Potholes, littering, the need to hold council bosses to account, and uncertainty over the future of the Vaux site are among the top issues highlighted by candidates in Sunderland for this week's local elections.

A third of the council's 75 seats are up for grabs, and opposition groups are hoping to make a dent in the Labour Party's dominance at local level.

Niall Hodson, leader of Sunderland's Lib Dems, said: "We have repeatedly offered suggestions to these problems, so people who want to see them sorted should back us."

Harry Trueman, the Labour leader of the council, said front-line services were suffering due to government austerity measures.

"Open the door and you see litter, but we're doing something about it and officers have found £1.5m for front-line services," he said.

The council's Conservative leader, councillor Robert Oliver, said the party had "a good story to tell".

"Unemployment in the North East is at a low and Sunderland's economy is the sixth fastest growing in the country."

Click on this link for a full list of candidates, external.

A Teesside council has given it's backing to a proposed merger of two colleges in the area.

Image source, Google

Redcar and Cleveland College and Stockton Riverside college have been advised to combine following a spell of dwindling student numbers and 'very poor' Ofsted reports.

In January the education watchdog found Redcar and Cleveland College's leadership "ineffective", it's financial position "very weak", attendance "too low" and the quality of teaching and assessment "not good enough"

The merger will come into effect on August 1 this year.

Newcastle United confirm the club is still for sale and that contract talks with manager Rafa Benitez are "ongoing".

Sunderland Echo
Newspaper

The distinctive rainbow sign for Seaburn Funpark is no more after it was pulled down., external

Nobles Funfairs were asked to remove the famous sign by the council as they prepare the site for a Bank Holiday fair.

Image source, Sunderland Echo

Tesco have paid tribute to an employee who died following an "incident" at a Middlesbrough store earlier this week.

The 59-year-old woman was "taken ill" at the Corporation Road branch on Monday evening.

A post-mortem exam has taken place and the woman's death is being treated as unexplained.

Two men aged 33 and 38 have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and attempted theft from a shop and remain in custody.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We are shocked and saddened to hear of this incident and our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to our colleague's family and friends at this difficult time."

John Briers allegedly produced fake invoices and banked unauthorised pension and bonus payments.

The Tees Valley Mayor says jobs will be created on the former Redcar steelworks site before the end of the year.

Image source, STDC

It's being described as a "huge step" forward in regenerating the land.

The process to acquire industrial land on the site is getting under way and Ben Houchen will travel to Thailand to negotiate with the banks there about securing the land.

The long-term goal is to create 20,000 jobs over 25 years. It's hoped an investment announcement will be made in the next few weeks.

Mr Houchen says the project is now moving forward:

"Within three to six months maximum, I would say those construction jobs will go on site.

"I think we'll end up striking a deal when I go out there later this month we will get hold of the land certainly by the third quarter, very early fourth quarter, this year."

District Judge Simon Read said the situation had created a "likelihood" of a miscarriage of justice.

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

A man who was high on drugs robbed an 86-year-old pensioner of his wallet as he went to collect his morning newspaper., external

Image source, Hartlepool Mail

BBC Newcastle

A Northumberland woman whose body cannot hold itself together is trying to raise £100,000 for potentially life-saving treatment abroad.

Carrie Beckworth Fellows, 37, from Kielder, has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Craniocervical Instability, which means her spine is slowly collapsing and crushing her brain stem.

She is raising the cash for an operation in Spain, which she hopes could reverse many of her symptoms.

Doctors in the UK have said the procedure is too risky.

Carrie said she has already planned her funeral and is "fine with dying", but wants to give herself every chance to continue living.

She said: "If there was treatment or surgery available, it would be easy to accept whatever is going to happen.

"But this surgery will probably save my life. It's all about money."

The operation has been booked for September, but will not happen unless enough cash is raised.

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

Some rain and breezy conditions to start the day.

Any lingering cloud and showers should slowly clear as the morning goes on.

This should leave sunny spells for most parts of the region, although higher ground could still see the odd lingering shower.

Maximum temperature should reach 8C to 11C (46F to 52F).

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

The father of a Hartlepool toddler who went missing in Germany almost 37 years ago is due to arrive in the country later to be updated on a fresh search for her.

Two-year-old Katrice Lee (pictured) disappeared from a shopping centre in Paderborn in 1991.

Image source, Family photo

Army and police personnel began a forensic search of a nearby riverbank on Monday.

Katrice's father Richard Lee is due to arrive in the town later to see the search operation for himself.

Mr Lee has always claimed his daughter was abducted.

Florence Kirkby is believed to be one of the country's oldest candidates.

Stephanie Finnon
BBC Newcastle

There are problems on the A1 because of a crash between a coach and a broken down car.

It happened on the A1 northbound between Birtley and the Angel of the North so it is affecting traffic heading towards Gateshead.

There are no reported injuries as yet.

Part of Newcastle city centre has been closed to traffic after a man climbed on to the roof of a former police station.

A section of Pilgrim Street has been cordoned off.

A Northumbria force spokesman said: "Emergency services attended and specialist negotiators are currently on scene to speak to the man and bring him to safety.

"A section of the road has been closed and buses are taking a short diversion."

Prospective Sunderland owner Stewart Donald says he has a "spectacular deal" to take over the club.

Morning. Welcome to BBC Local Live. We'll be with you throughout the day to bring you the latest news, weather, sport and travel updates.

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Police investigate whether a 59-year-old woman's death was connected to an incident in the store.

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards has signed a new three-year deal after securing a first Premiership play-off place in history.

Our live updates here have now finished for the day, thank you for joining us.

This feed will be updated through the night with any breaking news and sport as well as any travel updates. You can also stay up to date on BBC Newcastle, BBC Tees and on Look North.

We'll be back with more updates from 08:00 tomorrow.

Have you got any news or photos you'd like to share with us? In that case you can tweet them to @BBCNewsNE, external, email them, or contact us via our Facebook page, external.