BBC Local Live: North East England

1. Friday 21 April 2017
2. Alice Ruggles murder trial: Ex-boyfriend 'obsessive'
3. Adam Johnson prison video investigated
4. Former Middlesbrough defender Ehiogu dies
5. Prison unit for extremists to open
6. Tower block fire victim named

Our live coverage across the day

Our live updates are now finished for the week - thank you for joining us.

You can still find the latest news on BBC Tees, BBC Newcastle, Look North and online across the weekend.

As it's Friday, I'm sure a fair few of you will be walking out of the office looking as excited as these two pups.

The picture was taken by the Halcyon Twins in Cockfield, County Durham.

The Halcyon Twins

We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel at 08:00 on Monday and you can get in touch using Twitter, Facebook, or via email.

Weather: Rain and winds ease

Evening rain should clear south to leave a drier but clearer and markedly colder end to the night, with a frost developing as winds also ease.

BBC

Check the weather where you are.

Tributes left at the Riverside for Ugo Ehiogu

Tributes to former Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu have been left at the Riverside Stadium.

The 44-year-old died after suffering a cardiac arrest and the football world has been quick to show its respect for the man capped four times by England.

BBC

BBC

Alice Ruggles murder trial: Ex-boyfriend made 240-mile trips to 'hang around' her home

More now on the Alice Ruggles murder trial, and the jury at Newcastle Crown Court has heard how her ex-boyfriend made numerous attempts to contact her in the weeks before she died.

L/Cpl Trimaan "Harry" Dhillon made three 240-mile round trips from his barracks to Tyneside "to hang around her house at night".

Mr Dhillon, under cross-examination, admitted this was "not a nice thing to do" and that he has "no justification".

The 26-year-old said that he never considered himself to be stalking Alice, who was found dead in her Gateshead home last October.

The jury has previously heard Mr Dhillon claim Miss Ruggles died when she lunged at him with a carving knife and the weapon ended up in her neck when he blocked her.

Murder-accused soldier admits being 'obsessive'

A soldier accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend by cutting her throat has admitted he was obsessive but denied stalking her.

L/Cpl Trimaan "Harry" Dhillon denies breaking into Alice Ruggles' Gateshead flat last October and leaving her to bleed to death in the bathroom.

The Edinburgh-based signaller told Newcastle Crown Court he loved the 24-year-old, telling the jury they shared a sense of humour and that she made him feel special.

From the witness box, Mr Dhillon appeared upset and insisted that he knew so much about her "not because [he] stalked her" but because he used to "care and listen every time".

The trial continues.

Northumbria Police

Ex-footballer paralysed in pool accident

Ex-footballer Joey Hutchinson is left in wheelchair with "life-changing injuries" after falling into pool.

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Footballer prison video investigated

In a video released by The Sun, Adam Johnson was filmed apparently talking to other inmates.

Read more

Ehiogu shaped golden era at Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough signed many outstanding players during Bryan Robson's reign as manager - and Ehiogu can take his place near the top of the list following his move from Villa to Teesside for a then club record fee of £8m in October 2000.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson was prepared to bankroll the acquisition of high-profile, high-quality signings and Ehiogu fell perfectly into that category as the expenditure was rewarded with performances that ensured he will always be fondly remembered at the Riverside.

He did start to suffer with the knee problems that would undermine the latter days of his career.

But it was at Boro where his friendship with Southgate continued to blossom, first as team-mates and then when Southgate took over as manager.

That culminated in both playing key roles as Boro won their first major trophy in 128 years with a 2-1 win over Bolton Wanderers at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in the 2004 Carling Cup final.

Getty Images

Former England defender Ehiogu 'a hugely popular football figure'

Ex-Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu, who has died at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest, was not just a highly accomplished and successful defender who was forging a growing reputation as a coach - he was a hugely popular figure within the game.

The reaction to his death after collapsing at Tottenham's training centre, the club where he was an under-23s coach, is a reflection of the esteem in which Ehiogu was held.

Ehiogu was a powerful, imposing figure as a player and a well-rounded character away from the game, making a career in the music business while also shaping the future of the next generation at Spurs.

He was a player who should have won many more than his four England caps - but still enjoyed a fine career and seemed destined for more success in the next stage of his development as an important member of the Spurs backroom team before his death.

Getty Images

'Don't approach escaped prisoner', police warn

Police are urging people not to approach a woman who's absconded from a North Yorkshire prison while serving a five-year sentence for grievous bodily harm.

North Yorkshire Police

Donna Willis, 36, escaped from HMP Askham Grange, near York, on Wednesday, police have revealed.

Officers believe Willis may have travelled north, and say enquiries are largely focused around the Northumbria area. 

She is described as white, 5ft 2ins tall, with a slim build and blonde and brown hair.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police.

Seals at sunrise in Whitley Bay

These seals were spotted enjoying the sunrise this morning near St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay.

