Wearside and County Durham stories you might have missed

An intricate light installation consisting of long strings, akin to spider web, of green blue lights, strung between trees on a city street with buildings to either side.Valery Bellengier

Durham Lumiere Festival features light installations around the city

Time called on the Lumiere Festival and hope for the future of an historic social club - here are some of the stories that made headlines across Wearside and County Durham.

Autism group's store aims to open up work chances

Harrison Farrell-Forster, right, is wearing a black T-shirt and is standing next to Dan, who is wearing a beige coloured jacket. They are standing in front of various clothing rails which have been prepared for the opening day of Wear.

Harrison Farrell-Forster, right, said he has found stability in his new job

A man who sometimes "would not leave" his room says working inside a shop staffed by people with disabilities is helping him back into a stable routine.

Wear, a vintage clothes shop and cafe, has taken over an empty unit in Sunderland to help overcome a "lack of opportunities" in the workplace.

Set up by AutismAble, a non-profit organisation, it has created several jobs and will later open a support hub for neurodivergent members of public at the store.

  • And you can read more on this story here.

Boards to decide on £20m fund priorities

A shopping street in Stanley. A black notice board is in the foreground on the left-hand side. People are walking along the street where some shops are boarded up or have metal shutters.

Stanley is among areas set to receive government funding

People living in County Durham are to be asked to help decide how £20m should be spent in their communities.

Stanley, Peterlee, Crook and Tow Law are among areas to be awarded money each year for a decade as part of the government's Pride in Place programme.

Regeneration plans will be developed in collaboration with each community to support local priorities, Durham County Council said.

Neighbourhood boards will be established with representatives from town councils, community groups, businesses and public services working under the county council's co-ordination.

  • And you can read more on this story here.

This year's Durham Lumiere to be the last

'Liquid Geomotry' lights up Durham Cathedral during a preview for Lumiere 2023. The sprawling medieval stone building is illuminated in black and white vertical and horizontal stripes, reminiscent of a geometric zebra. The building and lights are reflected in water in the foreground.PA Media

Durham Cathedral lit up during the 2023 festival

This year's Durham Lumiere will be the last, it has been announced.

Launched in 2009, the city's light festival has taken place every two years and attracted more than 1.3 million visitors since it began.

Usually taking place across four nights in November, 2025's edition has already been shortened by a day due to increasing costs.

Its organisers said the decision to stop "had not been taken lightly" and next month's final event would be "a fitting farewell".

  • And you can read more on this story here.

Former patrons welcome club's potential reuse

A mid-close up image of Nora Whitfield and Ronnie Bates. Nora has short black hair and brown eyes and is wearing silver hoop earrings and a black cardigan over a green top with black-and-white leaf patterns. Ronnie is bald with brown eyes wearing black glasses and smiling. He's wearing a blue zip-up fleece over a lighter blue shirt. Behind them, the interior of a working men's club is visible - a red patterned carpet, red chairs stacked atop each other, a cream wall adorned with photographs and a red clock. To the right is a red door underneath a fire exit sign.

Nora Whitfield and Ronnie Bates used to be regulars at the club

Former regulars at a social club which shut over the summer after being open for 122 years said they were pleased it may not be empty for too long.

Ryhope Working Men's Club, known locally as Ryhope Top Club, opened in the Sunderland village in 1903 but shut in June after customer numbers dwindled.

Last week, plans were submitted to Sunderland City Council to turn the site into five apartments and four shops.

Ronnie Bates said he was glad it would not stand vacant for years and become a "target for vandals".

  • And you can read more on this story here.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

Get in touch

Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Wear?

Contact form

Related topics