North East news RECAP: Latest breaking news, sport, weather, traffic and travel

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Here's some bedtime reading for you

1. ‘Proud Geordie’ who battled to stay in empty Gateshead estate dies away from home he fought to save

2. Finally a hint of clarity for Newcastle United - but the key questions must be addressed imminently

3. Lowest of the low: Thugs taunted and attacked vulnerable disabled man on Metro in sustained ordeal

4. Newcastle United’s Premier League 2019/20 fixtures: Here’s who Magpies will face

5. Lovers live-streamed ‘repulsive’ videos of babies and young children being raped

Council responds to calls to demolish 'death trap' Hebburn shipyard after suspected arson attack

South Tyneside Council wants to demolish an arson-plagued ex-shipyard branded a “death trap” by locals.

A fire which broke out in the former Hawthorn Leslie shipyard, on Ellison Street in Hebburn, on Wednesday night, is now being treated as arson by police.

It was the latest in a series of blazes at the derelict site.

Residents were told to stay inside or away from the area, due to a potential risk of arson in the site.

The fire sparked renewed calls for the building, said to be a magnet for arson and anti-social behaviour, to be pulled down.

Full story here.

Police appeal after men force motorcyclist off his bike in Newcastle before riding off on it

Detectives are appealing for help in tracing two suspects who robbed a man of his motorbike in Newcastle while he was riding it.

The 23-year-old man was driving his motorbike on Beechgrove Road in Elswick on Sunday at around 11pm when two men riding a black Honda motorcycle pulled alongside him and forced the victim from his bike.

The man riding pillion jumped off the Honda and stolen the victim’s bike.

Both offenders fled the scene and left the victim on the roadside.

Full story here.

Thugs taunted and attacked vulnerable disabled man on Metro in sustained ordeal

Lowlife thugs targeted a vulnerable disabled man on the Metro in a shameful attack during which he was smacked over the head with a bottle during a sustained ordeal.

Andrew Bengall, who suffered a brain injury some years ago, was playing his guitar at Whitley Bay Metro Station, busking while waiting for his train home, when he had the misfortune to encounter vile Ross Parker and Laurie Ryder.

The drunken louts were amicable at first, dancing and taking pictures - but then turned nasty, stealing some coins people had donated to Mr Bengall and calling him offensive names referring to his disability.

The scared victim tried to move away from Parker and Ryder but they followed him and then got on the same Metro as him and continued to abuse him.

Full story here.

One lane closed on A1 northbound due to broken down vehicle

One lane closed due to broken down vehicle on A1 Western Bypass Northbound from J75 Denton Burn roundabout to J77 Kenton Bar Roundabout.

Whitley Bay power cut due to last until the early hours

Detectives still investigating cause of blaze that killed Graham Green

What caused the flat fire that left Graham Green dead remains a mystery one week on.

Detectives are today still probing how the blaze, at a flat in Ashington started.

Emergency services were called to the first floor home, on Milburn Road, at around 11.40pm last Thursday.

And when fire crews searched the property they found the body of 39-year-old Mr Green.

Detectives from Northumbria Police are investigating the the blaze.

Full story here.

Passengers facing longer waits for a metro

Reminder of overnight road closure on the A19

Power cut in Whitley Bay

Power dip in Whitley Bay

Lintzford Road now reopen after tree is removed

Kimblesworth man John Vaughan found safe and well after being reported missing

Police have confirmed that a missing man who had not been seen since Tuesday has been located safe and well.

Concern had been growing for John Vaughan, 63, of Kimblesworth, near Chester-le-Street, who had left his home two days ago and hadn’t been seen since.

Officers launched an appeal after becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare.

Durham Constabulary confirmed on Thursday that John has been found safe and well and thanked those who shared the appeal.

Platform 1 out of action at Sunderland station

Emergency services remain at the scene

A694 Dipwood Road is still blocked

The A694 Dipwood Road remains blocked after a lorry crashed into a fallen tree between Holmewood Drive (Lintzford) and B6315 Strathmore Road (Rowlands Gill).

Traffic is still moving slowly in the area.

Mattress removed from A1(M) southbound

Road cleared and traffic returned to normal after matress is removed from A1(M) southbound from J63 A167 (Chester-Le-Street) to J62 A690 (Carrville)

Delays on the A1 southbound

Delays on A1 southbound from the Metro Centre to the Angel Of The North with travel time being 27 minutes.

Metro delays between Sunderland and Newcastle

Mattress on A1(M) causing delays

A1(M) southbound is partially blocked due to a mattress being on the road between Chester-le-Street and Carville.

The mattress is causing delays for traffic

Update from Northumbria Police

“At about 3.40pm, today, police received a report of a vehicle blocking the A694 near Lintzford Garden Centre, Rowlands Gill.

“It was reported that lorry had collided with a fallen tree and as a result the lorry was stuck on a bend in the road.

“No one is believed to have been injured during the incident.

“The lorry and tree are currently awaiting removal and diversions are in place for passing traffic.”

Buses are being diverted as a result of the crash

Two fire crews are at the scene

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said:

“We were called at 3.41pm to a collision on the A694 Lintzford Road after a tree had fallen in front of a lorry.

“We sent two crews, from Swalwell and Chopwell, to the scene.

“Upon arrival the driver of the lorry was out of the vehicle and appears to be uninjured.

“Crews are awaiting approval from the local authority to remove the fallen tree.”

Emergency services are now at the scene

Lorry collides with fallen tree on Lintzford Road

The A694 Lintzford Road is currently blocked after a lorry has collided with a fallen tree near Lintzford Grange.

Traffic is moving very slowly in the area.

Causey Road partially blocked due to crash

A6076 Causey Road partially blocked with slow traffic due to accident near Chapel House Apartments. Police are en route.

The Backworth to Earsdon Road has now reopened

Broken down vehicle recovered from A1 southbound

All lanes have now reopened on the A1 southbound at J66 Angel of the North following the recovery of a broken down vehicle. Traffic is improving.

Investigation continues to discover cause of Hebburn fire

Firefighters have worked through the night at an abandoned shipyard fire in Hebburn.

Smoke poured out over homes in Ellison Street on Wednesday as firefighters from Hebburn , South Shields, Wallsend and Gateshead were called to the former industrial building just after 5pm.

Around 18 firefighters worked to get the smoke under control, while police officers warned passers-by away from the area, saying it was believed there could have been asbestos in the building.

Lynsey McVay Area Manager for Community Safety at TWFRS said:

“We’d like to thank local residents for their patience and co-operation last night and this morning as our crews tackled the blaze at the former Hawthorn Leslie site in Hebburn.

“We would like to reiterate there is no risk from the initial smoke plume for local residents.

“I’d like to thank our crews and our Control room staff who worked so hard to tackle this fire and keep the public informed.

“A fire investigation will take place to determine the cause of the blaze and we will continue to work with our partners Northumbria Police and South Tyneside Council to reduce the number of incidents at this site.

“If we are attending deliberate fires, we are unavailable to attend other fires or emergencies.”

Here’s more on the blaze.