Council employee investigated over vehicle theft allegations
A council employee has been sacked after allegations he stole vehicles from the authority.
Northumbria Police has confirmed the 56-year-old North Tyneside Council staff member was being investigated on "suspicion of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles".
The local authority said the man had been dismissed for gross misconduct.
Head of environment, housing and leisure Phil Scott said cases of this sort were "very rare" and the authority took them "extremely seriously".
Severe weather has been causing disruption in some areas, with flooding being the main issue.
Fire crews spent the morning pumping out in the Lake Road and Market Place area of Houghton-le-Spring after rain flooded off the hill above.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Earlier in the day, about five miles of the A19 was closed, from the Seaham junction northbound up to the A183 junction at Pennywell in Sunderland.
Specialist pumping equipment was brought in by the Highways Agency, and it has since reopened.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Further afield, the route from St John's Chapel, in Weardale, to Langdon Beck remains shut because of drifting snow, and Medomsley Bank is closed down to Hamsterley Mill because of water running off the fields, coupled with ice.
The Environment Agency has issued two flood alerts for the River Wear catchment area, and said it had closed the flood gates in Warkworth, in Northumberland.
There are also weather warnings for heavy rain into tomorrow, as well as heavy snow for higher ground.
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Read moreCouncil employee investigated over vehicle theft allegations
A council employee has been sacked after allegations he stole vehicles from the authority.
Northumbria Police has confirmed the 56-year-old North Tyneside Council staff member was being investigated on "suspicion of conspiracy to steal motor vehicles".
The local authority said the man had been dismissed for gross misconduct.
Head of environment, housing and leisure Phil Scott said cases of this sort were "very rare" and the authority took them "extremely seriously".
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Read moreHeavy rain brings flood disruption
Severe weather has been causing disruption in some areas, with flooding being the main issue.
Fire crews spent the morning pumping out in the Lake Road and Market Place area of Houghton-le-Spring after rain flooded off the hill above.
Earlier in the day, about five miles of the A19 was closed, from the Seaham junction northbound up to the A183 junction at Pennywell in Sunderland.
Specialist pumping equipment was brought in by the Highways Agency, and it has since reopened.
Further afield, the route from St John's Chapel, in Weardale, to Langdon Beck remains shut because of drifting snow, and Medomsley Bank is closed down to Hamsterley Mill because of water running off the fields, coupled with ice.
The Environment Agency has issued two flood alerts for the River Wear catchment area, and said it had closed the flood gates in Warkworth, in Northumberland.
There are also weather warnings for heavy rain into tomorrow, as well as heavy snow for higher ground.
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Read moreWeather: Rain causes travel disruption
Heavy rain has caused localised flooding on some roads in the region
The A19 is now closed northbound between its junction with the A1018 at the Seaham Grange roundabout and the A690 near Sunderland.
All northbound traffic will be taken off at the A1018 until further notice.
The B1404 northbound entry sliproad is also closed.
Go North East have said flooding at Wardley means bus services 67 and 69 are unable to stop at Wardley bus terminus.
Durham Police have asked drivers to avoid Station View in Esh Winning, which is also closed because of flooding.
The force said it was likely to remain closed for some time.
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