Archive

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From one sporting hero to another - Steve Cram honours Durham gymnast named 2014's Local Hero of the Year

THE guiding light behind one of the North-East's most successful gymnastics clubs was crowned 2014 Local Hero by sporting legend Steve Cram tonight (Thursday).The 15th annual Northern Echo Local Heroes award saw sports stars, enthusiasts and administrators

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Sex assault

A 15-YEAR-OLD girl was sexually assaulted by a man in his 30s in Dormanstown, Redcar at about 8.20am yesterday morning (WEDNESDAY). The girl was walking along Staithes Road and turned onto Bilsdale Avenue when a man who was riding a mountain bike pulled

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Met office warns of severe weather and freezing temperatures over the next 48 hours

THE Met Office has warned the North-East could face severe weather and freezing temperatures during the next 48 hours. The warning comes as dozens of cars became stuck in the snow on the A68 at Waskerley, north of Stanhope, Weardale this morning

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Bid to free some of accused breeder's impounded dogs

A BID is to be made to secure the release of half of the 14 dogs seized from a breeder following a recent alleged attack by some of the animals.Details of the request to secure the release of seven of Stephen Potts’ impounded American bull dogs were outlined

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Black Cats can watch derby on home turf

SUNDERLAND fans can watch the Tyne-Wear derby from the Stadium of Light.The club will open the stadium’s bars and lounges to fans not travelling to watch the action at St James’ Park and the match, scheduled for Sunday, December 21, will be screened live

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Mother of tragic Megan makes Christmas safety plea

THE mother of a student who drowned after a night out drinking is backing a Christmas call for festive revellers to steer clear of open water.Megan Roberts was just 20 when she drowned in the River Ouse in York last January after a night out.It is thought

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Ferryhill mother found in charge of car in drunken state spared jail

A MOTHER who was found slumped over a car steering wheel while almost six times the legal alcohol limit was spared prison today (Thursday, December 11).Police were forced to smash a window of a Peugeot 207 belonging to Julie Foster when the 30-year-old

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A united response for young online abuse victims

THE understanding most people have of online sexual abuse of children is like the activity itself - distant, intangible, even other worldly. Hearing from a father who discovered his 13-year-old son had been groomed online and sexually assaulted by the

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Two fairies magic up Christmas tree surprise

A CHRISTMAS tree has magically appeared at the door of a fundraising team thanks to two joy-spreading fairies.Marks and Spencer’s Two Fairies - a twitter-based fairy duo who go around the country delivering random acts of kindness – have targeted fundraisers

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Thousands of fish released to replenish stocks

THOUSANDS of fish are to be released into local rivers over the next few weeks.As part of an ongoing plan to restore the region’s lakes and rivers, the Environment Agency will be stocking 2,000 dace and 1,500 chub at Lumley Park Burn, in Chester-le-Street

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Coundon man admits making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornography

A MAN has pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and possessing extreme animal pornography.Norman Frank Fletcher, of Tees Walk, Bishop Auckland, admitted two charges of making a total of 1,218 indecent images of children between August 2011

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Pacers could be replaced by old London Underground trains, union claims

OLD London Underground trains could be used to replace the region's unpopular Pacers, union officials have claimed.Rail union RMT claims a shortage of rolling stock could mean that old London Underground trains could be brought into service in the North-East.Chancellor

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North-East charities to get £4m from bank fines

THE Government will put £4m-worth of fines extracted from misbehaving banks into a new North-East charitable foundation, the chancellor announced today (Thursday, December 11).During a visit to a Virgin Money branch in Stockton, George Osborne unveiled

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Shocking video of car somersaulting after 97mph police pursuit with four-year-old boy in the back

POLICE who had been pursuing a car at speeds of almost 100mph before it flipped over discovered a four-year-old child inside. Dramatic video of the incident has been released showing the desperate bid by banned driver Scott Tony Smith to escape

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Woman walking pet attacked by would-be dog-nappers

TWO men attempted to steal a much-loved pet dog – as its female owner was out walking it.The woman was walking near the Oaks in Dalton, near Thirsk, with her Westie cross when two men in a blue van pulled up. The passenger got out of the van and told

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Woman hurt on zebra crossing no longer in intensive care

INJURIES suffered by a woman who became trapped beneath a car after she was knocked down on a zebra crossing are no longer life-threatening, police said today. (Thursday, December 11) The 46-year-old, from Ebchester, has been moved to a ward from

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Summit sparks hopes over tackling online child abuse

