BBC Sport

Newcastle are offering season ticket holders a free additional half-season ticket to gift to fellow supporters to help fill St James' Park.

Sunday's 2-1 victory over Southampton was Newcastle's lowest home crowd for a Premier League match since November 2010, with 42,303 in attendance.

The free ticket will cover 10 home Premier League games, starting against Everton on 28 December.

Tickets will be available on a first-come first-served basis from Tuesday.

Image source, Getty images

"To have the crowds we have is wonderful and we can't ever take that for granted," said Magpies boss Steve Bruce.

"But the question to all of us at the club is can we pack the stadium to the rafters?

"It starts with results on the pitch, but I hope a gesture like this will help us to fill the place because St James' Park in full voice is a force to be reckoned with."

Newcastle fans held a protest against the ownership of Mike Ashley outside St James' Park before their opening Premier League match against Arsenal this season.

The Met Office has issued a weather warning for strong winds across the North East.

The yellow warning is in place until 17:00 with gusts of up to 70mph expected.

Forecasters say it could mean delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport.

Image source, Met Office/ Open Map Titles

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Newcastle are offering season ticket holders a free additional half-season ticket to gift to fellow supporters to help fill St James' Park.

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Stephanie Finnon
BBC Newcastle

A South Shields man who has been stranded in Ukraine for a year will be able to spend Christmas with his family after arriving home.

Robert Urwin was detained in Kiev last year accused of signing a cheque for over £30,000 that later bounced in the United Arab Emirates in 2006.

The 68-year-old always said it was forged, as he'd left the UAE the year before.

Despite being cleared and released in Ukraine last December, he wasn't allowed to leave the country due to an Interpol red notice.

That has now been lifted.

Interpol has been contacted for a comment.

Image source, Family Photo

Simon Flint had a fixation with weapons but did not intend to injure anyone, a Teesside court hears.

Jill Archbold
BBC Look North

Northumberland's Dark Sky Park status is helping to generate an extra £25,000m a year for the county.

That is the conclusion of the Dark Sky Park's steering group which says astrotourism is bringing in thousands of extra visitors a year.

It's six years since the large area of Northumberland became the largest protected dark skies in Europe.

Image source, Kielder Observatory

A man has been seriously injured in a shooting in County Durham.

Police said they were called to Moutter Close, Horden, near Peterlee, at about 01:45 GMT yesterday morning.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and two women are in custody on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, Durham Police said.

Det Ch Insp Stephen Thubron appealed for anyone with information about the shooting to contact the force.

He danced his way to the semi finals, but South Shields comedian Chris Ramsey's Strictly journey is over.

Chris and partner Karen went out after losing the dance-off.

It means the three finalists are Kelvin Fletcher; Emma Barton and Karim Zeroual.

The winner of the Glitterball Trophy will be decided by the public vote only on Saturday

BBC Sport's Alex Howell visits Newcastle United's Premier League Inspires project with Magpies midfielder Sean Longstaff.

The PM is taking part in a Q and A in Washington:

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce will "kick himself" if winger Allan Saint-Maximin has picked up a serious injury in Sunday's victory over Southampton.