Travel: Slow traffic near Silverlink Roundaboutpublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
BBC Travel
There's slow traffic on the A19 in both directions in North Tyneside around the Silverlink Roundabout, in the roadworks area.
Summary
Updates on Thursday 2 February 2017
Travel: Slow traffic near Silverlink Roundaboutpublished at 12:03 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
Thousands of gallons of water pumped from flooded gas mainpublished at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
More than 37,300 gallons (170,000 litres) of water have been pumped out of a flooded gas main in Newcastle which has left 150 properties without a supply.
Earlier this week underground gas pipes on the Quayside were flooded after a water main burst.
Ian Waddle, regional manager for Northern Gas Networks, said: “Our teams have pumped more than 170,000 litres of water from the network highlighting the scale of the water ingress we are facing.
Image source, NGNHe added: "Specialist camera technology and sophisticated pumping systems are being used to extract the water from the gas system. Once the remaining water is extracted, engineers will be able to work on restoring gas supplies to the affected properties."
There is a temporary drop-in centre at the Premier Inn on Lombard Street. There is a catering facility and food vouchers are being given out.
Foster mother strangler jailed for lifepublished at 11:46 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
Gareth Dack tried to cause an explosion by leaving a gas hob on after the Hartlepool killing.
Read MoreNorma Bell death: 'She had done nothing to deserve your violence' - judgepublished at 11:10 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
A man who strangled a 79-year-old woman in her Hartlepool home and then rang sex chat lines as she lay dead or dying has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years.
Gareth Dack, 33, was convicted of the murder of Norma Bell in April last year.
Jailing him at Teesside Crown Court, trial judge Mrs Justice Whipple said: "You killed Norma Bell in cold blood in her own home when she was defenceless.
"She had done nothing to deserve your violence, then you set fire to her home in a failed attempt to cover your tracks."
Norma Bell murder: Gareth Dack jailed for minimum of 33 yearspublished at 11:01 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
BreakingA "penniless" thief has been jailed for a minimum of 33 years for the murder of a foster mother in her Hartlepool home.
Norma Bell, 79, who had fostered more than 50 youngsters, was found strangled in her burning home in Westbourne Road, in April.
Gareth Dack, 33, ransacked her home, stole a boxed TV and £700, and used her phone to call sex chat lines.
He had denied murder and arson but was found guilty following a trial at Teesside Crown Court.
Image source, CLEVELAND POLICEMum and son given ban after wounded pony found chained on allotmentpublished at 10:43 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
Sunderland Echo
NewspaperA mother and son have been banned from keeping horses and ponies for five years , externalafter a wounded animal was found chained on an allotment site.
Image source, Sunderland EchoNewcastle Labour MP defies Corbyn over Brexit votepublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
Helen Richardson
BBC NewcastleNewcastle North MP Catherine McKinnell (pictured) was one of 47 Labour MPs who defied leader Jeremy Corbyn to oppose the Bill triggering the UK's departure from the European Union.
MPs voted by 494 to 114 to back the Brexit bill in the House of Commons after 17 hours of debate. The bill gives Theresa May the go-ahead to formally tell the EU that the UK is leaving, by triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
The Labour MP for the City of Durham, Roberta Blackman-Woods abstained in the vote, saying she needed more assurances from the government over the effects of Brexit.
Heathrow third runway boost for Durham Tees Valleypublished at 09:50 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
Durham Tees Valley Airport near Darlington has been named as one of six UK airports which would be served by Heathrow if proposals for a third runway are approved.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said it expects services to be up and running by 2030.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling claimed a third runway at Heathrow would enhance the UK's global links.
A 16-week public consultation on the third runway proposals is under way.
The runway is not expected to be operational until around 2025.
Pictures show burnt out house after women murdered in Hartlpoolpublished at 09:22 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
The Gazette
NewspaperThese pictures show the burnt out house in which Gareth Dack left a grandmother, external after strangling her and stealing from her home.
Image source, The GazetteWeather: Rain in places, but staying mild and breezypublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
Jennifer Bartram
BBC Look North weather presenterToday will be mainly cloudy, mild and breezy with a few outbreaks of rain at times through the day.
Some heavier bursts possible at times, especially over higher ground, with hill fog here. Maximum temperatures should reach about 10C (50F).
Tonight, cloud and any remaining rain will clear eastwards.
It should stay mainly dry with clear spells, although a few showers are still possible, mainly over the hills. Southerly winds will remain rather brisk.
It will be a mild night, with temperatures staying at about 6C (43F).
Newcastle United 2-2 Queens Park Rangerspublished at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
Ciaran Clark's last-minute own goal hands QPR a draw at Newcastle and denies the Magpies top spot in the Championship.
Read MoreFoster mother killer to be sentencedpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
A drug dealer who murdered a Hartlepool foster mother and set her home on fire will be sentenced later.
Gareth Dack, 33, strangled widow Norma Bell with a cable, ransacked her home and even called sex lines from her landline as she lay dead or dying.
He denied killing Mrs Bell, who with her late husband John fostered more than 50 children, but was convicted of murder and arson following a three-week trial at Teesside Crown Court.
Image source, Cleveland PoliceMorning Metro delayspublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 2 February 2017
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