Gateshead

A man has been charged with drug offences after a cannabis farm was found in Seaton Carew.

The 478 plants, with an estimated street value of about £500,000, were seized when police raided a residential property on The Green on Wednesday.

Officers have now charged a 22-year-old man with production of a class B drug, and he will appear before magistrates later.

Cleveland Police

Proposals to revamp a landmark seafront pub in South Shields have been put before council planners.

The plans, for the Sanddancer next to Sandhaven Beach, include extending the outdoor area timber decking and adding "beach hut style" seating booths and fire pits.

There would also be an outdoor bar in existing storage sheds.

Comments on the application can be made by writing to South Tyneside Council before 24 February.

BBC

Newcastle councillors have agreed pay rises for themselves worth a combined £20,000, despite some members saying they “don’t need the money”.

An increase in the basic annual allowance by £200 to £9,200 has been approved with overwhelming support.

Only two independent councillors from the Chapel ward opposed the move.

Marc Donnelly urged colleagues to freeze their pay for the next 12 months in light of £20m budget cuts and a council tax rise due to be rubber-stamped in the coming weeks.

Ernie Shorton said councillors were deserving of an increase but urged them to “take the high ground” and reject it.

“You don’t need the money, I don’t need the money," he said.

A report by the authority’s Independent Remuneration Panel said Newcastle councillors were paid less than those in many neighbouring areas.

BBC

Eric Richards, who chaired the panel, said the pay did not even amount to the minimum wage when considered against the hours they put in.

The authority voted in 2019 to increase councillors’ allowances for the first time in a decade.

Their new annual salary will now be £10 short of what it was before city politicians took a 5% wage cut in 2013, in response to massive budget cuts.

An “immersive” full-size replica of new Metro trains will be going on tour around the North East later this year.

It follows the announcement last week that Swiss firm Stadler was awarded the contract to build the new £362m fleet.

The fully kitted out mock-up will give passengers the chance to experience the layout of the trains, walk through a carriage, and try out the new seats.

They can then share their opinions with operator Nexus, so that any changes needed can be reported to Stadler’s factory in Switzerland.

The exact dates and locations of the roadshow events are yet to be confirmed, but they are expected to start in late summer and continue through the autumn.

Nexus

Dry January has been and gone and the sound of cracking ring-pulls and hissing screw caps can be heard once more.

But councillors on Teesside are worried supermarkets will be keen to make up for lost revenue with cut-price offers.

Stockton Council cabinet member for adult social care Ann McCoy has raised the question of whether supermarkets and pubs were being monitored to see if they had "special offers on to lure people back".

“I wondered if someone was in contact with supermarkets to say, yes, you might have lost revenue but please don’t try to lure people back in with two-for-one deals,” she said.

A task force has been formed in Stockton to try and deal with the £80m bill faced by the borough every year to deal with the impacts of booze. Almost 40% of people drink to levels which hit their health.

Care home residents in Stockton have told of their joy after being taken out on the ice in their wheelchairs.

They enjoyed the activity as part of a range of creative events set up by staff, which also include boat trips and date nights.

Ministers are aiming to pass emergency legislation to block the automatic early release of convicted terror offenders before the next prisoner is freed in three weeks, it has emerged.

Sunderland shopkeeper Mohammed Zahir Kahn (pictured), 42, is due to be freed on 28 February after serving half his sentence for encouraging terrorism.

An official said legislation would be introduced to the Commons on Tuesday.

It follows attacks in recent months by men convicted of terror offences.

COUNTER-TERRORISM POLICING NORTH EAST

A Newcastle venue has cancelled an event featuring American evangelist Franklin Graham, following protests by gay rights campaigner

Mr Graham (pictured), the eldest son of the late preacher Billy Graham, has said he believes gay marriage is a "sin".

He was due to speak at the Utilta Arena in June but the venue operator said following talks with its partners and stakeholders the show will no longer take place.

Ste Dunn, chairman of Northern Pride, said: "Having led the call for this to be cancelled, and coordinated the support of numerous groups throughout the city, we are obviously delighted by this decision.

"We would like to thank everyone who got behind the campaign and signed our petition, to make a stand and show that anti-LGBT+ speech is not welcome in Newcastle."

