Archive
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Campaigners back new approach to helping North-East smokers cut down
CAMPAIGNERS have welcomed new guidance which gives the NHS the green light to support smokers who want to cut down as well as those who want to give up. Currently it is only smokers who make a commitment to give up cigarettes who are given a course
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Big increase in gonorrhoea cases triggers warning from experts
HEALTH officials in the North-East are worried about a big increase in cases of gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted disease which is becoming resistant to treatment. The region saw a 41 per cent surge in cases of gonorrhoea last year, almost twice
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Tributes paid to Crook woman who died in motorised trike accident in Bishop Auckland
THE family of a woman who died when her motorised trike hit a wall and overturned have paid tribute to her. Gwenda Ward, of Stanley Way, Billy Row, Crook, County Durham, was travelling on a Rover Diablo trike motor vehicle when the accident happened
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Deputy Prime Minister backs Echo's NEvolution campaign
NICK Clegg vowed today (June 4) that the region will be given the chance to reverse decades of Whitehall power-grabbing – describing the future as “exciting”. The deputy prime minister said he “strongly endorses” the campaign launched by the The
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Tributes paid to wife of North-East politician
ONE of the region’s leading Liberal Democrat politicians is to write a memorial book after his wife lost her battle with cancer. Frances Foote Wood, the wife of the former Wear Valley District Council leader Chris, lost her 18-month battle with
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Jeremiah Dixon celebrations continue with two-day series of talks and visits
A TWO-day series of talks and visits will form part of ongoing celebrations of the life and work of Jeremiah Dixon. The Cockfield-born surveyor and astronomer is best known for his work with Charles Mason to establish the border between Maryland
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Barnard Castle School pupil's art project sees him spend time behind bars
A GCSE student spent time behind bars in the hope of earning a good grade for his art exam. Barnard Castle School pupil Arran Keogh, 16, chose “caged” from a list of 10 topics for his art project. He decided to focus on imprisonment – and asked
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Plans submitted for long-awaited £200,000 improvements to St Mary's RC Primary School, Barnard Castle
PLANS for a £200,000 extension to a Teesdale primary school have been unveiled. Under the proposals, a classroom at St Mary's RC Primary, Barnard Castle, will be demolished and rebuilt elsewhere on the site, allowing for the development of a much
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Police and prison officials to work with Startforth Park residents over illegal traveller encampment
POLICE and prison officials have pledged to work with residents in an effort to avoid a repeat of problems caused by travellers heading to Appleby Fair who set up an illegal camp near their housing estate. Householders at Startforth Park, Startforth
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Teenager flees Turkish police after trying to film riots
A STUDENT from the region caught up in the anti-government protests in Turkey was chased by riot police for videoing the clashes. Melisa Kenber, 19, who lives just outside Ripon, North Yorkshire, was visiting family in Istanbul last week. While
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They'll take the shirt off your back - and give it to the kids
CROOKED cash seized from major criminals has been used to buy 120 kits for a youth football club. Shotton Colts, based in Shotton Colliery, east Durham, was given strips worth £2,500 seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) from criminals
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Man taken to hospital after fight in Victoria Road, Middlesbrough
A man has been taken to hospital with head and hand injuries following a fight involving several men in Victoria Road, Middlesbrough, at 6.40pm tonight (Tuesday, June 4). The men involved are believed to be aged between 20 and 40. One local
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Preston Park Museum and Baltic miss out on £100,000 Art Fund Prize
PRESTON Park Museum in Eaglescliffe and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead tonight (Tuesday, June 4) missed out on a £100,000 prize. For the two North-East contenders were among ten finalists in the running for the Art Fund Prize
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370 more homes to be built on Yarm greenfield site
OVER 370 homes will be built on green fields outside of Yarm - just months after Stockton Borough Council approved plans for 350 homes on a nearby site. Councillors on the planning committee were today (Tuesday, June 4) divided over whether to
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Young adventurers go wild at Camp Beaumont
Andrew Douglas takes his son to a residential activity camp and watches him tackle a range of challenges with relish. WATCHING my son lean backwards off a balance beam precariously positioned atop a 40ft high pole filled me with a little trepidation
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Building supplies firm buoyed by UK and US markets
A CONSTRUCTION supplies firm, founded as an Australian-based sheep shearing company, says strong profits across the UK and US have helped it avoid crumbling European markets. Wolseley, which distributes heating and plumbing parts to the building
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Snatch of the day
