Stolen and illegal motorbikes have been recovered by police in County Durham in a crackdown on nuisance riders.

Officers issued 24 fixed-penalty notices for a variety of offences, which included the seizure of three illegal quad bikes, two stolen mopeds and an illegal off-road bike.

Officers also confiscated a vehicle and arrested the driver for drug driving during the operation, which was carried out across Peterlee, Shotton Colliery, Wingate and Darlington.

Image source, Durham Constabulary

Signs have been put up by officers, detailing new powers which mean offenders caught with illegal off-road bikes, quad bikes or 4x4s do not have to be given a warning by police before their vehicles are seized.

Insp Gary Smith said: "We use several different tactics to not only enforce but educate drivers and we will continue to tackle off-road vehicles that are affecting our communities."

A second case of bird flu has been confirmed in Northumberland.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said captive birds infected at a premises near Wooler would be humanely culled.

A 1.8 mile (3km) controlled zone has been set up around the premises.

It comes after bird flu was confirmed on Holy Island last week.

Northumberland County Council said Lindisfarne was still open for business and the risk of infection to the public was low.

Elizabeth Morgan, director of public health in Northumberland, said: “Bird keepers should remain alert for any signs of disease, report suspected disease immediately and ensure they are maintaining good biosecurity on their premises."

Image source, Northumberland County Council

A 15-year-old boy suffered a fracture and a large cut to his face when he was attacked with a hammer in Middlesbrough.

Cleveland Police say the teenager was attacked in Ashford Avenue between 22:00 and 23:00 GMT on Saturday.

They say the attacker was white, of average build and about 5ft 8in tall, and are urging any witnesses to come forward.

Image source, Google

An amber warning is issued for parts of central and southern Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston said more cameras would be installed as criminals "hate them".

While popular with some people, there have been complaints over how they are driven and parked.

Work will start on the site near Middlesbrough in July, after initially being planned on the Humber.

A manhunt is launched for Paul Robson, 56, who went missing from HMP North Sea Camp on Sunday.

Barry Rossiter is jailed for 26 years for abusing five children over three decades.

England and Newcastle Falcons back row Mark Wilson retires from rugby union aged 32.

Newcastle United defender Kieran Trippier fractures a foot in Sunday's Premier League win over Aston Villa.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told BBC Radio Newcastle he doesn't take North East voters for granted after historic losses in the region at the 2019 General election.

It saw so-called Red Wall seats like Blyth Valley and parts of County Durham elect Conservative MPs.

Sir Keir said: "I don't think we were concentrating on the things that matter most to people in the North East.

"They want to see good quality jobs, jobs near to where they live so they don't have to leave and have to get out to get on."

He is visiting Sunderland to launch the party's local election campaign and set out his party's plans to win back lost ground. He says policies around Brexit which the North East voted overwhelmingly for have changed.

He added: "We have exited the EU and we are not going back, and let me be very clear on that in the North East, there is no case for rejoining."

Household waste travels more than 300 miles to be processed after a previous provider went bust.