Bringing you the latest news from across the North East from Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2021.

Britain's Got Talent winner Lee Ridley, who performs as Lost Voice Guy, is looking for a North East man to donate his voice.

The comedian has cerebral palsy and uses an electronic device to communicate.

He is trying to find someone to record their voice so he can use it on the device.

He said: "To be honest there's nothing wrong with my current voice except from the fact it sounds very posh.

"I should be reading the shipping forecast on Radio 4 and it isn't exactly the voice I would've had if I hadn't been disabled."

He wants to sound like his family, who are from Consett, in County Durham, so has started a competition which would see the owner of the winning accent spending about eight hours in a recording studio.

Lee said: "I always wanted a Geordie accent but it isn't as simple as that because of the new technology involved and it costs quite a lot to create one and it's quite a long process.

"When a company approached me offering to make me a Geordie accent for my communication device, I jumped at the opportunity."

Anyone interested needs to record themselves reading a paragraph from his new book and send it to him. More details are on his website., external

Two properties feature appliances powered entirely by hydrogen, releasing no carbon emissions.

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce says he is still looking for the right balance after Chelsea beat his side 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Mark Lawrenson takes on singer-songwriter Mike Rosenberg, aka Passenger, to make predictions for this weekend's Premier League fixtures.

Timo Werner scores and assists as he ends a 14-game goal drought to help Chelsea to victory over Newcastle in the Premier League.

There were 39 incidents of violence despite lockdown and periods of limited social contact.

The deadline for views on a consultation which could see dogs banned on two of Sunderland's popular beaches for five months of the year is the end of today.

Sunderland City Council is reviewing its city wide public spaces protection order and has asked for views on the plan which would either see dogs barred from Seaburn and Roker beaches between 09:00 and 18:00, or be allowed on the beach but only on a lead.

Both proposed rules would be in force from May to the end of September.

The council says there's been an increase in litter and dog mess being left across its award-winning beaches and parks.

That consultation , externalends at midnight.

Image source, Reuters

Relive Tuesday's EFL action as Andre Wisdom's stoppage-time goal gave Derby victory at Wycombe.

One of the busiest sections of the Tyne and Wear Metro is closed from today for two weeks as work starts to replace overhead power lines.

It means there are no services between Heworth and the Regent Centre and Four Lane Ends until the end of February.

In total just over 11 miles (18km) of power lines are being replaced to prepare for the new trains coming in the next few years.

Replacement bus services are in place while the work is carried out.

The existing bus station in Durham, which was built in 1970, is to be demolished and replaced.

Northampton are awarded four points after the Covid-related cancellation of Saturday's Premiership game with Newcastle.

Follow live text and BBC Radio 5 Live commentary as Chelsea beat Newcastle after West Ham's win over Sheffield United.

Covid-19 means that some people are having to find innovative ways to mark the day.

Charlie Wyke scores four as Sunderland move into League One's top six with a thumping of promotion rivals Doncaster.

An unstoppable strike by Derby's Colin Kazim-Richards proves the winner as Boro are beaten for the fourth time in five games.

Rotherham against QPR and Swansea's trip to Sheffield Wednesday are among the growing host of Saturday's EFL games called off.

Saturday's National League game between Dagenham & Redbridge and Hartlepool United is postponed due to a frozen pitch.

Cleveland Police says large crowds take a lot of resources to disperse and are "hugely frustrating".

Middlesbrough's former Cardiff winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing says he wants to "leave the past behind" after a suspension for cocaine use.