Sunderland take a narrow lead to Hillsborough with a League One play-off semi first-leg win over Sheffield Wednesday.

England Test captain Ben Stokes hits a record 17 sixes and the fastest first-class century by a Durham player at Worcestershire.

Image source, Google

A popular leisure complex has been temporarily closed due to safety concerns.

The Gate in Newcastle, which houses a cinema, casino, bars and restaurants, was evacuated on Thursday evening.

Its operator said it has decided to close the venue and its car park as a precaution, due to "some potential safety concerns".

It did not specify what the problem was but apologised to those businesses which have had to close, as well visitors.

"We are working to re-open as soon as it is safe and practical to do so," it added.

The complex opened in 2002 and is one of the city's best-known entertainment venues.

Gordon Cranney retains his seat on Hartlepool Council a week after he pleaded guilty to assault.

David MacMillan
BBC Tees political correspondent

This time last year we were waking up to the news that Conservatives had won the Hartlepool by-election, their first MP in the town since the 1960s, with Hartlepool making national headlines.

Today it's rather less dramatic as the local authority remains in no overall control.

The Conservatives though have strengthened their place with 15 of the council's 36 seats, while Labour went in to the election with 11 seats and came out with 11.

My colleague Lee Johnson was at the count and he is reporting that the Conservative-independent coalition that runs the local authority will continue to do so.

Image source, Getty Images

We had the strange sight of Conservative candidates effectively pleading with voters not to punish them for the shenanigans going on in Downing Street and it seems like their pleas have been heard.

One of the senses from last year's by-election campaign was that much of the stuff making national headlines - back then it was rows over Downing Street redecorations rather than parties - wasn't having a big impact with voters in the town.

The fact the Conservatives have held seats and gained seats suggests that's still true.

Labour went in to the election defending seven of the 13 seats being contested so it was always unlikely they would make significant gains. But, given the drubbing they got in the by-election last year, stability may be seen as a decent result.

Seats were also up for grabs in Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Gateshead.

Labour has held on to its comfortable majority on Gateshead Council.

With 22 of the authority's 66 seats up for grabs, the party lost one to the Lib Dems but held 21, and now has a total of 51 councillors.

Council leader Martin Gannon said: "Our majority is maintained, we've won the seats we expected to win."

He added: "We're not complacent, we know there's a lot of rebuilding to do in the Labour Party, we've got to earn people's trust if we're going to succeed and win in government.

"But it's a good, solid start."

Ben Stokes' season is off and running.

The new England captain has come in at number six to help Durham, 339-3 overnight, push on to claim maximum batting points.

Three sixes and three four so far in his 45 off 45 balls in a stand of 71 with David Bedingham.

At the other end, the South African has now reached his 100 - the second Durham centurion of the innings after another of Durham's three South Africans, Sean Dickson, yesterday.

History was made in North Tyneside, which gained its first black councillor in 48 years.

Josephine Mudzingwa, who was elected to the Benton ward, said: "I'm really glad I won it.

"I want to make every woman, every child, feel they are included and can have a seat at any table.

"For me to open the door to every other person, to all the other races that are in England, to me that is amazing.

"I'm really proud for myself, and of everybody who supported me to get into this journey."

Labour has held on to Gateshead Council.

With 22 of its 66 seats up for grabs, the party maintained its large majority.

Counting is still under way, but after securing seats it cannot lose control.

The result in Sunderland shows that the Labour Party is "on the way up", one of the area's MPs has said.

Sharon Hodgson, who represents Washington and Sunderland West, said: "The Conservatives threw everything at this.

"We had Boris Johnson up here on Bank Holiday Monday, we've had Rishi Sunak, we've had so many members of the cabinet, local Tories, and they couldn't land a glove on us here.

"So I think this shows that the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is back on the up - and bring on the general election as far as I'm concerned."

The leader of Hartlepool Council said he hopes to stay on in the role for at least another year although his wife may have other ideas.

No one party won an overall majority on the council after 13 of its 36 seats were contested, and the BBC understands a Conservative and independent coalition will continue to control it.

Image source, Hartlepool Council

Independent council leader Shane Moore, who retained his Headland and Harbour seat, said he hopes to stay on in the top job for at least another year when the council holds its annual general meeting later in May.

"Going past that I'll need to speak to my wife because she may have some other ideas," he told BBC Radio Tees.

No one party has an overall majority of Hartlepool Council after 13 of its 36 seats were up for election.

The leader of the Conservatives on Sunderland Council, Antony Mullen, has told BBC Radio 4 why he believes his party failed to make gains there.

“It’s been partygate - it’s suppressed our turnout,” he said, referring to the controversy over lockdown parties in Downing Street and Whitehall.

He said some people had made “negative comments about Boris Johnson” while he was out campaigning locally.

“Quite clearly that’s the only thing that has changed nationally that has affected this,” Mr Mullen said.

“The best chance of reviving the Conservative Party's fortunes will be with a new leader,” he said.

“If there is no improvement in the party's reputation, then clearly something has to change.”

Image source, Getty Images

Graeme Miller, Labour leader of Sunderland Council, survived a Conservative push to unseat him, which included two visits to the city by the Prime Minister.

He said: "We are now at the end of the cycle of losing seats, I genuinely believe that.

"We've listened and talked to residents to find out what was important for them and the council is delivering now on all of that.

"But the key thing is trust, we are rebuilding trust people are genuinely starting to consider us as a party of leadership again.

"That's down to Keir Starmer ... the whole party just starting to talk to people and not take it for granted, which possibly we may have done a little bit of in the past."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio Tees

The Conservatives are "absolutely elated" at gaining two seats on Hartlepool Council giving them 15 of the authority's 36 members.

The BBC understands the Conservatives and independents will continue to run the council in coalition after no one party won an overall majority of at least 19 seats.

But Ray Martin Wells, the Conservative President in Hartlepool, said he was "absolutely elated" and their 15 seats made them "by far the largest party on Hartlepool council".

Labour group leader Brenda Harrison said the party is improving in the town.

She said: "We've had a very rocky few years but the Labour group that is now is a very different group. We are working very much together."

Ruth Holliday
BBC Newcastle

At the North Tyneside count - three seats changed hands out of the 20 being contested.

Labour ended up with 18 of those, holding 16, and gaining two.

The big shock was the Conservative Group Leader Sean Brockbank losing his seat - Monkseaton South - to Labour.

But the Conservatives also gained a seat - Collingwood, with young councillor Olly Scargill taking that from Labour.

And Labour gained another seat in Howdon, from an Independent councillor who didn't stand this time round.

The Greens fielded 19 candidates in the 20 seats and were hoping to take Whitley Bay, but candidate Alan Steele lost out to Labour by 1760 votes to 1236.

And history was made in Benton ward where Labour's Josephine Mudzingwa became the first black councillor in North Tyneside for 48 years.