Public libraries have borne the brunt of council cuts but one town is bucking the national trend.

Listen to BBC radio commentary from Hartlepool United v Chesterfield in the National League.

Sunderland defender Jordan Willis is facing up to an extra year on the sidelines after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

England fast bowler Mark Wood is set to feature in a County Championship match for Durham for the first time since September 2018.

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in County Durham.

David Teague, 33, (pictured) suffered fatal injuries at a property in Wood View, Esh Winning, on Saturday.

Image source, Family handout

A 34-year-old man appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court charged with murder, false imprisonment and assault.

He was remanded into custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

Relive the opening day of the County Championship as Warwickshire are bowled out for 87 at Durham and Hampshire only make 92 at Surrey.

Sunderland still have work to do to seal a League One play-off place after Blackpool win at the Stadium of Light.

David Teague suffered fatal injuries at a property in Esh Winning on Saturday.

On-loan Sunderland defender Dion Sanderson is ruled out for the rest of the season with a back injury.

A tiny puffin has been returned to the coast after being found wandering along a country lane in Durham, miles away from the sea.

The man who found the tiny sea bird yesterday put it in a box, took it home and called the RSPCA.

Rescue officer Shane Lynn who collected it said: “It seems as though the puffin got lost and ended up landing inland, around three miles from the coast, and couldn’t then get airborne again."

Image source, RSPCA

Once he was checked over by a vet, found to be uninjured and fed, he was released back to the sea at Hartlepool's Headland.

Mr Lynn added: “He hopped down on to the sand and then flew off across the sea and into the distance.

"There really is no better feeling than returning a wild animal back into the wild where they belong.”

Puffins are a rare call-out for the RSPCA, and over the past five years the charity has cared for 14 across its four wildlife centres.

Image source, RSPCA

An overturned tanker is causing delays at Port Clarence:

BBC Radio Tees

Ambulance chiefs said there has been a "demoralising" rise in attacks on their staff in recent weeks.

The warning by the North East Ambulance Service follows an incident in Middlesbrough at the weekend which saw a woman flag down paramedics and assault two of them.

She then kicked and slapped two police officers.

Darren Green, clinical service manager for the ambulance service, said: "Since the lockdown easing we have noticed an increase in assaults. We appreciate people are keen to get back to their normal lives, but we can't afford to see an increase in violent offences towards staff.

"At any point in time it's demoralising. All crews are tired and exhausted having supported the public over the past 12 months."

A 24-year-old woman has been arrested and released under investigation while enquiries continue into the incident in Middlesbrough.

Jacob Hopkins says he wants to help researchers find more ways to prevent the virus.

Mark Lawrenson takes on Wolf Alice bassist Theo Ellis to make predictions for this weekend's EFL Cup final and Premier League fixtures.

Three men and three women remain in custody arrested on suspicion of murder, police say.

Former England striker Alan Shearer and ex-France forward Thierry Henry become the first players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The FA charges Sunderland and Oxford United players and coaches following alleged incidents during their 2 April fixture.

A duck which uses the grounds of North Tees Hospital to lay her eggs has been rehomed along with her ducklings.

Staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust arranged for the birds to be taken to another location in nearby Hartlepool after providing a paddling pool and seed for the family in the hospital grounds.

The same duck, which is tagged, arrives at the Stockton hospital every April to lay her eggs and hatch them in one of the hospital's courtyards.

Christopher Owens-Hunt, who works at the hospital, said: "It was lovely to see her again but the family is safer now where there’s more food and proper lakes to swim in."

Image source, Christopher Owens-Hunt

There was North East success at Hollywood's biggest night as James Reed, one of the team behind My Octopus Teacher, landed the Oscar for best documentary feature - and the first person to congratulate him was none other than Brad Pitt.

Director James, who grew up in Prudhoe, Northumberland, described the win as a "phenomenal moment".

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I really wasn't expecting it. I'm absolutely delighted.

"I'm holding [the statue] now. It's very, very heavy. He's a big old chap.

"We were sat behind [British actress] Carey Mulligan and really felt very small-time next to all these celebs and then we came off the stage and the first person to congratulate us was Brad Pitt.

"That was weird, but fantastic."

The Netflix production, co-directed by Pippa Ehrlich, covers filmmaker Craig Foster bonding with an octopus in a South African kelp forest over 12 months.

The trophies were handed out in one of the grand halls at Los Angeles's Union Station to allow for a Covid-safe ceremony.

Image source, EPA

Bringing you the latest news from across the North East from Monday 26 April to Friday 30 April 2021