Archive
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Paragliding company on trial after North-East man fell to death
THE parents of a man who fell to his death while paragliding in South America are hoping for justice as the people whose negligence they believe killed their son finally face trial.Four people will appear in court in Argentina next week accused of causing
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Seconds out as Merrick goes head-to-head with Balls for Round Two
A FEW days after Rob Merrick's right eye had a nasty encounter with the Shadow Chancellor's meaty forearm - sending Rob to hospital and making national headlines - The Northern Echo's Parliamentary Correspondent met up again with Ed Balls to talk about
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Biggest charity in the North-East to close, but Virgin Money pledges £1m for good causes
THE North-East’s biggest charity is poised to close, but its sole funder has pledged £1m to support good causes across the region.The Northern Rock Foundation said yesterday it had been unable to find a viable way to continue its work, which
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LVG: United could be my hardest job
Louis van Gaal admits reviving Manchester United's fortunes could be the hardest job of his 23-year management career. Van Gaal has won league titles in Spain, Holland and Germany, well as all the major cup competitions in Europe, but he is finding
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UPDATED: Three-year-old boy who died after being found in garden pond is named
A THREE-YEAR-OLD boy who died after being found in a garden pond has been named. Callum Grahame Greenwood was found in a garden pond at Elswick Road in the west end of Newcastle last night. Police in Newcastle received a report at just before
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Charity collapse is devastating blow to region's good causes
MPs said last night that good causes would suffer a devastating blow after it was confirmed the biggest charity in the North-East was to be wound down. Talks between the Northern Rock Foundation and potential backers have been unable to find the
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Council approves parking changes in Darlington
CHANGES to parking arrangements in a North-East town have been approved – but may be "too little, too late" to help traders, according to a senior councillor. A raft of improvements to parking in Darlington – including a temporary park and ride
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Team Europe have the edge at Gleneagles, but do they?
WHO is going to win the Ryder Cup? It’s an obvious enough question to raise but one which is impossible to predict. For the next three days, 24 of the world’s top golfers will be going through every emotion, all in pursuit of leading Europe
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Senior councillors get into the festival swing
SENIOR councillors dancing around the town hall and schoolchildren working with an acclaimed artist have continued the Festival of Thrift countdown this week. Writer Christopher Green has been holding community workshops with his comedy creation
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Proud headteacher settles into new home after his defiant stand
A FORMER headteacher who staged a seven-day sit in at his doomed council-run care home has thanked supporters for their kindness and says he is now hoping to get back to normal. Don Robson has settled in at his new home after he was forced to leave
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Pledge to clamp down on late night parking
A CRACKDOWN on drivers who flout traffic and parking rules in the centre of Durham on weekend nights will be repeated.There is growing concern about problems in Market Place and Claypath, where revellers head on Friday and Saturday nights for the bars
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Court hears how undercover police cracked three drugs rings
POLICE infiltrated three drugs rings as they cracked down on the pedlars of heroin and amphetamine in a number of nearby towns.Undercover officers posed as addicts to get close to the dealers in Bishop Auckland, Shildon and Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.Fifteen
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Real people of the Tees Valley who lived through the First World War remembered in spectacular show
THE final touches are being put together for a major stage production which will tell the stories of real people alive in the First World War.Titled Homecoming, the outdoor theatre performance will be held at Preston Park, Eaglescliffe, near Stockton
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Sheep thrills as tiny breed comes to Stockton charity farm
They may look like they belong in a Disney cartoon but five new arrivals at a farm for autistic children are in fact fully grown sheep.The new arrivals to the Daisy Chain's Calf Fallow Farm in Norton, Stockton, are called Ouessant and originate from
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Council slams 999 plans
A DALES town council has sent a strongly-worded letter to GP commissioners expressing opposition to plans to reduce the number of paramedics in local ambulances.The letter, sent to NHS Durham Dales, Easington and Sedgefield Clinical Commissioning Group
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Car window smashed and petrol thrown in
DETECTIVES are appealing for information after petrol was thrown into a parked car in an arson attack.The Kia car was set on fire in Ripon, North Yorkshire between 10pm and 10.30pm on Wednesday, September 24 after the suspects smashed the rear window
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Kylie gig date correction
IN Thursday's The Northern Echo it was incorrectly stated in our What's On supplement that Kylie Minogue was to play the Newcastle MetroRadio Arena on October 11. The date of the gig is actually November 11. We apologise for any inconvenience
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Police appeal following aggravated burglary in Sunderland
POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an aggravated burglary last night (Wednesday, September 24).A police spokesman said the burglar entered a house in Mortimer Street, Sunderland, through an empty door, at 11.55pm.He threatened a man and woman
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A1 upgrade will lead to overnight road closure
LENGTHY stretches of the A1 in North Yorkshire will be closed overnight on Saturday as part of £380m scheme to upgrade part of the road to a three-lane motorway.The Highways Agency said the road would be closed northbound for 19 miles between junction
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Cutting edge jewellery gallery at Mima features necklace made of concrete and broken glass.
