Marcus Rashford opens his Barcelona account with a header before scoring a brilliant second to help the La Liga champions kick off their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win against Newcastle at St James' Park.

Former pubs in Bishop Auckland will be demolished for the development, the applicants say.

The RMT union says train station ticket staff at Northern will walk out on 7 and 8 October.

Durham pick up five crucial batting bonus points in their fight against relegation as their game against Worcestershire is drawn.

The Five Bridges skatepark is to be demolished, along with the crumbling Gateshead flyover.

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards said there is a "good vibe around the place" as his unbeaten Championship leaders prepare to host West Brom.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

It's purely about batting points now at Chester-le-Street and Durham have 38 overs remaining in which to try to reach 450.

They need 4.5 runs an over to do it and are going along at 4.8.

Worcestershire's task has not been helped by the fact Brett D'Oliveira injured his ankle after one delivery earlier and can't bowl. He's not on the field.

They have now used nine bowlers, including Kashif Ali. I had him down as a leggy but he's bowling medium pace. Daniel Lategan is bowling for the first time in a championship match as well.

Emilio Gay has just added two runs to take his total to 151. And with Hampshire five down at Somerset, a defeat for them and a draw here would see Durham out of the bottom two. And any bating points would be an added bonus.

Hundreds of students are evacuated from Thornhill Academy after reports of a gas smell.

Faustino Asprilla scores a hat-trick against Barcelona on Newcastle United's Champions League debut in 1997.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Worcestershire skipper Brett D'Oliveira has spent the afternoon off the field after he rolled his ankle bowling his first ball of the match.

It could be a bitter blow for The Pears, who are just two days away from the One-Day Cup final against Hampshire.

Durham lost two wickets in the morning session before Emilio Gay and David Bedingham put on 122 for the third wicket.

Bedingham has been struggling for any kind of form this season, following a broken toe against Warwickshire back in the spring. When he was fit to play again he was away with South Africa.

In the few glimpses we have seen of him since, there's not been much form to talk about. He had a scratchy start today before settling in and reaching 50. But then he got carried away and paid the price.

Having hit Matthew Waite for a four and a six, he tried to pull him for another maximum off the final ball of the over and was caught on 58 at fine leg.

Live by the sword die by the sword, as they say. But given Durham's relegation predicament he could have been a bit more risk averse today and spent most of the afternoon in the middle.

Meanwhile, Gay has 92 runs and has hit some lovely cover drives to the boundary.

Fans and businesses across the city prepare for Newcastle United's return to the Champions League.

One player who has the disease says attending the club is a "statement of defiance".

South African full-back Stefan Coetzee is the latest addition to the Newcastle Red Bulls squad for the forthcoming league season.

Here are the key stats ahead of Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion

Conservationists say all 21 seal pups spotted in the Tees estuary this year dies within weeks.