Archive
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Linda is proof that Job Connect works
LINDA Hamlett was not alone in celebrating her new job this week - the men and women who helped her find it were all smiles too. For the new customer advisor at B&Q is the 1,500th South Bank and Grangetown resident to find a job through a Job Connect
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Children help appeal
CHILDREN in Middlesbrough are helping to raise money to provide clean water for 30,000 people in Uganda and Tanzania. The children, who are members of the Saturday Morning Kids Clubs at the town's Southlands Leisure Centre, are holding a bring-and-buy
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Murder trial told of earlier assault
A PUB landlady told a court she had witnessed a murder suspect violently attacking his lover before her death. Leslie Purvis, 40, is accused of launching a "prolonged, violent assault" on Kelly Risborough at the home the couple shared in Palgrove Road
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Dad At Large: The lover ate a hearty breakfast
MY first Valentine's card arrived at the house when I was only 12. Sent unsigned by Debbie Crosby, from my class at St Peter's in South Bank, I was too shy to do anything other than shove it in the back of the toy cupboard even though my little heart
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Multi-lingual police advice
INFORMATION about how to report crime in the North-East has been translated into 25 languages to help ethnic communities in the region. The Police Welcome Packs will provide key messages and contacts which are designed to help people from various ethnic
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'Untouchable' thug's reign of terror ends
A thug who bragged to police he was "untouchable" has made legal history by being banned from his housing estate, in Britain's first anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) made during criminal proceedings. David Warrener, 20, was arrested 51 times and ran
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The lover ate a hearty breakfast
MY first Valentine's card arrived at the house when I was only 12. Sent unsigned by Debbie Crosby, from my class at St Peter's in South Bank, I was too shy to do anything other than shove it in the back of the toy cupboard even though my little heart
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27/02/03
WAR AGAINST IRAQ: IT'S about time Tony Blair explained to both Parliament and the voters of the United Kingdom exactly where he stands. The UK is a partner in the European Community but the only people he offers any support to are George Bush and all
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£30,000 skate parks project moves ahead
CHILDREN are a step closer to their dream of building the first skate parks for north-west Durham. Derwentside Leisure, working on behalf of Derwentside Youth Forum, has applied for planning permission to build the £30,000 parks in Consett and Stanley
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Cash help sought for centre refit
VOLUNTEERS are looking for funding to give their meeting place a much needed revamp. The Village Centre in West Auckland has become a vital part of community life since it opened in a former terraced house on the green in 2001. It followed months of hard
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Concerns about safety leave boxing club facing closure
A boxing trainer fears he could be about to lose a fight to save his club from closure. Chris Bailes has been head trainer at the Impala Boxing Club in Stockton for almost 30 years. But he claims council red tape is forcing him to hand over the keys of
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Rail firm criticised over failure to remove rubbish
RAILTRACK successor Network Rail was criticised last night for failing to deal with another example of trackside rubbish. The company admitted there had been a breakdown in the investigation of a complaint surrounding rubbish left next to a busy passenger
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Youngsters get to lift the cup full of dreams
ONE of the world's most famous footballing trophies was paraded around three North-East schools yesterday, as part of a whistle-stop tour. The nation's most talented footballers have shed blood and tears in their efforts to lift the FA Cup - but pupils
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Maternity unit 'no nearer to re-opening'
A POPULAR maternity hospital is at least five months away from re-opening despite public outrage at its closure, it was revealed last night. The news came as the findings of a major investigation into the decision to close Guisborough Maternity Unit were
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Horror at allotment chickens 'massacre'
AN allotment holder has been left sickened after his chickens were killed by vandals wielding forks, a pickaxe and spade. The 14 hens were kept on a plot of land just off the A167 in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, by Craig Best, 24, and Fiona Dixon
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Mariners to swoop for cut-price Oster
GRIMSBY Town are preparing to launch a cheeky £75,000 bid for Sunderland's out-of-favour winger John Oster. Oster joined the Black Cats three and a half years ago for £1m from Everton, but has struggled to make a name for himself at the Stadium of Light
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Woman is banned from owning dogs
A WOMAN has been banned from keeping dogs for seven years after she admitted causing unnecessary suffering to her two pets. Shelley Atkinson was also ordered to do 12 months community rehabilitation when she appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court
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Lecture on Internet child abuse
AN EXPERT on the subject of protecting children from paedophiles who "groom" youngsters over the Internet is to give a free public lecture. Alisdair Gillespie is a member of the Government's task force investigating child abuse on the Internet and a senior
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Staff aid Comic Relief
MORE than 180 staff at npower customer service and sales centres in Team Valley, Thornaby and Peterlee are volunteering to give up their Friday night to support Comic Relief, on March 14, to take pledges from 6.30pm until midnight.
