Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Thursday April 25, 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 Katie Collings 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 6144

Email: katie.collings@reachplc.com

Twitter: @KCollingsNews

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.

Today's must-read news, sport and entertainment

Key Events

Metro vandalism

Nexus update.

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Body found in Wylam

A truly tragic story we’ve reported today.

A body has been found in the search for missing mother-of-four Sorrelle Bamford.

The 38-year-old was reported missing at 9.55am on Tuesday after she was last seen at an address on Chesters Gardens in Crawcrook.

Following two days of searches in the nearby area, the body of a woman has been found near to the River Tyne in Wylam this afternoon.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but police do believe the woman may be Sorrelle.

Read the full story here.

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North Tyneside road closure

Updates below.

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Road closure

Keep this in mind.

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Gateshead traffic

An earlier incident has been cleared.

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Rush hour misery

The traffic getting out of Newcastle has been terrible this evening and it looks like it’s continuing.

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KEY EVENT

Tyne Bridge accident

An earlier accident on the Tyne Bridge has been dealt with.

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When will the rain stop?

It looks like it’s going to be we for the rest of the night in spells.

Weather forecast for the rest of this evening
Weather forecast for the rest of this evening (Image: Met Office)
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Man still missing

Tony is still missing - read more here.

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Traffic update

School and rush hour traffic starting to build.

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Helena Karine Atay trial

The trial of a woman accused of murdering her husband is continuing now - follow live updates here.

Helena Karine Atay
(Image: Handout)
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Heavy in Durham

Traffic is heavy on the A167 Newcastle Road southbound around the A690 Neville’s Cross Bank.

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KEY EVENT

Cruel dog owner jailed after making his dog attack and kill foxes

A poacher is behind bars after making shocking videos of his whippet brutally killing wild foxes.

Arron Crighton’s dog Jet who was horrifically injured after being used to attack and kill foxes
(Image: Handout)

Cruel Arron Crighton, 21, has also been banned from keeping animals after forcing his dog Jet to chase and attack the foxes which he claims was for “sport”.

Crighton, from Sunderland , posted graphic photographs and videos showing the severe injuries sustained by both his own dog – who he failed to provide veterinary attention for – and the foxes on social media.

Police have deemed the videos too horrific to be made public.

Last month, Crighton pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and hunting a wild mammal with a dog.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison after reappearing at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

PC Peter Baker, of Northumbria Police , said: “The photographs and videos that Arron Crighton made were incredibly distressing and graphic.

“It is clear that he not only showed a total disregard for the welfare of these animals, but took satisfaction from filming this barbaric and criminal activity.”

Full story here.

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Crash in Shotton Colliery

There’s reports of a crash on the B1280 Salters Lane at Dixon Estate Bungalows.

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Train disruption

Services are at a stand between Alnmouth and Newcastle due to problem being investigated at Morpeth.

This is affecting:

  • Northern
  • CrossCounty
  • London North Eastern Railway
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A690 delays

There’s still delays on the A690 between the A1(M) Carville Roundabout and A181 ( Gilesgate Roundabout).

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Heavy at the Tyne Bridge

There’s still queuing traffic on Askew Road heading to the A167 Tyne Bridge Approach.

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Crash in West Rainton

There’s reports of a crash on Station Road at The Crescent but traffic is said to be coping well.

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Bus delays

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Breakdown cleared

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Breakdown on the A1

One lane of the A1 Western Bypass southbound is blocked and there’s slow traffic between Kingston Park and Kenton Bar Roundabout due to a broken down vehicle being recovered.

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Heavy in Gateshead

Traffic is heavier than usual on the A184 Askew Road eastbound at the A167 Tyne Bridge Approach - travel time is around 13 minutes.

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Metro delay update

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Crash cleared

All lanes are now open on the A19 northbound at the A1018 Seaham Grange roundabout.

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Metro trespass incident

We’ll keep you updated:

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A1 delays

There’s delays of around 12 minutes on the A1 Western Bypass northbound from the Metrocentre to Denton Burn Roundabout.

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Heavy at Leam Lane

Traffic is queuing on the A194(M) in both directions around Whitemare Pool Roundabout.

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Crash on the A19

There’s reports that the A19 northbound is blocked at the A1018 Seaham Grange Roundabout due to a crash.

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Slow on the A69

Traffic is slow on the A69 eastbound from Union Hall Road (West Denton ) to A1 Western Bypass J75 ( Denton Burn roundabout, Denton Burn).

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A690 delays

There’s also delays on the A690 Leazes Road at the A691 Framwelgate Peth (The Gates Roundabout).

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