Archive
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What happens if there is a hung Parliament?
IF the June 8 General Election ends in a hung parliament, it could be a matter of days or weeks before the final form of the next government is settled. If no party emerges with an overall majority, the incumbent Conservative Government would stay
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She's 100 years old, but 'dances like a youngster'
A RESIDENT at a Darlington care home has celebrated her 100th birthday with an indoor street party. Kathleen Charlton celebrated the milestone with family, friends and residents yesterday at Willow Green Care Home on the town’s Eastbourne Road.
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Cancer survivor donates guitar signed by 41 music greats for charity auction
A GUITAR signed by 41 music greats including Robert Plant, Ray Davies and Brian May is being auctioned by Macmillan Cancer Support afterbeing donated by a former cancer patient who collected the autographs over ten years.Keith Stubbs, 68, came up with
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Divers set for Dam Busters’ bombs mission
A SCUBA diver from the North-East is preparing for a daring underwater mission to recover two historic bouncing bombs like the ones featured in the World War II film The Dam Busters.Simon Smith, from Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, in County Durham
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Baby owl returned to the wild by bird of prey centre
A BABY tawny owl which fell out of a tree near Walworth Castle Hotel was rescued by a night porter and given to the neighbouring birds of prey centre to return to the wild.The tiny owl was found on the floor and taken to David Tomms at the Walworth Castle
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Witness appeal as County Durham A1 truck crash driver remains seriously ill
A TRUCK driver remains seriously ill in hospital after his vehicle went down an embankment on the A1 motorway in County Durham.Shortly after 3pm on Wednesday a DAF curtain-sided lorry heading north on the A1(M) between junctions 59 and 60, near Coatham
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Thousands of gypsies and travellers descend on Appleby for annual horse fair
A BIT of bad weather was not going to deter thousands of gypsies and travellers as they started to arrive at Appleby Horse Fair today.Hundreds of caravans, horse-drawn carts and wagons descended on the small town of Appleby, which has a population of
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Pensioner appeals for help to trace stolen garden ornaments
A HEARTBROKEN pensioner is appealing for help to trace precious ornaments stolen from her garden.Thieves made off with a collection of ornaments from Susan Bell’s front garden in Ferndale in Wolsingham three weeks ago. The ornaments include a boy and
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County Durham primary school pulls mosque visit in response to parents' terror attack fears
THE regional president of a worldwide Muslim group has spoken of his sadness after a County Durham school cancelled its mosque trip.Parents from Tow Law Millennium Primary School pulled their children from the visit citing the reason as the recent terrorist
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Newcastle United launch court challenge over tax investigation
NEWCASTLE UNITED have launched a legal challenge over documents seized from the club by officials conducting a tax probe. A High Court judge has banned members of the HM Revenue and Customs investigation team from examining, without the club's
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Drinkers dig deep to donate to help victims of Manchester terror fund
PATRONS of a town’s pubs and clubs dug deep to help people affected by the Manchester terrorist attack.The suicide bombing, after a pop concert at Manchester Arena on May 22, left 22 dead and more than 100 injured- many of them children.Manchester City
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Murder accused denies causing mother’s death
A MAN has appeared in court accused of murdering his mother who was found with devastating injuries in her own home.Tracy McPartland suffered 29 rib fractures, “massive” bruising to her back and “extensive” facial bruising, a post-mortem examination revealed.The
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Young art for prestige site at famed ruin
YOUNGSTERS are being asked to create a new temporary art installation to be displayed at the famous water gardens at Fountains Abbey, near Ripon.The North Yorkshire Society of Architects are working in partnership with the National Trust to run a design
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Sixty years of wedded bliss
A LOVING couple who met at night school have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.In 1951, John Byrne was studying technical drawing while his future wife, Marjorie, was taking classes in shorthand typing.They started going out after walking to
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Motorcyclist suffers broken back after being thrown from bike in crash with car
A MOTORCYCLIST was airlifted to hospital after suffering a broken back when he was thrown from his bike after a crash with a car.Police are now appealing for witnesses to the accident, which happened on Wednesday evening on the A1086 Coast Road, at Blackhall
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Anna aims to set a real trend after joining Newcastle firm
A COUNTY Durham woman will help shape future styles for brands and manufacturers after landing a new role. Anna Woods has joined Trend Bible as a senior trend strategist. Bosses say Ms Woods, of Bishop Auckland, will manage researchers and
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Materials Processing Institute looks to add further steel to operations after ThyssenKrupp visit
A TECHNOLOGY body hopes to forge greater global links after welcoming a European steel producer. The Materials Processing Institute (MPI), near Middlesbrough, played host to visitors from ThyssenKrupp. Professor Hans Ferkel, Dr Jens-Ulrik Becker
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Get fit and feel great for free this summer
FREE Wellbeing for Life exercise classes are being held across Weardale to to help people shape up this summer.In St John’s Chapel, a gentle exercise class takes place in the Town Hall on Tuesdays, from 1pm to 2pm. In Wolsingham, a Kids vs Parents class