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Music academy scheme for '50s ballroom fails
PLANS to transform a former 1950s ballroom into a North-East music academy have collapsed. Darlington businessman David Cox had hoped to revive the building, called the Beehive, on the town's Lingfield estate, and turn it into a live entertainment centre
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District freezes council tax
WEAR Valley householders will not be charged a penny extra for district council services next year. A budget freeze agreed this week keeps the district's element of council tax at the current level, despite a massive spending programme tackling issues
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Jury sees x-rays of knife damage
X-RAYS showing how a Swiss army knife had penetrated a teenager's skull up to the hilt, entering his brain, were shown to a jury yesterday. The x-rays were produced in the trial at Teesside Crown Court of a 14-year-old boy accused of unlawful and malicious
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Swim coach reprieved
A SWIMMER'S bid for Olympic glory is back on track after councillors held back from a decision to sack her coach. As the region's only swimming finalist in last year's Commonwealth Games, 20-year-old Caroline Saxby is an exciting prospect for the 2004
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Man in court on rail charge
A RAILWAY maintenance worker was remanded in custody yesterday charged with conspiracy to steal railway track worth £250,000. The two-and-a-half miles of track were allegedly stolen from the unused Leamside railway line near Penshaw, Houghton-le-Spring
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Dream of an evening for winning fan
ONE lucky reader of The Northern Echo was given the chance to get close to pop idol Darius last night. Michelle Caley's dreams came true when she spent half-an-hour with the star before he performed an exclusive concert for about 350 people. The 26-year-old
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Creating work for showmen
AN extravaganza aimed at creating business opportunities for outdoor event professionals will return to Yorkshire this year. The Showman's Show North offers performers of all varieties a chance to showcase their talents in the hope of winning contracts
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News in brief: Youth on death drive charge
A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving of a 53-year-old woman in North Yorkshire. The victim, who has not yet been named, was hit by a car as she was walking with her husband on a Scarborough housing estate on
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Facing up to an identity crisis
Derek Bond spent three weeks in a South African prison after a fraudster stole his identity. Nick Morrison looks at the increase in identity theft - and how we can protect ourselves. IT was supposed to be a relaxing two week break, wine-tasting in the
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India fatal crash an accident - coroner
A CORONER yesterday recorded an accident verdict on the death of a North Yorkshire man in India nearly four years ago. Christopher Gill, 28, of Hookstone Chase, Harrogate, was one of four British backpackers in the rear of a Land Rover involved in a collision
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Co-op opposes chemists move
A PHARMACY group is urging customers to sign petitions against recommendations by the competitions watchdog to relax legislation on chemists. A report by the Office of Fair Trading for the Department of Trade and Industry has called for regulations to
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Four held after chase ends with car circling field
ARMED police descended on a village last night after a dramatic chase ended in a field. The peace was shattered in Coxhoe, between Durham and Sedgefield, as the armed officers, plus the police dog section, aircraft and helicopter were deployed. Three
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Homes to be repaired
HOUSEHOLDS across Darlington are set to benefit from £2 million of repairs and improvements. More than three hundred homes in the town this year, and the same next year, have been earmarked for the work paid for by Darlington Borough Council. The council
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Campaign launched to safeguard town's trade
THE Wear Valley Advertiser is joining forces with its sister newspaper The Northern Echo to launching a drive to support the businesses that are the lifeblood of our communities. In partnership with traders, our Shopping for a Future campaign will champion
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'We have watched the heart of our community burn down'
A COMMUNITY was in shock last night at the loss of its village school in a devastating blaze. As firefighters quelled the flames that engulfed Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, borough councillor for the village Doris Jones, who is
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John North: Bye bye bedazzling Bindy
Bindy Lambton, for 61 years wife of Lord Lambton, has died aged 82. The classified death notice in The Northern Echo described her as a deep sea diver but still barely broke the surface of her improbability. The sumptuous obituary in the Telegraph - if
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Judge's condemnation of CCTV provokes backlash
A HIGH-profile judge who rang a live radio phone-in to brand closed-circuit television (CCTV) "completely useless" has been condemned for his outburst. Judge Peter Fox QC, the most senior judge at Teesside Crown Court, rang in when he heard an item about
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Police in fresh appeal for bus tragedy witnesses
POLICE are trying to track down the passengers on a bus which dragged an elderly woman through a city centre. Jenny Spedding, 86, from Sherburn Hill, near Durham, was killed as she crossed the road near the exit to the bus station on Durham's North Road
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Two bundles of joy help ease 9/11 pain
A PROUD grandmother is celebrating after her two daughters - one of whom survived the September 11 terrorist attacks - delivered healthy babies. Joan Sutherland's daughters Gillian Cruse, 32, who lives in Long Island, near New York, and Kirsty Bowden,
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Last Night's TV: Would you let a complete amateur plan your wedding?