FIGHTING crime is a partnership between the police and the public so it's vital that as many bridges as possible are built between communities and local forces. Tomorrow's paper highlights a cracking example of Durham Constabulary winning over
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Cleveland Police axes mounted section to save £88k a year
THE axeing of a police force's 'iconic' mounted section represents just part of the drastic cuts to frontline policing, the Police Federation warned tonight (Tuesday, June 4). Cleveland Police today announced its decision to disband its Mounted
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Outline plans to build 400 homes at Langley Park are approved
COUNCILLORS have backed controversial plans to build 400 homes on the edge of a former pit village. Objectors from Langley Park, near Durham, urged Durham County Council's county planning committee to knock back the outline development proposals
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Councillors agree £1 'restoration levy' to improve theatre
COUNCILLORS have approved plans to charge a £1 'restoration levy' to support efforts to improve a historic North-East theatre. From July, people booking tickets for shows at Darlington Civic Theatre will be required to pay the levy, although there
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County Durham construction firm sees turnover jump more than a third
A FAMILY construction firm is defying tough industry conditions by reporting a 36 per cent hike in turnover to £15m. Finley Structures, based on Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham also saw sister company, SCH Site Services, increase
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Woman charged with drugs offences following raid on lap-dancing club
A 44-YEAR-OLD woman appeared before magistrates today (Tuesday, June 4) charged with drugs offences following a raid on a lap-dancing club last year. Red Velvet – County Durham’s only strip club at the time and situated above a chip shop – was
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Trial date agreed for man accused of helping friend to set himself on fire
A PROVISIONAL trial date has been agreed for the case of a man accused of assisting a friend to set himself on fire. Stephen Walker, 30, remains critically ill suffering 90 - 95-per cent burns in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary after being
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New group plans march to show solidarity against forces of extremism
A NEW group is planning a march to “show its support against all forms of extremism” following the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich. Consett Strong, formed in Consett, County Durham, will be one of 76 groups planning marches throughout the
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Homes of Sunderland footballers burgled while they were away on holiday
THE homes of two Sunderland footballers were burgled and thousands of pounds worth of goods, plus four cars, were taken, while they were on holiday following the end of the Premier League season last month. Northumbria Police have arrested a 25
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Cameron accused of dealing blow to green jobs
DAVID Cameron was accused of dealing a blow to hopes of an explosion in “green” jobs in a Commons clash over energy generation. Ministers saw off a rebellion by Liberal Democrat and Tory MPs who demanded a clear target to remove carbon emissions
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Fairytale activities for youngsters at Hardwick Park in Sedgefield
CLASSIC fairytale the Billy Goats Gruff has inspired the latest toddler tales and trails session at Hardwick Park in Sedgefield, County Durham, on Wednesday, June 19. The sessions, which cost £3 per child, take place from 10am to 11.30am and 1pm and
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Rockliffe Hall Hotel in Hurworth wins silver in national tourism awards
SILVER AWARD: Rockliffe Hall, in Hurworth, County Durham has been awarded a VisitEngland silver award for excellence for business tourism. The five star resort won the North East regional title for business tourism earlier this year and has made the
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Man's child sex image collection brought to light after discovery by his now ex-wife
A MAN’S predilection for young girls came to light after his “disgusted” wife found an email on his phone containing indecent images of children. It led to her separation from husband David Jones and the “discovery” was reported to police by a
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17 arrested over alleged money laundering and drugs offences in major North-East raids
Thirteen men and four women have been arrested in raids for alleged drugs and money-laundering offences across five police force areas today. Officers executed warrants at addresses in Durham, Cleveland, Jarrow, Nottingham and Northampton.
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Trio sentenced for "disgraceful" violence in Tap and Spile pub in Darlington
THREE men involved in what a judge described as "disgraceful" violence in a busy pub walked free from court yesterday. Two brothers who armed themselves during the fight at the Tap and Spile in Darlington were given suspended jail sentences.
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National Express - "We're not bidding for East Coast"
NATIONAL Express – the company that walked away from the East Coast rail franchise – has denied it could be about to bid for the route again. The RMT rail union claimed the firm had been given the “green light” to enter the process to secure a
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News from the North
Swingin’ Sixties: The North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be the grooviest way to get around on June 15 and 16. Stations along the line between Pickering and Whitby will be stepping back 50 years with music from the period.
