Hello and welcome to the breaking news blog for Thursday May 14, 2020.
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 6107
Email: kathryn.riddell@reachplc.com
Twitter: @KathrynRiddell
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Key Events
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
"Another fine day, with some warm sunny spells after a chilly start. Feeling a little warmer than in recent days, helped by the light wind.
"Chilly again on Friday evening. Maximum temperature 15 °C."
Tour of Britain 2020 postponed by a year
The Tour of Britain has become the latest sporting event to be delayed by a year as the impact of Covid-19 on sport bleeds into autumn.
Race organisers confirmed the eight-day stage race, which was due to start on September 6, will no longer be held in 2020.
The 2019 edition saw some of the world's finest riders race through Northumberland ahead of a thrilling finish in Newcastle city centre.
As well as the safety of athletes, concerns about crowds gathering at roadsides to catch a fleeting glimpse of the peloton have also informed the decision to cancel.
Last September, thousands came out in the North East to watch the third stage fly between Berwick and Newcastle and then to watch the race depart the Quayside the following morning.
The race route wasn't due to come through the North East this year but was slated to pass through Cumbria.
What will the weather be like tonight?
"Dry during the evening and overnight.
"While probably remaining on the cloudy side towards coastal districts in particular, some clearer spells are likely to give a risk of a slight frost, this especially in inland rural areas. Winds falling light. Minimum temperature -1 °C."
Council axes free parking offer in Newcastle
Free parking across Newcastle during the coronavirus crisis will be scrapped from next week – and the number of spaces dedicated to NHS staff is being slashed by more than half.
Newcastle City Council offered at the start of lockdown to suspend parking charges at all of its car parks and on-street parking locations, while also allocating almost 800 spaces for staff working at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital.
Free parking across Newcastle during the coronavirus crisis will be scrapped from next week – and the number of spaces dedicated to NHS staff is being slashed by more than half.
Newcastle City Council offered at the start of lockdown to suspend parking charges at all of its car parks and on-street parking locations, while also allocating almost 800 spaces for staff working at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital.
Flowers and beer left in tribute to alleged South Shields murder victim
Flowers, balloons and beer bottles have been left in tribute to alleged South Shields murder victim Brandon Lee.
The 24-year-old was found dead at a property on Victoria Road in the early hours of Tuesday morning having sustained injuries consistent with a bladed article.
Northumbria Police have arrested two men over his death.
Now those grieving for Brandon have left tributes for a man they say is "gone but never forgotten".
Investigation launched after knife-wielding robber targets village shop
A knife-wielding robber carried out a raid at a village shop in County Durham.
At around 7am on Thursday morning, the suspect entered The Eco Supermarket in Langley Park wearing a baseball cap, his face covered and holding a knife.
Police say he made off from the shop on Front Street with a quantity of cash and tobacco and headed towards towards South View.
No-one was injured during the incident.
Durham Constabulary are now investigating and asking for help from the public.
A spokesperson for the force said: "Witnesses are asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 40 of May 14."
First picture of alleged South Shields murder victim released
Police have released the first picture of alleged murder victim Brandon Lee.
Officers have also confirmed that a second man has been arrested in connection with the investigation.
The 24-year-old was found dead at a property on Victoria Road, South Shields, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Emergency services were called to the scene and discovered an unresponsive man inside the address with injuries consistent with a bladed article.
Brandon, of Wansbeck Road, Jarrow, was declared dead at the scene by paramedics a short time later.
A 23-year-old man, who was located inside the address, was arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody and is assisting officers with their enquiries.
Now, police have arrested a second man on suspicion of murder as enquiries continue.
Detective Chief Inspector Shelley Hudson, the senior investigating officer on the case, said:
“We have now arrested a second man, aged 25 from the South Shields area, and he will be interviewed by detectives over the coming hours.
“We would like to reiterate that we are treating this as an isolated incident and we believe those involved are known to each and that there is no wider risk to the public.