The Good, The Bad And the Ugly (BBC2) Hidden behind the dreadful title is a programme that the BBC hopes will be as successful as the show on which it's clearly modelled, Channel 4's Faking It. The idea is basically the same as a member of the public
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Murder trial told of earlier assault
A PUB landlady told a court she had witnessed a murder suspect violently attacking his lover before her death. Leslie Purvis, 40, is accused of launching a "prolonged, violent assault" on Kelly Risborough at the home the couple shared in Palgrove Road
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Firm chips in with more oil savings
A WASTE management company is going greener by using more fish-and-chip power to keep its fleet on the road. Northallerton company Yorwaste, North Yorkshire, is using bio-diesel, an alternative fuel made of recycled vegetable oil. The oil, used in food
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Audience given their cue for stage debut
A BISHOP Auckland theatre group has included parents of young actors and members of the audience in its latest production. The Jacuzzi Theatre Group, which is run by the same people as the Bishop Auckland Theatre Hooligans (BATH) and its offshoot Bubblebath
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Beating Pool would be perfect lift - Tait
Caretaker boss Mick Tait believes a win against fierce rivals Hartlepool on Saturday will instill some much-needed self-belief in his side. Tait feels his side are better than their lowly league position suggests and three points against his former club
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Tragic suicide of "star pupil"
A star student at one of Britain's top comprehensive schools has been found hanging in her home. Xiang Yin Teng, 17, who came to Britain from China a year ago, was the daughter of two successful academics. She was an A grade pupil in all her studies and
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That's another fine magic trick you've got me into
ONE of Stan Laurel's descendants is to cast her spell over crowds at a medieval castle as one half of an international magic act. International illusionists David and Angelique Diamond, who specialise in "close up magic" and dramatic illusions, are working
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1950s college looks to future
STANDING in the science laboratories of the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, it is difficult to remember this is the 21st Century. The buildings have barely altered since they were constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s - and
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Blaze destroys primary school
A NORTH-EAST school which has been plagued by vandals was gutted by fire last night. Middleton St George Primary School, near Darlington, was believed to have been damaged beyond repair when a blaze took hold in the roof at around 7.45pm. Detectives were
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Mayor's tribute to historian and town's 'greatest friend'
TRIBUTES were being paid yesterday to one of Northallerton's best-known and best-loved personalities. The town's historian, Michael Riordan, who was known to most people as Mick, died at his home after a long illness. He was 69. The town's mayor, his
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Hospitals cleaner and food better, says report
HOSPITALS are getting cleaner and patients are being offered better food, the Government said yesterday. The Department of Health published the first results from NHS food inspections and the latest ratings from the national hospital clean-up campaign
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A first class weekend - featuring rickshaws and a juggling unicyclist
London last weekend was in fine form; with March still a week away, there was a real feeling of Spring in the air. Enjoy my report with extra relish, as you could win the same VIP weekend for two. I left Durham station late Friday morning for the most
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Shearer hat-trick keeps dream alive
ALAN SHEARER'S first hat-trick since Sir Bobby Robson's homecoming party almost three-and-a-half years ago maintained Newcastle's push for a last-eight Champions League place. United skipper Shearer, back after serving a two-match UEFA ban, hoisted his
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Crash driver critical
A man involved in a car crash on Monday at Killerby, near Darlington, remains critically ill in the town's Memorial Hospital. The 27-year-old, who lives in Darlington, suffered severe head and chest injuries and multiple leg fractures when the BMW he
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Call to photographers
AMATEUR photographers are being asked to take part in a competition. Northumberland Wildlife Trust's amateur wildlife photography competition, sponsored by energy provider npower, is looking for pictures of the region's landscapes, plants and animals.
