Image source, Getty Images

Two years ago Sunderland fans were looking forward to an opening day fixture at Manchester City - but fast forward 24 months and the struggling Mackems are about to embark on their first third tier campaign for more than 30 years.

They begin the season with a home tie against Charlton Athletic following two successive relegations - and end it away at Southend United.

They also face the longest round-trip in the EFL - 800 miles in total to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 3 November.

With a new owner, new manager and a Premier League parachute payment still to come surely this season will be better for Sunderland fans than the previous two?

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A hot-tempered meeting has seen council leaders restate intentions to rebuild Middlesbrough Bus Station on its existing site.

Exchanges were tetchy at Middlesbrough Town Hall last night with claims of insults, “bullying” and “un-truths” hurled across the chamber by elected members.

But, after all the bluster, Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd repeated that the council would not be moving the bus station and that no plans had been submitted yet on it.

Image source, Alex Metcalfe

Debate came as a petition of 5,000 signatures opposing the “demolition and relocation” of the bus station was handed over to the Labour-led authority by opposition Conservative leader Cllr Chris Hobson at last night’s extraordinary meeting of Middlesbrough Council.

The existing bus station site, built in 1982, has been part of long-running ideas to redevelop the area with a Media and Innovation Village (TMIV) – with long term proposals for a hotel, cinema, restaurants, cafes and bars in the town centre space.

Middlesbrough Council put together a bid for £1.3m of funding from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) in November last year to go towards “design, master-planning and feasibility studies” for the site.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A £700,000 Great Exhibition of the North car park has been approved by planners despite already being built.

Council bosses blamed "urgency and officers' oversight" for pressing ahead with the 555-space facility in Gateshead without planning permission.

The car park is intended initially for the 11-week exhibition.

Members of the council's planning committee voted unanimously to grant retrospective five-year planning permission with one day to go.

Labour councillor Michael Hood said retrospective applications were "frustrating" but he was "satisfied" by the council's explanation.

"I don't think they have done anything underhand," he said.

The train operator Northern is running a reduced service between 07:00 and 19:00 today because of the latest of a long series of one-day strikes by members of the RMT union over the role of guards.

You can check the impact on your stationhere, external.

Middlesbrough will play Millwall away in their first game of the new Championship season, it has been announced.

Boro have won two of their last 17 opening matches, and will travel down south on 4 August.

Their first home game is against Birmingham on 11 August, with matches at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day, away at Derby on New Year's Day, and finishing off the season away at Rotherham.

Sunderland start their League One campaign at home to Charlton, also on 4 August.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Weather

There is a noticeable north-westerly wind today, taking the edge off the temperature.

Otherwise, there will be some sunshine this morning with a build up of cloud.

There will be sunny periods with areas of cloud this afternoon.

Maximum temperature: 14C to 17C (57F to 63F).

Welcome to Thursday's live coverage, with all the news, sport, travel and weather you need to get you through the day.

If you want to get in touch with any news or send us photos you can tweet us, external, contact us via our Facebook page, external or email us.

Children's services in Sunderland are facing a "perfect storm" of budget cuts and increased demand.

Phil Salt and Tom Haines hit maiden centuries as Sussex pile up 439-5 on day one against Durham at Arundel.

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

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

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

In the meantime, if you'd like to get in touch with news or photos you can tweet us @BBCNewsNE, external, email us, or contact us via our Facebook page, external.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Councillors have warned that a child could die at a derelict former police station.

The old Farringdon Hall Police Station, in Primate Road, has been empty since officers relocated to the nearby Farringdon Community Fire Station.

But there are now concerns the state of the building could put lives at risk, as it's become a target for anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.

It's also popular with urban explorers - groups or individuals who access abandoned buildings and post videos and pictures of their expeditions to websites and social media.

Image source, James Harrison

Estate agency Sanderson Weatherall said it had been sold two years ago for about £530,000.

Plans were submitted in 2016 to convert the former police station into a gym, but the application was later withdrawn.

Anna Snowdon
BBC Local Live

We'd like to know if your World Cup set up is better than Rob's in Middlesbrough (it'll be difficult to beat!)

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Firefighters in Tyne and Wear could have a funding shortfall of more than £3m by 2021.

This year the service expects to have to dip into its cash reserves to the tune of £700,000 to be able to balance the books.

Current estimates put the budget gap at £3.6m by 2021/2022.

Chief Fire Office Chris Lowther said cuts meant neighbouring fire authorities would have to ‘rely’ on each other to help with major incidents.

In May, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service had to call on County Durham and Darlington Fire and rescue Service and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service for help dealing with the Alex Smiles depot fire, in Sunderland.

After breaking out on 14 May, it wasn’t until 7 June it was confirmed to have been extinguished.

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

The MP for Darlington says she has had an encouraging meeting about the future of House of Fraser in the town and there are now hopes it could stay open.

Image source, Google

Labour's Jenny Chapman and members of the council met the building owners yesterday and say that a final decision about its future will be made on Friday.

The store has been revealed as one of House of Fraser's profitable branches.

More than 100 secondary pupils who live in England travel to schools in the Scottish Borders.

Image source, Graham Robson/Geograph

The government knew Northern rail passengers would face major disruption two years ago, an MP has claimed.

Wigan MP Lisa Nandy said she had been handed Department for Transport emails in which officials discuss "propagating myths" to divert attention from route closures.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, she said the emails were a "disgrace".

In response, Theresa May said she would not comment on "leaked" documents.

A new timetable was introduced on 20 May and Northern passengers have faced widespread disruption and cancellations.

The DfT has been asked to comment.

Anna Snowdon
BBC Local Live

More than 50 holes dug by metal detector users have been found at a section of Hadrian's Wall

Nighthawks, the term for illegal metal detectorists, have targeted the Brunton Turret section of the wall in their search for ancient artefacts.

The discovery is the latest in a spate of nighthawking incidents along the wall, at Corbridge, Housesteads and Steel Rigg, over the last three years.

All the sites are protected as scheduled monuments where using a metal detector without proper authorisation is a criminal offence.

Police and RSPCA officers bought charges following a raid at a site in North Yorkshire.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Leaders on Tyneside have urged the public to get behind efforts to bring Channel 4 to the North East as they prepare for a visit from the broadcaster.

It was revealed last month that a joint-bid from Newcastle and Gateshead could house a new ‘creative hub’ for Channel 4, despite missing out on the chance to become its new headquarters.

Bid chiefs are now getting ready for stage two of the pitch process, which involves a visit from Channel 4 representatives in early July, and want people to show their support for their #4theNE social media campaign.

The Gateshead Quays and the Newcastle Helix development were previously identified as possible sites for Channel 4 to move to, but Tyneside bid chiefs have said there will be other potential locations available depending on the broadcaster’s requirements.

Image source, Getty Images

The winning bids for both the Channel 4 headquarters and two creative hubs will be revealed in October.

The Tyneside bid is up against Belfast, Brighton, Nottingham, Sheffield, and Stoke-on-Trent.

Anna Snowdon
BBC Local Live

The Tyneside-based charity Show Racism The Red Card, external have said that a tweet by Lord Sugar comparing the Senegal football team with Marbella beach sellers was "unhelpful and ignorant".

Lord Sugar, 71, later deleted the post and apologised, saying , external"my attempt at humour has backfired".