Archive
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Anger as thugs smash in piglet's head and take axe to its mother at Brotton, east Cleveland
A FARMER has told of his dismay after thugs launched a mindless attack on his pigs. The yobs killed a piglet and threw it at a tree, axed the hindquarters of a sow, stole another piglet and attacked several others near Brotton, east Cleveland sometime
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Moors master conditions to defeat Brighouse
Spennymoor Town 4 Brighouse Town 1. Spennymoor finally mastered the windy conditions at the Brewery Field to go ninth in the EvoStik First Division North tonight. Moors couldn’t do anything with the wind at their backs in the first half, but
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Shields go second after derby win
North Shields are now second in the ENL after they easily won their local derby 4-2 at Whitley Bay in front of an 857 crowd. Shields were rampant in the first half against their neighbours. They scored twice in a minute through Ben Richardson and
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Who's Better? Daltrey and Townshend on a North-East stage again
ROCK legends The Who took to the stage for what may have been the last time in the North-East tonight. Original members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, who previously said that at 70 and 69 respectively they are getting too old for life on the
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Oh yes it is!
A SPECIAL visitor brought some right Royal dignity to the normally madcap world of the panto.Princess Beatrice dropped in on the Theatre Royal in York this evening (Tuesday, December 9), to meet the cast and crew of upcoming show Old Mother Goose.And
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Jail for drunken man who made gas blast threat after cutting supply pipes
A DRUNKEN young man threatened to cause a gas explosion after rowing with his partner when he returned home “worse for wear”, a court heard.Mark Stephenson cut a gas pipe and left a fire switched on, following the heated dispute, after his partner relented
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Sedgefield traders frustration at High Street closure weeks before Christmas
FURIOUS traders have slammed a council for closing a town’s high street on the run up to Christmas.The resurfacing of Sedgefield’s main shopping street was due to take place in two phases but yesterday morning (Monday, December 8) traders in High Street
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Darlo boss launches new football academy
DARLINGTON FC boss Martin Gray officially opened his latest football academy today (Tuesday, December 9).The new Martin Gray Football Academy (MGFA) is at Framwellgate School Durham, in Durham City.Youngsters from year seven upwards will get weekly coaching
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Young driver travelling at "grossly excessive speed" caused multiple collision and power black-out
A YOUNG motorist walked free from court despite being responsible for a high speed accident, damaging two cars and a telegraph pole, causing an electricity black-out.Matthew Whitton was driving at speeds estimated between 79 and 84-miles per hour on a
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Great-great-grandmother celebrates turning 100
A GREAT, great grandmother who has 30 great-grandchildren is celebrating her 100th birthday today (Tuesday, December 9). Nancy Cooke said she feels ‘no different’ after becoming a centenarian. The mother of six, who worked as a hairdresser
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Councils band together to fight saturation of High Streets by betting shops
FIVE of the North’s councils have joined forces with scores of other towns and cities to prevent their High Streets becoming saturated with betting shops.The unprecedented alliance is using a “localism” law to pile pressure on ministers to crack down
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Ambulances, buses and bust-ups in south west Durham
ANGRY public meetings are being held in south Durham to discuss the future of the dales ambulance service, but Maurice Blackett in Bishop Auckland is one of the last ambulancemen who remembers the days when his nick of the woods was ringed with ambulance
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Plans for £8m refurbishment of Middlesbrough Town Hall revealed
ONE of the most iconic performance venues in the region is likely to receive an £8m refurbishment, if a lottery grant is secured as expected.Middlesbrough councillors agreed earlier today (Tuesday, December 9) to press ahead with developing plans for
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Lives put at risk by bogus gas man
A PLUMBER who posed as a gas engineer and put lives at risk with sub-standard work has been given a suspended prison sentence.Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard today (Tuesday, December 9) that Keith Downie carried out safety checks and maintenance
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C is for Commando - Iraq veteran's teaching mission
A FORMER Commando who helped bring down Saddam Hussein has set his sights on becoming a primary school teacher.David Evans served in Kosovo, the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq before leaving the Army in February as a warrant officer first class.Since then
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New care centre creates employment in Hartlepool
A MULTI-MILLION pound specialist care development for vulnerable adults that is to create 57 new jobs in Hartlepool has been officially opened. Burbank Mews off Burbank Street, a development of four purpose-built bungalows, is being run by Mariner Care
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Warning over pub planning loophole
REAL ale campaign group Camra says 600 pubs across the country are now listed as so-called ‘assets of community value’.The figure includes up to 20 pubs in North Yorkshire and the North-East, including pubs in Harrogate, Thirsk, York, Tyneside and Northumberland.Pubs
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Christmas cheer for expectant forces couple
A COUPLE of forces veterans have been given an early Christmas present by their college.Chris Gray and Carol Harrison, who are expecting their first child – a daughter – in January, were given a bumper Christmas hamper by Finchale Training College, near
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Home care scheme is easing pressure on A&Es
