Lloyd Watson
BBC News

That's all from BBC Local Live today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Thursday. Jack Reay sent us this picture of the sun rising just above Roker's south pier.

Image source, Jack Reay

You can send your pictures by email to northeast.locallive@bbc.co.uk or tweet @BBCNewsNE, external and we may feature them on BBC Local Live tomorrow.

Durham Free School is taking legal advice after the Education Secretary said it will close at Easter.

It follows a critical Ofsted report last year, and last month the Government said it was stopping its funding.

In a statement, chair of governors John Denning said: "It is important that parents are informed by the school of the content of the Regional School's Commissioner letter, and that is our priority at this time. The trust is also consulting its legal advisers."

It concludes: "We have given careful thought to the effect on pupils of having to move to another school; and we have sought to keep any disruption to a minimum by liaising with Durham County Council (DCC) regarding provision of alternative school places.

"With this in mind, the Secretary of State has set the date for termination at the end of the spring term."

Today's letter to Durham Free School, signed by Janet Renou, regional schools commissioner for the North, and addressed to chair of governors John Denning, says: "Having considered the academy trust's representations, the Secretary of State does not consider that you have provided sufficient evidence to show that the academy trust has the capacity or a suitable strategy to bring about the necessary improvements at Durham Free School.

"The representations put forward did not full demonstrate that the Trust is seriously addressing weaknesses in areas such as safeguarding pupils, poor attendance, quality of teaching and dealing with a "culture of intolerance of people who have different faiths, values or beliefs."

Durham Free School, which has a Christian ethos and opened in September 2013 with just 94 pupils, received a highly critical Ofsted report after an inspection at the end of last year, external.

Ofsted warned that governors put too much emphasis on religion credentials when recruiting staff as well as concluding that the school was failing to prepare pupils for modern Britain.

Last month acting head teacher Julian Eisner said he was appeal against a government decision to end its funding.

The failing Durham Free School is to close at Easter, it has been announced.

It was warned last month that its funding would be axed if it failed to swiftly come up with an action plan to raise standards. Its funding was then withdrawn.

A new letter, published today, says that Education Secretary Nicky Morgan does not believe that the Trust running the school has shown enough evidence that it can bring about improvements.

Image source, Google

Plans for three wind turbines which would be the tallest in England and Wales have been approved in Hartlepool.

Permission was sought for three single turbines at Graythorp Industrial Estate, Brenda Road West Industrial Estate and Tofts Road West.

Image source, The Energy Workshop

Originally meant be 200m (655ft) high, they have been reduced to 175m (574ft) following concerns over toppling distance to the nearby railway line. The scheme was approved by Hartlepool Borough Council's planning committee.

The Shields Gazette

An historic pub at the heart of Hebburn is to be flattened over concerns it would detract from the town centre's regeneration, external.

Image source, Shields Gazette

A pioneering £250m science and engineering hub has been officially opened in Newcastle.

Science Central, built on the site of the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery, has been hailed as one of the UK's biggest regeneration projects.

Up to 2,000 jobs are expected to be based on the 24-acre site by 2020. The development - a partnership between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University - was opened by Universities Minister Greg Clark.

Hartlepool Mail

Hartlepool United have signed Ryan Bird on loan from Cambridge United, external.

Image source, Hartlepool Mail

Peter Harris
Look North

Prince Harry, who is in the North East today, has just arrived at Avondale House in Newcastle.

It's a place for veterans and their partners to live while looking for civilian jobs. Here, he's meeting some of those armed forces veterans.

I'll have more on his visit on BBC Look North at 18:30 on BBC One.

Callum Doyle, 16, from Wallsend has been named Royal Yachting Association, external North East Young Club Sailor of the Year Award.

He began sailing at Tynemouth Sailing Club in 2010 and has sailed almost 2,000 miles. His ambition is to break the 2,500 mark by the end of 2015.

Image source, Royal Yachting Association

The RYA Club Sailor of the Year Award is given to young sailors and powerboaters across the NE Region who, in the opinion of the RYA NE committee, have excelled over the previous year in terms of club service.

BBC Tees

We've just heard that Hope the puppy, who was found abandoned on a windswept beach in Hartlepool, has been re-homed.

The under-weight Staffordshire terrier-type bitch which was believed to be eight-weeks-old at the time, was found cowering among rocks near Newburn Bridge earlier this month, external.

We'll have more on BBC Tees later.

The top local headlines at 17:00 include:

• BBC Tees: Police are still hunting a man who sexually assaulted a teenager in Middlesbrough.

• BBC Newcastle: Jon Harle and Anne Leuchars have a round-up of the day's news.

Paul Mooney
BBC Weather presenter

Cloudy and becoming increasingly windy overnight with outbreaks of rain. Rain will become heavier and more persistent later in the night with fog on the Pennines. Mild southwesterly winds will be strong with gales on hills.

Minimum temperature: 5C (41F). Check the forecast near you.

Peter Harris
Look North

Prince Harry has been in the region this afternoon.

His first stop was at Haydon Bridge in Northumberland where he saw the work being done by the county's Wildlife Trust to protect one of England's few remaining red squirrel strongholds. The Prince also visited a residential centre in Byker, Newcastle.

Image source, AP

I'll have more on this story on BBC Look North at 18:30 on BBC One.

Bolton Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside and former manager Sammy Lee have faced court on charges stemming from a 2007 transfer deal dispute with a Sunderland football agent.

They are accused of perjury in a private prosecution brought by Tony McGill (pictured), who claims he was cut out of a £1m deal which saw midfielder Gavin McCann move from Aston Villa to Bolton.

Image source, PA

Former Sunderland player McCann and seven others from the football world have also been charged. No pleas were entered during the hearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.

Sarah Hobson sent us this picture of the sun setting across North Shields marina.

Image source, Sarah Hobson

You can send your pictures by email to northeast.locallive@bbc.co.uk or tweet @BBCNewsNE, external.

The top local headlines at 16:00 include:

• BBC Tees: The North East and Cumbria has seen a disproportionate increase in hospital admissions compared to the rest of the country.

• BBC Newcastle: Jon Harle and Anne Leuchars have a round-up of the day's news.

Northern Echo

An e-fit of a man suspected of carrying out a sexual assault in Middlesbrough has been released by police., external

Image source, Northern Echo