Hugh Pym
BBC News Health Editor

NHS hospitals are facing major challenges in dealing with patient numbers, outbreaks of diseases like flu and hitting performance targets.

So how do two of them, one in London, one in north-east England, cope with the strains they face?

At the North Tees and Hartlepool Trust they believe that closely integrating the work of the main hospital and minor injuries units helps control the flow of patients through A&E.

Read how it compares with Northwick Park in north-west London here.

Newcastle United's St James' Park stadium will again host Super League's Magic Weekend in 2018, for the fourth year in succession.

The event takes a round of regular season Super League fixtures 'on the road' for the weekend of 19-20 May.

Champions Leeds and Castleford will repeat their 2017 Grand Final meeting as Saturday's closing fixture.

Image source, SWpix.com

A man and woman have been found guilty of murdering their friend.

Kieran Adey, 19, of Grange Villa, and Zoe Warren, also 20, from Washington, near Sunderland, were convicted of killing Mark Shaw.

The 29-year-old was found at his home in Grange Villa, County Durham, last December with more than 80 injuries.

Zoe Warren has also been found guilty of witness intimidation.

Image source, Durham Police

Stuart Whincup
BBC Look North

The former chief executive of a North East charity has denied stealing £127,000 from the business.

Graham Leggatt-Chidgey, 62, from Rokeby, Barnard Castle, is accused of taking the money from the Butterwick Hospice between 2009 and 2017.

Today at Teesside Crown Court he faced two charges, one of theft and one of fraud by false representation, involving the leasing of a Jaguar car for his own personal use.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

A trial will take place next May.

Image source, Google

The land around the Redcar site is owned by SSI, Tata Steel, Redcar Bulk Terminal and British Steel, and the masterplan states it would be "critical" for STDC to either own it directly or secure partnership arrangements.

The corporation has the power to use Compulsory Purchase Orders, if required.

Image source, STDC

The clean-up of the site "may not need to be as significant as perhaps perceived", but the plans still show it will take until 2024 before the site is assessed and buildings demolished, with the first business zone completed by 2026.

When the project is completed planners claim that by 2042, it will pump an additional £1bn into the local economy annually.

One of the more interesting details of the SSI plans is that bosses say they will investigate whether the site could become a Special Economic Zone after the UK leaves the EU.

These allow tariffs and customs duties to be set locally in a bid to boost foreign investment.

Image source, STDC

Leaders in Ireland have been discussing how one way to halt the issues posed by Brexit would be the creation of one of the zones.

However the EU appeared to reject that proposal last week with its chief negotiator Michel Barnier saying: "Creativity and flexibility can't be at the expense of the integrity of the single market and customs union."

Redevelopment over the next 25 years would make the area a "national asset", say planners.

And the mayor is enthusiastic in his praise for the scheme:

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen is revealing the plans to an audience of 250 elected officials and business leaders at The Heart in Redcar:

Conservative Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has hailed a new masterplan to redevelop the former SSI site in Redcar.

Mr Houchen, who chairs South Tees Development Corporation (STDC), said: "There are real prospects for post-Brexit growth through international trade for many decades.

"This is a 25-year vision and one that will be pivotal in transforming the South Tees area, and wider Tees Valley, into a national asset."

The masterplan covers 1,800 hectares (4,500 acres) and incorporates businesses including PD Ports, British Steel and Northumbrian Water.

The corporation accepts it will need to submit a business case for the rest of the money.

Image source, STDC

Some breaking news to bring you - Up to 20,000 jobs could be created under plans to regenerate the area around the former SSI steel plant in Redcar.

Almost 170 years of steel making ended on Teesside in October 2015 when the firm collapsed, with the loss of more than 4,000 jobs.

Now, those behind the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) draft proposal hope it will result in the region becoming a "national asset".

STDC admits however, there is "limited funding" in place from the government.

More to come.

Image source, STDC

Sometimes we need to be reminded, though, don't you think?

Which is why this made us smile this morning.

Arriva North East sounded pleased to be told.

The Number 52 ferries passengers between Cramlington and Newcastle, by the way. Lucky people, to have such a nice driver.

There's a little bit of good jobs news in the region.

The latest unemployment figures show there were 3,000 fewer people out of work between June and August compared to the previous quarter.

There are 75,000 without jobs in the area - a rate of 5.8%.

UK unemployment fell by 52,000 in the three months to August to 1.4 million, leaving the jobless rate unchanged at 4.3% from the previous quarter - still at the joint lowest level since 1975.

Stockton's replica of Captain Cook's HM Bark Endeavour is to be renovated and moved to Whitby where it will form the centrepiece of a new tourist attraction and maritime education centre.

A partnership involving the North York Moors National Park, and led by Whitby businessman Andy Fiddler, won the ship at auction in August, beating off stiff competition from the Royal Navy and private bidders in London and Dubai.

By next year the vessel will have been moved to the town where the original Endeavour was built, in 1764.

Image source, Unique Auctions

Turkey's richest man Murat Ulker denies he is interested in buying Premier League club Newcastle United.

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

Questioned on where the money will come from to pay for the 25-year redevelopment of the former SSI site, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said he is "hopeful" the government will announce "a kick-start of funds" in next month's Budget.

The South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) is aiming to transform 4,500 acres of land which could create 20,000 jobs.

Mr Houchen said the government had taken responsibility two years ago for cleaning up the old steelworks but added he wants to see a "more comprehensive" development with power being put in the hands of the STDC once initial work is completed.

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

A blueprint aimed at bringing thousands of jobs to Teesside "is properly ambitious" and already has dozens of firms looking to invest, according to Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen.

Ahead of the full unveiling of the plan at 11:00, Conservative Mr Houchen told us it will be a "long-term project" involving a range of industries which will shield the area from "economic shocks".

Claiming some companies were looking at "multibillion-pound investments", he said: "We haven't come up with a wishlist of what we hope will happen.

"We've had more than 70 businesses come to us and some are spending thousands of pounds on due diligence. They're attracted by the location, the deep port, geography and the skills set."

The 25-year plan has been drawn up by the South Tees Development Corporation and covers 4,500 acres south of the River Tees. It is claimed 20,000 jobs will be created.

BBC Look North
North East and Cumbria

It's being reported this morning that Newcastle United have several suitors waiting in the wings, ready to snap the club up before the Christmas deadline Mike Ashley has imposed.

Non-disclosure agreements are understood to have been signed by four parties.

But one potential buyer has been ruled out already.

The Turkish billionaire Murat Ulker, owner of the McVities biscuit brand, has stated he's not interested.

The club announced earlier this week it was on the market.

Image source, PA

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent

The performance of hospitals across the UK has slumped with targets for cancer, A&E and planned operations now being missed en masse, BBC research shows.

However, the North East is the top performing region in England. Services have hit their key hospital targets 71% of the time in the past year.

Ministers accepted growing demand had left the NHS struggling to keep up as doctors warned patients were suffering.

Click here to try our NHS Tracker and see how your area is performing.

Morning. We're back again to bring you the latest news, weather, sport and travel updates from across the North East.

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