Newton Aycliffe will welcome Hartlepool United to Newton Aycliffe for a pre-season friendly next month. Pools – managed by Boro legend and former player Craig Hignett (pictured) – finished 16th in the National League last season. The National League, formerly known as the Conference, is four steps higher than Aycliffe’s Northern League...

Residents are being reminded not to place items inside bags when filling their recycling bins and boxes. Stickers will be attached to all recycling wheelie bins in County Durham from Tuesday, 25 June, advising households that bags – such as black bin liners, bags for life and carrier bags – should not be included. It is part of Durham...

Sara Davies MBE, founder and creative director of Crafter’s Companion, is celebrating after being named one of Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35. Sara set up Crafter’s Companion in 2005 from her university bedroom, while studying for a business degree at York University. Today, the company exports to more than 40 different countries...

Greenfield Community College recently held its annual sports presentation evening. The school has been recently recognised with the afPE Quality mark status that acknowledges the outstanding results in individual and team achievements. All students who attended the presentation received a certificate to celebrate their achievement in the...

Aldi is to trial removing plastic from some fresh vegetables in Newton Aycliffe as part of its campaign to cut waste packaging. Following the success of a trial selling five loose fresh produce lines without plastic wrapping in Scotland, which was launched earlier this year, the supermarket now intends to sell the plastic-free vegetables across...

Thrive is celebrating its new status as a Google Partner with an expanding client portfolio. The Aycliffe Business Park company’s digital marketing team, made up of Sarah Burns (pictured above right) and Rachael Farley (left), are riding high on the success of their newly-implemented PPC service. Thrive only unveiled its PPC offering in...

Lee Weldon’s weekly round-up from the wicket… Saturday 22nd June – NYSD Division 2 Newton Aycliffe 1st XI v Stockton 1st XI (Match sponsored by Upex) – weather was warm and sunny. Aycliffe won the toss and chose to bowl first. Stockton 1st XI 183 all out after 42.3 overs Patrick Howe 7 for 35, Adam Randall 1 for 3 and Jack...

Woodham Academy will be launching a new Performing Arts Academy in September. This will give all students the opportunity to develop their skills in music, drama, sound and lighting, set design and costume design. Following this year’s hugely successful performance of Grease, the Performing Arts Academy will stage a musical in the Spring...

By 2035, County Durham will have more and better jobs, people will live long and independent lives and communities will be well connected and supportive. That’s the vision being proposed for the area by the County Durham Partnership – but do you agree with this ambition for the future? Residents, business and visitors to the county are...

By Donna Campbell The racing this past week started in what were atrocious conditions at two different races. Firstly two members attended the Newburn River Run in Northumberland. This was a six-mile course in very wet conditions. Mark Bainbridge completed this in 47.26 and he was followed by John Richardson in 51.21. There was also...