IT’S a real man’s world in Low Etherley at the moment – it’s logging country.

Every two hours a pair of articulated lorries, fully loaded with logs, thunder through the village towards Bishop Auckland.

Actually, they’re quite intimidating because each also tows another fully-loaded trailer. The drivers however would appear to be highly skilled because they manage to navigate this B road, often single carriage, at speeds far in excess of the legal limit.

It will not be long before Low Etherley takes on some of the traditions of a logging town. I’ve begun to wear heavy tartan shirts and braces, and caught myself singing the lumberjack song.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland