Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium will open as an NHS vaccination centre on Monday.

It's the fifth large vaccination site to open in the region, with the aim of vaccinating as many people as quickly as possible.

Potentially it could see up to 1,000 patients a day, running 12 hours a day, seven days a week.

Across the North East and North Cumbria more than one million people have been vaccinated by the NHS.

Image source, PA Media

NHS England is inviting everyone aged 50 and over to have their vaccination. This will be either by letter or through a text alert from the National Booking Service.

Middlesbrough FC manager Neil Warnock welcomed the stadium being used as a vaccination centre:

Almost a year on since the first coronavirus patients were admitted to James Cook University hospital in Middlesbrough, more than 150 patients have been recruited into a trial for critical care treatments for Covid-19.

The hospital is the third-highest recruiting centre in the country for the Remap Cap trial, which is investigating treatments for severely ill coronavirus patients.

Patients from the hospital have also been helping with another study looking at why some people diagnosed with Covid-19 have no symptoms and others become ill.

Critical care consultant at James Cook and research lead, Prof Stephen Bonner, said: “Through the research projects supported at hospitals like James Cook, the UK has been able to build a vital understanding of Covid-19, and deliver some of the most important findings anywhere in the world, especially why some people become critically ill and how to treat them.

“There are still more questions to be answered in relation to Covid-19, but with our country’s unique NHS research infrastructure, along with those patients who participate in research, we are in the best possible position to succeed.”

What does the "transformational" scheme for southern Scotland and northern England hope to deliver?

Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock is charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.

A 12-year-old from Northumberland wants people not to be treated differently over their hair colour.

Ross Stewart scores on his debut to boost Sunderland's promotion chances in a 2-0 win over Accrington Stanley.

A report into child sex abuse condemns the club for "material failings" over attacker George Ormond.

Listen to local BBC radio commentary as Newcastle Falcons host Wasps in the Premiership following a 55-19 victory for Ealing Trailfinders at Coventry in the Championship.

Listen to BBC radio commentary from Saturday's action in the National League.

Police Scotland arrest and charge a man in connection with a racist social media post sent to Middlesbrough winger Yannick Bolasie.

Council leaders say government funding is needed "to make these plans a reality".

This season's Premiership Rugby Cup is scrapped because of continuing concerns related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

King's Lynn collect a first point in four National League games as they hold promotion-chasing Hartlepool to a draw.

Middlesbrough cruise past Preston, who have midfielder Alan Browne and manager Alex Neil sent off in a chaotic match at the Riverside in the Championship.

Relive Wednesday's Championship action, as Norwich beat Nottingham Forest to go 10 points clear at the top.

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

Developers want to transform an office tower block next to the Tyne Bridge in Newcastle into 250 flats.

But before any work can start, the potentially dangerous cladding will have to be removed from Cale Cross House.

The aluminium cladding on the 18-storey building, does not comply with post-Grenfell fire safety rules for residential accommodation.

Such aluminium composite material cladding was identified as the primary cause of the rapid spread of the Grenfell Tower fire in London, which killed 72 people in 2017.

Beech Holdings Investments wants to acquire the 1970s building and turn it into 250 studio or one-bed flats.

Cale Cross House has been the subject of multiple development plans in recent years.

County Durham farmers Daisy May Wade and her fiance George Collins got a surprise at the weekend, when one of their heifers delivered triplets.

The farm near Willington is home to 240 cows but this was the first time it's seen triplets.

George said it was a complete surprise: "We came in on Saturday and this cow looked a bit sick and sorry for herself.

"We got the first one out, got the second one out, spot on, which was the white calf and I put my hand in to make sure everything was alright and I felt another foot, I said to Daisy 'we've got another one here!'

"I couldn't believe it, the odds are 100,000-to-one to get triplets."

The Middlesbrough patrols will distribute naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an overdose.

A woman suffered injuries to her back and face when she was driven into by a car in Hartlepool.

The 39-year-old was a passenger in a blue VW Polo which was followed by a white Vauxhall Corsa along Wynyard and Catcote Roads, then into Rossmere Road, at midnight on Sunday.

Police say the woman got out of the car after it was rammed by the Corsa at the junction of Ardrossan Way (pictured below).

The car she got out of then drove away and the Corsa is believed to have been driven at her causing her to fall, leaving her with fractures to her lower spine and injuries to her face.

Police say a man got out of the car and hit her with a blunt instrument before driving away.

She was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees.

A 41-year-old man and a 27-year-old man who were both arrested yesterday have been released without charge.

A 57-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing GBH with intent and released while investigations continue.

Image source, Google

Plans to create a new marina with floating pontoons in South Shields have been approved.

The development at the former Brigham and Cowan Dock 4 Entrance, off Long Row, will see an area created for small boats to be moored, a wave break and access ladder.

The plans had been opposed by neighbours who are worried about noise, pollution and parking.

During a public consultation 139 representations were submitted in support and 90 objections against.

Councillor Angela Hamilton raised concerns about increased traffic and limited parking, adding: “I’m not against a pontoon or a marina, if it’s done right it can bring a massive advantage to our borough.

“But this application isn’t right, it doesn’t meet the local planning framework and takes away residents’ amenities that they’re entitled to."

A statement from the applicant said the former dock was ‘one of the last practical locations’ in South Tyneside suitable for a such a facility.

The application was approved with a condition that the pontoon be restricted for “the mooring of recreational leisure boats and for no other purpose”.

There's also a dispute over access to a public walkway on the riverside.

Part of the riverside walkway and England Coast Path, adjacent to the former dock, has already been gated-off and an online petition to reopen it has collected more than 1,000 signatures.

The local authority said it's a separate issue to the pontoon and it is in talks with Natural England regarding the pathway.