News

It has just started snowing at Swinhope and is forecast to continue through the night and all through tomorrow though getting lighter. There is a possibility that we will run the tows either Friday or Saturday, both if we are lucky, but we

A rogue trader who conned 24 victims of more than £31,000 has been sentenced to prison for 19 months. Mark Thirkell, aged 49, of Laburnum Park, Brandon was sentenced today at Durham Crown Court in a case brought by Durham

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is calling upon rural residents and businesses to speak up about crime and policing to shape future services in the way they want. Since first being elected as County Durham and Darlington’s PCC in

Across rural County Durham, voluntary organisations, community groups, and individuals know their communities best. They know what it is like to struggle with transport, feel isolated, or keep local services going with limited funding and time. Iin 2026, a programme

Photo: left to right – Speaker Greg McCormick, Food Bank member Debbie Richardson, Chair of BACS Brian Haywood. Following his successful talk to Bishop Auckland Civic Society, speaker Greg McCormick requested that his fee be donated to a local food

Councillors in County Durham have this morning agreed to recommend an overall 1.99 per cent increase in council tax. Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet revised their proposed increase and agreed to reassess proposed savings following the announcement earlier this

A council has pledged to celebrate and encourage reading with a year-long programme of events. Durham County Council is supporting the National Year of Reading, a major nationwide push to get people of all ages behind the pages of books.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen is empowering residents to use their voice to help her make ongoing improvements to neighbourhood policing – just as they have asked. The County Durham and Darlington PCC is set to examine the force’s

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has confirmed she will increase the policing element of council tax in County Durham and Darlington by £18.50 a year for a Band D property, following clear public support and against a recommendation from

North Pennines Playwrights, a group of local writers, have been working together to write a new stage play that celebrates the lead mining heritage of our area. Lead and Silver is inspired by North Pennines National Landscape’s Land of Lead

The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) has commented on business rate increases as having a detrimental impact on wedding, and other hospitality venues. Gavin Lane, CLA President, said: “This tax could kill the dream of the countryside wedding. Entrepreneurs

Every year, hundreds of thousands of new drivers set out to buy their first car, faced with the challenge of balancing affordability with reliability. With the cost of living rising, choosing a car that is cheap to insure, run, and

A group of Tow Law people are busy organising a Flower Festival to be held later in the year in memory of celebrated flower arranger, Norman Deacon. To that end, a fundraising Coffee Morning will be held in the church

Celebrity chef Phil Vickery is to make a welcome return to a popular North East food festival this spring. Phil, who has graced screens for more than a quarter of a century on ITV show This Morning, will be leading

Let us take a trip down memory lane…and you can leave comments too!

Councillors will decide next week whether to go ahead with plans to develop a bypass around a County Durham village – or keep the funding for future use and introduce additional road safety measures. A bypass scheme for Toft Hill

A North East council has set out its final budget ahead of it being formally considered this month. Durham County Council’s Cabinet is being recommended to agree proposals for the authority’s budget for 2026/27, as well as its updated Medium