It will feel cold this afternoon with wintry showers, sunny spells, and a chilly northerly wind. 

The showers are likely to die out inland during the course of the day with all seeing some sunshine. 

  Maximum Temperature: 5C (41F).

BBC Look North
North East and Cumbria

We'll have the latest on the trial of former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson from Peter Harris at Bradford Crown Court.

And the sad news about the death of our friend - the Voice of the Boro - Ali Brownlee.

Join us for these and all our other stories on BBC One at 13:30.

Football clubs are among those paying tribute to Ali Brownlee, the BBC Tees presenter and Middlesbrough commentator, who has died at the age of 56.

Sunderland, external described him as a 'first-class broadcaster and true football man'.

Harlepool, external said they were devastated and 'his knowledge, enthusiasm and passion will be missed enormously'.

Everton said, external they were saddened to learn of his death and thought are with his family and many friends at Middlesbrough.

A girl has described how former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson was her favourite player, a court heard.

"I got a message from Sunderland player Adam Johnson who I'd idolised for quite a while," she said.

The girl said that after exchanging messages, she first met up with him on 17 January 2015 when he signed two Sunderland shirts for her.

She said the player continued to message her, requesting a "thank you kiss".

"I was well up for it. It was a surreal type of thing," she told a police officer in a video recording whcih was played at Bradford Crown Court. "I met up with him again. I gave him his thank you kiss and more," she said.

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

A girl has described how she met up with former Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson for a "thank you kiss and more" after he signed football shirts for her.

The girl's account was given to police and the video recording of the interview was shown at the player's trial at Bradford Crown Court.

Mr Johnson, 28, who has 12 England caps, is accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child.

The footballer denies the charges.

Image source, PA

Tributes are already pouring in for the Voice of the Boro Ali Brownlee on Facebook, external, following the news that he has died three months after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Some with memories of working with him:

"The nicest man. So friendly when I was only a temp at Barclays and he was a manager. Always walked in saying good morning to everyone. Was so pleased others got to know him. Kept Boro fans going through the dark times. God bless you Ali."  

Others, as listeners:

 "Absolutely devastating to hear about Ali Brownlee, local legend and the voice of Boro, grew up listening to his commentary, he made me fall in love with football and the boro. Rest in peace."  

"Radio will never be the same without him, R.I.P Boro Legend."  

More of Ali Brownlee's colleagues from BBC Tees have expressed their devastation following the news that presenter and former football commentator Ali Brownlee has died.

BBC Tees presenter Lisa McCormick said: "Sometimes you build up a picture of what a person's like by listening to them on the radio but it's not quite who they are. 

"In Ali's case, that big bubbly character full of passion and enthusiasm for life is exactly who he was in real life. 

"I'll never forget how he greeted us each and every morning with his big booming voice 'good morning, are you well?' 

"Ali's positivity was relentless, I'll miss him terribly but I feel lucky to have known him, not only as a colleague but as a friend." 

Fellow BBC Tees colleagues have been devastated by the loss of presenter and football commentator Ali Brownlee, who has died three months after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.

BBC Tees presenter Neil Green says "We are all heartbroken by today's news. 

"Away from the microphone, Ali was such a warm, generous and kind man who genuinely cared for his work colleagues. 

"I will miss his energy, his voice and his smile that I arrived to work to every morning. 

"Whatever the pressure, he was always upbeat and would always offer a solution of whatever was going on. 

"The North East, Middlesbrough and BBC Tees is a darker place without him today."  

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

It is with great sadness that we announce our presenter and football commentator Ali Brownlee has died three months after being diagnosed with cancer. 

Ali was known as the Voice of the Boro after commentating on his beloved Middlesbrough FC for more than 30 years and hosting BBC Tees' breakfast show. 

He was diagnosed with bowel cancer in November and was on leave receiving treatment. 

He died at his home in Middlesbrough on Sunday night surrounded by family.

All our best wishes go out to his family and friends as well as the thousands of football fans who listened to Ali enthuse about the Boro.

Snow falls on the fishing boats at the North Shields Fish Quay. 

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

BBC Sport

Ex-Republic of Ireland international Curtis Fleming (pictured) has joined Craig Hignett's backroom staff at Hartlepool.

Image source, Middlesbrough F.C

The 47-year-old, who was most recently first-team coach at Bolton Wanderers, is reunited with his former Middlesbrough team-mate Hignett as first-team coach at Victoria Park.  

Thanks to Carolyn Farthing-Dunn from Consett for these photos from the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Newcastle over the weekend. 

Image source, Carolyn Farthing-Dunn

Image source, Carolyn Farthing-Dunn

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

Many areas of the North East awoke to a light covering of snow this morning, prompting police to urge drivers to take care.

Here are some of the scenes aroiund County Durham this morning.

Virgin Trains has announced an increase in weekday trains between Edinburgh and London on the East Coast Main line. 

Image source, PA

There will be eight more journeys a day from 16 May.

The company is releasing thousands of £25 fares for the new timetable as part of the launch. It will also extend the time possible to book tickets from 12 weeks to 24 weeks.  

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

Trade Unions are protesting in Brussels today in a bid to highlight the issues affecting the UK Steel industry.

More than 2,000 jobs were lost last year at the SSI plant on Teesside - along with several others across the country.

Image source, Getty Images

It was a mixed weekend for the North East football teams in the Premier League - Sunderland beat Manchester United 2-1. But Newcastle slipped into the relegation zone after they were beaten by Chelsea 5 - 1.

Two Sunderland players have made the cut for Garth Crooks' team of the week: defenders John O'Shea and Lamine Kone.

Police are continuing the search for missing mother-of-two Margaret MacDermott who disappeared from her home on Bolbec Road in Fenham early on Saturday.

Image source, Northumbria Police

Her blue Renault Captur was found parked on Broad Chare on Newcastle Quayside yesterday afternoon.

Having looked at CCTV footage, the police have now found it was parked there by Margaret at about 05:00 on Saturday morning.

Police said she has never been missing before and her disappearance has been described as "completely out of character."

She is described as around 5ft 2ins tall, of slim build and with short grey hair. She is a long- term sufferer of Multiple Sclerosis and so has a distinctive walk.