HEALTH bosses say a new scheme which takes the pressure off A&E departments is working well.Since the NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) invested in setting up a team of mobile urgent care practitioners (UCPs) to work in people’s homes
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Pizza takeaway 'terrorist bomb' hoaxer is jailed
A MAN who exacted revenge on takeaway staff by making several hoax bomb phone calls has been jailed.Shamsul Islam was sentenced to prison terms of three-and-a-half years for the two 999 calls to police and one to the Crimestoppers line, and six months
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Alleged robber recaptured after court escape
A MAN charged with robbery and burglary who escaped from security staff at a magistrates court has been arrested after a police chase.Russell Frankland was arrested by North Yorkshire Police on Monday (December 8) in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, more
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Impoverished burying relatives in back gardens, says North-East MP
RISING costs are causing people in the North-East to hold DIY funerals and bury their loved ones in their back garden, MPs have heard. Labour backbencher Emma Lewell-Buck, below, warned people are being forced to sell their possessions or falling
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Owner's joy after being reunited with missing cat
A CAT that was feared dead has been reunited with its owner after being lost for more than a month. Young tabby, Alfie, was taken to the Ark on the Edge animal sanctuary in Woodland, County Durham, after being found more than five miles away from
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Middlesbrough Council forced to apologise to Boro Taxis
A COUNCIL has been forced to apologise to one of the North-East’s biggest taxi companies after failing to properly administer taxi licences. Middlesbrough Council has been reprimanded by the Local Government Ombudsman for not keeping adequate records
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Hark the herald angels trail
A high flying community is marking Christmas on a wing and a prayer with a novel challenge. Bishop James Bell launched the new Angelsabout trail in Bedale, encouraging children and adults to find the 54 angels dotted around the town as part of a major
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Newton Aycliffe children enjoy online chat with David Cameron
NEWTON Aycliffe youngsters embraced the digital age when they enjoyed an online chat with the Prime Minister and mastered the art of computer coding. Year six pupils at Vane Road Primary School spoke to David Cameron and children from schools across
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New housing estate cannot be stopped councillors warned
COUNCILLORS concerned they’re being “swamped” by new houses have called developers Persimmon to a meeting to address objections. New plans for the final phase of a major housing estate at Southend in Bedale have been put forward by the developers
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Well done to Blyth, hopefully Darlington have lots of great nights to come
Well another weekend without a game due to the weather wasn't ideal for us. We met at Aycliffe for 11 o'clock Saturday morning and the game failed a pitch inspection 11:20. It's frustrating when you are all geared up to go then it gets postponed
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Judge expresses sympathy to Middlesbrough benefit fraud mother for delayed case
A WOMAN who faced jail for a £70,000 benefit fraud sobbed as her case was delayed - and earned sympathy from a judge.Judge Michael Taylor told Middlesbrough single mother Dawn Bryan that the hold-up was "cruelty in excess".The glitch occurred
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Work gets underway in £50,000 project for new Etherley Cricket Club pavilion
A £50,000 project to improve dilapidated facilities at a village cricket club is underway.Etherley Cricket Club was on “the brink” in 2011 after their member numbers dwindled and had previously being rejected twice by Sport England for funding to update
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Council tax freeze proposal is not politically motivated, claims councillor
A SENIOR councillor has denied that a proposal to freeze council tax was politically motivated, maintaining the last time they did so it was political ‘suicide’.The deputy leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Sheelagh Clarke, dismissed the
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MacLeod gets Scotland call
DURHAM'S Calum MacLeod was yesterday named in the Scotland squad for February's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, along with former Riverside batsman Kyle Coetzer.Durham skipper Paul Collingwood will help to coach the Scots, whose second group game
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'Do your Christmas shopping in Darlington' – councillor calls on colleagues to set an example
A COUNCILLOR has pledged to do all of his Christmas shopping in Darlington – and called on his colleagues to do the same.Labour councillor Chris McEwan told a meeting of Darlington Borough Council that he would be buying all of his festive treats from
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Mother dishonestly claimed £18,750 in benefits
A MOTHER wept in court as she learned that she risked jail for dishonestly claiming more than £18,000 in benefits.Cassie Howe, 27, of Coronation Avenue, Shildon, falsely claimed £18,750 in housing and council tax benefit as she moved between three addresses
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Judge 'sniffs out' Darlington car driver's fib
A "STUPID" car crook is behind bars after trying to lead a judge down the wrong road. Matthew Clark claimed he missed a meeting with a probation officer because he was trying to get a job. The 23-year-old claimed the important appointment clashed
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Congestion-busting scheme hailed a success
A MULTI-million pound scheme to battle congestion in one of the region’s most popular resorts has been hailed as a huge success.The first full season of Whitby’s new park and ride system saw it carrying thousands of passengers over the spring, summer
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Fishburn parents object to new school bus fares
