Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Monday July 22, 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
Here's a round-up of today's top stories
1. What Steve Bruce told Newcastle United fans at team hotel in Shanghai
2. Single dad with just £4.61 took his own life after waiting weeks for Universal Credit
3. Teenager stabbed after gang attack in Gateshead
4. Jack Colback admits spat with Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United surprised him
5. ‘The whole family is devastated’ - Tributes paid to Chester-le-Street stabbing victim Alan Stokoe
Crooks use car to smash their way into Post Office in overnight ram raid
Police are appealing for witnesses after crooks ram raided a County Durham Post Office during the night.
A silver Suzuki Grand Vitara is believed to have been used to ram the front of the Post Office on Front Street, Hesleden, in the early hours of Monday morning.
Three people were then able to gain entry into the premises at around 12.20am.
The suspects made off from the scene in the direction of Blackhall.
Durham Constabulary has now launched a witness appeal in the hope of tracking down those responsible.
A spokesman said: “Anyone with any information relating to the incident is asked to contact Durham Police on 101, quoting incident number 8 of July 22.”
Two men jailed for hurling bricks through MP Helen Goodman's office windows
Two men have been jailed for throwing bricks through the window of an MP’s constituency office.
Colin Dodds and Alan Dent threw bricks through the windows of the office of Helen Goodman, the Bishop Auckland Labour MP, on April 6.
Dent, 50, of Co-operative Street, Shildon, admitted a charge of criminal damage, but claimed he did not deliberately target the MP’s office and that he threw the brick after losing his temper.
Dodds, 44, of Douthwaite Road, Bishop Auckland, denied the charge but was found guilty following a trial at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Full story here.
All lanes reopened on Central Motorway
All lanes have now reopened and traffic is slowly returning to normal following a four-vehicle crash on the A167(M) Southbound at A193 Newbridge Street.
Northumbria Police statement
A Northumbria Police spokesman said:
“We can confirm that we are in attendance at a road traffic collision involving four vehicles on the A167.
“There is a lane closure currently in place while we await the recovery of the vehicles involved.”
Police are at the scene
Northumbria Police officers are currently in attendance at the crash on the A167(M) Central Motorway.
Traffic is very slow in the vicinity due to the lane closure in place.
One lane closed on the Central Motorway
One lane is closed prior to entering the underpass at the Swan House roundabout due to a collision involving four vehicles.
FOUR vehicles involved in Central Motorway crash
One lane is closed due to a crash involving four vehicles on the A167(M) Central Motorway southbound.
The collision has happened close to the turn-off for the A193 Newbridge
Tributes paid to Chester-le-Street stabbing victim Alan Stokoe
Tributes have been paid to a man who died after being stabbed in Chester-le-Street .
Alan Stokoe, 26, suffered fatal injuries after being stabbed in Melville Street at around 2am on Sunday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene where Mr Stokoe, of Chester-le-Street , was sadly pronounced dead.
Full story here.
No injuries from A1 crashes
The North East Ambulance Service has confirmed it did not attend either crash on the A1.
It is not believed anyone suffered any injuries as a result of the collisions.
Traffic is still busy in both areas but is slowly easing.
Traffic still heavy on A1 Western Bypass
Traffic still experiencing delays on the A1 Western Bypass southbound following the three-vehicle collision.
Travel time from the Metro Centre to the Angel of the North is estimated to be around 17 minutes.
Update from A1 at Gateshead
All lanes have now reopened following a three-vehicle collision involving a HGV and two cars.
One lane (of two) was closed for more than an hour and traffic is backed up in the area.
A1(M) crash vehicles removed
The two vehicles involved with the crash on the A1(M) at Chester-le-Street have been moved to the hard shoulder.
There is still congestion currently back to J62.
Police at scene of SECOND crash on A1
Two lanes have been closed on the A1(M) due to a two-vehicle crash on the southbound carriageway at J63 Chester-le-Street.
Heavy traffic in the area with traffic getting by on the hard shoulder.
Police are at the scene.
Police statement on A1 Gateshead crash
“At 4.17pm today (Monday) we received a report of a road traffic collision on A184 southbound at j69, involving an HGV and two cars.
“Officers are currently at the scene and motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible to avoid congestion.”
Huge tailbacks on the A1 near Gateshead
Heavy congestion in the area as police arrive on the scene.
Crash on the A1 Western Bypass involving HGV
There has been a crash on the A1 Western Bypass near J69 Gateshead involving a HGV and two cars.
The southbound carriageway is experiencing significant delays with tailbacks beyond J70 Dunston.
Two men jailed for life after stabbing Washington dad
Murderers Brian Goldsmith and Luc Barker have been jailed for a combined 34 years after being convicted of stabbing a popular dad then leaving him to die on the floor.
Gavin Moon died in a savage knife attack at his home in Trafalgar Road, Sulgrave, Washington, on January 8.
Goldsmith, 47, of Wayman Street, Sunderland and Barker, 29, of Trafalgar Road, Washington, denied murder but were found guilty.
Mr Moon suffered two “penetrating stab wounds” and four or five “incised wounds”, the jury were told.
Mr Justice Morris sentenced Goldsmith to a minimum jail term of 18 years while Barker will serve at least 16 years behind bars.
Teenager stabbed after gang attack in Gateshead
A teenager was stabbed following a confrontation with a gang in Gateshead .
Northumbria Police received a report of a suspected stabbing on Wealcroft in Leam Lane at about 10.30pm on Sunday.
A 17-year-old boy was assaulted by a group, and was found with non life-threatening injuries to his head and leg.
The victim was taken to hospital, and the force has confirmed his leg injury is “consistent” with a stabbing.
Full story here.
LNER delays heading south
There could be issues for train passengers heading to London this afternoon.
Some lines on the east coast line have been blocked and trains are suffering delays.
A1 north delays clear
Traffic has now returned to normal on the A1 north near the Northumberland County Zoo.
There had some busy holiday traffic there earlier.
Sunderland Airshow 2019 car parking and park and ride
Thousands are expected to head to Sunderland this weekend for the city’s annual airshow.
The show is one of the biggest events in the North East, with top pilots flown in from around the world to entertain the crowds.
Entertainment this year includes performances by Scouting for Girls and Sophie Ellis-Bextor .
Much of Sunderland City Centre closes to traffic for the three-day show, while parking restrictions are in place to stop visitors leaving their vehicles on neighbouring streets.
Extra bus and Metro services will be put on to assist visitors.
Missing man from Jarrow not seen for 24 hours
A search has been launched for a missing man from Jarrow who has not been seen for 24 hours.
Shaun Lake, 54, left a home on Fellgate Avenue at about 2pm on Sunday and his family have not seen him since.
Officers are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare, and police are appealing for help from the public to locate him.
It is believed that Shaun may have travelled to the Castletown area of Sunderland. A blue Ford Fiesta belonging to him has since been found in the Wessington Way area of the city.
Shaun is described as white, 5ft 7ins with a bald head. He was last seen wearing blue shorts, grey trainers, a black and white Barbour tee shirt and a grey zip-up hooded top.
Shaun, or anyone who knows his whereabouts, is asked to contact 101 quoting reference 0078579.