Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Monday July 1, 2019.
We will be bringing you regular updates throughout the day of all the breaking news and sport.
We have pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Newcastle and North East traffic, weather forecasts, crime and council news too.
It’s Kieran Murray here and I’ll be keeping you updated on what’s going on across the North East including the latest on the roads.
If you would like to get in touch with us today about any breaking news, here are my details:
Phone: 0191 201 6106
Email: kieran.murray@reachplc.com
Twitter: @ReporterKie
You can reach the ChronicleLive newsdesk on 0191 201 6446 and to get breaking news sent straight to your phone, download the free ChronicleLive app here.
Key Events
Good night
Thanks for joining us today on the live blog.
We’ll be back tomorrow from 6.30am.
Have a great night!
Here's a round-up of today's top stories
1. Woman who burgled her neighbour spared prison as an act of mercy to her unborn baby
2. Rihanna turns up in Chester-le-Street to cheer on West Indies in the Cricket World Cup
3. Rafa Benitez releases statement after leaving Newcastle United and said ‘I wanted to stay’
5. Tech giant Sage to leave Great Park and and invest £40m in North East
Everything we know from the Central Motorway crash
Four people have been hospitalised following a five-vehicle crash on the Central Motorway in Newcastle.
Emergency services were called out at around 5.30pm on Monday to a multi-vehicle collision on the Central Motorway near Cowgate.
The major crash brought traffic on the southbound carriageway to a standstill, while police diverted drivers via the nearby slip roads.
The North East Ambulance Service sent four ambulances and a Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.
Four patients have been transported to the Royal Victoria Infirmary for further treatment.
Everything we know from the bus crash on the A189
Seven people have been taken to hospital following a bus crash in Newcastle .
Emergency services rushed to the A189 Ponteland Road following reports of a collision between a bus and a car.
The North East Ambulance Service dispatched three ambulances, one officer, two Hazardous Area Response Teams and a patient transport vehicle to the scene.
A total of seven people were taken to hospital for further treatment - three believed to be occupants of the car and another four passengers on board the bus.
A167 Central Motorway now CLEARED
The A167/A167(M) southbound through from Cowgate to Tyne Bridge has now cleared.
The road has reopened but traffic is still moving slowly at this stage.
Still huge delays on the Central Motorway
Traffic is still queuing as a result of the five-vehicle collision.
Still only one lane has reopened on the southbound carriageway.
Vehicles involved in crash are being recovered
The vehicles involved are being taken away and a clean-up operation is under way on the Central Motorway
Huge delays remain on the A167 Central Motorway
Traffic is still very heavy on the Central Motorway.
Only one lane has been reopened following the five-vehicle crash.
Four people have been transported to hospital.
FOUR people taken to hospital in Central Motorway crash
A North East Ambulance Service spokeswoman said:
“We were called out at 5.33pm to a multi-vehicle road traffic collision on the Central Motorway near Cowgate.
“One ambulance came across the incident and we sent a further four ambulances and a Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene.
“Four patients have been transported to the Royal Victoria Infirmary with non-life threatening injuries.”
Two fire crews are in attendance
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has two appliances in attendance
Police confirm they are in attendance
A Northumbria Police spokesman said:
“We are currently in attendance at a five-vehicle collision on the A167.
“We got the call-out at 5.36pm and a road closure is now in place.”
Five-vehicle crash on the Central Motorway
Five-vehicle crash on the A167 southbound at Cowgate.
Traffic is being diverted via the slip roads.
Hexham Bridge northbound closed
Reports of A6079 Northbound being closed due to an accident on the A69 from Tyne Green Road (Hexham) to A69 (Bridge End Roundabout, Oakwood)
Two fire engines are at the scene
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service have dispatched two appliances to the scene from Wallsend and Tynemouth.
Emergency services are at the scene
Police, fire and ambulance crews are all at the scene.
The road remains closed to traffic.
Overturned car in Wallsend
Churchill Street in Wallsend is closed in both directions due to an overturned vehicle.
Rafa set to become next Dalian Yifang manager
Rafa Benitez has reportedly agreed to become the new manager of Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.
One lane closed on the A1(M)
One lane closed on the A1(M) southbound at J61 Bowburn due to a lorry having a tyre change.
Traffic is queuing in the area.
A189 reopened after bus crash
Grandstand Road is now open in both directions but congestion remains in the area.
All occupants of the car among those believed to have been hospitalised
It is believed all three occupants of the car involved in the collision were taken to hospital.
Meanwhile there were four other people on board the bus that have required further medical assistance in hospital.
SEVEN people taken to hospital
A North East Ambulance Service spokeswoman said:
“We were called out at 3.14pm following a report of an rtc between a bus and a car on Ponteland Road.
“We dispatched three ambulances, one officer, two Hazardous Area Response Teams and a patient transport vehicle.
“There have been seven patients in total who have been transported to hospital.
“Three patients were taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary by emergency ambulance, four others were taken to hospital via the patient transport vehicle.
“Non of the patients are believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries.”
A189 crash involved bus and a car
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said:
“At 3.19pm today (Monday), police received a report of a road traffic collision involving a car and a bus on Ponteland Road, Newcastle.
“Emergency services are at the scene. Nobody is thought to have been seriously injured, but a number of people have been taken to hospital as a precaution.
“The road is currently closed next to Hunters Moor as a clean-up operation continues. Motorists are advised that there may be increased congestion in the area.”
Round-up following crashes in the area
- A1 southbound
One lane closed on the A1 western bypass near Blaydon due to a lorry crash.
Traffic is moving slowly heading towards the Metrocentre with travel time around 30 minutes..
- A69 Hexham
The A69 westbound is closed due to an overturned lorry at 11am between A6079 (Bridge End Roundabout) and A6079 on the roundabout.
The road was closed at around 2.25pm and is expected to be closed for at least the next couple of hours. A diversion is in place via the A68 Northbound and Military Road.
- A189 Spital Tongues
Ponteland Road is closed in both directions due to a one vehicle crash between Hunters Road to Fenham Hall Drive. Traffic is heavy in the area with the road closed since 3.35pm.
Metro Gold Card rules relaxed over July and August
Metro Gold Card holders can enjoy Metro travel at any time of the day throughout July and August.
Nexus, which owns and manages Metro, is lifting the restriction which prevents holders using the Gold Card before 9.30am on weekdays from today, Monday 1 July.
Customer Services Director at Nexus, Huw Lewis, said:
“Metro is part of everyday life in our region and we do all we can to make it a positive choice for our customers.
“All day travel during July and August for Gold Card holders is a great way for people to get out and about on Metro over the summer. It’s great value.
“This is an offer that always proves popular with Gold Card holders, many of who take the opportunity to have days out to local attractions.
“It’s a particularly useful and poplar offer for grandparents who are looking after grandchildren when the schools are on holiday.”