By Martin Walker Health officials have confirmed that concerns about inadequate smear tests at a Newton Aycliffe GP practice go back at least five years. As reported on Aycliffe Today last week, about 1,000 women in the Aycliffe area were being invited to have new smear tests because of fears that previous tests had been done...

By Glen Robertson A school teacher from Newton Aycliffe described being a torchbearer on the Olympic torch route as “one of the best days of my life”. Jon Tait, Assistant Head at Woodham CTC and Head Coach of the Woodham Warriors American football team, carried the flame through Stockton on the same day the torch visited Newton...

The next meeting of the Police and Communities Together (PACT) for the West Ward in Aycliffe will be held next week. Durham Constabulary are dedicated to making your neighbourhood safer. If you have any issues affecting your quality of life and want to discuss it with your Neighbourhood Policing Team then get involved in your local PACT...

Aycliffe Today Sports Editor and Newton Aycliffe FC reporter Glen Robertson continues his daily Euro 2012 blog… England 0-0 Italy – Italy win 4-2 on penalties Once again, England exited a major tournament via the dreaded spot-kicks. Ashley Young and Ashley Cole both missed their penalties, as the Italians progressed to a showdown...

Brodie Millichap picks out this week’s TV highlights... FIVE PICKS OF THE WEEK Today At Wimbledon: Monday BBC2, 8pm. Wimbledon begins this week and this is your first chance to catch the highlights of the first day’s play at the All England Club. Strawberries and cream at the ready as the experts take a look back at the opening day...

By Glen Robertson Around 1,000 women in Newton Aycliffe are being told they will have to repeat cervical smear tests, after it was revealed that the procedure wasn’t carried out correctly. Women who were tested at Bewick Crescent Surgery, some as long as 18 months ago, are being advised by health officials that they will need to re-do...

By Glen Robertson Newton Aycliffe dog-owners are being advised to take advantage of a new initiative after the council announced that residents living in South Durham can have their dogs microchipped for free. Getting a dog microchipped means it can be quickly and easily identified if it becomes lost or stray. An event is set to take...

Newton Aycliffe FC are asking their fans to help with ground maintenance next week as they continue preparations for next season. On Saturday June 30, the club are inviting volunteers to an official ‘spruce up day’ to ensure the ground is in top condition for the club’s pre-season commitments, including the visit of Premier League...

By Glen Robertson Four Newtonians will tackle the Coast to Coast bike ride next week in aid of local charity Just Say Yes. Anthony Cox, John Gillham, Michael Gillham and Ryan Gillham will be cycling the 140-mile journey from Whitehaven to Sunderland, starting on Tuesday June 26. All money raised will go to the Just Say Yes fund, the...

Aycliffe Today Sports Editor and Newton Aycliffe FC reporter Glen Robertson continues his daily Euro 2012 blog… Spain 2-0 France Another quarter-final, another embarrassingly one-sided game. Czech Republic, Greece and now France may as well have not turned up for the knockout stages. Spain had never beaten France in a tournament...