Accusations of "moronic missions" and feuds as two men deny felling the famous tree on Hadrian's Wall.

With the teams from third to seventh in the Premier League separated by just seven points, the race to secure Champions League football next season is intensifying.

Sunderland City Council is asked to approve work to St Mary's and Sunniside multi-storey car parks.

Two children, aged three and four, remain in hospital following the blaze on Monday.

Researchers look at the possible effects of disability benefit cuts across English constituencies.

Graham Clark celebrates his fifth County Championship century with a pristine innings to put Durham in charge against Hampshire.

Police contact bomb disposal experts and road closures are in place in Darlington.

Daniel Graham claims his co-accused felled the world famous tree and asked him to take the blame.

The Conservatives remain the biggest party with 26 seats, but Reform UK returns 23 councillors.

Karen Clark tallied 16,230 votes, putting her just 444 ahead of Reform UK's John Falkenstein.

Reform UK secures 65 seats, as Nigel Farage warns civil servants "working from home".

Regis Le Bris reflects on Sunderland's warm weather training camp in Portugal in his press conference before facing QPR in the final game of the Championship season.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Sonny Baker is now going to have to be really careful here after he bowled a beamer at Durham's Graham Clark. It was an accident and probably the result of the hot weather and a sweaty hand.

But the moment in which he delivered the no-ball seemed to have an impact on his composure. That's because his next four deliveries were pulled by Clark to the legside boundary for four.

The over brought up the 50 partnership between him and Ollie Robinson and it also brought up the 150 for Durham too.

The pair have led a nice fightback following the loss of Colin Ackermann, just after lunch for nine. They were 82-4 at that point.

As St James' Park prepares to host the event for the eighth time, BBC Sport looks at why Super League's Magic Weekend has settled on Newcastle as its home.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

They are playing on a used track here and Durham chose to bat after winning the toss.

Having lost Ben McKinney before the game to a back spasm, Emilio Gay was moved up to open the bating with Alex Lees. He was the first wicket to fall too, edging Kyle Abbott to Toby Albert at second slip, when on 19.

Will Rhodes then joined Lees and added 39 runs with him before a mis-timed pull off Abbott found its way to Felix Organ at mid-wicket.

The wicket came as Durham tried to get going again, having become becalmed by some very tight bowling, in a spell where Hants only conceded a run in six overs.

Here are the key stats for Sunderland v Queen's Park Rangers.

In Northumberland, it's shock and gloom for Labour - glee for Reformpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 2 May

11:42 BST 2 May

Luke Walton
Reporting from Northumberland

The Conservatives will be the biggest party on Northumberland County Council - but Reform UK are the big winners from this result.

Reform end the night with 23 councillors, having taken a raft of seats from the Tories and even more from Labour, which finishes with just eight councillors.

The mood among Labour activists here is shock and gloom. Among Reform supporters, it was glee.

But it now probably falls to the Tories - who have a final total of 26 councillors - to build a coalition to run the council, possibly with the help of independents.

It won't be easy. And either way, the last 36 hours have marked a big moment in the county's politics.

Two men deny felling the iconic tree on Hadrian's Wall in September 2023.

Helen Richardson
Reporting from North Shields

A nervous Conservative candidate and his team await the results of the North Tyneside mayoral contest.

We understand it could be a close result, unlike previous contests where Labour have won a clear majority. Reform are predicted to have an impact.