A HEADPIECE that would suit a Doctor Who villainess and a cutting edge necklace made out of concrete and broken glass will go on show at the official opening of Mima’s first permanent jewellery gallery. A storeroom has been transformed to show
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Green-fingered students brighten up church grounds
YOUNGSTERS have been using their green-fingered skills to brighten up two churches in Bishop Auckland.About 12 pupils from St John’s RC School and Sixth Form College, on Woodhouse Lane, have filled tubs and baskets with season flowers.They spent
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Show organisers face trial over boy's death
THE organisers of an agricultural show where a North-East boy was killed face trial over alleged health and safety breaches. Ben Craggs died after he was hit by a concrete bollard which overturned in a car park at the Royal Highland Show, in Edinburgh
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Show time in Teesdale
A COUNTRY show, regarded as one of the region's top sheep shows, will be held this weekend.Langdon Beck Show at The Langdon Beck Hotel, in Forest-in-Teesdale, Upper Teesdale, will be held on Saturday, September 27, with judging from 11am.A highlight
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Date announced for Newcastle's League Cup tie
NEWCASTLE UNITED'S Capital One Cup fourth-round tie at Manchester City will take place on Wednesday, October 29.The match at the Etihad Stadium has been selected for live coverage on Sky Sports, and will kick off at 7.45pm.
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Man at wheel of stolen car claimed he bought it from owner earlier that day
A MAN caught at the wheel of a car taken after a burglary told police he had bought it off the owner earlier that day.Darren Waugh stuck to his account until earlier this week - when he admitted a charge of handling stolen goods - on the day he was to
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Golden bolt installed in Consett Academy frame
A CEREMONIAL golden bolt has been fitted into place to celebrate a landmark in the development of a £43m school and sports complex.Work is well underway on Consett Academy at the Belle Vue site, which also includes a new leisure centre and swimming
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Ambulance bosses defend response times after GPs turn to private ambulance firm
AMBULANCE service bosses have defended their emergency response times after GPs were given the go-ahead to call on a private ambulance firm to transport sick patients to hospital.Yorkshire Ambulance Service chief executive David Whiting said the service
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Museum seeks to change public perception of trainspotters
A SERIES of events to present the hobby of trainspotting in a contemporary way has been launched at the National Railway Museum.Organisers said the display, featuring scores of tales from the tracks, represented a new direction for the York-based museum
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Have your say on development plans at meeting
OPPONENTS of plans to build 90 homes on the outskirts of Darlington are being encouraged to attend a meeting where the development framework underpinning the proposals will be discussed.Hundreds of people objected to Darlington Borough Council's plans
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Fans' favourite Superkev agrees to help former club's charity
A NORTH-East footballing legend is taking on a new role at the club where he made his mark. Kevin Phillips, Sunderland’s leading post-war goalscorer, has agreed to become an ambassador for the club’s charity, the Foundation of Light. The Hertfordshire-born
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Mayor visits his village school
CHILDREN were treated to all the pomp and ceremony that comes with hosting a civic guest when the Mayor of Durham dropped in on lessons.Durham County Council chairman John Robinson, The Right Worshipful Mayor of Durham, and his consort, wife Maxine, visited
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Red ale to add to brewery's Halloween celebrations
A BREWERY is celebrating Cask Ale Week with activities for visitors and the unveiling of a spooky seasonal ale. The Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire is celebrating Cask Ale Week from today (September 25) until October 5.Visitors to the brewery
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Investigation after early morning assault
A COUPLE were assaulted in Bishop Auckland town centre as they headed to a nearby takeaway.Police said the man and woman were crossing the road near St Anne’s Church, in the Market Place, when a small, dark red vehicle, similar to a Ford Ka or Vauxhall
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Dog attack man has arm amputated
A DOG breeder whose two American bulldogs savaged him while he took them for a walk has had an arm amputated. People came out of their houses in High Pittington, County Durham, to try to stop Stephen Potts's dogs mauling him, and they beat the
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North-East 'best for most childhood jabs'
NEW figures show that the North-East has the highest levels of immunisation for most routine childhood vaccinations.The figures, from the Health and Social Care Information Centre, shows the proportion of eligible children having received the first dose
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Drugs found in wardrobe
HIDING a haul of drugs inside a wardrobe has landed a Bishop Auckland man in court.When police searched the Melrose Drive home of 35-year-old Daniel Place on May 5 they found nine bottles of methadone, diazepam tablets, tramadol capsules and a small bottle
