Updates for the North East have now finished for the day - thank you for joining us.

It has been a very say day wiih the death of our friend and colleague Ali Brownlee. Tonight Middlesbrough fans are planning to pay their respects to him as Middlebrough take on Leeds United - you can follow the updates here.

We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel updates from 08:00 tomorrow - including the Boro fans' tributes to Ali - and hope you can join us then.

T-shirts are being sold to remember Ali Brownlee, who has died three months after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

All proceeds will go to BBC Children in Need.

Image source, Chris Joseph

Ali's former co-commentator Dave Roberts and Middlesbrough supporter Chris Joseph thought of the idea in November when they'd just heard the news about Ali’s illness.

The design was inspired by hearing the fans chanting the slogan “One of our Own”. The club shop will be selling the t-shirts.

BBC Weather

Any wintry showers soon clearing during the evening to leave a dry and cold night with light winds, long clear spells, and widespread frost and icy patches forming. 

Becoming breezier later in the night, with patchy cloud spreading in.  

The British band Viola Beach who died in a road accident in Sweden were due to perform a gig at The Townhouse in Middlesbrough next week.

Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin and their manager Craig Tarry were killed when their car plunged more than 25m (82ft) from a bridge into a canal.

Tickets were being sold to see them play alongside Teesside band Shoot the Poet, who tweeted their condolences yesterday: 

The trial of former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has heard a girl 'wanted to keep him out of trouble' after alleged sexual activity between them. 

The girl broke down in tears and asked for a break when she was questioned over a video link by Mr Johnson's barrister Orlando Pownall QC about why she had asked friends to lie about what happened.

After a short break granted by Judge Jonathan Rose, she said: "I wanted to keep him (Johnson) out of trouble. I didn't want to get him in more trouble than he was.

"I was scared that people wouldn't believe me. I didn't want to believe that it had happened.

"I tried to forget about it. I was trying to live normally.

"At the time I didn't realise it was wrong. I didn't realise what had gone on was wrong."

Mr Johnson denies two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The Gazette
Newspaper

As people lay flowers and scarves at the gates of the home of Middlesbrough FC, the flag at the Riverside Stadium is being flown at half mast in memory of Ali Brownlee, who has died aged 56.

The Gazette have a video of the scene., external

Middlesbrough Chairman Steve Gibson has paid his respects to Ali Brownlee, who has passed away aged 56.

He says the football club have "lost a true friend" and that Ali "was a man whose enthusiasm, passion and commitment were evident in everything he did, not just behind a microphone.  

Image source, Getty Images

He said: "Alistair would do anything for anybody and as a skilled commentator he always had the right words to match the occasion.

"His talents were highly valued by his friends at Middlesbrough Football Club and we knew we could always rely on his wonderful professionalism. 

"He was more than a supporter. He loved the club and we loved him.

"Alastair was a warm-hearted man whose passion for our club was deeply appreciated by our supporters.

"He was an institution."

Lloyd Watson
BBC News Online

There has been a huge reaction from all over the country to the news that Boro commentator Ali Brownlee has died.

So much so, he's currently trending on Facebook and earlier his name was trending on Twitter at about the time the news broke.

There have been more than 1,200 comments and tributes on BBC Tees' Facebook page - Add yours here., external

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

Singing superstar Paloma Faith told Hartlepool singer-songerwriter Rick Snowdon "I want to duet with you" as he made it through to the next round of TV talent show The Voice, external.

For many, the recent cold weather has been a chance to capture some wintry photos.

Thanks to Stephen Clark from North Shields who sent in this stormy photo of Holy Island Causeway which he took last night:

Image source, Stephen Clark

And to Danny Springgay from Hartlepool for this picture of Redcar beach:

Image source, Danny Springgay

And also to Cynthia Mackenzie from Northumberland for this frosty photo of Allendale church:

Image source, Cynthia Mackenzie

If you have any pictures you'd like us to see, you can tweet us @BBCNewsNE, external, email us, or contact us through our Facebook page, external.  

Ali Brownlee commentated on Middlesbrough for more than 30 years - listen to him talking about his passion and watch some of the highlights from his career.

BBC Sport

Newcastle manager Steve McClaren is under more pressure after his spending at the club, according to ex-Magpies caretaker boss John Carver.

McClaren has spent about £80m since replacing Carver last summer but his side are in the Premier League relegation zone.

"When you spend that amount of money it brings pressure with it," said Carver.

"Maybe one or two of the players and staff are feeling that pressure. What you have to do is get over that."

He added: "You have to find a solution, a way of putting that to the back of your mind and trying to get out there and give a performance."

BBC Tees reporter Jonathan Swingler has been braving the cold in County Durham to film the water and snow at Low Force using a drone. 

Image source, Jonathan Swingler

You can watch the footage from the air over on his YouTube channel, external. 

Following the news that BBC Tees presenter and football commentator Ali Brownlee has died, tributes have been pouring in.

His family said: "Alastair’s family would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support at this very sad time. 

"Throughout his illness he maintained his positivity and hope of cheering on his beloved Boro back into the Premier League.

"He was Middlesbrough born and bred and loved his town and the people in it. He will be sadly missed by everyone."

A post on the BBC Tees Facebook page, external announcing the news has received hundreds of comments, with people sharing tributes and memories.

BBC Tees presenter and  football commentator Ali Brownlee has died aged 56. He was known as the Voice of the Boro, and tributes have been left for him outside the Riverside Stadium, the home of Middlesbrough F.C.

A man died in a collision between a van and a car on the A69 in Northumberland.

The collison between a Ford Transit van and a Suzuki Jimny, external happened at about 07:00 on the eastbound carriageway of the A69 at Haydon Bridge.

The man who was driving the Jimny was treated by paramedics but died. The van driver was taken to hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening.

Both carriageways were closed for around three and half hours as a result of the collision which caused heavy congestion in the area. The road has now been reopened.

Speaking about the death of Ali Brownlee, who was BBC Tees' Middlesbrogh commentator, the club said it has lost "a true friend and Teesside has lost a true gentleman'.

They said they were overhelmed by the reaction from fans, commentators and other clubs.

The Teesside Junior Football Alliance have expressed their grief following the news that BBC Tees presenter and football commentator Ali Brownlee has died. 

League secretary Chris Ord described him as a "great stalwart and superb ambassador" for the league as well as being "a true friend to many".

He said words were difficult to find and described Ali as a "top man".

"We are devastated and we will never, ever forget him", he said.

The trial of former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson has heard a girl was 'a bit shocked' after alleged sexual activity between them.

Asked in a police interview how she felt, the girl said: "As much as I expected it to happen, I was a bit shocked it had. I sort of knew I had done something wrong.

"It wasn't that I didn't want it or anything. I just knew it was wrong. I'm not one for being able to hold guilt."

Mr Johnson deneis two counts of sexual activity with a child.

A girl described in court how she exchanged WhatsApp messages with former Sunderland player Adam Johnson after their first meeting.

In a video recording of an interview, which was played at Bradford Crown Court, the teenager said that at the second meeting in the player's Range Rover, he said to her: "I've come for my thank you kiss."  

Later in the interview, the police officer asked the girl what the player knew about her.

She replied that he knew how old she was, what school year she was in and had asked her when she was 16.

The footballer denies two counts of sexual activity with a child.