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Durham County Council

View of an empty shop front - with floor length windows and a roller over the door in the middle. A woman walks in front of it pushing a shopping trolley, and wearing a red jacked and black trousers.

Empty shops prompt 'ghost town' fears

The number of empty shops in seven Durham towns is at its highest rate ever, a report states.

Julie Minns, Lord Kirkhope, and Andrew Husband sitting on the BBC Politics North red sofa. Minns, with a brown bob cut and wearing an orangey red half sleeve jacket and black top looks to her left with her face contorted slightly as if she is mid laugh or cry. In the middle with receding but still mainly light brown hair, Kirkhope wears the standard dark suit, dark tie, light shirt combo. He's mid sentence and has both hands stretched out in front of him. His expression could be that of someone hoping to convince, but might be exasperation. Husband has gone office casual. Black jacket over a blue shirt with the top buttons undone. Grey trousered, no tie, neat brown hair that has a fair amount of volume. With his hands lightly clasped in front of him, his mouth is turned up at one side, perhaps showing a lack of agreement with Kirkhope, or perhaps just confusion. There are four BBC Politics branded mugs on the table in front of them, perhaps for thirst avoidance, perhaps for aesthetically repetitive marketing.

Brexit deal: Biscuit boom or fishing wipeout?

The new deal sees closer alignment with the EU on youth mobility, fishing and food standards.

A crowd raising their hands in the air and waving rainbow Pride flags during a Pride event in Durham

'We are the first Pride to face this challenge'

Pride organisers are "disappointed" after a Reform UK-led council removed a flag before an event.

Ellie Hopgood standing in front of a bush holding a colourful flag with the words "everyone is welcome here". She is wearing vivid pink trousers, glasses and is smiling widely.

Pride flag removed by newly led Reform UK council

Deputy leader Darren Grimes defends the move saying flying flags like the union jack is "unifying".

New Durham County Council leader Andrew Husband outside County Hall. He is wearing a light blue suit jacket, a white shirt and a gold tie. His brown hair is swept back.

Council roles renamed as Reform takes charge

Durham's leaders pledge to work with staff, as departments lose climate change and equality titles.

A yellow crane next to the lighthouse at Roker Pier. The area is fenced off with a sign reading SOUTHBAY at the front. Two construction workers are walking in the distance.

Five Wearside stories you might have missed

This week saw repairs to a pier begin and community volunteers getting top honours.

Lauren Irwin is smiling at the camera. Her brown hair is tied back.

Civic honour for town's first Olympic medallist

Rower Lauren Irwin, from Peterlee, is awarded County Durham’s Chairman’s Medal.

Durham County Council HQ. A slightly brutalist, roughly eight story building. Made up of many windows and concrete. It has the look of a 1960s polytechnic.

Community volunteers awarded top honours

The Chairman's Medal is the highest accolade Durham County Council grants for community work.

A school meal in a yellow plastic tray. The tray is sectioned into three with the main meal on the left, a dessert in the top right corner and a blue drinks cup in a circular holder on the bottom right. It stands on a stainless steel counter with trays of food in the distance.

More pupils auto-enrolled for free school meals

The move by Newcastle City Council follows similar schemes by other authorities including Durham.