By Martin Walker Hitachi Rail Europe has failed to win a major contract to build trains for a German company. Despite submitting a "technically complex" proposal, said Hitachi's chief executive Alistair Dormer, the £280m deal to supply 60 commuter trains for Deutsche Bahn went to Canadian firm Bombardier, which has a Berlin-based...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe Hogs, the town's very first Twenty/20-style cricket team, won their opening group game last week. Aycliffe beat Sedgefield's second XI at Aycliffe Sports Club by 23 runs to mark a fine start to the NYSD League 15/15 Cup. Aycliffe lost the toss and were asked to bat first. Sean Morgan was 39 not out and...

Greenfield School has scooped the main award in a County-wide business competition. The Newton Aycliffe school was crowned winners of Durham Counil’s Business Magnates competition, held at the Xcel Centre. With this year’s theme of ‘Made in Durham – Sold to the World’, the 23 schools taking part excelled at creating local...

Ryan Peart and Reed Molloy experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity last week, working with coaches from Celtic Football Club. The two Woodham students took part in a full day’s worth of football working alongside the best coaches in Celtic’s Academy structure. The day was broken up into two parts; the morning session was a...

Woodham Academy will be holding its annual Summer Concert tonight, from 7pm. After a successful production of We Will Rock You, students have been working hard to rehearse a variety of musical performances in preparation for the evening. Performances from Woodham Jazz Band, Woodham Instrumental Group, Woodham Samba Band and Woodham...

A local football club is hosting a Race Night to raise much-needed cash. Heighington FC are once again hosting their popular racing event on Saturday July 13, in Heighington Village Hall. The event will celebrate the Club’s 10th anniversary, while also raising vital money to keep the village’s only adult football club running for...

Free metafit sessions are being offered at the Durham County Council-run leisure centre in Newton Aycliffe until Sunday (July 7). The high intensity exercise classes are taking place at Aycliffe Leisre Centre, as well as at Freeman’s Quay, Chester-le-Street, Abbey, Meadowfield, Riverside, Teesdale, Woodhouse Close, Spennymoor, and...

Two Year 7 students at Woodham Academy were delighted to be presented with a Samsung Q1 tablet each. The girls were part of a larger group who have been attending the weekly Computer Club for Girls sessions at school since the beginning of September and were awarded the prizes for the excellent work they have created over the...

EXCLUSIVE: By Martin Walker The name of the park which will be home to Hitachi Rail Europe’s £82m train-building facility in Newton Aycliffe has been changed, after a well-known worldwide internet firm enforced copyright laws. Amazon, which sells books and DVDs online, has forced Newcastle-based developers Merchant Place Developments...

A family from Newton Aycliffe could not be happier after they were able to secure their dream new home thanks to leading housebuilder Miller Homes. Thirty-five year-old Gary Beswick, his wife Wendy and their six-year-old son Aaron found their five-bedroom Stratford home at Cobblers Hall in Newton Aycliffe after discovering how much they...