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Cathedral lectures to continue after dean's sudden death
MEMORIAL LECTURE: Ripon Cathedral’s St Wilfrid Lecture series will continue in memory of its late dean, Keith Jukes, who died suddenly last month. Former local government minister John Denham will present One Nation possible, or desirable, in the 21st
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Audit into food inspections
FOOD STANDARDS: The Food Standards Agency carried out an audit on Durham County Council’s food law enforcement service, which is responsible for inspecting more than 4,000 food businesses across the county. Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment
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Resurfacing work due to start on the A19 southbound carriageway near Stockton
A19 RESURFACING: Work to resurface the A19 southbound carriageway between the A1027 and A1046 Portrack Interchanges, near Stockton, will take place from Sunday, June 9 and last for four weeks. The work will be carried out overnight, Sunday to Friday
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North Yorkshire's new Chief Constable makes his mark within hours of taking up post
THE new chief constable of North Yorkshire wasted no time in making his presence felt after helping to detain a man just hours into his first shift. Chief Constable Dave Jones was visiting Catterick Garrison Police Station as part of a tour of
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Varying accounts of Boxing Day stabbing given to court
VARYING accounts of a Boxing Day stabbing outside a cricket club bar have been given during the trial of the man accused of inflicting the blow. Durham Crown Court heard that a 28-year-old man suffered a single stab wound to the upper chest in
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Darlington businesses show their caring side
A PIONEERING project to encourage workplace volunteering has received backing from some of the region's leading firms. Darlington Cares was launched last year to form the first dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and employee volunteering
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Mum sets up dance school in son's memory
A YOUNG mother whose baby boy lost his battle with an incurable genetic condition has launched her own dance school in his memory. Dancer Shannon Wright has set up her own business which will help raise funds to find a cure for the condition which
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Artwork of Richmond heads to go on display in London
TWO years after artist Sally Cutler created a large-scale artwork of the heads of 16 recognisable figures in the town, from a former Olympic bobsleigher to the town’s traffic warden. Now the 16-block hand-printed lino cut with old printers type
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Police launch summer drink-driving campaign
POLICE have launched a summer drink driving campaign. Durham and Cleveland Police warned that drinking the night before can leave drivers unfit to drive the next day. As part of a joint campaign the police officers will conduct random stop checks of
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Design, art and theatre come to town
A MAJOR exhibition by 200 student designers will open on Thursday, June 6. As well as the costumes, set designs, textiles and jewellery there will be street theatre and outdoor games at Hartlepool Art Gallery in Church Square, Hartlepool between
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New role for missing chef's mother
THE mother of missing chef Claudia Lawrence has taken on a new role. Joan Lawrence has become the mayor of Malton, where she has been a town councillor for the past six years. She was previously the town’s deputy mayor and has taken on her
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Middlesbrough Mela promises to be bigger than ever
THIS year’s Middlesbrough Mela is expected to be the biggest ever when it moves to its new town centre location. The two-day festival promises a mix of music, food, fashion and fun in the town’s annual celebration of culture and diversity.
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£1.5bn potash mine plan decision hit by further delay
A DECISION on whether a £1.5bn potash mine can be built in a national park has been further delayed, over environmental issues. The North York Moors National Park Authority was initially due to examine Sirius Minerals’ York Potash plan to mine
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Olympic triathletes at Fountains Abbey
OLYMPIC triathletes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee have teamed up with the National Trust to host a unique event in the grounds of Fountains Abbey and the Studley Royal gardens. World Champion and Olympic bronze medallist, Jonny Brownlee, said the
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Tycoon attempted difficult helicopter manouvere before North Yorkshire crash
A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE and his wife died in a helicopter crash moments after the tycoon had attempted a tricky manouvere in high winds, an inquest has heard. Paul Spencer, 43, who ran a dried flower business, and his wife, Linda, 59, were flying the
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Scorton care home gives thanks after fundraising drive
GIVING THANKS: Organisers of a charity fundraiser at Abbey Care Village in Scorton for children’s cancer charity Cancer Leukemia In Children last month raised £111.10. Michele Hodgkinson said she was very grateful to local businesses that donated
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Cannabis farm worth an estimated £160,000 has been discovered in Eston following a police raid
