Updates on Friday 13 November 2015
News, sport, travel and weather resumes on Monday
Staff at the Open University are to strike in a row over plans to close regional centres.
Staff in Gateshead are due to strike on Friday 4 December - as their centre is one of seven to close.
The union is campaigning against plans to close seven regional centres, which it says puts more than 500 jobs at risk.
A 24-year-old woman has been sexually assaulted after she left a nightclub in Middlesbrough.
She was approached by a man and pushed against railings and sexually assaulted in Albert Road at about 03:00 on 1 November.
The victim managed to get away from the man and left in a black and yellow hackney taxi. Police are appealing for witnesses, external.
Fiona Trott
BBC News
A spectacular light show has brought a 3D whale and a giant worm to the city of Durham.
The fourth Lumiere Festival showcases light installations from artists all over the world and organisers are expecting record visitors.
For the first time the event will also be travelling to London. Watch the video here.
Image source, PAThere are claims from Labour that industry in East Cleveland is in crisis - following the announcement of more job losses.
It t was announced yesterday that hundreds of jobs are set to be axed at a North East potash mine.
Image source, GoogleNorthern Powerhouse Minister and Stockton South MP James Wharton says the Government will support the local economy.
A 28-year-old man has appeared in court charged with attempting to murder a Northumbria Police officer.
Michael Walker, from Cornhill in Newcastle, appeared before North Tyneside magistrates also charged with assaulting a police officer and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
It comes after an alleged incident on a footbridge on the A1 in Newcastle yesterday.
He was remanded in custody and will appear before Newcastle Crown Court on 27 November.
A man has been charged with the attempted murder of a police officer.
It comes after an alleged incident on a footbridge on the A1 in Newcastle yesterday.
The 28-year-old has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer, assaulting a police officer and assault.
BBC Travel
If you're planning to travel through North Yorkshire this weekend, drivers are being reminded that the A1 will be closed from 20:00 tomorrow until 06:00 on Monday.
They're demolishing a bridge and the road will be closed in both directions between junction 51 (Leeming Bar) and Scotch Corner.
The bridge needs to be demolished to allow space for an extra lane to be added to the road, before being rebuilt at a later date.
Get the latest travel news for Tyne and Wear and Teesside.
A man has been forced to hand over cash at kinfe point in Newcastle.
The 19-year-old was left shaken after two men threatened him near The Gate complex in the city centre at about 03:30 this morning.
They then fled the scene and the man was not hurt in the incident.
The BBC's business editor would like to hear from you if your old Northern Rock mortgage is one of those that has been sold by the Government.
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Lloyd Watson
BBC Local Live
The BBC quiz show Only Connect had a Children in Need special this week.
One of the missing letter rounds focused on dramas set in the North East, so we thought we'd play along today.
And of course, you can of course donate to Children in Need on the bbc.co.uk/pudsey website.
Here's the first one to get you going - We'll give you the answer in about an hour. Don't phone, it's just for fun - play along with us by tweeting @BBCNewsNE, external or email your answer to: northeast.locallive@bbc.co.uk
BBC Newcastle
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCNewcastle
A person has been airlifted to hospital after being involved in a two-vehicle crash in Gateshead.
It happened just after 08:00 this morning outside the former post office on Spen Lane in Greenside.
Another person has also been hurt - both have been taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
Here are the latest headlines so far this morning:
- Campaigners who want to restore an abandoned seaside swimming pool to its former glory are selling artwork inspired by the attraction
BBC Sport
Here's a snippet from today's Gossip Column:
Newcastle United are interested in signing 23-year-old Werder Bremen centre-back Jannik Vestergaard. (SportBild, via Chronicle), external
After a number of incidents this morning on the roads across the North East, police are reminding people to take care on the wet surface.
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The Journal
Newspaper
Here's today's front page and a link to the top story, external:
Image source, The JournalBBC Newcastle
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCNewcastle
You might see some familiar faces on a very special edition of Bargain Hunt today on BBC One.
BBC Newcastle's Alfie Joey and Anna Foster, with a little bit of help from Pudsey, try to find the best bargains to go up for auction.
If you miss this Children in Need special at 12:15 on BBC One you can catch up here afterwards.
The Gazette
Newspaper
Here's today's front page and a link to the top story, external:
Image source, The GazetteBBC Travel
Durham Road in Chester-le-Street is closed and there's queuing traffic in both directions between Hermitage Roundabout and the Ropery Lane junction because of an accident. Police are directing traffic.
The B6315 Spen Lane in Greenside is closed and there's queuing traffic in both directions between the Lead Road junction and the Whitefield Gardens junction, because of an accident. Police are also directing traffic.
Get the latest travel news for Tyne and Wear and Teesside.
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Workers are on site to start filling in a 30-foot deep and 20-foot wide hole that opened up in a yard behind houses in Gosforth in Newcastle.
The gaping hole appeared at Craster Square in Coxlodge just before 11:00 yesterday. It revealed old mine workings in an area which used to have a number of pits.
The Coal Authority intend to backfill the hole, and the council has agreed to provide materials for this purpose to stabilise the collapse.
It will also investigate the cause of the collapse in order to establish a permanent solution.
Robert Peston
Economics editor
The Northern Rock mortgage sale will reduce national debt by £13.28bn, says Treasury, though it will have no impact on the deficit.
For anyone who hasn't been paying attention, the national debt is the total amount owed, the deficit is the amount borrowed each year.