Archive
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Law Commission and Pre-Nups
Resolution is a campaigning group of over 6500 family lawyers and other professionals in England and Wales. It promotes a constructive and non-confrontational approach to resolving family law disputes and today welcomed the report by the Law Commission
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Stalker who raped woman and attacked man with claw hammer changes pleas to guilty
A STALKER on trial for raping a woman he was obsessed with and trying to kill her landlord dramatically brought the case to an end - when he changed his pleas. Anthony Graham admitted the sex attack and a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm
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Police host free bike marking sessions for Darlington residents
POLICE have offered Darlington residents a helping hand to protect their property from thieves. Free bike security marking and crime prevention advice was on offer at an event held at Firthmoor Community Centre, in Burnside Road, Darlington.
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Tory councillors oppose budget at Darlington Borough Council as Labour accuse them of political posturing
DARLINGTON’S ruling Labour group have set a budget relying on "faith, hope and charity", the council’s opposition Conservative group have claimed. Tory leader Heather Scott said Labour councillors at Darlington Borough Council had ignored warnings
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Great North Air Ambulance Lottery results for February 26, 2014
The Great North Air Ambulance Lottery results for Wednesday, February 26, 2014 are: £200 N35451, Newcastle; £100 N39182, Stockton; £50 N30397, Whitby; £50 N08718, Middlesbrough; £25 N03752, Carlisle; £25 N02491, Stockton; £25 N09518, Newcastle; £25
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Coach trip to International Motorcycle Show and Auto Jumble in Stafford to raise money for Cancer Research UK
Tickets are available for a coach trip to the 34th International Classic Motorcycle Show and Auto Jumble at Stafford on Saturday, April 26 - with money raised in aid of Cancer Research UK. The coach leaves Barnard Castle at 6.30am, stopping at 7am
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Two teenagers still in critical condition after two-car smash at Bellerby Camp, near Leyburn
Two teenagers involved in a two-vehicle crash on a moorland road are still fighting for their lives today. A 17-year-old male youth and an 18-year-old man, both passengers in a black Vauxhall Corsa, remain in a critical condition in James Cook
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Hodgson insists Johnson snub does not signal the end of the Sunderland winger's World Cup chances
ROY HODGSON insists there is still time for Adam Johnson to thrust himself into World Cup contention despite the Sunderland winger missing out on a place in the England squad for next week's friendly with Denmark. While Sunderland-born Jordan Henderson
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Man rescued from flat fire in Delves Lane, Consett
FIREFIGHTERS rescued a 35-year-man after a flat fire early this morning. Emergency services were called to Greenways in Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham, at 5.51am. Officers wearing breathing apparatus rescued the man after a small fire broken
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Government's draft child poverty strategy condemned by social mobility tsar Alan Milburn
The Governments new draft child poverty strategy has been branded a serious missed opportunity by David Camerons social mobility tsar Alan Milburn. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith's failure to reach agreement with Chancellor George
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Fashion show and sale to raise cash for junior football club
FASHION SHOW: A Fashion show and discounted clothes sale will take place on Monday, March 10 at Richmond School at 7.30pm. There will be a selection of high street and designer clothing for up to 75 per cent off the recommended retail price.
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Three Sunderland games switched for live TV
THREE of Sunderland's Premier League games in April have been selected for live television broadcast. The away game at Tottenham Hotspur has been put back two days and will now take place on Monday, April 7 (8pm). The trip to another of Gustavo
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Dog lover's lasting legacy
THE legacy of a woman who dedicated two decades of her life to helping stray dogs will live on after her death thanks to a charity donation by her husband. Roy Taylor has given £70,000 to Dogs Trust in memory of his late wife, Angela, who died
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Teen singer has eyes set on the big time
A TEENAGE singer has her sights set on London after making it through to the final of a North-East competiton. Beth Wells, 17, of Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton is in the regional finals of Teen Star showcase, the UK’s only singing competition
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Former Newcastle striker Nile Ranger tells court of shock at rape arrest
FORMER Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger told a jury today (Thursday, February 27) he has never had sex with a woman against her will. The 22-year-old, who is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of raping a woman in a hotel room, admitted
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Warning about dangers to livestock of dumping cuttings
A COUPLE of horse lovers are warning people of the dangers of dumping vegetation after two of their animals were poisoned. Sadie, a four-year-old cob, was found dead in a paddock, near Hallgarth Manor Hotel, near Pittington, Durham, on Monday (
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Teenager left with broken jaw after being beaten in nightclub
A TEENAGER was left with a broken jaw and facial injuries after being attacked in nightclub toilets. The 19-year-old man was beaten up in the Empire Nightclub on Corporation Road, Middlesbrough on Thursday, February 6 at about 3am and was taken
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'Shipbuilders' houses of Hartlepool' extended talk
The history of some of Hartlepool’s most interesting old houses can be delved into at a talk at Hartlepool’s Central Library next week. Following his sell-out talk ‘Shipbuilders’ houses of Hartlepool’ at the library last year, local historian Edward
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Sunderland stars will Boss the cup final suit stakes
SUNDERLAND’S cup final stars will look the part for Sunday’s Wembley showdown, after the club signed a deal with a fashion firm. The club has reached an agreement with Cruise, which will be its official suit provider for the Capital One Cup final
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Stockton council raises tax by 1.9 per cent
A COUNCIL has formally agreed to raise council tax by 1.9 per cent from April. Stockton Borough Council ratified its budget at a Full Council meeting in Stockton Town Hall on Wednesday night. An alternative budget was proposed by leader of
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Stanley man's pitch protest at Toon boss lands him with three year ban