A LEADING child abuse expert has spoken of her optimism that online paedophilia will be tackled after David Cameron recognised the problem exists on an “almost industrial scale".Tink Palmer, the founder of the North Yorkshire-based Marie Collins

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Prison not suitable for women, conference told

ECONOMIST Vicky Pryce, who was jailed for lying about former MP Chris Huhne’s speeding points, has been speaking a North-East conference, arguing prison is not suitable for women.The 62-year-old, who was sentenced to eight months last year following her

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Aycliffe man who stole woman's knickers was bored because wife was away at dog shows, court told

A PENSIONER stole a woman’s knickers to wear because he was bored when his wife was away at dog shows, a court heard. Terence Michael Robson, of Jackson Place, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was caught dumping a bag containing the stolen yellow

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X Factor's Abi Alton hits a high note when she returns to Prior Pursglove College in Guisborough

AN X Factor contestant, who plans to study in America, has returned to her old North-East school to officially open a new facility to help students achieve.Singer and songwriter Abi Alton, from Guisborough was a pupil at the town’s Prior Pursglove College

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New PCSOs go on beat in east Durham

THE ranks of east Durham’s police community support officers have been bolstered by the arrival of three new members.Michelle Burr, Jonathan Roberts and David Weston have started their probation periods on the beat after completing initial training at

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Teenager convicted for second time for assault after being summoned to help sort out someone else's "problems"

A TEENAGER was warned he has had his “last chance” after walking free from court for the second time following an act of violence.Durham Crown Court heard that in both cases Nathan Alan Corkhill caused injuries, having been summoned to help sort out other

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Pupils use war events for Christmas show

SCHOOLCHILDREN have put on a special Christmas show to mark the centenary of the start First World War.St Wilfrid’s RC VA Primary School, in Murphy Crescent, Bishop Auckland, held the first of two productions today (Thursday, December 11) based on the

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Young rugby players to benefit from wedding milestone

A COUPLE raised £600 to help underprivileged children to play rugby with a party to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.Mally and Joy Clarey, of Coundon, said there is no secret to their success but that it is about going through the good and the

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Local Heroes Awards 2014

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Papiss proves perfect for Pardew at Newcastle this season

DESPITE an impressive goal return this season, Papiss Cisse is still not sure whether he will be leading the line for Newcastle United at Arsenal this weekend.Cisse’s appearances have been restricted since returning from a serious knee injury and he has

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School pupils give voice to their town's dead 100 years on from the bombardment of Hartlepool

STUDENTS at a Hartlepool school are to play a leading role in the BBC’s coverage of the 100th anniversary of the German Navy’s bombardment of the town.Nine year 11 students from St Hild’s Church of England School have voiced eye-witness accounts of the

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Proposals decided to save Middlesbrough £14m next year

SELLING a town’s art collection or cutting councillor allowances and expenses were ideas put forward to help Middlesbrough slice £14m from its budget next year.A six-week consultation outlining 45 ways the local authority could save millions attracted

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Christmas comes early for fined motorists who get refund after using Middlesbrough bus lane

DRIVERS hit with a penalty fine after getting caught on camera using a new bus lane will receive an early Christmas present by a mayor who is giving more than 2,500 offenders their money back. Enforcement cameras were installed in June on Newport

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School will mark 400th anniversary with iconic stained glass window

A SCHOOL is marking 400 years of education with an iconic stained glass window designed by its students.The anniversary project is now underway at Wolsingham School and Community College where the commemorative window will be created to coincide with

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North-East must brace itself for more austerity, warns Osborne on visit to region

THE North-East must brace itself for more austerity, Chancellor George Osborne has warned. Mr Osborne told The Northern Echo more action is needed to nurse the economy back to full health. Speaking during a visit to the region, he did not rule

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Whitley start search for Ryan's successor

Whitley Bay have started a search for a new manager following the departure of Leon Ryan. The player-manager quit for work and family reasons on Tuesday night after the 4-2 home defeat by North Shields, and said; “I went into the job knowing that

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Press conference update: Sunderland duo will not be risked as Hammers boss speaks out

SUNDERLAND have the option of turning to two of their returning players against West Ham United this Saturday after emerging through training unscathed this week. But Gus Poyet, the Black Cats boss, has admitted that neither Emanuele Giaccherini

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Press conference update: Boro boss pinning his hopes on players as Woody returns

