News & Sport

PUPILS sang their hearts out at a Christmas carol concert in front of an audience made up of their parents.

Brian Sutton, Jack Short, and Phil Harnby have joined the Bishop Auckland Stronger Town Board, helping oversee the £33.2 million regeneration project funded by the Government’s Stronger Towns Fund and led by Durham County Council.

Durham PCC Joy Allen, joint national roads policing lead for the APCC, has teamed up with TyreSafe and Warwickshire PCC Philip Seccombe to tackle serious collisions linked to illegal or unsafe tyres.

Led by Northumbrian Water employee Steve Green, festive fundraisers raised £3,000 for Steps4Kids by walking the 13.5-mile Great North Run route from Newcastle to South Shields

North East Ambition’s Discover! Creative Careers Month has engaged students aged 11 to 18 across the region, with a major event at Ushaw: Historic House, Chapel & Gardens involving 176 pupils and 15 industry partners.

While Kylie Minogue recently secured the official UK Christmas Number One with her hit ‘XMAS’, the North East has been busy casting its own tactical votes. Durham OnAir, the local radio station for County Durham, has concluded its annual poll to find the region’s definitive festive favorite. After weeks of voting from listeners across the region from Wolsingham to Pelaw, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle and Gateshead, the results are ready to be unveiled.

Singer Chris Rea, known for the festive hit 'Driving Home For Christmas', has died at the age of 74. His family said he died peacefully in hospital after a short illness. Christopher Anton Rea, the Middlesbrough-born blues-rock legend known for his soulful slide guitar and unmistakable husky baritone, has passed away at 74. From his start in music at age 22 to selling over 40 million albums, Rea’s journey was defined by a grit that mirrored the industrial landscape of his northern roots.

Lorne Michaels, Crossroads Live and Sonia Friedman Productions are delighted to announce further casting for the 2026/2027 UK and Ireland tour of the award-winning MEAN GIRLS THE MUSICAL, visiting Sunderland Empire from Monday 6 – Saturday 11 April 2026. Joining the previously announced Emily Lane as Cady Heron, Vivian Panka as Regina George, Sophie Pourret as Karen Smith, Georgie Buckland as Janis Sarkisian, Max Gill as Damian Hubbard, Karim Zeroual as Kevin Ganatra and Joshua Elmore as Mr Duvall, are Faye Tozer as Ms Heron/Ms Norbury/Mrs George and Kiara Dario as Gretchen Wieners.

A life-sized, official LEGO® sculpture of everyone’s favourite bookworm, Matilda, is arriving at Fenwick Newcastle this December! Built in partnership with Sunderland Empire, the spectacular statue celebrates the North East arrival of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s multi-award-winning West End production Matilda The Musical this February.

HC-One’s St Margaret’s Care Home in Crossgate, County Durham, recently hosted its much-anticipated annual Christmas Fayre, bringing together residents, families, and the local community for a festive celebration.

Greater Manchester Police say the plot could have been "the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history".

The government has now said it will lift the intended threshold from £1m to £2.5m.

Ex-councillor Philip Young is one of six men accused of more than 60 offences against Joanne Young.

One couple say they had decorated the boat for Christmas but would now spend it in a hotel.

The Met Office says that 2025 is likely to be the UK's hottest year since records began.

Aidan Morris is back in contention for Middlesbrough’s festive double-header, but Riley McGree will miss the Christmas games against Blackburn and Hull

Middlesbrough have confirmed the appointment of Scandinavian duo Anes Mravac and Linus Kandolin to their coaching staff.

Newcastle United have contacted referees’ chief Howard Webb over the controversial decision which denied them a penalty against Chelsea

Nick Pope and Sven Botman have chance of featuring in Newcastle United’s Boxing Day game at Man Utd, but Tino Livramento situation less clear

Luke Ayling says he is loving life under Kim Hellberg because the Middlesbrough manager reminds him of former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.