Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Friday August 16, 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
A Northumbria Police statement
“We were called at 9.43pm on Friday night to the Tyne Bridge to a man in distress.
“The northbound carriageway was closed at 10pm while officers dealt with the incident.
“The decision was then made to close the bridge off to the public with traffic being diverted onto Swanhouse.
“The incident was brought to a safe conclusion at 12.15am with the bridge reopening at 12.20am.”
The reason why the Tyne Bridge was closed on Friday night
Police have confirmed they closed the Tyne Bridge last night to deal with an incident involving a man in distress.
Officers were called to the bridge at 9.43pm on Friday and initially closed the northbound carriageway to traffic.
Specialist officers were deployed to talk to the distressed man and Northumbria Police made the decision to cordon off the entire bridge.
Traffic was diverted for around two-and-a-half hours while emergency services were at the scene.
The incident was brought to a safe conclusion just after midnight.
The Tyne Bridge reopened to traffic again at 12.20am.
The Tyne Bridge is now fully re-open after a late night police incident. We will update with any further information we are given from the police
What we know so far as Tyne Bridge is shut by police
Here is everything we know so far as the Tyne Bridge remains fully closed
- The Tyne Bridge was shut by police just after 10pm due to an incident
- Police were unable to give any details as to the nature of the incident
- Police, ambulance and fire crews are at the scene with some also on the Quayside
- People have been told to avoid the area
Large police presence
Two police cars are now blocking the Gateshead side of the bridge. Further emergency services can be seen towards the Newcastle end.
The incident was reported at around 9.45pm and police say the bridge was shut just after 10pm.
Police confirm bridge remains shut
A spokesman for Northumbria Police has confirmed the bridge remains closed but was unable to give any details about the incident.
Live pictures from the North East Traffic Cameras website shows police blocking off the road
Traffic building on Felling bypass
There is congestion on the A184 Felling Bypass westbound from Neilson Road/Old Fold Road due to the bridge closure.
Delays are up to 11 minutes
Police on the Quayside
Emergency services are also seen on the Quayside with police, ambulance and fire crews in attendance.
Police and fire brigade at the scene
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said the bridge was closed at 10.05pm.
He said all sliproads are currently blocked off and people are told to avoid the area
Here's a round-up of Friday's headlines
1. Newcastle stabbing: Updates as police cordon off Stowell Street as part of Eldon Square murder probe
2.People in Sunderland warned to stop defecating and urinating in the city centre
3. Denise Welch defends The 1975 singer Matt Healy after he defies Dubai anti-gay laws by kissing fan
4. See sick video inside home of dog breeder guilty of neglecting more than 100 pets
5. Police make further arrest of boy, 15, after fatal screwdriver stabbing in Newcastle
6. Newcastle United injury latest as forward faces late test ahead of Norwich clash
Expect a dry and sunny Saturday
“Sunny spells and variable amounts of cloud are expected. Rather breezy at times with scattered showers, however many places are likely to stay dry, especially in the east. Maximum temperature 20 °C.”
Former colleagues pay tribute to Newcastle stabbing victim Peter Duncan
Former colleagues of Newcastle stabbing victim Peter Duncan have today issued heartfelt tributes to the ‘excellent lawyer’ and ‘true family man’.
The 52-year-old dad died in hospital on Wednesday night after he was stabbed with a screwdriver in an alleged attack inside Eldon Square shopping centre, in Newcastle city centre.
Detectives are treating Peter’s death as murder and are today still questioning three teenagers in connection with what police have described as an ‘unprovoked attack’.
Peter, who the Chronicle understands to be from the Benton area of Newcastle, worked as a lawyer for offshore engineering firm, DeepOcean, for eight years.
And today his former colleagues have issued an emotional statement expressing their shock and paying tribute to Peter.
Elswick shooting probe: Police charge second person after suspected gun attack
Detectives have charged a second person with firearms offences after a suspected shooting in Newcastle.
Police believe a 19-year-old man was shot on Bentinck Road, in the Elswick area, at around 1am on Wednesday.
The incident was not reported to police at the time, but officers later became aware that a 19-year-old man was in hospital being treated for what appeared to be gun shot wound to his leg.
The injured teen was discharged the same day, and an investigation to trace those involved swung into action.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke insists his side are 'underdogs' against Newcastle amid injury crisis
Norwich City boss insists his side are the ‘underdogs’ against Newcastle on Saturday as he revealed his side are suffering from a number of injury problems.
