Our website uses cookies to provide additional functionality You currently have cookies blocked so will have limited access to some features on the website The magistrates heard that the landlord of the West Road premises had applied to have a previous closure order lifted after advising our Trading Standards team that they would take steps to prevent the criminal activity occurring again there It wasn't long before the Trading Standards team obtained evidence that the new tenants in the shop were supplying illegal tobacco and non-compliant vapes Officers executed a warrant of entry at the shop the flat above the premises and a vehicle believed to be connected to the store several different members of the public from the local area approached Trading Standards officers and the police to point out that a van which had been parked in front of a garage for a week was being used by the shop workers for storing illicit products An emergency warrant was obtained from magistrates for the van and entry was gained Inside the back of the van were three bags containing illicit tobacco products and non-compliant vapes the team seized 5,900 cigarettes and 5.5kg of hand rolling tobacco along with 30 non-compliant disposable electronic cigarettes with a combined illicit market value of around £2,737 The court heard that the shop workers denied any knowledge of the van even though it was registered in the same name as one of the store workers which had been causing an obstruction to a garage belonging to another business in the area was later removed by our Neighbourhood Wardens team Attempts were made to contact the registered keeper but no-one claimed ownership of the vehicle and it was later disposed of The court granted a three-month closure order on the premises and it will remain shut until 11.59pm on 13 February 2025 said: "Illegal tobacco might not seem like a big deal but it can bring crime and health problems into our communities Illicit tobacco is often associated with human trafficking the sale of drugs and people being exploited by loan sharks and can make it easier for children to get hold of cheap non-compliant products "This is the second time this premises has been forced to close due to illegal tobacco in six months and we hope the action we've taken serves as a warning to other businesses that we will not tolerate this trade in County Durham We continue to investigate these cases and further action will be taken if necessary Members of the public with any information on the suspected sale of illicit items are urged to report it by calling the illegal tobacco hotline on 0300 999 0000 said: "Illicit and dangerous tobacco and vapes can not only cause serious harm to people's health but the proceeds are often invested into organised crime and can help fund more serious and violent offences "This is a great example of partnership working on issues that affect our communities and we will continue to respond to concerns raised." "We know that our communities will not tolerate the antisocial behaviour and criminality that these activities bring If you have any information regarding potential criminality in your community then please report it to us - we will always act on intelligence submitted to us "This is great example of partnership working on issues that affect our communities and we will continue to respond to concerns raised the mining heartland of the UK and a traditional working class county Yet despite its rich history with the reds being the first of England’s county councils to be controlled by Labour – with the party retaining that control for over a century – Nigel Farage’s Reform party is making gains Now it transpires that ex-GB News presenter Darren Grimes has won a council seat in Durham – receiving a staggering 49.7 per cent of the vote Grimes won the Annfield Plain ward in County Durham this afternoon as Farage’s party continues to pick up council seats across the country Reform’s campaign claimed that ‘Durham was broken’ and sought to take advantage of growing disillusionment with Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour lot You could put a donkey with a red rosette on it at one point and it would win Already a subscriber? Log in Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in It is the second time we have competed an enforced sale of a residential property and it follows extensive searches to find any party with an interest in the house which has been empty since the owner died in 2012 also causing problems to a neighbouring property we served notice under the Building Act 1984 to undertake emergency repairs to the property It was then placed for sale at auction and achieved a fair market value allowing us to recoup all of the costs for the work carried out Our Empty Homes Team will now provide advice support and assistance to the new owner to help bring the property back into occupation said: "We know the impact long-term empty homes can have on communities Not only can they attract vermin and become a focal point for anti-social behaviour but they can pose a risk to public safety and reduce the value of other properties in the area the empty house was having a detrimental impact on the structure of the property next door and emergency action needed to be taken "We are committed to bringing empty homes back into use as part of our wider work to enhance the vibrancy of towns and villages across the county our efforts resulted in us securing five awards at the Empty Homes National Conference This sale is another great result for the team and I wish the new owners the very best of luck for the future." our Empty Homes Team takes steps to identify and contact the owner to encourage them to bring the house back into use we will engage with partners to identify the most appropriate action This could be enforcement action against the owner or an enforced sale For more information and to report an empty home in County Durham, visit Bringing empty homes back into use. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A man has been charged with murder over the fatal shooting of a 60-year-old grandfather, Durham Police said Barry Dawson, 60, was shot through a downstairs window in his terraced house in Stanley, County Durham, on Saturday afternoon. Kevin Dorward, 38, of Annfield Plain, County Durham, has been charged with murder while Michaela Hetherington, 35, also of Annfield Plain, has been charged with perverting the course of justice. Both have been remanded in custody and will appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. The force said a 21-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the case on Wednesday, while a 20-year-old man and 49-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. In a tribute released earlier on Wednesday, Mr Dawson’s family described him as “a much-loved father, granddad and partner who will be greatly missed”. A statement said: “We are truly devastated, and his loss will leave an enormous gap in our lives.” Mr Dawson’s family continue to be supported by specialist family liaison officers. A postmortem examination revealed Mr Dawson died of a single gunshot wound. Durham Police said a 35-strong team of detectives from its major crime team continues to investigate the shooting, with support from armed response officers, specialist crime scene examiners, search teams and neighbourhood officers. The force said there will continue to be a significant police presence in the Elm Street area of South Moor, Stanley, where Mr Dawson lived. Anyone with any information is asked to call 101, quoting incident number 302 of April 5. Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayohits radionewcastlenewsPolice launch extensive investigation into death of County Durham man shot in his homePolice have launched an "extensive investigation" after a 60-year-old was shot dead in his home Police have launched an "extensive investigation" after a 60-year-old was shot dead in his home Superintendent Peter Carr said: "This is an extensive investigation "A 35-strong team of detectives from our major crime team are currently working around the clock with the support of armed response officers specialist search teams and neighbourhood officers "The victim's family are being supported by dedicated family liaison officers and our thoughts remain with them at this time "This was a frightening incident for those involved and those living nearby." Superintendent Carr appealed for anyone who witnessed a white Seat Arona with the registration NA24 OJK on Saturday in the Stanley and Annfield Plain areas to contact police A 37-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder remain in police custody Superintendent Peter Carr said: "At 5.20pm on Saturday we were called to a report of a disturbance at an address in Elm Street Barry Dawson was shot through the window of his home address "A 37-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman who were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder remain in police custody." First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Morrison Busty has combined significant building retrofit with insulation alongside a total redesign of the heating system to incorporate air source heat pumps Fleet decarbonisation is supported through the installation of EV charging posts which will allow vehicles based in north Durham to convert and charge easier The whole site is powered by a large 3MW solar farm alongside battery technology This generates surplus power during the day which is then stored for the heating and fleet charging overnight We have already realised significant monetary and carbon savings since installation The site is located just south of Annfield Plain and started its life as the Morrison Busty Colliery in the late 1920s The site initially opened as an active pit employing 1,500 people until it closed its gates in 1973 It is now owned by the council and since late 2019 has been having significant improvements to the buildings and infrastructure with the aim of reducing emissions across the site to zero the depot fully reopened with a brand-new look climate friendly additions and low-carbon facelift The Morrison Busty site has been transformed into a low-carbon hub through the following initiatives: This project was recognised as a finalist in the national Association of Public Service Excellence Awards in the Best Climate Action and Decarbonisation Initiative category It stands as one of the council's most significant achievements paving the way to net zero and setting a strong example for the rest of the county Beamish exhibits are featured in a new project Staff from museums and galleries across Northern England have nominated objects that showcase the pioneering spirit and impact of the North’s inventors Beamish’s tram 114 and Annfield Plain Co-op Store are included in the website-based project which is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund said: “We are absolutely delighted and very proud to have two of our most significant objects included as part of the Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ project are very much part of the region’s history not just as objects but in the stories they can tell “It’s fantastic to see these iconic objects within the list and to be part of contributing to a rich celebration of the region’s heritage so much of which many people identify with and we are incredibly pleased to be part of this fantastic project.” A History of the North in 100 Objects is a Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) initiative The project is part of the Great Exhibition of the North which runs from 22nd June to 9th September and celebrates great art and culture design and innovation from across the North The Co-op building came from Annfield Plain where visitors can experience shopping in the early 1900s some still remember their family’s “divi number” or “divi” saw profits shared between customers and could be as much as 20 per cent 28 men formed a society and opened a store in Toad Lane which is said to be the birth of the Co-operative movement The movement advocated quality goods at reasonable prices and raised awareness of correct weights which manufactured and distributed goods for the stores Newcastle tram 114 was built in 1901 for Newcastle Corporation Tramways It was sold to Sheffield Corporation in 1941 to replace the war-damaged vehicles The body of the tram was later discovered on a farm near Scunthorpe and it arrived at Beamish in 1987 Tramways developed in response to a need for a cheap and efficient transport system to serve growing towns and cities in the 19th century Newcastle Corporation Tramways operated in the city for 49 years Other objects featured on the list include Timothy Hackworth’s Sans Pareil steam engine at Locomotion – National Railway Museum Shildon the Musical Stones of Skiddaw at Keswick Museum in Cumbria and the oldest surviving FA Cup in the world at the National Football Museum in Manchester An interactive website has been specially created where the objects can be viewed, visit www.100objectsnorth.co.uk The 10 themes explored in the project are: Travel & Transport Visitors to the website are invited to curate their own collection by saving up to 10 objects into a personal “exhibition” which can then be shared via social media or email Users can vote for their favourite exhibitions and the most popular will be displayed prominently on the website said: “The North of England is a hub of creativity and innovation it’s been home to some of our most creative inventors and now it’s a hub of scientific and industrial innovation museums across Northern England reflect some of these stories.” Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund North East said: “Choosing 100 objects to tell the story of the North of England must have been incredibly hard there are so many fascinating collections to choose from “The curators have done a fantastic job and we’re delighted that National Lottery funding will give people across the UK and beyond the chance to see objects they never would have been able to otherwise and build their own collections of the stories that inspire them.” For more information on Great Exhibition of the North visit https://getnorth2018.com/. was crossing Station Road on her electric wheelchair when she was involved in a collision with a Ford Transit tipper van In a statement released through Durham Constabulary Mrs Eastwood’s family said: “It is with deepest regret that we announce the death of our mother Kathleen Bernadette Eastwood who was involved in a tragic road traffic collision in Annfield Plain on Saturday and great great gran and will be sadly missed “We wish to thank everyone for their support and ask to be left so that we can grieve in peace we would also ask that there be no flowers left at the scene of the accident please.” A man aged in his fifties was arrested and is assisting officers with their investigation Witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage of the collision is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101 The section of route between Consett and Annfield Plain involves a number of crossings of busy roads where extra care should be taken Much of the Consett & Sunderland Railway Path follows the line of the former Stanhope & Tyne Railway This was Britain’s first commercial railway The route itself takes you past the new Stadium of Light through the marina and onto the beach at Roker Between Stanley and Beamish you pass the intriguingly-named Hell Hole Wood managed by the Woodland Trust and part of the Great North Community Forest The Beamish Open Air Museum is famous for bringing history to life Its 19th-century manor house and early 20th-century town colliery and railway station are well worth a visit the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre at Washington is a haven for overwintering migratory waterbirds and has large flocks of curlews and redshanks When the route was built in the late 1990s Sustrans commissioned artworks along the route so make sure you keep an eye out for these fantastic sculptures Would you like more route inspiration? Sign up to our enewsletter. We have taken all responsible steps to ensure that these routes are safe and achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness all outdoor activities involve a degree of risk Sustrans accepts no responsibility for any accidents or injury resulting from following these routes Walking and cycling routes change over time Weather conditions may also affect path surfaces Please use your own judgement when using the routes based upon the weather and the ability experience and confidence levels of those in your group To make sure everyone gets the most out of their time by the water, please ensure that you follow the Towpath Code The Consett & Sunderland Railay Path is part of the National Cycle Network Your donation today will help keep the Network safe and open for everyone to enjoy Sign up now to hear more about our latest news Sustrans is committed to fundraising in a way which is legal, open, honest and respectful. Read our fundraising promise Sustrans is a registered charity in England and Wales (326550) and Scotland (SC039263) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England (1797726) at 2 Cathedral Square A replica mining banner has been unveiled at Annfield Plain library celebrating the county’s rich mining history and the people who lived during those times Annfield Plain Library offered a permanent home for the banner The wonderful Morrison Lodges banner has taken up its permanent home at Annfield Plain Library. Representing two former DMA lodges, it is a recreation of the the 1956 Morrison banner, and the 1966 Morrison Busty banner. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/7DmaO0m7yO — Durham Miners’ Association (@DurhamMiners) June 28, 2019 — Morrison Lodges (@morrisonlodges) March 26, 2019 The Morrison Busty side is based on a banner originally made in 1959 which originated from Lumley 6th Pit when it closed and was repainted as Morrison Busty. The design shows a biblical scene of a child with a lion and lamb and has the message “The Reign of Peace”. The original banner was kept at Annfield Plain Central Methodist Church until it was destroyed in a fire in 1993 The event was accompanied by music from the Craghead Colliery band who played miners’ hymn For library out more about local libraries at https://www.durham.gov.uk/libraries Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tell Your Story Advertise in Print Advertise Online During a sincere discussion on Good Morning Britain censured Post Office executives for the profound adverse effects on her life Betty and her late husband, Oswall, managed the Annfield Plain branch for 35 years. Betty sought Richard’s help in pursuing justice during the Horizon scandal and he swiftly mobilised support from colleagues and ministerial departments The introduction of the discredited IT system in 2000 led to significant losses of £1,500 a week for Betty’s thriving business Financial hardship forced her to hire a manager who exacerbated the turmoil She was unfairly pressured into retirement labelled ‘too old’ to grasp the new system Betty was never prosecuted and has been vocal about the wrongdoings of Post Office executives Her story epitomises the struggles of subpostmasters during the Horizon scandal with Betty’s resilience and her MP’s advocacy offering hope to all affected individuals ‘Betty Brown’s unwavering determination in the face of such adversity is truly inspiring and I am committed to ensuring that justice is served for her ‘While no amount of money will ever right the wrongs Betty has experienced I am glad that light is finally being shone on her tragic case ‘Her case was one of the first I dealt with since being elected Having escalated Betty’s plight consistently with Ministers and others for years are finally being treated with the seriousness they clearly deserve.’