AITOR KARANKA hopes his absence from the dug-out for this Saturday’s meeting with Derby County will not have a negative impact on Middlesbrough’s performance. Boro can go top of the Championship if they defeat Steve McClaren’s league leaders but

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PACT meetings 'undermined' by shortage of local officers, councillor claims

POLICE community meetings are being undermined by a lack of local beat officers, a councillor has said.Attended by police and council representatives, Police and Community Together, or Pact, meetings are held to allow residents to discuss concerns specific

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Get in 'touch' with nature at Foxglove Covert

VISITORS are being put in the picture about life on the wild side in North Yorkshire – with the help of modern technology.Foxglove Covert was the first nature reserve ever to be established on Ministry of Defence land.Now visitors to it’s field centre

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Horse riders at Unicorn Centre in Middlesbrough saddle up thanks to donation

A HORSE-RIDING charity for disabled people have been able to buy a much-needed saddle thanks to a £500 donation.The Unicorn Centre in Hemlington, Middlesbrough, was given the money by property developers Taylor Wimpey which is currently building homes

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Church's kind-hearted fleece campaign helps vulnerable struggling with cold

A CHURCH craft group has created more than a 100 fleeces for local charities after hearing about a child in Teesside who had no warm clothes to wear in November.Great Ayton Methodist Church’s Craft and Coffee group have created dozens of brightly coloured

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Government puts £4m of fines from banks into new North-East charitable foundation as Northern Rock Foundation makes final grants

THE Government will put £4m-worth of fines extracted from misbehaving banks into a new North-East charitable foundation, the chancellor announced today (Thursday, December 11). During a visit to a Virgin Money branch in Stockton, George Osborne

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Artist gives artwork as a gift to council as reminder of Tour de France

A NORTH-East artist with a gallery in North Yorkshire has given a district council a permanent reminder of the success of the Tour de France.World-renowned Mackenzie Thorpe, born in Middlesbrough, has presented Richmondshire District Council with a banner

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Press Conference Update: Pardew challenges Alnwick to earn new Newcastle deal

ALAN PARDEW has challenged Jack Alnwick to earn a new contract at Newcastle United over the course of the next month. With Tim Krul and Rob Elliot both nursing injuries, Alnwick is set to be the Magpies' first-choice goalkeeper until the turn of

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Giant Christmas cards on show

A CHURCH is to host a giant Christmas card exhibition this weekend (December 13-14).St Mary’s Church, in West Rainton, near Durham City, will be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 4pm.Members of the public are invited to view all the

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Money raised for children's heart unit at Freeman Hospital

THREE cycling partners have raised cash for a North-East children's heart unit which cared for a friend’s baby daughter, who has since sadly died.Andrew Warner, 32 of Bearpark, near Durham, David Park, 29, of Langley Park and Jamie Bolam, 36 , of Stanley

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Village choir determined to go out on high note after being forced to disband

A VILLAGE choir that has welcomed singers for more than 50 years will host its final farewell concert this weekend after dwindling numbers forced it to disband.The Gainford Singers, which were originally established as the Gainford Choral Society, in

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Stables open day to return following Good Friday success

A HUGELY popular event which has become a mainstay of the region’s racing calendar will be returning, it has been confirmed.The Middleham Stables Open Day, which is celebrating its 22nd anniversary, will be held on Good Friday - April 3 - next year.This

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Planning committee unimpressed with Aiskew housing scheme

A DEVELOPMENT scheme which has already been criticised by neighbouring residents has been slammed by a planning committee who found major faults with the design and size of proposed homes.The 41-home development proposed for Aiskew, on land to the rear

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School unveils £250k all-weather sports pitch

A SCHOOL has unveiled a £250,000 all-weather pitch as part of a drive to enable pupils to further their sporting skills and fitness.Funding for the Astroturf pitch at independent Cundall Manor School, near Thirsk, was raised through donations and events

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"Vicious animal" sought after deaths of 20 sheep on farm near Darlington

A VICIOUS animal has been blamed for savaging a flock of sheep, killing 20 of them. A farmer in Darlington was left “alarmed and saddened” after finding a number of sheep had been left dead and injured on his land. The owner of the flock came

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We're not worried about Hyde

We’re away to Hyde on Saturday, and a chance to progress to the second round of the FA Trophy. We’ll give them plenty of respect because they play in a league that is two above us, but we’re not worried about them. We’re going there full of confidence

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Have your say on plans for combined authority

RESIDENTS of the Tees Valley are being invited to have their say on plans for a combined authority for the area.The five local authorities in the valley – Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland – are canvassing views

