Summary

  • Updates on Monday 4 April 2016

  1. Lord Barnard will be "sadly missed"published at 13:59 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    More now on the death of Harry John Neville Vane, the 11th Baron Barnard, who has died aged 92 at Raby Castle.

    In a short statement, his family said he died peacefully surrounded by loved ones yesterday.

    Lord BarnardImage source, Peter Walton/peterwaltonphotography.co.uk

    Lord Barnard, who succeeded his father in 1964, held numerous titles in County Durham. He is survived by five children.

    Raby Castle staff tweeted:, external "So much thanks for the messages of condolence we've received. Lord Barnard will be sadly missed."  

  2. BBC Shakespeare: Child prodigy prepares to retire in Stocktonpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Master W.R Grossmith was one of a number of 19th Century children playing prominent acting roles in Shakespeare across the country.

    Here we see him saying farewell as he prepares to step down from the stage, aged just 11.

    This British Library playbill marks one of his last tours in the North East. Here, we can see him paying in Newcastle with the playbill also advertising his next venues as he prepares to wow audiences in Durham, Stockton and Darlington as part of his "farewell tour".

    Playbill for Master W.R Grossmith's final performanceImage source, British Library
  3. Man's face slashed with knife in Sunderlandpublished at 13:29 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Police have released this photo of the facial injury suffered by a man in Sunderland when he was attacked with a knife.

    The victim was walking along a path known as Town End Hill in the Town End Farm area at about 13:50 on Saturday when he was approached by three men.      

    The injured manImage source, Northumbria Police

    Northumbria Police said one of the men then attacked the victim with a knife before the group fled the scene. 

    The victim was able to call for an ambulance. Emergency services attended and the man was taken to hospital for treatment.   

  4. Man punched and robbed in Newcastlepublished at 13:15

    BBC Newcastle

    A man says he was punched and robbed in Newcastle.

    The victim went into the Sainsbury's store in Falconar Street and told security staff he'd been approached by two men and attacked while crossing a bridge over the Central Motorway. 

    Although the man didn't seem injured, he did say the men stole £20. 

  5. Driver continues to fight for his life after horror smashpublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Sunderland Echo
    Newspaper

    A driver who suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries in a horror smash at the weekend is still fighting for survival, external.

    The injured driver's overturned car in a fieldImage source, Sunderland Echo
  6. England greats praise Stokes after agony in Indiapublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Durham's Ben Stokes could not hide his despair as the West Indies' Carlos Brathwaite hit four sixes off his bowling to clinch the World Twenty20 final.

    Ben StokesImage source, Getty Images

    But the England all-rounder has received the support of former skipper Michael Vaughan and batsman Kevin Pietersen.   

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post 2

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post 2
  7. Man bitten in face by dog in Gatesheadpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    A man has been bitten on the face by a dog in Gateshead.

    The 31-year-old victim told officers the Jack Russell-type animal jumped up and bit his lip when he bent down to stroke it on Cobden Street last Thursday at about 16:00. 

    The man was treated by ambulance staff.

    The black and white coloured dog was on a lead and with its owner at the time.

  8. Steel crisis: Unions set to hold emergency talkspublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Union leaders will meet to discuss the steel industry crisis later as efforts continue to save thousands of jobs.

    Shop stewards from steelworks across the country will hold emergency talks in London to help prevent Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant from closing.

    There are 450 Tata workers at the pipe mill in Hartlepool facing uncertain futures.

    Steel plantImage source, Reuters
  9. Great North Air Ambulance blood scheme 'saved lives'published at 11:44 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Eighteen lives have been saved as a result of air ambulances carrying blood on board, the charity has said.

    The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), which covers the North East, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, started the scheme in January 2015.

    A Great North Air Ambulance Service helicopterImage source, GNAAS

    Since then, medics have performed 60 transfusions, a third of which were deemed to have been of critical importance to survival.

    Many others have had their outcomes improved by having the intervention.

  10. Ben Stokes thanks fans after West Indies defeatpublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Durham cricketer Ben Stokes has thanked England fans for their support after England lost the World Twenty20 final in India.

    Stokes, who was visibly upset after the match, was widely praised for his performances throughout the tournament.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post 2

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post 2
  11. Northumbria Police complaints dealt with 'just as John Lewis manage customer relations'published at 11:12 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Danny Shaw
    BBC Home Affairs Correspondent

    A scheme pioneered by Northumbria's PCC, Vera Baird, sees complaints dealt with "just as John Lewis manage their customer relations".

