Essex set up a good victory chance against Durham after closing day two with a lead of 346.

After his epic trip north on the Flying Scotsman, Michael Portillo continues his journey from London to Edinburgh at a leisurely pace up the East Coast Main Line.

In Newton Aycliffe, he tests a state-of-the-art passenger train on tracks which follow the route taken by George Stephenson's steam engine on its historic journey in 1825. Through the looking glass at Croft-on-Tees he discovers a curious potion at the childhood home of Victorian writer Charles Dodgson, better known as Lewis Carroll, and finds the author was also a fan of Bradshaw.

In the coastal village of Craster, Michael discovers the Victorian smokehouses of a family firm still active today and learns how to smoke a kipper. Crossing the Scottish border he reaches Dunbar, birthplace of a visionary Scot who made his mark on the landscape of America. Michael ends this leg rocking the boat on the River Tyne in a coracle.

Exeter Chiefs host Newcastle Falcons in the Premiership - listen to BBC Radio Devon & BBC Radio Newcastle commentary.

Listen to BBC radio commentary on the final day of the National League season.

The Mouth of the Tyne Festival is rescheduled over concerns around the easing of Covid measures.

A man suffered a stab wound in Silloth and has been airlifted to hospital.

Emergency services were called to Pennine Close in the town at 10:30.

A 29-year-old man from Liverpool was found with serious injuries and was airlifted to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, Cumbria Police said.

Image source, Google

Middlesbrough winger Marvin Johnson will leave the club when his contract ends next month.

Fishing wire is being tied across the popular track, while holes have also been dug in the ground.

Mountain rescue teams from both sides of the Scottish border helped a woman who injured her leg while walking the Pennine Way.

The group the woman was with called 999 yesterday afternoon from Auchope Cairn, in the Cheviot Hills, after she hurt her lower leg.

The walker was treated and carried down the hillside by stretcher.

Image source, Northumberland National Park MRT

Relive the action from day two of seven County Championship matches, including Lancashire against Yorkshire.

Essex make inroads into the Durham top order to finish day one on top, despite a batting collapse of their own.

Lisa Shaw's family say the 44-year-old fell seriously ill days after having the AstraZeneca jab.

A new coronavirus vaccination site has opened in North Tyneside which could welcome more than 5,000 people per week.

The centre, at the Cedarwood Trust community charity on the Meadow Well Estate, will operate from 08:00 to 20:00 each day.

Image source, PA Media

Trust CEO Wayne Dobson believes it will make a difference to the 12,000 people who live in the area.

“Lots of people on the estate don’t own a car, and they have to walk or, if they have the money, get buses to get where they need to be.

“It could take some people half a day to get to another vaccination site, especially if they can’t afford bus fare, and that could stop them from going to get vaccinated.

“It is absolutely fantastic that this centre is now running from the Cedarwood Trust and will reach many people who otherwise may not have taken up the vaccine.”

Its opening comes days after the government asked people to minimise travel in and out of North Tyneside to combat the spread of the so-called Indian variant of Covid-19.

Twenty-three people have been arrested as part of a crackdown on county lines drug-dealing gangs.

Northumbria Police said it executed warrants in areas including Ashington, Sunderland, Newcastle, Gateshead (pictured) and South Shields - seizing cocaine, cannabis and ketamine, more than £20,000 in cash and three luxury watches.

The week-long operation was part of a UK-wide effort which saw 1,100 people arrested.

County line gangs are urban drug dealers who sell to customers in more rural areas via dedicated phone lines. It also sees people recruited by organised criminals to work for them in the supply chain.

Det Ch Insp Sue Fryer described it an a "monumental effort", adding: “While we do not see the levels of violence associated with county lines dealing prevalent in other areas here in the North East, we are working hard to keep it that way.”

Image source, Northumbria Police

Ivan Toney has become the record scorer in a Championship season, so is he ready to make the step-up to the top flight?

Spectators are being allowed into Durham County Cricket's Riverside ground for the first time in 20 months.

There is a limit of 4,000 fans for the County Championship game against Essex.

The club is hoping if the government's road map out of lockdown stays on track they could be back to normal for the second half of the T20 Blast and one day internationals.

Durham's chief operating officer Richard Dowson said having supporters back makes all the difference.

"All year with no spectators at the ground has felt very strange and we're looking forward to welcoming them back.

"We'll be following the guidelines, everything from making sure everyone scans in at the gates to wearing face masks in indoor areas."

Image source, Getty Images

A "very small number" of cases of the so-called Indian variant of coronavirus have been found in Sunderland.

Health bosses are not confirming how many have been detected at this stage, but have urged people to test themselves twice a week.

Sunderland's director of public health, Gerry Taylor, said: "We all need to remain very cautious at the moment and continue to follow all of the guidance in terms of hands, face and space and fresh air."

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle Falcons wing George Wacokecoke signs a new three-year deal.