News

Weardale to Stratford-upon-Avon Train Experience Offers Exclusive Discounts for County Durham and Darlington Community Groups
A County Durham–based rail events company is inviting local community groups to experience a unique day out this summer, with exclusive group discounts being offered as a thank you to the volunteers and organisations who do so much to support

Paving the way for improvements along the A690
A £3m programme to deliver improvements on a busy County Durham road is to continue, with preparatory work taking place ahead of the installation of new traffic lights. Durham County Council secured £2.94m in funding from the Department for Transport

High price to pay for fly-tipper caught on camera
A man who dumped rubble at the side of a country lane in County Durham has been left more than £1,000 out of pocket. John Paul Cliff was captured on CCTV dumping the building waste into a hedgerow and down

LOCAL LAD LEADING NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN
A road safety campaign by the Scottish Government to tackle speeding on Scotland’s roads stars 21-year-old Cameron Pinkney in the driving seat. A former pupil at Wolsingham Primary School, Cam has competed in Autotest trials from a young age, following

Paul Beddard Memorial Darts Tournament at Westgate
A DARTS tournament was held in the Hare and Hounds public house in Westgate last night. In memory of Paul Beddard from Westgate who died suddenly ten years ago, the annual competition was organised and run by Peter Nattrass, also

The Weardale Sewing Rooms
Changes have been taking place in the Weardale Sewing Rooms since it opened in May last year. The children at their sewing class have renamed themselves. They are now known as: ‘BUTTONS & BISCUITS’ The Sewing Rooms also now have

WEARDALE WARBLERS SINGING THEIR WAY TO HAPPINESS
THE Weardale Warblers choir, based in Wolsingham, is continuing to grow and succeed and now into it’s ninth year. Founded in 2017 by Dawn Gregory and fellow members of Wolsingham WI, it was originally funded by the NHS Wellbeing for

Positive feedback for council following Corporate Peer Challenge
“A financially stable organisation, delivering high performing services and outcomes, with trusted relationships being built between officers and members” – that’s how Durham County Council has been described in an independent review. A Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) carried out by

Protect the North Pennines before 10th February
The North Pennines is a living, working landscape. Its beauty and wildlife exist because of the hard work, skill and investment of land managers over generations. A new plan is being written that will shape how this landscape is managed

Runners asked to go for glory and support the RNLI in the Great North Run
The RNLI is putting the call out to runners who would like to raise money for the RNLI as part of the Great North Run. All the money raised will go to the charity’s work of saving lives at sea

Consultation open on the next Management Plan for the North Pennines
Organisations, community groups and individuals are being asked for their views on theconsultation draft of a five-year plan to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of theNorth Pennines.Every five years the North Pennines National Landscape partnership produces amanagement plan, on


Council reviews financial position ahead of final budget
A North East council has updated its financial assumptions after completing an extensive consultation on savings to help balance its budget next year. Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be given an update on the authority’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP)

Woman fined for using Blue Badge to avoid parking ticket
A woman has been fined after being caught using the Blue Badge of an elderly man she used to care for. Durham County Council took legal action against Carys Coates, of Hill View, Esh Winning, after a civil enforcement officer

£60,000 funding boost to support women across County Durham and Darlington
Picture Shows (L-R): PCC Joy Allen, Keagan Price (survivor) and Linda Kirk (Founder of Just for Women) Community organisations across County Durham and Darlington are set to share £60,000 in new funding to support women facing complex challenges, following investment

DARLINGTON MART
Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of cast cattle, store and breeding stock and their fortnightly sale of rearing calves on Monday 12th January 2026. Forward were 303 cattle, 845 sheep and 114 calves. 133 Cast Cows/OTM sold

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS CAR?
THE car in the photographs was stolen in the early hours of October 16th last year from Acomb, near Hexham and the owner is desperate to have it returned. The dash cam from this vehicle was found in Thornley Village,

It’s panto time again at St John’s Chapel – oh yes it is!
The annual pantomime will take place in the Upper Weardale Town Hall at St John’s Chapel next weekend. Organised and directed by Tina Raynor, as it has been for many years, The Phoenix Players this year will be telling the