A Newton Aycliffe woman was one of six litterbugs who have been ordered to pay a total of £2,000 in fines and legal costs after being found guilty of littering the streets of County Durham. The six defendants were initially handed Fixed Penalty Notices by Durham County Council’s neighbourhood wardens, but failed to pay. The defendants,...

County Durham businesses that are keen to showcase their products and services to potential new customers are being recruited for the second phase of a support programme. Last year saw the launch of the inaugural Incubator Zone programme at Durham Oktoberfest. And this year, as the event prepares for major changes to reflect its growth over...

A Newton Aycliffe lollipop lady who has been helping children get to school safely for 25 years has been recognised by grateful pupils and staff. Marian Dawson, school crossing patrol near Sugar Hill Primary School, was honoured in a special assembly to mark her landmark anniversary in the role. “I was gobsmacked, it was a real surprise. I...

Woodham Academy students struck gold as they made it through to the next stage of a national maths competition. Callum Fielden and Richie Steward received gold awards in the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Challenge. A further 11 Woodham Academy students received either silver or bronze awards for their high scores in the challenging...

Following the huge success of last year’s event, which delivered the biggest and busiest show yet, DL Business Expo is set to return to Darlington in May. DL Business Expo provides an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their products and services and is a great networking opportunity for the local business community. Last...

Greenfield Arts are offering a fun packed programme of FREE activities for young people over the Easter holidays. Popular favourites such as ‘Crazy Crafts’ and ‘Arts Foraging’ are just some of the activities on offer this spring. The courses are family focused and suitable for all ages, although children under 8 should be accompanied...

A strange orange flare in the night sky got tongues wagging on social media on Tuesday night. But concerned residents in Aycliffe had no need to worry – the eerie flickering had a perfectly reasonable explanation. The flashing – seen in the above image, captured by Newtonian Martin Fenwick on Facebook – is caused by routine...

A comic book campaign is being launched to encourage younger children to “Trust and Tell” if they are at risk of abuse. Durham Police and local schoolchildren are joining forces to launch the campaign, giving children the confidence to report abuse to a trusted adult. It follows national research which found that only one in eight child...

Two automotive giants have come together to show their dedication to the workforce of the future and express the need for the industry to sit up and take note. Aycliffe-based Gestamp Tallent and Unipres, based in Sunderland, have worked in partnership with Hartlepool College of Further Education to perfect their training provision and take on a...

A primary school in Newton Aycliffe remained open all week despite the so-called ‘Beast from the East’ battering the UK. As hundreds of schools across the county closed their gates last week, staff at Vane Road Primary School did all they could to ensure the site would be open as usual. Staff travelled from as far as Crook in slow moving...