A ceremonial county in North East England; major settlements include Darlington and Durham city.
Two Cleveland police officers, PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, have been killed after a Volkswagen Passat driving the wrong way on the A66 near South Bank collided with their marked armed response vehicle at about 03:39 BST. Five occupants of the Passat also died. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an investigation and police have arrested people in related enquiries.
Amazon has expanded Prime Air test flights from Darlington to the wider town as it seeks regulatory approval to operate nationwide. More than 500 flights have taken place, with two-hour delivery windows for items under 5lb and 39-minute best times. Authorities are reviewing safety after a July drone incident.
The inquest into the discovery of a full-term baby’s remains in Bishop Auckland has concluded, with coroner Crispin Oliver ruling the death likely resulted from homicide. DNA and radiocarbon dating place the baby’s origin around 1910, and investigations have highlighted the challenges of lacking modern evidence. The case has prompted funeral arrangements funded by public bodies and community support.
The Guardian and BBC report that Sunderland City Council, now led by Reform UK, has ended its 30-year partnership with Show Racism the Red Card, prompting criticism from opponents who say it undermines anti-racism education. Gary Bennett, former Sunderland captain, says the move disrupts local education and raises questions about the council’s stance on racism.
Greggs has unveiled a plan to close manufacturing sites in North Lakes (Cumbria), Enfield (London), Pettigrews (Kelso) and Seaham (Durham) over 2.5 years, while maintaining distribution from Enfield. Treforest in Wales will shift to a distribution centre. The aim is to improve efficiency and fund redundancies, with annual savings of around £20m from 2028.
The Ministry of Defence has raised concerns about the Hope Moor onshore wind project in County Durham, warning it could hinder aircraft detection within a RAF Low Flying Area. The plan is among several wind farms objected to on national security grounds, as the government weighs onshore wind expansion against radar integrity and peat soil risks.