Tyneside stories you might have missed this week

Evil Dungeon Crawler say they aim to continue the legacy of fellow Newcastle band Venom

Metro passengers face more ticket barriers, there are "below average" salmon and trout populations in the Tyne, and a band says it is bringing black metal back to the North East.

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

'Tickets and passes please'

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness is hopeful more ticket barriers can be installed across other stations

The first new ticket barriers to be installed across the Tyne and Wear Metro network for a decade should be in action before the end of the year, transport chiefs say.

Work is under way to introduce new gates at Regent Centre in Gosforth, Newcastle, while a shortlist of more stations to have barriers is being drawn up.

• You can read more about the plans here

Trashed studio 'thankful for support'

Vandals broke into The Market Gallery in South Shields destroying artwork

The owners of an art studio left devastated after their work was trashed by vandals have thanked the community for their support as the clean-up continues.

The Market Gallery in South Shields was set to launch at the former Wilko store when it was broken into at the end of July, just days before it was due to open.

• You can read an interview with one of the owners here

Fish counts drop on the Tyne

The Environment Agency says the River Tyne is England's best salmon river

Estimates of salmon and trout populations found upstream on "England's best salmon river" have been below average this year, according to the Environment Agency (EA).

It said the prolonged dry weather at the start of the year had not provided the conditions to encourage fish on the River Tyne to migrate upstream which is where they reproduce.

• There is more on the data here

City Hall revamp approved

Newcastle City Hall is a Grade II-listed building which opened in 1927

Newcastle City Hall is to be revamped to help the venue "regain its former glory".

Plans to refurbish the Grade II-listed building, which include a new balcony-level bar, were given the green light by the council.

The work is needed to put the venue "firmly back on the touring acts' schedule", with planning documents warning it is being overlooked by major acts.

• There are more details about the designs here

'Bringing black metal back'

A Newcastle band are paying tribute to the pioneers of black metal.

Evil Dungeon Crawler, speaking at a sold-out headline show, say they aim to continue the legacy of fellow Newcastle band Venom.

The band's 1982 release Black Metal is credited as having laid the foundations for the style of music that took its name from the album, as Adam Clarkson found out.