1. Louis-Dreyfus completes Sunderland takeoverpublished at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021
    Breaking

    Kyril Louis-Dreyfus becomes Sunderland chairman at the age of 23 after buying a controlling interest in the club.

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  2. Happy Valentine's Day ending for lost wedding ringpublished at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    A man who lost his wedding ring while dropping off cardboard at a recycling centre in North Shields has thanked the workers who managed to find it.

    James Ross noticed his wedding band was missing on Valentine's Day while emptying his cardboard waste into a container.

    The 38-year-old, who alerted staff when he realised it was gone, said: “It wasn’t what it cost – it was laser engraved with my wife’s handwriting and the date we got married in 2009. It was irreplaceable."

    Twenty minutes later, one of the four members of staff who'd been searching for it, found it in a puddle of mud under at 10ft (3m) pile of waste.

    James and Lara RossImage source, North Tyneside Council

    Plant operator, Jordan Cooper, 22, who found it said: “When we realised what had happened, we were all happy to help in the search, especially as it was Valentine’s Day."

    Workers who found the wedding ringImage source, North Tyneside council
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    Suddenly, there it was. The ring was caked in rubbish and grime, but it was amazing to have it back. The staff were life-savers."

    James Ross

  3. Inspiring Women event aims to honour former hostpublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    Redcar and Cleveland's Inspiring Women Awards have been postponed until 2022 due uncertainty about how long coronavirus restrictions will be in place.

    The annual ceremony, usually held in the spring, recognises women who make a difference in categories like business and volunteering.

    The organisers want to create a legacy for radio presenter Julie Donaldson, who died last year after contracting Covid.

    She had hosted all the previous awards events and was named volunteer of the year in 2018.

    Ruth Fox, chair of the awards, said: “It was devastating to lose Julie, who played such an important role in the Inspiring Women project and in the wider community."

    Julie Donaldson at the Inspiring Women eventImage source, Redcar and Cleveland council
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    Julie Donaldson will be so missed. She provided such wonderful entertainment at the event for many people, including her famous selfies which brought everyone together.

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    She touched the lives of so many people, and hopefully next year we can all come together and celebrate the inspiring woman she was."

    Councillor Mary Lanigan, Leader, Redcar and Cleveland Council

  4. Middlesbrough teenager shot in head with pelletpublished at 10:35 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    A 15-year-old girl has had an air gun pellet removed from her head after she was shot in Middlesbrough.

    The teenager was wounded in the back of her head on Trimdon Avenue on Tuesday night.

    Police said the pellet was from an air gun or pistol.

    Det Insp Matt Hollingsworth, from Middlesbrough CID, said: “It is very fortunate that someone was not more seriously injured.

    "She [the girl] has been very lucky. If that pellet had hit her in the eye or soft tissue areas there could have been catastrophic injuries."

    Pellet lodged in head of 15-year-old girlImage source, Cleveland Police

    Police said three people were hit with pellets close to the Bluebell Medical Centre, where a group of youths were believed to have gathered.

    A 56-year-old man cycling past the centre was hit in the shoulder at 20:45, and a 28-year-old woman reported being struck with a pellet on the back at about 21:00.

    The 15-year-old girl was shot about 15 minutes later and was taken to James Cook Hospital to have the projectile removed.

    Map of attack area around Trimdon AvenueImage source, Cleveland Police
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    “I would appeal to parents whose children were out last night, please find out where they were and contact us if they have information.

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    If your child was out and may have access to an air weapon, we would also urge you to get in touch."

    Det Insp Matt Hollingsworth, Cleveland Police

    Police said there will be a high-visibility presence in the area around Trimdon Avenue on Thursday night and into the coming days.

    Gatherings will be dispersed and anyone breaching the order can be arrested, officers warned.

  5. Happy Birthday Jermaine! - Watch Jenas' best Premier League momentspublished at 09:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021

    BBC Sport takes a look back at some of Jermaine Jenas greatest Premier League moments as the Match of the Day pundit turns 38.

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  6. Wembley can be Sunderland 'resurrection'published at 22:58 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Sunderland boss Lee Johnson believes clinching a Wembley trip in the Papa John's Trophy can spur a "resurrection" for the former Premier League giants.

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  7. Murder arrest over missing son 'was hell'published at 19:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Doris and Charles Clark were detained last year over the disappearance of their son in 1992.

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  8. Gormley beach art 'like sex toys or giant dog poo'published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Visitors say the four cast-iron sculptures resemble "something out of Ann Summers".

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  9. Concerns for 'vulnerable man' missing for fortnightpublished at 12:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Police say they are growing "increasingly concerned" about a vulnerable Gateshead man who has been missing for more than two weeks.

    Jordan Patterson, 25, was first reported missing on 1 February after failing to turn up for a medical appointment. Inquiries at his home address in the Rooksleigh area of Winlaton failed to locate him and Jordan has failed to pick up his prescription medication, Northumbria Police said.

