Among those watching as England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties last night was Elisabetta Zamboni, who is Italian but moved to the UK in 1996.

She's lived in Sunderland for the last 14 years, and says she loves Italy and England equally.

Image source, Elisabetta Zamboni

She watched the match with her England-mad son Andrew Gary (pictured as a baby in 1996 and in 2021 above) and said the result was bittersweet.

"When we won I wanted to jump and scream but I looked at Andrew and he was crushed so I just hugged him," she said.

Andrew said: "I think she might have told a slight lie because she screamed when Italy won, but I respect the Italian team and they've been good throughout the tournament."

Image source, Getty Images

Fans across the North East and Cumbria are heartbroken after watching England lose on penalties.

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A Seaton Carew cafe owner might regret his promise of free parmos if England win the Euro 2021 final.

Earlier in the tournament Joe Franks (pictured), who runs The Open Jar, said there would be free food for 2,000 customers if the Three Lions lift the trophy on Sunday.

"We really didn't give it much of a thought and as the tournament has progressed it looked more and more like it could happen, and now we're in the final we're getting a bit twitchy," he said.

With parmos - a piece of chicken or pork in breadcrumbs which is deep fried and covered in bechamel sauce - on the menu costing £10 he fears an England victory will cost him £20,000.

With a nervous laugh, he said: "I've regretted saying it ever since and now we want England to win but it might not be the end of the world if Italy do it."

Youngsters from across North Tyneside earlier got permission to skip school to go to Whitley Bay beach to raise awareness of climate change.

Image source, Joan Hewitt

The Whitley Bay High School and Marden Bridge pupils said while there was increasing awareness of the problems they - the next generation - are going to have to face, not enough was being done to tackle it.

Image source, Joan Hewitt

"We couldn't sit around any longer .. because people need to know what will happen if action is not taken now," they said.

Image source, Joan Hewitt

Jacob, Tom, Eddie and Jack from Marden Bridge Middle School enlisted younger pupils to dig a sandcastle and global map to make their point.

Jack joked: "We are the climate bullies - basically we're gonna conscript them to do the hard work for us."

Image source, Joan Hewitt

Reuben, a 16-year-old from Whitley Bay High School, said: "I want people to panic, our government is not taking enough action.

"CO2 levels are higher than they have been for millions of years and we need to reduce fossil fuel emissions now."

Image source, Joan Hewitt

Youngsters worried about the impact of climate change have been protesting on the beach at Whitley Bay.

Inspired by climate activist Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who skipped school and started inspired an international movement, the youngsters carved their slogans into the sand (pictured below).

Image source, North Tyneside YouthStrike4Climate

Image source, North Tyneside YouthStrike4Climate

North Tyneside YouthStrike4Climate was started by three local children concerned by global warming and increases in the Earth's temperature.

Image source, North Tyneside YouthStrike4Climate

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