It's been a beautiful day for many of us in the North East but it started off pretty misty.
Harry Purves sent us this photo taken in Tynemouth this morning.
Harry PurvesCopyright: Harry Purves
Weather: Mostly dry with mist over the hills and some fog
For most, tonight will be dry.There will be a good deal of cloud, and this will be thick enough to give the odd spot of drizzle in places.
It will turning rather misty across the hills and there is with a risk of fog in other places too.
Minimum Temperature: 4C (39F).
BBCCopyright: BBC
'It was special' to walk out with Bradley
BBC Radio 5 live
England and Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe says "it was special" to walk out at Wembley with Bradley Lowery.
The five-year-old is battling terminal cancer neuroblastoma and led out the England team during Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
Defoe said: "You’ve got to sort of try and control your emotions because obviously I’ve got to play a football match and he turned round and cuddled me and that and I was like just tried to keep it together sort of thing but no, it was amazing.
"Everyone knows the sort of relationship we’ve got. It’s sad but hopefully he enjoyed the game."
Video content
Video caption:
Jermain Defoe says "it was special" to walk out at Wembley with Bradley Lowery.
Jermain Defoe says "it was special" to walk out at Wembley with Bradley Lowery.
Mentally ill man killed himself after being forced to attend benefit assessment, claims MP
A Bishop Auckland man with mental health issues killed himself after being forced to undergo a face-to-face assessment for benefts, an MP has claimed.
The man, who has not been identified, died on Friday, the town's Labour MP Helen Goodman (pictured) told the House of Commons.
Ms Goodman said the man's doctors had urged staff at the Department of Works and Pensions to put off the assessment for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
She urged work and pensions secretary Damian Green to end face-to-face assessments for those with mental
health conditions looking to claim benefits.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Mr Green said: "Obviously the case she brings up is clearly a dreadful one and I'm sure the whole House will want to send condolences to the family and friends of her constituent, particularly his widow.
"We now have more clinical expertise available to assessors who look at the individual cases and also, as she will know, those who have conditions which can only stay the same or get worse, we've now ended reassessments.
"We are taking steps to try and minimise those effects."
Sunderland's shrinking young population
Twenty five years after Sunderland became a city, there are plans to revive its fortunes with a bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021.
We looked at the statistics and also spoke to young people to ask them if they saw their futures in the city.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Over the next week we'll be telling the stories of some of the young people in the city on our digital platforms.
Have you seen a road roller like this?
A roller similar to the one in the picture below was stolen from the forecourt of Bowburn filling station on the A177 at 19:15 last Wednesday.
The thieves pulled up in a white Ford Transit van and using a ramp managed to get the roller into the back of the van and drive off "unseen and unchallenged", Durham Police said.
Journalist union 'optimistic' about local news future
Duncan Leatherdale
BBC News Online
Author Philippa Gregory joined journalists and politicians in Sunderland for a discussion on the future of news.
The event was organised by the Sunderland Shields and Hartlepool branch of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) as part of a week-long campaign called Local News Matters.
Gilbert JohnstonCopyright: Gilbert Johnston
Ms Gregory, who worked for a newspaper and the BBC before becoming a historical novelist, was joined on the panel by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman, University of Sunderland's head of journalism Lee Hall and Northern Echo columnist Mike Amos.
Issues discussed included the decline of newspapers, growth of news website and social media and the use of so-called citizen journalists. A spokesman for the NUJ branch said the forum showed "there is optimism for the future of local journalism as long as it learns to embrace change".
Your photos: Squirrel enjoys the sunshine
Robin Purser sent us this photo of a red squirrel enjoying the sunshine at Pow Hill Country Park in County Durham.
Have you got any photos you'd like to share with us? In that case you can tweet them to
@BBCNewsNE
,
email them,
or contact us via our
Facebook page
.
A woman is in a critical condition in hospital after falling out of a moving car on the A69 on Saturday afternoon.
The car was travelling from Bardon Mill towards Hexham at about 60mph when the woman, who was in the front seat of the car, came out of the vehicle and ended up by the roadside.
The vehicle involved in the incident, believed to be a black Ford Fiesta, left the scene.
A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been released on bail.
Family's windscreen smashed by rock thrown from bridge
The windscreen of a car travelling at 70mph (113km/h) on the A1 was smashed when youths threw rocks off a bridge.
A family of three were in the Jeep Renegade when it was struck at about 14:00 on Saturday near Great Park in Newcastle.