A FOOTBALL fan who threw his season ticket at Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew in disgust during the Tyne-Wear derby has been banned from attending football matches for three years. An angry Sean Glendinning ran onto the St James' Park pitch
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Volunteers tidy up the grounds of a school at Great Lumley
THE front of a village school is looking smarter thanks to the efforts of volunteers. A team of East Durham Community College students who are on a Prince’s Trust programme carried out a three-week project at Lumley Junior School, Great Lumley,
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Tickets available for Durham Cathedral's Reqiuem concert
TICKETS are still available for a performance marking the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Requiem, featuring Durham Cathedral Choir, will include Johannes Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem and Herbert Howells’ Requiem. It will be held
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Interim director of Mima art gallery in Middlesbrough announced
Mark Robinson has been appointed as interim director of Middlesbrough’s flagship modern art gallery, Mima. The move follows the announcement of Director Kate Brindley’s departure after nearly five years to join Arnolfini Centre for the Contemporary
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New book explores Durham's links to the Great Train Robbery
RONNIE Biggs’ links to a North-East jail are exposed in a new book by a long-term friend of the late great train robber. Mark Tallentire reports. IT was arguably the crime of the century. After tampering with railway line signals, a 15-strong
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Tournament tackles homelessness through football
A FOOTBALL tournament designed to help people recovering from addiction and homelessness has taken place. The ‘Homelessness to Recovery’ tournament attracted teams from across the North East area and even a team from Liverpool made up of people
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Durham's top cop faces the public
DURHAM’S chief constable and police commissioner will take residents’ questions at a public debate. Durham Constabulary chief constable Mike Barton and elected Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg will attend a County Durham Residents’ Association
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Help on offer to kick the habit
SMOKERS are being encouraged to declare V for Victory in the battle against cigarettes. The County Durham NHS Stop Smoking Service will be out and about around the county helping people quit smoking for the annual No Smoking Day on Wednesday, March
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Police appeal for information about break-in at Trimdon newsagents
THIEVES forced their way into Harpers Newsagents at Commercial Terrace in Trimdon Colliery, near Sedgefield, and stole cash and cigarettes. The incident occurred between 7.15pm on Tuesday, February 25, and 5am the following day. Anyone with information
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Friends of Claudia Lawrence say they were subjected to online abuse
THE FRIENDS of Claudia Lawrence say they have been subjected to online abuse since her disappearance. As the family of the missing chef quietly marked what is her 40th birthday today (Thursday, February 27), two of her closest friends said their
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Free valuations for items connected to country pursuits
AN AUCTION house will be offering members of the public the opportunity to have free valuations of any items connected to angling, shooting, hunting and other traditional country pursuits. The two dedicated valuation sessions will be held at Addisons
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Hotel operator hails strong festive period
BUDGET hotel operator Whitbread says a strong festive period was a major driver in increasing sales. The firm, which runs Premier Inn and Costa, said like-for-like sales grew 6.8 per cent in the 11 weeks to February 13. Coffee shop chain Costa
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Garden waste collections resume in March
DURHAM County Council will resume garden waste collections from Tuesday, March 18. Residents who are part of the scheme will receive a leaflet detailing their collection dates, which are also available online at durham.gov.uk. Householders are advised
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Health minister urges over 40s to get themselves checked
PUBLIC Health Minister Jane Ellison has urged over-40s in the North-East to get their health checked after only one in three people have kept their appointments NHS Health Check is a risk assessment programme designed to identify people at risk
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Farmers' market named best in the country
A NORTH Yorkshire farmers’ market has been named the best in the country in a high profile national contest. It is the first year that Stokesley Farmers’ Market has entered the FARMA awards, run by the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets’ Association
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Stockton hosts first Kiddiwinks market dedicated to children
STALLS specifically aimed at children are pitching up for the first time in Stockton. The Kiddiwinks Market will be offering products and gifts for babies, toddlers and expectant mothers as well running activity sessions to keep youngsters entertained
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Man appears in court over alleged ear-biting incident outside night club
A MAN is expected to stand trial later this year over an alleged ear-biting incident outside a night club. Adam Douglas Hill is alleged to have bitten off part of another man’s ear in a confrontation near the K2 night spot, in John Street, Consett
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Construction boss defends North-East record on apprentice numbers
NORTH-EAST construction bosses have reacted angrily to a scathing report by MPs which demands the building trade industry tackles "pathetically dismal" apprenticeship numbers. In a report called No More Lost Generations: Creating Construction Jobs
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Teesside Hospice embarks on Seaside Startlight Stroll 2014
WOMEN with a spirit of adventure are invited to take part in the Seaside Starlight Stroll 2014 to raise money for Teesside Hospice. The seven-mile sponsored walk along Redcar promenade to Marske and back, which this year has a pirate theme, takes
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Free health checks in Sherburn and West Rainton
A HEALTH bus will visit two villages next week (March 5-7). Qualified health staff will be on board to give free health checks. The events are timed to coincide with drop-in sessions with county councillors David Hall and Stephen Guy. They
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Johnson left out of England squad
SUNDERLAND'S Adam Johnson has been overlooked by Roy Hodgson for England's friendly with Denmark next week. The winger was hopeful of being given a chance to impress and try and earn a place in the squad for this summer's World Cup - but hopes
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Presentation on fashion and women during World War I