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Cathedral's tree lighting and crib blessing ceremony

DURHAM Cathedral is preparing for one of its most popular annual services, the lighting of its Christmas tree and blessing of the crib.Popular with families and worshippers alike, the ritual will see the switch on of festive decorations on a large Norwegian

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MP back shopping website

AN MP is backing a new shopping website that helps charities.Durham City MP Roberta Blackman-Woods gave her backing to care2save.co.uk during an event in Westminster yesterday (Wednesday, December 10).Commission from purchases made through Care2Save is

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A close shave for a good cause

A COFFEE shop manager has had his head shaved for charity.The stunt by Jamie Buchanan, an area manager for Costa Coffee, raised £2,492 for the Costa Foundation charity, which works with schools in coffee-growing communities across the world.He said; “

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Gymnasts show their Diversity

NORTH-East gymnasts will perform alongside Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity this weekend (Saturday, December 13).The four-strong Acropolis, based at Deerness Gymnastics Academy, in Ushaw Moor, County Durham, will appear on stage at the Metro Radio

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Take home your own Lego cathedral

A CATHEDRAL is celebrating the success of its Lego fundraising campaign with a take-home model.Durham Cathedral first invited people to buy £1 plastic bricks in its 350,000-brick Lego model last year, to raise money for its £10m Open Treasure development

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Peer 'regrets' cooking comments

A TORY peer who hit the headlines for claiming poor people do not know how to cook has apologised for her remarks overshadowing an inquiry into hunger in the UK.Baroness Jenkin of Kennington has already said sorry for her choice of words at the launch

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£24m Auckland Castle expected to be submitted by Christmas

PLANS for four projects, totalling £24m, connected to the regeneration of an historic tourism site will be submitted to Durham County Council by Christmas.If the schemes are given the go-ahead, it will not only result in Auckland Castle undergoing its

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Geologist encourages primary pupils to become rock stars

A GEOLOGIST invited primary pupils to become rock stars for the day.Rocks to Schools founder Ken Weilding visited Reid Street Primary School in Darlington recently to host a workshop in earth science.Pupils were given a hands-on lesson as part of their

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Dismay as bank closes market town branch

COMMUNITY leaders have spoken of their dismay after a bank announced it was axing a market town branch. NatWest said its branch in Bedale Market Place would close on March 25, leaving the town with two banks, as the number of transactions taking

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Political wrangle as Darlington councillors argue over controversial review

DARLINGTON Borough Council has been criticised for the way it has handled a consultation on controversial proposals. The chair of Neasham Parish Council received a letter on Monday, December 1 asking for the parish council’s views on a contentious

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Cable hails growth fund

A FUND aimed at creating jobs and boosting local economies across England has led to £4bn of investment, the Government has announced.The Coalition said its Regional Growth Fund had put more than £1bn into the hands of businesses, with a further £3bn

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Bishops only ENL club to apply for promotion, Shildon miss deadline

Only Bishop Auckland have applied for promotion from the Northern League to the EvoStik League at the end of the season, the FA have revealed. EBAC Northern League clubs had until November 30th to complete their promotion applications, but Shildon

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Aycliffe rug retailer completes MBO

ONLINE retailer Modern Rugs has undergone a £3.2m management buy-in backed by Enterprise Ventures and PHD Equity Partners.The deal gives operational control of the Newton Aycliffe company to Martin Tragen, former group finance director of retailer Timpson

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Chancellor in the region at launch of 'Northern Powerhouse' project

THE Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was in the North-East today. He is pictured being shown an experiment by PHD Student Rhys Anderson while paying a visit to Newcastle University today, following his announcement of £20m of government

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Bank reveals fewer rates meetings

THE Bank of England will cut the number of meetings of its interest rate-setters from 12 to eight a year under a series of reforms.It will also publish minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings at the same time as it issues rates decisions

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Album Review: Nico & Vinz - Black Star Elephant

NICO & VINZ - BLACK STAR ELEPHANT Propelled to stardom by song of the summer contender Am I Wrong, Norwegian duo Kahouly Nicolay 'Nico' Sereba and Vincent 'Vinz' Dery are seeking to build upon the success of their global smash with this strong

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Engineering firm secures near £500m BP deal

AN engineering firm has secured a near £500m five-year energy industry deal.The John Wood Group says BP has awarded it work to deliver engineering and construction services for work on offshore assets and facilities in Grangemouth, creating 150 new jobs.The

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Restaurant Review: The Derwent Walk Inn, Consett

