Newcastle United welcome AFC Bournemouth to St James' Park in the Premier League - watch final score and follow live text commentary.

The Shields Gazette

Health chiefs have ordered a care home in South Tyneside to improve after failings were exposed following the death of a great-grandmother, external.

Image source, Shields Gazette

Image source, Barnard Castle Police

Emergency services in the North East are paying a touching tribute to those who served in World War One.

Poppies have been added to a number of Northumbria Police, Durham Constabulary and North East Ambulance Service’s vehicles as a mark of respect.

One of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service’s rapid response vehicles is also displaying a poppy.

Northumbria Police Deputy Chief Constable Darren Best said: “We are hoping when members of the public see our vehicles driving around, it will remind them of the sacrifices members of the armed forces have made, and continue to make in the line of duty and show them that they have our full support.”

Image source, Barnard Castle Police

Image source, Northumbria Plice

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Ben O'Connell

The vision and six key priorities for the new North of Tyne Combined Authority have been approved.

The body held its first meeting on Thursday following the signing of a parliamentary order on the devolution deal, which will being powers and £600m of funding to the area.

The cabinet is made up of leaders from Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland councils.

The six 'pillars of ambition' are in a document called Home of Ambition , externalwhich are based around a number of areas including investment, education, innovation and pride in communities.

The ballot for the first directly-elected mayor for the North of Tyne area will take place in May next year.

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

A Hartlepool minibus driver has been jailed for six years for causing the death of a colleague in a high-speed crash after driving for several hours while under the influence of cocaine, external.

Image source, Hartlepool Mail

About 14 shops are closing every day as UK high streets face their toughest trading climate in five years, a report has found.

A net 1,123 stores disappeared from Britain's top 500 high streets in the first six months of the year, according to the accountancy firm PwC.

It said fashion and electrical stores had suffered most as customers did more shopping online.

Restaurants and pubs also floundered as fewer people go out to eat or drink.

London was the worst-hit region with a fall of 716 stores, while only 448 were opened.

Other cities that suffered included Leeds, which opened nine stores but closed 35, and Reading where there were 39 closures and only 18 openings.

Newcastle fared worst in the North East, with a net decline of 17 stores.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Weather

There will be some bright or sunny spells today, but there will often be a lot of cloud around.

This could be thick enough to produce a little rain, especially this afternoon. It will be rather windy.

Click here for more weather.

BBC Tees

A cannabis farm with 200 plants worth about £168,000 has been found by police.

Cleveland Police said officers discovered the farm on Lancaster Road in Hartlepool on Thursday following a report of suspicious activity.

A force spokeswoman said two men aged 34 and 53 were arrested on suspicion of production of a class B drug.

Det Con Mark Coverdale encouraged members of the public with information about drugs to contact police.

Welcome to our live coverage of the day's news from across the North East.

You can also stay up to date 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, external or email us.

A passenger died and three others were injured when the minibus collided with a lorry on the A34.

Police discovered 200 plants in Hartlepool after reports of suspicious activity.

Residents have spent 17 months surrounded by scaffolding while safety work is carried out.

Jean Hedley arranged for it to be published in the Northern Echo following her death aged 91.

Our live updates here have finished for the day but any breaking news, sport or travel will still appear here.

You can also stay up to date on BBC Newcastle, BBC Tees, and on Look North.

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

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.

Have a lovely evening.

Any showers this evening should clear to leave it dry overnight with clear spells and variable cloud. Possible mist and fog over high ground. Staying breezy.

Minimum Temperature: 3 to 6C (37 to 43F).

Tomorrow morning should see a few sunny spells, away from any upland mist or fog. However, cloud will thicken and winds will strengthen with patchy rain possible. Heavier rain into the evening.

Maximum Temperature: 7 to 10C (45 to 50F).

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Daniel Holland

An independent councillor has called for answers on whether or not the Great Exhibition of the North was a success.

Councillor Marc Donnelly asked whether the "pound for pound expenditure, visitor numbers and financial benefits" of the cultural festival had met expectations.

Questions have been raised in recent weeks over how visitor numbers for the 80-day exhibition were calculated, after it emerged that some people surveyed were spoken to when already inside or directly outside key venues.

The exhibition, which ran between June and September, included a variety of events celebrating the achievements of the north of England at venues such as the Sage and the Great North Museum: Hancock.

In response to Councillor Donnelly's question, the council confirmed that a full evaluation of the exhibition's impact will be published in December.

A minibus driver from Durham who caused a fatal crash while under the influence of drugs has been jailed for six years.

Lee Burdon (pictured top) was driving a Ford Transit minibus that collided with a lorry at an estimated 92mph on the A34 near Sutton Scotney, Hampshire, on 26 February.

Passenger Craig Hall, 36, from Middlesbrough, (pictured bottom) died at the scene.

Burdon, 20, of Tristram Avenue, Durham, had traces of a breakdown product of cocaine in his system at the time.

He pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed drug limit, at an earlier hearing.

Image source, Hampshire Constabulary

Image source, Family photo

Stephen Pettitt died as a "direct consequence" of robotic heart surgery, a coroner concludes.

A female prison officer from County Durham has appeared in court accused of having a relationship with an inmate.

Stacey Sutherland appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates court this morning charged with wilfully neglecting to perform her duty.

The 27-year-old prison officer, from Barnard Castle, is accused of entering into a relationship with a prisoner whilst working at HMP Deerbolt, in County Durham.

She will appear at Teesside Crown Court on 6 December.

A detailed inspection has been carried out of Berwick's Old Bridge after damage appeared on stonework on the historical structure.

Northumberland County Council said a small area of damage had been found at the end of one pier on the 17th century bridge which would require attention to prevent further damage over the winter.

The bridge was closed while the inspection was carried out.

The council said the inspection, which included an under-bridge vehicle, would be completed today and a plan for repair would be made in the coming weeks, including gaining consent from Historic England, as it is a listed structure.

The council said: "We understand that people may be concerned about the external appearance of some parts of the bridge, however we can provide reassurance that there is no risk to its overall structural integrity and the damage identified at the pier does not pose any public safety issues.

"The council carries out regular inspections to check for any significant changes in condition. Plans are also in place to carry out more significant restoration work over the next few years to secure the long-term future of the iconic bridge."

Image source, ALAN HUGHES

Image source, NORTHUMBERLAND COUNCTY COUNCIL