In the run-up to Christmas, Durham County Council is encouraging everyone to speak to their local credit union to avoid giving themselves the unwanted gift of debt this year. With weekly payment stores charging several times the actual value of goods, and payday lenders offering easy money at exorbitant rates of interest, people are being...

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling says Hitachi Rail Europe’s first train to roll of its Newton Aycliffe production line is a real economic boost to the North East. Mr Grayling attended a special event at Hitachi’s £82m factory, which opened 15 months ago, to celebrate the completion of the first Intercity Express Programme (IEP) train...

Councillor Jed Hillary, Mayor of Great Aycliffe, would like to thank all of the children who entered the competition to design a card for use as the Official Civic Christmas Card. The Mayor presented prizes and framed pictures to the winners at the Christmas Council Meeting last week. Mark Chapman, from Stephenson Way Academy, came first,...

Residents can now sign up for next year’s garden waste collection service. The fortnightly service will run between spring and autumn with 17 collections, starting in March 2017. Subscriptions are available throughout the year for an annual fee of £25, although residents must subscribe before Tuesday February 14, 2017, to guarantee...

As we approach the Christmas break the Aycliffe Juniors teams enjoyed another series of games, and there were some great performances from the teams. The Under 9 Russell Foster League team played Seaton United in their sixth winter league game. It was goalless at half time then Jake scored a superb second half hatrick to gain the man of the...

The South Durham Enterprise Agency has been awarded the Community Stakeholder of the Year award at the National Enterprise Network’s national conference, held in London. Awarded for SDEA’s local community engagement and the promotion of enterprise and economic development with a number of local organisations and communities, including local...

The Labour Party’s Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Kier Starmer listened to the concerns of local businesses and trade organisations during a round table discussion in Newton Aycliffe. Mr Starmer, MP for the London constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, held the discussion at the Xcel Centre on Aycliffe Business Park, along with Sedgefield’s...

Four men have been arrested in a planned operation after police pledged to lock up suspected criminals for Christmas. Individuals suspected of being involved in committing crime in rural communities and those who travel across different force areas to carry it out were targeted as part of Operation Checkpoint, which was also conducted across...

Hitachi Rail Europe today celebrates the first Intercity Express (IEP) train to be built in the UK at its manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe. Hitachi will be joined by the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse Andrew Percy and Ambassador of Japan in the UK, Koji Tsuruoka at a special ceremony on...

Former Newton Aycliffe star Dan Mellanby has taken over the reins at his troubled club in a double appointment. Mellanby, who helped Aycliffe reach the Northern League top flight as a player, has been made joint-manager at Moore Lane Park, along with ex-Norton manager Deano Browne. The pair will officially take over after Aycliffe’s trip...