A festival of music is set to come to ROF 59 on Aycliffe Business Park this autumn. At least 10 local bands have been lined up for the special family event on Saturday 1st October (12-11pm). They include a FU Fighters tribute band, rock pop cover group One Eyed Jack, pop rock indie originals band Twister and alternative original rock band...

More than 1,000 people turned out for the free family fun day held in Newton Aycliffe town centre. Organisers dubbed the event a “huge success” after the decent weather brought a healthy turn-out from members of the public. At least on more event is planned for the town centre this year following the success. Last Thursday’s family...

Aycliffe Town and Durham County Councillor John D Clare explains why Aycliffe Business Park is so important to County Durham... County Durham is the second-weakest local economy in England. Consequently, it not only has greater unemployment and deprivation than the rest of the country, it has a correspondingly greater incidence of social...

Residents and businesses in the Newton Aycliffe area are being asked for their views on a proposed neighbourhood plan. The submission draft of the Great Aycliffe Neighbourhood Plan, developed by the town council, sets out policies that will help determine planning applications in the area until 2036. The plan aims to guide development in...

Volunteers at Greenfield Arts are once again working hard to bring lovely Free Little Libraries to the wider community. The first library was installed at Greenfield Community College in February 2015 and its success has led to a second being installed at the Sunnydale Campus in Shildon to celebrate World Book Day. It’s a fantastic...

A round-up of the weekend’s cricket action... Saturday 30th July – NYSD Division 2 Wolviston 1st XI v Newton Aycliffe 1st XI – weather was warm and sunny. Wolviston won the toss and chose to bat first. Wolviston 1st XI 171 all out after 50 overs Mark Woodhead 3 for 12, Michael Howe 3 for 74 and Patrick Howe 2 for 26 Newton Aycliffe...

Newton Aycliffe FC manager Peter Dixon insists the furore surrounding the abandoned pre-season friendly against Spennymoor Town this week was a “storm in a tea cup”. Spenny boss Jason Ainsley decided not to play the second half of Aycliffe’s friendly with the newly-promoted side at Moore Lane Park due to some “tough...

Young entrepreneur Lisa Fleming tells Martin Walker how her fledgling firm has grown from scratch to a £1m-a-year business... As entrepreneurs go, Lisa Fleming must be up there with some of the most successful small business owners on Aycliffe Business Park. The 37-year-old has grown her Driver Hire recruitment franchise from scratch, with...

Woodham Academy students have been helping youngsters get into golf. A group of Year 9 and 10 leadership students successfully carried out a Tri Golf event at the Oakleaf Leisure Centre, engaging with seven primary schools from across the town. It was part of Woodham’s Leadership Academy, a joint initiative between the school and Tony...

Newton Aycliffe FC chairman Allan Oliver says he was “gobsmacked” after Spennymoor Town refused to play the second half of a pre-season friendly this week. Moors boss Jason Ainsley decided not to play the second half of Aycliffe’s friendly with the newly-promoted side at Moore Lane Park due to some “tough tackling”. The Football...