A PRESENTATION on fashion and women in World War I will take place in Scorton Memorial Hall, North Yorkshire, at 3pm on Sunday, March 9. Tickets for the performance cost £16 and are available in advance from Kiplin Hall on 01748-818178, or via
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Tickets go on sale for Great Yorkshire Show
TICKETS for the country’s biggest agricultural event, the Great Yorkshire Show, will go on sale on Monday, March 3. The show - which will be the 156th - takes place on July 8, 9 and 10 and will highlight the best of British farming and country
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Pink pigeon spotted in skies above Darlington
A PLUMP, plucky pigeon sporting perfectly pink plumage – it would certainly have given bird-bothering cartoon villain Dick Dastardly and his chums food for thought. Appearances suggest it would be more at home in a tropical rainforest, but this
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Yorkshire Sculpture Park has new chairman of trustees
YORKSHIRE Sculpture Park has a new chairman of the board of trustees. Greville Worthington has been elected as the new chairman and has taken over from Magnus von Wistinghausen on February 6. Mr Worthington brings a wealth of experience from
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GP urges older patients to keep all medication together
A LEADING North-East GP is urging older patients to keep all the medicines they need in a single bag and to take them with them if they go to hospital. Dr Neil O’Brien, chief clinical officer with the North Durham Clinical Commissioning Group said
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Expert advice as chrysanths and dahlias prepare to bloom over coming weeks
SPECIALIST growers of popular spring plants will give seasonal advice to keen gardeners at the next monthly meeting of Houghall Horticultural Society. Representatives from Northumberland nursery Halls of Heddon are the guest speakers at the meeting
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Live webchat with top cop
NORTH Yorkshire’s top cop will be hosting a live webchat next week to allow residents the opportunity to ask any questions about crime and anti-social behaviour in their communities. Chief Constable Dave Jones will be on-line on Monday, March 3
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Trust's maternity service shortlisted for award
MATERNITY care at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has has been shortlisted for an award after being rated as one of the top 15 hospital trusts nationally. Healthcare intelligence expert CHKS shortlisted 15 NHS trusts for excellence
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Guerrilla knitters leave a woolly trail for World Book Day
KNITTED characters from children’s literature are due to descend on a North Yorkshire town, as a group of anonymous knitters get involved with World Book Day. On Saturday (March 1) woollen figures from books and nursery rhymes will appear in shop
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Consultation reveals widespread support for Durham Tees Valley Airport rescue plan
A RESCUE plan to secure the future of Durham Tees Valley Airport has widespread support, a study has found. More than 70 per cent of respondents to a two-month consultation backed the vision and objectives set out in a draft master plan, airport
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Richmond girls ski team celebrates after bringing home silver medals
RICHMOND students have shown off their skiing skills and brought home silver medals after a trip to France last month. At the British Schoolgirls Races in Flaine, France, last month six girls from Richmond School took home three silver medals.
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Giant chocolate egg to be raffled for Royal British Legion
A RICHMOND chocolate and coffee shop is holding a raffle for a giant Easter egg in aid of the Royal British Legion. Mocha, run by Dennis and Elizabeth Graves, sells Yorkshire roast coffee, local ice cream and old fashioned sweets, as well as their
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Youngsters go to the polls in Darlington's youth MP elections
YOUNG people in Darlington have been going to the polls this week to decide who they want to be their next Member of Youth Parliament. For the past month, Amy Merchant, 15, Rachel Gunnell, 17, Daniel Brown, 14, Josh Wakeford, 16, Joseph Barker
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Durham Police to ask public to identify suspects from CCTV images posted on website
POLICE are asking the public to identify suspected criminals in an online rogue’s gallery. The Durham force is launching Caught on Camera, a special page on its website that will feature CCTV pictures of people it wants to track down. Up to
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Darlington Snooker Club holds its annual beer festival this weekend
BEER FESTIVAL: Darlington Snooker Club, on Northgate, Darlington, will host its annual beer festival featuring 12 beers made specially by local breweries for the event. The club’s building is 99 years old this year, so half pints are 99p for the weekend
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Tickets now available for Mothers' Day train ride through Wensleydale
A HOSPICE charity is offering a scenic treat this Mother’s Day with a ride on the Wensleydale Railway. Herriot Hospice Homecare is organising its third annual afternoon train ride, which will include a tour through Wensleydale, from Leeming Bar
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Fund-raiser for cancer charity as thank-you for the help it gave sufferer
FAMILY, friends and colleagues of a woman who died of cancer have raised more than £3,000 for the charity that supported her. Susan Gowland, 55, a Community Investment Manager at Derwentside Homes, was referredto local charity Lifespan, which provides
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Pupils to learn about engineering at Shildon rail museum
A RAILWAY museum is to show youngsters the possible job opportunities open to them through engineering. Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon is holding an open day dubbed Engineering, Past, Present and Future. As part of National
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Yorkshire company donates proceeds of charity ball to Help for Heroes
GUESTS at an annual ball dug deep in their pockets after learning that the evening’s charity raffle was in aid of Help for Heroes. The event organisers, the Building and Engineering Services Association (B&ES) Yorkshire Region, were able to
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Richmond Station to hold record fair
RECORD FAIR: A vinyl record and collectors fair returns to the Station, Richmond for the first time this year on Sunday, March 2. Regular expert dealer Adrian Melling will be joined by additional dealers from Barnsley and Huddersfield for this
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Subscription concert in Richmond
SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT: The Richmondshire concert season continues with a dramatised performance in period costume, set on a July evening in the year 1747. The concert is at 7.30pm on Saturday, March 8, at the Influence Church, Victoria Road, Richmond
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New head teacher has been appointed at St Martin’s Ampleforth Abbey and College.