CANNABIS FARM: Cleveland Police executed a drugs warrant at an address on Tawney Road in Eston, near Middlesbrough, this morning (Tuesday, June 4). A cannabis farm consisting of around 400 plants was found inside the address, with a potential value
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Waste recycling site on disused airstrip is approved by county councillors
PLANS for a controversial waste recycling facility on a disused airstrip have been approved by a planning committee. The proposals were to change the use of land currently holding a former poultry and piggery unit to create the recycling centre
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Gypsies blamed for vandalism and causing a nuisance in Dales village
GYPSIES and travellers making their way to Appleby for the annual horse fair have been blamed for damaging public toilets and causing a nuisance in a Yorkshire Dales village. Dozens of caravans and vehicles began arriving in Bainbridge, near Hawes
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DVD to honour Sir Bobby
A STAR-studded celebration to mark Sir Bobby Robson’s 80th birthday is being made available to a wider audience. Tickets for February’s celebration night at The Sage Gateshead sold out within hours, but now a DVD of the evening has been released
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Death of Durham student 'not suspicious'
A UNIVERSITY student has died, aged 19. Callum Reilly, a Durham University student, died at Grey College on Thursday, May 30. A Durham Police spokeswoman said the death was not believed to be suspicious. The Durham Coroner has been informed
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Friends ready for charity bike challenge
A GROUP of friends are preparing to set off on a 200-mile charity cycle challenge. The three-day cycle, from Newcastle to Edinburgh, will take the 13-strong group three days and will raise funds for two charities. Neil Bowerbank, who works
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Sheldon's the star of school's own 'Spring Watch'
PUPILS at Durham High School for Girls have conducted their own ‘Spring Watch’ at an emerging nature reserve on school grounds, of South Road, Durham. The girls spent four hours measuring, identifying, sketching, plotting, mapping, photographing and
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Planning inspector hears appeal for private gypsy site in Sadberge
A PLANNING inspector has heard views from opposing sides during an appeal hearing for a private Gypsy site on the edge of a village. Patrick Connors, an Irish traveller, had applied for a change of use for a site on the outskirts of Sadberge, near
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Durham hospice thanks 360 volunteers
A HOSPICE is celebrating the work of its 360 volunteers. St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham, is taking part in National Volunteer Week, which runs until Friday (June 7). An event to thank volunteers was held at the hospice, in Merryoaks, today
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Bishop Auckland man receives fine after his Japanese Akita attacks another dog
A JAPANESE Akita that sank its teeth into another dog’s neck and refused to let go must be muzzled in public for the rest of its life, a court ruled. It took Stephen Stewart more than a minute to pull his dog Polo off the Shetland sheepdog when
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Defunct mast alongside Durham Cathedral in creative places list
A DEFUNCT police radio mast and a concrete artwork dubbed a monstrous carbuncle have been included alongside Durham Cathedral and the Bowes Museum in a list of the North-East’s 100 most creative places. The Sir Ove Arup-designed 1960s mast at Durham
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Contest winner aiming to take national crown
THE winner of this year’s Miss Durham contest has set her sights on winning the Miss England crown. Lauren Abel, 22, of Darlington, won the regional contest at Sedgefield Racecourse on May 25. She is now heading to Torquay to represent County
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Military drumhead service to honour Lee Rigby and mark Veteran's Day in Spennymoor
A MILITARY drumhead church service is to take place in memory of the murdered Army drummer Lee Rigby on Veteran’s Day in Spennymoor. The Spennymoor Veteran Association is to hold the service in the town’s Jubilee Park. A drumhead service is
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Six-figure boost for North-East music groups
MUSIC organisations across the North have been given a helping hand to secure their future. Arts Council England has awarded almost £150,000 to the Northern Music Consortium through its Catalyst Arts: building fundraising capacity fund, which aims
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Darlington venue gets TLC from students
COMMUNITY-SPIRITED young people have begun sprucing up a popular Darlington venue. The Forum Music Centre, in Borough Road, will benefit from painting, decorating and re-plastering thanks to the hard work of nine students taking part in a 12-week
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Keen footballers urgently needed
SPRAIRE Lads and Lasses Elite under-tens is running a free session for potential players on Thursday (June 6), at South Park, Lakeside Lodge, Parkside, Darlington from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. So if you would like to play grassroots football at a good standard
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Crook woman Gwenda Ward named as trike rider killed in accident near Bishop Auckland
AN investigation is underway after a woman riding a trike died when her vehicle collided with a wall and overturned. Gwenda Ward, of Stanley Way, Billy Row, Crook, was travelling on a Rover Diablo trike motor vehicle when the accident occurred.