BBC

Venues in Glasgow, Sheffield, Liverpool and Milton Keynes have already pulled out of hosting his events this summer.

In a statement last week, the preacher said: "People who say I'm 'preaching hate' have never heard me speak.

"I'm inviting everyone to come to these meetings.

"I would love for the LGBTQ community to come.

"Regardless of their faith or belief system, everyone is absolutely welcome. We're not going to speak against anybody."

Newcastle United and Leicester City are prepared to pay £15m for Brentford and Algeria winger Said Benrahma, 24, in the summer.(Sun)

ALLSPORT/Getty Images

A new hospital, hotel and even a micro brewery could be built on the site of the former Consett steel works if "no brainer" plans are approved by county bosses.

About 3,500 jobs were lost when it shut down in 1980, but there have been a number of developments to regenerate the site.

The latest one, discussed at a meeting of Durham County Council’s County Planning Committee, was for the land south of the Puddlers Corner roundabout.

Weardale councillor John Shuttleworth said: “It is what the people of Consett want and deserve, there’s much economic benefit and improved social benefits from new health care facilities.

“This application is not finely balanced, it is a no brainer."

BBC

Submitted by Project Genesis, the organisation set up to redevelop the site, a second, more detailed, version would have to be approved before construction could start.

The meeting was told just one letter of objection had been submitted to the county council, raising concerns about traffic and loss of green space used by dog walkers.

Singer-songwriter Gabrielle is to perform at Northern Pride this summer.

The multi-platinum artist, who rose to fame in 1993 with her debut single Dreams, will be headlining the Newcastle event, which runs from 17 to 19 July.

Also taking to the main stage on the Sunday is television personality Gok Wan, best known for his work on shows such as How to Look Good Naked and Gok’s Fashion Fix.

He will entertain crowds at the Town Moor with a DJ set.

Northern Pride

The full line-up for the weekend is yet to be announced, but organisers say they plan to shine a spotlight on more local performers.

There will also be collaborations with other community groups – such as Newcastle Mela – and a series of events taking place in the coming months, covering topics from sports to comedy to raising awareness of mental health.

Northern Pride

There are LGBT+ people in all walks of life and we wanted to reflect this, so we have planned a really exciting and varied programme of events over the next six months which we hope will have really wide appeal."

Les Pigg took this photo of the Knife Angel sculpture outside the Sage Gateshead.

The 27ft (8m) statue is made up of 100,000 blades handed to UK police forces.

If you want to send us photos you can tweet us, contact us via our Facebook page or email us.

LES PIGG

An MP says plans to put low-level radioactive waste into landfill in Port Clarence, near Stockton, are not in the community's best interests.

Stockton North Labour MP Alex Cunningham has written an objection letter to the Environment Agency after the company Augean's asked for permission to put low-level waste from decommissioned nuclear power stations into the site.

Mr Cunningham cites potential dangers to the environment and wildlife.

Augean stressed it specialised in handling complex waste, and had environmental protections in place.

A public consultation has now closed and the Environment Agency is considering the company's application.

Teams of undercover police officers are to travel on the Tyne and Wear Metro as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour.

It follows a spate of incidents across North Tyneside since the turn of the year, including youths kicking out 10 windows of a carriage, which resulted in the train being taken out of service.

The operation will run over a number of weeks with plain clothes officers on board trains during the day and night.

Operator Nexus said it is forced to spend £500,000 a year cleaning up after vandals.

Northumbria Police has said it plans to recruit almost 500 new officers paid for by a rise in council tax.

The force's police and crime commissioner, Kim McGuinness, has confirmed a near 2% hike in the police precept, which means some homes will pay £2.67 more a year.

Ms McGuinness said that would generate more than £1m, which will also be put towards better equipment for officers.

She said the tax hike was among the lowest in the country.

Thousands of people who drive through a double roundabout every day in Newcastle are facing months of disruption because of planned roadworks.

Work will start later this month to modify Haddricks Mill in south Gosforth and was due to be completed in the Easter school holidays.

However, it has now been confirmed the work will continue until September because of issues with contractors.