Gavin Havery discovers the busy Derwent Walk Inn has glorious views and a roaring fire FEW things can be as welcoming at the start of an English winter than a roaring fire in a traditional pub on a chilly day. But with two bouncing kids under five

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Fitness guru Katie out of the running for Apprentice after Lord Sugar tells her: 'You're fired'

A FITNESS entrepreneur from the North-East is out of the running to become Alan Sugar's Apprentice after being fired from the hit BBC show. Katie Bulmer-Cooke, 28, fell victim to a double eviction by Lord Sugar last night, after project-managing

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Former prisoner Vicky Pryce to speak at conference on incarceration of women

ECONOMIST Vicky Pryce, who served a jail sentence for accepting speeding points on behalf of ex-husband Chris Huhne, is to speak at a conference on women in prison. The former Government advisor, who last year was sentenced to eight months in prison

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More contracts joy for Kromek

RADIATION detection company Kromek has been awarded a $1m contract extension by a leading global security company.  Under the terms of the deal, County Durham-based Kromek will design and produce new nuclear detectors. The company expects to deliver

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Family firm increases graphene work

A FAMILY-OWNED chemical firm says it has started a pilot project to make a revolutionary product. Thomas Swan and Co, in Consett, County Durham, says it has scaled up its Elicarb graphene plant. Bosses say the site is capable of making 1kg

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Curiouser and curiouser

Steve Pratt talks to playwright Simon Stephens and the creative team preparing Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident Of The Dog In the Night-Time for tour One of the most applauded and awarded plays of recent years owes its existence to a cup of coffee

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'We're ready to walk up walls'

Actors Joshua Jenkins, Chris Ashby, Clare Perkins and Roberta Carr talk to Steve Pratt about the demands of touring a West End hit play JOSHUA JENKINS had never seen The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time on stage so didn’t know what

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Mr Scrooge is up to Scratch

Viv Hardwick discovers why Newcastle's Northern Stage seems to have cornered the market in festive entertainment for tots SUSAN Mulholland decided to get herself in a grump this year, which might sound odd when she’s the creator of the North-East

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Woeful England fail to dent Sport Direct's progress

RETAILER Sports Direct has reported increased revenues and profits, despite the impact of England’s woeful World Cup and a milder Autumn.The firm, founded by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, said group revenues stood at £143bn for the 26 weeks to October

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Film Review: Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast

Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Neverbeast Certificate: U Length: 76 mins Star Rating: 4/5 RELEASED in 2008, the computer-animated fantasy Tinker Bell was the first Disney film to give a voice to the iconic character from JM Barrie's

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Stand-up for panto traditions

Award-winning talent show comedian Brennan Reece talks to Viv Hardwick about making his pantomime debut as Aladdin at Billingham Forum Theatre PANTO debutant Brennan Reece has switched stand-up for knockabout as headline star Aladdin at Billingham

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Panto Review: The Chuckles of Oz, Darlington Civic Theatre

The Chuckles of Oz, Darlington Civic Theatre OZ is legendary as the great and powerful, but the yellow, brick road is full of more pitfalls than a Government promise on improving the A1. With arguably, the best two family entertainers in the UK

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Comic tour is set to visit town

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan will bring his 2014 Edinburgh Best Show Comedy Award-nominated show, Rom Wasn’t Built In A Day, to The Witham in Barnard Castle on Saturday. You might recognise Romesh from his many TV appearances, which include Mock

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Enriched Richie

Lionel Richie nearly gave up singing after leaving The Commodores, but 30 years later, he’s playing one of the world’s most famous music festivals and going on tour. Andy Welch catches up with a legend LIONEL Richie loves being in the UK. He says

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MINI packs a punch

THIS is the new MINI John Cooper Works, packing the most powerful engine ever for a production MINI.Under the bonnet is a 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo unit delivering 231bhp. Drawing on MINI’s motorsport expertise, it features a package of suspension, brake

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Bad Santa is too merry for Lola

WHAT could be better than a visit to Santa’s Grotto at this festive time of year. The Carters are certainly trying to make it a happy Christmas by creating a winter wonderland in the Queen Vic, complete with Father Christmas ho-ho-hoing in the corner

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Soul Legends, North-East tour

Soul Legends, North-East tour BOASTING that it ‘features more soul classics than any other production’, Soul Legends show producer, Michael Taylor, has a 32-song score to tempt audiences to step back into music history. It’s always easier to

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Film Review: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (12A)

