BBC Local Live: North East England

That's it for today and, indeed, this week.

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

If you have a photograph you'd like to share with us, you can tweet us  @BBCNewsNE ,  email , or contact us via our  Facebook page .

We'll be back on Monday from 08:00 and hope you can join us.

Hopefully this picture is a taste of things to come and we have a sunny weekend to look forward to.

Press Association photographer Owen Humphreys took this beautiful photo of the sun rising over Coquet Island off the Northumberland coast.

PACopyright: PA

George Friend and Calum Chambers will miss Middlesbrough's game against Burnley on Saturday.

And temporary boss Steve Agnew says Gaston Ramirez is a doubt although he took part in a light training session earlier.

“It’s difficult when good players, and players who have done well this season are missing through injury, but this is football," he added.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

A son spelt his brother's name wrong when he forged their mother's will to try and swindle money .

Stewart Caygill, 53, had been taking money from his mother Theresa then made himself the beneficiary of her estate, Teesside Crown Court heard.

But the scam was exposed after his brother Philip, 55, noticed his name had been spelt with an extra "l".

Caygill, of Horden, County Durham, was found guilty of forgery and jailed for four years.

Durham PoliceCopyright: Durham Police

A woman from Whitley Bay says she is feeling her best since before her cancer diagnosis in 2007 after taking part in a clinical trial. 

Susan Ross, 59, had undergone four operations and three rounds of chemotherapy before being enrolled for the new drug called Rubraca. 

Susan, who will continue using the drug as part of her treatment, said: "I hope patients in the UK will also have this opportunity in the future."

The drug, developed by scientists at Newcastle University, is designed for women with recurrent ovarian cancer and has just been approved for use in America.

It is hoped that the drug will be approved in the UK and Europe in next year. 

Susan RossCopyright: Susan Ross

Hats off to David Moyes who said, after he took over from Sam Allardyce is the summer, that the Black Cats would be facing a relegation struggle this season.

He was right.

Here's the Scot again: "It's a massive ask for us now, but we're not relegated yet and we have a chance.

"We'll push as hard as we can and sometimes one game can make a difference. Hopefully that game can be this weekend.

"We've relied on [striker] Jermain Defoe a lot and I hope he has another half dozen before the end of the season, but others have to score as well."

PACopyright: PA

Northern Rail workers are taking further strike action on Saturday with two thirds of services not running.  

A police operation has been launched to tackle a gang of up to 50 yobs causing a nuisance around Hartlepool Marina.

A dispersal order has been imposed covering The Lanyard, Victoria Terrace and Maritime Avenue and will remain in place for 48 hours.

Hartlepool MailCopyright: Hartlepool Mail

Transport, culture, tourism, skills, innovation, identity. These are all important issues in the Tees Valley mayoral election on 4 May. 

But ultimately this new role is about the economy – bringing more high-quality, better-paid jobs to the region.

For his final look at the mayoral election, David Macmillan has chosen something which is integral to the region’s economy. And it has more uses than you might think.

Three North East hospitals trusts were among five who accounted for nearly half of the 500 times overcrowded hospitals were forced to close their doors to ambulances over the winter.

Figures from the Nuffield Trust think tank showed the figures were nearly double the level of the previous three winters.

Among the five trusts accounting for almost half the diverts were Northumbria, County Durham & Darlington and South Tyneside.

In a joint statement, the three said they work closely with the ambulance service and that during extremely busy times they sometimes divert an ambulance to another local hospital but any decisions taken were "always in the interests of patient safety".

This animation explains how the NHS system works.

It's 175 years since Newcastle's Victoria Tunnel opened and to mark the occasion the Ouseburn Trust is holding a day of celebrations .

It was built for coal transportation and runs under the city centre from the Town Moor to the River Tyne.

The tunnel was converted into an air raid shelter during World War Two and is now used for guided tours. 

City LibraryCopyright: City Library

Diabetes left young designer's career dreams in tatters.

The GazetteCopyright: The Gazette

A Roman Catholic priest is due to be sentenced for fraudulently diverting more than £50,000 donated to his church by parishioners. 

Father John Reid, 69, admitted abusing his position after he took the money meant for charitable purposes and the upkeep of St Cuthbert's Church, Chester-le-Street (pictured). 

GoogleCopyright: Google

From June 2009 to October 2013, he instead spent some of the money on foreign travel and restaurants. He was also accused of failing to keep proper receipts and accounts. 

At a previous hearing Reid, who now lives in Stockton-on-Tees, pleaded not guilty to two charges of fraud by abuse of position. But last month at Durham Crown Court he changed his plea and admitted one of the charges. 

After the investigation was launched by Durham Police in 2014, Reid withdrew from public ministry, which also included leading St Bede's Church in Sacriston. 

He will be sentenced at Durham Crown Court.

Sunderland and David Moyes have been given more time to provide observations to the Football Association regarding the manager's threat to "slap" a female reporter. 

The Scot's behaviour has come under scrutiny after video emerged of an exchange with BBC journalist Vicki Sparks following the 0-0 draw with Burnley on 18 March. 

BBCCopyright: BBC

He has apologised, and  Sunderland issued a statement stating their commitment to Moyes  but agreed that his suggestion he might slap the reporter was "wholly unacceptable". 

The FA contacted the club on Monday seeking observations about the matter and had wanted a response by the close of business on Thursday. 

However, the governing body has granted Sunderland's request to extend the deadline and they now have until 10 April to respond - the day after the embattled Black Cats host Manchester United.

South Shields face Cleethorpes in the FA Vase final on Sunday 21 May.

Police are appealing for information after a woman was robbed in the street in Gateshead. 

The 33-year-old was walking on Old Durham Road near the ambulance station when she was confronted by a male on a bicycle just before midnight on Monday.

The man, who was wearing all-white clothing, grabbed her bag and fled. The woman was not injured.

Officers want to trace an elderly male who was in the area. They say could provide useful information.