With just weeks to go until the start of the London 2012 Olympics, Durham Constabulary has been working with national colleagues to help resource the largest ever pre-planned policing operation in the UK. At the same time, the force has been putting in place arrangements to ensure core policing across County Durham and Darlington will...

Durham County Council’s housing arm, Durham City Homes, is one of seven similar organisations working with the Northern Housing Consortium and Sheffield Hallam University on a study into the economic impact they have on the northern economy. The study will consider the impact the sector has financially as well as looking at its effect on...

By Martin Walker The Aycliffe Sub Aqua Club have scooped a national award for the second successive year. The 30-year-old group was again selected by a panel of Sub Aqua Association judges as the country’s stand-out organisation, awarding Aycliffe the Golden Club for Outstanding Achievement. It comes after another year of hard work...

By Martin Walker Newton Aycliffe captain Sean Tarling was close to tears as his close friend Ross Turnbull got his hands on the European Cup on Saturday. Tarling was among the crowd at the stunning 70,000-capacity Allianz Arena in Munich, along with two of Turnbull’s other pals Lewis Toole and Anthony Moors, as Chelsea recorded a...

By Martin Walker Ross Turnbull became the first-ever Newtonian to pick up a European Cup medal on Saturday night as Chelsea won the Champions League in a dramatic final. The Londoners clinched a nail-biting penalty shoot-out victory over Bayern Munich in Germany to claim their first Champions League title. Aycliffe watched on as...

By Martin Walker MP Phil Wilson admits Newton Aycliffe has been “punching below its weight” for some time, but is looking forward to seeing that change over the next few years. The Member of Parliament for Sedgefield, whose constituency office is based in Aycliffe town centre, played a major role in bringing Hitachi to the town and...

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...