BBC Sport takes a look at five standout matches in this weekend's busy EFL schedule.

Middlesbrough have made their best league start for 31 years under new head coach Rob Edwards as excitement starts to build on Teesside.

As England begins wild releases of beavers, some animals just cannot wait for freedom - or love.

A group of residents say they pick up litter each day only for it to be replaced with more.

The Housing Innovation & Construction Skills Academy opens to hundreds of pupils for its first term.

Yoane Wissa showed a "determination to succeed" after being a victim of an acid attack in 2021 - and that drive has been a constant factor in the career of Newcastle's new signing.

Three primary schools in Sunderland turn their outdoor areas into fruit and vegetable patches.

Vadaine Oliver, released by Bradford City at the end of last season, joins National League Hartlepool United.

A council looks at ways to deter rulebreakers following a huge blaze at a coastal beauty spot.

Ben Raine and Matthew Potts resist with the bat to earn Durham a County Championship draw at Essex.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

The groundstaff have done a great job mopping up after the thunderstorm which hit Chelmsford just before 3pm.

Play is set to resume at 4.46pm and we have a minimum of 9.5 overs to go. Durham are ahead by 19 runs and there would need to be a change of innings if Essex are win.

They obviously need three quick wickets, but if Durham get to within three overs of the end of the game it's job done.

They could end being nine down and lose that final wicket in that third last over, but they would have saved the game because there would be no time for a re-start.

A spokesperson for Sharon Hodgson says the MP "will not be deterred".

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

The end of the world has arrived in Chelmsford. We have torrential rain, thunder and lightning and it's almost dark.

The radar suggested a really big storm was heading our way and would not pass for about two hours.

Essex' hopes of a win are being thwarted by rain and Raine. Ben Raine and Matty Potts both have 25 runs and have added 47 to the Durham total so far. They have also staved off an innings defeat.

At 143-7 Durham lead by 19 runs. While Essex will be hoping to get back on the field later, the weather may actually end their hopes of victory.

For Durham, it would stave off an embarrassing defeat in a game where they had been 189-1 on day one.

Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley is impressed by new loanee Law McCabe in his first full week at the club.

Newcastle United cancel tickets purchased by a Scottish school for next week's Champions League game against Barcelona.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Colin Ackermann's time in the middle was rather brief.

He was on five runs when he decided to cut a delivery from Simon Harmer, but half way through the shot he seemed to change his mind and ended up edging to Dean Elgar at first slip.

It was not the start Durham wanted after lunch and I am not sure they will be here come tea either - unless it rains.

They are also not making any progress in terms of runs, so they remain nearly 50 behind. Tea is at 3.10pm and that seems a long way off from here.