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North-East quartet celebrate as England Under-20s reach World Cup final
FOUR of the North-East’s most promising youngsters have helped create history after England reached the final of the Under-20 World Cup for the first time. Middlesbrough duo Dael Fry and Harry Chapman, and Newcastle pair Freddie Woodman and Adam
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Security stepped up ahead of Rod Stewart concert
SECURITY measures have been ramped up ahead of a Rod Stewart concert set to draw thousands of fans from across the country. Those attending the gig tomorrow by the 72-year-old singer at Durham County Cricket Club, in Chester-le-Street, have been
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It's a murder finquiry
BRACE yourselves for some devastating news: James Pond, Bubble-0-7, is missing presumed dead. As explained in my last column, James was one of the nine goldfish in our new garden pond and he was given his star-studded name after an appeal on Facebook
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Council applies for High Court injunction against traveller
A COUNCIL has voted to take High Court action against a traveller to remove him from land in North Yorkshire. Hambleton District Council has taken the unusual step of applying for a High Court Injunction to remove the man from an unauthorised residential
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Neighbours share anger after decision not to remove uprooted trees for days
NEIGHBOURS have described their shock and frustration after being told trees felled in high winds will remain strewn across their gardens and resting on broken fences for several days.Families living in Darlington were left disappointed at a council decision
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Wilson's World: It's time for Middlesbrough and Sunderland to bring their own elections to an end
ONE election might be close to a conclusion, but the process of selecting the new boss at Middlesbrough and Sunderland continues to show no sign of coming to an end. The only thing ‘strong and stable’ at the Riverside and Stadium of Light at the moment
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X marks the trot
A man has turned up at a polling booth...on his horse. Phil Heard rode his chestnut horse Ranger to vote at Meldon Villlage Hall in Devon.
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Pool reopens following £125,000 refurb
A SCHOOL swimming pool has been reopened following a £125,000 refurbishment and a formal blessing.The newly renovated pool at St Alban’s Sports Centre at Ampleforth in Ryedale was this week reopened following a blessing by Fr John Fairhurst, chaplain
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Cash rolls in to boost village bowling club
A BOWLING club is hoping to roll its way to success after a council grant secured new equipment.St Cuthbert’s Short Mat Bowling Club in Crayke, near Easingwold, used the grant from Hambleton District Council’s ‘Making a Difference Awards’ A BOWLING club
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Tiny bats bring temporary halt to demolition of hall
DEMOLITION work on a country house has been halted for several months - because there are bats roosting in the attic.Ravenswick Hall, north of Kirkbymoorside, is being demolished to make way for a new stately home on the same site, labelled the first
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'Killer asked police for lift home' after murder, court told
AN intruder stabbed a man to death as he lay in bed, before calling the police to ask for a lift home, a court has heard. Daniel Johnson used his victim’s mobile telephone to make the request, which was refused, after repeatedly plunging a kitchen
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Work on another exploratory fracking well expected in North Yorkshire
AN EXPLORATORY fracking well is expected to be drilled in outlying areas of York within the year. Frack Free York says it understands that an exploration well is to be in operation in the Wigginton area of the city by the end of 2017. Wigginton and Haxby
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Manchester terror attack victim Courtney Boyle's funeral dates announced
A FUNERAL of one of the North-East victims of the Manchester terror attack will be held tomorrow (Friday June 9).Courtney Boyle, 19, of Gateshead, was one of 22 people killed by a suicide bomber at the Ariana Grande concert on May 22. She was killed along
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Residents invited to join new mayoress for traditional event
RESIDENTS of the Spennymoor parish can sit down for tea with the town’s new civic dignitaries next weekend.The Mayoress of Spennymoor, Councillor Judith Machin, will host the tradition ‘at home’ event at Spennymoor Town Hall on Saturday, June 17. She
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Catwalk cutting through town centre hailed a stylish success
FASHIONISTAS celebrated success in style with a two-day fashion show centred on a catwalk cutting through a North-East town centre.Stockton High Street hosted a series of shows which featured fashions from a mix of boutique owners and chain store retailers
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Historic colliery band appeals for help in bid for national glory
AN HISTORIC pit brass band in line for national glory is calling for help to fund the trip to compete.Trimdon Concert Brass Band has qualified to represent the North-East in the finals of the countrywide Brass Band Championships to be staged in Cheltenham
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Severe plumbing leak forces school to close
A PRIMARY school has been forced to close this lunchtime after a severe water leak. Staff at Toft Hill Primary School, near Bishop Auckland, are currently contacting parents to make arrangements to collect their children following the plumbing
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Kent vs Durham (Day One, Tea Report)
HONOURS continue to be evenly fought in this first Specsavers County Championship match between Kent and Durham in seven years as Durham, having elected to bat, reached tea in Canterbury on 210 for four after 64 overs. Resuming on their lunch-time
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Villagers set for fun-packed carnival weekend
VILLAGERS are preparing for a fun-packed carnival this weekend.Bowes Carnival will kick-off tomorrow, with a fun family football event for all aged over nine on the school field.Players should arrive at 5.45pm for a 6pm kick-off and all players need to
