An arsenal of about 1,000 shotguns, air weapons and stun devices collected by police over the past year have been recycled.
The firearms, along with several containers of knives, which were collected across County Durham and Darlington were shredded into thousands of metal fragments at EMR Metal Recycling in Leeds.
Durham ConstabularyCopyright: Durham Constabulary
Some of the items had been surrendered to police while others were seized by officers after being used in crimes or because they were illegally owned.
PC Mark Outhwaite, force armourer at Durham Constabulary, said: “A lot of these items are held perfectly innocently, such as antique firearms that have been passed down through generations, whereas others are kept for more nefarious purposes.
“The reality is that even legally held weapons can pose a significant risk to the public if they fall into the wrong hands, which is why removing them from circulation is so critical to keeping our communities safe.”
Birtley boxer Pat McCormack has taken Olympic silver in the welterweight final in Tokyo.
The 26-year-old from Washington was beaten by Cuban Roniel Iglesias, who won gold at London 2012 and bronze at Beijing 2008.
McCormack was ranked as the top seed in the category but lost on unanimous points over the three rounds.
PACopyright: PA
Hi twin brother Luke was at ringside, cheering him on after he was eliminated from the men's lightweight competition at the weekend.
EPACopyright: EPA
Birtley Boxing Club, where the brothers train, said they had "done their club and country proud" and described Pat and Luke as "true heroes of the North East".
Crackles and hockey squad reach Olympic semi-finals
Cumbrian hockey star Fiona Crackles - a member of Team GB - is a step closer to winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo.
The 21-year-old Durham University student from Kirkby Lonsdale was in the side that beat Spain on Monday, in a tense quarter-final that had to be decided by a penalty shootout.
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Katie Benter, Crackles' former team-mate at Lancaster Hockey Club, said: "Fiona was excellent and what has been so good about Fiona and the rest of the squad has been the transitions, we have rolling substitutions in hockey so we can switch on as often as we like and every time she was on she just got on with her job.
"I would love her to score her first international goal when we play the Netherlands tomorrow."
The semi-final match against the Netherlands is at 02:30 BST on Wednesday.
City leaders in Sunderland have confirmed the Stadium of Light will be able to host more than 48,000 supporters in the coming season.
Fans are keen to be welcomed back at the stadium which has not been able to operate at capacity since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Supporters returned to the Stadium of Light for the first time in more than a year on Friday as Lee Johnson’s side picked up a 2-1 win against Hull City in a friendly.
Sunderland kick-off their League One campaign with a home game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, the first league game with the ground at full capacity since 7 March 2020.
WW2 veteran who survived Burma railway dies aged 101
Sunderland World War Two veteran Len Gibson has died aged 101, just days before the launch of his memoirs - which are due to be republished for a North East charity.
He served in Singapore in 1942 when he was captured by the Japanese and forced to work on the infamous Death Railway in Burma.
After liberation in 1945 he returned to Sunderland and became a teacher.
BBCCopyright: BBC
During that time he inspired a number of young people to take up music, including his neighbour Dave Stewart who went on to form the band The Eurythmics.
At his birthday celebration in May, Stewart paid tribute to his former mentor in a video message.
He said: "I was such an admirer of you and your family and it's inspired me and
helped
form the foundation of the fact that I wanted to be a musician."
Mr Gibson was awarded a British Empire medal in 2019.
In recent years he was a prominent fundraiser for "Daft As A Brush", and proceeds from his book "A Wearside Lad in WWII" which goes on sale tomorrow, will go to the cancer patient care charity.
Charity founder, Brian Burnie, described Len as “the greatest gentlemen I have even met”.
Mr Burnie said: "Our thoughts are with Len’s family and friends at this time."
Bradley Lowery - building a lasting legacy
Video content
Video caption: Bradley's mum talks about continuing his legacy by helping other sick childrenBradley's mum talks about continuing his legacy by helping other sick children
Bradley's mum, Gemma, talks to the BBC about continuing his legacy by helping other children with life-limiting illnesses.
Washington boxer Pat McCormack is guaranteed at least a silver medal in the final of the men's welterweight competition at the Tokyo Olympics.
He will fight in the men's welterweight final against Cuba's Roniel Iglesias tomorrow after Ireland's Aidan Walsh pulled out of their semi-final with an ankle injury.
Watching at home on Wearside, his mum Michelle said: "Pat is on fire, he's boxing well and enjoying the tournament so hopefully it continues."
PA MediaCopyright: PA Media
Pat's twin brother Luke said his own defeat by the two-time world champion Andy Cruz in the last-16 of the men's lightweight tournament had left him "wounded".
Michelle said: "Such mixed emotions, delighted for Pat but devastated for Luke.
"Andy Cruz is probably the best boxer in the world so we knew it was going to be a tough fight, but Luke fought hard and was brave and we're so unbelievably proud."
Live Reporting
All times stated are UK
Seized firearms arsenal shredded for recycling
An arsenal of about 1,000 shotguns, air weapons and stun devices collected by police over the past year have been recycled.
The firearms, along with several containers of knives, which were collected across County Durham and Darlington were shredded into thousands of metal fragments at EMR Metal Recycling in Leeds.
Some of the items had been surrendered to police while others were seized by officers after being used in crimes or because they were illegally owned.