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Youngsters given environmental award
PUPILS at a Darlington school are the first to be presented with a Caring for the Environment Award for their involvement in an anti-litter campaign. Youngsters at Whinfield Junior School were given the certificate yesterday by Councillor John Williams
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Subsidy averts bus services cutback
TWO threatened bus services in Darlington have been given a reprieve. Stagecoach had announced the closure of two bus services by February 23, which would have left large parts of Darlington with very limited or no Sunday bus services. The Sunday to Thursday
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Biotechnology firm slashes jobs
Biotechnology company Amersham is to slash 100 jobs from its UK research and development operation with a further 308 to go worldwide in a move prompted by a drop in sales. The cuts will be made at its offices in Buckinghamshire, with 270 to go in the
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Grant offers new life for old property
AN empty shop in Bedale has been brought back into use with the help of a £5,943 grant. A designer furniture showroom now occupies what was once a gift shop in the town's Market Place. The grant is the first to be awarded from the Bedale Heritage Economic
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Forest to get more hedges
The Guisborough Forest and Walkway has organised a Volunteer Taster Day on Saturday, from 10am to 3pm. The public will have the chance to try their hands at hedge work, including weeding, gapping up and mulching sections of hawthorn hedge in the wetlands
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Residents revive forum
VILLAGERS in Marske, east Cleveland, are to re-establish their residents' association. Among the committee's first aims will be to keep up the display of hanging baskets and flowers in the village and to seek ideas on how to improve the grassed open space
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Revised ash extraction scheme opposed
A REVISED application to remove ash from a former railway siding in Newton Aycliffe has drawn objections from local councillors. The original plan to extract ash from Simpasture Junction, off Greenfield Way, was rejected because of the impact on the natural
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Village school carrying the mark of quality
A VILLAGE school is enjoying a double celebration after its academic achievements were recognised for the second time. The Quality Mark earned by St Chad's RC Primary School, Witton Park, three years ago has been renewed by the Basic Skills Agency. The
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Grassroots: Derwentside
RUSSIAN BALLET: The Moscow Ballet, La Classique, will perform Don Quixote at 7.30pm on Sunday, March 9, in the Empire Theatre, Consett. MIDWEEK WALK: A nine-mile Pennypie House and Blanchland Moor walk led by Michael Jones will start at 10.30am on Wednesday
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Catering industry forum launched
A forum for the catering industry in Middlesbrough met the town's "food police" when it was launched at Middlesbrough Football Club's Riverside Stadium yesterday. About 100 industry representatives met Middlesbrough Council's food safety team to discuss
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Food shop embraces market ideal
A shop has opened in Durham offering produce from the region's farmers. The Food Shop, in Claypath, was opened by Durham Markets Company to build on the success of its monthly outdoor farmers' markets. The shop offers locally-produced meat, cheese, preserves
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Waste site aims to boost recycling
A household waste recycling centre has opened in Hartlepool. The Burn Road centre, run by Hartlepool Borough Council, will be able to recycle paper, cardboard, soil and rubble, wood, glass, garden waste, newspapers and magazines, scrap metal and textiles
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Village homes plan approved
Plans to build 12 homes in Kirklevington, near Yarm, have been approved. The land, at the rear of Forest Lane, has been designated for housing in the Local Plan. A Stockton Borough Council planning committee was told this week that some residents were
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GP ready to defend running title
DOCTOR Rob Hand is refusing to make any hasty diagnosis of his chances when he defends his half marathon title next week. The GP, who won the 21st Somerfield Redcar Half Marathon last year, will be among the favourites to win this year's event, also backed
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Exercise warning for women in survey
FOUR out of five North-East women are endangering their health by failing to take enough exercise, according to a new survey. A national poll, commissioned by Cancer Research UK and Tesco, found that most women in Britain exercise less than three times
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Youth club pockets grant
A NORTH Yorkshire youth club has pocketed a £500 grant. The Richmond Methodist Church Youth Club has spent the cash from North Eastern and Cumbrian Co-op's community dividend fund on a pool table, tabletennis equipment and other games items. The youth
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Project team seeks views of residents
PEOPLE living on Hartlepool's Headland will be able to give their views on a project to improve the Town Wall area today. A meeting has been organised by the North Hartlepool Partnership, which is funding the work as part of its work to regenerate the
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Museum offers lots of fun
FAMILY fun weekends are being held at Darlington Railway Museum. The programme includes arts, crafts, painting competitions, treasure hunts, puzzles and games. Volunteers Olive Howe and Irene Macleod will be on hand to tell people about tracing their
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Couple tell of 12,000 mile cycle trip
A COUPLE who cycled thousands of miles through some of the world's most beautiful sites are telling their story next month. Tim and Sandy Franklin got on their bikes for a trip of a lifetime, travelling 12,000 miles through Canada, the US, New Zealand
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Warrant Officer to leave Army after 36 years in service
ONE of Catterick Garrison's most well-known characters has finally called time on an Army career that has spanned more than 36 years. Warrant Officer I Graham Prince recently handed over the reins of the Operations in Built Up Area complex at Whinny Hill