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Woman is jailed after knifing 'lucky to be alive' partner
A MAN told how he thought he was going to die after being stabbed his partner - who is now serving a two-year prison sentence for wounding. He believed he had been knifed in the heart and battled to flee the attack from Stephanie Davies at her
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Driver freed from vehicle after rolling into ditch in County Durham
EMERGENCY services were called out to help a motorist who became trapped in his vehicle after it rolled into a ditch near Sedgefield. The crash on Racecourse Road, near to Sedgefield Racecourse, happened at 7.40am today (Thursday, June 8). County
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Theatre: Suffragette city heading to York
Viv Hardwick talks to Barbara Marten about finding North Yorkshire’s Suffragette heroines in the most unusual places YORK-BASED actress Barbara Marten thought her idea of celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Suffragette movement winning votes
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Sedgefield's Centre for Process Innovation to support new engine oil research drive
A TECHNOLOGY organisation’s new £28m County Durham research hub will help spearhead a project to improve vehicle engine oil reliability, bosses have revealed. The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) is playing a major role in Microstar, which aims
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Theatre: Seriously silly Shakespeare coming to the region
Viv Hardwick discovers that a Mods and Rockers version of Romeo and Juliet and a Steampunk Macbeth are about to raise a laugh in the North-East and North Yorkshire ROMEO and Juliet – and the accompanying play of Macbeth – don’t usually fall into the
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Fish and chip shop supplier Henry Colbeck aiming for £1m turnover boost
A FISH and chip shop supplier is hoping to reel in a £1m financial boost after launching a green energy venture. Henry Colbeck plans to build a new plant capable of processing used cooking oil. The family-owned and managed company says the
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Theatre: Lesley Garrett heading to Newcastle City Hall
Viv Hardwick learns Britain’s favourite soprano Lesley Garrett is ready for even more magical nights of opera PROUD of her heritage as the Diva of Doncaster, Lesley Garrett finds time after a Manchester fundraiser for the victims of the arena bomb
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Music: The Jacksons are back on the road and seaside bound
Fifty years on, The Jacksons are back on the road. Marlon tells Joe Nerssessian about losing Michael as well as the message of joy and unity they are hoping to convey IT'S 50 years since five young brothers from Indiana introduced Jacksonmania
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Soapwatch: Sisters are doing it for themselves
LIKE oil and water, Lauren's work and Abi do not mix, as becomes apparent when Lauren prepares to assist Max in an important presentation in EastEnders (BBC One). Abi plots to cause trouble for Steven and Lauren by questioning the latter's behaviour
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Music: Born-again Busted head to South Shields
BOYBAND favourites Busted are heading to the North East this summer to headline an outdoor concert. Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis and James Bourne will take to the stage at Bents Park, South Shields on Sunday, July 16, in the second of this year
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How Commander Kerans captured a seat
BY now, you will know whether Hartlepool has elected its first Conservative MP since 1959 – such a long time ago that the seat was then known as The Hartlepools.And such an extraordinary chap was Pools’ last Tory MP that I was invited onto BBC5Live at
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Pensioner, 72, who cut husband's jugular vein in drunken row is spared prison
A PENSIONER who cut her husband’s jugular vein with a knife during an argument and then told police ‘I hope he dies’ has been spared an immediate prison sentence. Eunice White lashed out after her spouse goaded her to stab him during a drunken row
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Mother sentenced for abandoning dog that drank bleach before it starved to death
A PREGNANT mother-of-two left her pet dog to starve in the hope that she would find it dead and could bury it without anybody knowing. Chloe Cutler, of Newton Aycliffe, neglected the young Rottweiler for months before it was found dead in the house
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First footers
Many will know that Crook Town twice travelled to Barcelona, 1913 and 1921, the games said to have been part of a drive to usurp bull fighting as Spain’s national sport. Not everyone approved. King Alfonso is said to have been keen to attend all three
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Rushworth returns from back injury
DURHAM have recalled Chris Rushworth to their squad earlier than expected for the Specsavers County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury today.After missing the Northants game with back trouble, he began bowling again indoors on Monday and has
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Hour-by-hour guide to election night
Up all night on Thursday to see the results in? Here is political commentator Chris Lloyd's guide to the election night order of play. 9.55pm All the TV channels will be up and running, as will the blog on The Northern Echo’s website. On the BBC
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Sunderland hold Garry Monk talks - and are confident of poaching in-demand boss ahead of Middlesbrough and Hull
SUNDERLAND officials have spoken to Garry Monk about the managerial vacancy at the Stadium of Light – and are confident of persuading the former Leeds United boss to choose the Black Cats over Middlesbrough and Hull City. Martin Bain has stepped
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Napoli set to launch €10m bid for Newcastle United star
NAPOLI have joined the race for Aleksandar Mitrovic – and are hoping to seal a €10m deal for the in-demand Newcastle United striker. However, while the Magpies are willing to listen to offers for Mitrovic, they will not be selling for anything