Data shows domestic abuse referrals decreased last year but overall referrals are rising.

Sunderland primary schools bring in measures aimed at tackling inconsiderate parking.

Firefighters says the fire is under control but they will remain at Grange Hill Farm for a few days.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Play eventually got underway at Chelmsford at 10.50am. Lunch will be at 12.30pm, as planned, but tea looks like it will be moved back by 10 minutes.

However, by the time we are aproaching tea we could all be swimming home, judging by the radar!

Matt Critchley has also reached his century in the first two overs of the day. He resumed this morning on 97. The century, his second against Durham, came in 137 balls and included 12x4 and a six.

Essex are now only six runs behind, as this partnership continues to build. It's now worth 169, with Dean Elgar on 145. The bowling looks particularly blunt too. Expect Essex to end up with a decent lead.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

It's been t-shirt and shorts weather so far this week in Chelmsford, but there is a distinctly different feel to things today and we have a delayed start this morning.

The temperature has dropped and we have heavy showers forecast for the majority of the day. This afternoon does not look too good either and I doubt we will see any play after 4.00pm if the radar is correct.

While Durham will be desperate to get on and try and get another bowling point on the board, the chances of them actually doing that, based on what we saw yesterday, seems unlikely.

The bowling attack looks particularly blunt and Dean Elgar and Matt Critchley had little in the way of issues while out in the middle. Their partnership is 154. Elgar has 140 and Critchley 97.

The scheme is the final part of a development project in Durham's Mount Oswald area.

Police say the woman was pronounced dead in a Redcar street and her family has been informed.

Dean Elgar and Matt Critchley's unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 154 puts Essex in command against Durham on day two.

Newcastle City Council welcomes successful appeals allowing two new pharmacies to open.

Gentoo says it will offer residents other homes following the decision to demolish three buildings.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Durham have taken the new ball and they need to use it well because Essex are only 44 behind now.

Dean Elgar's century is his second in a row here against Durham. He's now on 132, while Matt Critchley is looking to join him on three figures and is now on 82. Critchley already has a century and seven half centuries against the visitors.

The introduction of the new ball yesterday did Durham no favours, with Jamie Porter taking three quick wickets in the final session. Durham need something similar to go in their favour today.

But a bonus pount is only runs away and the arrival of it will take Essex level on points with Sussex on 130!

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Colin Ackermann was handed the ball and struck with his fourth delivery. He bowled Charlie Allison on 33.

Essex now trail Durham by 146 runs in the sunshine of Chelmsford.

Crucially though, Dean Elgar is still out in the middle and has 93. He got 120* in the bore draw here last season and from that experience Durham will know he is capable of batting all day.

As for Ackermann, who is a part-time spinner, I think he will have a lot of bowling to do today because Durham have only got three seamers in their team.

Vandals target the site in Sunderland with graffiti while also damaging paving and fencing.

New league tables from NHS England see trusts in the North East rank higher than those in Cumbria.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Essex were the team above Durham at the start of this week, with 12 points separating the two in their relegation battle.

But on a track which looks like a really good batting surface, Durham were all out for 333. They had been 189-1 yesterday. I don't think they got enough runs on the board in this first innings.

It means Essex have taken three bowling points to Durham's two batting points, so they are now 13 ahead, albeit there's still a long way to go in this game.

Jamie Porter did the damage just after tea yesterday and was on a hat-trick at one point. He took the final wicket today, bowling Callum Parkinson for a fourth ball duck. Porter finished with figures of 4-77. Four Durham players failed to get a run!

However, they have struggled to bowl teams out this year and have only two main strike bowlers in Matty Potts and Ben Raine.

Sam Conners is playing, but has only featured in one Championship match this season, so they really have their work cut out here.

From a spinning point of view there's Callum Parkinson and part-timer Colin Ackermann.

About 2,000 pupils in Sunderland will benefit from the partnership, education bosses say.

Durham head coach Ryan Campbell says England captain Ben Stokes "is back in training" after a shoulder injury and "will be ready" for winter's Ashes in Australia.