A new chairman and vice chairman have taken on the chains of office at Durham County Council. Cllr John Lethbridge was elected chairman at the council’s annual meeting, held at County Hall. He takes over from retiring chairman Cllr Bill Kellett. He will be assisted in his official duties over the coming year by Cllr Katie Corrigan, who, at...

A former college student has taken a new admin role with South West Durham Training in her stride less than two months in. Pony-riding Laura Pickering, from Barnard Castle, joined the Newton Aycliffe training provider on an 18-month level 3 apprenticeship in business administration in March after leaving a college course she wasn’t...

A successful scheme aimed at helping newly qualified drivers become safer on the roads is now looking for driving instructors to help deliver its training. EXCELerate Plus, formerly known as the EXCELerate Durham Young Driver scheme, provides free training to young drivers around the three scenarios that produce the most casualties in County...

Businesses looking to recruit young people in digital and IT, including two from Newton Aycliffe, have benefited from a successful careers fair held in Durham city. Aycliffe-based Baltic Training and Virtual College were among the exhibitors at the event held in the Rivergreen Centre at Aykley Heads in Durham. Tech firm RAW Digital Training...

Thousands of residents across Durham and Darlington have given up their free time to take part in the most successful Big Spring Clean campaign to date. Durham County Council’s annual crackdown on litter is run in partnership with LitterFree Durham and Darlington Borough Council and this year saw more than 4,000 people get involved – more...

Woodham Academy has received a national award in recognition of the excellence of music education at the high-performing school. The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) has awarded Woodham Academy its Silver Certificate, praising the high achievement of the school’s students. Woodham Academy is one of only 146 schools across the...

A round-up of the weekend's cricket action... Saturday 19th May – NYSD Division 2 Rockliffe Park 1st XI v Newton Aycliffe 1st XI – weather was warm and sunny. Rockliffe won the toss and chose to bowl first. Newton Aycliffe 1st XI 132 all out after 34.2 overs Dan Craggs 38, Sam Telford 23 and Jack Slatcher 14 Rockliffe Park 1st XI...

Residents without a central heating system in their home could be eligible to receive it for free if they apply before the end of the month. The Warm Homes Fund, which is designed to help households who find it difficult to heat their homes to the temperature needed to stay warm and healthy, is offering free central heating for homes across...

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has pushed the case for a £100m scheme to transform Darlington station in a meeting with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. The ambitious project will see a major overhaul of the station and reconfiguration of rail track to ensure the station is able to accommodate new high speed services on the East Coast Main...

Air Compressors and Blowers (ACB) is our special feature in the May-June 2018 issue of Aycliffe Today Business as the firm which specialises in air compressors and blowers has fully relocated to Aycliffe Business Park amid ambitious growth plans. Also featuring in the 34th issue of Aycliffe Today Business includes the Centre for Process...