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Car parks king Neil can take a bow
A NORTH-East man has been crowned king of the nation's car parks. Newcastle's parking and business services manager Neil Cuthbert has been named Parking Manager of the Year at the British Parking Awards 2003, presented by Parking Review magazine. Mr Cuthbert
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Police traffic campaign cuts speeding
A HIGH profile police campaign has been successful in cutting the speed of drivers through Chilton. Residents say previous attempts at voicing their concerns to police about speeding motorists fell on deaf ears. Then a survey carried out by the Sedgefield
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Couple celebrate 65th anniversary
A DUNKIRK veteran and his Aycliffe Angel have celebrated their sapphire wedding anniversary. It is 65 years since Wilf and Ella Haygarth, of Church Street, Helmington Row, married at St Paul's Church, Hunwick, near Crook. The couple had been going out
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Cash support for new blood test scheme
A NEW blood test for heart failure will boost patient care in Darlington after health officials secured funding worth more than £25,000. The testing service, called B-type Natriuretic Peptide is being introduced by Darlington Primary Care Trust. It will
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Odeon offers kids' matinee
A CINEMA is offering a series of Saturday morning matinees for youngsters. The Movie Mob initiative gets under way at the Odeon Cinema, in North Road, Darlington, this weekend. The season of films starts on Saturday, with a showing of Monsters Inc at
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Inter don't scare us, Robson
SIR BOBBY ROBSON vowed last night that Newcastle United would not be scared of Internazionale after his club had taken another step towards performing a Champions League miracle. Newcastle trail Inter by one point with two Group A fixtures to come - beginning
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News in brief: Marathon man boosts charity
Businessman Simon Wrightson, of Manfield, near Darlington, has given over £26,000 to the brain injury charity, Headway. He raised the money, which is the largest ever single donation to the charity, by taking part in the Great North Run. BRAVE VOLUNTEERS
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News in brief: Appeal for information
Police investigating an attempted burglary in Laverick Terrace, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, on Tuesday, February 18, are looking for a man in his 20s, who was seen acting suspiciously at about 11pm. He is described as white and wore a hooded top with
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Comment: Common call for more time
THE Prime Minister can take little comfort from last night's support in the House of Commons for his stance towards Iraq. Indeed there is much to concern him from the biggest parliamentary revolt he has faced since coming to power in 1997. The scale of
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Security crackdown over derby clash violence fears
POLICE chiefs are stepping up security plans to prevent soccer hooligans marring an historic North-East derby clash at the weekend. Darlington and Hartlepool United meet on Saturday in the final competitive match between the arch rivals at Feethams -
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Comic capers
THE red nose team from Woodhouse Close Leisure Complex in Bishop Auckland is inviting staff from local businesses to get their own back on their bosses and help raise money for Comic Relief on Friday, March 14. Anyone interested in the charity event should
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Football supporter died under wheels of his own car
A FOOTBALL fan who was killed by his car tripped and fell beneath its wheels, a court heard yesterday. Glynn Ellis, 46, of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, was collecting his car from his brother's garage in St Lawrence Quay, Salford Quays after watching
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Holiday isle sea death was accidental
A PENSIONER who drowned on holiday in Menorca was the victim of a tragic accident, a coroner ruled yesterday. Hazel Turner, 77, of Almsford Avenue, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was a competent swimmer, the sea was calm on the day she drowned in July, 2001
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Brigid cultivates her radio career
The Northern Echo's gardening expert Brigid Press, has been given her own radio show. The head gardener at Nature's World, in Middlesbrough, has appeared on a live weekly phone-in session on BBC Radio Cleveland for the past three years. From March 9,
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Campaign on stigma of mental health
A CAMPAIGN tackling the stigma attached to mental health and learning problems is being launched today. Tees and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust is launching the Open Up campaign to highlight the discrimination suffered by those with such problems. It
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Anglers' power lines warning
AS the fishing season gets under way, anglers across the region are being warned not to risk casting their lives away by striking overhead power lines. Many fishing rods, poles and lines will conduct electricity, especially those containing carbon fibre
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Spirit of innovation project seeks to enlighten inventors
ONE of the world's greatest symbols of innovation is being used to promote a competition recognising the talents of North-East inventors. The Spirit of Innovation Awards is using the lightbulb as a principal focus for its website. The event, organised
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Concern over missing woman
POLICE are worried about a 59-year-old woman who has not been seen for several days. Esther Dawson went missing from Harrogate District Hospital, where she was a patient, on Friday afternoon. She has gone missing in the past, and was later found in Darlington
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Town given £2.4m ammunition for war against crack
A TOWN on the front line of the battle against crack cocaine has been given a £2.4m boost by the Government. Middlesbrough is among 37 crack-blighted urban communities across the country to benefit from measures announced by the Home Office yesterday.
