Our gallery of pictures from Tony Blair's visit to Woodham Academy on Monday (24th November).              ...

By Martin Walker Hitachi Rail Europe's historic train-building factory in Newton Aycliffe is on course to be completed by next Autumn. Site manager Darren Cumner told Aycliffe Today he's "delighted" with the progress Shepherd Construction has made up to now. Local family construction firm Finley Structures started to fabricate and...

A Newton Aycliffe pensioner has admitted stealing a pair of his neighbour's knickers after getting drunk. Terence Robson, 65, of Jackson Place, was caught red-handed as he tried to dispose of the yellow undies in the summer. Robson, who has no previous convictions, admitted burglary at Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. The...

By Martin Walker Charity cash has been raised by one of Newton Aycliffe's popular gyms for one of its members. CrossFit All Out hosted a charity workout at its site on Aycliffe Business Park to raise awareness of breast cancer earlier this month. The event was organised in tribute to member Mandy Turnbull who recently underwent a...

By Martin Walker A Lib Dem councillor is claiming victory after the Labour-controlled Durham County Council did a U-turn on the so-called Living Wage. The local authority has agreed to look again at introducing a new Living Wage which will affect 2,500 employees, including 1,800 who work in schools. It will see staff earn £7.43 an...

Police have released CCTV images of a man they'd like to speak to after a large amount of clothing was stolen from the town's Poundstretcher store this week. Police would like to speak to the man pictured above after the theft on Tuesday (18th November). Anyone who recognises the man is asked to call the police on 101, or mess the...

More than 800 regional newspaper websites have teamed up to launch a combined digital advertising platform designed to take on Google and Facebook. 1XL is a collaboration between three of the top four local newspaper publishers – Johnston Press, Local World and Newsquest – and a number of independent local media businesses. Trinity...

By Martin Walker South West Durham Training (SWDT) has already started training up some of Hitachi Rail Europe's future train-building engineers. The Newton Aycliffe-based training provider, recently rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted, has started working with the Japanese firm, which has now based some key management personnel at SWDT's...

"Watch out and slow down" is the key message from the top police boss, in support of National Road Safety Week this week. Ron Hogg, Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner, is in favour of introducing 20mph speed limits in the vicinity of local schools, to help keep more young people safe on the roads. Mr Hogg said: "It is well known that...

Super hero staff at Gregg Little Testing Centre helped to raise hundreds of pounds for the BBC Children In Need appeal last week. Workers raised £180 for the popular annual fundraising event by having daily bake-offs during the week. Staff then dressed as super heroes on the big day before Gregg and the garage's local parts supplier...