A NEW head teacher has been appointed at St Martin’s Ampleforth Abbey and College. Mark O’Donnell will take on the role in September, replacing Nick Higham, who will leave in July after a decade in the role. Mr O’Donnell joins St Martin’s Ampleforth
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School appeals for former students to help inspire current pupils
FORMER students of Richmond School are being asked to support current pupils though charity Future First. The school is one of more than 500 state schools and colleges across the UK which have registered with Future First to set up networks of
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A Kitten designed to kill
IT’S a sight not seen for almost a century – and sure to quicken the heart of any aviation enthusiast. The tiny Eastchurch Kitten was an experimental First World War fighter, an interceptor designed to tackle the threat posed by Zeppelins.
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Grandson's pride over ten brothers who served in First World War
THE grandson of one of ten brothers who served in the First World War has spoken of his pride over his ancestors’ patriotism on the centenary of them signing up to fight. Michael Calpin, of Borrowby, near Thirsk, said the story of his grandfather
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Recent cases at Northallerton Magistrates' Court
RECENT cases heard at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court include: Caroline Macolm, 28, of Swinburn Road, Masham, admitted to driving a car that was unlicensed. She was fined £35, ordered to pay vehicle excise back duty of £18.75, and costs of £90
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Bracing walk down ten-mile stretch of Durham coastline
KEEN ramblers are invited to take part in a bracing ten-mile walk along the County Durham coastline under the guidance of voluntary countryside ranger Steve Shippen, on Saturday (March 1). Walkers should meet at Crimdon Dene car park, near to Pony
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Rainton school's Wembley party atmosphere turns to sadness after burglary
A SCHOOL which was eagerly anticipating Sunderland’s League Cup final has been left devastated after burglars broke in, causing hundreds of pounds-worth of damage. West Rainton Primary School headteacher Alison McDonough said a party atmosphere
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Cameras roll for major new TV production
THE tourism capital of the north has once again been invaded by film-makers for a big budget television production. Cameras are rolling in the centre of York for a major six-part BBC adaptation of Susanna Clark’s best-seller Jonathan Strange and
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Concerns raised over mud and rubble surrounding 175-home construction site in Newton Aycliffe
A RESIDENT has raised concerns over mud and rubble spilling out from a nearby construction site, claiming it is only a matter of time before an accident occurs. Trevor Pringle says the mess left by vehicles exiting The Woodlands, a 175-home development
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Drunk kicked out at police officer, court told
A MAN has been ordered to pay £35 compensation to a police officer he kicked after being taken to hospital. Stephen Hawkins, 31, of Blackett Street, Bishop Auckland, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital on November 14 after taking a quantity
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Addict stole television from town centre hotel
A HEROIN addict stole a television from a town centre hotel after walking through corridors trying to open various doors, a court was told. Terence Watson walked into the King’s Hotel, in Priestgate, Darlington, on February 11, prosecutor Alan
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Spennymoor teenager bids for stardom in TeenStar competition
A TEENAGER is bidding to reach the finals of a national talent contest. Olivia Irvin, 14, of Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form, in Spennymoor, is hoping to win the TeenStar competition. The youngster, from Spennymoor, is set to sing in front
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Science – with added laughs
IN theory, the straight-laced world of science shouldn’t be that compatible with the often surreal creativity of comedy. But, like the true scientists they are, Festival of the Spoken Nerd have experimented with the two elements and have hit upon
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Curtain rises on new season highlights
THE Empire Theatre, in Consett, has a variety of shows to suit families, and fans of music, drama and comedy coming up this spring-summer season. On Saturday, March 8, the Empire welcomes the UK and Europe’s leading musical theatre concert show
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Academy throws open its doors to all comers
A NORTH-EAST secondary school has become one of the first in the country to allocate a place to every 11-year-old that applies to attend. Nunthorpe Academy, which is the best performing secondary school in the Redcar and Cleveland area, will admit
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World's first woman blast furnace boss leads celebrations
THE world’s first female blast furnace boss will join inspirational speakers at a Teesside University public lecture celebrating International Women's Day. Dr Jane Atkinson will join other women talking about their diverse careers at the Inspiring
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Spice as nice
I HAVE never been to Uttar Pradesh or Rajasthan, so I cannot say what they eat in the north of India, but I have been to Cockerton, to the west of Darlington, where they eat at a classic British Indian restaurant. Although it has been a takeaway
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Classical by Gavin Engelbrecht
WHAT’S ON: Orchestra North East conducted by Thomas Blunt, Gala Theatre, Durham, at 3pm on Sunday. Programme includes Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto performed by Gulsin Onay. Box office: 3000-266600. REVIEWS: Orff: Carmina Burana (LPO-
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Country by Brian Clough
ERIC PASLAY’S debut release became available in the UK last week. A new name to the British musical shores, Paslay has been honing his craft in the US as a songwriter. He was co-writer of Jake Owen’s Barefoot Blue Jean Night, Eli Young’s Even If It
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Folk by Jez Lowe
LAST week I found myself at London’s Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Folk Awards – a highlight of the year for many in the folk world, while at the same time having little or no relevance to many among the general folk audience. It was a splendid
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Jazz by Peter Bevan
WHAT’S ON: Friday-Sunday, 11th Great North Big Band Jazz Festival, University of Sunderland, 01388-767208; Saturday (12.30), Keith Stephen’s Hot Club Trio with Mike Piggott, St Augustine’s, Darlington; Sunday, Ray Dales, Forum Music Centre, Darlington
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Irish dancing class
An Irish dancing class for children aged four and over is held on Mondays between 4pm and 5.45pm at the Chester-le-Street Community Centre, Newcastle Bank. It costs £4 per session. For details call 07731 937739. Camera club: Chester-le-Street Camera
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Love, love them do!
