1. 'I faced deportation but now train footballers'published at 16:01 British Summer Time 29 April 2021

    Sev Mokake faced leaving the UK as a child but now trains some of football's biggest names.

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  2. Mental health patient's reports of abuse 'ignored'published at 13:56 British Summer Time 29 April 2021

    A woman who claims she was restrained and injured by staff at a mental health unit wants an inquiry.

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  3. Festival falls victim to Covid uncertainty againpublished at 12:54 British Summer Time 29 April 2021

    The popular seafront South Tyneside Festival is cancelled for the second year running.

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  4. Motherless fawn rescued from roadsidepublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 29 April 2021

    A tiny fawn is being cared for by wildlife volunteers after being found alone beside a road in Northumberland.

    Blyth Wildlife Rescue say the fawn, which was found on Wednesday, weighs only 2lb 10oz (1.2kg) and is the smallest it has cared for.

    Tiny fawn wrapped in a blanketImage source, Blyth Wildlife Rescue

    A spokesperson said: "Admitting fawns is not a decision to be taken lightly and all efforts must be made to ensure that mum is no longer around, and in this case we are confident we made the right call."

    The animal's condition has improved overnight and volunteers are hopeful it will make a recovery.

    Rescued fawn asleepImage source, Blyth Wildlife Rescue

    People are asked if they see a lost fawn, not to pick it up - but to contact the nearest wildlife rescue centre.

  5. New maximum sentence for animal cruelty casespublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 29 April 2021

    A Bill which would see the worst animal abusers facing up to five years in prison, has passed its final stage in Parliament.

    After campaigning from animal welfare charities in 2017, the government pledged to reform the maximum sentence for those prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act.

    The new Bill, which goes before the Queen for Royal Assent today means courts will have the flexibility to impose tougher sentences for the worst cases.

    Dog in a cageImage source, Getty Images

    It began when the former Redcar MP Anna Turley took a private members bill, external to Parliament after a high profile animal cruelty case in the town.

    Thousands of people signed a petition calling for change to the legislation.

    Ms Turley thinks the new law - which was revived by Conservative MP Chris Loder after Ms Turley lost her seat - will be a powerful deterrent.

    "People were getting let off with a small fine or an electric tag or a slap on the wrist," she said.

    "[When] you look at other things that carry sentences, like seven years in prison if you steal something from a supermarket, and the twisted, disgusting and sick nature [of animal cruelty] meant that some of these cases needed to be severely punished."

    Quote Message

    Anyone who abuses animals or is cruel or torments them... there'll be no more slap on the wrist, they'll face up to five years in prison and that's a fitting sentence for some of the terrible things we've seen over the last few years"

    Anna Turley, Former Redcar MP

  6. Medieval-style 'torture unit' found on cycle pathpublished at 10:03 British Summer Time 29 April 2021

    A cyclist found the contraption featuring protruding spiked posts on a woodland trail.

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  7. 'Our library is like a lifeline for my family'published at 06:34 British Summer Time 29 April 2021

    Public libraries have borne the brunt of council cuts but one town is bucking the national trend.

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  8. Listen: Hartlepool United v Chesterfieldpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Listen to BBC radio commentary from Hartlepool United v Chesterfield in the National League.

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  9. Nestle to cut hundreds of jobs and close factorypublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    The global food company wants to shut its Newcastle site and focus production in York and Halifax.

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  10. Sunderland's Willis suffers injury setbackpublished at 16:47 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Sunderland defender Jordan Willis is facing up to an extra year on the sidelines after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

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  11. Wood set to play for Durham against Bearspublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    England fast bowler Mark Wood is set to feature in a County Championship match for Durham for the first time since September 2018.

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  12. Man in court accused of murderpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a man in County Durham.

    David Teague, 33, (pictured) suffered fatal injuries at a property in Wood View, Esh Winning, on Saturday.

    David TeagueImage source, Family handout

    A 34-year-old man appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court charged with murder, false imprisonment and assault.

    He was remanded into custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

  13. Relive the opening day of the County Championshippublished at 11:25 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    Relive the opening day of the County Championship as Warwickshire are bowled out for 87 at Durham and Hampshire only make 92 at Surrey.

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  14. Hartlepool by-election: Old certainties don't applypublished at 07:33 British Summer Time 28 April 2021

    The traditional political rule about governments losing by-elections do not seem to count for much now.

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  15. Sunderland 0-1 Blackpoolpublished at 21:49 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    Sunderland still have work to do to seal a League One play-off place after Blackpool win at the Stadium of Light.

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  16. Man charged with murder and false imprisonmentpublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    David Teague suffered fatal injuries at a property in Esh Winning on Saturday.

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  17. Man tried to murder friend by stamping on his headpublished at 12:27 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    The "brutal and frenzied" attack began in the victim's home before continuing in the street.

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  18. Defender Sanderson to miss rest of seasonpublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    On-loan Sunderland defender Dion Sanderson is ruled out for the rest of the season with a back injury.

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  19. Puffin found wandering in Durham miles from the seapublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    A tiny puffin has been returned to the coast after being found wandering along a country lane in Durham, miles away from the sea.

    The man who found the tiny sea bird yesterday put it in a box, took it home and called the RSPCA.

    Rescue officer Shane Lynn who collected it said: “It seems as though the puffin got lost and ended up landing inland, around three miles from the coast, and couldn’t then get airborne again."

    Rescued puffin in a box with a fishImage source, RSPCA

    Once he was checked over by a vet, found to be uninjured and fed, he was released back to the sea at Hartlepool's Headland.

    Mr Lynn added: “He hopped down on to the sand and then flew off across the sea and into the distance.

    "There really is no better feeling than returning a wild animal back into the wild where they belong.”

    Puffins are a rare call-out for the RSPCA, and over the past five years the charity has cared for 14 across its four wildlife centres.

    RSPCA Officer Shane Lynn with rescued puffinImage source, RSPCA
  20. Wearside Dame adds 'cruise ship godmother' to dutiespublished at 11:16 British Summer Time 27 April 2021

    She has been praised for saving the jobs of thousands, honoured by the Queen and now she's been asked to name a cruise ship.

    Dame Irene Hays, the owner of Hays Travel, was approached to be godmother of the new P&O cruise ship Iona, in recognition of her support for cruising and the travel industry.

    She'll name the ship in a virtual ceremony next month.

    Dame Irene Hays