This week's front page
This week's front page

As the Mercury went to press this week, Durham County Council's planning committee was considering "game changing" tourism plans for the park and grounds of Raby Castle...

...but councillors were also being asked to support large housing developments proposed by Raby Estates for Gainford and Staindrop which castle officials said must be given the green light to pay for the park and grounds scheme

Barnard Castle's Christmas tree lights switch on will be a virtual affir this year after the ceremony was filmed for streaming online this Friday

Plans to build another 100 homes on the outskirts of Barnard Castle have sparked a huge response from residents

Work has been completed to repair the roof at Summerhouse Village Hall after a successful fundraising campaign

Meet the teenage students who are cooking up a storm for the care packages scheme run by the TCR Hub

Retired journalist and president of Barnard Castle Cricket Club Stephen Brenkley has unveiled his new book which charts the life and times of the club on and off the pitch

A dale choir has been reunited by Zoom to perform a Covid-inspired version of the 12 Days of Christmas

In sport, there's the prospect of a return to action for the dale's football teams plus full coverage of the Darlington and District Cricket League annual meeting

In What's On, we catch up with artist Jill Campbell

In rural news, it's been a challenging year for Barnard Castle Farmers' Market

Plus... Bob Garton's weekly quiz, botanist Dick Warren looks at ragwort, MP Dehenna Davison's latest diary, readers' letters, family announcments and much more... all in this week's paper.