Durham County Council is once again celebrating an overall improvement in GCSE results. 2012 is the tenth year that County Durham has seen an increase in pass rates, confirming the quality of education in the county’s schools. 62 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, at GCSE. This...

By Glen Robertson Newton Aycliffe will welcome back player of the year Darren Craddock for the trip to Team Northumbria on Saturday. The defender has missed the club's last three matches through work commitments, as the Newtonians lost their opening two league games and were dumped out the FA Cup by Holker Old Boys. Fellow defenders...

Seven Woodham students have amassed a staggering 86 A*/A grade GCSEs between them! Heather Archer and Aaron Hetherington both achieved 14 A*/A grades. Oliver Dobson and Josie Eldridge achieved A*/A grades in each of the 13 subjects they took. Leanne Smith, Ethan Lunn and Oliver Bainbridge all achieved double figures. All of the students...

Our panel of three football writers give their predictions on Newton Aycliffe’s game this weekend… Three points are awarded if our ‘experts’ pick the exact score, 1 point awarded if they get the result correct. All three experts again put the hex on Allan's men last weekend, as the club opened their campaign with a 1-0 defeat...

By Glen Robertson Newton Aycliffe fell to a disappointing 4-1 defeat at the hands of Hebburn Town under the floodlights at Moore Lane Park. Two goals in each half for the visitors meant Paul Robinson’s strike counted for nothing as the Newtonians slipped to a second successive defeat. Allan Oliver was forced to ring the changes as...

A Newton Aycliffe man smashed a car window and abused a couple in their home after drinking for several hours with friends. As reported in today’s Northern Echo, Kevin Welham, 29, of Silverdale Place, was seen arguing with another man in the street in Rowan Place at 1.15am on 7th August. The other man walked away, but Welham turned and...

More than £70,000 has been spent on giving a row of Newton Aycliffe shops a makeover. Funding from GAMP - to the tune of £30,000 - has been used to enhance Neville Parade, which was built in the 1950s and in much need of regeneration and improvements. Supported by the Area Action Partnership, the scheme included increasing the number...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat at home to Hebburn Town on Wednesday night. On the back of their Northern League opening day loss at Marske United on Saturday, the Newtonians were stuffed by the South Tyneside club at Moore Lane Park. The setback marks a worrying start to the 2012-13 season for...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe boss Allan Oliver insists there’s no need to panic just yet, after his side lost their opening game of the season on Saturday. The Newtonians were beaten 1-0 at Marske United at the weekend, thanks to a 75th-minute strike by ex-Boro winger Nathan Porritt. The result rubbed salt into the wounds for...

Newton Aycliffe residents are being invited to comment on proposals that will help to shape development in the Durham county over the next 15 to 20 years. The County Durham Plan preferred options set out key proposals including the future housing, employment and retail development needed across County Durham to ensure a sustainable future...