000 miles around
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Durham Chorister School
I AM saddened to read that a slur has been cast on the Durham Chorister School for something that allegedly happened over 50 years ago (Echo, May 20). The man who is accused of abuse has since died and is therefore unable to defend his integrity
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Darlington Civic Theatre
THERE are justified worries arising out of the Government’s reorganisation of the NHS and the inevitability of cuts in local government services. Amid the gloom came the pleasing proposals for Darlington Civic Theatre (Echo, May 29). The imaginative
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Al Jolson
GOING through my DVDs the other night, I came across a Freddie Star documentary and with nothing much on the TV, I decided to give it a go. It included an interview with him being serious and not his usual daft self. I always thought Elvis was
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Savaged by an undead sheep
WHEN Conservative leader Stanley Baldwin stood down in 1937, he promised his party he would never spit on the deck or distract the captain when he was at the wheel. He may have kept his promise, but he must have been the last politician who meant
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Friends and family team up to tackle Great North Run
A TEAM of friends are tackling the Great North Run for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust after seeing the benefits of medical research first-hand. Kerry England’s daughters Elsie, two, and 15-year-old Courtney have suffered with Cystic Fibrosis from birth
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A trial that gives hope
IT is exciting that the North-East should be leading the world in treating patients with a potentially revolutionary drug aimed at tackling all forms of cancer. The first of 63 patients with different cancers have begun treatment with experimental
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Cyclist dies after rush hour crash in Darlington
A CYCLIST has died after an accident on Carmel Road South in Darlington this morning. He is believed to have collided with the rear of a parked BMW car approximately 300m south of the roundabout with Carmel Road North. The accident happened
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Shaping good citizens
Civic engagement among County Durham’s population is at its lowest level since the 1960s. Stephen Lambert, a North-East college lecturer, argues in favour of citizenship studies for post-16 students and adults so that the next generation is not so
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Moth to claim Oaks glory
MOTH can provide Aidan O’Brien with a fourth triumph in the Investec Oaks at Epsom, writes TATTENHAM. The master Irish trainer landed the third domestic Classic of the Flat season 12 months ago with 20-1 shot Was, but his main hope this year could
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Somerset v Yorkshire: Day Three (County Championship)
Day Three Somerset v Yorkshire LV County Championship YORKSHIRE still have an outside chance of forcing what would be another stunning LV County Championship victory over Somerset at Taunton today following a dominant day with bat and ball.
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Captain Cook is looking for a red high at night
ENGLAND will begin the NatWest Series against New Zealand with a proud record to uphold in one-day international cricket. Not since they last played in a red kit – the colour of their new one for this Champions Trophy summer, to be unveiled today
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Hogg prepared to give Lions his Best
STUART HOGG freely admits that he is a poor footballing imitation of his superstar relative George Best. ‘‘I have got the touch of a baby elephant,’’ said Scotland full-back Hogg, ahead of his British and Irish Lions debut against the Barbarians
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Olympic legacy helps Darlington school improve football and rugby pitches
A DARLINGTON school has won Olympic legacy funding to upgrade their football and rugby pitches. Staff and students at Carmel College are celebrating after netting £49,105 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Protecting Playing Fields
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Hilton to build hotel beside Stadium of Light
THE Hilton group is building a new hotel next to Sunderland FC’s Stadium of Light. Construction on the Stadium Park site is scheduled to start early next year ahead of the hotel’s planned opening in summer 2015. Consultation will be carried
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Credit card insurer sheds jobs
A CREDIT card insurer, fined £10.5m for mis-selling insurance, plans to cut 120 jobs in York. CPP, one of York's largest private employers, said the move was part of a restructure which was essential to securing the future of the group. Chief
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Eight hurt as white-out causes four car pile-up
EIGHT people were hurt in a four car pile up in a white-out on the A174 last night. Police said they were called to the incident near to the Greystones roundabout on Teesside at 11.15pm. It is believed the crash was caused by copper cable being
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World class? England are simply not good enough
WHENEVER England under-perform, there always seems to be a clamour to find someone, or something, to blame. Roy Hodgson isn't picking the right players. The system doesn't play to the strengths of the England squad. The players don't display enough
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O'Shea hoping England games become a regular occurence
JOHN O'Shea has called for international matches between England and Republic of Ireland to be played on a biennial basis after Wednesday night's atmosphere at Wembley left him hugely impressed. This week's 1-1 draw was the first meeting between
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Sissoko confident Newcastle will be stronger next season
MOUSSA Sissoko is confident a summer of rebuilding will leave Newcastle United in a much stronger position next season. Despite bursting on to the scene with three goals in his first four league games after a £1.8m move from French club Toulouse
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Middlesbrough to hold further talks with Ebanks-Blake
MIDDLESBROUGH will hold a second round of talks with out-of-contract striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake next month after an initial discussion proved productive. Tony Mowbray is monitoring a number of overseas targets in an attempt to secure the best
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Sunderland signing spree continues as Lazio defender agrees to move to Wearside
SUNDERLAND'S signing spree continued last night as they agreed terms with Lazio centre-half Modibo Diakite. Diakite, who is a 26-year-old Frenchman of Malian descent, has become the third free agent to agree to join the Black Cats this week.
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Plastics firm behind lightest milk bottle achieves another first
A NORTH-EAST plastics firm, which makes the UK's lightest milk bottle, has achieved another first. Nampak Plastics, in Consett, County Durham, has trialled the world's first four pint milk bottle made up of about 30 per cent recycled high density
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Nuclear power simulator firm hopes to create more North-East jobs
A FIRM exposing workers to the real-life hazards of the nuclear power industry says it hopes to create more North-East jobs and target increased global markets to mark its 40th anniversary. GSE Systems, based in Thornaby, near Stockton, provides
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Two railway legends are re-united
IT’s a sight to quicken the heart of every railway fan – two legends of the track sitting side-by-side in a scene not witnessed for many a decade. World steam speed record holder Mallard, arguably one of the most famous locos in the world, was
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Paraglider's wife and children tell him he's grounded, as he survives third serious accident
A PARAGLIDING enthusiast says he is going to defer to his wife and children’s wishes to “stay grounded” after surviving a serious crash - his third in two years. Jim Taylor, 45, from Esh Winning, County Durham, was paragliding from Carlton Bank
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Firm chooses North-East for bespoke oil refinery project
A PROCESS to make crude oil refining more environmentally friendly has been launched at a North-East technology centre. GSA Environmental Ltd (GSAE) is working on experiments at the Wilton Centre, near Redcar, to recover catalytic metals from refinery
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Beauty industry firm rewarded for skills investment
A NORTH-EAST company, which has made more than 100m products for the global beauty industry, has been rewarded for its success. Sone Products Ltd, in Stanley, County Durham, has become the first firm of its type in the region to gain a gold standard
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Shildon family reunited as teenager comes home after year in hospital
A TEENAGER who spent more than a year in hospital fighting a life-threatening illness has finally been able to move home. Chelsea Rowley, 16, was struck down by vasculitis of the central nervous system, which causes swollen blood vessels in the
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North-East cancer patients are first in the world to trial potential 'wonder drug'
PATIENTS at a North-East hospital have become the first in the world to be treated with a potentially revolutionary new drug designed to combat every type of cancer. The drug trial is underway at the Northern Institute of Cancer Research at the
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Government cuts decimate building trade, industry leaders demand urgent action
THE construction industry has shrunk by 10 per cent since the Government came to power, with the loss of 89,000 jobs, according to an alarming new report. Research by the TUC found that cuts to publicly-funded projects were the main reason for