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River clean-up in memory of well-loved resident
VOLUNTEERS are urged to get involved in a river clean-up - which this year is being held in memory of Nat Smith.Many are taking part in the spruce-up of the River Leven in Stokesley to show their gratitude for his tireless efforts to improve the waterway.Mr
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Rate hikes 'gradual and limited'
INTEREST rate hikes will be gradual and limited, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has said. Mr Carney said the rise will be steady due to headwinds facing the economy taking time to die down. He admitted the point at which interest rates
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Origami and calligraphy on offer for languages day
ORIGAMI and a traditional Japanese tea ceremony brought a touch of the east to the region today. Members of the public also tried their hand at Chinese and Arabic calligraphy during a series of events in Durham to mark European Day of Languages
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Student had 'no recollection' of stealing from car
A STUDENT who claimed he could not remember stealing from a car has been sentenced in court.Robert Salmon’s fingerprints were found inside a Renault and a Skoda parked in Bishop Auckland on June 28, Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard
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Great Western Railway locomotives on display at North Yorkshire Moors Railway gala
A LOCOMOTIVE that hauled trains carrying children on the first day of the Second World War evacuations of London will be among the star attractions of an autumn steam gala.The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) three-day gala, starting today (September
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Runners needed to follow in footsteps of comic book hero
PEOPLE are being sought to follow in the footsteps of a famous comic-strip running hero and take part in a muddy 10km race.Outdoor Adventure estate, Camp Hill, near Bedale, is to host the first ever Alf Tupper 10km cross-country on October 19.Alf Tupper
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Disabled bird watchers to benefit from all-terrain scooter
DISABLED bird watchers will be able to take advantage of an all-terrain motorised scooter thanks to the efforts of a determined fundraising couple.RSPB Saltholme has taken delivery of the specialist mobility scooter after Robin and Susan Laycock successfully
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Bogus policemen steal old man's money
TWO men posing as police officers stole money after conning their way into a pensioner’s home. The pair, who were not wearing uniform, called at the 84-year-old’s home in Springwell Road, Sunderland, and said they were policemen.Police believe
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Relief for family as probe into daughter's cycle death ends
A COUPLE have spoken of their relief after an investigation into their daughter’s death on a cycle path more than six years ago finally finished.But David and Alison Milnes, from York, said they still found it shocking that their 17-year-old daughter
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Tea Report: Yorkshire rally against Somerset
YORKSHIRE have started their second innings against Somerset in fine fashion during the third afternoon at Headingley by reaching 102-1 at tea. Joe Root’s side conceded a first-innings lead of 184, although they have significantly eaten into that
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Durham's season ends with a heavy defeat
AFTER the euphoria of Lord’s came the anti-climax of Edgbaston as Durham ended their season with their third mauling in two seasons by the Warwickshire Bears. On the ground where they lost by 318 runs in the second match last season they suffered
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Thousands of pounds worth of antiques stolen
ANTIQUES worth £5,000 have been stolen from a shop.York Police are appealing for information after the antiques were stolen from a store on Stonegate in the city.Thieves broke into the glass display cabinet at some point between Thursday, September
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Bikers make annual pilgrimage to dog rehoming centre to donate food supplies
A DOG rehoming charity has thanked a group of bikers who donated a large supply of food to its North East centre.More than 30 bikers from the Hartlepool Misfits MCC and the Estonians and Teesriders MCC drove from Hartlepool to Dogs Trust Darlington&rsquo
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North-East firms' £4.5m offshore boost
NORTH-EAST manufacturing firms can tap into a £4.5m offshore energy fund to create jobs and take on innovative projects. The Grow:OffshoreWind service wants companies to help strengthen the UK’s supply chain. The cash is made up of a £2.5m
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Former boarding school housemaster denies child sex attacks
A FORMER housemaster at leading boarding schools has denied sexually attacking seven boys.Southwark Crown Court heard David Lowe, 60, allegedly attacked the children, who were aged between ten and 14, between 1978 and 1984, at Ampleforth College, near
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Man was armed with tools to steal
A MAN found armed with tools for stealing has been sentenced in court after being caught thieving from a Bishop Auckland Tesco.Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard that 32-year-old Colin Tallentire stole £134.93 worth of goods from the
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Egg farmer runs 100 miles in less than 24 hours
