BBC Newcastle

A van driver has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a man died on the A19 in North Tyneside.

Nigel Yue Bun Li was struck by a black Volkswagen at a lay-by between Seaton Burn and the Moor Farm roundabout at about 07:40 on Thursday.

Image source, Northumbria Police

The 32-year-old from Ponteland, is understood to have been involved in a disagreement with the driver of a white Ford Transit van before the collision.

Police are appealing for dashcam footage from the time of the incident.

BBC Tees

A £1.6m "vertical pier" in Redcar which has divided opinion since its opening has reached full capacity.

The 80ft (25m) Redcar Beacon opened in 2013 and was built to be the centrepiece of a £75m regeneration of the town.

But its modern design received criticism and there were complaints many shop units inside were empty.

Now, six years on, it is at full capacity after finding tenants for all of its units.

BBC Tees

Hundreds of Arriva bus drivers are taking part in a week-long strike in a dispute over pay.

About 650 staff in Teesside, County Durham and parts of North Yorkshire walked out from yesterday in a call for a wage rise of £1 per hour.

Image source, PA

The Unite union said drivers were the second-lowest paid in the country, but Arriva said it had made "considerable concessions" in the pay talks.

A revised offer, after a strike in December was postponed, was rejected.

Arriva have released a special timetable, external.

BBC Weather

Today will start with a windy morning with plenty of cloud and a little rain working its way south.

Any rain will be clearing this afternoon and later, some brighter spells will begin to develop although it will remain windy.

Click here for more weather.

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We will bringing you the latest news updates from across the North East.