Northamptonshire have a game abandoned without a ball bowled for the first time in 37 years as they draw with Durham.

A riverbank site in Germany close to where Katrice Lee disappeared is to be excavated.

A puppy drowned despite a lifeboat operation to save it when it fell into the River Wear.

The lurcher got into difficulty in the water close to Sunderland's Wearmouth Bridge at about 08:30 on Sunday.

A member of the public called 999 and alerted the Coastguard who then asked the RNLI to attend, along with the Sunderland Coastguard Rescue team.

The lifeboat crew located the dog and attempted to revive it on the way back to the marina.

Paul Nicholson, from Sunderland RNLI said: "Sadly despite the best efforts of everyone involved we were unable to save the puppy from drowning.

"Many of our volunteers have their own dogs at home and appreciate how upsetting it will be for the dog's family who have tragically lost a young family pet."

Lt George Burdon McKean was much-decorated and also had a town square in France named after him.

Sunderland Echo
Newspaper

Ellis Short has agreed the sale of Sunderland to a group fronted by Steward Donald,, externalchairman of Eastleigh FC.

Image source, Sunderland Echo

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

Two men have been arrested in connection with the alleged attempted murder of a man in Stockton.

Police said a 31-year-old man is still in hospital after suffering cuts to his stomach in the Bowesfield Lane area of Stockton on Saturday night.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening and he remains in a stable condition.

A Cleveland force spokesman said the two arrested men had been released under investigation while inquiries continue.

Nick Barnes
BBC Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

After weeks of speculation and rumour surrounding a possible takeover of Sunderland AFC, the sale of the club has been agreed.

A consortium led by Stewart Donald, the chairman of National League team Eastleigh, is the new owner of the football club.

One of their first tasks is to appoint a new manager after Chris Coleman was released from his contract.

Stewart Donald raised the possibility of his involvement last week but even then, by his own admission, the prospect of a takeover seemed some way off so the events of Sunday came as a surprise to most.

The sacking of Chris Coleman and Kit Symons before the last match of the season suggests the new owners, who are composed of international businessmen, have a replacement lined up.

Speculation surrounds the future of the chief executive Martin Bain, but at this moment in time he is still the CEO of Sunderland AFC.

There are plenty of questions to ask of the new owners from who the new manager is to be, to how much they can invest and how involved day to day will they be in the running of the football club, but it is the news all fans of the the club have been desperate to hear and whilst the sacking of Coleman could be interpreted as harsh he was the first to admit a new owner could well want a new manager.

Image source, PA

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

It will be cloudy to start today and quite chilly.

Through the day, the northeast winds will strengthening, becoming particularly strong around eastern coastal districts.

The best chance of any brighter spells will be in more inland areas.

Maximum temperatures are unlikely to get above 6 to 9C (43 to 48F).

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

The father of a Hartlepool toddler who disappeared near a military base almost 37 years ago says he has been told a new ground search is to be carried out close to where she was last seen.

Katrice Lee, from Hartlepool, went missing from a Naafi supermarket near Paderborn, Germany in 1981.

International appeals have failed to find her, but her father Richard Lee has never given up hope.

Image source, Family photo

Richard Lee told BBC Tees that the move was a "major step forward".

A Royal Military Police (RMP) team is already reinvestigating the case.

Katrice went missing on 28 November 1981 - her second birthday - while out shopping with her mother Sharon, from Gosport, Hampshire.

Mr Lee said: "I've been told that certain areas of interest have been identified.

"Once I get out there I'm sure things will become clearer."

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