With some lockdown restrictions easing today, mountain rescue teams in Northumberland are calling on people to be prepared when they head out into the hills.

People can now meet in groups of six, or two families, as long as they are outside, and outdoor sport facilities and the stay-at-home rule have ended, although the government is asking people to stay local as much as possible.

Last year mountain rescue team volunteers responded to 150 incidents in Northumberland National Park and say despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, there is still risk and it takes longer to carry out rescues because of Covid protocols.

People heading to the national park for exercise are being asked to check the weather forecast and to make sure they have the right kit with them.

Image source, Northumberland National Park MRT

Bringing you the latest news from across the North East from Monday 29 March to Friday 2 April 2021

George Ford returns from England duty to guide Leicester Tigers to a gritty win against Newcastle Falcons.

A childhood stammer left Lisa Nealan afraid to speak, now she helps others who are struggling.

Aiden O'Brien's first-half winner sees Sunderland maintain their promotion push with victory at lowly Bristol Rovers.

Paddy Madden scores his first goal for Stockport as County and Hartlepool share a 1-1 draw in the National League.

Leading politicians in Newcastle pay tribute to Nigel Todd, a councillor for more than 40 years.

The maps dating back to the 1700s were discovered along with a hidden servants' quarters.

Videos show youths setting a bin alight next to the temple and jumping over the flames.

Newcastle University's Dr Jo Smith Finley is sanctioned by the Chinese government along with MPs.

More than 40 people have been blocked from using the scheme in Newcastle.

Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock is fined £7,000 for comments he made following his side's 2-1 defeat by Swansea.

After three people were jailed for killing Hemawand Ali Hussein, four more men are being hunted.

Paul Robson denies being "a cold and calculating killer" while giving evidence at a murder trial.

Newcastle council hopes banning parents driving to school gates will cut pollution and congestion.

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

The Metro will be fully operational again by 11 April, the day before non-essential shops, hairdressers and leisure facilities are due to reopen.

The network, which has needed more than £40m of government funding to keep it going during the pandemic, has been running a reduced timetable since late November due to a shortage of drivers.

Thirty new recruits were taken on last September, but with delays to training because of lockdown, 20% of train services had to be cut from the timetable.

Nexus chief operating officer Martin Kearney said: “We are now nearing a full complement of driver resource and we are performing very well at the moment."

Last week, it was confirmed that the Metro has secured an additional £8m government grant that will allow it to keep trains running at reduced passenger levels until 21 June.

Two household recycling centres in Gateshead are staying open for longer to try and cut mammoth three-hour queues experienced by residents getting rid of their rubbish.

Gateshead Council’s two tips at Campground in Wrekenton and Cowen Road in Blaydon reopened in May last year after the first lockdown, with an alternate number plate system for when people can go.

But recent “unprecedented public demand” has seen drivers waiting as long as three hours to access the sites, causing problems on nearby roads.

From today the opening hours of both sites will be extended by three hours, closing at 20:00.

The alternating odd and even number plate system will stay in place.

Newcastle wing Mateo Carreras is banned for nine games after admitting intentional contact with the eye of Wasps' Josh Bassett.

A company wants to demolish an old shed but opponents say it is the last link to a historic railway.

Tree felling is helping to restore an ancient ecosystem which can store even more carbon than trees do.