Updates on Tuesday 31 January 2017
That's it for today - thank you for joining us.
You can find the latest news tonight on BBC Tees, BBC Newcastle, Look North and online.
We'll be back with more news, sport, weather and travel at 08:00 tomorrow.
You can get in touch using Twitter, external, Facebook, external, or via email at northeast.locallive@bbc.co.uk.
It will remain misty and damp during the evening with low cloud and extensive hill fog.
There will be some spells of rain which are likely to get more persistent for a time later in the night, especially in the east.
A British grandmother was killed in the Sousse attack on the 10th anniversary of her husband's death, an inquest has heard.
Lisa Burbidge, from Gateshead, was among 38 people who died in a shooting by Islamist Seifeddine Rezgui on 26 June 2015.
The 66-year-old was on holiday with three friends at the time of the attack at the five-star Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel in the Tunisian resort.
Image source, PAThe hearing was told that Mrs Burbidge had never got over the death of her husband, Bill, who passed away in 2005 after being diagnosed with cancer, and had been persuaded to take the two-week holiday by her daughters.
She was one of 30 British victims of the attack, and died from a shotgun wound to the head.
A deal to re-sign Andros Townsend from Crystal Palace is Newcastle's United's priority before the transfer window closes at 23:00.
The England international could return to Tyneside on loan for the rest of the season.
The Magpies are also likely to allow goalkeeper Tim Krul to cut short his season-long loan at Ajax to join Watford on a temporary basis.
But Benitez has told us they are yet to receive an official offer for the Dutchman.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe mother of a teenager who died after jumping into a river has received County Durham's highest honour - in recognition of her water safety campaigning.
Fiona Gosling's 14-year-old son Cameron died during a day out with friends in the summer of 2015 after he jumped into the River Wear near Bishop Auckland.
His body went into shock because the water was so cold.
Image source, Durham PoliceMrs Gosling has since worked closely with the Safe Durham Partnership on its Dying to be Cool campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the cold water shock which claimed her son's life.
She has now been awarded Durham County Council's Chairman's Medal in recognition of her continued support for the campaign.
She has told Cameron's story to more than 3,300 schoolchildren.
Fiona Gosling says she doesn't want any family to have to endure what she has gone through and that has and always will be her motivation.
Northumbria Police has thanked members of the public for helping reunite an elderly man with his lost photographs.
The images were discovered in Eldon Square on Saturday, and the force launched an appeal to try to identify the owner.
He came forward after they were widely shared on social media.
Image source, Northumbria PoliceA force spokesman said: "He was delighted to get them back as they were highly sentimental to him and were priceless.
"Thanks so much for everyone who took the time to share the appeal."
BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees
Cleveland Police is to be investigated by another force to decide if any criminal charges should be brought in connection with its unlawful use of anti terror legislation.
A tribunal found it unlawfully monitored the phones of two former officers and two local journalists.
Chief Constable Iain Spittal said they were now looking for a force with no connections to Cleveland Police to independently review the findings.
Image source, Cleveland Police"It is really important that this judgement is carefully considered to see whether there are any criminal offences that are being committed and whether there are any conduct issues that need dealing with," he said.
"Cleveland police won't be doing that."
A Tyneside company manufacturing parts for wind farms says more than 100 jobs could be created after it won a major contract.
Smulders Projects has been commissioned to make foundations for a new offshore wind farm off the coast of Aberdeenshire.
Additionally the firm, which took over the old OGN factory in Wallsend, says it'll safeguard almost 40 existing jobs at the site.
The team behind Sunderland's bid to become the 2021 UK City of Culture is hoping to woo politicians and decision-makers in London.
The team has organised an event in the capital to showcase the city's best talent with speakers and musicians taking to the stage in Westminster in front of an invited audience.
Keith Merrin from the Sunderland Cultural Partnership said it was an "opportunity to not just talk to ourselves in the region".
Sunderland was "often overshadowed" by Newcastle's arts and culture but it had "a really exciting cultural offer" with the city's Empire, the glass centre (below) and the museum, he said.
The man accused of murdering Northumberland-born children's author Helen Bailey stood to inherit the bulk of her multimillion-pound fortune on her death, a court has heard.
The 51-year-old's body was found in a cesspit at the home she shared with fiance Ian Stewart in Royston, Hertfordshire, in July.
St Albans Crown Court heard Ms Bailey - who was worth more than £3.3m at the time of her death - had made him the primary beneficiary of her will.
Mr Stewart, 57, denies her murder.
Image source, SWNSCleveland's chief constable has apologised to two fomer officers who had their phones tracked.
The force said it was justified as there had been tip-offs to journalists, which may have been a criminal offence.