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Retired journalist killed himself
A PRESS photographer, awarded the MBE for his services to journalism, took his own life while being treated for depression, an inquest was told yesterday. Bill Robson worked for the Ripon Gazette in North Yorkshire for three decades and had become a well-known
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Former hotel may become a centre for autistic care
A CENTRE of excellence for the care of autistic people could be created on the site of a hotel popular as a wedding venue, it has emerged. Health chiefs have unveiled plans to transform the Newbus Arms Hotel, at Neasham, near Darlington, into a nursing
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Twins' work up for auction
ONE of the largest collections of paintings by North-East artist twins is to go under the hammer next month. The 21 watercolours by Dorothy and Elizabeth Alderson, born at Neasham, near Darlington, in 1900, will be sold at Newcastle auctioneers Anderson
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Police launch hunt for man's attackers
A 28-year-old man suffered facial injuries when he was the victim of an unprovoked attack by two men. The incident happened sometime between 4.45pm and 5pm on Tuesday as the man was walking in Waldon Street, Hartlepool. His attackers were described as
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£1.4m scheme offers diabetes screening
PATIENTS in the North-East are to be among the first in the UK to be offered diabetes screening. The aim of the £1.4m scheme is to speed up diagnosis and treatment for people at risk of getting diabetes and reduce the number who go on to develop complications
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72-year-old chases thief
A 72-YEAR-old woman attempted to chase a man who snatched her bag in the street. The offender dropped the handbag and fled when a local man took up the pursuit, having seen the attack in Stray Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The incident happened at
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Still no case for United's defence
SORRY to rain on Newcastle United's glorious Champions League parade, but the Toon Army weren't the only people to leave St James' Park with grins as wide as the Tyne last night. Somewhere in the towering Milburn Stand, a Chelsea scout was compiling a
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Working week is just child's play
WORK experience turned out to be child's play for two Bishop Auckland students. Kayleigh Race and Suzanne Brass took time out from their studies at King James 1 Community College to spend a week learning about childcare in the Bishop Auckland College
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Steroids may have killed body-builder
AN amateur body-builder pumped himself so full of steroids that his heart was almost twice the normal size, an inquest was told yesterday. But, although 33-year-old Stephen Fraser had taken the honours at competitions around the UK, the hearing in Harrogate
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Moves to secure society's future
NEWCASTLE Building Society has reaffirmed its commitment to its customers by introducing technology which will secure the future of its rural branches. Chief executive Robert Hollinshead said systems had been put in place to allow all aspects of society
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Town given £2.4m ammunition for war against crack
A TOWN on the front line of the battle against crack cocaine has been given a £2.4m boost by the Government. Middlesbrough is among 37 crack-blighted urban communities across the country to benefit from measures announced by the Home Office yesterday.
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Workers stunned by factory shutdown
A JOB-STARVED corner of the North-East has been left reeling by the shock closure of a factory with the loss of more than 100 jobs. Weeks of speculation were ended last night when kitchen worktops company Vertex in Shildon, County Durham, announced that
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MP joins the specials beat
NEW moves to pay special constables for the first time don't count for anything for one of them, a mother-of three who patrols one of the most isolated and beautiful beats in the country. Michelle Robson volunteered five years ago to spend a few hours
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Labour rebels give Blair a bloody nose
Tony Blair last night faced the largest defiance of his authority since he became Prime Minister in 1997. In a Commons debate on Iraq, 121 Labour MPs voted against military action to strip Saddam Hussein of his weapons of mass destruction. Instead, they
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'Green' power plant proposed for former cement works site
STRATEGISTS planning the economic revival of Weardale are hoping that an eco-friendly power plant will prove a winner twice over by providing sustainable energy and bring tourists flocking to a former cement works site. A feasibility study for the 410
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Forest to get more hedges
The Guisborough Forest and Walkway has organised a Volunteer Taster Day on Saturday, from 10am to 3pm. The public will have the chance to try their hands at hedge work, including weeding, gapping up and mulching sections of hawthorn hedge in the wetlands
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Turning families into criminals
WELL, the police have really got their work cut out now. Never mind burglars, armed robbers and drug dealers, the Johnsons from Coniston Drive are planning to take little Sally and Jake off to Disneyland. New laws penalising parents for taking children
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TV duo Ant and Dec liked the pub so much they decided to buy it
TV favourites Ant and Dec are painting the Toon red after buying their favourite boozer. The duo spent wild nights drinking in Jonny Ringo's, just off Newcastle's famous Bigg Market. They decided they liked the bar so much they spent £175,000 buying a
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Caring store staff earn award
SUPERMARKET workers are celebrating after their efforts helped them win 'store of the month.' The group of employees from Asda Bishop Auckland have been praised for their work in the community, which gained them the accolade for January. John Bowman from
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Grey power's the answer, Mr Blair
WHEN it comes to alternative energy sources, a charity for the elderly may be able to teach even the Prime Minister a thing or two. In the week that Tony Blair was extolling the virtues of wind, wave and solar power, Age Concern, in Knaresborough, North
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Novice Heritage can upstage the old hands
LUDLOW'S lucrative £20,000 Fobra Gold Challenge Cup has attracted some seasoned staying handicap chasers, plus one or two less well-known novices. Keltic Heritage (2.25) definitely falls into the latter category, but that isn't to say he will not be good
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Citizens' champ retires
TRIBUTES have been paid to a community volunteer who is retiring after working tirelessly to regenerate a Darlington estate. Ill health is forcing Bill Cook, 72, to step down from his many roles in Firthmoor, where he has lived for more than 40 years.
