By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe FC have confirmed a huge pre-season friendly with North-East Premier League giants Sunderland! Aycliffe will welcome a Black Cats XI to Moore Lane Park on Friday 20th July – kick-off 7.30pm. The Newtonians, who finished ninth in their first Northern League top-flight campaign last season after...

By Martin Walker Newtonian Jason Steele says he’d be “honoured” to represent Team GB at this summer’s Olympic Games. The Boro goalkeeper, who still lives in Aycliffe, was included in Stuart Pearce’s initial 80-man squad for the tournament. But that list will be whittled down to 18 later this month. And while Steele...

By Martin Walker Police have confirmed the fire in Newton Aycliffe earlier this week is not being treated as suspicious. A 65-year-old woman died in hospital after the fire at Honister Place on Monday afternoon, while her 37-year-old son survived and has since been released from Darlington Memorial. Police are still yet to officially...

By Martin Walker The exciting new Soccer Factory will bring a state-of-the-art multi-purpose sports facility to Newton Aycliffe and up to 30 new jobs, according to its creator. The £1.7m development, in the old Thirslington Building just off Durham Way South, is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Dan Lewis (pictured), who spent seven...

By Martin Walker Work on an exciting state-of-the-art indoor football facility in Newton Aycliffe is set to start within weeks. The £1.7m Soccer Factory is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Dan Lewis, who aims to open the new complex by the autumn. The 85,000 sq ft unit on Aycliffe Business Park, vacated by Thrislington in 2008,...

Seven men are due to appear before Magistrates at Newton Aycliffe on Friday morning to face drugs charges after early-morning raids on Wednesday. Police launched a major drugs operation to tackle a suspected heroin network near Newton Aycliffe on Wednesday morning. Nine people were arrested in the first part of the drugs crackdown in the...

By Martin Walker A man was found dead in Darlington by police last night. Officers were called to an address in Chandos Street on Wednesday evening, where they found the body of a 35-year-old man. He was found inside the house and pronounced dead. A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said the death was currently being treated as...

By Martin Walker A pensioner suffered a fractured leg and a head injury after a car collided with his mobility scooter in Darlington. The accident happened on Woodlands Road at around 3.30pm on Wednesday, and involved a Mini INI car. The car driver, a woman in her 50s from Bishop Auckland, was unhurt. The man was taken to nearby...

County Durham has been chosen as one of 10 areas to share in a £1m national fund to reduce alcohol-related harm. The money will go to three rural communities to help them address anti-social behaviour linked to underage drinking. It has been awarded to Three Towns Area Action Partnership (AAP), to reduce alcohol harm in Tow Law, Crook...

Debbie Elizabeth serves up her weekly mouthwatering suggestion for Aycliffe Today readers. This week... Baked Lamb Shank Ingredients • 6 sprigs of fresh rosemary • 150g cold butter • 15 fresh sage leaves • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves picked • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 4 lamb shanks, preferably...