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Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

A project set up in Newcastle to identify Covid cases among key workers showing no symptons is being reduced at two sites in the city, because not enough people are coming forward.

Take up for rapid-turnaround lateral flow tests, at the Newcastle Civic Centre and Westgate College sites, has “consistently remained well below the available capacity”.

The council said an estimated 7,500 tests have been conducted across the two sites so far, roughly 800 per week – 85% short of the maximum capacity of 5,200 per week.

Both venues will now see the number of days they're open reduced.

A testing facility in the civic centre’s banqueting hall will open from 08:00-16:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and the Westgate College site will operate from 08:00-16:00 on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Last week the government announced everyone in England can now get two lateral flow tests a week, which can provide results in just half an hour, every week regardless of their job or whether they have Covid symptoms.

The testing kits are now available via home delivery or collection, as well as through school and workplace testing and community testing offered by councils.

Durham blow away Essex for just 96 in the first innings of their County Championship game before stuttering to 148-8 at stumps.

Mark Lawrenson takes on Soccer AM star Tubes to make predictions for this weekend's FA Cup semi-final ties and Premier League fixtures.

There are five people hoping to be elected mayor of North Tyneside on 6 May.

Listen to live BBC radio commentary from Saturday's action in the Gallagher Premiership and Championship.

Middlesbrough is “not out of the trees” as lockdown restrictions ease, its director of adult social care has warned

Leaders are anticipating an increase in positive cases after some restrictions were lifted with non-essential shops, gyms and hairdressers reopening this week.

Latest government figures show there were 45 new cases of coronavirus in Middlesbrough in the week up to 7 April, that's down from 80 the previous week. That's a rate of 31.9 rate per 100,000 of population down from 56.7 on the previous week.

Erik Scollay, director of adult social care and health, told councillors on Wednesday the vaccination programme had been “immense” and care staff had faced an unprecedented past year.

However, he warned there was still a battle to be won in the pandemic, particularly given the emergence of new variants.

Downing Street says an aide was asked to check the progress of the deal but not intervene.

The body of Tomasz Dembler, 39, was found by two members of the public in Middlesbrough on Monday.

Two men threw petrol bombs into a police yard damaging two vehicles.

Two vans were damaged when petrol bombs were thrown into the back yard of a police building in North Ormesby.

It happened yesterday at about 21:10 when two men threw the petrol bombs into the yard on Kings Road, Cleveland Police said.

No one was injured but one vehicle was severely damaged by fire and another scorched.

The road was closed while fire crews and police officers investigated.

Image source, Google

People in the Northumbria Police area will elect a police and crime commissioner on 6 May.

The broadcast of the show's final was postponed following the Duke of Edinburgh's death on Friday.

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

Newcastle Falcons rugby club bosses want to create two outdoor food and drink areas on match days, a hearing has heard.

The new zones, which would be located outside the stadium’s south stand and north west corner, would help fans stay socially distanced when supporters are finally allowed back.

If the plans are approved by the council, the areas could feature food vendors and bars open two hours before kick-off and one hour after full-time, but they will not be allowed to play music.

Eight neighbours in Kenton Bank Foot lodged objections against the scheme, with complaints about noise, people urinating against neighbours’ fences, and throwing bottles and cans into gardens.

The club has also asked for permission to host more drive-in cinema events in the car park of the Kingston Park ground.

Solicitor Richard Arnot said there was “no desire to upset or disturb anybody” and that the cinema events would have no alcohol served and no loudspeakers, with the sound instead coming through car radios via a Bluetooth connection.

Newcastle City Council will decide on the Falcons’ licence application within five working days of the hearing.

From Wednesday, UK pigeons must be quarantined for weeks before taking part in cross-Channel races.

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

He fraudulently claimed £10,000 to support a business, but then gave the money to someone else.

Zahra Gillani sourced her products from a Chinese website "notorious" for fakes, a court hears.

His body was found in woods by two members of the public on Monday.

Four women are taken into police protection following raids targeting suspected human traffickers.