AN egg farmer has raised £25,000 for an air ambulance service after running more than 100 miles in less than 24 hours. Adrian Potter, a director at James Potter Yorkshire Free Range Eggs, at Catton, near Thirsk, ran the equivalent of nearly four
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Archbishop to speak at memorial service
THE Archbishop of York is to read in his native tongue of Luganda at a special memorial service for his namesake at Durham Cathedral. The service marks the centenary of the death of Bishop Alfred Tucker, former Bishop of Uganda and Canon of Durham
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Police Commissioner attacks "offensive" assault sentence
A POLICE Commissioner has spoken of her outrage after a brute who held a knife to his wife’s throat and shot her with a pellet gun during a sustained attack walked free with a suspended sentence.Vera Baird said it was “unbelievable”
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Be part of West Cornforth school's final days
AN open day will give people a chance to visit a village school for the final time before its last pupils move into a new building and the old one is demolished.West Cornforth Primary School will hold an event celebrating its life and character tomorrow
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Raising funds in brother's memory
A TRANSPORT professional is on target to help raise £10,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support after reaching new peaks during a 24-hour mountaineering relay.Carl Coombes who works for Logistics Teesside, in Darlington, recently completed a mammoth team
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Thatched pub regains Michelin star after 'wilderness years'
A COUNTY has cemented its reputation for fine dining after three restaurants were awarded Michelin star accolades.The Star Inn, in Harome, near Helmsley, run by celebrity chef Andrew Pern, has regained the coveted award it held from 2002 to 2011, after
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Man took his anger out on a car tyre
A DISGRUNTLED man channelled his frustration at being asked to leave his own home by slashing the tyres of a nearby car.Cameron McKenna was upset at being turfed out of his home when a visitor wanted to speak to someone else inside the property in private.Newton
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Drive to keep students Durham University students safe during freshers' week
POLICE are mounting a concerted drive to ensure the safety of students as thousands prepare to converge on Durham City for freshers’ week. The campaign follows the recent deaths of two Durham University students, who fell into the River Wear and
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Pair log on for new business venture
A FIREWOOD business owner has hit upon an artistic way of diversifying – creating intricate sculptures out of logs.Ben Rennison, who runs Fieldhouse Logs, in Cleasby, near Darlington, has teamed up with Lukas Beben to create a series of bespoke
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Three-quarters of sunbeds found to be unsafe in North Yorkshire
AN investigation into the standard of tanning salons revealed that three-quarters of sunbeds tested exceeded safe levels of UV radiation. North Yorkshire County Council’s trading standards officers are so concerned at a sample test of businesses
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Special school worker ordered to pay compensation after theft
A WOMAN who stole cash from a North-East special school was discovered when parents who had been sent arrears letters inundated staff with queries.Heather Waterson, who worked at Durham Trinity School, appeared before Consett Magistrates’ Court
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Witness appeal after Darlington break-in
POLICE are investigating a house burglary in which power tools, jewellery and a safe were stolen.The break-in, in Westerhope Court, Faverdale, happened between 3pm on September 16 and 4am the following morning.PC Stew Walker, of the Darlington serious
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Hunts search for new racecourse
TWO Yorkshire hunts are seeking a new venue to stage their point-to-point races following the closure of Whitcliffe Grange racecourse near Ripon. The West of Yore and Badsworth & Bramham Moor hunts have been told the racecourse is no longer available
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Keen baker rises to bread recipe challenge
A KEEN amateur baker who used her loaf in inventing a delicious American-style bread has had her winning recipe created and sold by her local bakery.Olivia’s Bakery and Cafe held its own bake-off contest recently, where it asked customers to submit
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Record shop owner inspired by Gaby's battle
THE owner of a record shop whose sister died of cancer in May will hold a pop quiz to raise funds for an 11-year-old girl who is battling a rare form of the disease.Gary Lewis, who runs Betterdaze Record and Juke Box Shop, in Northallerton, said he had
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Cancer battle man set to take on marathon challenge
A MAN who was diagnosed with cancer last year is set to take on a marathon challenge.Dave Smith, of Aislaby, near Whitby, said he felt stronger than ever ahead of the Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon, which takes place around York on Sunday, October 12.The
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will.i.am's design is a hit with Lexus
HE'S more used to turning the wheels of steel than the wheels of a car, but superstar DJ and musician will.i.am has been chosen to design a special version of Lexus' new compact crossover, the NX.Unveiled at an exclusive launch party in Paris,
