Young farmers welcome a government grant to encourage older generations to retire early.

Middlesbrough will sign goalkeeper Joe Lumley on a two-year deal when his contract with QPR expires this summer.

A further 125 civil service roles will switch to Darlington over the next four years.

Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce thinks it is a "gamble" for Scotland to take winger Ryan Fraser to Euro 2020.

Relive all the action as Lincoln City beat Sunderland to take charge of their League One play-off semi-final.

Within a day of the tweet being posted it had more than 100,000 likes and five million views.

The Premier League has been granted an extension until 11 June to respond to a Newcastle United anti-competition claim over their collapsed takeover.

The claimant had always been "very complimentary" about Mike Hill, an employment tribunal hears.

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live commentary, watch 5 Live Final Score and follow text updates from Wednesday's six Premier League games.

Cleveland Police is linking the fight in the grounds of a primary school to an aggravated burglary.

Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards discuss the best Premier League great escapes in the latest Match of The Day: Top 10 podcast.

Newcastle Falcons record a second consecutive Premiership victory to all but end Northampton's hopes of a play-off spot.

A parliamentary petition calling for an independent regulator in English football passes 100,000 signatures

At an employment tribunal, ex-Hartlepool MP Mike Hill denies sexual harassment and bullying.

Two missing teenagers from Stockton have been found, police say.

The pair were found "safe" in Middlesbrough.

Cleveland Police thanked people for sharing the appeal.

A police search is under way for two missing teenage girls from Stockton.

Ruby Cuskern, 14, and Megan Hardwick, 15, were last seen on a field in the Eastbourne area of Stockton, at about 18:15 on Saturday, but didn't go home and haven't made contact with their families.

Earlier Cleveland police tweeted for the girls to contact them on 101 "just to let us know you're safe and well. Everyone's worried about you."

Image source, Cleveland Police

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Herbert Soden

Gateshead’s director of public health has urged everyone to get Covid tests, warning the virus is “still a threat”.

It comes after the first cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 have been found in the North East, although numbers here remain the lowest of anywhere in England.

It has so far been detected 19 times across the region – and the number covers all of Newcastle, Northumberland, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton, Hartlepool, and Darlington.

Alice Wiseman, Gateshead Council’s director of public health (pictured below), said the latest variant shows the virus is still a problem.

She said: “Thankfully the number of cases across our region remains low, which makes it easier to trace those who have been in close contact with individuals who have tested positive, and take steps to prevent further spread.

“Although the numbers are small, this is a timely reminder that the virus is still a threat.”

With people now able to socialise indoors, Ms Wiseman said that the public should take lateral flow tests twice a week.

She said: “We must continue to protect each other. I’d encourage everyone to use lateral flow testing kits twice a week, but you should also arrange a PCR test straight away if you develop symptoms – even if the symptoms are mild or if your lateral flow test result is negative."

Free testing kits can be collected locally - check your nearest place online by using NHS England’s site finder., external

Pubs, restaurants and entertainment and sporting venues welcome people back as restrictions ease.

A £1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the return of a bronze crucifix stolen from a Newcastle church.

The cross, estimated to be worth £20,000, was taken from All Saints Church in Gosforth on Wednesday night.

It had stood in the garden of remembrance where ashes were scattered since 1965.

The reward is being offered by the Crimestoppers charity.

Neighbourhood Insp Harninder Bola, of Northumbria Police, described the sculpture as a "highly sentimental piece" and called for its return.

“We have been carrying out extensive enquiries since last week, but unfortunately the crucifix has not been located. Everyone associated with the parish is absolutely devastated.

“Anyone who has information about its possible whereabouts is asked to contact police and we are now in a position to offer a reward.

“Please do the right thing and contact us at the earliest opportunity so we can ensure the church and its community can bring it back to their remembrance garden.”

Image source, Northumbria Police

Horse racing fans are being welcomed back to Redcar although capacity at the course is reduced.

Entry is via pre-paid ticket only and while racing has been taking place behind closed doors, it's the first meeting with spectators since October 2019.

Amy Fair from Redcar racecourse said: "We are being very cautious and we have a reduced capacity compared to what we would have normally - it's considerably reduced."

In the past traditional big race meetings, such as Ladies Day, would see around 7,000 people at the course but the current run of meetings is a fraction of that.

"Our total capacity for the grandstand side only is just over 2,000 people, so for today's meeting we're looking around 1,000 people coming racing", Ms Fair said.

Image source, Getty Images