A PETITION objecting to the introduction of school bus charges between a village and a nearby college was read out in parliament this week.More than 400 residents of Fishburn, County Durham, signed the petition calling on Sedgefield Community College
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Man hit by bus remains in hospital
A MAN has been taken to hospital with injuries after he was hit by a bus.The man, in his 50s, was struck as he walked along Chester Road prior to the junction with Kayll Road in Sunderland. The incident happened just after 2.30pm on Monday.Emergency services
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Day of action over railway cycle thefts
POLICE are to hold cycle surgeries at a number of railway stations across the region as part of a ‘day of action’ aimed at raising awareness of bicycle theft.The surgeries will offer security marking for commuters’ bikes, while leaflets and crime prevention
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North Yorkshire food entrepreneur wins prestigious award
A YORKSHIRE entrepreneur who set up a successful food business on the basis of her own recipes, has won a prestigious national accolade.Belinda Williams, from Yorkshire Provender, has been named winner of a NatWest Everywoman Award. The York-based businesswoman
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Electricity distributor suspending non-essential work ahead of predicted storms
NORTHERN Powergrid is suspending all non-essential planned work following a forecast of high winds and blizzards for the region.The company, which distributes electricity across the North-East and North Yorkshire, said the stormy winter weather predicted
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Sign up for cheaper energy this Christmas
COUNCIL chiefs have joined forces with Darlington Citizens Advice Bureau to launch the fourth round of a scheme enabling residents and businesses to save on their gas and electricity bills.More than 300 Darlington households saved an average of £200 on
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Woman knocked down on zebra crossing making progress
THE condition of a woman who became trapped beneath a car after she was knocked down on a zebra crossing is improving, police have said. The 48-year-old, from Ebchester, who was dragged underneath a Vauxhall Corsa, remains seriously ill in
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'Santa Express' raises £21k for charity
AN EAST Coast chartered ‘Santa Express’ train has raised £21,000 for homelessness charity the Railway Children. The train, which was decorated as a grotto, took 500 people from the region to London for a festive day out. Those onboard included
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Death smash - man named
A MAN who died when his car overturned in a one-vehicle smash at the weekend has now been named by police.He was 26-year-old John Patrick Connors, also known as Johnny, who came from Malton, North Yorkshire.His grieving family has paid tribute to him,
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Man jailed for drunken attack on girlfriend
A JEALOUS boyfriend throttled his partner and garrotted her with a jacket after accusing her of having an affair.The woman stopped breathing several times during the attack at the home they shared in Stockton, a court was told.Anthony Russell was yesterday
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Basketball star joins Esh Group
ONE of the stars of championship basketball team Newcastle Eagles has doubled up his day job by joining Esh Group on secondment.The appointment of Andy Thomson, reinforces the bond between the Eagles and Esh Group – which has been a main sponsor of
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Garden centre goes even greener
A GARDEN centre has given its green credentials a boost - with the installation of 200 solar panels.The power the panels will generate should help meet the needs of Thirsk Garden Centre and two neighbouring family homes. Since taking over the garden centre
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Fourth Hambleton town gets free wi-fi
A FOURTH town in Hambleton has joined the digital revolution by offering shoppers, visitors and businesses free wi-fi.Easingwold has joined Northallerton, Bedale and Thirsk in seeing the world of the internet available to everyone in the centre following
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Police hunt man accused of sex attacks on two teens
DETECTIVES are appealing for information after the rape and a sexual assault of two teenage girls in a North-East park. Police received reports that a man had sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and raped her friend, aged 16, at Mowbray Park, Sunderland
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Two teenage girls arrested after body of woman found in house
TWO teenage girls have been arrested after the body of a woman was found at an address in Hartlepool. The body was found at the property, on Stephen Street, near the town centre, this morning. Police are treating the death as suspicious and
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Investigation into death of elderly woman following alleged attack in a care home still ongoing, coroner hears
A REVIEW of an inquest into the death of an elderly woman who died after an alleged attack in a care home took place in Crook today (Tuesday, December 9)Jennie Bryant, 89, died at University Hospital North Durham, on July 5 after suffering head injuries
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Transport under the spotlight at manufacturing event
NORTH-East air and sea links and the region's connectivity to global markets including the United States will be under the spotlight at a major regional manufacturing event this month. The Advanced Manufacturing Forum (AMF) has organised the transport
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Wickham signs new deal with Sunderland
CONNOR WICKHAM has ended speculation over his future by signing a new four-year deal that commits him to Sunderland until 2019. Wickham, who arrived on Wearside in a much-trumpeted £8.1m deal from Ipswich Town in 2011, was due to become a free
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Accommodation fees set to rise at North-east university
STUDENTS have launched a petition against a £500-a-year rise in accommodation fees.The Durham University announcement, made in an email to students last week, detailed increases of nearly 8.5 per cent in fees for next academic year at its 16 colleges.A
