Bill Edgar

The King's Head in Cockfield had its premises licence suspended after a man suffered severe facial and hand injuries in an allegedly unprovoked glassing attack on July 25, witnessed by his young son. Pub manager Ross Ainsley has pledged additional staffing during busy periods, stricter refusal of service, earlier intervention, improved CCTV monitoring and refreshed staff training. Durham County Council is due to hold a full licensing review on August 24, while police continue investigating the assault.

Huey Watson, licence holder and supervisor of Beveridge Way Bistro in Newton Aycliffe, denied any knowledge of a 2.5kg cannabis parcel worth about £50,000 that Border Force intercepted while it was being shipped from Canada to the café. After Durham Constabulary sought an emergency licensing review, Durham County Council suspended the premises' alcohol licence and removed Watson as designated premises supervisor while the investigation continues. Watson urged people not to draw conclusions from social-media speculation and said he hoped the matter would be resolved fairly. Police said they could not trace the individual named on the parcel and believed it may have been intended for another person or address.

Border Force intercepted a 2.5kg cannabis shipment valued at about £50,000 that was being sent from Toronto to Beveridge Way Bistro in Newton Aycliffe. Durham Constabulary said the delivery raised serious concerns about the premises’ management and association with serious crime, although the named licence holder and supervisor, Huey Watson, denied any knowledge of it. Durham County Council’s licensing committee suspended the cafe’s alcohol licence and removed Watson as supervisor pending a full review, while the police and Border Force investigation continues. The cafe can continue trading without its alcohol licence.

Developers have secured approval to build a £125 million plastic film recycling facility at the former Cleveland Bridge site in Darlington, with the project expected to create up to 120 jobs. Endolys will install 12 advanced pyrolysis units capable of processing 120,000 tonnes of plastic film annually, producing up to 80,000 tonnes of recycled pyrolysis oil for European refineries. Local politicians and regional leaders praised the scheme for supporting clean growth, revitalising the industrial site and advancing the region’s recycling capabilities, while the company has partnered with Px Limited to help operate the facility.