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Hastings to return as Durham's overseas player
JOHN Hastings is to return as Durham's overseas player next season with skipper Paul Collingwood saying: “He's been a rock for us in terms of the effort and skill levels he's brought to the team.” It is hoped he will be able to return after completing
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Warning of probable three-year sentence for third-strike burglar
A THIRD-STRIKE burglar was warned to expect the mandatory minimum of a three-year prison sentence.It followed Brian Gilchrist’s ‘guilty’ pleas to charges of burglary and theft during a short hearing via video link to Holme House Prison
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Stockton man does his bit to remember Battle of Arnhem, 70 years on
A RETIRED mechanical fitter and grandfather spent a week living as a Second World War soldier to help commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Arnhem - one of the largest ever airbourne assaults.Doug Traill, 65, of Stockton, is passionate about
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No escape from swirling torrents, inquest into North-East kayakers' deaths hears
TWO brothers and their cousin drowned after their kayaks were swept over a weir and they could not escape from the swirling water on the other side, a coroner has heard.Darren Thorpe, 41, his brother Mark, 39, and Gavin Bradley, 36, were enjoying a day
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Council defends accounts despite publishing errors
A COUNCIL has defended the robustness of its accounting procedures after being accused of having the mathematical skills of a failed GCSE student.Hambleton District Council's chief financial officer Dr Justin Ives said although the Statement of Accounts
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Call for action over racist social media
TORRENTS of abuse aimed at athletes on social media expose the myth that sport is successfully tackling racism, North-East academics argues.FIFA has claimed that racism in football is in decline, while Prime Minister David Cameron recently stated the
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Leading 'green' champion shows support for recycling initiative
A LEADING designer and 'green' champion has given his seal of approval for an innovative community project.Wayne Hemingway officially opened ReFurnish when he visited Saltburn to see the work the project is carrying out in the town.Run by social
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Police release CCTV of man in connection with a motorbike theft
Police have released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the theft of a motorbike.The 90cc Honda motorbike was taken from an address on Earlsdon Avenue in Middlesbrough at around 1.50pm on Wednesday, September 3. The registration
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Residents fight for Hemlington Medical Centre to be spared closure
CONCERNED residents packed out a public meeting in an attempt to save their doctors surgery from possible closure.Residents are calling on the NHS to protect Hemlington Medical Centre - which has almost 2,000 registered patients - maintaining it plays
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Warwickshire v Durham (day three, lunch)
MARK Stoneman completed his 1,000 championship runs, only to depart ten minutes before lunch as Durham slid towards a three-day defeat. After trailing by 228 in the first innings they went into the interval on 104 for three, despite surviving the
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Durham Wildcats are ready to roar with Yorkshire double-header
DURHAM WILDCATS get their 2014-15 season under way on Friday night keen to build on last season where they made their first foray into the post-season play-offs.Lee Davie’s side hit their season objective of reaching the BBL Play-Offs for the first
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North-East's biggest charity Northern Rock Foundation to close despite Virgin Money's £1m pledge
THE North-East’s biggest charity is expected to close after it failed to raise cash from local businesses, but its sole funder has pledged £1m to regional good causes. Talks between the Northern Rock Foundation and potential backers have been unable
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RBS chairman leaves for Glaxo
RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton is leaving the bank to take up the same role at drugs firm GlaxoSmithKline. Sir Philip will take over from former Vodafone boss Sir Christopher Gent. GlaxoSmithKline, which has a factory in Barnard Castle, County
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Talking Point: The fans might have turned - but Pardew hasn't lost the support of his Newcastle players
NORMALLY, when a side is rooted to the foot of the table with their manager under pressure, it is decreed that the boss in question has ‘lost the dressing room’. On the evidence of the last two matches, however, it’s impossible to claim that Newcastle
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Move provides right blend for tea maker
A PORT operator has opened a new warehouse for the firm behind Yorkshire Tea.PD Ports says it has moved work for Taylors of Harrogate from warehouses at Teesport to a 105,000sq ft site in Billingham, near Stockton.Bosses say the £2.5m investment
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Revealing Wilde days in court
MERLIN HOLLAND had already assembled the story of the trial of his grandfather Oscar Wilde when theatre entrepreneur John O’Connor emailed him about turning his publication into a play. “I rang John and found him well-informed and obviously serious
