Updates on Thursday 26 February 2015
That's all for BBC Local Live in the North East for today. We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow. We leave you with this photo Tracey Laing snapped of fellow walkers taking in the view of Lindisfarne Castle.
Image source, Tracey LaingIf you'd like us to feature your pictures, send them to us by email, tweet us @BBCNewsNE, external or join our Facebook page, external.
People who use their mobile phones illegally while driving are more likely to be sending texts or using social media than making a phone call, the Department for Transport says.
It carried out observations at 60 sites, including in Newcastle and Durham, and 30 locations in Scotland, last October.
Image source, PAOverall, the DfT found 1.1% of drivers holding a mobile in their hand compared with 0.5% with a phone to their ear. Van drivers used their phones the most, with 2.7% falling foul of the law.
The GMB claims police "targeted" unemployed construction workers for questioning ahead of Monday's protest.
Protests took place at Wilton-based Sita Sembcorp, which the union claims is using low-paid foreign labour and underpaying local workers.
Cleveland Police said officers actually openly sought to engage with organisers to ensure it went ahead safely.
A council boss was accused of being involved in a terrorist plot when he was wrongly identified at a Teesside town.
Bish Sharif, head of teenage services at Derbyshire County Council, said his trip to Redcar was ruined when police dragged him out of a cafe and detained him by mistake, external.
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said the incident was down to a misunderstanding. She said: "We would like to apologise for any disruption to their afternoon caused by some confusion with descriptions."
Newcastle Falcons have signed Tonga international scrum-half Sonatane Takulua from New Zealand-based ITM Cup side Northland.
Takulua, 24, has agreed terms at Kingston Park through until the end of next season. The playmaker will add cover to the Falcons' existing first-grade half-backs Mike Blair and Ruki Tipuna.
He said: "I'm looking forward to learning and sharing skills. I can't wait to get on the field.
Image source, Getty Images"My dream of playing full-time rugby is finally coming true. It's been a lot of hard work and sacrifice but I'm delighted to be at Newcastle."
A teenage girl thought to have been sexually exploited should be placed in secure accommodation for her own safety, a family judge has ruled.
At a family court hearing in Newcastle, Judge Simon Wood said a "pattern" had emerged of the 17-year-old absconding and being found "in the company of inappropriate, much older Asian males" and she had been a "very significant victim of child sexual exploitation".
Judge Wood said he had considered targeting the men who were exploiting the teenager, who was in council care and whose family had lived in Newcastle, but concluded he could not.
He said a senior detective had "impressed" on him that as long as the girl was in secure accommodation she was "safe" and "could not be raped or worse". Social services had echoed the concerns.
BBC Look North
They sprang up in Germany, only months ago. Now they're headed here. Pegida - a right wing group opposed to what they call the "Islamisation of Europe" - have chosen Newcastle for their first rally in the UK, this weekend.
They claim to be peaceful and non-racist. But they'll be faced by what could be one of the biggest counter-demonstrations this region has seen for years.
The police say they won't be taking any special action, and expect it to be "business as usual" in the city centre on Saturday. We've got more on this from 18:30 on Look North on BBC One.
The Gazette
A man arrested in pink pyjamas during a police drugs raid has avoided a prison sentence, external.
Image source, The Gazette
BBC Radio 2
If you missed Geordie comedian Ross Noble along with Jason Manford and Phil Jupitus on BBC Radio 2, you can listen again here.
They discussed the staging of The Producers that's touring the UK featuring all three funnymen.
If only Stephen Fry and Alan Davies were here, this would be our dream QI line up!
On the news that Jonas Gutierrez could make his first Premier League appearance on Saturday since overcoming testicular cancer, he tweets, external: It was hard but I never lost faith. Big step can be this weekend, so happy to be in the squad again. Always looking forward.
Image source, Getty ImagesEasington Labour MP Grahame Morris has highlighted a "growing crisis" in grassroots football and called on Culture Secretary Sajid Javid to back his party's plan for the Premier League to hand over 5% of its revenue to smaller clubs.
Mr Javid agreed there should be more investment in the grassroots game, telling MPs in the Commons: "The Premier League already does a lot and I welcome that and I think we should all commend that. But I think with the recent result of the increase in their finances we can all expect them to do more."
But he added: "I have to say I don't accept there is a need for legislation. What there is a need for is a continuing active dialogue with the Premier League to make sure that the investment in grassroots football continues."
BT and Sky paid a combined £5.136bn to show 168 live games per season between 2016 and 2019. The BBC paid £204m to renew the rights for Match of the Day for three more years, external.
The Great North Air Ambulance was called to a woman who had fallen and sustained an ankle injury while walking along Hadrian's Wall this afternoon, external.
Image source, Great North Air AmbulanceThe top local headlines at 17:00 include:
BBC Tees: Stockton Council has agreed a 1.9% increase in council tax.
BBC Newcastle: Martin Emmerson and Anne Leuchars have a round-up of the day's news.
Carole Walker
Political correspondent, BBC News
The leader of the House of Commons, William Hague, has said other northern cities should be encouraged to emulate the example of Manchester, which has taken control of health spending.
Mr Hague told a Westminster lunch the government was engaged in "the biggest drive in decades to decentralise" powers with policies such as the northern powerhouse and city deals.
He said cities like Leeds Liverpool and Newcastle should not be alienated by Manchester's move "they should be encouraged to emulate it", he said "it's up to them to put forward their own plans".
Mr Hague said the Tories had gained seats in the north at the last election and were in "good shape" to hold them at the coming election. He said economic growth in the north would over time result in the Tories gaining greater strength in the north.
A historic Teesside brass band which had looked set to break up due to a shortage of members has seen a transformation in its fortunes.
South Bank Brass Band has been going for 150 years in Middlesbrough but in recent times membership fell from 25 people to 13.
However, during the last 12 months new musicians have been queuing up to join. Find out why.
Paul Mooney
BBC Weather presenter
A clearer and colder night than of late, with isolated blustery showers moving in on the westerly wind. These showers will mainly affect the North Pennines and Cheviots, with the risk of ice patches greatest here along with some slight snow accumulations.
Minimum temperature: 0C (32F). Check the forecast near you.
Sunderland forward Emanuele Giaccherini is unlikely to play again this season after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury, says manager Gus Poyet.
The Italy international, 29, has been ruled out for a minimum of 12 weeks after having the operation on Thursday.
Image source, Getty ImagesGiaccherini, a £6.5m signing from Juventus in July 2013, has made just two Premier League starts this season. "We need to be sure he is 100% and we wish him well and hope he will make a full recovery," said Poyet.
Rachel Kerr
BBC News
Northumbria Police has held a media conference about a planned demonstration in Newcastle by anti-Islam group Pegida.
Chief Supt Laura Young, area commander for Newcastle, said: "Pegida are a group who have asked to come into the city centre of Newcastle to hold an assembly which we are treating as a peaceful assembly. That will be at 11:00 in the Bigg Market.
"Newcastle Unites also requested a march from Gallowgate to Newgate Street - a peaceful march. It is business as usual. People should continue with their plans but maybe allow a bit of extra time."
The top local headlines at 16:00 include:
BBC Tees: Stockton Council has agreed a 1.9% increase in council tax.
BBC Newcastle: Martin Emmerson and Anne Leuchars have a round-up of the day's news.
What do you think of BBC Local Live? It's written by reporters across the North East and brings you the latest news, sport, travel and weather all in one place. We'd like your feedback about this service, external.
