Coronavirus in the North East: Latest updates from North East England Live

Northampton top of Prem after victory at Newcastlepublished at 22:19 BST

Northampton go top of the Prem with an ultimately comfortable victory which leaves Newcastle still searching for a first league win of the campaign.

Drug gang 'fed off misery in lockdowns'published at 21:30 BST

Shaun Monaghan headed a gang handling hundreds of thousands pounds of worth drugs, a judge says.

Sunderland v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:44 BST

Brighton v Newcastle: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:42 BST

Boards to decide on £20m fund prioritiespublished at 18:33 BST

Durham council says people living in the area will be asked to help decide where money is spent.

Mayor calls for U-turn on scrapped light festivalpublished at 18:11 BST

Kim McGuinness says she hopes the decision to end the light festival can be reversed.

Murder suspect in court over stabbing deathpublished at 17:23 BST

A 25-year-old man appears in court over the death of Macaulay Branighan who was stabbed in Stockton.

Why Woltemade is no 'tall camel'published at 15:52 BST

Steel company's UK plant enters administrationpublished at 15:20 BST

The head of Union Electric Steel cites high energy costs and lack of demand for the sudden closure.

'Horrific' night of violence in residential areapublished at 13:23 BST

One man was injured in the Grangetown attacks which brought widespread damage to local homes and cars.

Woman murdered disabled neighbour over £60 debtpublished at 13:16 BST

Brenda Heslop lay in wait outside John Hardy's home before stabbing him in the chest, a court hears.

'Ambitious and determined' - Howe on Wilson and management teampublished at 12:30 BST

Arena bombmaker denies attempted prison murderspublished at 12:14 BST

Hashem Abedi is accused of attempting to murder three prison officers at HMP Frankland in Durham.

Howe on injuries, new sporting director and contractspublished at 11:15 BST

Sam Fender praises home region after Mercury winpublished at 10:45 BST

Fender says his Mercury Prize winning album is a collection of stories about life in North Shields.

UK's music industry is finally taking the North East seriouslypublished at 09:24 BST

Sharuna Sagar
BBC Look North

A view of a large crowd watching Sam Fender play on stage — Image caption,
Sam Fender played three sold-out homecoming gigs at the home of Newcastle United in June

History is being made as the Mercury Prize uproots itself from London for the first time in its 33-year history and lands in Newcastle.

The decision by the British Phonographic Industry to move one of the UK’s most prestigious music awards 300 miles north sends a clear signal: the industry is finally taking the North East seriously.

Running alongside the main event is the inaugural Mercury Fringe Festival - a celebratory week of artist showcases, masterclasses and workshops shining a spotlight on the region’s rich seam of talent across every genre.

Sam Fender’s meteoric rise - and second appearance on the coveted Album of the Year shortlist - has already helped turn the spotlight on this long-overlooked corner of the country.

With local alumni including Maxïmo Park, Field Music, The Unthanks and Nadine Shah, the hope is that the Mercurys’ northern debut will kick open the door for more homegrown artists to thrive.