'Gagging orders' have been issued to thousands of UK council workers as part of their payoff agreements, figures obtained by the BBC suggest.

Figures showed 17,571 settlement deals had been signed between 2010 and 2015, many including confidentiality clauses.

Sunderland City Council used them 155 times in the financial year 2014-15 - but said they were used to protect confidentiality and not to stifle criticism.  

BBC Weather

It will be a rather cloudy day with periods of rain or showers.

The odd shower may be locally heavy with possible thunder, but with the occasional brighter interval as well.

Winds will be light and variable.  

In case you missed it at the weekend - A man has died days after he was shot by police in South Shields.

James Wilson was shot in the chest by officers who were called to Frenchman's Way at about 01:00 on 29 March to reports of a man in the street with a handgun.

The 24-year-old was taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, but died late on Friday.

Rebecca Turner
BBC North East

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