Aycliffe players returned to pre-season training for their first session this week. The Northern League season begins on Saturday 11th August with the FA Cup, followed by the opening league game on Saturday 18th August. Meanwhile, Aycliffe are gearing up for their huge pre-season friendly against Sunderland on Friday 20th July (7.30pm)...

Aycliffe Today Sports Editor and Newton Aycliffe FC reporter Glen Robertson continues his daily Euro 2012 blog… So close, and yet so far away. The neutrals’ dream final of Spain versus Germany was within touching distance, but the inspired Italians stole the limelight with a terrific display. Mario Balotelli – you may have heard...

Newton Aycliffe NPT Sergeant Mark Edwards continues his regular blog on Aycliffe Today… Hello everyone, I’d just like to start with highlighting that in the 12 months or so since May last year there has been a 42% reduction in all incidents of anti-social behaviour across the force area. In the Shafto St Mary’s ward here in...

By Martin Walker The over-subscribed Hitachi construction open day on Thursday was a huge success. Staged brilliantly by the Xcel Centre’s superb conference team and delivered in sophisticated businesslike fashion, the 400-plus guests went away under no illusions that the much-awaited Hitachi factory is within touching distance. Key...

Aycliffe Today Sports Editor and Newton Aycliffe FC reporter Glen Robertson continues his daily Euro 2012 blog… Spain 0-0 Portugal – Spain win 4-2 on penalties See how much more fun penalties are, when they involve two other nations? Spain are on the verge of history after seeing off neighbours Portugal via spot-kicks. They can...

By Martin Walker Phil Wilson told more than 400 business delegates he expects the eagerly-awaited Hitachi factory to be the “new Nissan for the North-East”. Mr Wilson, the Labour MP for Sedgefield who played a major part in helping to bring Hitachi to the town, opened the proceedings at Thursday’s construction open day at the Xcel...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe have been boosted with the re-signing of eight players. Chairman and assistant manager Gary Farley took the Aycliffe squad for their first pre-season training session on Wednesday evening. Eight of the players who finished last season with the Newtonians have signed up for the 2012-13 campaign, despite...

The Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) are looking for volunteers to help with two projects aimed at improving the health, wellbeing and quality of life for local people. Befrienders for Volunteer Health Buddy Scheme - to provide support for clients who will be isolated, lonely or vulnerable to regain their independence and confidence and...

By Martin Walker A chemical firm responsible for an illegal gas release in Newton Aycliffe has been fined £10,000. It happened at Ineos, near School Aycliffe, as 56 tonnes of gas, particles and steam were shot into the Aycliffe sky, leaving homes at the nearby Chestnuts housing estate coated in white powder. As reported in today’s...

By Martin Walker Phil Wilson has moved to reassure Newtonians that the long-awaited Hitachi deal is still on track. Reports over the weekend had claimed that the number of carriages to be produced at Hitachi’s planned train-building factory in Newton Aycliffe is being cut – threatening the whole project. But the Department for...