New arrangements for safeguarding children in County Durham are set to come into place well ahead of a Government deadline. Durham Local Safeguarding Children Board is to be replaced by a new body as part of national changes to safeguarding provision. Partner organisations across the country have until the end of June to notify the Secretary...

Woodham Academy’s soon-to-be new head teacher says he’s privileged to be taking on the role later this summer. Andrew Bell will succeed Christine Forsyth as Woodham’s head in September. And he says he wants to build on the work Mrs Forsyth has made during her eight-year spell as the school’s leader. “I think I am pretty clear,...

Aycliffe-based Tekmar Group has revealed it has completed the acquisition of Ryder Geotechnical. AgileTek Engineering, part of the Tekmar Group, has acquired the firm from Fraser Gibson and Nigel Jeremy Martin. Ryder Geotechnical, founded by Fraser Gibson in 2016, provide expert geotechnical design and consulting services in the offshore...

By Donna Campbell The focus in this weekend’s racing was the Dishforth Dash 10k and Ropner Park. Dishforth Dash was in its second year and takes place on the unused Airfield at RAF DIshforth which means it is almost completely flat and a great venue for PB potential. It was a good turn out from the Club for this race (pictured below)...

More than 24,000 illegal cigarettes, 129kg of rolling tobacco and £50,000 in cash has been seized in the past 12 months as part of efforts to crack down on the illegal tobacco trade in County Durham. The figures are revealed in a report to Durham County Council’s Cabinet which also shows that four custodial sentences, totally more than five...

A report by the North of England’s leading universities and top Tees Valley officials has highlighted how the chemical and process sector across the Northern Powerhouse could grow by more than £20 billion over the next 20 years. The Northern Powerhouse Chemicals and Processing Sector Science and Innovation Audit is one of a selection of...

Brave Newtonian Millie Robson had her wish granted to meet British girl group Little Mix at an exclusive event in London, thanks to Rays of Sunshine Children’s Charity. Rays of Sunshine ambassadors, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson took time out of their busy schedule to meet a group of 12 children with...

After the heavy rain washed out the majority of the fixtures last weekend it was back to action for the Aycliffe Juniors football teams this week. The Under 6’s played a series of mini games at Bishop St Mary’s Kings. They won one, drew one and lost two with Will scoring five goals during the games. The Under 7’s White lost out in...

Aycliffe Business Park residents Mobile Rocket are delighted to have been shortlisted for not one but two North East Business Awards. The business has been shortlisted in the categories of innovation and digital technology, recognising their innovative approach to developing new products and services within the mobile apps market, at the...

HC-One’s St Clare’s Court care home in Newton Aycliffe has been voted by residents and relatives as one of the top 20 recommended care homes in the North East in the carehome.co.uk awards 2019 for the fourth year in a row. Carehome.co.uk is the UK’s leading care home comparison website, and this recognition for St Clare’s Court is based...