Residents of Newton Aycliffe can now access a vital service right in the heart of the town after the NEFirst credit union moved its service point into Newtown Aycliffe Library. NEFirst Credit Union is a not-for-profit organisation that offers community focussed banking services such as savings and loans, and has been in Newton Aycliffe for the...

A £4m programme will help small businesses in County Durham thrive in a digital world by gaining a competitive edge and maximising their growth. Digital Drive County Durham, the first of its kind in the county, will also help companies become more resilient and improve their productivity by providing funding and practical support to help them...

A charity fundraising night to help celebrate the memory of a Newton Aycliffe grandmother raised £900. Sheila Thompson was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in April this year with no possibility of cure, and passed away in October. Her children – Peter Thompson and Lisa Hodgson, with the help of family friend Laura Hobson – organised an...

A County Durham plastics firm is hoping to increase turnover by tapping into a growing reusable packaging market which is already worth an estimated £50m. Plastic Mouldings Northern (PMN) has invested in a 14,000 sq ft storage facility which now houses more than 6,000 pallets and plastic boxes. Sales director Freddy Bourdais says it’s a...

Newton Aycliffe 15, Sunderland RFC 23 By Ben Carpenter Merritt Newton Aycliffe’s first XV hosted Sunderland, in what was seen by many as a must-win to stop the decline Aycliffe had found themselves on of late. The game started well, with both teams vying for possession, the first points of the game came when Aycliffe strayed offside in...

The County Durham Health and Wellbeing Board (CDHWB) has agreed to adopt the Motor Neurone Disease Charter, in order to send a message of support to those living with the disease. Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It attacks the nerves that control movement so muscles...

The new managing director of the economic development organisation for County Durham will be looking to build on the excellent progress made by its team. Brian Archer has joined Business Durham, which is part of Durham County Council, where he will also build on existing relationships with partners and stakeholders. Brian, from Leeds, is the...

Several of Aycliffe Running Club members braved the elements to compete in the second of the Stockton Winter Trail series of 5k races, held at Cowpen Bewley. This was the Gavin Duffy memorial race which was as always well supported with almost 300 runners attending. As expected conditions were muddy under foot, but not as bad as previous...

Newton Aycliffe-based JDP Contracting Services is looking to further growth following a second six-figure investment from UK Steel Enterprise. The company is the largest specialist roofline contractor in the North employing more than 30 people at its Aycliffe Business Park HQ and a further 10 at a second operational centre in Sheffield, opened...

People are being warned not to fall into the same trap as a County Durham resident who ended up with an £800 bill for unwanted anti-aging cream. The woman clicked on an online advert for the product and provided her credit card details in the belief she would be making a one-off payment for a trial offer. However, she had actually signed up...