Sunderland Echo
Newspaper
Sunderland City Council has received more than 1,600 complaints over missed bin collections in just three months, external.
Image source, Sunderland EchoThe widow of the late Newcastle United star Gary Speed says a letter he wrote as a teenager hinted at mental health problems.
Louise Speed found him dead at home in November 2011 and at the inquest the coroner said he was not satisfied Speed intended to kill himself.
She has since discovered a letter he wrote to her as a 17-year-old.
In it Speed wrote: "I'm so depressed. I'm just going to sleep now and hope I never wake up."
In an interview with the Mirror, Louise Speed said she found the letter, written while he was at Leeds United, during research into a new book about the Speed family.
Durham director of cricket Geoff Cook will leave his post at the end of the season as part of a club restructure.
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Lucy Moody
Journalist
It's fair to say exercise is something you either love or hate and I've got to admit I'm siding with the latter.
Saying that though, if you're the same to me this might just change your mind.
Who would have thought the following sentence would be said about an exercise group, but get your glowsticks at the ready because we're talking about clubbercise, external.
It combines exercise with thumping club classics to get your heart racing.
Image source, Liam McGloneToni McGlone, from Teesside, has groups across the region but is in need of a replacement venue for a weekly one which is at the Southlands Centre, in Middlesbrough.
Quote MessageWe have a little clubbercise family here in Teesside. We're currently at the Southland Centre on a Tuesday but with it closing its door we need an alternative venue. I've searched high and low but have had no luck."
Toni McGlone, Clubbercise instructor
The team are looking for a venue in the Middlesbrough area that can be made dark, has a stage and a wooden floor.
If you can help you can get in touch with them via their Facebook page, external.
The multi-million pound cross-border economic development plans are ready to be submitted this month.
Read MoreLucy Moody
Journalist
A 3.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded in Newton Aycliffe in County Durham a few days ago.
The British Geological Survey, external said no-one felt anything from the tremor on 15 September.
It has also recorded other earthquakes around the British Isles in the last 50 days.
And here's the forecast from our very own Paul Mooney:
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Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North
Mostly cloudy this morning with spells of rain at first, but the rain will generally clear.
It's a tale of two halves today - this morning cloudy with light winds.
Then this afternoon, it will be mainly dry this with spells of sunshine breaking through, but with stronger blustery winds.
Check out the forecast near you.
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage.
We've got all the news, sport, travel and weather 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.
Test your knowledge of this season's overseas players in our county cricket quiz.
Read MoreMike Veale eventually admitted he had hit his golf bag with a club after a "poor shot".
Read MoreOur live updates here have finished for the day, thank you for joining us.
This feed will be updated with any breaking news and sport stories tonight as well as travel updates.
You can also stay up to date online, on BBC Newcastle, BBC Tees and on Look North.
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 , externalor email us.
We'll be back on Monday from 08:00 with more live updates.
There is a yellow warning for wind from 21:00 tonight until 18:00 tomorrow
Some evening sunshine is expected to develop. Then clear for a time, before heavy rain associated with Storm Helene moves in from the southwest later in the night.
Minimum Temperature: 10 to 13C (50 to 55F).
Tomorrow rain associated with Storm Helene should rapidly clear to the northeast. Then winds will quickly strengthen, leading into a very windy day with southwesterly gales, sunny spells and blustery showers.
Maximum Temperature: 16 to 19C (61 to 66F).
The wife of the late Newcastle United midfielder Gary Speed has spoken of a letter he wrote as a teenager that hinted at mental health problems.
Louise Speed found him dead at home in November 2011 and at the inquest into his death the coroner said he was not satisfied Speed intended to kill himself.
She has since discovered a letter he wrote to her as a 17-year-old.
In it Speed wrote: "I'm so depressed. I'm just going to sleep now and hope I never wake up."
In an interview with the Mirror, , externalLouise Speed said she found the letter, written while he was at Leeds United, during research into a new book about the Speed family.
Image source, Getty ImagesThere is a yellow weather warning for wind for the next few days for the North East.
The Met Office warning runs from 21:00 tonight until 18:00 on Tuesday. Then there is another warning from 06:00 until 22:00 on Wednesday.
It says there may be some damage to trees including large branches or trees falling and there are likely to be transport delays. You can see more here., external
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
A scheme to improve coastal access for people with disabilities is one of 16 to receive funding.
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The Northern Echo
Newspaper
A hospital IT manager has been handed a four-month suspended prison sentence after admitting fraud involving £10,000 worth of iPhones belonging to the NHS., external
Police are appealing for witnesses after a serious road traffic collision in Northumberland on Saturday.
At 11.43 they received a report of collision involving a green Landrover Defender and a white Ford Transit dropside lorry on the A1 near the St. Leonard's junction at Morpeth.
A 63-year-old woman and two children, aged 13 and nine, were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The woman remains in a critical condition.
The driver of the lorry was uninjured.
A 28-year-old man was arrested at the scene and has since been released under investigation.
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Chris Binding
Sunderland City Council has received more than 1,600 complaints over missed bin collections in just three months.
Last Thursday Sunderland City Council's scrutiny coordinating committee heard updated complaints figures.
Between April and June this year, 1,951 complaints were received for corporate services with 1,606 linked to missed bin collections.
Complaints manager Marie Johnston said the bin collection figures should be viewed in the context of the service and its size.
A report, presented to the committee, said this includes the council servicing 1.6 million containers across the entire city, leading to a "dissatisfaction rate of 0.01 per cent".
The overall number of corporate complaints also saw a 41% decrease from the same period the previous year, with 71% of complaints responded to within 15 working days.
