Wearside and County Durham stories making the news

Charlie Graver with his friends who are holding banners reading "Well done Charles" and "Not far to go now Charlie!".

Charlie (centre) was supported by friends as he took on his charity run

Upset at plans for a new road, "unacceptable" problems at a railway station and a fundraising mission have all been making headlines on Wearside and County Durham over the past week.

Here are some stories you might have missed.

Teen's 10-mile run a decade after crash

Charlie with his parents. They are standing in front of Durham Cathedral. Charlie has fair hair and is wearing a white T-shirt with a black top and pants. His dad has short fair hair and is wearing a white Adidas running jacket with black pants. Charlie's mum is wearing a green woolly hat and a cream coat and white T-shirt.

Charlie was joined by his parents, Michael and Kimberley, ahead of starting at Durham Cathedral

A teenager has run 10 miles (16km) to raise money for charity a decade after he was in a life-changing car crash.

Charlie Graver was four years old when he suffered severe facial injuries which exposed his skull and required him to have reconstructive surgeries.

Since then he has been doing challenges for Changing Faces, which supports those with visual differences, and has raised a total of £23,000.

The teenager's latest effort saw him go from Durham Cathedral to Chester-le-Street FC and his school before finishing at his home in the town.

Residents 'devastated' over relief road plans

A group of 14 people opposing the plans standing in a field. Three of the four children standing in front of the group of adults are holding signs reading Trees Not Trucks, Save Our Deer and Stop The Road. Supplied

A petition opposing the Bowburn Relief Road has received about 100 signatures

Residents of a housing estate have said they are devastated at plans for a new main road which could run alongside their back gardens.

The route, in Bowburn, is proposed as part of the second phase of the £250m Integra 61 development of industrial and manufacturing units.

Developer Citrus said the road, which would link to the A177, will reduce traffic in Bowburn, but resident Lynne Hodgson said the impact would be "huge".

Durham County Council, which is likely to deliver the route alongside Citrus, said it understood the concerns and would work with all involved to ensure the road would provide "as little disruption as possible".

Solar farm inquiry adjourned after lack of notice

Two white banners with red letters attached to a fence on the edge of fields. One reads: "Say no to solar panels and save your countryside" and the other says: "Maiden law solar farm the size of 250 football pitches from Burnhope nature reserve to Lanchester." In the background, fields and patches of trees can be seen stretching to the horizon.

Campaigners have argued the 110,640 panels would dwarf Burnhope

Campaigners in a long-running battle against a planned solar farm have criticised the lack of notice from a council for a key planning inquiry.

A three-week hearing was to consider a decision to refuse plans for the 92-hectare (227-acre) solar farm in Burnhope after developers Lightsource bp appealed to the government's Planning Inspectorate.

There were complaints Durham County Council failed to inform the public about the inquiry within the required time frame, and it has now been adjourned.

The authority has apologised for the error and said the inquiry will be rescheduled for next year.

MP condemns 'unacceptable' issues at £27m station

Sunderland Station's southern entrance. The area is sparsely filled with just a few seats, a ticket machine and vending machines in the distance. The flooring is grey, while the walls are painted white.

MP Lewis Atkinson has called for a public apology from Network Rail over issues at Sunderland station

An MP has publicly criticised Network Rail over "unacceptable" problems at a station that has undergone a £27m redevelopment.

A new southern entrance to Sunderland station was opened in December 2023 with Network Rail saying at the time that "finishing touches" would be applied in the next few months.

But Labour MP Lewis Atkinson said the new entrance had experienced prolonged periods where escalators, lifts, doors and toilets "were not functional".

Network Rail said it was aware of the concerns and it was working with local partners to address the issues.

Public asked how towns can be improved for future

Crook town centre. A sandwich shop is one of many shops lining a high street made up of a row of terraced buildings. Cars are parked on the other side of the road.

People are being asked for their thoughts on how to improve Crook and Chester-le-Street in County Durham

People are being asked for ideas to help improve the towns they live in.

Durham County Council wants to develop long-term plans for Chester-le-Street and Crook in an effort to create new jobs and boost local infrastructure.

The council said its plans would be shaped by feedback from local residents, who would be at the "heart of decision-making".

Councillor Karen Allison said it was important to understand how people felt about the towns so it could "help shape a positive future" for them.

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