But the United Kingdom Investigatory Powers Tribunal found there was no proof of this and no evidence of any legal advice to support its actions.
Chief constable Iain Spittal said: "Although I have already contacted the people affected by this and said sorry, sorry on its own isn't enough.
"When we get things wrong, as we did here, we will say sorry and work to make things right."
Five MPs from the region are among more than 70 calling for Donald Trump to be banned from addressing parliament if his state visit to Britain goes ahead.
The mostly Labour members have signed a Commons motion saying they "deplore" the president's decision to introduce travel bans on a number of mainly Muslim countries, his call for the reintroduction of torture and his comments about women.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe MPs include: Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland), Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North), Ian Mearns (Gateshead), Anna Turley (Redcar) and Iain Wright (Hartlepool).
Former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan addressed MPs and peers in Westminster Hall during visits to the UK.
Plans have been announced to permanently close Rothbury's community hospital.
Northumberland's NHS Clinical Commissioning Group wants to replace the 12 bed inpatient ward with a health and wellbeing centre.
The intention is to provide more care in the community.
Image source, GoogleThey also propose to use video links so patients can have consultations with specialists at hospitals further away.
A three-month public consultation has been launched.
BBC Sport
The second phase of the sport-participation campaign This Girl Can, external has been launched, as part of ongoing efforts by Sport England to get more women and girls exercising regularly.
The initial campaign in 2015 helped 1.6 million females aged 14-40 start, or restart, a sporting activity.
Image source, Sport England"This Girl Can has made a real difference since it launched," said Sport England chief Jenni Price.
"But there's a lot more to do. The gender gap still exists."
Again funded by the National Lottery, the four-week campaign will feature poster sites, digital and social media, and TV ads to be screened throughout February.
The jury has been sent out to consider whether a drug-dealer murdered a Hartlepool widow.
Gareth Dack, 33, denies strangling 79-year-old Norma Bell, whose body was found in her burning home last year.
Teesside Crown Court has been told by the prosection that the father-of-four killed Mrs Bell with a cable, stole a boxed TV and £700 and set fire to her terraced house to destroy evidence.
He denies murder and arson and told the jury Mrs Bell was "a wonderful woman" whom he had known since he was a boy.
Image source, Family photographMrs Bell and her late husband John had fostered more than 50 children and had three children of their own.
Older people living in homes owned by housing provider Accent Group have told BBC Tees they've been left in misery because of heating systems installed in their homes.
Residents in Thornaby claim they were promised cheaper and more efficient systems by the company but in some cases bills have tripled in size.
John, 70, said not being able to afford heating means his health is at risk.
"I've got to make a choice, do I starve or do I have the heat on in the flat? Because I've got Raynaud Syndrome, external, I need it on for my cold hands," he said.
"I put the heating on for an extra hour but that's a another three or four pounds off the meter."
The Accent Group says its carried out an independent review and is now committed to resolving the issue with the residents.
Here's the draw in full:
Image source, BBC SportAnd here's the highlights of their win over Accrington Stanley at the weekend:
Helen Richardson
BBC Newcastle
Engineers from Northern Gas Networks are working to restore supplies to homes and businesses on the Quayside in Newcastle.
Water from a burst main made its way into gas pipes on Sunday.
Supplies to about 150 properties were turned off yesterday so engineers could start pumping almost 100,000 litres of water out of the pipes.
A temporary customer drop-in centre has been set up at the Premier Inn, where people are being offered electric heaters and hot food vouchers.
He's got an enormous underbite and protruding jaw, but after getting a spot on Look North, it was hoped Fester the stray dog would be offered a home.
He has been looked after by the Dogs Trust in Darlington after being found wondering the streets.
Yet despite his sad story going viral, the poor pooch still has not been offered a home.
Staff at the Trust say a few people have been to see him and taken him for a walk, and they are keeping their fingers crossed someone can love him.
If you can offer a home to Fester, you can call them on 01325 333 114.
Cleveland Police Federation has said its members must have "trust and confidence" in the way the force is run.
The comments come after the force was told it acted unlawfully in tracking the phones of two former officers who it believed were leaking information to the press.
Federation chair, Andrea Breeze, said: "The ruling clearly outlines shortfalls in correctly interpreting legislation or adhering to strict codes of practice.
"Where standards of officer's behaviour falls short of that expected it's absolutely right that appropriate inquiries are made.
"This is something our members would expect, but it's vital that any inquiries are carried out in a fair and proportionate way.
"On behalf of our members we will be seeking reassurances that there are no on-going investigations that fail to meet the standards highlighted in this case.
The Federation will continue to ensure that our members can have trust and confidence that fair, fit-for-purpose processes exist to support investigations,"
