Local planning authorities should decide whether big wind farms are allowed to go ahead, Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson has told the Commons. Mr Wilson said his constituency was already at capacity for the number of wind farms the landscape could sustain. Moving a 10 minute rule motion, Mr Wilson proposed the Planning Act 2008 (Amendment)...

Back in 2008, Miss Wass of Woodham Academy piloted a cross-curricular visit to Berlin which was a huge success and has since gone on to become an established  visit for students. This visit is always oversubscribed because of its educational value as well as being extremely enjoyable. Woodham Academy is delighted to be able to offer...

Schools from across County Durham will come together next week to bury a time capsule to mark the county’s contribution to this very special year for sport. In the run up to London 2012 and the introduction of the National School Games, schools were inspired to compete at many levels in competition throughout the year. The time capsule...

A scheme in County Durham is helping keep young drivers and their passengers safe on the road. The EXCELerate programme has been developed by Durham County Council's road safety team to address the main causes of accidents among 15 to 25 year-olds who live in the county. There are five different levels to the programme, each designed for...

By Martin Walker Allan Oliver says Newton Aycliffe’s win over Darlington last Saturday was probably the best in the club’s history. Two first-half goals by Danny Earl was enough to give the Newtonians victory, with Scott Pocklington saving an 88th-minute penalty in late drama at Moore Lane Park. MATCH REPORT HERE ACTION...

Britain’s best-known polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes has been given a good luck mascot from a Newton Aycliffe school as he sets out  to be the first man to cross the Antartic during a polar winter. Packed in the 140 tons of supplies for the 2,000 mile trek across one of the harshest environments on the planet, where temperatures can...

Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet are being asked to support proposals for a Local Council Tax Support Scheme, following the abolition of the national council tax benefits system next year. Following a consultation exercise this autumn, a paper to members recommends the council preserves entitlement in line with what people would...

Aycliffe NPT Sergeant Mark Edwards continues his regular blog on Aycliffe Today… Hello again… As Christmas fast approaches, what’s new in Aycliffe? PC Kathryn Pudney is coming to the end of her initial five-week introduction to the team with a number of arrests and charges against criminals already under her belt! She joins us a...

Colin McNeillie's gallery of action pictures from Newton Aycliffe's victory over Darlington are below. HISTORIC RESULT FOR AYCLIFFE ...

A Newton Aycliffe beauty salon has gone bust just a year after starting out. Noir Hair and Beauty was launched on Aycliffe Business Park by local businesswoman Daniele Morris (pictured) in November 2012. But just 13 months later, the salon has closed down, with the loss of four jobs. Bewildered customers contacted Aycliffe Today to...