Tyneside and Northumberland stories you might have missed

Snowy, a furry white rabbit, with bright blue eyes, is sitting on a patch of grass.Ouseburn Farm

Katie Bates said Snowy's disappearance from the farm will upset "thousands of visitors"

The disappearance of a white rabbit, a petition fails to save a century-old barber shop and rare footage of the first Metro.

Here are five stories from across Tyneside and Northumberland you might have missed this week.

Jade to be given highest hometown honour

Jade smiling into the camera. She has long, dark hair and dark eyes. She is standing in front of a blue curtain and is wearing a dark patterned top with ties down the middle and a silver nose ring.Sarah Jeynes/BBC

Jade will receive the Freedom of South Tyneside

Pop star Jade and the owner of one of north-east England's best known restaurants will receive their home borough's highest honour.

South Tyneside Council voted to grant the honorary Freedom of the Borough to Jade Thirlwall, from South Shields, who rose to fame as part of Little Mix before launching a solo career.

The local authority also agreed to award the honour to Richard Ord MBE, the owner of Colmans Fish and Chips and Colmans Seafood Temple at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday.

Council leader Tracey Dixon, said the pair "could not be more deserving of the marvellous tribute".

  • Read more about Jade receiving the Freedom of the Borough here

Petition fails to save century-old barber shop

Barry Whincup. He is wearing a blue T-shirt and is bald with a greying beard. He is standing in front of his barber's chair at the shop in Newcastle. The walls are painted blue and have tiles lower down. There are old fashioned drawings in frames on the wall between the mirrors.Jonny Manning/BBC

Barry Whincup's barber shop is set to close, but he hopes to have a new location soon

A community's attempt to save a century-old hairdressers "means everything" to the barbers who work there.

George Scott Gentleman's Hairdressers has been at The Side in Newcastle since 1919, but will soon close after its rent tripled.

Shop owner Barry Whincup thanked the 1,000 people who signed a petition, which called for the rent to be lowered, for their "fantastic community spirit" and said he hoped to have a new location soon.

The barbers' landlord, The Gainford Group, has been contacted for comment.

  • Read more about the battle to save George Scott Gentleman's Hairdressers here

Rabbit theft from charity farm 'a violation'

A brown tortoiseshell rabbit sleeping next to a black bunny, with Snowy the white bunny sleeping in the middle. Next to her is a larger grey and white bunny with its eyes open. All the rabbits are on a grass patch, leaning against a wooden fence. Ouseburn Farm

Snowy sleeping with the other rabbits in her hutch

The disappearance of a popular white rabbit, believed to be taken overnight from a charity farm, has been described as a "violation".

Snowy, a three-year-old lionhead lop with distinctive blue eyes, has been missing from her hutch at Ouseburn Farm, on Ouseburn Road in Newcastle, since the weekend.

Katie Bates, farm manager, said the "incredibly friendly and tender" bunny is loved by the "thousands of visitors" that come to the farm to interact with the animals, including those with learning difficulties.

She described Snowy's disappearance during the night as "incredibly sad" and that it would have been "really scary" for her.

  • Read more about Snowy's disappearance here

'My ex stalked me, the law needs to be better'

Ashley has blonde hair and is in her late 30s wearing a white crinkled top with a black blazer and gold necklace looks at the camera, her hair is long and straight.

Ashley was abused and stalked by her ex-husband who was jailed for his crimes

Following campaigns from victims of stalking, the government has agreed to review the law. Two victims, who the BBC introduced to a minister to share their experiences, said it was about time.

Ashley's abuse started many years ago.

Despite working away during the week, her ex-husband Jason Howe monitored and controlled her every move.

She was not allowed to visit family for more than an hour at a time and he would phone her the moment she finished work and order her to head home immediately.

After he got a driving ban and had to leave work, the abuse intensified.

  • Read more about Ashley's story here

Rare footage found of first Metro fleet

The original version of the metro train, with a white coloured upper half, and a yellow bottom half. It is travelling down a track with fields visible in the background and a cloudy sky.Nexus

The footage of the original trains was on eBay by a seller in Herefordshire

Rare colour footage of the Tyne and Wear Metro's first year of operation has been unearthed online.

The six-minute video provides a snapshot of the rail system in July 1981 when it was less than a year old.

It was discovered by public transport enthusiast Ian Chapman who spotted it for sale on eBay and decided to buy it "straight away".

Sarah McCourt, head of communications and marketing at operator Nexus, said: "The footage provides a nostalgic snapshot of the system when the first line between Haymarket and Tynemouth had been open for less than a year."

  • Read more about the rare early footage of the Metro here

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