The Canaries were beaten 4-1 by Liverpool in their opening game of the season but impressed onlookers with their positive style of play.
Farke’s side carved out a number of opportunities against the European champions and showed why only Manchester City scored more league goals than Norwich in English football last season.
Nonetheless, he believes his newly promoted side are not expected to beat Newcastle this weekend, despite their summer of turmoil.
Busy near the Tyne Bridge
A184 Askew Road eastbound is busy but moving at the A167 Tyne Bridge Approach
Murder accused Christopher Graham pleads not guilty to killing grandfather Simon Bowman
Murder accused Christopher Graham has denied killing a grandfather.
Graham is alleged to have murdered Simon Bowman, 54, whose body was found at his home on High Street, Jarrow, in May.
During an appearance at Newcastle Crown Court via a video-link to HMP Durham, Graham pleaded not guilty to murder between May 12 and May 15.
The 30-year-old, of Romney Avenue, Washington, will stand trial in December.
See sick video inside home of dog breeder guilty of neglecting more than 100 pets
These are the shocking scenes that RSPCA officers found when they searched the home of a dog breeder who has now been found guilty of neglecting more than 100 animals.
Lynn Stoker was charged with 16 offences involving over 100 dogs, including Chihuahuas and British Bulldogs, as well as two cats and a tortoise.
The 62-year-old, of Raw House Farm, Byrness Village, Northumberland, had denied causing unnecessary suffering to the animals however she was found guilty after a trial at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court.
District judge Bernard Begley warned Stoker that she could face a jail sentence for the offences.
Crash on the A1 in Northumberland
The A1 northbound is partially blocked near the Causey Park Bridge due to a crash.
The incident is affecting traffic between Morpeth and Alnwick.
See how the roads are where you are
Check traffic and road closures near you by typing in your postcode
Man dies in crash on the A690 near Houghton-le-Spring
A man has died after being involved in a tragic car crash near Houghton-le-Spring.
Emergency services rushed to the eastbound carriageway of the A690 near the Houghton Cut at 11.25am on Friday after a report that a vehicle had left the road.
The driver of the black Ford Fiesta, who was the sole occupant of the car, received treatment at the scene but was declared dead at the scene.
Police have now launched an investigation into the collision and are appealing for any witnesses to get in touch.
Sergeant Dave Roberts of Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols Department, said:
“This is a serious collision that has sadly led to the death of the driver.
“We are continuing to carry out enquiries to establish exactly what has happened and need any witnesses to come forward.
“If you were in the area and saw what happened, or saw the vehicle involved in the minutes before the crash, or has any dashcam footage, is asked to call us.”
The A690 was closed eastbound at the bottom of Houghton Cut as a result of the collision with traffic being diverted from the A690 onto the A182.
The road was also closed westbound for a short period of time to allow for the recovery of the vehicle.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact police on 101 quoting log 356 16/08/19 or report it online at the Northumbria Police website.
A690 crash upate
Lanes in both directions are closed
A690 Durham Road, there will be a further closure of the Southbound carriageway whilst the damaged car from an earlier collision is uplifted but the Northbound will remain closed whilst the Police carry out accident investigation work.@INRIXtraffic_N @metroradiouk @1034SunFM pic.twitter.com/GSC6YOtOR3
— North East Live Traffic (@NELiveTraffic) August 16, 2019
Another arrest after fatal screwdriver stabbing
Police investigating the fatal stabbing of a man in Newcastle city centre have made a further arrest of a 15-year-old boy.
At 6.20pm on Wednesday (August 14), police received a report that a man had been assaulted inside the doors of the shopping centre at Old Eldon Square and had sustained an injury consistent with a stabbing.
Emergency services attended and the man, Peter Duncan, 52, was taken to hospital where he later died.
Police say they believe he was stabbed with a screwdriver following a “chance encounter which led to an unprovoked assault”.
Later the same evening officers arrested seven males, aged between 14 and 17, on suspicion of murder in relation to the incident.
Four of those males, two aged 15 and two aged 17, have now been released with no further action and a 14-year-old has been released under investigation. Two males, both 17, currently remain in police custody at this time.
Officers have now made a further arrest of a 15-year-old male in relation to the investigation and he remains in police custody at this time.