Cleveland's chief constable reveals 100 staff are sick daily as the force tackles "chaos" and "carnage".

A £60m skyscraper will be built on the Gateshead Quayside despite concerns from some councillors over its design.

Developers Elliot Group were given the green light by Gateshead Council's planning committee this morning to press ahead with proposals for a 20-storey housing block comprising 317 flats on the corner of Mill Road and Hawks Road.

However, councillors were split on the merits of the project, which some feared could become a "white elephant".

Image source, KDP Architects Ltd

Councillor Lynne Caffrey said: "I think the design is appalling. If we are a council that is interested in iconic buildings, this is not one of them."

Council officers said the design had been carefully considered and improved by their requests to use more glass on the upper floors of the building, which has 20 floors at its highest point and drops down to 15 and then nine floors.

Construction is expected to start next spring on the building, which is the first major residential scheme to be built on the Gateshead Quayside since the financial crash of 2008.

Elliot Group founder Elliot Lawless said: "We're delighted to make our debut on Tyneside.

"It's a thriving market with a great cultural scene and to be next to both the Baltic and Sage puts us right in the thick of things."

A government response to a petition from Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah over the running of Newcastle United is calling for the club to review its engagement with fans.

A petition was submitted in July, external expressing concern over the support and investment in players, training facilities and community engagement from Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley .

The government response stated that it had "noted the concern among supporters that had led to this petition and would encourage the ownership of Newcastle United to review the way they currently engage with fans to see if more can be achieved in this area."

It also stated that it was not aware of any failure to meet the Premier League's standards of facilities maintenance, financial reporting, ownership criteria or requirement to meet with supporters to discuss matters important to the running of the club.

Image source, PA

A blind veteran from Hebburn will march at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday.

Colin Williamson, 61, is the president of the charity Blind Veterans UK, external.

He joined the Army Junior Leaders at the age of 15 before serving in the 25th Regiment of the Royal Artillery.

He joined the territorial army in 1977 before leaving service in 1983 and becoming an engineer with BT.

He lost his sight in his right eye and much of the sight in his left eye after an unprovoked street attack in 2003.

He and his family went on to receive support from Blind Veterans UK.

He said: “Marching at the Cenotaph means a lot to me as I feel that I’m there not only to represent Blind Veterans UK but also my former regiment and those members of both organisations who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Image source, Blind Veterans UK

A consortium attempting to take over MetroCentre and Eldon Square owner Intu has been granted more time to make a firm offer or pull out of the £2.8bn deal.

The Takeover Panel said on Wednesday that the consortium, led by John Whittaker's Peel Group, now has until 17:00 on 15 November to either put up or shut up.

Image source, Intu

Intu is behind 18 shopping centres across the UK, which also include the Trafford and Arndale Centres in Manchester and Lakeside in Essex.

Earlier this month, Peel Group, Olayan and Brookfield Property tabled a £2.8bn offer for Intu.

The consortium has been granted access to company documents for due diligence as it considers whether to make a firm offer.

Between them, Peel Group and Olayan Group already hold 29.9% of Intu.

Lucy Moody
Journalist

Over the last few months, we've been following Britain's first guide horse's training but now there's a new twist to Digby's story.

The Shetland Pony which has is being trained in Northallerton was meant to be paired up with a visually-impaired person who has a phobia of dogs.

But Digby's grown too big for the owner he'd been matched with and now he needs a new home.

His trainer Katy Smith said: "Digby's job is far from over, he'll still be trained as a guide horse and you'll continue to see him out and about- his journey is just starting."

After training Digby will not only become a fully qualified guide horse but will also become a buddy for other trainee horses.

It employs about 2,700 people in IT-related roles with almost 2,000 of those jobs in Leeds.

The family of a Middlesbrough man who killed in a brawl with three of his cousins say his children "ask for their dad" every day.

Kieran Ibitson, fatally stabbed Steven Willis, 27, during a confrontation in Middlesbrough in April.

The 21-year-old was convicted of murder at Teesside Crown Court on Tuesday and jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years.

His cousins Dominic Pickering, 23, and Mark Pickering, 32, were cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and were each sentenced to 10 years.

Image source, Family photo

The trial was told that tensions had boiled over when the extended family attended a wake at a social club in North Ormesby.

