Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Wednesday November 14, 2018.
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 Ian Johnson 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 6107
Email: ian.johnson01@reachplc.com
Twitter: @IanJohnsonChron
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.
Good night!
That’s all for tonight, but a huge day for Brexit - and a fair few involve this man.
Here are some of the big stories of the day.
1) Mike Ashley is rumoured to be close to selling NUFC to US investors
2) Brexit: Theresa May claims Cabinet BACK draft plans to leave EU
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/brexit-deal-news-latest-live-15412152
3) House of Fraser to close Metrocentre store
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/house-fraser-shut-metrocentre-amid-15415269
We will be back at 5am tomorrow. Good night!
'Armed gang' suspects on trial
An armed mob allegedly left a man seriously injured after targeting him in a planned attack with weapons outside a Tyneside pub, a court heard.
Billy Thompson was standing having a cigarette outside The Fosse pub when he was suddenly set upon by a masked gang.
A group are on trial. The case continues.
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/fosse-pub-attack-ferry-harrison-15417630
Brexit
Apparently there’s been some news about this thing called Brexit tonight.
The PM has tonight announced her cabinet back her plans to leave the EU - but expect to be a lot of drama over the announcement in the coming days.
If you want a catch up of our coverage today, here’s a link to our packed blog: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/brexit-deal-news-latest-live-15412152
If not, here is a nice picture of Theresa May outside her pad.
Benefit 'killing'
A very sad story this involving a Byker lad who friends say was killed for his benefits.
Full story here: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ashley-cochrane-byker-murder-universal-15412125
At last
There’s still heavy traffic, but vehicles on the A1 northbound are at last reportedly moving.
Times cut
Travel times on the northbound side have been slashed massively, according to reports.
It is now taking just 20 minutes to get through.
Traffic 'back to normal'
While there are still delays on heading North, the south side of the A1 is reportedly ‘back to normal’ after the three vehicles were cleared
Good news at last
Good news at last.
EVERY lane on the A1 northbound has reportedly reopened.
The vehicles have reportedly been recovered although there are still apparently long delays of up to 50 mins.
Traffic 'still bad'
And while the lanes on the soutbound side of the A1 have now reopened, heavy traffic is still reportedly present.
Getting longer
If you are heading North on the A1 tonight, your journey is just getting longer and longer.
It is now reportedly taking an hour to get through the crash site.
And recovery is still reportedly on route, possibly stuck in the queues.
Road reopens
On the southbound side, all lanes have reportedly now reopened.
Recovery had been at the scene, and with all three cars involved cleared, traffic should now be moving faster.
However, there’s no update on the northbound side which is still facing massive delays after a crash between a lorry and a car.
Recovery 'helping'
It is now being reported that on the soutbound side, recovery is also on the scene and is dealing with the three vehicles.
Again, once cleared, hopefully that closed lane may reopen.
'Three cars' involved
It is now being reported, on the soutbound side of the A1, there were three cars involved in the incident which has closed one lane down.
Southbound
On the southbound side, traffic should hopefully be moving quicker.
Just one of the three lanes are blocked due to the incident, although there’s still reportedly “heavy traffic”.
The incident is said to have happened between the J65 A1 (Birtley) to the J64 A195 (Washington).
Recovery 'on route'
It has also been reported that recovery is also “on route”.
Once sorted, this will hopefully mean traffic can start flowing a bit quicker.
'emergency services on scene'
ChronicleLive has contacted both Durham Constabulary and Northumbria Police for updates.
However, it has been reported that traffic officers and emergency services are on scene.
Hard shoulder
With both lanes closed, it means the only way traffic can move is along the hard shoulder.
Obviously this will be a very slow process.
Delays
The queues getting longer also means it is going to make travel times take even longer too.
It is reportedly taking vehicles 50 minutes to make their way through the tailbacks.
Both sides impacted
The crash on the southbound side reportedly involved two cars, with congestion as far as Team Valley
A1 footage
Here is the first footage from the A1 crash scene this evening.
More on this as we get it.
A1 crash
A crash between a lorry and a car has caused rush hour chaos - with six mile long queues on the A1.
The incident, on the northbound side near Durham, has closed two lanes.
A lane on the soutbound side has also closed.
The accident is understood to have happened on the A1(M) Northbound from J61 A688 (Bowburn) to J62 A690 (Carrville).
One lane blocked and slow traffic due to accident, two cars involved on A1(M) Southbound from J65 A1 (Birtley) to J64 A195 (Washington).
Travel time is taking around 40 minutes.
Store to close
The Metrocentre will feel weird without it, won’t it?
But sadly, it has been confirmed the House of Fraser store there is closing.
Full story here: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/business/business-news/house-fraser-shut-metrocentre-amid-15415269
Toon sale?
Brexit is the biggest news story in Britain today - but try telling that to Toon fans.
The rumours are swirling on Tyneside that Mike Ashley may be about to sell Newcastle United to US investors.
Our full story here: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-takeover-mike-ashley-15415705
Traffic updates
Traffic currently building on three key North East roads.
* Heavy traffic on A167 Newcastle Road Southbound around A690 Neville’s Cross Bank. Travel time is eight minutes.
* A194(M) and A194 Leam Lane in both directions busy but moving at A184 Newcastle Road (White Mare Pool Roundabout)
* Heavy traffic on A167 Darlington Road Northbound at A690 Neville’s Cross Bank.
Poppy shame
This man has been sentenced for flogging fake Royal British Legion poppy brooches - and pocketing the cash.
Full story here: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/british-legion-poppy-barry-downs-15415498
