Jacob Hopkins says he wants to help researchers find more ways to prevent the virus.

Mark Lawrenson takes on Wolf Alice bassist Theo Ellis to make predictions for this weekend's EFL Cup final and Premier League fixtures.

Three men and three women remain in custody arrested on suspicion of murder, police say.

Former England striker Alan Shearer and ex-France forward Thierry Henry become the first players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.

The FA charges Sunderland and Oxford United players and coaches following alleged incidents during their 2 April fixture.

A duck which uses the grounds of North Tees Hospital to lay her eggs has been rehomed along with her ducklings.

Staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust arranged for the birds to be taken to another location in nearby Hartlepool after providing a paddling pool and seed for the family in the hospital grounds.

The same duck, which is tagged, arrives at the Stockton hospital every April to lay her eggs and hatch them in one of the hospital's courtyards.

Christopher Owens-Hunt, who works at the hospital, said: "It was lovely to see her again but the family is safer now where there’s more food and proper lakes to swim in."

Image source, Christopher Owens-Hunt

There was North East success at Hollywood's biggest night as James Reed, one of the team behind My Octopus Teacher, landed the Oscar for best documentary feature - and the first person to congratulate him was none other than Brad Pitt.

Director James, who grew up in Prudhoe, Northumberland, described the win as a "phenomenal moment".

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I really wasn't expecting it. I'm absolutely delighted.

"I'm holding [the statue] now. It's very, very heavy. He's a big old chap.

"We were sat behind [British actress] Carey Mulligan and really felt very small-time next to all these celebs and then we came off the stage and the first person to congratulate us was Brad Pitt.

"That was weird, but fantastic."

The Netflix production, co-directed by Pippa Ehrlich, covers filmmaker Craig Foster bonding with an octopus in a South African kelp forest over 12 months.

The trophies were handed out in one of the grand halls at Los Angeles's Union Station to allow for a Covid-safe ceremony.

Image source, EPA

Bringing you the latest news from across the North East from Monday 26 April to Friday 30 April 2021

Champions Essex are defeated and huge targets chased down on the final day of the latest round of County Championship fixtures.

Derbyshire bat out final day to secure draw against Durham thanks to stand-in captain Wayne Madsen's 74.

The body of 39-year-old Tomasz Dembler was found in woods near Flatts Lane Country Park on 12 April.

The man died after being found with "significant injuries" by police attending a "disturbance".

Newcastle substitute Joe Willock scores a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to damage Liverpool's hopes of Champions League football.

Durham fast bowler Chris Rushworth helps his side build a strong platform to press on for victory against Derbyshire.

Relive day four of the County Championship including victories for Warwickshire, Northants, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Sheffield Wednesday move a step closer to relegation after falling to defeat at Middlesbrough.

Sunderland's Charlie Wyke takes his season tally to 30 goals with a double before Accrington bounce back to claim a point in an entertaining draw.

Late tries from Lloyd Evans and Willi Heinz see Gloucester come back to beat Newcastle 35-24 in the Premiership.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says they did not deserve to beat Newcastle after wasting a string of "sensational" chances.

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce says his side were "always a threat" in their 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League.