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Burglar who brazenly took television is jailed
A BURGLAR who stole a 50 inch television from a shared house and then blamed it on another man has been jailed. Darren McGee was sentenced by The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, via a video link to Holme House prison where
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Fate of dog that attacked its owner in High Pittington remains in balance
THE FATE of a dog that joined in a savage attack on its owner remains in the balance. Police said a decision had yet to be made on what to do with one of two American bulldogs that turned on Stephen Potts, trying to rip off his arm. The 47-
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Crathorne Arms, Crathorne, near Yarm, North Yorkshire
THE McCoy family are as close to culinary royalty as the Tees Valley can boast. Their Cleveland Tontine, beside the A19, became famed for food fit for a king but, just like the real royal family, they’ve had their downs as well as ups. For nearly a
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Country by Viv Hardwick
Tim McGraw: Sundown Heaven Town (Decca/Big Machine records) IT’S been 20 years since Tim McGraw scored his first number one with a song called Don’t Take The Girl, and after achievements that are too many to mention, it has to be noted that his
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Classical by Gavin Engelbrecht
WHAT’S ON: Royal Northern Sinfonia at Sage Gateshead at 7.30pm on Thursday. The concert features director Bradley Creswick, cellist Louisa Tuck and oboest Steven Hudson performing works by Elgar, Haydn and Vaughan Williams. Box Office: 0191443-
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Folk by Jez Lowe
THERE’S a terrific mixture of acoustic music across the region in the week ahead, starting tonight way up in Northumberland, where Rothbury Roots at The Queens Head has the popular duo Hicks and Goulburn, who also appear at The Clef and cask in Cramlington
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Mother's plea for daughter's stolen puppy
A MOTHER has made a heartfelt plea after her young daughter’s puppy was stolen from their back garden. Gemma Brown, of Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, woke on Sunday morning (September 21) to find her five-month-old Pomeranian puppy was missing
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Jazz by Peter Bevan
WHAT’S ON: Saturday, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Yarm School, Stockton, 01642-786023; Sunday (6pm), JazzTones, Forum Music Centre, Darlington, 01325-363135. CD REVIEWS: Sean Jones Quartet/ im.pro.vise (never before heard)/ Mack Avenue MAC1085
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In the market for fun
JABBERWOCKY Market returns to venues in and around Darlington from next Thursday until Sunday, October 5 for four days of live events performed by local and national artists, as well as workshops, talks and fun activities for audiences of all ages.
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Still one of the Goodies
COMEDY master Tim Brooke-Taylor recalls his first visit to Darlington Civic Theatre was in 1978 and seemed anything but funny at the time because he was playing a serial killer. “I’ll always remember it was the beginning of a tour and we ended
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‘It’s still exciting’
ASKING Kylie Minogue how she is at the moment is bound to produce the answer she’s “busy busy busy” (at least it’s not “lucky, lucky, lucky’”...), because the 46-year-old is about to go on tour to venues such as Newcastle, so her schedule is pretty
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Growing old... dramatically
FRAN Edwards and Margaret Walker are used to singing in public as members of choirs at Stockton Arc. But their latest project is a dramatic step into the unknown. They’re part of the community chorus in a new play Home Sweet Home, which challenges
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Press Conference update: Pools make another loan signing
COLIN Cooper has returned to his former club Middlesbrough to make another loan signing. David Atkinson, a 21-year-old midfielder, who can also play in defence, has moved to Victoria Park on a temporary basis. Atkinson has yet to make his
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Scheme helps North-East start-ups
MORE than 4,000 new businesses have been set up across the North-East, a Government scheme has said.The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) says it has helped 4,080 companies, including 810 in County Durham.The scheme helps jobseekers, lone parents and people
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Always Faithfull
MARIANNE FAITHFULL is a survivor. The excesses of the 1960s, heroin addiction, homelessness, cancer and the broken back she sustained last year haven’t been able to stop her. More recently, she fractured her hip during a holiday in Greece, and while
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There’s a bullet for the bride
NEVER mind about Annie getting her gun, someone in Albert Square is armed and dangerous on the wedding day of Fill the Fug and Sharon in EastEnders (BBC1). Let’s hope the headline Wedding Day Massacre is an exaggeration, although bride and gloom are
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Five minutes with Ella Eyre
What’s the new single called? COMEBACK. I wrote it when I was 16, so it’s a few years old. I’ve always loved the track, but I never knew how people were going to respond to it. It’s got a very strong meaning, people can really relate to it.