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Certificate: 12A Length: 144 mins Rating: 4/5 ALMOST 13 years to the day since director Peter Jackson first transported us to Middle Earth, the Oscar-winning New Zealand filmmaker completes

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Birtley Folk Club closes its doors

THERE’S a sad and significant milestone for the North-East folk scene happening this week, when Birtley Folk Club closes its doors for the last time next Wednesday night. After 52 years, the keepers of a long-burning flame, Doreen and Bryan Henderson

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Country by Brian Clough

  Faron Young - Wine Me Up The Best Of The Mercury Years (Humphead Records) MENTION Faron Young here in Britain and the majority of the population would think of a song called 'Four In The Morning'. The song was released by him in 1971

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Jazz by Peter Bevan

WHAT’S ON: Tonight, The Big Chris Barber Band, Sage, Gateshead, 0191-443-4661; Friday, Djangologie, Ushaw College, Durham. CD Reviews: Andrew Rathbun/Numbers & Letters (Steeplechase SCCD31781) The composer and saxophonist’s latest Steeplechase

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Classical by Gavin Englebrecht

WHAT’S ON: Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus, conducted by Paul McCreesh, perform Handel’s Messiah at Sage Gateshead, 7pm, Sunday. Box Office: 0191-443-4661.REVIEWS: No Exceptions No Exemptions: Great War Songs 2CDs (Signum Classics SIGCD401) This song

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Hart: Character helped us progress

Goalkeeper Joe Hart hailed the resolve and character of Manchester City as they reached the Champions League knockout stage with a brilliant 2-0 win at Roma.Samir Nasri and Pablo Zabaleta struck in the second half to claim the victory which was enough

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Woakes wickets give England hope

England will face a target of 240 today to win the fifth one-day international and stay in the series, after Chris Woakes took six wickets and rain then intervened at the Pallekele International Stadium.Woakes, with six for 47, was statistically England's

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Teenage girls in tears as they appear in court in connection with death of Hartlepool woman

TWO teenage girls sobbed as they appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman found dead at her home. Angela Wrightson, 39, died as a result of blood loss and substantial injuries, a post-mortem examination revealed. She was discovered

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Easyjet announces new routes from North-East

GEORGE Osborne has not gone far enough to resolve the wrangle over controversial air taxes, said airline Easyjet, as it announced three new flights from the North-East. The operator wants to see the abolition of Air Passenger Duty (APD), which means

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Banned Boro boss will get his message across during meeting with McClaren

MIDDLESBROUGH boss Aitor Karanka will draw up plans to cope with being away from the touchline after being hit with a one-match ban by the Football Association.Karanka, also fined £2,000, received the punishment at a disciplinary hearing in London yesterday

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Can Sunderland duo team up on England stage after Wickham deal?

ADAM JOHNSON tipped Sunderland team-mate Connor Wickham for a senior England call last night before admitting that he has had his own hopes of an international recall boosted.Wickham’s decision to commit the next four-and-a-half years to the Stadium of

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Tour golfer aiming to please in Mauritius

HE might have left a dog sulking back home, but Graeme Bell intends to be walking plenty on his own over the next few days after earning the right to compete at the top table on the European Senior Tour. Despite playing in just three qualifying

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Medical firm's £106m flotation

A NORTH-EAST medical firm says it has raised £106m in a flotation.Quantum Pharma, based in Burnopfield, County Durham, said the move gives it a value of £125m.Senior officials at law firm Muckle, which supported Quantum, said it was the largest float

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Cable hails Regional Growth Fund's North-East benefits

THE Government says its key job creation scheme has given £137m to North-East businesses to help their expansion. Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), which has supported a number of regional companies, also helped

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Post Office tells grandmother her Christmas cards are 'too small'

A FORMER mayor has spoken of her disbelief after being told by Post Office staff that her Christmas cards were too small to send.Yvonne Veakins said after buying stamps for the Traidcraft, Cafod and Sciaf charity cards she had been stunned when Thirsk

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Council refuses to fix pothole that left woman injured - because it's 7mm too shallow

A COUNCIL refused to fix a pothole following an accident that left a woman injured – because it was 7mm shallower than regulations stipulate.Lea Shields was left with a badly bruised hip and ankle after a fall caused by a pothole in the pavement.The half

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Body of teenager found in Crook

POLICE were called to Crook after a body was found this morning. The teenage male has not yet been identified but his death is not being treated as suspicious. A spokeswoman for Durham Police said: “Police were called to Glenholme Drive, in