Police officers, staff and volunteers who have gone the extra mile have been honoured at a new awards ceremony. The inaugural Durham Difference Awards were held at the Radisson Blu hotel, in Durham, this week and recognised dedicated police work across County Durham and Darlington in a host of categories, including Police Officer of the Year,...

Community groups and voluntary sector organisations have the opportunity to apply for a grant, thanks to a Community Safety Fund launched today. For the fifth year Ron Hogg, Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC), is continuing his partnership with local grant-making charity County Durham Community Foundation. Under this...

After two-and-a-half-years of development, the region’s largest bus operator, Go North East, opened the doors to its brand new £3.5m state-of-the-art depot. In an official opening of the Consett facility, Go-Ahead Group chief executive David Brown was joined by Cllr Simon Henig, leader of Durham County Council and Go North East managing...

Consett 1, Newton Aycliffe 1 By Dave Strickland Newton Aycliffe travelled to second-placed Consett and came away with a well earned point in a 1-1 draw. A strong wind was blowing down the ground, and this affected the play, with Consett having the better of the first half and Aycliffe getting the upper hand in the second half. The...

The region’s largest council and a number of its partners have signed a collective new pledge as part of an ongoing campaign to eradicate single use plastics. Representatives from Durham County Council were joined at its County Hall headquarters by a number of businesses and partner organisations to sign the bespoke local pledge for County...

Students at Woodham Academy took to the stage last week for their performance of the hit musical Grease. The show was a massive success, with students from all year groups taking part, as was a testament to the huge amount of talents that students within the school have. The school’s head of music Mr Gales said: “All three nights were of...

A Newton Aycliffe councillor has taken the law into his own hands after he wrecked a neighbour’s fence by erecting his own wooden perimeter which is said to be illegal. Ken Robson, an independent councillor on Great Aycliffe Town Council who lives on Priestman Road near the town centre, buckled his neighbour’s back garden fence during the...

Donna Campbell with an extra instalment from the youth section of Aycliffe Running Club… Our under 11’s attended Lord Lawson school in Birtley last weekend to take part in the relays there which marked the end of the Harrier League Cross Country Season. For most it was the first time taking part in such an event. The event itself was...

Stobart Group has been revealed as the operator of Durham Tees Valley Airport following its return to public ownership. In January this year, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen’s plan to acquire the airport – which, at 11 miles, is Newton Aycliffe’s nearest airport – was approved at a cabinet meeting of the Tees Valley Combined Authority,...

Aycliffe police officers prowled the streets of the Cobblers area during a community booze patrol. Neighbourhood officers scoured the Cobblers area in response to concerns over under-age drinking and associated problems. “A number of youths had drink taken from them and work will now be undertaken to educate them and their parents to...