JOHN LENNON is late (delayed by a hold-up on the trains) and Paul Mc- Cartney has an Italian accent. George Harrison comes from Wolverhampton. And Ringo Starr… well, Ringo is the one at the back, behind the drums. Welcome to the wonderful world
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Church hopes to raise the roof at fund raising night
CHURCHGOERS hope to raise the roof at an entertainment night. Parishioners from St Mary’s Church, in Sherburn Village, near Durham have organised an event to raise money to repair the Victorian building’s roof. Entertainers Mark Allen, Leah
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Celebrating the timeless Tyne
TYNE – the play about the river and its people – was “serendipity” says writer Michael Chaplin. A number of factors came together in the run-up to the production, seen at Newcastle’s Live Theatre last year and now revived both north and south of the
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The Book Thief, 3/5 stars (12A, 131 mins)
DEATH haunts every frame of Brian Percival’s wartime drama. The Grim Reaper (voiced by Roger Allam) is the mellifluous narrator of this beautifully crafted story of courage and determination during the Second World War, based on the bestseller of the
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Ride Along, 3/5 stars (12A, 100 mins)
THESE are golden times for stand-up comedian Kevin Hart. His most recent tour, Laugh At My Pain, and the TV special Let Me Explain were hugely popular and a 30-minute pilot television based around Hart’s high-energy act is in production. He also
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Fleming – The Man Who Would Be Bond
DOMINIC Cooper is shaken, but not stirred as the creator of James Bond in this four-part mini-series, which broadcast on Sky Atlantic. As a young man, Fleming (Cooper) harks from a wealthy family and enjoys the trappings of this privileged existence
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Non-Stop (12A TBC, 106 mins)
US Federal Air Marshal Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) boards a busy international flight from New York to London. As the aircraft reaches cruising altitude, Marks receives a series of bizarre and threatening text messages demanding that the airline transfers
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The Americans - The Complete First Season
A SEEMINGLY normal family conceals a deadly secret in this award-winning drama set during the early 1980s when the Cold War between Russia and the US is at its height. Phillip Jennings (Matthew Rhys) and his wife Elizabeth (Keri Russell) are KGB spies
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The Haunting In Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia
THIS is a lacklustre companion piece to Tom Elkins’s 2009 supernatural horror, which once again relies on spooky documentary footage. Large portions of the film take place in darkness, in part to conceal workmanlike special effects. Emily Alyn
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Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
THE Jackass pranksters, led by clown extraordinaire Johnny Knoxville (who plays the title role), take their winceinducing brand of tomfoolery to the next level in Bad Grandpa. They hang the usual daredevil stunts and badtaste humour on a gossamer thin
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Gravity
SCRIPTED by director Alfonso Cuaron and his son Jonas, Gravity is a lean, nerve-shredding thriller about one woman battling against the odds in the one place that no one can hear her whimper and scream. Sandra Bullock delivers a compelling lead performance
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Deacon Blue to play forest festival
DEACON Blue have announced concerts as part of the Forestry Commission’s Forest Live music series. On Saturday, June 28 they, plus guests, will be performing at Dalby Forest, near Pickering, North Yorkshire. They are one of the most respected of
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Blood Red Shoes – Blood Red Shoes 4/5 stars
BRIGHTON’S best twosome returns with what is, incredibly, their fourth album. In what seems like the blink of an eye, Laura- Mary Carter and Steven Ansell mark their ten-year anniversary with an absolute barnstormer of a record. It’s a super-fuzz
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Heart – Fanatic Live From Caesar’s Colosseum 4/5 stars
IT’S A shame when great bands from the 1970s and 1980s don’t know when to call it a day. Ann and Nancy Wilson – the sisters at the heart of Heart, the American hard rock band who brought us Alone and Crazy On You – are a refreshing antithesis to this
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Mark Morriss – A Flash of Darkness 4/5 stars
OVER the years, Britpop’s reputation may have been tarnished but Mark Morriss, former lead singer of The Bluetones, was always one of its shining lights. A Flash Of Darkness, his second solo album, is full of the the same intriguing wordplay and earworm
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Hazel O’Connor – Here She Comes 4/5 stars
IT’S been more than three decades since Hazel O’Connor made an impact with her starring role in the 1980 film Breaking Glass and the accompanying single from the soundtrack, Will You, with its haunting saxophone solo. Born in Coventry and now aged
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Real Estate – Atlas 4/5 stars
IT’S been a long three years since American indie favourites released their last album, but Atlas shows the band back on blazing form. Known for their breezy, melodic rock, their clear-headed third album is a continuation on the effortless sound of
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Wolves Like Us – Black Soul Choir 2/5 stars
BLESS those Scandinavians, they certainly know how to bash out a heavy tune or two. Norwegian group Wolves Like Us are one of latest upstarts to continue this fine tradition of riffage from the land of the ice and snow. As a follow-up to 2010’s
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Whales in Cubicles – Death In The Evening 4/5 stars
FOR all those who say you should never look back, I give you Whales In Cubicles. Sounding like it’s straight out of the ’90s, the London-band hit the ground running with their alt-rock powered debut album. A riff and drum beat straight from
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John Harle and Marc Almond – The Tyburn Tree 4/5 stars
IT MAY be many years since he was at his peak, but Marc Almond’s voice remains as evocative now as it was then. And the former Soft Cell singer puts it to good use in this collaboration with Newcastle-born composer John Harle. The two Ivor Novello
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Is this the way to the North- East?