PC Mark Outhwaite, force armourer at Durham Constabulary, said: “A lot of these items are held perfectly innocently, such as antique firearms that have been passed down through generations, whereas others are kept for more nefarious purposes.
“The reality is that even legally held weapons can pose a significant risk to the public if they fall into the wrong hands, which is why removing them from circulation is so critical to keeping our communities safe.”
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Silver medal for Birtley boxer Pat McCormack
Birtley boxer Pat McCormack has taken Olympic silver in the welterweight final in Tokyo.
The 26-year-old from Washington was beaten by Cuban Roniel Iglesias, who won gold at London 2012 and bronze at Beijing 2008.
McCormack was ranked as the top seed in the category but lost on unanimous points over the three rounds.
Hi twin brother Luke was at ringside, cheering him on after he was eliminated from the men's lightweight competition at the weekend.
Birtley Boxing Club, where the brothers train, said they had "done their club and country proud" and described Pat and Luke as "true heroes of the North East".
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Read moreBirtley boxer in final for Olympic gold
Boxer Pat McCormack is about to be going for Olympic gold.
The boxer, from Birtley, will take on Cuban Roniel Iglesias in the welterweight final in Tokyo.
McCormack's twin Luke was eliminated at the weekend but he'll be ringside cheering his brother on.
Their older brother Martin who says he's "nervous but confident" will be cheering on from their mum's house in Washington.
Martin said: "It's weird not being there, I would've liked to have been, but I'm confident he's going to do the business."
Mum Michelle, who works at Sunderland's Royal Infirmary, says staff at the hospital are hoping to watch the bout too.
She said: "It's nice they're supporting us."
The final is at 11:05 BST.
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Crackles and hockey squad reach Olympic semi-finals
Cumbrian hockey star Fiona Crackles - a member of Team GB - is a step closer to winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo.
The 21-year-old Durham University student from Kirkby Lonsdale was in the side that beat Spain on Monday, in a tense quarter-final that had to be decided by a penalty shootout.
Katie Benter, Crackles' former team-mate at Lancaster Hockey Club, said: "Fiona was excellent and what has been so good about Fiona and the rest of the squad has been the transitions, we have rolling substitutions in hockey so we can switch on as often as we like and every time she was on she just got on with her job.
"I would love her to score her first international goal when we play the Netherlands tomorrow."
The semi-final match against the Netherlands is at 02:30 BST on Wednesday.
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City leaders in Sunderland have confirmed the Stadium of Light will be able to host more than 48,000 supporters in the coming season.
Fans are keen to be welcomed back at the stadium which has not been able to operate at capacity since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Supporters returned to the Stadium of Light for the first time in more than a year on Friday as Lee Johnson’s side picked up a 2-1 win against Hull City in a friendly.
Sunderland kick-off their League One campaign with a home game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, the first league game with the ground at full capacity since 7 March 2020.
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Catch upWW2 veteran who survived Burma railway dies aged 101
Sunderland World War Two veteran Len Gibson has died aged 101, just days before the launch of his memoirs - which are due to be republished for a North East charity.
Mr Gibson's birthday was in January, and belated celebrations were held in Herrington Country Park in May when hundreds turned out to enjoy a Spitfire flypast.
He served in Singapore in 1942 when he was captured by the Japanese and forced to work on the infamous Death Railway in Burma.
After liberation in 1945 he returned to Sunderland and became a teacher.
During that time he inspired a number of young people to take up music, including his neighbour Dave Stewart who went on to form the band The Eurythmics.
At his birthday celebration in May, Stewart paid tribute to his former mentor in a video message.
He said: "I was such an admirer of you and your family and it's inspired me and helped form the foundation of the fact that I wanted to be a musician."
Mr Gibson was awarded a British Empire medal in 2019.
In recent years he was a prominent fundraiser for "Daft As A Brush", and proceeds from his book "A Wearside Lad in WWII" which goes on sale tomorrow, will go to the cancer patient care charity.
Charity founder, Brian Burnie, described Len as “the greatest gentlemen I have even met”.
Mr Burnie said: "Our thoughts are with Len’s family and friends at this time."
Bradley Lowery - building a lasting legacy
Video content
Bradley's mum, Gemma, talks to the BBC about continuing his legacy by helping other children with life-limiting illnesses.
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The driver of other vehicle, believed to be a dark grey VW Passat or similar, did not stop after the crash in the College Road and Tomlinson Way area.
It happened at about 15:45 on Saturday.
The 58-year-old woman who was driving a Ford Fiesta remains in Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital.
Police are asking anyone who saw what happened to contact them.
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Read moreWashington boxing twin guaranteed Olympic medal
Washington boxer Pat McCormack is guaranteed at least a silver medal in the final of the men's welterweight competition at the Tokyo Olympics.
He will fight in the men's welterweight final against Cuba's Roniel Iglesias tomorrow after Ireland's Aidan Walsh pulled out of their semi-final with an ankle injury.
Watching at home on Wearside, his mum Michelle said: "Pat is on fire, he's boxing well and enjoying the tournament so hopefully it continues."
Pat's twin brother Luke said his own defeat by the two-time world champion Andy Cruz in the last-16 of the men's lightweight tournament had left him "wounded".
Michelle said: "Such mixed emotions, delighted for Pat but devastated for Luke.
"Andy Cruz is probably the best boxer in the world so we knew it was going to be a tough fight, but Luke fought hard and was brave and we're so unbelievably proud."