Northumbria Police said no-one was injured but warned the consequences could have been disastrous.
Insp Pip Hails said: "These youths may see this as a harmless prank
but it's completely irresponsible and could well lead to somebody being killed."
It is believed those responsible
are two white boys, aged about 10-years-old and wearing blue hoodies.
Northumbria PoliceCopyright: Northumbria Police
Potash extension review launched
BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees
The owners of a potash mine have launched a public consultation ahead of an application to extend their planning permission.
Cleveland Potash Limited's permission to operate Boulby Mine expires in 2023 and the firm is keen to get an extension from the North York Moors Park Authority.
It wants to hear people's views on the future of mining in the area.
The company, which has been mining the site since 1968, will run more than 100 events over four months, including an exhibition across 20 venues and public meetings.
GoogleCopyright: Google
Managing director Marc Kirsten said: "We have been - and remain - East Cleveland's largest employer and the decision to seek permission for continuing operations demonstrates our commitment to maintain a significant contribution to the local community and economy."
The two areas were among the 10 with the highest number of absences caused by holidays. The national average is about 25%.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Rules came into force in 2013 following concerns that some families saw going away during term-time as an entitlement. If a school declares an absence unauthorised, the council can fine a parent £60 per child, which doubles to £120 if not paid within 21 days.
However, the fines appear to have not proven a deterrent as the number of unauthorised holiday absences has continued to rise.
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All times stated are UK
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Video caption:
Jermain Defoe says "it was special" to walk out at Wembley with Bradley Lowery.
Jermain Defoe says "it was special" to walk out at Wembley with Bradley Lowery.
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Latest PostOur live coverage across the day
That's all from us for today - thank you for joining us.
You can still catch up with the latest news throughout the night on BBC Tees , BBC Newcastle , Look North and online.
If you'd like to get in touch or share your North East pictures with us, you can do so on Twitter , Facebook , or via email at northeast.locallive@bbc.co.uk .
We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00.
It's been a beautiful day for many of us in the North East but it started off pretty misty.
Harry Purves sent us this photo taken in Tynemouth this morning.
Weather: Mostly dry with mist over the hills and some fog
For most, tonight will be dry.There will be a good deal of cloud, and this will be thick enough to give the odd spot of drizzle in places.
It will turning rather misty across the hills and there is with a risk of fog in other places too.
Minimum Temperature: 4C (39F).
'It was special' to walk out with Bradley
BBC Radio 5 live
England and Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe says "it was special" to walk out at Wembley with Bradley Lowery.
The five-year-old is battling terminal cancer neuroblastoma and led out the England team during Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
Defoe said: "You’ve got to sort of try and control your emotions because obviously I’ve got to play a football match and he turned round and cuddled me and that and I was like just tried to keep it together sort of thing but no, it was amazing.
"Everyone knows the sort of relationship we’ve got. It’s sad but hopefully he enjoyed the game."
Video content
Mentally ill man killed himself after being forced to attend benefit assessment, claims MP
A Bishop Auckland man with mental health issues killed himself after being forced to undergo a face-to-face assessment for benefts, an MP has claimed.
The man, who has not been identified, died on Friday, the town's Labour MP Helen Goodman (pictured) told the House of Commons.
Ms Goodman said the man's doctors had urged staff at the Department of Works and Pensions to put off the assessment for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
She urged work and pensions secretary Damian Green to end face-to-face assessments for those with mental health conditions looking to claim benefits.
Mr Green said: "Obviously the case she brings up is clearly a dreadful one and I'm sure the whole House will want to send condolences to the family and friends of her constituent, particularly his widow.
"We now have more clinical expertise available to assessors who look at the individual cases and also, as she will know, those who have conditions which can only stay the same or get worse, we've now ended reassessments.
"We are taking steps to try and minimise those effects."
Sunderland's shrinking young population
Twenty five years after Sunderland became a city, there are plans to revive its fortunes with a bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021.
But as statistics show just over 600 people aged 16-19 left the city last year , BBC News has been speaking to some young people to find out their hopes for the future.
We looked at the statistics and also spoke to young people to ask them if they saw their futures in the city.
Over the next week we'll be telling the stories of some of the young people in the city on our digital platforms.
Have you seen a road roller like this?
A roller similar to the one in the picture below was stolen from the forecourt of Bowburn filling station on the A177 at 19:15 last Wednesday.
