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Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Thursday September 12, 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 Kathryn Riddell 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 6047

Email: kali.lindsay@reachplc.com

Twitter: @Kalialindsay

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.

See you tomorrow

That’s it from us. We’ll be back at 6.30am on Friday.

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Our top stories

Here’s a roundup of today’s top stories:

  1. Spain weather: ‘Extreme risk’ warning as storms and flooding hit popular tourist spots
  2. Woman taken to hospital with serious injuries after A1 tractor crash
  3. Gosforth pub to double in size with £540,000 Shoreditch-style makeover
  4. Babestation model tweets ‘I need a solisitor...help’ before being ordered to pay back £3,100
  5. Bedlington teacher banned for life after having sex with ‘vulnerable’ former pupil
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Tomorrow's weather

Forecasters say it will be dry with prolonged spells of sunshine and lights wind.

It will feel warm in the sunshine during the day, but will become chilly in the evening.

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Laws lost after Parliament's suspension

It’s caused a massive hoo-ha after Boris Johnson suspended Parliament as the UK’s Brexit saga continues.

But the suspension means 13 high-profile government bills have been lost, including a law protecting victims of domestic abuse and key pieces of post-Brexit legislation.

When Parliament is prorogued all existing bills making their way through the Commons and Lords are dropped, unless the government chooses to carry them over to the next session.

Only three pieces of legislation were carried over, meaning laws setting up post-Brexit arrangements for immigration, fishing, trade and agriculture as well as bills reforming divorce law, introducing tougher sentencing for animal cruelty and protecting public toilets all fell.

The bills can be re-introduced after Parliament returns on 14 October if the government chooses to do so but all progress made is lost and MPs and peers must start their scrutiny from scratch.It’s caused a massive hoo-ha after Boris Johnson suspended Parliament as the UK’s Brexit saga continues.

Read the full list here

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Police chief stepping down

Durham’s Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC) Ron Hogg has asked to step down temporarily from his post after announcing he is unwell.

Mr Hogg has written to the chair of the Police and Crime Panel to ask that they consider appointing an acting Police and Crime Commissioner in his place.

The Labour PCVC, a former teacher, became a police officer in Durham and Cleveland in 1978.

He was made assistant chief constable in Durham in 1998 and finished his policing career as Deputy Chief Constable of Cleveland in 2008.

Read full story here

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Crash cleared

Traffic is now easing on the southbound side of the A167 (M).

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All lanes reopened

All lanes on the A167 (M) have reopened.

Traffic is still queuing on the southbound carriageway, but the northbound side has returned to normal.

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A167 (M) crash update

One person has been taken to hospital after the crash in Newcastle city centre.

Their condition is currently unknown.

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Road partially reopened

Northumbria Police say the southbound carriageway remains closed, but one lane has been reopened northbound.

A vehicle reportedly hit the central reservation, near the Claremont Road junction, causing the collision

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Crash near Jesmond Road

The collision has reportedly happened near the A1058 Jesmond Road.

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A167 (M) update

The collision happened on the southbound carriageway at around 6.45pm.

Diversions have been put in place via the exit and entry slips.

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A167 (M) closed in both directions

The A167 (M) is closed in both directions due to a multi-vehicle collision.

It is shut in both directions at the A167.

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Police at scene

Emergency services on the scene of A1 crash
Emergency services on the scene of A1 crash (Image: Handout)
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Update from police

Northumbria Police say a woman was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

They added:

A female occupant of the car has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.

A clean-up operation is ongoing and the A1 is currently closed in both directions. The road is expected to remain closed for the next few hours and a diversion is in place.

Drivers heading northbound are asked to exit the A1 at Causey Park and follow the A1068 towards Amble and Alnmouth.

The diversion will then take drivers on the B1340 towards Bamburgh for one mile, before re-joining the A1 north of Alnwick.

Motorists travelling southbound are asked to leave at the A1068 at Alnwick and follow the signs, before re-joining the A1 at Causey Park.

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How long will the road be closed?

Highways England say the road is expected to be closed for a number of hours.

The tractor has stopped across both carriageways.

Police, fire and ambulance services remain on the scene.

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Person taken to hospital

One person has been taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Hospital via air ambulance.

The North East Ambulance Service dispatched a rapid response paramedic and two double crew ambulances to the scene.

A spokeswoman for NEAS said: “We requested the support of the Great North Air Ambulance.

“One patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary by air.”

The spokeswoman said their condition not known.

