The 76-year-old, who gunned down a council officer in front of TV cameras, is now in a care home.

That's all from us for today - thank you for joining us.

You can still catch up with the latest news throughout the night on BBC Tees, BBC Newcastle, Look North, and online.

If you'd like to get in touch or share your North East pictures with us, you can do so on Twitter, external, Facebook, external, or via email.

We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00, have a good evening.

The funeral of former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd will be open to all his supporters.

The 75 year old died at his home last Monday.

Image source, Getty Images

He was a major figure in the fortunes of Newcastle, especially during the 1990s.

His family has confirmed his funeral will be held at 12:00 on Saturday at St George's Church in Jesmond.

Anyone wishing to attend the service should arrive no later than 11:00.

Spaces will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis.

Members of the public unable to enter the church will be able to listen to the service outside, where it will be broadcast via loudspeaker.

It's the big switch-on for the Sunderland illuminations tonight - and this year you'll need to buy tickets online in advance.

They cost £1 each and allow entry into Roker Park.

And if you take any photos you'd like to share with us. You can tweet them to @BBCNewsNE, external, email them, or contact us via our Facebook page, external.

Two people are seriously injured when they are stuck by a car on Hylton Road in Sunderland.

The Shields Gazette

An elderly man who suffered a mini stroke had to wait more than 10 hours for an ambulance to take him to hospital., external

Image source, Shields Gazette

Holidaymakers are being warned they will still have to be careful if they return to Tunisia.

Lisa Burbidge from Gateshead was killed in Sousse in 2015 along with 29 other British people when a gunman opened fire at a beach resort.

Image source, Northumbria police

The Foriegn Office relaxed its travel advice this summer because the Tunisian authorities have improved security measures.

But the British Ambassador to Tunisia has told the BBC that she cannot guarantee the safety of tourists returning to the country.

Four schools in County Durham are involved in a project to sell on surplus stock donated by supermarkets.

Albert Dryden, the County Durham man who killed a planning officer in front of TV cameras 26 years ago, has been released from prison because of ill health.

The 76-year-old was serving life in prison after he shot a planning officer from Derwentside Council on his land in Consett in 1991.

He also shot and injured a police officer and a BBC reporter.

Mr Dryden has been placed in a residential care home after having a stroke.

A BBC investigation has uncovered new evidence of social work involvement in the case of murdered toddler Liam Fee, who was from Gateshead.

It has emerged that a social worker visited his home weeks before he died, after hospital staff raised concerns.

No action was taken and the visit was not mentioned in the summary of the official investigation into his death.

Image source, PA

Durham police say a body has been found in the search for Brian l'anson.

It was discovered in a wooded area in the Bracks Farm area of Bishop Auckland yesterday.

His family have been informed but formal identification has not yet been carried out.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Durham and England all rounder Ben Stokes is set to be awarded an England central contract when the list is announced on Friday.

The announcement was due yesterday but has been delayed.

Image source, AFP

Test vice-captain Stokes, 26, was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm in September after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub.

He and batsman Alex Hales, who is set for a renewed limited-overs contract, will not be considered for selection until further notice.

The six men were convicted of firearms charges in 2016 and are still waiting for their appeal to be heard.

Sunderland Echo
Newspaper

Two more arrests have been made following a hit and run in Sunderland which has left a man fighting for his life., external

Image source, Sunderland Echo

Ex-inmates at HMP Kirklevington have claimed they were abused by staff at the detention centre.

The Northern Echo
Newspaper

A notorious killer who shot dead a planning officer in cold blood in front of media cameras has been released from prison after suffering a stroke, The Northern Echo can reveal., external

Image source, Mike Peckett

Batsman Graham Clark and wicketkeeper Michael Richardson sign extensions to their Durham contracts which will now expire in 2019.

BBC Tees
www.bbc.co.uk/BBCTees

Passengers across the North East are facing more disruption with the second rail strike in less than a week.

Members of the RMT union who work for Northern Rail have begun a 24-hour walkout over plans to make train doors driver-only operated.

Rail companies have said this means a guard is no longer needed but some workers believe safety procedures would be compromised.

Northern said it expected to run about 46% of services, with many terminating at 19:00.

Edward Graham died in action in Sicily unaware he had recently become the father of twin boys.

Colin Briggs
Look North

More than 400 men have now contacted the police to say they were abused by staff at a former North East detention centre.

The men claim they suffered physical and sexual abuse when they were teenagers at the centre at Kirklevington, near Yarm, between the early 1960s and 1990s.

Cleveland Police says over the last three years 414 men have contacted them to say they were abused at the centre.

It has now referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service and it will decide whether any criminal charges will be brought.