MP Phil Wilson says the government is "all over the place" after they were forced to abandon plans to reform the Hunting Bill. Ministers today shelved Wednesday's vote on relaxing hunting laws in England and Wales after the SNP said it would vote against the changes. With Labour and some Tory MPs also opposing the changes, Prime Minister...

To coincide with National Walking Month in May, Local Motion organised a ‘10,000 Step Challenge’ with workers in South Durham. The three-week challenge involved workers from five businesses being challenged to walk the most number of steps. The aim was for 10,000 steps a day, as it’s thought that if you are walking 10,000 steps a day,...

Students from Woodham Academy were recently invited to attend an information session at the SAGE Gateshead, in order to develop their understanding of what is required to get into the country’s top universities. The most able students from around the North East of England gathered to listen to experts in this field, share information and...

Shocking new figures reveal that 81 families in the North East are homeless and living in temporary accommodation. This is a worrying 16% rise since the same time last year, according to analysis of government homelessness statistics by charity Shelter. Many families will be crammed into just one room of a hostel or bed and breakfast, forced...

A round-up of the weekend's cricket action... Saturday 11th July - NYSD Division 2 Newton Aycliffe 1st XI v Wolviston 1st XI - weather was warm and sunny. Wolviston won the toss and chose to bat first. Wolviston 1st XI 238 for 9 after 50 overs John Cavanagh 3 for 31, Colin Myers 3 for 58 and Michael Howe 2 for 33 Newton Aycliffe 1st XI 119...

Newton Aycliffe MP Phil Wilson has launched an EU in-out debate with local businesses after being appointed co-chair of the Labour Party's pro-Europe campaign group. Mr Wilson is jointly heading up the party's Labour Yes group, which consists of nearly 70 Labour MPs, along with North West Durham MP Pat Glass. And the Labour MP for Sedgefield...

Two buildings built by Newton Aycliffe steel firm Raisco have been recognised with industry awards. AV Dawson's state-of-the-art steel store, which opened in February, has been awarded Best Large Commercial Building in the Northern heats of the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards. Meanwhile, Billingham’s new...

Woodham Academy has been working with Gestamp Tallent for the fifth consecutive year to support recruitment of more apprentices to its international engineering and manufacturing company. Students have had the opportunity to work with a real life employer in a ‘Lord Sugar-style’ challenge. Over a five-week period students competed in a...

Woodham Dance Academy went to Birmingham to compete in the national final of the Great Big Dance Off. See more pictures below Both the Key Stage 3 and 4 groups qualified in the regional finals held in Newcastle in April, after impressing judges with their creativity and professionalism when performing. The dancers had a rehearsal at...

Football funny man Dean Windass is heading to Newton Aycliffe for a fundraising event next month. The former Middlesbrough and Darlington forward is due to appear at Newton Aycliffe WMC for a Sportsman's Evening on Saturday 8th August (7.30pm). Windass is famous for a £60m play-off final-winning goal he scored for Hull against Bristol City...