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Newcastle United owner takes £43m bet on Tesco
MIKE Ashley’s Sports Direct International has made a £43m bet that shares in troubled supermarket Tesco will rally after their recent slump. The billionaire, who owns Newcastle United, has agreed with Goldman Sachs to sell the bank 23 million shares
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McIlroy is keen to play down his role
MUCH has been made this week of Rory McIlroy being a target for the opposition in the Ryder Cup, one of Europe’s “big dogs” that US captain Tom Watson wants to bring down. But anyone fortunate enough to be at Medinah in 2012 and Gleneagles this
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Veteran makes dig
RYDER CUP veteran Phil Mickelson could not resist a tongue-in-cheek dig at the only element of Europe’s preparations which had the slightest whiff of disharmony. Much of the talk leading up to the players arriving at Gleneagles was about the relationship
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Lancashire keep survival hopes alive
A GUTSY batting display saw Lancashire keep their survival hopes alive on day two of their LV= Championship Division One relegation decider against Middlesex. Lancashire, who must win and score at least 19 points more than their opponents to avoid
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Long day for Durham as Bears pair hit tons
ON a day when neither took a wicket during Durham’s trouncing at Edgbaston, Mark Wood was named in the England Performance Programme for this winter while Scott Borthwick was not. While his batting continues to progress, Borthwick’s legspin bowling
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City hit seven
Final score: MAN. CITY 7 SHEFF WED. 0 MANCHESTER CITY scored seven times in the second half as they began their defence of the Capital One Cup by thrashing Sheffield Wednesday 7-0. Boss Manuel Pellegrini named a strong team but City were frustrated
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Source for the goose
STRINGS attached as always, a reader follows last week’s note on unlikely events at Tow Law with a link to the “Football wherever it may be” blog. There’s a report on Tow Law v Thornaby and also a picture of the Edward VIII post box in Catterick.
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Stoking the fire
Marvellous (BBC2, 9pm) THE fact that 27,000 Stoke City fans took up the invitation to file into the stands to sing “There’s only one Neil Baldwin” for the finale of this 90-minute (well it would be) tribute to the club’s greatest self-appointed
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Regeneration, York Theatre Royal
NOT having read Pat Barker’s trilogy of First World War-set books in which poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owens go to war, I’m in no position to make comparisons between stage and page versions. But Nicholas Wright’s adaptation is admirable in
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The Lion King, Sunderland Empire
WHEN the full-size elephant in the room earns a round of applause for carefully negotiating its way from stalls to stage you've got a show you'll never forget. Multi-cultural, multi-coloured and multifarious in nature, quite literally, the touring
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Apple bungles iPhone software update
APPLE'S newest iPhones have been hit by glitches after users complained that a new software update blocked their calls - and a widely-circulated video showed the larger of the two new models was vulnerable to bending. Apple said it would stop providing
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Slowdown in car production
CAR manufacturing slowed considerably last month but is still ahead for the year so far compared with 2013. A total of 71,065 cars were made in the UK in August 2014 - a 22.1 per cent fall on the total for August last year, the Society of Motor
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Cider lines
EVERYONE knows about the improbable, impregnable Arsenal, a contagion passed genetically from father to son and to my own boys yet more virulently. What, though, of Somerset, the county of sunshine, cider and the Bishop of Bath and Wells? Fewer
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Branson tells staff - take as much holiday as you like
VIRGIN tycoon Sir Richard Branson is to allow his staff to take as much annual leave as they want in a bid to boost morale, creativity and productivity. He revealed on his blog that Virgin Group employees in the UK and US will have no limits on
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Mr Twizell’s chickens come home to roost
WHAT a picture the photograph of Philip Twizell (Echo, Sept 18) with his flock of hens made. Mr Twizell has planted thousands of trees on his farm in West Newbiggin to keep his flock stress-free. His consideration for their welfare is most
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Referendum result
I WOKE last Friday and was pleased to find that the majority of people allowed to vote in the Scottish Referendum had seen through the blatant anti-UK and, in particular, the anti-English rhetoric that SNP leader Alex Salmond had been delivering.
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A life on the thin blue line
MARK Botham’s never been afraid to ruffle a few feathers and from a journalist’s point of view was always good for a quote. However comparing current Home Secretary Theresa May to Adolf Hitler, surely that’s a step too far? “You won’t dare print
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Cloughie tribute
I AM currently working on an article for Backpass magazine about Brian Clough to mark what would have been his 80th birthday next year. I would love to hear from Northern Echo readers, particularly former players, who may have memories they wish
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Time waster?
IN reply to Jimmy Taylor’s letter (HAS, Sept 22), the answer is no Jimmy you didn’t waste your time defending miners’ rights. It doesn’t matter if you helped one or 1,000, the ones you helped will never forget and poorer are those that either didn
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Spend, spend
BOTH Manchester United and Manchester City have spent fabulous amounts of money buying players while Southampton have sold players for millions and seem to have improved the quality of the team. With a low budget to work on, with talent not money
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Good works
NOTHING CT Riley said in his recent letter (HAS, Sept 10) invalidates the specific point I was making that C MacArt attributes an “atrocity monopoly” to religion with no mention of the good it does and no reference of the appalling record of human
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NHS cuts
SO there is to be another round of cuts in the health service. Will they be like all the others? The ones at the bottom will get a pittance of a payout and might not work again, but the managers who earn more than £100,000 a year will get a very
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Such a loser!
