Aston Villa make it four wins in five Championship games with a deserved victory at Middlesbrough.

Rafael Benitez says respective transfer budgets are key as his Newcastle United side are comfortably beaten at home by West Ham.

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

You can 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 on Monday.

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.

Have a lovely weekend.

Winds will slowly ease down this evening, with showers largely diminishing.

During the early hours, skies will gradually cloud over from the south, though conditions should stay dry through to dawn.

Minimum Temperature: 0 to 3C (32 to 37F).

Tomorrow a cloudy day is envisaged, with rain quickly spreading from the south to leave a wet morning.

During the afternoon, most of the rain will clear east, leaving just a few showers and some brighter spells.

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

The Magpie Group has called upon Newcastle supporters to refrain from taking their seats during the first 11 minutes of the West Ham match tomorrow.

The action is in protest at the 11 years of Mike Ashley's tenure as owner of the club.

According to the group, December is their last chance to put pressure upon the owner to support Rafa Benitez (pictured) in the January transfer window.

There are concerns that the manager will not renew his contract next summer unless he receives backing.

A group spokesman said "We encourage fans to take a stand in this fixture and in the game against Wolves, where we propose a full boycott.

"We know this is painful for Newcastle supporters to do but, for the longer term future of the club, it's time to tell those at the top that enough is enough"

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Nexus

Metro passengers will see a "modest" increase in single, day and season fares, Nexus has announced.

The new prices will come into effect from 2 January.

According to the new proposals, the cost of the Pop Pay As You Go smartcard will be frozen. This means students and customers who use it will be paying the same price for their travel in 2019 as they were in 2012.

Meanwhile, single, day and season Metro tickets' price will go up by 10p. The increase is to help meet running costs.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is still without defender Paul Dummett for the Magpies' Premier League clash with West Ham tomorrow.

Dummett picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with Wales and is expected to be ruled out for a number of weeks.

Benitez can pick from a fully-fit squad, with captain Jamaal Lascelles among those pushing for a return following a shoulder injury.

Image source, Getty Images

Artefacts, including pottery, animal bone and a 600-year-old shoe have been uncovered during improvement works around Stephenson's Monument in Newcastle.

The findings, dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, suggest the area was used as waste ground or a garden.

Chris Scott, senior archaeologist at Solstice Heritage, said: “The finds show that even 600 years ago, people in Newcastle were fashionable, busy in business and linked closely with our continental neighbours through trade.”

Archaeologists investigated the area before improvement work began as part of transformation project, funded through the Regional Growth Fund.

Image source, Newcastle City Council

The social media challenge where people fill a trolley with donations was set up by a proud Gypsy.

The Heerema HFG facility at Hartlepool is going up for sale but staff are hopeful a new owner will diversify the company's produce.

The firm's Dutch headquarters is also up for sale.

See more on Look North from 18:30.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
James Harrison

Health bosses have warned waiting lists are being being strained by increasing numbers of patients.

And while doctors are able to ensure treatment is delivered according to targets for the time being, performance could be threatened if a solution isn't found.

Scott Watson, director of Contracting and Informatics at Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: "In Sunderland we have really strong waiting list performance, but we can see that the total volume is growing.

"While no patient is waiting more than 18 weeks, the number of patients on the list is growing and experience tells us that will start to have an impact on waiting lists. "

About 100 youths surrounded officers and launched bricks and fireworks at them in Stanley, County Durham.

Sunderland defender Denver Hume could miss up to eight weeks with a knee injury.

Tyne and Wear Metro has warned passengers of limited Northern Rail service, external on Saturdays this December.

Passengers in the north of England will face major disruption during the latest round of strikes on 8, 15, 22 and 29 December.

Mark Savage
Music reporter, BBC News

Damon Albarn and his side-project The Good, The Bad and The Queen have been playing small gigs in working mens' clubs in the North East. Here's what happened on the final night.

"Have you tried the Victoria Sponge?"

"You really must have some cake."

"Here, let me get you a slice."

No, we're not in a scene from Father Ted. We're at the soundcheck for a rock show where, in accordance with Damon Albarn's demands, a supply of freshly-made, locally-sourced baked goods has been laid out on a trestle table.

"Tea and cake is a very important part of the day," he explains. "It's good to have a sense of routine when you're on tour."

But this tour is a tour unlike other tours. After playing the world's enormodromes with Gorillaz last year; Albarn has arranged a series of low-key dates in working mens' clubs with his London-based super group.

Tonight, we're at the Cullercoats Crescent Club in Tyneside - an unassuming but friendly venue whose wood-framed windows give an uninterrupted view of the North Sea's choppy grey waters.

The Gazette
Newspaper

Police were called to a Tesco warehouse on Teesside after a fight is reported to have broken out among workers., external

Sam Fender's knowledge on his hometown North Shields has been put to the test by BBC Radio 1.

The Brit's Critic's Choice nominee was also asked about the Tyne and Wear Metro and the Angel of the North.

Watch the video below to see if he got it right.

Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper

The ex-partner of a Hartlepool mum-of-three has confessed to stabbing her to death., external

Image source, HARTLEPOOL MAIL

Police are asking parents to take responsibility for their children after dozens of teenagers surrounded police in a town centre

The warning comes after footage emerged of youths attacking police in Stanley.

Sgt Emma Kay, from Durham Police said:"They were a hardcore group of around 20 people who threw bricks, fireworks, and attacked my officers.

"One PCSO was punched in the face by a young person. There are many many people stood on the sidelines. Young people who are going to affect their life chances.

"We're asking for parents to step up to the plate, take responsibility for your children. Do you know where they are, or are they going to bring trouble to their door?"

Police are also asking all parents in Stanley to sign up to a text message service informing them of disorder in the town centre.

Newcastle North Labour MP Catherine McKinnell says she won't be backing Theresa May's Brexit deal in the vote on 11 December.

Describing the Withdrawal Agreement as "a fudge", Ms McKinnell (pictured) said "the most constructive, democratic and realistic way forward" is to have a People's Vote on the issue.

She said: "I know that many people are fed up of hearing about Brexit - and I too am angry that we have spent almost 30 months not properly focusing on the myriad of other issues desperately requiring our attention, whether the NHS, schools, transport, rising food bank use, social care or climate change, particularly when the Prime Minister's deal is all we have to show for it.

"But our impending departure from the EU is the single biggest issue facing our country since the Second World War, and it is impossible to overstate how important it is we get this right.

"This is categorically not about trying to re-run the 2016 referendum, but about asking people to confirm - now that a Brexit deal is actually on the table - whether this is what they want for our country, our economy and their families. "

Theresa May has rejected alternatives to her Brexit deal, urging MPs to think about the consequences for their constituents of voting it down.