Alix Hattenstone
BBC England Data Unit

In the run-up to the ban, I spent a day in Newcastle with council officers carrying out checks at high street shops.

Senior Trading Standards officer Paul Leighton and his colleagues seize illicit vapes with tank sizes greater than 2ml, a nicotine strength of more than 20mg/ml or labels without manufacturer details and health warnings.

While disposable vapes aren't illegal yet, he says the majority of illegal vapes he finds happen to be single-use.

“Vaping’s been around for quite some time now and it’s only been a significant issue for us with the emergence of disposables,” he says.

Paul believes the change in the law will help to clamp down on the illegal trade in the longer term.

He says: “Once we’ve dealt with the sell through of illegal vapes that’s probably going to be kicking around after the ban, I think the majority of retailers will find themselves with compliant stock.”

One fire engine is at the scene in Whin Street, with plumes of black smoke seen nearby.

Northern Lithium plans to build a lithium extraction plant in County Durham by 2027.

It is part of plans to open the bandstand to the public again.

The arrests follow a series of raids in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.

NCAT says it could not reverse the "long-term decline" of its finances.

The two-year-old girl vanished on her birthday in a supermarket in Germany in 1981.

James Anderson takes three wickets and a catch as Lancs beat Durham, while Glamorgan defeat Middlesex in the T20 Blast.

A Hartlepool mother says her children were screaming while she tried to protect them from the dogs.

All you need to know about promotion, relegation and qualification for Europe in England and Scotland's top men's football leagues, and the Women's Super League.

A sausage roll, a pit pony statue mystery and a car stranded near Holy Island make headlines.

The venue had opened as a coffee bar and live music venue without permission, documents show.

Cedars Trust wants to carry out work ahead of pupils attending the school in September.

A mystery statue appearance, CPR plea and an ice hockey player's make the headlines this week.

Breastfeeding mums, a compulsive hoarder, and a visit from the Knife Angel make the headlines this week.

Nexus says it is still committed to improve connectivity, despite lack of progress on the project.

Health chiefs say the increases are needed to cover the cost of maintaining the car parks.

A new inquest into a woman's death, which will consider a decision to remove her benefits, begins.