Tyneside stories you might have missed this week

Tony Gates sits on a bench next to the trunk. He is clean shaven with short greying hair and is wearing glasses and a pink shirt.

People will now be able to touch part of the felled Sycamore Gap Tree

A permanent memorial to the Sycamore Gap tree has been unveiled and some of the new Tyne and Wear Metro trains were pulled from service again over air-con leaks.

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

People can hug the Sycamore Gap tree again

Artist Charlie Winney stands next to his sculpture. He is clean shaven with short dark hair and is wearing a brown jumper and blue jeans. The sculpture consists of a tree trunk with pieces of bent wood coming from it connecting to benches.

The Sycamore Gap tree is "huggable", artist Charlie Winney said

A section of the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree, which was illegally felled two years ago, will go on permanent display in Northumberland.

The act sparked global condemnation and outrage, with two men found guilty of chopping the tree down in May.

People will now be able to touch part of its trunk at the Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre.

Artist Charlie Winney said had been "blown away by how huggable it is".

School fire sparked by solar panels

A drone shot of the aftermath of the fire, which shows a scorched roof. Police tape surrounds the school. It is a mostly single storey building with a large field next to it.

A fire broke out at Shanklea Primary School in Cramlington

Shanklea Primary School in Cramlington was closed for a large part of the week following a fire which started in solar panels on the roof.

No-one was injured and Northumberland County Council said the damage was "not as significant as first thought".

Refuse workers 'disheartened' by returned rubbish

A large, black rectangular domestic bin on wheels in a cleaned alleyway to the left. The picture to the right shows a similar bin on the same alleyway with rubbish strewn across the ground.Newcastle City Council

Rubbish piled up just 24 hours after council teams had cleared alleyways

The sight of rubbish strewn across alleyways just 24 hours after they were cleared was described as "disheartening" by refuse workers.

Newcastle City Council said a number of back lanes in the West End were filled with rubbish less than a day after they were cleaned by staff.

New Metros pulled again over air-con leaks

One of the new Metro trains which is bright yellow with black accents. People are waiting on the platform beside the train.

This is the second time a number of the new trains have been pulled from service due to the air conditioning units

Three of the new Tyne and Wear Metro trains were pulled from service again, as bosses attempt to correct a fault which is causing water to pour into the carriages.

The operators said that condensation from the trains' heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system was draining too slowly during long hours of running on hot days.

TV historian to receive honorary degree

David Olusoga looking into the camera. He has dark, jaw-length hair and is wearing dark glasses and a suit. He is standing in front of a black background with the Valentino and International Booker Prize 2024 logos.Getty Images

David Olusoga, from Gateshead, was awarded an OBE in 2019

It was announced TV historian David Olusoga will be among those to receive an honorary degree from Newcastle University this summer.

The social historian, from Gateshead, will be made an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law.

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