Students from Woodham Academy continue to visit Hamsterley Forest after school on a Friday evening, with help from GAMP funding. There are a wide variety of challenging red graded mountain bike trails that the students continue to enjoy. On average, students cover about 10 miles and the mix of challenging climbs followed by exhilarating...

“If somebody gives me work to do that I’ve done 100 times, I struggle with being able to do it because my mind tells us I’m not good enough to do it, or that I’m going to make a mistake, or I’m going to do it wrong.” These words offer a glimpse inside the mind of a man who suffers from anxiety and depression, who has chosen to speak...

By Donna Campbell There was a full racing calendar last weekend with members taking part in several events over both days on the weekend. Events started as usual with the parkruns and this week sat two members achieving PBs at Darlington’s South Park. Kathleen Tonge in a time of 27.30 and her husband Richard Tonge in 28.20. Later that...

One of Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe-built Azuma trains carried passengers on the East Coast Main Line for the first time this week. The new Intercity Expresses should have started running last December, but the already postponed launch was further delayed by continuing problems with electromagnetic interference, which affected signalling and...

Here are some pictures, courtesy of LNER, which show off some of the Azuma’s assets…

Vehicles being used to transport controlled waste have been inspected at the roadside during an operation to clamp down on rubbish being disposed of illegally in County Durham. As part of Operation Stop It, Durham County Council’s award-winning campaign to eliminate flytipping, the authority’s neighbourhood wardens and licensing team, along...

Aycliffe police caught 49 speeding motorists after carrying out six camera sessions around the town in response to public feedback. As part of Road Safety Week, the Ayclilffe officers were supported by the Police Motorcycle Section in carrying out the Speedwatch in six areas – including two locations along Greenfield Way, Shafto Way,...

Blue chip engineering and manufacturing firms will join schools and talented students and graduates at an Employers’ Fair taking place at South West Durham Training next week. The free event is open to all Year 10 and Year 11 students and sixth formers, teachers, careers advisors, parents/carers and local employers. Graduate jobs, industry...

More than 100 dangerous drivers in the North-East have been spotted by an unmarked HGV supercab in the past year in a bid to improve safety on the region’s high-speed roads. The vehicle is one of three supercabs, funded by Highways England, which have travelled thousands of miles since they first took to the road a year ago. Police...

The North-East is closing the economic gap on other areas of the country but “there is still more to be done” in a number of key areas, an annual report on the region’s economy says. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has published its second annual Our Economy report, giving an update on areas such as unemployment,...