A total of 2,241 drivers were breath-tested by officers during the national Christmas Drink and Drug Drive campaign in Cleveland and Durham. The campaign took place throughout December with the theme this time being ‘The Only Safe Drink is a Soft Drink.’ Of all the motorists tested 102 either gave a positive result, refused to take...

To encourage people to become fitter and healthier in 2014, Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) and Local Motion are organising free six-week courses to help you kick start the ‘new you’. Two Healthy Lifestyle Courses will be running at two different venues in Newton Aycliffe for 6 weeks starting on Monday 20 January. Additional courses...

A group of year 8 students from Woodham Academy are taking part in the Durham Future Business Magnates Challenge this year. The challenge requires year 8 students to work together as a business to come up with a business idea and develop it into the prototype stage. The group is being supported in the challenge by local company Ebac, who...

Police dogs Jet and Ben recently visited Stephenson Way Community Primary School as part of work the children have been doing on social awareness and safety in the community. The dogs were impeccably behaved as their handler Clare spoke to the children about the need to be wary of strangers and the importance of not taking anything from, or...

Views are being sought on proposals for tree management in County Durham. A proposed policy sets out how Durham County Council will maintain and manage trees and people are asked to give their feedback. The policy will include information on: how the council will respond when complaint or reports are received regarding trees the...

It may be only January but preparations are already well underway for this year’s Great Aycliffe Show, to be held on the August Bank Holiday weekend, 23 and 24 August 2014. The Show is a popular and free attraction for the whole family. The Show organiser, Great Aycliffe Town Council, aims to encourage community involvement in the Show...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe's MP says the decision to hand local firm Finley Structures the job of constructing Hitachi's new train-building factory is "wonderful" for the area. Family-run Finley’s - based within a mile of the Hitachi site, as the image above shows - have been given the task of constructing the steel frame for...

By Martin Walker Hitachi Rail Europe say they're delighted that Finley Structures have secured the contract to build their factory - and are confident the family-run firm can deliver. Darlington firm Shepherd Construction, the main contractor for the project, has given Finley’s the task of constructing the steel frame of the main...

By Martin Walker Family-run steel company Finley Structures has been awarded a multi-million pound deal to construct Hitachi Rail Europe’s train-building factory. Darlington firm Shepherd Construction, the main contractor for the project, has given Finley’s the task of constructing the steel frame of the main factory on the 42,700sqm...

By Martin Walker A rapidly-growing engineering company has agreed a deal to take over the former Tetley’s factory on Aycliffe Business Park. Tekmar Energy, which provides bespoke cable protection systems to both the global oil & gas and offshore renewables industries, will move in to the 90,000 sq. ft. facility as part of its...