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- Thursday 20 April 2017
- Brendan Foster to retire from athletics commentary
- Turkish Baths restoration to get under way
- Police look again at missing teenager case
- Thornaby fire death post-mortem examination due
- Firefighters tackle Washington blaze
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Thank you for joining us today. Our live updates are finished, but you can still find the latest news on BBC Tees, BBC Newcastle, Look North and online.
We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel at 08:00 tomorrow
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Weather: Cloudy with light rain possible
It'll be on the cloudy side later but mainly dry, with a few spots of rain possible at times. Expect it to feel a little warmer than recent days, particularly the sunny intervals.
Tonight it will be mainly dry but staying rather cloudy with some light rain likely. The cloud cover and breeze should prevent a frost.
Prisoner absconds from HMP Kirklevington
Police are trying to track down a prisoner who absconded from HMP Kirklevington near Yarm.
Samuel Hill, 35 has been missing from the open prison since Monday. He was serving a sentence for conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm.
It has been reported Hill has links to South Tyneside.
Blaydon will not contest general election
Dave Anderson, the MP for Blaydon, has announced he will not stand as a candidate in the general election on 8 June.
The Labour man, who has represented the area for 12 years, said: "I have reluctantly decided that for reasons of health, age and my family's needs, I cannot commit to another five years in Parliament".
Anderson, 63, is also Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Denise Welch partners with charity to fight mental health stigma
BBC Newcastle
North East actress Denise Welch has been speaking to BBC Newcastle about living with depression for almost 30 years.
She has partnered with the charity Heads Together to try to encourage people to open up about their mental health.
A film of her talking about it with her husband has been released by the charity. The organisation is also being supported by Princes William and Harry.
Work under way in preparation for Tees Valley mayoral debate
The crew are busy preparing the set for tonight's Tees Valley mayoral debate.
You can watch it on BBC One at 22:45 and we'll have an online catch-up tomorrow.
Developer pulls out of housing scheme
Home Group cited a "number of reasons" for withdrawing from the Northumberland County Council site.
Read moreSunderland named depression capital as anti-depressant figures released
Sunderland Echo
Newspaper
The North East prescribes more anti-depressants than anywhere else in England – with Sunderland right at the very top of the regional league table.
Last chance to see Newcastle's Turkish Baths before restoration
Today is one of the last chances to see Newcastle's historic City Pool and Turkish Baths before they undergo a makeover.
A leisure charity called Fusion Lifestyle Ltd was chosen in May last year to restore and renovate the Grade II listed building.
The charity claims the multimillion-pound project will bring the baths "back to life" and that all work will be done "sensitively".
They were shut in 2013 as part of council budget cuts. The refurbishment is due to be completed in Spring 2018.
Tees Valley mayoral hopefuls to face voters on BBC One
Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
Jobs, transport, housing and Brexit are all likely to come up as the candidates face questions from voters - and me - later as part of a BBC One debate on the Tees Valley mayoral election.
The vote is being held on 4 May and the new mayor will be the head of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, which is made up of Darlington, Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough and Stockton councils.
The government will devolve certain powers to the mayor and give them £15m a year to spend.
The debate will be broadcast at 10:45. If you miss it, we'll have an online recap on Friday.
Newly qualified police dog locates concealed cash
Newly qualified Northumbria Police dog Felix successfully took part in an operation yesterday.
Well done!
Your Photos: The sun sets on Beadnell Harbour
Thanks to Valerie Seaward for this photo of Beadnell Harbour, in Northumberland, as the sun was setting.
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.
Funeral details announced for victim of alleged hit-and-run
The Shields Gazette
The funeral details have been announced for alleged hit-and-run victim Lewis Knapp.
Lewis, 20, was killed when he was struck by a silver Vauxhall Vectra in Anderson Street, South Shields, in the early hours of Saturday.
Newcastle United players in PFA Championship team of the year
BBC Sport
Three Newcastle United players have been selected for the 2017 Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Championship team of the year.
Defender Jamaal Lascelles, midfielder Jonjo Shelvey and forward Dwight Gayle have been named in the PFA selection. Gayle has scored 22 goals for the Magpies this season.
The votes were provided by PFA members from 100 clubs from the Premier League, Football League and Women's Super League.
Foster's commentaries 'iconic'
More now on athletics commentator Brendan Foster announcing his plan to retire after August's World Championships in London.
Foster, 69, began his athletics career training at Gateshead International Stadium and went on to compete in three Olympic Games.
A European 5,000m gold medallist and a Commonwealth champion at 10,000m, he began his commentary career in 1980 - going on to cover a total of nine summer Olympics for the BBC.
Barbara Slater, the BBC's Director of Sport, said: "His words and iconic commentaries will be heard for years to come."
He also founded the Great North Run in 1981, which has become one of the most successful half-marathons in the world.
Car plummets 50ft into river following crash in Bedlington
A car ended up in a river after travelling 50ft down an embankment in Northumberland.
The Renault Megane left the A193 at Attlee Bank, Bedlington, in the early hours and went through a barrier before ending up in the River Blyth, police said.
The 18-year-old male driver was rescued from the vehicle and taken to hospital. His condition was described as stable.
BBC athletics commentator Foster to retire
BBC commentator Brendan Foster will retire following this summer's World Athletics Championships in London.
Read moreExtra Metro trains for Newcastle United v Preston North End clash
Metro chiefs are reminding Newcastle fans extra trains will be running on Monday as the Magpies continue their promotion push against Preston North End.
Update: Day three of Hike4Hopey's charity hike
It is day three of Hike4Hopey's 333-mile challenge.
The group is raising money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation by walking from Ipswich to Newcastle in memory of Lee Hope (pictured left) who died last year, aged 33, after a 13-week battle with bowel cancer.
Quayside bars get river rescue aids
BBC Newcastle
Bars along Newcastle's Quayside are taking part in a pilot scheme to help people who fall into the River Tyne.
Licensed premises are being equipped with flotation aids that can be thrown into the river and used to reel people in.
It follows a number of incidents involving members of the public who have fallen in - some of which have resulted in fatalities.
If the initiative is successful, it could be extended to other parts of the river.
The scheme is a partnership between Newcastle City Council, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and a company which makes the aids known as "throw bags" and is donating them for free.