1. Vaccine role in BBC presenter's death to be probedpublished at 17:05 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

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

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  2. New vaccination site opens in North Tynesidepublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

    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.

    Close up of Covid vaccinationImage 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.

  3. County lines crackdown sees 23 arrestspublished at 12:08 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

    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.”

    Suspect is put in the back of a police van in GatesheadImage source, Northumbria Police
  4. Waiting For Workpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

    Politically passionate and one of the first working class reporters at the BBC, Jack Ashley wanted to show the suffering caused by high unemployment in Hartlepool. With no work, no prospects, and little money, Ashley asked how the unemployed reacted to their situation in an increasingly affluent society.

    The documentary caused a storm when it was first shown in 1963, bringing Hartlepool’s problems to the attention of a national audience. After the programme aired parcels were sent to the contributors containing food, clothing, presents for the children and even an abundance of Christmas turkeys from people all over the UK. (1963)

  5. Is Toney Premier League's next star striker?published at 11:00 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

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

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  6. Cricket spectators return to Riversidepublished at 10:25 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

    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."

    Durham's Ben Raine bowling to Worcestershire's Jake Libby during the County Championship match between Durham and WorcestershireImage source, Getty Images
  7. Sunderland health boss urges caution as variant found in citypublished at 10:15 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

    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."

    Lateral flow test for CovidImage source, Getty Images
  8. Newcastle wing Wacokecoke extends dealpublished at 10:01 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

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

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  9. More body-worn cameras for Metro staffpublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

    All on-duty customer service advisors will now wear a camera to record anti-social behaviour.

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  10. 'I used to arrest drug users, then I became one'published at 06:27 British Summer Time 27 May 2021

    The Misuse of Drugs Act came into force 50 years ago, but some campaigners say it should be changed.

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  11. City appoints first BAME mayor in 800-year historypublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    Bangladesh-born Habib Rahman says he is proud to represent "safe and tolerant" Newcastle.

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  12. Nissan 'in talks to build huge UK battery factory'published at 18:03 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    The Japanese car giant is reportedly in advanced talks to build a gigafactory in Sunderland.

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  13. Council gets first female leader after 132 yearspublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    Liberal Democrat Amanda Hopgood is the first woman leader in Durham County Council's history.

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  14. Tribute to 'much loved' granddad hit by buspublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    Jimmy Peacock died when he was struck down while walking in Sunderland last week.

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  15. Government backtracks over local travel advicepublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    Restrictions are not being imposed on Indian variant-affected areas, the government says.

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  16. Police dog sniffs out stolen perfume stashpublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    PD Roxy found perfume hidden beneath a car shortly after the stash was stolen.

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  17. Sunderland release skipper Powerpublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    Sunderland release seven players, including captain Max Power, after they were beaten in the League One play-off semi-finals by Lincoln.

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  18. Woodman aims to 'repay family debt'published at 06:19 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    Having carried his father's play-off medal with him all season, Swansea City's Freddie Woodman aims to claim one of his own.

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  19. Woodman wants return to 'fantastic' Swanseapublished at 06:19 British Summer Time 26 May 2021

    Freddie Woodman's loan spell at Swansea from Newcastle ends at the Championship play-off final against Brentford on Saturday, but the goalkeeper hopes to return.

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