News
Darlington Mart Christmas Show
Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their annual Christmas show and sale of prime stock on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th November 2025. Forward were 233 cattle and 1629 sheep. 74 Prime Bulls sold to 500ppk or £379933 Prime Steers sold
Free Festive Baking at Stanhope
Louise Watson will be running a Festive Baking session at St Thomas’s church Hall, Stanhope on Monday 1st December, 6-8.30pm. Participants will make a Cinnamon Star and some Mince Pies. The event is organised by Age UK Chapter 50 project
WOLSINGHAM RESIDENTS URGED TO CONSIDER FOREST PLANS
RESIDENTS in Wolsingham may want to consider the increase in traffic that may be caused if a controversial planning application is allowed in Hansterley Forest. Campaigners against the plans, which include building 70 high end wooden cabins, each with its
Eastgate Annual Christmas Tree Festival
Come and join us for our Annual Christmas Tree Festival — with over 30 beautifully decorated trees on display! 🎅 Enjoy the festive atmosphere☕ Have some refreshments🎁 Take part in our giant Christmas raffle💌 Write letters to Santa🕵️♀️ Join the
Michele Armstrong named Heritage Volunteering Group’s Volunteer Leader of the Year 2025
The Auckland Project is celebrating after Michele Armstrong, Head of Volunteering, was named Heritage Volunteering Group’s Volunteer Leader of the Year 2025, recognising her outstanding contribution to volunteering across the heritage sector in the North East and beyond. With more
Welcome to December and January at Wolsingham Methodist Church
THE outside of our Church was beautifully decorated with many hand-made poppies during November, many thanks to all who were involved. Sunday 7th December 3.30pm. Candles of Remembrance and labels hung on the Christmas tree. Saturday 13th December -Christmas Coffee
CLA comments on Chancellor’s Budget
The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) has commented on the Chancellor’s budget announcement today. The CLA has been lobbying extensively against the UK Government’s inheritance tax reforms since they were first announced by Rachel Reeves in last year’s Autumn
Weardale Open Mic – Bringing Music Back to the Valley
A new community initiative is starting to take shape in Weardale with the aim of bringing musicians, performers and residents together through a series of relaxed Open Mic nights. Local resident, Andy Clarke from Wearhead, has created the Weardale Open
Remarkable Neapolitan Nativity returns to Auckland Palace for Christmas
Bishop Auckland will be the only place in the UK where people can see an elaborate 18th-century nativity scene from Naples this festive season, comprising over 400 intricately crafted figures depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. The Auckland Project will
CLA comments on newly launched 3-year rural crime strategy
The CLA (Country Land and Business Association) comments on a newly launched (today) Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2025 – 2028 which focuses on intelligence-led policing with advanced data analytics and crime mapping used to identify crime hotspots and track
CHRISTMAS MARKET AND LIGHTS SWITCH IN STANHOPE
IT’S that time of year again with Father Christmas very busy in the North Pole frantically preparing for his round the world trip. Meanwhile, in Stanhope, Santa’s little helpers have been working hard with the culmination of the year-long planning
PCC joins families and road safety campaigners to remember lives lost and devastated by road tragedy
Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen joined grieving families, MPs and road safety leaders for a moving service to remember victims of road tragedies on the region’s roads. The service, held at Durham Cathedral on Sunday (23 November), marked World
Local film-maker to screen Christmas Eve horror
Dean Midas, the celebrated, award-winning film director hailing from Durham, has officially announced his next short film: Christmas Eve. The project is set to revive his popular horror character, Eve Valentine, bringing a chilling new installment to her dark and
Council to consult on savings proposals
Residents can have their say on an additional set of savings proposals as a North East council moves towards setting its budget. Durham County Council is moving towards finalising its budget planning for 2026/27 and the following three years as
Darlington Mart
Darlington Farmers Auction Mart held their weekly sale of cast cattle, store and breeding stock and their fortnightly sale of fodder on Monday 24th November 2025. Forward were 299 cattle, 1211 sheep and 172 bales of fodder. 98 Cast Cows/OTM
Wolsingham Bridge closure put back one day
THE closure to traffic that was to start today (November 25th) has been put back by one day. One resident at least on the south side of the bridge had not received notice of the delay in closure although residents
Festive Fayre at Crook
AS the Festive season is just around the corner, folk up and down Dale are preparing for the big man’s arrival. Community-minded people are working hard to help others, especially the children, to celebrate the birth of Jesus in events
COMMUNITY COHESION SPELLS CHRISTMAS AT FIR TREE
THE power of community and what it can achieve was evident at Fir Tree at the weekend when villagers came together to launch the start of Christmas. The Fir Tree and Harperley Residents’ Association has worked hard for weeks organising