In a statement, Mr Willis' family said: “Steven was a gentleman. He never had a bad word to say about anyone, he was loved by everyone including his family, his kids and all who knew him.

“Steven’s children ask for their dad every single day and we have to tell them that he is up in the stars in the sky. His children now come and point up to the sky and say ‘there’s my dad’.

“None of Steven’s family will ever be the same again. I hope that this tragedy never happens to anyone else. No-one should have to go through what all of us have.

“Steven leaves behind a much-loved family, a younger brother and three sisters. He will be sadly missed every day.”

Image source, Getty Images

In case you missed it last night - Luke Young's first half goal is enough to give Wrexham victory over 10-man Hartlepool United at the Racecourse.

Sunderland Echo
Newspaper

Sunderland AFC are exploring the possibility of changing the club badge, external to a "simpler design", executive director Charlie Methven has said.

Image source, Sunderland Echo

BBC Business News

Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has announced a deal to buy Evans Cycles which will see half of the bike chain's shops close, resulting in hundreds of job losses.

The struggling firm was placed into administration before being sold to Sports Direct International.

Mr Ashley, who founded Sports Direct, said: "In order to save the business, we only believe we will be able to keep 50% of stores open in the future."

Image source, Evans Cycles

Evans, which is nearly 100 years old, has 62 shops and employs 1,300 people.Two of the stores are in the North East - one in Durham and another in Gateshead.

It emerged last month that the retailer was seeking a rescue deal, with accountancy firm PwC brought in as advisers.

Matt Callaghan, joint administrator and a partner at PwC, said it had been a very difficult year for Evans following the cold snap at the start of 2018 and a lack of cash to invest in stores and online.

The Shields Gazette

Metro services have been beset by a series of problems in the last few weeks as autumn turns to winter and the weather starts to get colder and damper., external

Image source, Shields Gazette

A fashion designer in Newcastle has created a special dress to be auctioned for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal, external.

Leigh Hetherington and her team have spent more than 250 hours designing and creating the dress to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Each of the poppies on the dress have been individually made by hand from red silk tulle with black Swarovski crystal beaded centres.

The dress has been modelled by reality television star Tanya Bardsley who is supporting the cause.

Image source, Leigh Hetherington

Follow the latest news stories from the National League, including transfers and selected contract announcements.

Colin Briggs
Look North

Engineers say potentially serious structural problems have been found in a County Durham road bridge which was closed temporarily for maintenance work.

Witton Park Bridge near Bishop Auckland is to remain closed until further notice after the problems came to light during a 20 week planned closure for routine maintenance.

Engineers now say the bridge can no longer withstand the weight of traffic and diversions via the A68 and Witton le Wear will have to stay in place.

Image source, Durham County Council

Julia Brown is a real-life Batwoman who has cared for hundreds of the animals down the years.

A member of the Durham Bat Group, she nurses bats back to health and looks after the creatures in her own home.

Julia, from Darlington, then releases them back into the wild once their strength has returned.

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

Hartlepool’s MP, a poppy appeal organiser and a civic chief have all blasted a vandal attack on Hartlepool’s war memorial. , external

Image source, Hartlepool Mail

Image source, Getty Images

In case you missed it last night - Danny Rowe's 11th goal of the season for Fylde, in stoppage time, ensures a 1-0 National League win against Gateshead.

Lisa Gallagher
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

After a cold start for most places, may parts will eventually see some spells of sunshine.

But variable cloud will move in as the day goes on, which will bring the chance of a shower too.

Maximum temperatures will reach about 9C (48F).

Adam Clarkson
BBC Tees

Police put additional resources on to the streets across Teesside last night to tackle a traditionally busy night for anti-social behaviour ahead of Halloween.

Cleveland Police doubled patrols in some areas to deal with so-called "mischief night".

The force spent three months planning the operation for the night before Halloween, which is recognised as bringing heightened criminal activity.

BBC reporter Adam Clarkson, who joined one of the patrols in Middlesbrough, said it was "like the Wild West".

A woman was taken to hospital after a bus window was smashed by a brick close in Berwick Hills.

And in Ormesby, a group of about 10 youths ran in front of the police van and threw eggs.

There's more on this story on BBC Tees throughout the day.