The thieves pulled up in a white Ford Transit van and using a ramp managed to get the roller into the back of the van and drive off "unseen and unchallenged", Durham Police said.
New Sunderland parking: Where it is and how it works
Sunderland Echo
Newspaper
Residents could see the end of parking woes outside their homes as a new scheme to give them preference for spaces comes into play .
Player award nod for Gayle
Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Newcastle Sport
Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle is one of three players nominated for the EFL's Championship Player of the Year award.
The awards take place in London on 9 April.
Journalist union 'optimistic' about local news future
Duncan Leatherdale
BBC News Online
Author Philippa Gregory joined journalists and politicians in Sunderland for a discussion on the future of news.
The event was organised by the Sunderland Shields and Hartlepool branch of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) as part of a week-long campaign called Local News Matters.
Ms Gregory, who worked for a newspaper and the BBC before becoming a historical novelist, was joined on the panel by Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman, University of Sunderland's head of journalism Lee Hall and Northern Echo columnist Mike Amos.
Issues discussed included the decline of newspapers, growth of news website and social media and the use of so-called citizen journalists. A spokesman for the NUJ branch said the forum showed "there is optimism for the future of local journalism as long as it learns to embrace change".
Your photos: Squirrel enjoys the sunshine
Robin Purser sent us this photo of a red squirrel enjoying the sunshine at Pow Hill Country Park in County Durham.
Have you got any photos you'd like to share with us? In that case you can tweet them to @BBCNewsNE , email them, or contact us via our Facebook page .
Council to discuss drinking laws
Hartlepool Mail
Newspaper
Licensing officials will discuss calls to curb Hartlepool’s late night booze laws this week .
Comic strip artist shares his classic collection
Listen live now on BBC Tees
Watch Bradley Lowery's England day
England have released a video of Bradley Lowery's day out as a mascot at Wembley.
Woman critical after falling from car
BBC Newcastle
A woman is in a critical condition in hospital after falling out of a moving car on the A69 on Saturday afternoon.
The car was travelling from Bardon Mill towards Hexham at about 60mph when the woman, who was in the front seat of the car, came out of the vehicle and ended up by the roadside.
The vehicle involved in the incident, believed to be a black Ford Fiesta, left the scene.
A 23-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has been released on bail.
Family's windscreen smashed by rock thrown from bridge
BBC Newcastle
The windscreen of a car travelling at 70mph (113km/h) on the A1 was smashed when youths threw rocks off a bridge.
A family of three were in the Jeep Renegade when it was struck at about 14:00 on Saturday near Great Park in Newcastle.
Northumbria Police said no-one was injured but warned the consequences could have been disastrous.
Insp Pip Hails said: "These youths may see this as a harmless prank but it's completely irresponsible and could well lead to somebody being killed."
It is believed those responsible are two white boys, aged about 10-years-old and wearing blue hoodies.
Potash extension review launched
BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees
The owners of a potash mine have launched a public consultation ahead of an application to extend their planning permission.
Cleveland Potash Limited's permission to operate Boulby Mine expires in 2023 and the firm is keen to get an extension from the North York Moors Park Authority.
It wants to hear people's views on the future of mining in the area.
The company, which has been mining the site since 1968, will run more than 100 events over four months, including an exhibition across 20 venues and public meetings.
Managing director Marc Kirsten said: "We have been - and remain - East Cleveland's largest employer and the decision to seek permission for continuing operations demonstrates our commitment to maintain a significant contribution to the local community and economy."
Tributes left for Saltburn cliff death teens
Lee Johnson
BBC Tees
Tributes have been left at the bottom of a cliff where two teenagers were found dead on Friday.
Woman’s illegal drugs delivered as police searched her home
The Shields Gazette
A woman whose house was being searched by police answered the door to a postman who was delivering her latest stash of drugs.
Defoe: Amazing day with Bradley
Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe said he hopes his "best mate" Bradley Lowery had an "amazing day" on Sunday.
Term-time holidays: Where most children were absent
BBC News Education
More than 40% of unauthorised school absences in Northumberland and North Tyneside were caused by pupils going on holiday, figures show .
The two areas were among the 10 with the highest number of absences caused by holidays. The national average is about 25%.
Rules came into force in 2013 following concerns that some families saw going away during term-time as an entitlement. If a school declares an absence unauthorised, the council can fine a parent £60 per child, which doubles to £120 if not paid within 21 days.
However, the fines appear to have not proven a deterrent as the number of unauthorised holiday absences has continued to rise.