Two dale holiday let owners in County Durham are celebrating after being recognised in a prestigious national awards scheme that champions the individuals behind the UK’s best holiday homes.

Alarm has been raised about the “countryside being ruined” as a second solar farm and battery storage site is proposed for fields near Evenwood.

Storytelling could be at the heart of Barnard Castle’s potential bid to become Town of Culture 2028.

The dale’s fell rescue team had a record number of call-outs during 2025.