Teesside and County Durham stories you might have missed

The fence at Thorntree Park sparked opposition from the community

A couple fostered 50 children over two decades, a review has found "escalating concerns" about the breast cancer care service provided by an NHS trust and a new antenna which can track birds has made its first detection.

Here are some stories from Teesside and County Durham you might have missed this week.

Couple fostered 50 children over two decades

Lol and Sue Hepworth say the rewards of fostering outweigh the challenges

Two foster carers who have taken in 50 children over the last 19 years say they will "keep going for as long as we can".

Lol and Sue Hepworth, from Saltburn, began fostering in 2006 after moving to the north-east of England from London.

Mr Hepworth, 78, wanted to foster children because of his own experiences of being abandoned as a baby and being adopted by his uncle and said it was a chance to "give a little back" and "make a positive difference" for young people in the area.

They shared their story as Redcar and Cleveland Council put out a call for more foster parents and said the number of children in care had steadily risen over the past decade.

• Read more about Lol and Sue Hepworth's fostering here

Changed Santa tour plans stop outside funeral home

The changes to the Santa route will now be discussed at a public meeting

Plans to change the route of a 65-year-old Santa tour, including a stop outside a funeral home, have been met with anger by residents.

Great Aycliffe Town Council announced a "magical makeover" to the annual Newton Aycliffe tradition on Facebook before the post was edited to say "proposed changes to Santa tours".

The proposals mean Santa will not ride around all of Aycliffe in his sleigh but instead stop at designated spots, including outside the Co-op funeral home on MacMillan Road, due to a lack of volunteers and suitable vehicles.

A council spokesperson said it had been hard keeping the tours "safe and reliable" and highlighted how last year two routes were nearly cancelled.

• Read more about the proposed changes to the Santa tour here

Review finds breast cancer 'weaknesses over years'

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to impacted patients

An independent review has found "escalating concerns" about the breast cancer care service provided by an NHS trust.

The review, commissioned by the County Durham and Darlington NHS Trust in March, found "clinical failures in the Breast Surgery Service", according to a report released this week by independent governance advisor Mary Aubrey.

The review also found "weaknesses in leadership, clinical governance, organisational culture and contract management over many years".

Chief executive Steve Russell apologised to the patients affected and said: "You put your trust in us and in some cases that trust was not met. We didn't offer the high quality care you needed and deserved."

• Read more about the review into breast care service here

'Antenna will teach us more about bird migration'

The tracking antenna picked up two jack snipes in Teesside

A new antenna which tracks birds has made its first detection.

Teesside's RSBP Saltholme reserve manager Chris Francis said its Motus antenna, which was installed in May, would help researchers better understand the migratory patterns of the animals.

He said the structure had picked up its first birds - two jack snipes - earlier this month. The pair had had travelled from Sweden, albeit via two different slightly routes, according to the Motus tracking network.

"It just builds up a much clearer picture of what these birds are doing," Mr Francis said.

• Read more about the new antenna here

Hopes for gate at 'inaccessible' play park fence

The football club said anti-social behaviour had lessened since the fence was put up in April

A gate could be installed in a playing field fence which has sparked a row about accessibility.

Cargo Fleet Football Club put up the locked fence around the Thorntree Park playing fields and pavilion in Middlesbrough in April, saying it was a "necessity" to ensure the safety of children playing football.

It meant locals were no longer able to walk their dogs across the football pitch or reach Spencer Beck, which is at the far end of the field.

Middlesbrough Council said it had worked with the club to design and source an "appropriate gate to allow residents on to the site" and hoped it would be installed soon.

• Read more about the row for a play park gate here