A woman creates sand art after being inspired by a visit from a humpback whale in Northumberland.

All three Welsh sides in the European Challenge Cup will face English opposition in the last 16.

Two men have been arrested after police found three machetes, two axes and drugs with a street value of £12,000 in raids on two addresses in Sunderland.

Police say the raids last week at High Street East and Tower Street West were part of an investigation into violent crime called Operation Sentinel.

Image source, Northumbria Police

A 28-year-old man was arrested at High Street East after officers found £8,000 worth of cocaine along with various drug equipment.

A 29-year-old man was arrested the next day at Tower Street West where £4,000 worth of amphetamine and cannabis were seized, as well as more than a dozen weapons (pictured above) including an air rifle, crossbow, knife and BB gun.

The pair have been released while investigations continue.

Image source, Northumbria Police

BBC Sport

The daughter of former Middlesbrough coach Gordon McQueen, who was recently diagnosed with vascular dementia, wants the law surrounding certain aspects of football changed.

Hayley McQueen has been speaking for the first time, since her dad's diagnosis.

A parliamentary inquiry into the link between sport and long-term brain injury starts today.

Image source, PA Media

Hayley said her family wants to raise awareness about the dangers of heading a football, saying: "I think that the government is getting involved is massive, it's just almost criminal it's taken so many high-profile deaths for this to be dealt with at the highest level.

"Football may change as a result of it, but so what if it's changing peoples lives and their futures, does it really matter?

"Why not just bring in a limit on heading a football not just at youth level but at professional level as well."

A warning about illicit drugs was made when Stephanie Sillifant and three others died in one weekend.

A cannabis farm, which police believe could be worth more than £500,000, was found on a residential street in Middlesbrough after an anonymous tip-off.

In total 112 well-established cannabis plants and a further 500 seedlings were found at the house on Kildare Street this morning.

Police say overall the farm could be worth up to £514,000 and say as well as the plants, they discovered wiring at the house which posed a serious fire risk.

Image source, Cleveland Police

No arrests have been made and police say investigations are continuing.

Billy Welch says the more people get vaccinated, the sooner events like Appleby Horse Fair can resume.

Tributes have been paid to an 89-year-old woman who died when her electric wheelchair collided with a van in Annfield Plain.

Kathleen Eastwood was crossing Station Road shortly after 12:00 GMT on Saturday when she was injured. She died at the scene.

In a statement, her family said: “She was a much-loved mam, gran, great gran, and great great gran and will be sadly missed.

“We wish to thank everyone for their support and ask to be left so that we can grieve in peace, we would also ask that there be no flowers left at the scene of the accident please.”

Image source, Family photo

A man in his 50s was arrested at the scene and is helping officers with their investigation.

Police are asking anyone who saw what happened to contact them.

Northumbria Police is among 18 forces which will be given a share of £30m to tackle violent crime.

The Home Office says the money is being offered to forces which are "most affected by serious violence" and will be available in the coming year once police chiefs submit plans on how to spend it.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the spending is part of more than £130m in the coming year to tackle violent crime.

It comes ahead of the introduction of a Criminal Justice Bill which will seek to give police more stop and search powers to tackle those known to carry knives and other weapons.

Image source, Northumbria Police

Two teenage boys who became lost while out mountain biking near Rothbury in Northumberland were found by mountain rescue volunteers.

It happened yesterday evening when the pair lost the track between Long Crag and Cartington Hill and as the light was fading they called 999.

Police managed to trace their mobile phone signal to Hard Heugh and called in Northumberland National Park and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue teams.

After about an hour they were found and taken back to Rothbury.

Image source, Northumberland National Park MRT

Returning all-rounder Scott Borthwick is named captain of Durham's County Championship side for the 2021 season.

Bringing you the latest news from across the North East from Monday 8 March to Friday 12 March 2021

Mark Lawrenson takes on singer-songwriter Ben Howard to make predictions for this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce praises his side for claiming an "important" point in Sunday's goalless draw at West Brom after a week dominated by off-field issues.

About 250 breeding pairs of kittiwakes nest near the restaurants and bars.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is delighted with his side's "attitude" and "spirit" after claiming an important point at West Brom.

Listen to BBC radio commentary from Tuesday's action in the National League.

Bristol hold off a gutsy challenge to earn a win that ends Newcastle's 100% winning start to the Premiership season.

Steve Cooper refuses to be drawn on Neil Warnock's comments about his father after Swansea City's remarkable victory over Middlesbrough.

Sunderland keep the heat on the top two in League One with a 2-0 win over struggling Rochdale at the Stadium of Light.