A growing Aycliffe-based training and apprenticeship provider has grown immeasurably since launching just over five years ago after delivering sustained results for employers. Optimum Skills was set up in November 2013 with a handful of staff and now employs 37 people from its premises at Bede House on Aycliffe Business Park. The firm works...

Police have confirmed a woman died following a car crash which left a man seriously injured. The incident on Monday morning involved a black Volkswagen T-Roc which was travelling from School Aycliffe towards Horndale Avenue in Newton Aycliffe. On reaching the mini roundabout junction, the vehicle continued straight over the junction and...

Here's how our MP Phil Wilson voted in the latest charade of votes in the House of Commons... Business of the House (3 Apr 2019) Voted (aye) to amend the main motion to allow indicative votes on EU withdrawal on 8th April (division #402; result was 310 aye, 310 no) Business of the House (3 Apr 2019) Voted (aye) to allow all proceedings on...

By Donna Campbell The last weekend was a relatively quiet one in terms of racing for Aycliffe Running Club. As always we had good numbers participate in the local parkruns with John Richardson securing a PB at Darlington in 23.37. Aside from that we had two runners take part in the Consiton 14. This is a difficult but very scenic course...

Councillors joined residents during a litter-pick which collected 15 bags of rubbish. Horndale Community Association held the Spring Litter Pick last weekend, as part of Durham County Council’s Big Spring Clean Up. Several local residents were joined by County Councillors John Clare, Scott Durham and Paul Howell – they picked litter...

Crafter’s Companion was named International Business of the Year at the North East Federation of Small Businesses’ (FSB) Celebrating Small Business Awards. Following its award success, Crafter’s Companion will represent the North East at the FSB’s national ceremony in Battersea this summer. The company was commended for its worldwide...

A pro-cyclist will be back racing on home turf when Durham hosts the eagerly awaited OVO Energy Tour Series for a record-breaking tenth time. The North East’s own Scott Auld will be among the elite cyclists taking on the gruelling 1.4km circuit in the shadow of the city’s historic cathedral on Saturday, 18 May. The series was launched in...

The Woodham Dance Academy have been working hard in preparation for their annual half-term Dance Showcase, but this has not been their sole focus. Once getting over the Christmas concerts, they returned in the New Year ready for Woodham Academy’s Grease performance. Every lunch time, the Dance Academy have rehearsed nonstop to prepare for...

A Newton Aycliffe development site with the potential to create more than 3,000 jobs is being promoted as an investment opportunity by the Government on an international level. Forrest Park in Newton Aycliffe is one of 11 projects to feature in a property portfolio, launched by the Department for International Trade, to showcase the wide array...

It was another exciting weekend of Football action for the Aycliffe Juniors teams. The Under 7’s White got back to winning ways with a 3-2 win against Bishop Juniors. The Aycliffe team started slowly and found themselves 2-1 down at half time but they improved after the break to seal the victory. There was a brace of goals for Joel and one...