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Residents revive forum
VILLAGERS in Marske, east Cleveland, are to re-establish their residents' association. Among the committee's first aims will be to keep up the display of hanging baskets and flowers in the village and to seek ideas on how to improve the grassed open space
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Sleeping habits 'key to infant deaths'
A STUDY by North-East cot death researchers has found important differences in the way breast-feeding and bottle-feeding mothers sleep with their babies. They hope their findings could lead to new guidelines for bed-sharing and a reduction in cot deaths
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Abbey registers first loss as plc and slashes dividends
MORTGAGE bank Abbey National notched up nearly £1bn debt last year on the back of financial catastrophes such as the collapse of Enron. The troubled finance house was forced to write off a substantial amount of bad debt - £95m in the case of Enron - and
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Campaign to save post office fails
RESIDENTS who fought to save a Darlington post office have been told it will close next month. Hundreds of people in Firthmoor signed a petition opposing the closure of the post office in Brignall Moor Crescent. But Royal Mail announced on Thursday it
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Safety chiefs to tackle workplace dangers
HEALTH and safety chiefs are planning an initiative to reduce the number of accidents in the construction industry involving falls from height. Bill Mckay, the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) principal inspector for construction in the North-East,
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Runners dash to help Amy
A pensioner bagged almost £350 worth of groceries after winning a trolley dash at her local supermarket. But Amy Craggs, 93, had to enlist the help of several members of staff and her granddaughter, Angela Dodds, in order to complete the supermarket sweep
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Music duo create their own record label
TWO music enthusiasts from Darlington have set up what is believed to be the North-East's first non-profit making record label. Steve Browne, 27, and 23-year-old Chris Elgie set up Originate Recordings with the help of the Prince's Trust. They want to
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Community group offers debt support
A COMMUNITY group is offering people in debt the chance to break the cycle. The Cockerton and Branksome Living Enterprise (Cable) group has set up a debt counselling service. David Regan, of Cable, said: "The idea is to set up the service, to see if there
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Buzz cuts
Budget airline Ryanair is set to slash 400 jobs and 12 routes from acquisition Buzz. The Irish low-fare carrier is due to take over Buzz on April 1 and will be grounding all Buzz flights during April. The Irish airline said the restructuring was necessary
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News in brief: Appeal for information
Police investigating an attempted burglary in Laverick Terrace, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, on Tuesday, February 18, are looking for a man in his 20s, who was seen acting suspiciously at about 11pm. He is described as white and wore a hooded top with
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Exhibition honour for churchman
A FERRYHILL man was the only church representative invited to an exhibition opened by the Duke of Edinburgh. Bill Price was invited to the launch of an exhibition in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, to commemorate the anniversary of a terrible flood. Mr Price
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Accolades for health workers
HEALTH workers have received awards after learning about the language and practices of the medical profession. Twenty healthcare assistants, doctors' receptionists and administrators from practices in Durham and Chester-le-Street were presented with the
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District's tax still among UK's lowest
THE council tax rate for the district of Hambleton will be one of the lowest in the country, councillors confirmed yesterday. Members have agreed to their cabinet's recommendation to set next year's tax almost £120 below the Government target. At £62
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Rising to challenge of stained glass memorial
A SMALL North-East firm has created a stained-glass window for a private chapel. Michael Ramsay, 28, and his father, Harry, 55, set up their company, Ramsay Studio Glass, in Consett six years ago with the help of the Prince's Trust. They were approached
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Rewarded for good practice
TOBACCO retailers have been rewarded for signing up to a good practice scheme. Nineteen retailers in the Sunderland area have joined the scheme run by the city council and the NHS Teaching Primary Care Trust. The scheme was launched last year and aims
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Tourism information
TOURISM operators from across North Yorkshire will be swapping information in Hambleton next week. They will gather at Thirsk Racecourse on March 6 for the annual Hambleton Tourist Literature Exchange day. Almost fifty attraction operators will distribute
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Parrot Society on parade
