Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
Live updates for the North East have finished for the day but we'll be back from 08:00 on Tuesday with the latest news, sport, weather and travel.
Summary
Updates on Monday 7 December 2015
More news, sport, weather and travel from 08:00 on Tuesday
Our live coverage across the daypublished at 18:00
On tonight's Look North: The clean up after the weekend's devastating floodspublished at 17:55
Jeff Brown
BBC Look NorthTonight, I'll be live in Carlisle, where they're cleaning up once again after more devastating floods hit Cumbria.
Millions of pounds has been spent on flood defences in communities across Cumbria, but such was the torrent of water, they were simply overwhelmed.
In the North East, it was the Tyne valley which bore the brunt of the flooding with Corbridge particularly badly affected.
Join me for the latest updates from 18:30 on BBC One.
Weather: Starting dry before cloud and outbreaks of rain move inpublished at 17:48
Starting dry this evening before cloud and outbreaks of rain move in from the west, reaching Hexham before midnight, and lasting into the early hours of Tuesday.
The persistent rain should clear all parts by dawn. Breezy and staying mild.
Minimum Temperature: 9C (48F)
RSPCA rescues animals from floodspublished at 17:44
Seven cats, eight dogs, four rabbits and three chickens have all been rescued from floods by the RSPCA.
Four teams of officers have been called out to 77 times to flooding incidents since Friday in the North East and Cumbria, a spokeswoman said.
Image source, RSPCAAs well as helping animals, the RSPCA’s flood teams, external have also been assisting other emergency services and have so far rescued 36 people.
North East launches first tri-responderspublished at 17:38
Two emergency service workers have been appointed as the North East's first tri-responders.
Laura Birbeck and Laman Warburton will split their time working for Durham Police as PCSOs, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service as retained firefighters and as first responders for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS).
Image source, Durham PoliceThey will be able to undertake policing, fire and rescue and ambulance service responses from their base within the police station in Stanhope.
Police and Barnados to tackle exploitationpublished at 17:30
Cleveland Police is working with Barnardo’s to tackle child sexual exploitation.
Barnardo's is offering free training to businesses, external who might be in a position to spot exploitation, such as night-time companies and community groups.
Alan Routledge from Barnardo’s said: “The night time economy is made up hoteliers, bar staff, door supervisors, take-away staff, shop assistants, petrol station attendants and many more people who may – if given the right information - be effective in spotting exploitation and saving a child from such abuse.”
'Rare and majestic' falcon shotpublished at 17:20
Police have confirmed a peregrine falcon whose body was found at Stang Forest had been shot.
Durham Police and the RSPB said the falcon is one of several birds of prey to have been killed this year.
Image source, RSPBPeregrine falcons are protected by law and RSPB investigations officer Howard Jones said: “This case once again provides a window into the reasons behind the peregrine falcon’s struggle to breed in much of the English uplands."
The falcon was discovered on 23 August.
Tour of Britain brought £2.13m to Northumberlandpublished at 17:10
The Aviva Tour of Britain cycling race raised £2.13m for the Northumberland economy, according to organisers Sweetspot.
The county hosted the event over two days in September.
Image source, Getty ImagesAbout 115,000 spectators watched the race in Northumberland, 21% of whom came from outside the North East.
Christmas trees also come to Corbridgepublished at 17:05
Duncan Leatherdale
BBC News OnlineThough it may have dominated much of the conversation in Corbridge, the flooding of the River Tyne was not the only talking point in the town this weekend.
Image source, Simon A HunterMore than 800 people visited the Christmas Tree festival held in St Andrew's Church, external.
Image source, Simon A HunterThe lights were switched on by former footballer Sol Campbell and his wife Fiona Barratt-Campbell.
Image source, Simon A HunterThe festival ends at 17:00 tomorrow.
Boro release topless calendarpublished at 17:00
The Gazette
NewspaperMetro services between Pelaw and South Hylton to remain suspendedpublished at 16:52
Metro services between Pelaw and South Hylton are expected to remain suspended, external until later in the week after overhead lines were damaged.
Replacement bus services will be running and passes are being accepted on Go North East and Stagecoach bus services.
More information can be found by visiting Nexus' online journey planner., external
Power restored to all North East customerspublished at 16:42
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End of twitter postService held for Claudia Lawrencepublished at 16:32
A special church service has been held in Darlington to remember missing York woman Claudia Lawrence.
Image source, North Yorkshire PoliceMs Lawrence, who worked as a chef at York University, disappeared from her house on Heworth Road in March 2009.
Image source, Lawrence familyShe was 35 when she vanished and no trace of her has been found, despite numerous arrests and extensive police searches.
Image source, Lawrence familyThe service was held at the All Saints Church in Darlington, the home town of her mother Joan Lawrence, and the family also released pictures of Claudia as a young girl.
Man assaulted after meeting gang of 20 youthspublished at 16:22
A man was assaulted in an alleyway in Blyth after being approached by a gang of 20 youths believed to be aged between 15 and 17.
The 43-year-old suffered leg injuries after being attacked in the alleyway between Waterloo Road and Bondicar Terrace at about 22:00 on 4 December. Northumbria Police is appealing for information.
Elderly woman left with serious injuries after crash on A167published at 16:12
The A167 has reopened at Chester Moor in Durham following a collision involving a Ford Focus this afternoon.
The driver of the car, a woman in her 70s, has been taken to the University Hospital North Durham with serious injuries.
The road was closed three hours ago and reopened about 15:00.
Image source, Durham PoliceThousands caught in bus lanepublished at 16:01
Image source, The ChronicleNorthumberland crematorium re-openspublished at 15:50
Northumberland's only crematorium has re-opened today 10 months after being damaged by a fire.
The historic chapel was saved from the flames in March but Northumberland County Council said repairs to the rest of the site cost about £1m.
Travel news: Replacement buses runningpublished at 15:40
BBC TravelA replacement bus service is running on Northern Rail between Middlesbrough and Nunthorpe due to overhead line problems at Brockley Whins.
For the latest travel news tune in to BBC Tees or visit BBC Travel.
Family's disgust at grave tyre trackspublished at 15:29
Sunderland Echo
NewspaperA family say they have been left disgusted after the grave of a relative was left strewn with tyre tracks, external after council workers drove vehicles over it.
Travel: No trains between Hexham and Carlislepublished at 15:19
BBC TravelThere is currently no service on Northern Rail between Hexham and Carlisle due to adverse weather conditions.
For the latest travel news tune into BBC Newcastle or visit the BBC Travel.