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NE business leaders express cautious optimism
Members of the North East Shadow MPC described a sense of “cautious optimism” when they met today (Tuesday). A partnership between The Northern Echo, the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) and Tees Valley-based accountancy firm Waltons Clark Whitehill
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London construction projects support jobs in the North-East
A NEW report produced by PwC and commissioned by business group London First has found that construction work in central London is delivering a £12m annual dividend and 280 jobs a year to the North-East. London First asked PwC to analyse the direct
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Football tournaments arranged to improve men's health in Hartlepool
TWO football tournaments to be held in Hartlepool aim to raise awareness of men’s health issues. They are being organised by the borough council’s sport and physical activity team and will coincide with National Men’s Health Week which runs from
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News from the North
FORUM TICKETS: Some places are still available at the first Hambleton Strategic Business Forum business conference on June 13 at Bedale Hall, Bedale, between 9.30am and 2pm. It is open to all businesses as well as those thinking of locating in Hambleton
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Hospice's Midnight Walk this weekend
MORE than 700 women are expected to take part in a charity walk under cover of darkness this weekend (Saturday, June 8). St Cuthbert’s Hospice will stage its annual Midnight Walk on St Leonard’s playing fields, in Aykley Heads, Durham City, late
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Dinosaur exhibition is a roaring success at Newcastle's Life Centre
A DINOSAUR exhibition has proved a roaring success after attracting record-breaking crowds. Newcastle’s Life Science Centre, which first opened in 2000, set a new visitor record during the opening week of its Age Of The Dinosaur exhibition.
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Newton Aycliffe mum volunteers for crisis charity that helped during her time of need
A YOUNG mother whose debt problems spiraled out of control is now volunteering for the crisis charity that helped during her time of need. Rachel Stephenson and her partner Stuart McLaren, of Newton Aycliffe, were struggling to make ends meet and
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Area action partnership holds open day in Newton Aycliffe
THE Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership is holding a drop in event from 10am and 2pm on Tuesday, June 18, to give people a chance to meet the team and have a say on neighbourhood issues. The session takes place in the community shop
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Police appeal for help to trace pub landlord's mobile phone thief
POLICE are appealing for help to find a man who stole a pub landlord’s mobile phone. A thief went behind the bar of the Locomotive pub, in Byerley Road, Shildon, on Monday, May 13, at 3.53pm when the landlord was absent to steal a Nokia 6300 phone
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Cancer drug developed by North-East scientists shows early promise
A POTENTIAL new cancer drug based on pioneering research by North-East scientists has performed well in early clinical trials. The potential drug - known as BMN 673 - is designed to attack tumours that have been left vulnerable because of faulty
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Dance display descends on sun-drenched Durham
CITY centre shoppers were treated to an impressive dancing display as they enjoyed the sunshine. Members of Lindy Jazz, based in Durham and Newcastle, were in Durham Market Place filming scenes for a new video to promote DJAM, a swing dance festival
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Marine pest could help solve the energy problem
AN annoying marine pest may not be such a nuisance after all – and could play a key role in solving the energy problem. The 'gribble' is a tiny crustacean much-hated by the seafarers of old for eating into the timber hulls of ships. Even now
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Jail term for banned driver
A FATHER-OF-TWO who crashed into a parked van while banned from driving has been jailed for 12 weeks. Mark Hunter, of Tyne Crescent, Darlington, appeared before magistrates in the town on Tuesday (June 4). The 34-year-old mechanic crashed a
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Theft and fraud offences worth thousands admitted
A DARLINGTON man has admitted a string of theft and fraud offences worth thousands of pounds. Raymond Scott, 20, appeared before the town’s magistrates’ court on Tuesday (June 4). He admitted nine charges of fraud by false representation and
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Man found in possession of craft knife
THE following cases were heard by South Durham magistrates, sitting at Darlington Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday (June 4). All addresses are Darlington unless otherwise stated. KNIFE OFFENCE: Dean Broder, of Pensbury Street, admitted possessing
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Book shop uncovers rare dictionary
VOLUNTEERS at a charity book shop were left surprised when they received a rare dictionary written in a long-dead language. The volume donated to the Willow Burn book shop in Consett was written in Norn, an extinct language once spoken in the remote
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Bikes stolen
Police are appealing for information following the theft of four pedal cycles from a property in the village of Burrill near Bedale. They were stolen from an outbuilding at an isolated property between May 25 and 31. Two of the bikes are distinctive
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Organisation set up to provide support for road accident victims and families gets support of North Yorkshire family
THE parents of a man killed in a road accident have backed a new support group for victims and their families. Road Peace North East has been established with the backing of Janet and John Thompson after their son, Jake, 27, died five days after
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£1m for huge festival to herald the Tour de France
A MAJOR festival heralding the arrival of the Tour De France to the region has been unveiled. The Arts Council has awarded £1m towards a 100-day series of events in the run-up to one of the biggest single sporting events in the world. And with
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Concern over strength of Chinese economy
MARKETS in London and Europe tumbled again yesterday amid poor US manufacturing data and concerns over the strength of the Chinese economy. The FTSE 100 Index extended losses at the end of last week and finished 58 points off at 6525.1 points.