CHEEKY and colourful characters will be on parade next month when the Parrot Society holds its first major show in North Yorkshire. The Socirty will be taking over two of the halls at the Great Yorkshire Showground, in Harrogate, on March 30. More than
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A lifetime of memories
A DARLINGTON couple celebrated 65 years of married life. Jim and May Cansfield, of Hargreave Terrace, met when they lived in Ryhope, near Sunderland. They were married in 1938. Their daughter, Joyce Moore, said: "They met when they were walking down the
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Campaigner expects rapid response to litter criticism
A VETERAN campaigner has been told he can expect a rapid response to his latest criticism of council performance. Bernard Borman's long-running dispute with Richmondshire District Council over a series of issues is well-documented. At the moment, he is
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Canon prepares to bid farewell to his ministry
AS Easter approaches Canon Ian Fox prepares to say a fond farewell to his ministry in Northallerton and move to pastures new. Having spent half his ordained ministry in the market town, Cannon Fox said it has been a privilege and pleasure to be the local
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Exchanging ideas on local government
A GROUP of local government officers from Japan will be visiting Middlesbrough tomorrow. They will meet Mayor Ray Mallon, chief executive Brian Dinsdale and speaker Councillor Ken Hall, at Middlesbrough Town Hall. The team from the Japan Local Government
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Paedophile walks free
A man who was convicted of child sex abuse walked free from court today because doctors said that he could die if he was sent to jail. Robert Barker 64, from Redcar might suffer a fatal heart attack from the stress of being sent to prison, said the judge
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Band reunion for benefit
FORMER members of Darlington rock band White Witch will be teaming up again to perform a benefit concert for Amnesty International. The band will be performing at Darlington Arts Centre on Saturday, March 8, at 8pm. Now called Dark Angel, the band is
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Housing repairs workforce faces cuts
A HOUSING workforce is being slashed by almost a third as a council trims its repairs service to compete against private companies. Twenty out of 70 jobs are being lost at Wear Valley District Council's housing department, whose maintenance service goes
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News in brief: Appeal to car attack witness
Police are appealing to the person who witnessed a car being damaged and then left a note on the damaged car's windscreen, to come forward. A red Toyota estate was damaged at about 8.30pm on Sunday in Westgate, Guisborough, near Safeway supermarket. The
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Police seek extra help
VOLUNTEER police officers are hoping to repeat the success of a security marking session and recruitment drive. In an effort to raise awareness of the Special Constabulary and to find new recruits, officers set up a display stand in the St Cuthbert's
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Firm foundations for the future
DOZENS of children swapped plastic building bricks for the real thing cementing further relationships between their Darlington school and a college. The construction department at Darlington College of Technology gave some expert tips to 30 youngsters
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Judge issues prison warning to burglar
A BURGLAR seen breaking into a house in Redcar answered the door when a neighbour knocked on it, Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday. The man was returning home with his wife when he saw a pair of legs disappearing through his neighbour's window. He
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Theatre groups take to the road in Elements tour
Theatre groups are bringing professional productions to village halls, community centres and colleges in County Durham. Traditional tales and contemporary stories for children and families will be performed by the Multistory Theatre, Clydebuilt Puppet
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News in brief: Appeal for information
Police investigating an attempted burglary in Laverick Terrace, Annfield Plain, near Stanley, on Tuesday, February 18, are looking for a man in his 20s, who was seen acting suspiciously at about 11pm. He is described as white and wore a hooded top with
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Victoria's a winner
ELLIE the NTL bear has brought some half-term happiness to an eight-year-old girl in Middlesbrough. Victoria Trainer was presented with a competition prize as part of North Ormesby's Pavilion Project Out of School Club. She produced the winning picture
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Fit Juninho gives McClaren problem
MIDDLESBROUGH boss Steve McClaren faces an agonising decision over whether to risk Juninho in Saturday's home game against Everton and the derby visit of Newcastle United next Wednesday. The Brazilian scored on his comeback from injury in front of a crowd
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News in brief: Marathon man boosts charity
Businessman Simon Wrightson, of Manfield, near Darlington, has given over £26,000 to the brain injury charity, Headway. He raised the money, which is the largest ever single donation to the charity, by taking part in the Great North Run. BRAVE VOLUNTEERS
