For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 09:57 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Some high level cloud turning the sunshine hazy at times Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places with variable amounts of cloud and sunny spells on Wednesday Fine and settled weather conditions are expected to continue with variable cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average Industrial space in Durham offering of nineteen industrial units Sacriston Industrial Estate offers quality industrial space in Durham This estate consists of nineteen quality workshops from 650 – 4,227 sq ft Sacriston Industrial Estate offers quality industrial space in Durham Business Durham manage nineteen quality workshops from 650 – 4,227 sq ft this estate is within easy reach of the A167 this estate provides excellent transport links to the rest of the North East and wider UK businesses based at Sacriston Industrial Estate will benefit from: electrical supply Business Durham tenants benefit from three year ‘easy-in easy-out’ lease terms providing greater flexibility for businesses this industrial estate is perfect for businesses local to Durham looking for a workshop from which to base their business As a Business Durham tenant your business will benefit from the guidance of our experienced business development managers we have a number of support programmes which can help your business discover new opportunities Learn how our finance initiatives such as Finance Durham and the Durham Business Growth programme can help your business prosper Explore the benefits of attending our varied events programme to expand your network broaden your knowledge and raise your profile.  Plus our knowledgeable and experienced team can provide your business with an accessible route into Durham County Council services Business Durham is not just a landlord – we work with you to help your business prosper We currently have no availability at Sacriston Industrial Estate judith.crow@durham.gov.uk Get In TouchBusiness Durham is the business support service for Durham County Council helping to deliver more and better jobs and a strong competitive economy Contact our friendly team for help with your business Company namePositionAddressPostcodeMy enquiry is aboutEnquiryHow did you hear about Business Durham?*Yes I'd love to receive emails about business news +44 (0) 3000 261 261  enquiries@businessdurham.co.uk Starting a business Growing a business Moving a business Business premises About Business Durham Latest News Business Events Privacy Policy Contact Us 2 hours agoUpdated Monday to Friday onlyLatest forecast for NewcastleLast updated 56 minutes agoToday This afternoon will continue to be dry with lengthy sunny spells but a few patches of cloud will develop in places later on Tonight is expected to remain dry with a mix of patchy cloud and clear spells for a time Cloud become more extensive from the east during the early hours Tomorrow will start largely cloudy but dry The cloud will break up as the day progresses High pressure will continue to be in control over the weather through the extended period it will remain dry and settled through the period with light or gentle winds Thursday will see variable amounts of cloud Friday and Saturday will see more in the way of sunshine for most with just a few patches of cloud in places Northumberland EmReported by Northumberland Em 10:15Report for Hutton 4 May 2025Report for Middleton in Teesdale 4 May 2025Report for Newbiggin Toby the GardenerReported by Toby the Gardener BBC Weather in association with MeteoGroup, external All times are British Summer Time (Europe/London Grant: Grand Challenges Special Initiatives - PlaceYear awarded: 2019-20Amount awarded: £10,000 In a pilot project focused on the village of Sacriston in County Durham undertaken in conjunction with the Durham Miners' Association this initiative developed an interdisciplinary large-scale programme of ‘deep-place’ research and action to obtain a rich historically-grounded understanding of the long-term trajectory of a so-called 'left-behind' place The project developed networks with local actors and considered how new solutions aimed at improving social and economic conditions can be co-produced with local communities using expertise at UCL and elsewhere the pilot explored methods for achieving a deeper and multi-faceted understanding of a particular ‘left-behind’ place rather than a generic understanding of a category of places What has been the nature of social and economic change How have local political attitudes been formed What are the perceived needs and aspirations of the local community How might expertise at UCL aid the co-production of new solutions to local problems Addressing these questions requires insights from a range of disciplines given the multi-faceted nature of concentrated deprivation The project involved engaging with the local community conducting oral history interviews and convening focus groups The findings were brought together in a report Sacriston: towards a deeper understanding of place A central conclusion of the project was that economics and social networks are closely linked: a strong local economy in the past was a key support for the development of strong community ties and institutions a key task that emerged from this study is to consider further what kinds of social infrastructures could be created or adapted that would foster a process of reconnection reduced isolation and create spaces for conviviality The project noted the opportunity for UCL to assist local actors in determining what social infrastructures are likely to have the biggest impact on the wellbeing of the greatest number This has led to the project team receiving follow-on funding of over £35,000 for work on Social Infrastructure for Community Development Credit: NCJ Media A GP died in a "deliberate" car crash less than two hours after being told he faced an NHS investigation Dr Hayden Ellis, who was a longstanding doctor at Sacriston Medical Centre in County Durham was confronted with "serious and sensitive" allegations relating to a complaint which had been made against him on 7 September 2022 Dr Ellis left the practice and drove to his home in Stocksfield the 43-year-old was found dead at the wheel of his car on the B6309 Northumberland senior coroner Andrew Hetherington found at an inquest on Tuesday that Dr Ellis had driven into the tree deliberately, but that his intent had been "unclear". The inquest heard Dr Ellis had not been wearing his seatbelt, nor made any effort to avoid hitting a tree at speed. Pathologist Dr Clive Bloxham told Northumberland Coroner's Court how there was no sign of any medical issue which could have caused him to become incapacitated, while a police officer said "no defects" had been found either in Dr Ellis's vehicle or on the road itself which might have led to the collision. There were no sign of drugs or alcohol in his system. That morning Dr Ellis had been told by fellow partners at the GP practice Dr Jonathan Holmes and Martin Bell that he had been subject to a serious complaint, and that NHS England and safeguarding authorities had been informed. At the inquest, Dr Holmes and Mr Bell said Dr Ellis had been calm when told this news. Dr Holmes said Dr Ellis had then "surprised me" by "owning up" and admitting the complaint was true. The nature of this complaint was not discussed at the inquest into Dr Ellis's death. At the inquest, Dr Holmes paid tribute to his former colleague, saying: "He was an incredible mind. If there was any clinical question you had, Hayden would have the answer. He was always approachable if ever you had an issue with a patient." Dr Holmes confirmed that a meeting at 8am was the first time Dr Ellis had been made aware of a complaint against him. Asked how he approached discussing the complaint, Dr Holmes said: "I approached it as I would if breaking bad news to a patient. I gave him a warning shot that what I was about to discuss with him was a very serious and sensitive matter. And I said a serious allegation has come forward in relation to yourself and your practice." Asked what Dr Ellis's reaction had been like, Dr Holmes added: "He was collected and calm, very quiet. He started to take things in in a slow, very measured way. We suggested he probably wouldn't be safe to see patients We advised him to contact his defence union and take some legal advice. "I believe at that point he took me by surprise and he owned up to the allegation. He thanked us for how we had handled the situation and apologised for the situation he had put us in as a partnership." Shortly afterwards, Dr Holmes and non-clinical practice partner Mr Bell advised Dr Ellis to take at least the rest of the week off and that an investigation would take place. They both told the inquest they had checked Dr Ellis felt okay to drive home and been reassured this was the case. Northumbria Police crash investigator Pc Steve Malt took the coroner through his own investigations into what happened on that September morning. He explained that from CCTV and phone records, officers knew Dr Ellis left the surgery at around 8.35am, and his phone connected to his home wi-fi at 9:17am. However when he sent a Whatsapp message to his wife - suggesting he had felt unwell and left work, but would take some painkillers and be alright to pick up their children later that day - he was back, according to phone records, on the B6309. Shortly after sending the message to his wife, Dr Ellis's phone disconnected from his car's Bluetooth. This is understood to be when the crash happened, heading north on the road near to Squirrel's Leap in the Stocksfield area. Dr Ellis's family - represented by his wife Dr Nathalie Ellis, also a GP - do not believe he had ever suffered from mental health difficulties or experienced suicidal ideation, and there was no note or message left. Dr Ellis's wife told the coroner the family felt it was not certain that Dr Ellis had been conscious at the time of the crash or if there was any obstacle, for instance an animal, in the road that may have caused him to swerve. Senior coroner Andrew Hetherington gave a narrative verdict as to Dr Ellis's death. In delivering his verdict he said he found it unlikely that Dr Ellis was unconscious at the time of his death and: "I am satisfied that the change of direction was deliberate." However the coroner said he was not satisfied that the criteria for ruling this suicide had been met. His narrative verdict was: "Hayden died as a result of his own deliberate action in a road traffic collision which led to multiple injuries and immediate death - although the question of his intent remains unclear." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...  Edward Donnelly vanished without trace from his home in Sacriston in 2002. Police believe he was murdered, and an investigation was launched but, despite extensive enquiries over the years, no-one was ever convicted in connection with his death and his body has not been recovered. However, detectives say they believe there are members of the community who hold information which could bring the case to a close and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Detective Superintendent Lee Gosling, from Durham Police, said: “We remain convinced that someone out there knows what happened to Edward Donnelly and we would appeal to them to come forward so we can finally get justice for his family after all these years. “Detectives are now speaking to a number of people connected with the case and our major crime team are re-examining evidence which was collated at the time.” Edward Donnelly shared a home with his sister on Fynway, Sacriston and she reported him missing on 25 March 