Newcastle City Council said it was doing everything possible to minimise disruption.

A rather chilly start with some mist and fog patches, but they will slowly lift, to give a dry and bright day with good spells of sunshine.

These sunny spells will turn more hazy for a time later in light winds.

Maximum temperatures should reach about 8C (46F).

BBC

A "sentimental" knife has been stolen in a burglary in Jesmond.

The address on Mitchell Avenue was targeted on 21 January by intruders who forced entry via a rear window.

Jewellery and a distinctive Kukri machete inscribed with the owner’s details were taken.

Northumbria Police said the knife holds huge sentimental value to the owner as it was gifted to him while he was in the army.

The force is now asking the person who took it to do the right thing and hand it back in to police.

Anyone with information about the burglary, which took place between 08:30 and 17:45, is also asked to contact the force.

Northumbria Police

A primary school teacher from Stockton has been found guilty of sexually assaulting six girls at a school in North Yorkshire.

Jonathan Clayton, 27, was remanded in custody and will be sentenced later this month. At Teesside Crown Court he was found guilty on all of the 13 charges he was facing following a four-week trial.

In the public gallery family members who were related to his victims broke down in tears as the verdicts were announced.

Clayton said nothing and showed no emotion. The pupils he assaulted were girls aged between seven and 11.

BBC

Sentencing will be on 26 February to give the judge time to look at reports from the probation service and consider the risk Clayton posed in the future.

Det Con Gillian Gowling from North Yorkshire Police said: "Clayton had abused the trust of young girls in his care and took advantage of his position as their primary school teacher."

She praised the victims’ bravery and said she "hoped the guilty verdicts would help them move on from this terrible event in the knowledge that justice had been done".

A Chinese student at Newcastle University says feels discriminated against after being mocked amid the the panic around the coronavirus outbreak.

Elizabeth and her friend were walking near Eldon Square on Saturday at 16:00 when a group of teenagers, which she described as being "high school age", started screaming when they saw them.

"I didn't really know what happened, but later I realised maybe they take us as evil or the people who are already affected by the virus", she said.

Elizabeth asked the group why they screamed and what she had done to them, but says the group didn't say anything and instead stepped back from her.

"I feel humiliated", she told BBC Newcastle.

North East police forces are encouraging anyone who's been a victim to come forward.

Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police say they've not had any obvious rises in hate crime

Newcastle City Council

Newcastle's Grainger Market has been named Britain’s Favourite Market in The National Association of British Markets Authorities annual awards.

It has been given the title after an online vote and a visit by a mystery shopper, who gave it full marks for customer service.

The market was built in 1835 and has more than 100 stalls.

Councillor Ged Bell said he was "absolutely delighted" that Grainger Market won.

“To be crowned Britain’s Favourite Market 2020 demonstrates to the nation what everyone in Newcastle already knows", he added.

The brother of the Manchester Arena bomber was "just as guilty" of the murder of the 22 people who died in the attack, his trial has heard.

Salman Abedi detonated a "large home-made improvised explosive device" outside an Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017.

His brother Hashem Abedi is standing trial at the Old Bailey over his "role in perpetrating these terrible events".

Julia Quenzler

He denies the murder of 22 people and the attempted murder of others.

Duncan Penny QC said the siblings spent "months" planning the attack.

Hashem, 22, has also denied conspiring with his brother to cause an explosion.

Mr Penny said the effects of the attack had been "both sudden and lethal" and police had identified "nearly 1,000 victims".

In addition to the 22 people, including seven children, who died, a total of 264 "were physically injured", he said, while 670 more had since "reported psychological trauma as a result of these events".

"Inseparable" Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, from South Shields were among the 22 victims.

Twitter

Newcastle's Grainger Market has been named Britain’s Favourite Market in The National Association of British Markets Authorities annual awards.

It has been given the title after an online vote and a visit by a mystery shopper, who gave it full marks for customer service.

The market was built in 1835 and has more than 100 stalls.

Councillor Ged Bell said he was "absolutely delighted" that Grainger Market won.

“To be crowned Britain’s Favourite Market 2020 demonstrates to the nation what everyone in Newcastle already knows", he added.

"The Grainger Market is the jewel in our city’s crown".

