Newton Aycliffe FC are laying on a shuttle-bus service for their big derby with Darlington next weekend. They have teamed up with local family firm J&C Coaches and the Xcel Centre to offer a park-and-ride facility to Moore Lane Park before and after the game on Saturday 8th December.

With parking restrictions in operation around the Sports Club (police plan to cone off most nearby residential areas), the service is to encourage fans of both sides to use 100 parking spaces available at the Xcel Centre, to ease congestion around the ground. Users of the service are asked to make a donation of at least £1 each towards running costs.

Aycliffe general manager Dan Lewis, pictured with J&C’s MD Neville Jones said: “We’re doing everything we can to ease congestion and disruption, encouraging fans of both sides, particularly those coming from out of town, to use this service. “The message here is to plan your trip to Moore Lane Park for this game and give yourself plenty of time. Bunch-up in cars wherever possible, use public transport and taxis, or even have a nice healthy walk to the ground!

“A big thanks goes to our neighbourhood policing team, who have been extremely supportive, as well as J&C Coaches and the Xcel Centre, who have enabled us to provide this bus service.”

There will be a ticket-only entrance in operation for the game, a facility designed to avoid a bottle-neck on the day, with tickets available in advance (priced £5 adults and £3 concessions), either from the Sports Club bar, or online at www.nafc-online.co.uk