Officers from Durham Constabulary have been carrying out raids in Shildon and Bishop Auckland to disrupt suspected criminal activity in the area. Six properties were searched on Byerley Road, Auckland Terrace and Osborne Street, all Shildon, and Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland, on Sunday. Two men, a 25-year-old from Byerley Road, and a...

Neighbours in communities across County Durham are being urged to look out for each other as part of a campaign to tackle rogue traders. Durham County Council’s Trading Standards team will be asking residents to spot the signs of unwanted doorstep callers by asking: Are you a good neighbour? Do you want to protect vulnerable people from...

Staff and pupils at Woodham Academy took advantage of the unseasonably good autumn weather to showcase their broad-leaved trees and shrubs to groups of enthusiastic youngsters. The event, which formed part of the school’s Y7 Specialist Day, also included a practical workshop on how to design and make model bird-boxes – ahead of Woodham...

Durham County Council has picked up a national award for a scheme which has seen more than 2,200 tonnes of furniture and household items saved from disposal and provided for families on low income. The County Durham Reuse forum received the prestigious Best Partnership Award from the LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee), the...

Aycliffe Today columnist Zoe Skerrett continues her weekly review of the X Factor... With 12 acts left, this week’s theme was Saturday Night At The Movies. There was plenty of classics, some great performances and more bickering from Simon and Cheryl. Jake Quickenden opened the show with a Dirty Dancing classic, She’s Like The Wind....

Police are appealing for information after missiles were thrown at a passing vehicle from a bridge over a busy road in Newton Aycliffe. It happened around 1.30pm yesterday (Sunday 26th October) when someone standing on the footbridge over St Cuthbert’s Way – known locally as the ‘Blue Bridge’ - threw objects at vehicles passing...

Newton Aycliffe JFC U23’s were delighted when Honest John kindly agreed to sponsor a new away kit for the 2014-15 season. The offer of sponsoring a new away kit could not have come at a more opportune moment for the team as Durham FA this season have made it a requirement that all teams entering and playing in the DFA Sunday u23’s...

Durham County Council's cabinet member for economic regeneration says he's yet to be convinced that a retail park in Newton Aycliffe could work. We asked Cllr Foster about retail provision in Newton Aycliffe, amid Great Aycliffe Town Council's Neighbourhood Plan, which is canvassing opinions from local residents. Go to our Video Vault to...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe residents are reminded that the opportunity to get wristbands for the free ‘ticket only’ fireworks display start this weekend. Great Aycliffe Town Council confirmed last month it was staging the display this year for Aycliffe residents only after it was scrapped in 2013 for safety reasons. The fun,...

Newton Aycliffe residents are reminded that the final garden waste collections for this year take place between 28th October and 7th November. Exact collection days can be checked by putting your postcode into “My Durham” on Durham County Council’s website www.durham.gov.uk So far this year, almost 20,000 tonnes of garden waste has...