Updates on Friday 12 February 2016
BBC Sport
Phil Taylor (pictured) and Michael van Gerwen bounced back from week one defeats to achieve their first Premier League wins of 2016 in Newcastle yesterday.
World number one Van Gerwen, 26, beat reigning PDC world champion Gary Anderson 7-3, while 55-year-old Taylor eased past James Wade 7-1.
Image source, Ian Horrocks PDCAdam Johnson had sexual activity with a schoolgirl Sunderland fan who had a shirt with his name written on the back, a court has heard.
Prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said the girl involved was 15 in December 2014, a time when Johnson lived with his partner, Stacey Flounders, who was then pregnant with their daughter, in Castle Eden, County Durham.
Miss Blackwell said: "Her (the girl's) real passion was Sunderland Football Club.
"She was a season ticket holder and rarely missed a home game and her favourite player was Adam Johnson.
"After matches, she would hang around waiting for a glimpse of him, wanting to get a photograph, often sporting a Sunderland shirt with Johnson's name emblazoned across the back."
Mr Johnson denies two counts of sexual activity with a child. The trial continues.
Adam Johnson drove a schoolgirl to a secluded spot in his Range Rover and had sexual activity with her, a court has heard.
Prosecutors say they later exchanged messages, talking about whether the footballer deserved a thank you kiss for giving her a signed shirt "or more".
The court heard the pair met again on January 30 last year when they had sexual contact in the footballer's car.
Miss Blackwell said the defendant then drove to "a more secluded place".
She said: "He did this because he was expecting further sexual contact with (the girl) and he wanted to ensure that they could not be overlooked."
Mr Johnson denies two counts of sexual activity with a child.The trial continues.
Adam Johnson agreed to meet a schoolgirl at a car park at the back of a Chinese takeaway in County Durham, jurors have heard.
He allegedly asked what time to meet to give her a signed shirt. She messaged him: "Afternoon. I'm having a lie in on my last day off school."
Bradford Crown Court was told he repeatedly asked the girl not to tell anyone about their messages and rendezvous.
Jurors heard Mr Johnson texted the girl to ask if she would sit in his car, adding: "Though you might be too shy to sit in."
The girl said she wasn't forward. Johnson replied: "Ah right. You're not forward? You gonna be forward with me?"
He previously admitted one count of sexual activity with a child and grooming but denies two further counts of sexual activity with a child. The trial continues.
Adam Johnson exchanged hundreds of messages with a 15-year-old schoolgirl he is alleged to have had sexual contact with, a court has heard.
The prosecution alleges the 28-year-old former Sunderland winger arranged to meet the girl after swapping messages on social media networks such as Facebook and What's App.
In some exchanges the footballer comments that she looks older than 15, and asks when she turns 16.
Image source, Getty ImagesIn one exchange they wrote:
Johnson: "You in the last year of school?"
Girl: "Year 10. Will you still send me a signed shirt?"
Johnson: "Where do you go out?"
Girl: "I'm not old enough to go out."
Johnson: "Yeah but you look old enough."
In her opening speech at the trial of former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson, prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said: "What has brought the defendant to this courtroom is a sexual desire for (the girl), an excessive arrogance and an unwarranted level of expectation."
She said the girl was a passionate Sunderland Football Club fan and Mr Johnson was her favourite player.
"After matches, she would hang around waiting for a glimpse of him, wanting to get a photograph, often sporting a Sunderland shirt with Johnson's name emblazoned across the back," she told the court.
The 28-year-old denies two charges of sexual activity with a girl aged under 16.
Former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson "abused his revered position in society" when he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old fan, prosecutors said.
The 28-year-old former Sunderland winger (pictured arriving at court with his partner Stacey Flounders) went on trial today accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child. He denies the charges.
Image source, PAOpening Mr Johnson's trial at Bradford Crown Court, prosecutor Kate Blackwell QC said he had "made a conscious decision to act in a way that he knew was both morally and legally wrong."
The Environment Agency has pulled fallen trees and debris from the River Tees to cut the risk of flooding.
It had all built up against the road and railway bridge north of Yarm in the North East.
Image source, Environment AgencyQuote MessageRemoving it is important, as if it’s allowed to collect then it would eventually cause problems for the flood defences which surround the town.
Andy Foster, The Environment Agency
It was winched out and stacked at the riverside before being cut up with a chainsaw and removed.
A key Metro track junction is to be replaced during a packed weekend of modernisation work.
The set of points located in the tunnel between St James and Monument Metro stations in Newcastle are being replaced during a 54-hour line closure tomorrow and Sunday.
The work will mean that no Metro services will be in operation between St James and Walkergate this weekend. A replacement bus service, 900, will run in the affected area.
Nexus will also have staff working above ground on Byker viaduct, carrying out essential track maintenance.
BBC Sport
League One side Fleetwood Town have signed former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi on a contract to the end of the season following his release by Bolton.
The 34-year-old former Nigeria international left Wanderers last month as they were unable to offer him a new deal due to their financial problems.
Image source, Getty ImagesAmeobi spent time at Turkish side Gaziantep BB and Crystal Palace before he joined Bolton.
He is available for Fleetwood's game at Port Vale on Saturday.
Rebecca Turner
BBC North East
More now on the closure of the A694 in Ebchester - it has been closed while crews tackle a house fire in Low Westwood and will remain so until it is 'under control'.
Durham Police officers have been on the scene for about 40 minutes.
It says the fire service will be investigating, but at the moment there's no reason to believe it is suspicious.
No one is injured.
BBC Travel
The A694 in Ebchester is closed and there is queuing traffic in both directions between the B6309 junction and the B6310 junction, because of a building fire.
Police directing traffic.
A 24-year-old motorcyclist suffered serious head injuries and is in a critical, but stable condition after he was involved in a collision.
The collision involved a Skoda Fabia on Ladgate Lane at the crossroad junction with Marton Road, Middlesbrough at about 16.40 on Thursday.
The motorcyclist, from the Eston area, was taken to James Cook University Hospital.
BBC Sport
It's a tricky weekend assignment for Newcastle as they travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.
Manager Steve McClaren says they need a big performance as they try to pull clear of the relegation zone.
"We've got to go there with no fear and have a go," he says. "We owe it to the fans and hopefully we can get a good result.
"The focus for our players is us, not our opponents. We have to start picking up points away from home."
Image source, Getty ImagesFollowing the report we brought you earlier about a person being hit by a train at Berwick, Virgin Trains said it expects services between Newcastle and Edinburgh to be disrupted until 11:00.
Updates can be found here., external
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The Gazette
Newspaper
A young man is fighting for his life, external following a rush-hour accident involving a motorbike and a car in Middlesbrough.
Image source, The GazetteOlder people in England are living longer than ever before, a report from Public Health England says.
However, that's not the case here in the North East...
Life expectancy among older age groups in England rose to its highest level in 2014. Figures show that for those aged 65, men can expect to live for another 19 years and women a further 21 years.
The only region where male and female life expectancy did not increase in 2014 was in the North East, where male life expectancy was higher in 2013.
Image source, Thinkstock
Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper
Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court is to close early next year.
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