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Cleveland Police to axe its mounted section
POLICE horses will be a thing of the past on Teesside’s streets after Cleveland Police announced it was going to axe its mounted section. Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer said the move would save the force £88,000 a year but said it was one of the
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Grate expectations
READY for take-off, the Great North Air Ambulance is to benefit from the world’s most famous frock – or, at least, its dresssensible equivalent. It was worn by Marilyn Monroe, she who once said that sex was part of nature and she’d go along with
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Railway runs to a halt
OUR favourite short walk is along the Wear from Wolsingham to Frosterley, lunch at the ever-excellent Black Bull and, on particularly athletic days, onward to Stanhope. As on a sunny spring bank holiday Saturday, it’s delightful. Even the abundant
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Brilliant Adventures Live Theatre, Newcastle
ALISTAIR McDOWELL has dedicated his 2011 Bruntwood prizewinning play to the North-East and the people there. Set in in a jobless, druginfested Middlesbrough estate where everyone is a blaspheming user of some kind, Robert Londsdale is the truly
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Pressing the case
TOP marks to The Northern Echo’s front page headline “Pressing Our Case” (June 3). I believe we missed a golden opportunity in 2004 to take up the then-Deputy Prime Minister’s lead of embracing a regional assembly. John Prescott did make some
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No parties for Mad Dogs
Mad Dogs (Sky 1, 9pm) PHILIP GLENISTER turned 50 while filming the latest series of Sky 1’s black comedy thriller Mad Dogs but there was no wild partying to mark the milestone. He and co-stars John Simm, Max Beesley and Marc Warren celebrated with
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Parklands
IN response to the article (Echo, May 23) regarding Parklands Residential Home, in Crook, I would like to say that both relatives and friends of residents have only admiration for all the hard work and care that the staff give to making the residents
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Bill Pertwee: A tribute
I WOULD like to pay tribute to Bill Pertwee, the former Dad’s Army actor who died last week (Echo, May 29). During rehearsals for the Dad’s Army stage show at the Forum, Billingham, and later in London, at the Shaftesbury Theatre, I got to know
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Mayor
THE mayor of Durham City is a matter above politics and should be chosen for Durham citizens alone. A county councillor living in Evenwood could never morally become mayor of Durham City. Our mayor for 2012-13 was “sacked” by Durham County
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Volunteers needed for litter pick in Darlington
VOLUNTEERS are invited to take part in a litter pick in Darlington tomorrow (Wednesday, June 5). The litter pick is being held to mark World Environment Day and a number of Darlington Police’s beat officers will also take part, as well as Darlington
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Volunteers sought to help Stockton-based dementia charity entertain sufferers
A CHARITY has launched an appeal for volunteers to come in and host activity sessions for people affected by dementia. Cleveland Alzheimer’s Residential Centre (Clevearc) has two specialist nursing services for people affected by the condition
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Jihadism
WHEN will politicians seriously recognise that we have fight on our hands with mindless Islamic militancy. Everyone now has to be aware of this. I suggest the Government introduces a confidential telephone number to report suspicions. It should
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Incredible Hulk
THE great Brazilian football teams of the 1960s included players with evocative names such as Pele, Zito and Garrincha, also known as the Little Bird. The Brazilian team of 2013 has players called Oscar, Hulk and Fred. Somehow the magic has
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Grappler
I WAS sorry to read the sad news of the death of former professional wrestler Mick McManus (Echo, May 28). The man who loved to hate, has passed away at the age of 93 years. Eleven million viewers used to watch his great battles against the
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Age UK
I WENT to Age UK Darlington for a bite of canny nosh last week. One of my pals, Alby, was crying in his beer as if somebody had supped his pint. However, Alby’s lament was that he had put a new pink tie on and had just spilled some lovely gravy
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Hard landing
I THINK most of us know the answers to the old conundrums how many psychiatrist does it to take to change a lightbulb and how do you get an elephant down from a tree. Now thanks to The Northern Echo (June 1) we also know how many fire-fighters
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Countdown is on to Darlington Covered Market 150th anniversary celebrations
THE countdown has begun to celebrations to mark 150 years of a historic North-East market. Two days of events are planned for this Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, to mark the milestone anniversary of Darlington’s Covered Market. The market
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Waiting lists
GERARD WILDE writes about delays when a patient arrives at a hospital as something rare when he was employed in the NHS (HAS, May 31). It certainly seems to e a growing problem for an ambulance not to be able to discharge a patient for treatment
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Investing in sport and leisure
SPENNYMOOR town council is offering a five figure sum to help build a skate park for young people. Well done to them. After recently donating £50,000 to Spennymoor FC for floodlights it shows they are willing to encourage sport and leisure.
