Two brand new Hitachi test trains arrived at Teesport in Middlesbrough today (Tuesday March 20) after completing a two-month journey from Japan. The two five-car trains will form part of Virgin Trains’ new Azuma fleet and will be the first used for training on-board crew and drivers. Virgin Azuma trains will transform travel and customer...

Social workers from across County Durham celebrated the achievements of their profession at an event at County Hall this week. To mark today’s World Social Work Day, Durham County Council invited social workers from both adult and children’s services to reflect on the role they play in society and how the work they do makes a real...

A team of Woodham Academy’s talented students have taken part in the final of a regional mathematics competition. The four students travelled to Durham to take part in the regional final of the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) Team Challenge. Angel Woods, Charlie Pemberton, Ava Thomas, and Ryan Griffiths completed four rounds of...

A County Durham business has won a major contract to be the sole UK and Ireland distributor of a newly-invented tape measure which has already taken the US and French markets by storm. Plastic Mouldings Northern (PMN), based in Bishop Auckland, has gained an industry reputation for supplying DIY products to Jouplast, Homebase, B&Q and...

A national award-winning environmental campaign in County Durham has been extended as a result of its overwhelming success. Durham County Council’s Operation Spruce Up is continuing due to the excellent results it has achieved in communities and the positive feedback it has received. The programme was launched in 2016 with council teams...

PWS boss John Lennon has laid down the gauntlet to Aycliffe businesses and is urging them to enter this year’s Make Your Mark awards competition. Lennon is the cover feature in the 33rd issue of Aycliffe Today Business for March-April 2018. Also featuring Tekmar Energy, Crafter’s Companion, Roman, Finley Structures, The County, Ebac,...

County Durham businesses could benefit from a £1m cash injection, thanks to a new fund created specifically for small and medium enterprises. Enterprise agency NBSL has launched a new North East Business Support Fund (NEBSF) specifically for County Durham businesses. The programme, which is part financed by the England European Regional...

The war on food waste in County Durham has been given a major boost with the awarding of a grant worth more than £35,000. The County Durham Food Partnership, working with Durham County Council, has been chosen as a Discovery Community by Sainsbury’s as part of the supermarket chain’s ‘Waste less, Save more’ campaign. The...

A Woodham Academy student is getting his skates on to represent his country. Gregor Mills has been selected for the England’s under-13s Ice Hockey team. At 11-years-old, Gregor is the youngest member of the squad that will fly out to Bratislava, Slovakia in April. He’ll wear the coveted England shirt following a rigorous recruitment...

Donna Campbell reviews the latest action from Aycliffe Running Club... Wow, what a weekend it was last weekend for the runners of ARC. Firstly some members took place in local parkruns where the following achieved course PB’s: John Surtees at Albert Park in 17.15, Paul Dalton at Gateshead in 19.41 and Richard Holland at Shildon in...