BBC Newcastle

Meet Frankie the fire dog - she's having a bit of trouble with her boots.

The People's Kitchen held their annual Christmas street party.

Lee Johnson
BBC Tees

How great is this? People across Teesside have been donating Christmas hampers as part of Cause Hampers, who have been delivering hampers to those in crisis since 1987.

Officers have attended a Fenham school following the arrest of a man on suspicion of terrorism offences in the Arthur's Hill area of Newcastle this morning.

Following the arrest, which was "intelligence led and pre-planned", officers attended a school to offer reassurance and ensure pupils were away from a nearby property that was being searched.

A number of residents were evacuated from their properties as a precautionary measure but once officers were satisfied there was no threat, residents were allowed to go back home and the school returned as normal.

A police presence remains at the address, including armed officers.

Chief Supt Neil Hutchinson, who has been working alongside the Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: "I understand our communities will have concerns but I want to offer my reassurance that we are here to service and protect them.

"I would also like to thank all those who have been affected for their patience and understanding, along with our partners who have supported us throughout this operation."

Mark Denten
BBC Look North

A court has heard a consultant for Northumberland council's former development company paid no rent or mortgage on a house provided to him by the authority.

Graham Harper, 52, was an independent consultant for Arch providing “strategic PR and news management“, but as part of his contact was provided with a house in Blyth worth £180,000. A hearing before Judge Derek Morgan at Newcastle Crown Court heard there was “no written agreement” and Mr Harper was not asked to make any “contribution to the purchase price”.

Judge Morgan said there was no suggestion in any of the documents presented to him that Mr Harper made “any payments towards the property”.

Mr Harper, who was not in court for today’s eviction hearing, had argued that he held a assured short hold tenancy and right to buy arrangement on the house at Kershope Lane.

But the court heard no documents had been produced to support these claims.

The court heard Mr Harper is liable for unpaid rent of £800 a month since November 2017 totalling £10,625.20.

Making an eviction order Judge Morgan gave Mr Harper 28 days to quit the property.

The Arch development organisation was scrapped by the Conservative party who took over Northumberland Council in May 2017.

It’s faced criticism over its use of public funds but has now been replaced by a new organisation Advance Northumberland, which came into operation last month.

Lucy Moody
Journalist

So here we are... it's that time of the day for my tweet of the day.

I've spent the morning searching through Twitter and I've finally picked one.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue, external have been busy today after a seal pup made its way through the dunes, over the road and into someone's garden in Seaton Sluice.

How sweet is he.

BBC Tees

The Tees Valley Mayor is asking people to vote in an online poll, external to decide on the name of the region's airport.

Ben Houchen announced his intention to buy Durham Tees Valley Airport for £40m last week- but he still needs the approval of the five llocal authority leaders when they vote at a cabinet meeting on 24 January.

Mr Houchen believes from a business point of view, the name Teesside Airport might be the best name to go with.

Image source, BBC Television News

Stuart Whincup
BBC Look North

Paul Gascoigne has left Peterlee Magistrates' Court after pleading not guilty to sexually assaulting a woman.

Ex-football star Paul Gascoigne was arrested in Durham in August.

Former England Newcastle and Middlesbrough star Paul Gascoigne has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual assault by touching.

He is due to appear at Teesside Crown Court 8 January .

Image source, Reuters

Paul Gascoigne, the former England, Newcastle and Middlesbrough midfielder, has arrived at Peterlee Magistrates' Court charged with sexually assaulting a woman on a train.

The 51-year-old was arrested at Durham station following an alleged incident on a train from York to Durham in August.

Image source, Getty Images

Lucy Moody
Journalist

It's two weeks to go till Christmas... the lights are glowing, the high streets are packed and the Christmas classics are blasting.

It's hard to believe but it's been 40 years since the Christmas classic The Snowman was first published by Raymond Briggs, and now a Guisborough choir is bringing it to life.

The choir and orchestra of St Nicholas Church, external will be performing live music and narration to accompany screenings of The Snowman this week.

Chris Nixon is the musical director.

Image source, PA

This morning National League side Hartlepool United have appointed Richard Money as their new manager.

So who is Hartlepool's new manager?

Money has been a defender for Liverpool, Fulham and Scunthorpe.

As a manager Money is a former Newcastle United academy manager and won promotion from the National League with Cambridge United in 2013-14 in which the club also won the FA Trophy.

He also spent time leading Walsall, Luton Town and Walsall.

You might remember in October 2017 Money made headlines after he resigned as the manager of Solihull Moors just 26 days after taking charge.

Image source, PA

The train operator that runs many of our services is warning of more disruption on Saturday because of the continuing dispute over the role of guards.

Northern says it will be the 18th consecutive Saturday when members of the RMT union have gone on strike, and the Saturday walk-outs will continue over the Christmas holiday.

The company says, external very few trains will run after 17:00 in the afternoon, and services will be limited through the day.

The 33-year-old is being held following a "pre-planned" counter terrorism operation.

BBC Newcastle

Letters have been sent to more than 300,000 North East parents asking them to sign a petition which calls for an increase in school funding.

The National Association of Head Teachers claims redundancies are now a real possibility and that parents are increasingly being asked for charitable donations to pay for things such as books, stationary and school trips.

In response, the Department of Education said: "We have given every local authority more money for every pupil in every school."

Lucy Moody
Journalist

Police are patrolling Fehnam following the arrest of a man on suspicion of terrorism offences.

The 33-year-old was held on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of Acts of Terrorism under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Counter Terrorism Policing North East said it was an "intelligence led and pre-planned" operation as part of an "ongoing investigation".

Chief Supt Neil Hutchinson said: "Public safety is our utmost concern.

"Our officers are patrolling the local area and we ask members of the public to contact if they have any concerns".

BBC Sport

Miguel Almiron's father has claimed Newcastle are in prime position to sign the 24-year-old Paraguay midfielder from Atlanta United in the January transfer window. (Newcastle Chronicle), external

Image source, Reuters

BBC Tees

A Sedgefield-based company has been awarded a multimillion-pound contract from the US government to develop cutting-edge systems to detect biological threats.

Kromek, located at Netpark, already supplies nuclear bomb detectors and scanners which can analyse liquids at airports.

Dr Arnab Basu, the CEO of Kromek, told BBC Tees the firm now has plans to expand the security and medical side of its business.