Proposals to raise the standards of privately rented properties in County Durham are being put forward in a scheme to create better housing for residents. Durham County Council is proposing to introduce a selective licensing scheme across the county which would ensure good standards of private rental properties. The licensing scheme means...

Waste recycling and sustainability firm, Warrens Emerald Biogas, is set to ramp up its processing capacity at its plant by 40% following a multi-million pound cash injection. The Newton Aycliffe-based waste management firm Warrens Group was recently acquired by Bio Capital, a major environmental investment fund. The site turns food waste...

The County-level swimming championships took place over the first and third weekends of February at the impressive purpose-built Sunderland Aquatic Centre 50-metre pool. County level for Sedgefield 75 swimming club takes in all the swimming clubs of Northumberland and County Durham plus the northern reaches of North Yorkshire and the old county...

The king of disco, soul and funk and a leading Scottish band are topping a star-studded line-up heading to a County Durham music festival this summer. Hardwick Festival will return to Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield this summer, with multi-platinum artistes Nile Rodgers and CHIC headlining the event on Saturday August 22, and Travis taking the...

Changes to customer services that will see savings of hundreds of thousands of pounds have been recognised by a special award. The digital projects team at Durham County Council has successfully led the way in transforming the way in which customer interact with the authority, generating savings in excess of £700,000. And this has been...

Newton Aycliffe FC's oldest supporter, Charlie Bussey, celebrated his 90th birthday last week with a surprise presentation from the club. Originally from Middlestone Moor, Charlie has now been a Newtonian for over 60 years and during that time has become a dedicated follower of the town's football team. He still attends most games, home and...

The team at Teesside Gas Processing Plant (px TGPP), owned by North Sea Midstream Partners and operated by px, welcomed a group of year six students for the third year in a row. This time it was young people from Heighington Primary School, near Newton Aycliffe, who visited as part of their ongoing commitment to the Children Challenging...

Labour Party candidate for the Woodham Ward by-election, Brandon Fleet, on why he should be elected to Aycliffe Town Council... I am very pleased to be standing in the Woodham by-election as your local Labour candidate. I feel fortunate to have been brought up in Newton Aycliffe and I am passionate about my local area and the interests and...

Freelance writer and former Daily Mail North-East football reporter Colin Young explores the major developments made at Newton Aycliffe FC this season… Stronger on and off the pitch than they have ever been, Newton Aycliffe Football Club are looking for the town to get behind their bid to climb the English football divisions. Formed...

Aycliffe Village Primary School has received around 75 wildflower plants to create its very own wildflower meadow, from science-based technology company 3M, working in partnership with the charity Earth Restoration Service. Staff from the 3M site in Aycliffe have been helping the pupils and staff to plant the flowers in the school...