Newcastle City Council

A row of rundown houses in North Tyneside are being turned in to new affordable homes after being bought by the council.

The properties, on Charlotte Street in Wallsend, had been vandalised and were left uninhabitable after much of the interiors were ripped out.

It comes as the council now has new powers to charge a higher council tax premium to discourage landlords who let their properties fall into disrepair.

Police searching for an 87-year-old man who has been missing since Sunday believe he is in the Amble area of Northumberland.

Albert Gray has not been head from since leaving his house in Wideopen on Sunday morning.

Northumbria Police is increasingly concerned for his welfare.

It said it received a report he was seen getting off a bus at about 13:00 in Amble and heading towards the marina.

He is 5ft 10in, medium build, with short grey hair and is thought to be wearing a flat cap, black jacket and beige trousers and shoes.

NORTHUMBRIA POLICE

Lille's 20-year-old France midfielder Boubakary Soumare rejected a large January offer from Newcastle in the hope of sealing a move to Liverpool or Manchester United in the summer window. (Le10sport - in French)

It has also also been reported Soumare turned down Newcastle because he wasn't impressed with the club's training facilities after he was shown them in a video phone call. (Mail)

ALLSPORT/Getty Images

Two North East universities are to be hit by industrial action.

The University and College Union says the University of Durham and Newcastle University will be affected by 14 days of strike action in February and March.

The action will start on 20 February and will escalate each week, culminating with a week-long walkout from March 9 to March 13.

The strikes are over pay, working conditions and rising pension costs.

A 135-year January record was overturned in Morpeth last month when the local weather station did not observe a temperature of 0C or below.

It has been revealed that January was the sixth warmest on record, according to the Met Office.

It said the average mean temperature across the UK was 5.6C.

Met Office data on temperatures in the UK began in 1884.

There'll be a few scattered showers early on, along with fresh to strong north-westerly winds.

As the day goes on it will then become dry with increasing sunny spells and the gusty winds will gradually ease.

Maximum temperatures should reach about 10C (50F).

BBC

There have been some high winds around the North East over the last few days.

Gillian Smith took this photo of a tree which has been uprooted in Cliftonville Gardens, Whitley Bay.

GILLIAN SMITH

Work to repair a huge sinkhole in a County Durham village is due to get under way, two weeks after it opened up.

Two properties on Clervaux Terrace in Fishburn have been declared unsafe, forcing the occupants to find alternative accommodation.

Durham County Council has put fencing in place around the sinkhole and installed temporary lights to keep traffic moving.

Mark Readman, the council's highways services manager said: "[We] were made aware of a sinkhole at Clervaux Terrace two weeks ago and the emergency response team attended to make the area safe.

"Following preparation of a scheme of repairs, we are beginning work today and will ensure local residents are kept informed as this progresses."

BBC

Flights from Newcastle International Airport to Munich in Germany have begun today.

Airport officials believe the new service to be the most significant since Emirates Airways began using it.

The new flights are being operated by German state airline Lufthansa, which is the second largest airline in Europe.

Getty Images

Two people remain under observation at a specialist treatment centre in Newcastle after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.

More than 240 calls have been made to a dedicated helpline in York after a student at the city's university was confirmed as having the disease.

reu

The University of York set up a call centre after confirming one of the first two confirmed UK cases of the virus was a student.

Both people are still being treated at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Meanwhile a plane carrying 11 Britons landed back from China yesterday.

Chris Hill from Sunderland, who moved to Wuhan in 2008, went against government advice to remain in the city, to be with his Chinese family.

He told BBC Newcastle the city, which remains in lockdown, is doing its best to get on with life.

A Northumberland man has arrived back in the UK with his daughter and Chinese wife, after leaving Wuhan, the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, the BBC has learned.

Jeff Siddle, from Prudhoe, had been faced with having to leave his wife Sindy in China because of travel restrictions imposed by the Chinese government in the wake of increasing deaths from the virus.

But it has emerged that Mr Siddle, together with his wife and nine-year-old daughter, boarded a flight to Marseille in France overnight.

They have now landed at RAF Brize Norton and are in quarantine in the Wirral.

Family photo