NEIL Sedaka, above, Grammy award singersongwriter and international hit-maker is touring the UK this year with seven dates – including York and Gateshead. For more than 50 years Sedaka has written, performed, produced and inspired countless songs
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Don't forget to nominate your school for a Northern Echo award
TIME is running out to nominate your school, your teacher or an inspirational classmate for the Northern Echo Schools Award 2014. Schools are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in ensuring the next generation is ready to play
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Butchers at war over Cindy’s unborn child
HERE we go again. It’s time to play another game of “who’s the daddy?”. You’d think by now that the residents of Soapland would not only be more careful and use contraception, but would make a note of who they sleep with in case they put a bun in the
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Five minutes with Adrian Jenkins
Adrian Jenkins has been director of the Bowes Museum since 2001, playing a leading role in overseeing its transition to an independent charitable trust and steering a successful £12m refurbishment programme which has transformed the 19th Century Grade
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The Human League to headline summer music festival
THE HUMAN League are to headline a summer music festival during its tenth anniversary celebrations this year. The band, best known for their hits Don’t You Want Me and Mirror Man, will headline the Galtres Parklands Festival over the August Bank
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Scout hut transformed by volunteers
A SCOUT HUT has been completely transformed, thanks to a group of keen youngsters. A team of Prince's Trust volunteers spent weeks renovating the hut on Neasham Road in Darlington as part of a community project. Twelve people from Darlington
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Imaging firm wins £500,000 bone scanner deal
A NORTH-EAST imaging specialist has won a half a million pounds medical detector deal. Kromek, of Sedgefield, County Durham, will supply radiation detectors and integrated electronic components which will help healthcare providers identify medical
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Return ready for a Southwell repeat
RETURNTOBRECONGILL makes plenty of appeal back at Southwell for the coral.co.uk Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap. The James Given-trained four-year-old goes particularly well at the Nottinghamshire circuit over this 11 furlongs, numbering
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Scudamore equals seasonal best
TOM SCUDAMORE equalled his best tally for a National Hunt season as he notched his 85th win of the campaign aboard Vif Argent at Wincanton. David Pipe’s stable jockey recorded his career best last term but is on course to smash that total with
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Burgess can see improvement during his Pools spell
CHRISTIAN BURGESS says that his time on loan at Hartlepool United is playing a huge part in his development as a player. The 22-year-old centreback has impressed during his loan spell at Victoria Park, which has recently been extended until the
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Proposal to introduce three-hour limit at town car park
TRADERS have welcomed plans to introduce a three-hour limit at a town’s biggest car park. Durham County Council is considering restricting waiting times in the Albert Road car park in Consett, which currently has no limits on parking. It followed
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Blues pair see the value of support after draw in Turkey
Final Score: Galatasaray 1 Chelsea 1 JOSE MOURINHO and Frank Lampard agreed that Galatasaray’s fabled crowd helped the Turkish side come from behind in their Champions League last 16 first leg against Chelsea. Coach Mourinho’s side dominated
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Inspector George Gently (BBC1, 8.30pm)
INSPECTOR George Gently, always one to take an interest in the social issues of the day, turns its attention to the decline of the coal industry in the 1960s. As Lee Ingleby, who plays Gently’s sidekick Bacchus, points out: “There were more pit
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The Hairy Bikers’ Asian Adventure (BBC2, 8pm)
IN The Hairy Bikers’ Asian Adventure Dave Myers and Si King are in Thailand where they have to go out seafishing during a particularly bad downpour. Hopefully they’ll catch some tasty fish, rather than a bad cold from standing around in wet clothes
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Jumbo: The Plane That Changed the World (BBC2, 9pm)
ON February 9, 1969, the Boeing 747 took its first flight. A year later, it entered service for the first time with Pan Am, and has since become one of the most widely-used and recognisable aircraft in existence. Nicknamed the Jumbo Jet, it is
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Watching Brief: Jo Frost Family Matters
FORMER Hollyoaks star Jonny Clarke is making the move from bad boy Bart McQueen to a 15-year-old boy off to war in a stage version of Sebastian Faulks’ novel Birdsong, coming to Durham and York. He was unfamiliar with the novel when he got a call
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Coming a paw second to Dylan
IN all honesty, I try my best to be a good son. I ring my mum every day without fail and at weekends I drive 25 miles to spend a few hours with her and take her some Sunday lunch. My wife cooks it and I deliver it. I am a super-reliable meals-on-wheels
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Barnes stormer
THE Lions’ Bookshop in Darlington celebrated its 20th birthday on Saturday, the column invited to add a few words to the millions already therein. No matter that some of the Lions are getting a bit long in the incisor, they do a remarkable job.
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Cinque or swim
BRIGHTLINGSEA sounds like the sort of place that the Bash Street Kids went on their summer holidays. Brightlingsea Regent sounds like the local picture house. In truth it’s a football team, an amalgamation in 2005 of Brightlingsea United and Regent
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Neighbourhood Watch meeting in Darlington
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: A Neighbourhood Watch roadshow will take place at the Joseph Pease monument in Darlington on Friday, February 28 from 11am until 2pm. POLICE APPEAL: Police are appealing for information after a Honda generator and a Stihl strimmer
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Go Hang
ON Monday, I read a quote from one of the female students protesting in Kiev. When asked her opinion about the erstwhile Ukranian President she said: “If Yanukovych was a gentleman he would hang himself.” Absolutely priceless, I’ve often felt the
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We like Cilla - watcha gonna do about it?
I DON’T usually respond to other people’s letters. I think everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, VJ Connor’s letter (HAS, Feb 22) calling Cilla Black an appalling singer and describing her efforts as “adenoidal bawling” had my blood boiling
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Bad PR
NOBODY can help but feel sorry for people in the South affected by gales and floods. I am sure that some people in the Government are doing what they can to help. However, Labour’s special envoy on climate change Barry Gardiner flew to Mexico
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Rockin' all over
THE new Bishop of Durham (Echo, Feb 22) has challenged the church to leave behind the mindset of maintaining the status quo. I couldn’t agree more. Over the decades, Francis Rossi and his mates have made more than enough money from record sales
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Hacked off
THE recent Great Goodbye at Locomotion, in Shildon, was a great event for the museum. It was advertised as putting Shildon on the map – sadly, not. The powers that be at the museum boxed-in the visitors and shepherded them away from our lovely
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Givin the needle
DURHAM Constabulary have found itself with a problem. The radio mast at its current headquarters is a protected structure and must not be destroyed. It may have to pay out up to £400,000 to have it dismantled and rebuilt at a new headquarter site (
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Judgement day
THE difference between CT Riley (HAS, Feb 22) and me is that he clearly does not believe the Bible; while I do. So, as to whether God judges by natural means, Bible accounts show He undoubtedly does. There are many instances where God has judged
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Last roar
WITH regret, I write to announce that Hartlepool Lions Club will close on March 17 due to a combination of members’ health, advancing years, and declining membership. The club has served the local community for nearly 44 years and the remaining
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Fixing the figures on poverty
A NEW front in the battle against child poverty will be opened up today, apparently – but I fear the war has already been lost. Ministers are due to publish a new strategy aimed at lifting more youngsters above the breadline, as they are required –
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Time to delete
LAST summer, in language which left little room for doubt, Prime Minister David Cameron gave his backing to a movement to criminalise the possession of rape pornography. Such images, he said: “can only be described as extreme. I am talking about
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Free sessions for eight to ten-year-olds start
A DROP in youth centre will host the first of three free sessions for its younger visitors tonight (Thursday, February 27). The Ferryhill E-Café, on Market Street, provides a youth facility for eight to 16-year-olds. Sessions for eight to ten-year-olds
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Yorkshire turn to Bird to replace outgoing Boycott
Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird OBE has been proposed as the man to replace Geoffrey Boycott as Yorkshire’s new president, a decision that will be ratified at the club’s AGM at the end of next month. The Yorkshire Board unanimously nominated the 80-year-old
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Railway group to hear guest speaker at Locomotion
RAILWAY MEETING: The Stephenson Locomotive Society North-East Area group is to hear David Bate speak on Shildon 150 in Retrospect. The session is at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon, at 11.30am on Saturday, March 8, with free
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Sentence conundrum
PRISON is a place where criminals are sent as a punishment and so that the public can be protected from them. The Northern Echo also argues that prison should be a place of treatment and education so that one day there is the chance that criminals
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Quakers' unbeaten run is over
Final Score: Darlington 0 Lancaster City 2 Darlington’s promotion drive stuttered with a chastening and frustrating 2-0 defeat to Lancaster City last night. Quakers were hoping to close the gap on leaders to Warrington to four points in what
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Shildon reach first DCC final since 1972
Shildon reached the Durham Challenge Cup final for the first time since 1972 when they beat Consett 3-1 at Dean Street last night. In a good open game, Consett took the lead midway through the first half when Michael Mackay was left unmarked to
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"Why doesn't Mike Ashley sell Newcastle United?" Here's one compelling reason....