    His last movements were caught on CCTV at a shop at Gateshead Interchange at about 11:00 GMT on 1 February. He is known to visit Winlaton, Ryton, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead town centre and Newcastle city centre.

    Jordan PattersonImage source, Family handout

    Det Ch Insp Angela Hufton said: “We are growing increasingly concerned for Jordan’s welfare, particularly considering the bitterly cold weather we’ve had in recent weeks.

    “We have had some reported sightings of Jordan off the back of our public appeals but we have so far been unable to track his whereabouts. Searches are continuing today and we are still confident we can locate Jordan alive and well, but time is critical."

    Mr Patterson is described as white, 5ft 10in (1.8m) tall, of medium build with short dark hair and facial hair. He is known to often wear dark clothing, in particular hoodies with the hood up and a black coat.

    CCTV still of Jordan PattersonImage source, Northumbria Police
  10. Warriors-Falcons off due to Covid casespublished at 11:32 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Newcastle return more positive Covid-19 cases, so Saturday's game at Worcester is cancelled, Premiership Rugby confirms.

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  11. Listen: Exeter v Northampton & Leicester v Waspspublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Listen to live BBC commentary from Exeter Chiefs v Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers v Wasps in the English Premiership.

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  12. Anti-fraud bank worker jailed for customer conpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Bilal Abbas sold Santander customers' details to fraudsters who bought £90,000 worth of luxury goods.

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  13. Listen: Torquay United v FC Halifax Townpublished at 11:00 Greenwich Mean Time 17 February 2021

    Listen to BBC Radio Devon commentary on Torquay United v FC Halifax Town in the National League.

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  14. Boro come from behind to beat Terrierspublished at 22:40 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Middlesbrough hang on despite Paddy McNair's late red card as they revive their faltering play-off bid by coming from behind to beat struggling Huddersfield.

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  15. Eastleigh 2-1 Hartlepool Unitedpublished at 19:18 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Eastleigh dent Hartlepool's promotion bid and boost their own National League play-off hopes with victory.

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  16. Missing man's parents released in murder probepublished at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Steven Clark's disappearance in 1992 is being treated as murder after a cold case review.

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  17. Youngsters design new fleet of police carspublished at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    A class of four and five-year-olds from Washington have been building a new fleet of police cars as part of their home-schooling.

    The youngsters from George Washington School were doing a project on transport and were inspired by PC Ben Waites from Northumbria Police who sent a video of the inside of a patrol car.

    Some of the children's cars have impressive details.

    This one below has a grabber hand to help catch 'baddies'.

    Childs police car design with grabber handImage source, George Washington Primary

    The one below appears to turn into a helicopter.

    Childs model police car with helicopter blades of cotton budsImage source, George Washington Primary
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    It was brilliant to see the children build their own fleet of police cars – amazing work, everyone.”

    PC Waites, Northumbria Police

  18. Demolition of Spennymoor shopping precinct beginspublished at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Work has begun knocking down a former supermarket and shopping precinct in Spennymoor to make way for a new store.

    It's hoped the work to raze Festival Walk and replace it with a new car park, Aldi store and other retail units will be complete by Spring next year.

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    The improvements underway in Spennymoor town centre will not only provide better facilities and a more pleasant environment for residents, but will reinstate the area’s reputation as a shopping destination".

    Councillor Carl Marshall, Durham County Council

    Demolition of the former Kwik Save supermarket in SpennymoorImage source, Durham County Council
  19. Fears grow that Rothbury flood overflow could burstpublished at 14:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    A bank holding a floodwater overflow lake is at risk of failing, the Environment Agency fears.

    Earlier this month the River Coquet split in two after heavy rainfall, with part of the river merging into Caistron Lakes near Rothbury.

    The Environment Agency said Caistron Lakes is holding anywhere between 40 and 200 Olympic sized swimming pools of water (100,000 to 500,000 cubic metres) and the aggregate bank holding it has eroded.

    If the bank fails the water could flood agricultural and low lying land, public roads and the Cow Haugh car park at Rothbury riverside.

    River Coquet splitting into Caistron LakesImage source, Environment Agency

    The agency is working with Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police to reduce the risk to the local area.

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    We’ve been closely monitoring the River Coquet over recent years and have developed a robust incident response plan to minimise the impact on the community and environment.

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    We’re assessing the current situation and looking at options to ensure a gradual release of the stored water."

    Andrew Turner, Environment Agency

    Caistron Lakes were created many years ago when the River Coquet overtopped into a sand and gravel extraction site.

    The new breach will ultimately create a new channel for the River Coquet.

  20. Dockland development plan unveiledpublished at 13:59 Greenwich Mean Time 16 February 2021

    Hundreds of homes and offices are planned for the derelict site at South Shields.

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