Actor Alan Rickman, known for films including Harry Potter, Die Hard, Truly Madly Deeply and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has died at the age of 69.

The star was suffering from cancer, his family said.

Tributes have poured in from around the world, including this from the Theatre Royal in Newcastle:

Hirst Park in Ashington - where Jack Charlton was talent-spotted, and his brother Bobby and Newcastle legend Jackie Milburn also played - will receive £2.3m cash boost.

Jack Charlton - who played for Leeds United for 20 years and managed the Republic of Ireland - said Hirst Park was a "precious place" where he and his brother learned their craft.

Image source, Getty Images

"The football pitches where we played were created on the ash tip from the colliery and these were our first training grounds - our very own Wembley," he said.

"Hirst Park made it all possible for us and we would play all day if we could - and we often did."

Scott Cooper took this photo of snow in Brotton, East Cleveland, earlier this morning, external:  

Image source, Scott Cooper

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The Gazette
Newspaper

Here's today's front page and a link to the top story, external:

Image source, The Gazette

After Sunderland's 4-2 win over Swansea manager Sam Allardyce: "We manipulated or played with the situation as it panned out. That's all we can do.

"We have taken the opportunity rightly or wrongly to win the game. For us it's an unbelievable win.

"Today it's an enormous, enormous, enormous three points to give us encouragement and hope going forward."

Sunderland will look to make it three Premier League wins from three when they travel to Tottenham on Saturday at lunchtime,  

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

Laurence Jackson School, external in Guisborough is closing in a few minutes at 12:00 due to a power cut.

In non-weather related news - Jermain Defoe struck a hat-trick as Sunderland dragged 10-man Swansea closer to the bottom three in a game packed with refereeing controversy.

Defoe pounced on Lukasz Fabianski's mistake to score, but Swansea equalised with Gylfi Sigurdsson's penalty.

Image source, Getty Images

Kyle Naughton was controversially sent off for a foul on Yann M'Vila but Andre Ayew put the Swans ahead by half-time.

Patrick van Aanholt's deflected shot levelled and Defoe struck twice to secure a second successive league win.

BBC Travel

There's delays on the trains between Middlesbrough and Saltburn due to flooding.

Check the latest travel news here.

Two women have been rescued from an overturned car near Wolsingham, external.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service says both ladies were unhurt in the incident on Wear bank.

The Journal
Newspaper

Here's today's front page and a link to the top story, external:

Image source, The Journal

BBC Travel

The B1404 Lake Road in Houghton-le-Spring is closed in both directions between the A690 junction and the B1260 Gillas Lane junction because of a multi-vehicle accident.  

One lane is blocked on the A182 Washington Highway northbound in Washington between the A195 Northumberland Way junction and the A1231 Sunderland Highway junction because of an accident.

One lane is blocked on the A182 Washington Highway northbound in Washington between the A195 Northumberland Way junction and the A1231 Sunderland Highway junction because of an accident.

To send us your photos you can tweet, external us, email us, or contact us through our Facebook page, external.  

Bus firm Arriva is posting updates on Facebook, external about some of its services which are being disrupted:

• The 22 service is severely delayed in both directions from running waters due to a lorry that has jack knifed apparently cars have hit the lorry also
• All services in Newcastle and South East Northumberland which are operated by Ashington depot are currently disrupted due to snowy conditions  
• Services 21/X21 Darlington to Peterlee and Sunderland

BBC Travel

The A68 in Elishaw closed in both directions between the A696 junction and the Rochester junction because of a multi-vehicle accident, snow and an overturned vehicle.

The A68 is also closed in both directions between Errington Arms Roundabout and the A6079 junction because of snow.

Here's how the A1 was looking earlier:

Image source, PA

Sharon Barbour
BBC Look North

Here's the Town Moor in Newcastle this morning:

To send us your photos you can tweet, external us, email us, or contact us through our Facebook page, external.  

Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

I thought I'd update you on the snow, sleet and rain as it is falling in many parts of the North East.

As the day carries on, the snow will move south and should clear in the afternoon.

Image source, bbc

Lloyd Watson
BBC Local Live

If you were hoping the Metro would be back up and running this morning between Sunderland and Newcastle - bad news I'm afraid.

The power fault still hasn't been fixed - so trains can't run on the line between Pelaw and Brockley Whinns.

It means another morning at least of replacement buses.

Network rail says the damaged cable was found to be full of water and will need completely replacing rather than repairing.

BBC Newcastle
http://www.bbc.co.uk/BBCNewcastle

The acting head of Otterburn First School, Gina Henderson, has told us the school is closed because of the severe weather today.