I’VE always enjoyed a day at the races. When I was a kid, a trip to Redcar, Catterick, Thirsk, and even York was a special treat with my Dad. They even made me a racing tipster on my first paper because I had such a passion for the sport
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Labour has missed an open goal
THERE was blood and thunder at this week’s Labour party conference – but, sadly, it was seen on the football pitch, not in the conference centre. I briefly found myself making the news, not writing it, when a tender spot on my face foolishly ran
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Britain can’t stand aside
IT is right that Parliament is being recalled because the gravity of the situation in the Middle East demands Britain’s full attention. If this country is to be actively involved in military action against Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, with the inevitable
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McGinley offers pairing hints
European captain Paul McGinley offered further hints about his possible pairings on the second day of official practice ahead of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.After sending his 12-man team out in four groups of three on Tuesday, McGinley reverted to
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England keep faith with Cook
England have kept faith with Alastair Cook as their one-day international captain, and are vowing to continue backing him all the way to next year's World Cup. National selector James Whitaker delivered a defiant response to the high-profile doubters
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McIlrot plays down starring role
Much has been made this week of Rory McIlroy being a target for the opposition in the Ryder Cup, one of Europe's "big dogs" that US captain Tom Watson wants to bring down.But anyone fortunate enough to be at Medinah in 2012 and Gleneagles
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Mickelson makes dig at McIlroy case
Ryder Cup veteran Phil Mickelson could not resist a tongue-in-cheek dig at the only element of Europe's preparations which had the slightest whiff of disharmony.Much of the talk leading up to the players arriving at Gleneagles was about the relationship
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Tykes in danger of ending season on a losing note
Yorkshire are in danger of ending a special season with only a second defeat against Somerset at Headingley. The LV= County Championship winners are under the cosh against a team placed mid-table in Division One having seen them reply to 253 all
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Marathon penalty shoot-out and Anfield display is proof Boro can compete for promotion
DID you hear the one about the football team which scored 15 goals and still lost a League Cup tie? There’s a pretty good chance that by now you have, but in years to come that could well appear on a pub quiz somewhere across the country.The answer
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'Smugglers' board Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry
THE producer of a range of beers that celebrate smuggling history has been awarded a contract to supply ferry operator DFDS Seaways. Baytown based in Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Yorkshire coast will have its beer stocked in the bars, restaurants
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Pardew hopes Riviere's Selhurst Park double sparks a goal glut
ALAN PARDEW is hoping Emmanuel Riviere’s double success in Newcastle United’s dramatic extra-time win over Crystal Palace will spark a pronounced improvement in his side’s attacking fortunes. Riviere scored the first two goals of his Newcastle
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Golf: Lupton keen for promising golfers to plan for future
TALENTED youngsters trying to make it on to the leading men’s and women’s golf tours need a Plan B, warns Jonathan Lupton, head PGA teaching professional at the Close House Golf Academy in Newcastle. He’s also the performance golf coach for Northumbria
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Lee Westwood draws on incredible memories and hopes for another Ryder Cup party
‘HAPPIEST days of your lives’ is the message that will greet every member of the European team when they leave the locker room at Gleneagles and Lee Westwood, for one, would find it hard to disagree. For a golfer who has previously been regarded
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Wife beater's sentence can not be challenged, CPS confirms
THE sentence given to a vicious wife-beater who controversially walked free from court cannot be reviewed by prosecutors, it was revealed last night (Wednesday, September 24). Charges faced by Anthony Bruce do not fall within a schedule of offences
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Calamity for Hartlepool Deputy Mayoress who missed Royal visit after becoming stuck in lift
HER hair had been styled specially and her best official outfit donned... but there was disaster for the Hartlepool's Deputy Mayoress when Princess Anne came to town. Deputy Mayoress Mary Fleet and other dignitaries were about to meet the Princess
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Plans for hotel next to the Darlington Arena agreed by planners
THE developer behind a proposed 68-bedroom hotel on the outskirts of a North-East town say their research has proved there is a need for extra capacity in the area, despite fears of lost business from existing hoteliers. The plans for a hotel on a patch
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£9m extension will drive family-run auction house that grew from old tin garage into 21st century
A fourth generation of Tennants has joined the Yorkshire Dales-based auction house to take the business forward into the 21st century. Ruth Campbell finds out more about ambitious expansion plans being executed by Rodney Tennant and his three