Catherine Lee

A free Enchanted Dragon Trail featuring fantasy and heritage-themed Lego creations will run in Durham city centre until 15 August 2026 before moving to Bishop Auckland through the end of the month. Visitors, especially families, can collect clues and complete challenges while exploring local streets, businesses and attractions. Durham County Council, Durham BID and Bishop Auckland Town Council hope the initiative will boost tourism, town-centre footfall and local spending.

A BBC North East and Cumbria picture feature presents summer photographs submitted by BBC Weather Watchers, showing sunshine, clouds, mist, coastal scenery, colourful skies and early blackberry crops across locations including Hurworth-on-Tees, Hexham, Sunderland, Maryport, Redcar and Cumbria. Readers are invited to submit photographs safely through the BBC’s stated channels.

Discovery Museum in Newcastle has opened Things That Go!, the first exhibition in its new special exhibitions gallery. Designed with younger families in mind, the free display features previously unseen transport-related objects, including toy cars, ferry and trolleybus models, steam locomotives, a Victorian fire engine model, an Armstrong-Whitworth biplane, a Royal Mail carriage model and a surfboard belonging to champion surfer Gabe Davies. North East Museums said the refurbished gallery will allow more of its stored collections to be shown publicly. The exhibition is sponsored by Stagecoach, Tyne and Wear Metro and Lumo Travel, with a model Lumo train operating continuously in the display.

Durham Cathedral is organising its first six-day pilgrimage and retreat, beginning on 19 August 2026 at Heavenfield in Northumberland and ending in Durham along the Northern Saints Trail. Participants will stay at Ushaw Historic House for prayer, reflection and community activities. All are welcome regardless of faith, but the initial 15 places filled quickly. A larger programme is planned for 2027.

Plastic pellets, or nurdles, spilled into the River Tyne after a vessel struck a container at the Port of Tyne in South Shields. The pellets have spread to beaches including Blyth and Seaburn, prompting protests and concerns about risks to birds, fish, dolphins and domestic animals, although the public health risk is considered low. The Environment Agency is investigating, while Port of Tyne says it acted quickly to contain the damage. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has called for the owners of the vessels involved to fund the clean-up, which councils are carrying out while advising the public not to touch the pellets and to keep dogs on leads.

Plastic pellets, or nurdles, entered the River Tyne after a vessel struck a shipping container at the Port of Tyne in South Shields. The pellets have washed up on beaches as far away as Blyth and Seaburn, prompting protests over potential harm to wildlife and concerns that the cleanup is too slow. Officials say the risk to the public is low but advise people not to handle the pellets and to keep dogs on leads. The Environment Agency is investigating, while North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has called for the owners of the vessels involved to pay for the cleanup.

A crane collapsed onto a container vessel at the Port of Tyne in South Shields after a ship collided with it, injuring one man who was taken to Royal Victoria Infirmary with non‑life‑threatening injuries. Police, ambulance teams and fire crews responded with significant resources, including hazardous area specialists. Footage taken after the incident showed extensive damage and dislodged cargo containers as investigations into the cause continued.

Emergency services responded to a crane collapse at the Port of Tyne in South Shields after a ship collided with the structure, injuring a man who was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police, ambulance crews and fire services attended, with specialist HART teams supporting the response. Images showed the crane toppled onto a container vessel and displaced cargo aboard the BG Orange. Investigations into the cause are ongoing.

A High Court judge dismissed a legal challenge by Lanchester Properties, upholding the Forestry Commission’s approval of a 600,000‑tree Greencroft Forest project in County Durham. The decision followed earlier procedural rulings and confirmed that environmental considerations had been properly assessed. True North welcomed the outcome as a step toward progressing the timber forest and holiday park plans, while Lanchester Properties said it may seek permission to appeal, arguing the issue concerns ensuring appropriate tree planting for rural communities.