BBC Local Live: North East England

Do you know who Middlesbrough-born soldier Stan Hollis was or what he did?

Well he was the only person to receive the Victoria Cross for bravery on D-Day on 6 June 1944.

Now a memorial bench in honour of Company Sgt Maj Hollis has been unveiled at St Cuthbert’s Church in Ormesby.  

The bench was officially unveiled to the public in a ceremony outside the church.

Stan’s son Brian and granddaughter Mandy were there, along with the Green Howards.

Watch the bench being unveiled here.

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 A woman was victim to an attempted robbery as she walked along Murray Street in Hartlepool.

The incident occurred at around 21:45 on Saturday, 25 June, when the woman saw three young males running towards her. 

Two of them ran past her and one of them, who was carrying a yellow scaffolding tube, attempted to grab her phone.

When she wouldn’t hand it over, the male hit her in the arm with the tube and ran off towards Victoria Road.

The victim received treatment at the One Life Centre in Hartlepool for minor injuries.

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Two former North East footballers have announced they have joined new clubs, albeit in slightly different leagues.

Ex-Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa has signed a two-year deal with French champions Paris Saint-Germain from Ligue 1 rivals Nice.

The Match of the Day Magazine was suitably snarky about how a former boss at St James' Park dealt with the mercurial talent...

And Championship side Sheffield Wednesday have signed striker Steven Fletcher on a free transfer following his recent departure from Sunderland. 

To keep the Gallic theme going, Fletcher, 29, had finished last season on loan with Marseille.

A teenager made racist comments to a number of people in Gateshead on Wednesday and will now face action. 

Police received a report from a member of the public who had witnessed a boy making racist remarks to a number of people in Coatsworth Road. 

The 16-year-old was interviewed by officers at Gateshead police station, where he admitted the offence.

He will now appear at a youth surgery and face punishment for what he has done. 

Gateshead Insp Mick Robson said: "No matter how old you are, or what the circumstances are, if you are found making racist comments or behaving in a racist way then you will face action. It is completely unacceptable and we will not stand for it."

Often dry through the evening and night with some clear spells, especially towards the east. However. some showers will continue, particularly over the Pennines. A cool night with brisk westerly winds. 

Check the weather where you are. 

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There's queuing traffic on the A181 eastbound in Wheatley Hill in County Durham between the B6291 junction and the B1278 junction in the roadworks area.  

Plus there's queuing traffic on the A690 Leazes Road westbound in Durham between the Gilesgate Roundabout and the Leazes Bowl Roundabout. Also in the roadworks.

And there's one lane blocked and queuing traffic on the A1 Western Bypass northbound in Newcastle between the Hexham turn off and Westerhope turn because of a broken down lorry. 

Get the latest travel information for Teesside and Tyne and Wear.  

A Northumberland Conservative MP who's backing Michael Gove to be the party's next leader and Prime Minister says he's motivated to stand by conviction, not ambition.

Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan says the Justice Secretary, who today said his 'heart told him' that he should put himself forward, can reform the country following the EU referendum.

She said: "He's a radical reformer, he's proved that he can drive through really radical change and actually get it though the vagaries of the civil service to get dramatic change.

"In the case of his education reform, children who most needed that advantage to get a better education and he's now doing it with prison reform."

You can watch Mr Gove's speech below:

A new date has been set for the trial of three men accused of murder.

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The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson, has announced that he won't be attending the Durham Miners' Gala due to his father's illness.

Mr Watson has said he regrets that he will not be able to attend, and his father, a lifelong socialist and Unison activist, asked him to pass on his best wishes to everyone attending.

He added that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was "very supportive of him whilst in hospital this year".

Earlier this week, the Durham Miners' Association announced that MPs who have resigned from the shadow cabinet and voted against Jeremy Corbyn will not be welcomed at the Gala.

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A man from Walker in Newcastle has gone missing.

Euan McGregor is 41 and 5ft 9in, of stocky build and has long brown hair and a beard.

He was last seen yesterday wearing a khaki-coloured jacket and cargo trousers. 

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A 48-year-old man was left with a broken eye socket and a fractured jaw after being assaulted in Hartlepool.

He was walking along the promenade area on Marina Drive at 19:30 on 10 June when he was approached by a group of five males who asked him for a cigarette.

One of the men then punched him in the face several times, causing him to fall to the ground.

The victim was then assaulted by several of the group before they fled the scene.

He was taken to James Cook University Hospital.

A married granddad has been jailed for downloading such horrific child abuse images that the detectives investigating his case now need counselling.

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Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez has had a busy day.

He has bought Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle, and sold Andros Townsend all in the last few hours.

Benitez said: "We have been following some wingers for a while and Matt was one of the best prospects for this team. 

 "He has great ability and pace, and as soon as we knew that Andros Townsend could be leaving, our priority was to finalise this deal. 

 "We have signed an exciting winger who has experience in the Championship but has also proved that he can step up to the top level."

And on Townsend's departure, MD Lee Charnley said: "Despite Andros' departure today, we believe with the signings we have made this week we have strengthened the squad."

Business minister Anna Soubry addressed about 100 North East manufacturers at an event in Newcastle last night.

The event was held to help allay their post-Brexit fears. 

Addressing the audience, she tried to reassure them that Britain "remains open for business", and that our "advanced manufacturing remains some of the very best in the world".

She added: "These are undoubtedly difficult and uncertain times, but what's vital now is that we all - people, government and business - come together to support British industry."

She was speaking at the second annual North East Manufacturing Dinner, organised by EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, which brings together manufacturers, engineers and senior business people from across the region.  

New Newcastle United winger Matt Ritchie says it's "fantastic" to be joining the Magpies.

He told the club's website: "It's an unbelievable feeling to come to a football club like this.

"I loved it at Bournemouth - I had a fantastic time there and it had a huge impact on my career. But when a club like Newcastle comes calling, I couldn't pass up this opportunity.

"It's fantastic to be here and I'm really looking forward to the challenge of getting the Club back in the Premier League."

He has penned a five-year deal a few hours after striker Dwight Gayle did the same.

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Yesterday we told you that police were warning about two women who had been knocking on doors in the Benfield Road area of Walker, Newcastle, claiming to be selling lottery tickets.

Residents were suspicious and police started to investigate it as a potential fraud.

Well, it turns out that the two women were genuinely working for the Euromillions lottery company and were legitimately selling Euromillions tickets.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, after the National Lottery told the police that they do not employ door-to door sales people.

With the football transfer window open, here's a snippet from today's Gossip Column:

Former Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher has become a free agent - and Sheffield Wednesday could beat Norwich City to the signing of the 29-year-old. (Sunderland Echo)

A study by Newcastle University suggests that brain tumour cells rely on fats to fuel growth, which could have implications on how the most fatal form of the disease is treated. 

Research at the university looked at the behaviour of glioma - the most common form of malignant brain tumour.

The findings, published in the journal Neuro-Oncology, seem to contradict the previously held belief that the cells were fuelled mainly by sugar.

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Newcastle United have made another signing today after landing Dwight Gayle - winger Matt Ritchie has arrived from Bournemouth. 

The 26-year-old Scotland international has penned a five-year deal at St. James' Park.

He spent three-and-a-half years at The Cherries, making 142 appearances and scoring 31 goals.