Brodie Millichap picks out this week’s TV highlights… Five Picks Of The Week Bad Santas: Monday 9pm, Channel 4. The first of a two-part documentary, to be concluded the following night, exploring what challenges unemployed men must meet at one of the UK’s most successful Santa schools in order to work in Santa’s grotto. We...

Students from Woodham Academy took to the stage for their annual Christmas concert. Around 60 students altogether were involved in the performance, from newer members of Year 7 to the regular faces of Year 11 students. A new addition to this year’s programme was the inclusion of Woodham Dance Academy, which was launched in...

A Newton Aycliffe man has been jailed for burgling a factory on Aycliffe Business Park. As revealed by Neighbourhood Police Team Sergeant Mark Edwards in his latest blog on Aycliffe Today, Craig Richard Blackburn, 32, from Aycliffe, was convicted at Durham Crown Court for offences of burglary committed at Aclet Electronics in November...

Newton Aycliffe are now six points clear of the relegation places in the Ebac Northern League first division. Their 3-1 win at Penrith on Saturday saw them leapfrog Durham into 19th in the table (sixth-bottom) after Durham’s 4-0 defeat at home to Darlington. Read our Match Report here. Ebac Northern League Division One...

A Newton Aycliffe man was let-off with a conditional discharge after causing damage to a vehicle. As revealed by Neighbourhood Police Team Sergeant Mark Edwards in his latest blog on Aycliffe Today, Gary Cameron, 38, from the town, was convicted at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on Wednesday (12th December) of causing criminal damage to...

By Glen Robertson Newton Aycliffe came from behind to record a hugely important 3-1 victory against Penrith. Steven Rigg gave the home side an eighth-minute lead, but Danny Earl netted a second-half brace and Danny Lambert added a third as the Newtonians moved six points clear of their opponents and leapfrogged Durham in the...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe Police have launched a festive crackdown on shoplifting in the town – and have already made arrests. The Christmas initiative, named Operation China, has heralded a number of results, according to Neighbourhood Police Team Sergeant Mark Edwards. In his latest blog on Aycliffe Today, Sgt Edwards...

Glen Robertson previews Aycliffe’s trip to Penrith… It has been claimed that Newton Aycliffe’s game against Darlington last weekend was the Royal Blues’ cup final, but just one week later the club face a much more important game away at Penrith. While a first-ever visit of Darlington to Moore Lane Park in a competitive game was...

By Martin Walker Popular Newton Aycliffe Councillor Enid Paylor has sadly passed away. Mrs Paylor, a Great Aycliffe Town Councillor and Durham County Councillor for the town’s West Ward, died at around 3am on Tuesday (11th December), leaving her husband Terry and two sons. Tributes have already been coming in to Aycliffe...

A 25-year-old man received face and head injuries during an unprovoked assault in Newton Aycliffe this week. The man was attacked by two men on Emerson Way, near the junction of Pease Way, while walking home at 9.30pm on Tuesday, December 12. One attacker is described as being white, skinny and around 6ft tall, with dark cropped hair and...