A tree is blocking Benton Road in Newcastle in one direction, causing problems for emergency services.

Leicestershire's Mohammad Abbas takes 10 wickets in two sessions as Durham lose 20 wickets on day two in a heavy loss.

Yesterday we told you about an earthquake which hit Newton Aycliffe on Saturday.

It still seems that no one felt it, but the BGS has more details here:

A pedestrian suffered serious injuries when she was struck by a car in Newcastle.

The 80-year-old was hit by a Skoda Roomster, which also collided with a stationary vehicle on Polwarth Crescent in the Brunton Park area.

Northumbria Police has appealed for witnesses to the incident at 15:24 on Tuesday.

The driver of the car was uninjured.

Ann Miller, 74, died six days after the head-on collision on the A6 near Penrith in Cumbria.

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

Here's today's front page and a link to our top story, external.

Image source, Hartlepool Mail

"It's about creating an illusion whereby you don't know which item is real and which is a drawing".

ICYMI last night - Irene Collins died four days after she was attacked in her Middlesbrough home.

Image source, Family photo

A rare hen harrier has disappeared in Northumberland - the second to vanish in the county in the past year.

The bird, named Hilma, fledged from a nest in the borders, and was fitted with a satellite tag.

This was transmitting regularly when it inexplicably stopped on 8 August near Wooler.

Dr. Cathleen Thomas, from the RSPB, said: “Just a few weeks ago we were celebrating the breeding success of hen harriers in Northumberland and the rest of the UK, but already these young chicks are disappearing in suspicious circumstances when they are just a few months old.

"It’s devastating not only for those of us involved in watching and protecting them, but also to the local environment, as the numbers of one of our rarest birds of prey continues to decline."

The RSPB reported the sudden disappearance to Northumbria Police which is conducting enquiries.

Image source, Steve Downing

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

Residents in Fenham, Newcastle, will have another chance to express their concerns over plans to open a recovery hub for drug and alcohol addicts at a community library.

Construction work has already begun on Fenham library's revamp, but residents are furious that there was no mention of the centre hosting addiction recovery services throughout the process of obtaining planning permission and say instead, the council referred to it as a "health and wellbeing hub".

A Newcastle City Council Spokesperson said: "We are keen to allay the fears that have been expressed about drug and alcohol recovery provision in the site- there will be no percribing or clinical services present.

"The support offered is for people putting addiction behind then, helping them to get back to normality, employment and alternatives for healthy living."

The meeting will take place tomorrow from 18.00 at the Robert Stewart Memorial Church, external, in Wingrove Road.

A prison officer had to receive medical treatment following a "minor incident" at HMP Durham.

The Prison Service said it was not a riot, and was successfully resolved by staff.

A spokeman added: "We do not tolerate indiscipline that threatens other prisoners and staff and those involved will be punished.

"Over the last two years, we've recruited 3,500 additional officers and we're rolling out body worn cameras, 'police-style' handcuffs and restraints, and trialling PAVA incapacitant spray to ensure they and their more experienced colleagues can do their jobs safely."

Drivers have been urged to take care and be prepared for strong gales later this morning across northern England.

Wind speeds are expected to reach between 50 and 60mph from mid-morning as southerly gales associated with Storm Ali develop.

Richard Leonard, from the Highways Agency, said: "In high winds, there’s a particular risk to lorries, caravans and motorbikes so we’d advise drivers of these vehicles to slow down.

“Drivers of other vehicles should be aware of sudden gusts of wind which can affect handling and braking, and give high-sided vehicles, caravans, and motorbikes plenty of space.

"In the event of persistent high winds we may need to close bridges to traffic for a period, so please be alert for warnings of closures and follow signed diversion routes.”

Image source, Met Office

In case you missed this last night - People in the North East are having their heads shaved to raise awareness of alopecia.

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

A rally is being held later to oppose plans to close a number of tax offices in Teesside and County Durham as part of a larger move to consolidate staff into a handful of regional centres by 2027.

Posts at Middlesbrough, Thornaby, Peterlee and Sunderland will move to Newcastle or Leeds.

The Labour MP for Stockton, Paul Williams, and Shadow Treasury Minister, Anneliese Dodds, will be among those taking part in the protest.

Shutting "isolated and out-dated offices" would save £100m, HMRC has said.