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Firefighters on scene

Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed they are in attendance.

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Diversions routes in place

Signed diversions have been put in place via Stobswood, the B1337 and A1068.

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Check traffic in your area

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Police update on A1 crash

A Northumbria Police spokesman has confirmed a car and tractor have been involved in the crash.

He said:

“At 3.09pm today, police received a report of a collision involving a car and a tractor on the A1 northbound at the Felton Bypass, Northumberland.

“Emergency services are at the scene and the A1 is closed in both directions.

“Drivers are asked to avoid the area and a diversion is in place.”


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A1 closed in both directions

The A1 is closed in both directions due to a collision involving a tractor.

The incident happened between the Felton turn off and Causey Park turn off.

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Metro disruption

A number of Metro services have been cancelled due to a missing peak train.

They are:

  • 15:25 Regent Centre - Pelaw
  • 15:56 Pelaw - Monkseaton
  • 16:41 Monkseaton - Pelaw
  • 17:26 Pelaw - Regent Centre
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Emergency water works

Water supplies around St Chad’s Crescent in Sunderland may be affected during emergency works.

Northumbrian Water said supplies will be affected until around about 4pm.

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Overnight road closures

There will be a number of road closures tonight to allow roadworks to be carried out.

They are:

  • A69 eastbound Corbridge to Hexham
  • A19 northbound A1046 Portrack
  • A1 southbound J67 to J65
  • A1 both directions Fenwick to Haggerston
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Slow traffic on A167

A traffic light failure is causing delays on the A167.

The light are off on the roundabout from J63 on the A1 (M) to Chester-le-Street.

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Every crime at Wallsend club revealed

A string of incidents linked to Manhattan’s has been made public in a bid to block the Wallsend nightclub opening later.

Mass brawls, pool tables tipped over and bouncers warned their throats would be “slit” are among the list of almost 100 Northumbria Police incidents logged at Manhattans since the start of 2018.

This New Year’s Eve police were called four times starting with an incident just five minutes into 2019, when a woman stamped on another customer’s head.

In another incident police dealt with a man “waving an empty bottle of Brown Ale around whilst challenging staff to a fight”.

The venue’s resurrected plans to open until 3.30am at weekends are set to go before North Tyneside Council at a licensing hearing on Monday.

Read full story here

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Police searching for hit-and-run driver who left after collision

Police are hoping to find a driver who drove away from a crash with another car in Hexham.

Shortly before 7pm on August 23, police received a report of a two-vehicle collision near the Bridge End roundabout in the direction of Oakwood Bank in the town.

A silver Audi was reported to have crashed with a small black car.

Hit and run crash in Hexham involving a black car and a silver Audi
Hit and run crash in Hexham involving a black car and a silver Audi (Image: Northumbria Police)

Shortly after, it is alleged that the female driver of the black car momentarily got out of her vehicle before she drove away without exchanging details or reporting the collision.

The driver of the Audi was shaken but uninjured.

An investigation is ongoing into the collision and tracing those involved. Police have now asked anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dash cam footage to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 1006 230819 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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North East locations in Downton Abbey movie

With the long-awaited Downton Abbey movie hitting the big screen this Friday, fans of the lavish period drama will finally have a chance to catch up with the colourful upstairs-downstairs lives of its well-loved characters.

And North East audience-goers also will have the added enjoyment of location-spotting as the new film, which goes on general release at cinemas nationwide ahead of the weekend, was part-filmed in the region.

The award-winning TV series which inspired the film and first introduced viewers to the Crawley family and their below-stairs staff also made use of the region, with cast and crew shooting Christmas specials scenes in the North East at the likes of Alnwick Castle and Beamish Museum.

We look at the North East locations.

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NUFC round-up

Some of the latest NUFC news so far this afternoon.

  1. Injuries, shocks and flops - the highs and lows of Newcastle United’s roller-coaster season so far
  2. Newcastle United news LIVE - Mike Ashley speaks out; legends’ verdict on Bruce
  3. Rob Lee provides frank verdict on Newcastle United’s chances at Liverpool
  4. Mike Ashley: I have never picked Newcastle United team as he hits back at ‘panto villain’ tag
  5. Jonathan Woodgate believes Middlesbrough’s recent history is better than Newcastle United’s
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Busy around Testo's

There is heavy traffic on the A184 Newcastle Road eastbound at the A19 (Testo’s Roundabout).

This is due to roadworks and lane restrictions.

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