The key issue of advertising at St James' Park was discussed at a fans' forum involving senior Newcastle United officials this week. And as Chief Sports Writer Scott Wilson explains, the subject gets to the very heart of Mike Ashley's continued ownership
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Steele desperate to prove himself under Karanka
HE didn’t get off to the best start under Aitor Karanka, but fit-again Jason Steele is desperate to prove himself to the Middlesbrough head coach after returning from injury. Steele has spent the last three months on the sidelines after suffering
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Meet the Manchester City star who will be cheering for Sunderland this weekend
HAVE you heard the one about the Manchester City captain who’s supporting Sunderland in this weekend’s Capital One Cup final? Well, you should have. Because as Sunday’s game approaches, they’re not exactly shy about expressing their red-and-white
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Building society hails financial performance
A 150-YEAR-OLD building society says it has strengthened its position as an alternative to banks after posting strong annual results. Yorkshire Building Society has revealed operating profits increased 11 per cent to £152m last year, with pre-tax
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Golf shorts: Hole-in-one for Seaton Carew teenager
WYNYARD Golf Club’s latest recruit has celebrated by hitting his first ever hole-in-one. Cameron Wallace was playing at Seaton Carew, where he has been playing for the last couple of years, when he lost track of his ball. When Wallace hit his
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Jumping Jack can't wait for final and wants Sunderland stay
DESPITE the uncertainty surrounding his future, Jack Colback thinks agreeing a new deal would be a lovely end to the season – particularly if they can pull off a memorable treble beforehand. Talks over a new contract have started but remain difficult
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Woman was taken from home and raped by obsessed stalker, court told
A WOMAN was snatched from her home, tied up and raped by an obsessed stalker, a court heard yesterday (Wednesday). Anthony Graham is alleged to have told his victim that he was going to kill her - and dump her body in a grave that had been dug
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Johnson's cup final preparations interrupted by England news
GUSTAVO POYET is ready to help Adam Johnson refocus on this Sunday’s Capital One Cup final regardless of whether the Sunderland winger finds himself in the England squad announced today. Johnson has given himself a fighting chance of a place at
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Clothes maker creates 100 North-East jobs
MORE than 100 North-East jobs are being created as a textile firm brings clothes making back to its former heartland. The AMA Group is opening a factory in Peterlee, east Durham, producing clothing for high street retailers, supermarkets and designer
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Work starts on housing association headquarters
WORK is to start on headquarters for a new North-East housing association. Fabrick Housing Group, in Middlesbrough, and Hartlepool-based Vela Group are merging to form the Thirteen Group. The company, which will own more than 32,000 homes,
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Maintenance company works on St Paul's Cathedral
A FAMILY-RUN maintenance company has secured work on an iconic UK structure. Stone Technical Services, in Darlington, is installing safety features to the dome and tri-forum levels on St Paul's Cathedral, in London. The company has worked on
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East Cleveland pensioners cut off for five months after flood waters cause bridge to collapse
A COMMUNITY of pensioners have been cut-off from their town after an ancient bridge collapsed leaving them stranded. The only official access they have to the rest of Loftus, Cleveland, is via a steep public path which is impossible for some of
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North-East business delegation heads to India
A NORTH-EAST delegation is visiting India promote the region and attract new business. Bosses from 16 firms will join the North-East Process Industry Cluster (Nepic) and UK Trade and Investment on a ten-day trip to prime chemical and pharmaceutical
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Baker Greggs aims to retain high street dominance with £25m plans
BAKER Greggs will not relinquish its high street stronghold despite suffering a sharp fall in profits, defiant bosses have told The Northern Echo. The firm has unveiled a five-year plan to dominate the UK's £6bn convenience snack industry after
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Another Dinwiddie aiming to hit the top on the Tour scene
WHAT started as something of a hobby has turned in to a full-blown career path and, a little like his elder brother, Douglas Dinwiddie is determined to break in to the world’s top golfers in the years ahead. Douglas has found he has a real talent
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Four men questioned over Mitsubishi reported stolen from Forest-in-Teesdale farm
FOUR BAILED: Three men from Darlington and one from Staindrop have been arrested and questioned by police over the alleged theft of a black and silver Mitsubishi L200, which was reported missing from a farm at Forest-in-Teesdale. All four have been
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Lego makes science fun for school pupils
SCHOOL pupils are learning about space with the help of scientific Lego. The science club at Bishop Barrington School are one of 25 schools to be awarded the Lego Mindstorms after putting together an application explaining what the group does and
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Popular exhibition draws praise for its cultural understanding
A JAPANESE–themed exhibition created by community groups and schools has been praised by women in the know. Members of the North-East Japanese Women’s Association visited the display in Bishop Auckland Town Hall, today (Thursday, February 27),
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Volunteers wanted to help run Bowlees Visitor Centre in upper Teesdale
THE organisation which runs a popular rural visitor centre has launched a search for people with a passion for the North Pennines in an effort to recruit more volunteers. The Bowlees Visitor Centre, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, opened
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Not a horse in sight as dogs take centre stage at eventing day in aid of Great North Air Ambulance Service
DOGS were put through a series of challenges more usually associated with horses at a special event to raise cash for the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Dressage, show jumping and a cross country course were set out at Streatlam Park, near
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Two portraits added to permanent collection at The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
TWO paintings commissioned by one of England’s finest 18th century actors have been added to the permanent collection of a North-East museum. The works portray thespian David Garrick in famous theatrical roles and were painted by Johan Zoffany,
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Reduced Shakespeare Company to perform in Barnard Castle for the first time
A THEATRE group that has been making audiences laugh for more than 30 years heading to Teesdale for the first time. The Reduced Shakespeare Company is bringing its new show, The Bible, The Complete Word of God (abridged) to The Witham, Barnard
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Disabled plunged into “distress and financial difficulties” by botched benefits test, watchdog warns
DISABLED people have been plunged into “distress and financial difficulties” by a second botched benefits test, a watchdog warns today (Thursday). The bungled introduction of the new personal independence payment (PIP) – being piloted in the region
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New youth theatre group launched in Bishop Auckland
A NEW music and drama club has been launched to allow young people to learn about performing arts. Bishop Auckland Youth Theatre is open to eight to 18-year-olds and will be held at Bishop Barrington School, Bishop Auckland, every Thursday, between
