Residents across County Durham and Darlington are being asked for their opinion about police funding in a new survey launched today. The survey asks whether local residents would be prepared to pay a higher amount for the police element of Council Tax, to maximise the number of Police Officers in the area. Police, Crime and Victims’...

Newton Aycliffe 29, Darlington RFC 31 Ben Carpenter Merritt Newton Aycliffe’s losing streak continued with a home loss to a strong Darlington side. Aycliffe took to the field with their strongest squad this season, including the recently returned from injury Aaron Arkley, who made his debut in the 10 shirt. The game started well,...

Durham County Council has welcomed the recruitment of its first degree apprentices, who will work as part of the council’s planning and assets team. The apprentices, who will also study at Northumbria University, will be funded using the apprentice levy, which was introduced by the Government in April 2017. This will save the council...

Grants of up to £500 are on offer to help green-fingered folk make a difference to County Durham. As part of the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) campaign, Durham County Council is offering up to £500 worth of funding, to a maximum of 15 community groups, in an effort to encourage volunteers to take part...

Newton Aycliffe 0, Dunston 1 By Dave Strickland Newton Aycliffe slipped two places in the Northern League first division after a narrow defeat ast home to Dunston on Saturday. Aycliffe fielded a defensive formation and failed to trouble Dunston keeper Grant for the whole of the 90 minutes. It was a rearguard action throughout and the...

Young entrepreneurs have been set the challenge of thinking ‘smart’ when developing their business ideas for a competition designed to inspire enterprise skills among schoolchildren. Future Business Magnates (FBM) – an annual competition run by Business Durham, the economic development organisation for County Durham – will this year...

County Durham residents are being urged to celebrate this year’s Bonfire Night in the safest way possible by attending official public firework displays. Cllr Lucy Hovvels MBE, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for adult and health services, said: “Around 1,000 people are injured by fireworks in the UK every year, with 5% of those...

Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre is launching its new programme this weekend with a day of free activities suitable for all the family. The centre is now running sessions including aqua cycle and aqua jump – putting the traditional gym classes into the water. Aqua cycle includes state-of-the-art bikes submerged while users pedal against the...

Newton Aycliffe train builders Hitachi Rail have been shortlisted to the final five bidders for the £2.75 billion HS2 contract. The government revealed on Thursday morning that four manufacturers have been whittled down to deliver Britain’s next generation of state-of-the-art high speed trains, which will carry tens of thousands of people...

Newton Aycliffe 0, Marske United 3 By Dave Strickland Newton Aycliffe were no match for second-placed Marske United as they were well beaten at Moore Lane Park on Tuesday night. They got off to the worst possible start when ex-player Earl scored in the first minute. A long ball over the top caught the defence napping and Earl chipped the...