Aycliffe Today editor Martin Walker takes a look back at 2014, reviewing April and May... April • Aycliffe detectives are set to pioneer state-of-the-art spying technology that enables them to watch criminals in their own homes - but is 'Polar Flair' all what it seems? The story is later revealed to be an April Fool joke. • The...

By Martin Walker The date for the third phase of Newton Aycliffe's award-winning town centre redevelopment has been revealed. The Freshwater Group, owners of Aycliffe Town Centre, has confirmed Churchill House and adjoining shops - excluding the town clock - will be demolished in March. It has also been revealed that Durham County...

Police are appealing for information after an assault in the town at the weekend. A male is said to have been the victim of an unprovoked assault in the car park of the Turbinia public House at around 7pm on Sunday (28th December). Anyone with any information is asked to call the police on 101.  ...

Aycliffe Today editor Martin Walker takes a look back at 2014, reviewing February and March... February • Newton Aycliffe police hunt a suspected hit and run driver after a man was knocked over by a vehicle on Horndale Avenue, adjacent to Permoids, on Aycliffe Business Park. • Stiller Warehousing and Distribution announces the...

A festive 'Blood Drive' in the name of Newtonian Paul McGeary resulted in a large number of donors and several people being asked to return in the New Year. Becky McGeary’s ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ appeal gathered momentum in the build-up to a big Christmas Eve push. With four volunteers having already given blood under the...

Greenfield Community College teacher Sarah Robson has been revealed as the winner of Aycliffe Today's Christmas Cash Competition. The 35-year-old art teacher says she was "delighted" to have picked up the prize after returning from a Christmas holiday at the weekend. Sarah was drawn at random from all the correct entries in our...

Aycliffe Today editor Martin Walker takes a look back at 2014, reviewing January... • iPad con merchant Kirsty Cox is jailed for two years at Teesside Crown Court for her £450,000 scam in 2012, but is later released after serving just a few weeks. • Aycliffe-based subsea technology firm Tekmar Energy celebrates hat-trick of contract...

Newton Aycliffe police officers dished out crime-prevention kit to some of the town's residents over the festive season. Officers from the Aycliffe Neighbourhood Police Team gave out several pieces of kit - including 24-hour segment timers, magnetic door alarms and window alarms to name but a few items. The equipment was purchased as...

By Zoe Skerrett Tom Twissell is Newton Aycliffe’s youngest town councillor and has big plans for the Youth Centre and getting more young people interested and involved in politics. The 19-year-old, who attended Woodham Academy, says his interest in politics began in 2010 with the General Election with his friend, and fellow councillor,...

Nearly 200 people in County Durham are paying the price for committing environmental crimes such as fly-tipping. Throughout October and November Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection team issued 142 fixed penalty notices for littering, 11 for dog fouling and 39 for failing to respond to requests to clear untidy yards or...