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MP supports Small Business Saturday
PHIL Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, took part in a cupcake making workshop at Love Thy Cupcake in Newton Aycliffe as part of this year’s Small Business SaturdayMr Wilson said: “It was an honour to get behind our areas local small shops and independent businesses
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Prepare for prison Middlesbrough sex snaps pervert told
A MAN who encouraged a schoolgirl to pose for pornographic pictures and carry out sex acts for him has been warned to prepare for prison. Geoffrey Cooper, of Gifford Street, Middlesbrough, admitted a series of serious offences when he appeared
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Burglar with brass nerve jailed
A BURGLAR who stole a bike from a garage while a householder was just feet away was today (Tuesday) jailed for 15 months.Ryan Stewart, 28, was told by a judge he had "brass nerve" and "a truly awful record" for offences of dishonesty.Judge
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Cleat firm's joy at Brazilian deal
A CABLE cleat maker is supplying equipment for a huge Brazilian energy sector vessel.Ellis says it will send cleats to Petrobras’ new P-66 floating, production, storage and offloading ship.The company said the vessel will have the capacity to process
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Panto Review: Jack and The Beanstalk, Middlesbrough Theatre
Middlesbrough Theatre, Jack and The Beanstalk IT’S looking a lot like Christmas down at Middlesbrough Theatre with the opening of yet another outstanding Yuletide pantomime. Extravaganza Productions never fails to impress with its annual panto
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Armed robbers target Greggs security van in Newcastle
ARMED robbers snatched money from a security van at Greggs in Newcastle today. At 11.30am this morning police received a report of a robbery at the premises in Binswood Avenue, Blakelaw. It's believed the offenders approached a security driver
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Plastics firm hails aerospace success
A PLASTICS firm spawned from an ICI management buyout says the transport industry’s rising focus on weight-saving materials has strengthened its industry position. Victrex, which operates a factory at Seal Sands, near Billingham, says aerospace
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Hunt for man after teenager, 16, raped and friend, 15, sexually assaulted in Sunderland park
A TEENAGER has been raped and her friend sexually assaulted in a Sunderland park. At 6.58pm on Monday, December 8, police received a report that a man had sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and raped her friend, aged 16, at Mowbray Park.
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Construction firm completes £4.4m motorway work
A NORTH-EAST construction firm has completed £4.4m work on a motorway service site, which bosses say has supported more than 70 jobs.Clugston Construction, which has offices in Hebburn, South Tyneside, built a truck-stop and lorry park on the A1 at Leeming
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Reversal sees factory output slump
A SHARP reversal of fortunes for the UK's manufacturing sector raised more fears over the impact of Europe's flat-lining economy.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said output in the sector dropped by 0.7 per cent in October, offsetting progress
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Police probe alleged racism towards Blackburn star by Middlesbrough fan following controversial end to match
POLICE have been called in after a Middlesbrough fan was alleged to have made a racist gesture towards Blackburn Rovers player Rudy Gestede following a controversial end to a recent Championship game. Middlesbrough drew 1-1 with Rovers on Saturday
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Budget hotel's expansion aims
A BUDGET hotel chain founded by a low-cost airline boss says it will continue to expand after revealing buoyant financial results.Easyhotel said revenues for the year to September 30 increased 34 per cent to £3.5m.It added pre-tax profits lifted 15 per
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Youths behind bars for motiveless attack on dad walking home with family
TWO youths are behind bars following a “sustained” attack on a man walking home from a night out with members of his family.Christopher Stephen Sadler and Lewis Adam Crow carried out the motiveless assault in front of the victim’s wife, daughter and son.Durham
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Doctor used hidden camera to film woman wearing a short skirt in city centre, tribunal told
A DOCTOR used a hidden camera to secretly film a young woman wearing a short skirt in York city centre, a tribunal heard. Steven Forde, 45, a married father-of-three, was caught with a satchel containing a device with a telescopic lens to capture
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Police hail Claypath closure trial
A POLICE inspector says the overnight closure of part of a city centre on weekends has got off to a promising start.Anger has been growing over late-night noise and disturbance from drinkers leaving bars and clubs on Walkergate, Durham City, and getting
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90-year-old man dies in motorway crash
A 90-YEAR-OLD man from North Yorkshire has been named as the motorist who was killed in a crash which led to the closure of the M1 for eight hours.Francis Appleby, of Hampsthwaite, near Harrogate, suffered fatal injuries when his blue Citroen collided
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Songs and prizes are enjoyed at Stockton Mayor's special service
CHILD musicians have joined Stockton Male Voice Choir and the Mayor of Stockton to spread some Christmas cheer.The Mayor of Stockton Barbara Inman hosted the annual Mayor’s Carol Service at Stockton Parish Church on Friday, December 5.Nine-year-old local
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Follow the Santa sat nav to catch up with fundraisers
SANTA will be doing the rounds in Darlington in the nights leading up to Christmas – all in the name of charity, of course.Darlington Bondgate Round Table is holding its annual Santa's Sleigh series of events, in which Santa hops aboard a brightly-decorated
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Can you help solve Darlington's lollipop crisis?
