Almost 500 people signed a petition opposing the scheme, with a council receiving 290 objections.

Sunderland claim their joint-biggest win of the season with a 5-0 thrashing of Morecambe.

It comes as about 400 properties are still without power following Storm Arwen 11 days ago.

Former footballer Marvin Morgan, who went into a second career in fashionwear, dies aged 38.

Paul Wilkinson would "go out of his way to help anyone", his loved ones say in a tribute.

Pek Ying Ling, 51, from Singapore was found not breathing in a city centre hotel.

A puppy that swallowed a set of razor blades was spared going under the knife by a sharp-witted vet.

Maximus, a four-month-old Cockapoo, had wolfed down the grooming accessory, leaving his owners with a hair-raising dilemma.

Jon Hall, who is a soft tissue specialist at the County Durham vets where the puppy was treated, said: “For sharp objects, such as needles and blades, we have to make a careful decision whether the risk of causing injury, as they pass along the intestine by themselves, outweighs the risk of an intervention such as an endoscopy or anaesthetic and surgery."

Image source, Wear Referrals

The fur-brained pooch managed to pass the blades naturally after Mr Hall decided it was safer not to operate.

Subsequent X-rays, revealed that the blades had all passed through Maximus and he had suffered no side effects.

Image source, Wear Referrals

The protest at Durham's South College was prior to a talk by columnist Rod Liddle.

A fund has been set up in honour of the late journalist Sir Harold Evans to nurture the next generation of investigative reporters.

Sir Harry, who died last year at 92, was best known for the 10-year campaign by the Sunday Times to win compensation for the victims of the morning sickness drug Thalidomide, which caused thousands of birth deformities.

He studied at Durham University and forged his reputation as editor of the Northern Echo in the 1960s, where his campaigns resulted in a national screening programme for cervical cancer and a posthumous pardon for Timothy Evans, wrongly hanged for murder in 1950.

A fund of of $5m (£3.8m) has been set up by news organisation Reuters, where Sir Harry was once editor-at-large, and Durham University to support new talent from around the world.

Image source, Reuters

The Sir Harry Evans Memorial Fund will create a fellowship in investigative journalism.

Author Tina Brown, Sir Harry's widow, said: "Harry was a voracious truth-teller and champion of courageous journalism in every form.

"The thought that we are doing something in his legacy to make sure Harrys of the future - whatever and wherever their gender, background, or means - are nurtured into the profession is something which I know would have moved him greatly."

Alexander Layton must serve at least 23 years after killing James Stokoe in front of his son.

The council says although the number is lower than feared it still caused a "significant impact".

Hundreds of thousands of people hit by blackouts face a wait to get payments, a minister says.

Storm Barra is expected to bring wind and snow to the North East and Cumbria on Tuesday morning.