    The most serious and sensitive allegations - of crime, assault and corruption - are dealt with by the police's professional standards department or the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

    Vera BairdImage source, BBC/Flying Colours

    But the majority, about 60%, are resolved quickly "just as John Lewis manage their customer relations really", perhaps with a phone call or letter of apology or explanation, without the need to involve formal complaints procedures.    

    "We've turned potential enemies of Northumbria Police back into their friends by this very simple way," she says.  

    Read more here.

  12. Hundreds of dogs shot by landowners for worrying sheeppublished at 10:57 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    BBC Radio 4

    More than 300 dogs have been shot by landowners for worrying livestock in England and Wales over the past five years. 

    That's more than one a week. Farming Today asked 43 police forces for data. 

    Fifteen came back with figures, including Durham Police, which reported the second highest number of cases with 33. 

    Legally dogs which pose a threat to livestock can be shot, but the incident must be reported to police within 48 hours. 

  13. 'Ben Stokes not to blame for England defeat'published at 10:41 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    BBC Sport

    England cricket captain Eoin Morgan says Durham's Ben Stokes is not to blame for their World Twenty20 final defeat to the West Indies.

    Ben StokesImage source, Getty Images

    Stokes bowled the last over with the Windies needing 19 to win, only for Carlos Brathwaite to smash four sixes off the first four balls. 

    Morgan said: "It's not his fault. We're all in this together, we enjoy our wins and we suffer with our losses so the pain will be shared tonight."

    Stokes was comforted by team mate Joe Root, pictured, after the defeat.

  14. 11th Baron Barnard dies aged 92published at 10:26 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    The 11th Baron Barnard has died, it has been announced., external

    Harry John Neville Vane passed away yesterday at the age of 92.  

    The former Durham county councillor also served as the Deputy Lieutenant of Durham.

    He was actively involved in conservation projects at the Raby Castle estate and was vice president of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  15. New flood insurance scheme to cut bills by hundreds of poundspublished at 10:10 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Homeowners living in high flood-risk areas of the UK should now be able to save hundreds of pounds on their insurance premiums.

    A new scheme called Flood Re has been designed to cut bills for those whose homes are in danger of flooding.

    Up to now, thousands of householders have been paying large additional premiums to make sure their homes and possessions are protected.

    About 350,000 homes could benefit - although thousands will be excluded.

    Some £24m of damage was done in Corbridge in Northumberland when the River Tyne burst its banks last year.

  16. Karanka urges Middlesbrough to cut out mistakespublished at 09:40 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    BBC Sport

    Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka hailed his side's performance after they moved to second in the Championship as they held on for an enthralling win at QPR.

    Boro's Jordan Rhodes bobbled the opening goal over QPR keeper Alex Smithies, only for Jamie Mackie to level with a superb effort off the bar.

    Grant Leadbitter had a penalty saved by Smithies before the Boro captain found Gaston Ramirez with the ensuing corner to nod home a second.

    Karanka said "We made a few mistakes to be in the position we are now in - in January we were in a really good position. Now we can't make any more mistakes. We have to keep going."  

  17. Durham Police 'no longer targeting' cannabis userspublished at 09:09 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Arrests for cannabis possession in England and Wales have dropped by 46% since 2010, figures obtained by BBC Breakfast suggest.

    Last July Durham Police said it would no longer target or investigate cannabis users or those growing the class B drug for their own use.

    Chief Constable Mike Barton

    Asked if this was sending out a message that smoking cannabis was acceptable despite being illegal, Chief Constable Mike Barton said: "I'm not condoning drug use. I never have.

    "It's freed up our staff to deal with things that are more important."

    He told the BBC his force still had "zero tolerance" for drug dealers.

  18. Rafael Benitez: Newcastle 'must start winning' to avoid droppublished at 08:50 British Summer Time 4 April 2016

    Newcastle have enough time to avoid relegation but must start winning, says manager Rafael Benitez.

    The Magpies lost 3-2 at 17th-placed Norwich, despite having twice equalised, which leaves them six points adrift of the Canaries.

    "It is more difficult but we have to keep confident that we can still do it," said Benitez.

    "We have seven games to go and we have to keep pushing. If we start winning games we still have time."