COUNCIL bosses are appealing for the public's help in getting a road-related problem licked once and for all – a shortage of lollipop ladies in Darlington.Town hall chiefs say they have vacancies for at least three school crossing patrol staff at various
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Energy sector honours long-serving member
NOF Energy has honoured one of its longest serving members with a special presentation at the organisation’s annual dinner.Barrier Group Chairman, Robert Bowles, was presented with an award in recognition of his service to NOF Energy and the UK energy
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Building firms face skills shortage
BUILDING firms are having to hire bricklayers from Portugal, paying them £1,000 a week, because of a shortage of workers from the UK, it has been revealed. A study by employment group Manpower confirmed fears from across British industry of a problem
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Tesco shares dive amid profit warning
THE troubles at supermarket giant Tesco deepened today as the company warned it is heading for a bigger-than-expected slide in annual profits.Shares slumped by as much as 16 per cent - wiping nearly £2bn from Tesco's stock market value - after it said
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Boro boss to learn fate with FA
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Aitor Karanka will learn this week if he will be sat in the stands for the weekend’s tussle with the Championship’s leaders. Karanka has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association for his behaviour in the final moments
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Sunderland boss wants four new players - at least
GUS POYET has outlined his transfer wish-list for the January sales by indicating to sporting director Lee Congerton that the Sunderland squad needs strengthening on a number of fronts.The Sunderland boss and Congerton have had a couple of meetings to
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Apprenticeships reach two million milestone
TWO million apprenticeships have been started since 2010, Business Secretary Vince Cable has revealed. Official figures show in the full year 2013/14, there were a total of 440,400 apprenticeship starts. That figure is down from 510,200 starts
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'We hold no fear' warns Newcastle midfielder ahead of Elliot news
NEWCASTLE UNITED will not fear any team in the build up to Christmas – even if it means relying on Premier League rookie Jak Alnwick between the posts over the next few weeks.That's the message from Magpies midfielder Jack Colback, while further news
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Ceramic poppies mark centenary of Hartlepool bombardment
CERAMIC poppies from the Tower of London will be planted near a new memorial on the centenary of the bombardment of Hartlepool.The anniversary of the bombardment, which left 130 people dead after the German Navy fired more than 1,000 shells at the town
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Arrest after woman in 90s is alleged victim of car sex attack in Guisborough
A SHOCKED 91-year-old woman is being comforted by her family after she was indecently assaulted by a man who got into her car and told her to drive off. A 19-year-old man is tonight in custody after he was arrested by Cleveland Police earlier in
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Well done Jessica
I love my job because of the people I meet. Today I went to Kirk Merrington Primary School in County Durham to do a story-writing workshop and met eight-year old Jessica Barton. Jessica had lovely, long brown hair, but she chose to have it cut
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DWP telling single parents 'Leave your kids home alone' claims Darlington MP
SINGLE parents participating in the Government's flagship back-to-work scheme are being told to leave children as young as nine at home unsupervised in order to attend, according to a North-East MP. Labour's Jenny Chapman, the member for Darlington
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Tuesday Topic: The problems with Hartlepool United
IT’S coming up ten years since Hartlepool United reached their pinnacle – when they were eight minutes from promotion to the Championship. After sacking Paul Murray on Saturday, Pools are managerless and seeking their third boss of the season. Dumped
