Redcar council's IT systems have been down for 19 days but "significant progress" is being made.

There is not believed to be third party involvement, police say.

The bodies of two people have been found inside a house in Sunderland.

Police were called to an address on Satley Gardens just before 10:00 thi morning following a report of concern for a woman.

No details of their identity have been released, but their next of kin have been informed.

Northumbria Police said inquiries were ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, but at this early stage it was not believed that there was any third-party involvement.

Officers remain in the area and police said there is no wider threat to the public.

Alan Woodward is professor of computer science at Surrey University.

He said of the Redcar council ransomware attack:

Joe Tidy
Reporter

It’s taken 19 days for Redcar council to admit that they are dealing with a ransomware attack.

This particularly nasty form of cyber-attack is unique and a growing problem for large targets like public authorities and companies.

Informing the public that hackers are holding the council to ransom is a key piece of information that many think people have a right to know.

It makes the situation far more serious as hackers are in control of computer systems and possibly sensitive data.

The only options are to pay the cyber criminals or rebuild from scratch or by using offline backups which is often far more costly.

In private companies the decision of whether or not to pay is often taken at board level behind closed doors but Redcar and Cleveland is a taxpayer-funded body and residents may begin to demand transparency about how public money is being used.

Police investigating the disappearance of a woman, believed to have been murdered, are distributing posters around Middlesbrough in preparation for the thousands of fans who will be travelling to town for tonight's Boro v Leeds match.

Natalie Jenkins, 32, from Thornaby, was last seen on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough (at the junction of Park Road South) on the evening of 10 December.

Middlesbrough Football Club will be placing Natalie's photo and appeal for information on their big screen in the stadium before the match and at half time.

An appeal for information will also be read out over the public address system.

Image source, Cleveland Police

Det Ch Insp Mark Dimelow said: "Football matches attract thousands of fans, and with Natalie last being seen in central Middlesbrough, it is important that we publicise this investigation to the best of our ability to highlight the investigation and to appeal for information.

“Natalie was a very vulnerable woman, and someone out there knows what has happened to her.

"We hope the publicity today appeals to someone who knows something and we would urge them to come forward to police with information as a matter of urgency.”

A council has admitted for the first time that its systems have been hit by a ransomware attack, and that it may affect when children are told which secondary school they have got into.

Systems at Redcar and Cleveland Council have been down since 8 February, amid fears it had fallen victim to a ransomware attack, where files are encrypted until a money is paid.

Now the authority has confirmed that is the case, and said:

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A prison officer at a top security jail emailed a prison governor asking him to have a "quiet word" with a guard who was giving evidence at a series of abuse trials against former officers, a jury heard.

John McGee, 50, from Burnopfield, County Durham, told Durham Crown Court the email was a "moment of madness" after his father had been convicted for his part in the mistreatment of inmates at Medomsley Detention Centre in the 1970s.

He denies a single count of perverting the course of justice, saying he did not think Phil Husband, the number one governor of Durham Prison, would act on the email he sent.

Deborah Smithies, prosecuting, said an officer called Hugh Cockburn gave evidence at three trials at Teesside Crown Court about seeing young inmates being assaulted in the reception at Medomsley.

He now worked at Durham Prison, where Mr Husband was the boss. McGee's father, also called John, was convicted of misconduct in a public office in December 2018, in the second of three trials of ex-guards.

The trial continues.

And here's a view of the Extinction Rebellion protest against the expansion of a mine near Dipton, County Durham.

Mark Herron, 53, was found dead beneath rubble following a fire in Silksworth, Sunderland.

Police have named a man whose body was discovered in the rubble of a fire in Sunderland.

Mark Herron, 53, of New Silksworth, was found under rubble inside the garage of a property on Tunstall Village Green on Tuesday.

His family are being supported by specialist officers.

Mark’s family said: “We are absolutely devastated by Mark’s death. Words can’t describe the pain we are feeling as we try to come to terms with our loss.

“He was a much-loved member of our family, and whilst he would have been the first to acknowledge he had his problems in recent years, he was a kind man at heart.

“We would like to thank the community for the messages we have received since this tragic news, and would ask that our privacy is respected at this time.”

A post-mortem examination found he died as a result of the fire.

Police are currently treating his death as suspicious.

On Sunday, a 38-year-old man was arrested in connection over the death and has been released while investigations continue.

Image source, Northumbria Police

There's a number of weather warnings across the North East and Cumbria for the next few days:, external

Image source, Met Office

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton says Sunderland celebrated their 97th-minute equaliser "like a World Cup final victory".

The gang operated a factory that could produce 140 packets of cigarettes a minute, officials say.

BBC Radio Tees

Fans attending Middlesbrough's Championship game against Leeds United tonight are being urged to behave.

Cleveland Police said "plans have been put in place" to cope with any trouble at the match which kicks off at the Riverside at 19:45.

“We’re hoping for an enjoyable game for all those attending, although we’re not ignorant that there have been incidents of disorder at previous Middlesbrough FC and Leeds United games and we are prepared for that should that happen," Supt Sharon Cooney said.

Image source, Reuters

“No matter how many tickets are allocated to the visiting side, there are always a minority who attend matches intent on causing disorder. We will look to deal with this appropriately."

Dogs trained to detect drugs and pyrotechnics will be at the stadium and a dispersal order will be in place in the town centre allowing police to move on any groups causing a disturbance.

Leeds United fans who are travelling prior to or after the game are encouraged to gather at Spensley’s Emporium on Albert Road.

Extinction Rebellion targets Bradley open-cast coalmine after thousands objected to its expansion.

BBC Radio Tees

A school in Darlington is to "continue as normal", external after pupils who had returned from a skiing trip near an area of Italy struck by coronavirus were initially sent home.

Carmel College sent all 72 pupils who went on the half-term trip to Falcade home to self-isolate as a precaution.

"This was in view of parental concerns and to ensure welfare of all our pupils and staff," the school said.

Image source, Google

But, following further advice from Public Health England, Falcade was deemed to be far enough away from the "lockdown" area in the Veneto region and students should "continue as normal unless they experience symptoms such as cough, cold and/or fever".

Anyone suffering symptoms should be isolated and call NHS 111, the school added.

"This is an emerging situation and as such the advice can change and I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents for their support and understanding through this difficult process, knowing that they and we have always the welfare of the young people at the heart of everything that we do," the statement said.

BBC Radio Tees

A school in Middlesbrough has been closed for a deep clean after pupils and staff returned from a skiing trip in an area of Italy struck by the coronavirus.

Trinity Catholic College said a "small number" of the 36 pupils and eight staff, external who went on the trip to Verona began showing "mild flu-like symptoms" yesterday.

Image source, Trinity Catholic College

Those who went on the trip are being urged to self-isolate, regardless of whether they are showing any symptoms, and contact NHS 111 to insist on being tested for the illness.

The school will be closed for the remainder of the week for a "precautionary deep clean".

A letter to parents said: "We appreciate that there will be many views on this action amongst parents, and hope that everyone understands the ongoing fluidity of the situation.

"There are a number of pupils and staff who have vulnerable family members and it is the school's duty of care to put in place the most secure of measures to minimise any possible infection."