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Policing the 'net is impossible
THE sound of stable doors being slammed shut is echoing throughout the land. Following the murder of April Jones by Mark Bridger, there is a debate – if lurid articles all over the papers can be dignified with the description “debate” – about whether
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V&A curator to speak in Durham
A CURATOR at one of the country’s top museums will speak in the region this weekend (Saturday, June 8). Gill Saunders, senior curator of prints at the Victoria and Albert Museum, in London, will discuss the Recording Britain exhibition at the DLI
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Deserving due credit
ALL too often, the pages of The Northern Echo feature warnings about loan sharks who prey on some of the most vulnerable members of society. They lure desperate people into their trap and force them into a deeper and deeper financial hole by charging
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Parliament called into question
Can Parliament really clean up its act and do lobbyists perform a useful function? Rob Merrick reports SLEAZE is once again the toxic accusation tossed around Westminster, after MPs and peers were apparently trapped in yet another cash for access
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McDonald’s first victory
NEW ZEALAND jockey sensation James McDonald celebrated his first winner on these shores from only his second ride when guiding Cable Bay home at Leicester. McDonald has settled in Sydney for the last year after taking his homeland by storm when
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Naas success for Fahey, with Royal Ascot pointers on show
ROYAL ASCOT juvenile clues were on offer at Naas on Monday, with Stubbs and Sandiva both winning impressively and booking their ticket for the big meeting. Sandiva, trained in North Yorkshire by Richard Fahey, had caught the eye on her Nottingham
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Plan for new garage
Durham County Council is being asked to grant planning pwermission for the construction of a detached double garage and the conversion of an existing garage to a habitable room at a house in Arcadia Avenue, Chester-le-Street. RAMP PLAN: Durham
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Going head-to-head in kitchen at East Durham College
MEMBERS of East Durham College’s management team and governors are getting set to go head-to-head in the kitchen. The Hell’s Kitchen-style event will be held at the Peterlee-based college’s Scene1 Restaurant on Thursday, June 13. The event
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Side with the Special one
SPECIAL MEANING was a winner at Leicester last week and makes a swift reappearance under a penalty in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap at Ripon. A half-sister to 1000 Guineas winner Speciosa, Special Meaning finally landed a first success when switched
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No more injury worries for fit-again Corbisiero
ALEX CORBISIERO was angry at being written off as an injury liability last season and is determined to prove the doubters wrong as he gears up for England’s first Test against Argentina on Saturday. Corbisiero has undergone two knee operations
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Kearney is a Lions' concern
IRELAND full-back Rob Kearney – one of the British and Irish Lions’ star men in South Africa four years ago – is battling to prevent his Australia adventure from ending before it has started. Lions boss Warren Gatland admitted that Kearney’s hamstring
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Powerhouse pairing excites O’Driscoll
BRIAN O’DRISCOLL has described as ‘‘an exciting feeling’’ the prospect of partnering midfield powerhouse Manu Tuilagi against Western Force tomorrow. Both make their 2013 British and Irish Lions tour bows in a team O’Driscoll will captain, and
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England may need rethink
ENGLAND’S Champions Trophy plans may be in for a lastminute overhaul after their unexpected back-to-back NatWest Series defeats against New Zealand. Injured pace bowlers Stuart Broad and Steven Finn have yet to be officially ruled out of tomorrow
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Author in Shildon signs copies of his book chronicling history of the railways
A TRAIN fan has signed copies of his new book which chronicles the early history of steam engines and railways in the North-East. George Smith has delved into his love of railways to pen Wylam: 200 Years of Railway History. He attended a session
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Benkenstein delays shoulder operation
DURHAM’S one-day captain Dale Benkenstein has postponed his shoulder operation and could be available to play in the championship match against Somerset, starting at Taunton on Thursday. After testing his shoulder in the nets on Sunday he played
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Century-makers please Tykes captain Gale
YORKSHIRE captain Andrew Gale heads to fortress Scarborough tomorrow to face Nottinghamshire delighted that his top order is starting to fire. Gale has seen three of his top six batsmen score LV County Championship hundreds in six matches this
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Health warning as temperatures rise
