Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

Good morning, here's a look at our front page and link to the top story, external.

Image source, Hartlepool Mail

Lucy Moody
Journalist

The Bowes Museum, external near Barnard Castle has opened an exhibition which aims to bring new life into the estate.

The Untitled 10 sees 10 different artists take on spaces with a variety of mediums including textiles, photography and music.

Intrigued - well get yourself along - it's a beautiful place.

Relatively poor health in the north of England has a major impact on the area's economic performance, according to a report.

The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) study said the government should try to improve the region's health as part of its industrial strategy.

Image source, PA

Life expectancy and productivity is lower in the North than in the rest of England, it stated.

But the government said it had "a strong track record" on health.

After eight years of spending cuts affecting public services, the government has said austerity is coming to an end. But what has the effect of less money been on local communities?

The BBC has been following officers in Hartlepool, one of England's poorest towns, to investigate how budget cuts impact police on the front line.

Produced by Michael Buchanan and Raeph Ballantyne

Troubled rail firm Northern says leaves on tracks and strikes have caused its worst punctuality figures for a year.

Some 25.7% of trains were either late or cancelled in October, with the downward trend continuing in November.

It is the rail operator's worst performance since October 2017.

Northern apologised, saying excess wet leaves had damaged train wheels, causing several carriages to be taken out of service, while continuing strike action had also affected services.

BBC Weather

It will be windy today with a lot of cloud around and showers moving in from the east.

The showers could be heavy and may merge later to get longer spells of rain. There will be Wintry showers on the hills and it will feel cold.

Click here for more weather.

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.

The force says Hartlepool is underused and plans to take arrested people to Middlesbrough instead.

The government should improve health in the North as part of its industrial strategy, a report says.

The BBC follows officers in one of England's poorest towns to witness how budget cuts impact police on the front line.

On Tuesday 20th November 5 Live is hosting the #sextakeover - a day of programming focussed on sexual behaviour, relationships and attitudes in the UK.

Ahead of the event students from the University of Sunderland answered what they thought asexuality is.

Qualified sex and relationships educator, Justin Hancock, is on hand to provide a definitive answer.

[This video was made by second year Digital Film Production Students from the university.]

The judge says the trial will go-head without the defendant who is not well enough to attend.

Man accused of fraud and perverting the course of justice made claims that sparked a police inquiry.

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

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

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

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.

This evening and tonight it will remain breezy with a lot of cloud around and showers continuing to push in from the east, these could be frequent and heavy for a time.

Feeling chilly in the wind.

Minimum Temperature: 2 to 5C (36 to 41F).

Breezy and feeling cold once again on Tuesday with a lot of cloud and further showers or perhaps longer spells of rain, which could be heavy at times, and possibly wintry on any high ground.

Maximum Temperature: 4 to 7C (39 to 45F).

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Ben O'Connell

People in the North East lost more than £8.7m to fraud in the last three years, figures have shown.

Freedom of Information (FOI) data from Northumbria Police shows that there were 4,730 cases of fraud against individuals (excluding businesses) in the region over a three-year period.

The Northumbria figures, which reflect that of other police forces from across the UK, shows that those most likely to be victims are those aged 22 to 37 despite the common view that fraudsters usually target the old and vulnerable.

The data, compiled by online finance broker Solution Loans, shows that 20% of personal frauds committed in the last three years were done so at the expense of those in the 18-29 age bracket, compared to just 9% aged 60 to 69.

Collectively, those aged 18-39 were the victims in 35% of fraud cases. This is put down to younger people's wider use of the internet and social media.

In the Northumbria force area, the average lost to fraud was £1,389, however, 14 of the area's 4,730 fraud victims lost £100,000 or more.

Police have released images of a stash of suspected stolen goods in a bid to trace their original owners.

It follows several reports of theft from motor vehicles in the Fulwell area of Sunderland in recent weeks.

As part of their enquiries, police arrested two men on suspicion of theft and seized a number of items, which are thought to have been stolen.

The range of goods included a mobile phone, a watch, distinctive clothing, sunglasses and a sat-nav.

Anyone who believes any of the items belong to them is asked to contact Northumbria Police.

Image source, No

Image source, Northumbria Police

Image source, Northumbria Police

Local Democracy Reporting Service
James Cain

An "unfair" scheme that would have forced firms in coastal Teesside to pay an extra levy on top of business rates has been rejected by a council.

Redcar and Cleveland Council has pulled out of plans to create a Yorkshire Coast Business Improvement District (BID).

The scheme would have seen businesses pay an extra levy on top of any business rates to pay for events such as festivals, markets and other improvements.

The plan would have seen £6.5m raised by businesses from Redcar to Spurn Point at the Humber Estuary, over five years which would then be spent on events designed to boost local economies.

But the way the scheme has been set up attracted heavy criticism at a meeting of Redcar and Cleveland Council's Resources Scrutiny and Improvement Committee in July.

On Friday, Redcar and Cleveland Council confirmed it would play no further part in the process.

A council spokeswoman said: "This decision was made because of what we found to be the low level of awareness and interest in the project among businesses and the unfairness of the ballot arrangements."

A giant Christmas tree has been installed in Stockton town centre, as preparations get under way for the festive season.

The 50ft spruce was lowered by crane into the High Street's central area and is the latest addition to the town's supersized decorations.

These include a polar bear and her cub peering into the Town Hall and giant glittering bows tied around buildings.

Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton Borough Council’s cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, said: “The giant festive decorations are always very popular and will look even more special when the lights are switched on at our launch event on 29 November."

Image source, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council