2002. The 53-year-old was last seen in Lloyds Bank, in Sacriston that morning. Further sightings were also reported of him walking alone beside the A167 at Plawsworth, near the Red Lion pub that day. At the time of his disappearance, his sister said she had returned home later that day to find his keys and other documents posted through the letterbox. Known to his family and friends as Eddie, Mr Donnelly enjoyed reading and walking in the Durham and Chester-le-Street area. The former Sacriston Pit mineworker was around 5ft 8in tall, pale and had mousey brown hair. Despite extensive searches at locations in the area, including several abandoned mineworkings and pit shafts, officers were unable at that time to locate Mr Donnelly’s body and what began as a missing person’s inquiry became a murder investigation. In 2005, five people were arrested in connection with the inquiry, but all were released without charge. Det Supt Gosling said police were determined to find Mr Donnelly and added: “Eddie Donnelly was a quiet and unassuming man and we have never given up on finding him. “We have long held the belief that there are people in the village who know what happened to him and know who was involved. “We would ask anyone with information to call us in confidence as a matter of urgency so that Eddie’s family and friends can have the closure they deserve.” Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators in confidence on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know...  A dedicated home for military veterans has been officially opened in County Durham provides a home for up to 18 homeless veterans who have found it difficult to transition to civilian life The centre faced the threat of closure earlier this year when the charity which operated it went into administration it was then taken over by the veterans charity Launchpad which already operates Avondale House on the Byker Estate in Newcastle and has now been officially reopened Eight veterans who were already receiving support from the service were able to continue living there Hollyacre House provides support for former service people like Kevin who received a commendation for outstanding courage during his time serving in Northern Ireland His time on the front line took its toll on his mental wellbeing and he was later diagnosed with PTSD He said: "Somebody's been trying to kill me or shoot me or do harm to me over the last 24 years in the army You're constantly looking over your shoulder You're always looking for an escape route." As well as providing accommodation for veterans Launchpad also aims to give them expert support and guidance where needed "I suppose the sad thing is that there are some residents who don't make that transition from veteran to civilian life smoothly but they just need to find a bit more time and order in their lives to get going." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know.. Syn-Pro by SISIS Cricket Groundcare Machinery Website: Click here Sacriston are celebrating their 140th year this season after the club were formed in 1874 The club is playing in the North East Premier League Division One for the second season after spending a number of years in the Northumberland & Tyneside Senior league This season the first team will be hoping to avoid last season disappointment Top going into the last game of the season and knowing a victory would of guaranteed promotion into the Premier Division Boldon upset the party winning the match and allowing Whitburn to clinch the title It was a different story for the second team who ended up winning the winning the league and playing in the Premier Division of the second team league for 2014 The club for 2014 will see five senior teams and four junior teams in action It will also see the club entering the National Village Cup for the forthcoming season which is the first time in the clubs history A number of ex-professional cricketers came through the junior ranks with Melvyn Betts (Durham Derby and England Under-19s) and Ian Jones (Durham Now Hunter and Jones are back playing at the club The club's major achievements came in 1993 and 1994 when the 1st team won the Tyneside Senior League Cricket World profiled club Sacriston Colliery Cricket Club are welcoming three newcomers for the 2015 season Sacriston Colliery CC closed the gap on South Shields at the top of the table with a five-wicket victory over Willington last weekend Sacriston's first team made it four wins out of five in completed league matches this season by Northop CC in the fifth round of the National Village Cup meaning their cup run is over for another year Sacriston 1st team made it three wins out of three complete league games on Saturday with a crushing eight-wicket victory over title contenders Brandon Sacriston Colliery beat Wolviston CC by four wickets to win the National Village Cup Northumberland A gallery of images from Sacriston Colliery CC's weekend Davidstow National Village Cup Round Three game against Warkworth CC Tweets by @SacristonCCC Credit: Durham ConstabularyA man who was jailed for sex offences has been returned to prison after giving sweets to children in County Durham is banned from having unsupervised contact with children following a conviction in 2019 for carrying out child sexual offences Durham Crown Court heard how Pybus had been handed a five year sentence for the crimes by Norwich Crown Court in November 2019 He was later released from prison on licence in February 2022 when he moved to Sacriston and was monitored by police the court heard how Pybus had begun speaking to children in the area and giving them sweets and dog treats so as to "establish relationships." Pybus pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a sexual harm prevention order and was handed a 14 month sentence Recorder Edward Legard described Pybus' behaviour as "classic grooming techniques"