Twenty new jobs have been created since a support programme to help County Durham engineering and manufacturing companies to grow launched. The Incubator Zone was added to the EMCON line-up in 2017 to attract those companies who had never before exhibited at the event. They include Keith Ivory and Darren Race from Beacon 365 (pictured...

Residents in County Durham are being reminded to team up to take advantage of a multibuy special offer on compost bins. During Compost Awareness Week, which runs until May 11, Durham County Council is promoting a special buy one, get one half-price Share and Save offer on a selection of compost bins, to suit everyone from composting beginners...

By Donna Campbell Compared to recent weeks it was a quieter weekend in terms of races this week so limited race news. In the absence of races however, we did have a considerable show of people at the local parkruns with one of our members achieving a PB at Hardwick Parkrun, Sedgefield. Well done to Jan McLuckie on her PB of 33.29. On...

Residents in Great Aycliffe & Middridge can find out how local issues are being tackled when the local area action partnership holds their next board meeting and AGM later this month. The Great Aycliffe & Middridge Partnership board will be meeting on Tuesday 21 May 2019, between 6pm and 8pm at Woodham Community Centre, and members of...

Durham Constabulary’s Chief Constable Mike Barton has taken the plunge and leapt out of a plane for charity. Mr Barton took part in a tandem skydive with the Red Devils at the Old Sarum Airfield, near Salisbury, last week to raise money for the Police Treatment Centres. He has raised more than £2,630 for the charity, which looks after...

County Durham residents can still sign up to have their garden waste collected. Durham County Council’s garden waste collection service is still available to residents, with collections starting as soon as possible after sign up. Victoria Burrell, waste strategy team manager, said: “Well over 56,000 residents are already taking advance...

A round-up of the weekend’s cricket action… Saturday 4th May – NYSD Division 2 Thornaby 2nd XI v Newton Aycliffe 1st XI – weather was very cold and windy. Aycliffe won the toss and chose to bowl first. Thornaby 2nd XI 263 for 5 declared after 48 overs James Layfield-Carroll 4 for 44 and Sam Telford 1 for 44 Newton Aycliffe 1st...

Two men who charged customers tens of thousands of pounds for misdescribed and sub-standard roof work across County Durham and the North-East have been jailed. John Gerrard Harrop, 43, of Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland and Samuel Smith, 38, formerly of Geneva Road, Darlington, were each sent to prison by a crown court judge for 32 months...

Aycliffe councillor John Clare says the Labour Party has been “punished by Brexit” after the traditionally strong North-East party was pummelled in regional elections this week. While the next Aycliffe and Durham County Council elections aren’t until 2021, Labour lost swathes of council seats in other local polls on Thursday. The...

By Donna Campbell It was again a busy week with racing during the week. First up was john Surtees who travelled to the Monkton Stadium for the North East Grand Prix for North East Counties athletic Association. On this occasion John was competing in the 10,000m which is 25 laps of an outdoor track. John completed this in 35.15.11. Closer...