Public health bosses are warning they expect further rises in cases of the Indian mutation.

Listen to BBC Radio commentary as Stockport County host Hartlepool United in the National League play-off semi-finals.

England all-rounder Sam Curran smashes an unbeaten 72 as Surrey's batsmen fire again to beat Somerset.

The machine allows 18-month-old Grace Westwood to spend several hours outside her hospital ward.

Watford sign Middlesbrough striker Ashley Fletcher on a free transfer.

Listen to BBC Radio commentary from the final day of the regular Premiership season.

Four kittens born at the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter have been named Harrison, Ford, Indiana and Jones, inspired by the latest Hollywood blockbuster being filmed in the region.

Their mum, Miley, was brought into the shelter as a heavily pregnant stray in March and the kittens arrived five days later.

Image source, Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter

The very cute kittens will be rehomed once they're old enough.

Image source, Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter

The property in Marske was hit again this week, and the occupants then ran off.

As Hollywood star Harrison Ford continues to be spotted out and about in the region, filming for the new Indiana Jones 5 movie was under way at Bamburgh Castle last night.

Press Association photographer Owen Humphreys took these dramatic pictures of a scene being filmed on the Northumberland coast.

People in the nearby village were warned in advance there would be "atmospheric smoke, special effects fireworks and flares and gunfire sounds".

Image source, Owen Humphreys / PA Media

Image source, Owen Humphreys / PA Media

Image source, Owen Humphreys / PA Media

Image source, Owen Humphreys / PA Media

A team of Northumbria University researchers is helping to develop a vaccine for an infection that has been killing off rare penguins in New Zealand.

Numbers of yellow-eyed penguins (pictured below) are dwindling due to outbreaks of a diphtheria-like infection which is not treatable with antibiotics and is fatal to chicks.

Image source, Northumbria University

The team, led by Dr Vartul Sangal, has identified a species of bacteria causing the infections and is hoping a vaccine can be developed to help protect the species from potential extinction.

Melanie Young, from the University of Otago in New Zealand, said: “Avian diphtheria has affected up to 93% of hoiho chicks in their northern range for more than 20 years, with the disease being fatal if left untreated."

The plan was first mooted in 2015 but "apprehension" and the impact of Covid have cooled interest.

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze at a disused building in Newcastle.

It started on Thursday afternoon in the derelict bar which was known as Stereo on City Road.

The A186 is closed westbound between the Gibson Street and Forster street junctions due to safety concerns.

It's not the first time there's been a blaze at the site, in 2019 the building was damaged in a suspected arson attack.

Image source, TWRS

Redcar and Cleveland Council says the financial impact was lower than the predicted £10.4m.

The mobile units were set up last month after a surge of the Delta, or so-called Indian, variant.

Newcastle Falcons sign prop Richard Palframan and lock George Merrick from Worcester Warriors on two-year deals.

A campaign to help bereaved children is announced on the day of Lisa Shaw's funeral.