Clayton Donaldson scores twice on his Sheffield United debut to condemn Sunderland to a third consecutive league defeat.

Striker Britt Assombalonga scores twice as Middlesbrough claim a comfortable victory at struggling Bolton Wanderers.

Ana Guerra-Moore
BBC News Online

That's all for this week - thank you for joining us.

To keep up with what's happening over the weekend, head to BBC Tees, BBC Newcastle, Look North, and online.

You can tweet your photos to @BBCNewsNE, external, email them, or contact us via our Facebook page, external.

We'll be back tomorrow on Monday from 08:00 - best of luck if you're taking part in Sunday's Great North Run.

You can follow it live here.

Image source, Getty Images

Get Inspired
Get Inspired

There are as many reasons to take part in the Great North Run as there are competitors, and so many are worthy of a mention.

Sunday's race features runners of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, and there are three in particular that caught our eye.

You can read all about them here.

Image source, Getty Images

Watch the whole of the Great North Run and catch up with even more stories from those involved with the live text commentary from 09:30-13:30 on Sunday.

Abbie Dewhurst
Weather Presenter, BBC Look North

Showers easing through the evening, especially in the east where some clear spells could develop.

Cloudier further west where heavier, blustery showers are most likely, mainly over the Pennines. Breezy along the coast.

Check the weather where you are.

Ana Guerra-Moore
BBC News Online

It's that time of the week when Cleveland Police share pictures of their canine team to brighten up our Friday.

Today is Elsa's turn:

Ana Guerra-Moore
BBC News Online

Thank you to David Mckenna for sending us this beautiful picture of the sunset at Marsden beach earlier this week.

Image source, David Mckenna

We love seeing your pictures of the North East, so if you have any you want to share with us you can do so on Twitter @BBCNewsNE, external, you can email us, or contact us via our Facebook page, external.

BBC News Travel

The A66 has finally reopened after earlier problems on the stretch from Brough to Scotch Corner.

A lorry had shed its load near West Layton, with a 67-tonne digger becoming wedged on a trailer.

Things should hopefully be getting back to normal now:

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

A man who survived a horror car crash will lead a team of runners once again in memory of his late wife., external

Image source, HARTLEPOOL MAIL

Newcastle United's assistant manager has reassured fans that Rafa Benitez is "in good spirits" after undergoing surgery.

According to Francisco de Miguel Moreno, Benitez has been in "constant contact" with staff ahead of Sunday's match against Swansea City.

He added: "[Rafa] is feeling better each day and we are looking forward to seeing him back shortly."

Image source, PA

How one woman set up a running group:

A police chief who took the decision to use a child rapist as an informant against a grooming gang insists his decision led police to catch "dangerous men".

Northumbria Chief Constable Steve Ashman said employing the man identified as XY "stopped some girls from being raped".

Mr Ashman added: "If he hadn't told us the information we would've found them, and it doesn't take too much of an imagination to work out what might have happened to them."

You can watch our video of what happened with XY below:

A police chief who decided to use a child rapist as an informant against a grooming gang in Newcastle says he has received "hundreds of messages of support from the public".

Northumbria Chief Constable Steve Ashman said it had always been a moral question, not a legal one, whether to pay the man who can only be identified as XY almost £10,000 for information.

Mr Ashman was speaking after all but one member of a grooming gang was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court for their roles in recruiting vulnerable young girls, giving them drugs and then persuading or forcing them into sex with them or other, older men.

Mr Ashman said: "When reflecting upon the morality of the decision, I think it's important to take account of public opinion.

"If the moral compass was spinning when it was first made public a few weeks ago, when the verdicts were handed out, it's absolutely fixed now and it's fixed in our favour."

This is how a local and national newspapers have reported on Operation Sanctuary.

• The Chronicle, external spoke to Carolann Gallon's father, who called the judge "cruel" and initially refused to leave the court.
• The Shields Gazette, external focused on Northumbria Police's response following the sentence announcements.
• The Guardian, external wrote a feature on how the grooming of girls in Newcastle is not "an issue of race – it’s about misogyny".

Press Association

More details have emerged on how Carolann Gallon took vulnerable girls to abusive parties.

Gallon took one girl with learning difficulties to a flat where she was raped by Abdulhamid Minoyee.

The 34-year-old from Newcastle, gave the girl cannabis and raped her when she was intoxicated.

The court heard he had a "big grin" on his face, while his victim told police "she was scared, ashamed and embarrassed".

Minoyee had already sexually assaulted a heroin addict having plied her with drink, but she managed to fight him off.

Judge Penny Moreland jailed him for 15 years, saying: "You committed two sexual offences against young women you had enticed into your home."

Here is what happened at Tuesday's sentencing:

Two men were jailed for sexually abusing vulnerable girls in Newcastle after plying them with drink and drugs.

• Jahangir Zaman, 45, gave girls lines of M-Cat and demanded oral sex if they wanted more, Newcastle Crown Court was told. He was convicted of rape, supplying drugs and inciting prostitution and sentenced to 29 years in prison.
• Mohammed Azram admitted a string of drugs offences and was convicted of one count of sexual assault and one count of inciting prostitution. He was jailed for 12-and-a-half years.

Image source, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE

A judge has rejected the idea that Carolann Gallon was herself a victim of the abuse gang.

judge Penny Moreland said: "It is clear you did not have the care and support during your childhood that you should have had.

"You described yourself as being a victim.

"There have been ample opportunities for you to make complaints about these matters.

"You have never chosen to do so.

"The result is your complaints have never been tested in court."

The judge said Gallon continued to "ally" herself with other defendants.

Gallon also took a girl with learning difficulties to a flat where she was raped by Abdulhamid Minoyee.

A woman who trafficked children into a sex gang so they could be raped and abused said she had "no sympathy" for the victims.

Carolann Gallon is one of 18 people convicted as part of Operation Sanctuary, an investigation into the sexual abuse of vulnerable girls.

John Elvidge QC, prosecuting, said she told police after she was arrested: "They shouldn't have too much to drink.

"If they want to go with them, they have got their own mind to go with people.

"They are not some kid, they are 15 or 16.

"If they're mortal (drunk) they are going to do something, why get mortal in the first place?

"It's self-inflicted, I've got no sympathy."

Carolann Gallon was part of a gang who gave girls alcohol and drugs then forced them to have sex.

On Wednesday, four more men were jailed for their roles in drugging and sexually abusing vulnerable girls in Newcastle.

They were:

• Habibur Rahim, 34, of Kenilworth Road, was jailed for 29 years for rape, inciting prostitution, drugs, sexual assault and trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation
• Abdul Sabe, 40, of Dean House, was jailed for 12 years for conspiracy to incite prostitution, trafficking within the UK for sexual exploitation, drugs offences. The court had heard that Sabe was already on the sex offenders register when he carried out the abuse.

• Mohibur Rahman, 44, of Northcote Street, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to incite prostitution and supplying drugs to a victim.
• Badrul Hussain, 37, of Drybeck Court, convicted of drug offences and jailed for four years.

Image source, NORTHUMBRIA POLICE