AS summer finally kicks in health experts in the North-East are urging people to enjoy the season safely. Warm weather brings with it increased risk of sunburn, food poisoning, infection from farm animals - and even potentially lethal carbon monoxide
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Jailed car thief ordered to pay full cost of stolen vehicle
A CAR thief has been ordered to pay the full cost of his crime, having already spent several months behind bars for committing the offence. Christopher Finnigan was given an 18-month prison sentence at Durham Crown Court, on January 11, having
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Severfield-Rowen reports most challenging spell in its history
BRITAIN'S biggest structural steel firm admitted it has seen the most challenging months in its history as it reported rising losses. Severfield-Rowen of Dalton, near Thirsk in North Yorkshire, reported a 15-month pretax loss of £23.1m, from a
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Souness still sour over his disastrous Newcastle spell
GRAEME SOUNESS has revealed he never should have taken the manager’s role at Newcastle United as he reflected on his ill-fated 17- month spell on Tyneside. Souness was appointed by Freddy Shepherd as Magpies manager in 2004 to succeed Sir Bobby
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Cash-rich Monaco the latest to be keen on Cabaye
AFTER learning one of their leading summer targets is in talks over a move to Germany, Newcastle United are bracing themselves for a bid from big-spending Monaco for influential midfielder Yohan Cabaye. The Magpies had identified St Etienne’s Pierre-Emerick
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England’s Wickham aims to be model player
CONNOR WICKHAM laughed off Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio’s ‘‘Playboy model’’ jibe and believes he will only improve under the Italian’s guidance. The 20-year-old striker moved to the north east two years ago but has only shown flashes of the
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The Tuesday Topic: England still have much to do
TWELVE months from now the nation will be gearing up to support England through another major championship, right? Despite concerns over the construction of new stadiums and facilities, and whether Brazil will be ready to host the biggest football
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Football Insider
KEVIN Phillips could be carrying on his playing days in the Premier League after being offered a deal by Crystal Palace. The former Sunderland striker fired Palace into the top flight with his penalty winner in last week's play-off final against Watford
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Cooper out to find the new Joe Allon at Victoria Park
LITTLE more than a week into his job as Hartlepool United manager, and Colin Cooper's phone hasn't stopped ringing. Appointed boss last Friday, the former Middlesbrough coach has a wide-ranging book of football contacts. And plenty of them
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Westwood questioning his Sunderland future
KEIREN Westwood has admitted he will look to leave Sunderland this summer if he does not receive some assurances about his involvement in the first team. Westwood's only senior appearances last season came in the Capital One Cup, and Martin O'Neill
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Liverpool on alert for keeper Mignolet
LIVERPOOL have emerged as front runners in the race to sign Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, but the Belgium international insists he is not actively seeking a move away from the Stadium of Light. Mignolet's performances caught the eye of
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Council officials defend the slow pace of work at the A67 landslip at Carlbury
A LANDSLIP that forced the closure of a major road between Darlington and County Durham has caused chaos for commuters and worry for local businesses cut off from passing trade. As the situation enters its third month, Vicki Henderson met with council
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NEvolution campaign gathers momentum
A GROUND-BREAKING campaign urging the Government to give the North-East the tools to secure its own economic future is gathering momentum with growing support from political and business leaders. The backing comes as the Department for Business
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Recycling firm hopes to expand after £1.9m deal
A NORTH-EAST recycling firm, which provides services for one of the region's largest hospitals, is expanding after a £1.9m deal. J&B Recycling hopes to increase work on liquid and hazardous waste handling at its two bases in Hartlepool.
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TA medic ignored cancer warning to finish her tour of duty in Afghanistan
A PART-TIME soldier ignored doctors' warnings that she could have breast cancer to finish her tour of duty in Afghanistan. Captain Angela Landells, from Newton Aycliffe, in County Durham, was determined to see out her service treating injured squaddies
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Engineering firm hopes to expand in growing energy industry
A FAMILY-OWNED engineering firm, which helped lay the foundations for a major North-East windfarm powering 40,000 homes, says its wants to continue its rapid growth by expanding in the burgeoning offshore energy industry. Marske Site Services (