The weekend weather seems promising, with sunny spells throughout Sunday.

PA

PA

Cricket: Lunchtime report as Durham take on Gloucestershire

It's lunch as Durham take on Gloucestershire in Division Two of the County Championship. Gloucestershire have reached 97-3.

View more on twitter

View more on twitter

Marske pensioner to hit 1,000 Not Out

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View more on facebook

University security guard threatened

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to after a university security guard was threatened in Newcastle.

A man was spotted "acting suspiciously" at Northumbria University's city campus and was approached by the guard, who was then threatened.

Police were called, but the man had left the scene by the time they arrived.

Northumbria Police

McClaren 'devastated' after Ugo Ehiogu's death

Former England manager Steve McClaren has spoken following the death of defender Ugo Ehiogu.

Ehiogu was part of the Middlesbrough team that won the 2004 Carling Cup under McClaren and later helped Boro reach the 2006 UEFA Cup semi-final.

In a statement, he remembered Ehiogu as a "gentle giant of a man off the field, but a real warrior on it", and said he was "devastated" at his passing.

He added: "I think he was underestimated as a player. Our defence was the foundation of our success – and whenever Ugo was there you knew you had a rock in the middle.”

Getty Images

Beach becomes dumping ground as council defends new tip charges

Council bosses have been accused of causing fly tipping by their own policies.

Hartlepool Mail

Former Boro colleague remembers Ugo Ehiogu

Tributes are being paid to former Middlesbrough and England defender Ugo Ehiogu, who has died at the age of 44.

As we told you earlier, he suffered a cardiac arrest at Tottenham's training centre yesterday.

Dean Windass played with Ehiogu at Middlesbrough and said he was a "father figure".

He said: "He'd always look after me and make sure I was doing the right things at the time. I remember cleaning his boots, size 13s they were. They were absolutely monsters".

Getty Images

Woman missing after visiting Newcastle

A woman from the Czech Republic has been reported missing after visiting family in Newcastle.

Peterova Terezka, 26, has not returned home after she was last seen in Elswick a week ago.

It is believed she may be in the South Tyneside area.

Northumbria Police

'Amazing young man' Dylan Holmes loses cancer fight surrounded by loved ones

An inspirational cancer patient, who used a bucket list as motivation during his treatment, has lost his fight against the disease.

The Gazette

Ugo Ehiogu: His time at Boro

As we reported earlier, the former Middlesbrough defender Ugo Ehiogu has died.

Ehiogu suffered a cardiac arrest at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday and was admitted to hospital. 

The 44-year-old made more than 150 appearances for Middlesbrough after signing for £8m in 2000.

He was part of the 2004 Carling Cup-winning side - the club's first major trophy. 

Getty Images

'Government won't let former Soviet spy work'

A former Soviet Cold War spy, who is now living in Northumberland, says he's facing a life in poverty after having his benefits cut.

Viktor Makarov spent 13 years as a KGB agent before being arrested on suspicion of selling secrets to the British.

Courtesy of Viktor Makarov

He eventually made it to Britain with the help of MI6.

But, even though he was awarded £65,000 by the government, he now claims he can't afford to live on benefits of £125 a week and that the security forces here are stopping him from getting a job.

BBC

"I haven't received any answer, any reply for my application," he said.

"I could have, ironically, worked as a benefit fraud investigator but, again, my application was not answered."

MI6 said it was its practice “to never comment” on staff or agents and the Foreign Office said it could not comment on intelligence issues.

Ugo Ehiogu: Former Middlesbrough defender dies after cardiac arrest

Former Middlesbrough and England defender Ugo Ehiogu has died at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest at Tottenham's training centre on Thursday.

A Spurs statement said Ehiogu died in hospital in the early hours of Friday.

Ehiogu, who was Spurs' Under-23s coach, was capped four times by England.

"Words cannot express the shock and sadness that we all feel at the club," said Tottenham's head of coaching and development John McDermott.

"Ugo's immense presence will be irreplaceable."

Getty Images

First prison unit for extremists to open this summer

Three purpose-built blocks are to open within high-security jails to hold the most dangerous extremist prisoners away from other inmates.

The first unit will open this summer at Frankland Prison in County Durham, with two more to follow at other jails.

The Ministry of Justice said the blocks will have their own facilities and be able to hold up to 28 people.

PA

Murder accused 'panicked and ran'

Trimaan Dhillon tells a court his former girlfriend lunged at him with a knife, and fell on it.

Read more

Tower block fire death victim named

Teresa Bolam was a "loving sister" who will be "greatly missed", her brother says.

Read more

Weather: Enjoy the sun while you can

It'll be a mild start to the morning with some spells of sunshine for a time, but cloud will eventually win out.

There's a dull day in store with temperatures reaching a high of about 15C - not quite as high as it got yesterday.

BBC

Welcome to Tuesday's live coverage

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