“However, a visible policing presence will remain on Victoria Road as officers carry out a range of enquiries and offer any reassurance to residents.
“I’d like to thank those who have already come forward with information, and would ask anybody else who saw anything unusual in the area on Tuesday morning to get in touch.”
If you have information that may assist the investigation, ring 101.
More people plan to drive following lockdown
Public transport use could be half normal levels following the easing of lockdown measures, with many people turning to their cars instead.
The Government has encouraged people not to use public transport if possible to help limit the spread of Covid-19. In a new survey of 3,000 people, about 50 per cent said lockdown had made them less likely to use public transport in the future.
The survey, commissioned by online parking marketplace YourParkingSpace, found less than three per cent of respondents expected their public transport use to increase.
Furthermore, 40 per cent said they were likely to drive more after lockdown, with just 10 per cent saying they would drive less.
Argos has clearance sale
Argos has kicked off a huge clearance sale on its website in a bid to shift its old stock.
The high street chain has cut the price of items from various categories, including toys and technology, so customers can save money on things they might need during the UK lockdown.
There are also savings on plenty of home products, perfect for those who are wanting to make their home more cosy while spending more time indoors.
Police come across wood fire
Northumbria Police have asked the public to take care after officer came across a fire at at wood.
The fire brigade had to be called out to extinguish the blaze.
Watch 'shocking and appalling' driver lead police on high speed chase
A dangerous driver careered around residential streets at more than 70mph as if he was on a racetrack before smashing into a telegraph pole.
Banned driver Paul Ray had two women in the Ford Fiesta when police tried to pull him over in the West End of Newcastle in the early hours of the morning.
In dash cam footage which a judge said makes for "horrific viewing", he is seen trying to outrun the police and putting lives in danger in the process.
Emeli Sande sends thank you video message to key workers
Emeli Sande sent out her personal thanks via the University of Sunderland to key workers.
The singer, who became the Chancellor of the University last year, sent out a video message thanking the NHS and social care staff working on the frontline.
The multiplatinum singer said in the video: "We appreciate everything key workers are doing for our loved ones and those working hard to keep us all safe. Thank you so much."
Marks & Spencer launch clothing sale
British retailer Marks & Spencer launched a clothing sale today to help clear stock built up in the coronavirus lockdown.
It tapped into widespread public support for health workers by giving some proceeds to NHS charities.
With Britain having been in lockdown since March 23, the country’s store-based clothing retailers are sitting on hundreds of millions of pounds of spring and summer stock, which they are now looking to unload as the restrictions start to ease.
Business headlines including city centre fears
A look now at some of the latest business news.
Hadrian's Tower firm reveals hopes for Strawberry Place
The firm behind the giant Hadrian’s Tower project in Newcastle has taken full control of £120m plans to transform land around St James’ Park.
The High Street Group is now the sole developer working on a controversial regeneration of Strawberry Place featuring new apartment blocks, offices, a sports bar and a hotel.
Bosses at the Tyneside-based firm, which is also leading the creation of the city’s tallest building just a few hundred metres from the football stadium, says it now expects to appoint a contractor for the Strawberry Place scheme and begin construction soon.
This Morning's Doctor Sara gives birth in the bath
This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were left in a state of disbelief after resident health expert Dr Sara Kayat revealed she'd given birth in the bath!
Dr Sara returned to the show from home after the birth of her son Harris looking absolutely glowing but revealed to Holly and Phillip that her birth didn't exactly go to plan.
While admitting she was planning to have a water birth, Dr Sara shocked the presenting pair when she said that it actually happened in her own bath after her baby boy arrived.
Sara then explained that no midwife was present and her husband had to catch the baby as she gave birth.
Dry and feeling warmer tomorrow
It will be another dry day tomorrow, with plenty of sunshine initially but largely cloudy overall.
A chilly start but temperatures recovering nicely in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 15C.
Burglar left blood on vending machine
A burglar was caught by police after his DNA was found on a vending machine he stole food from.
Robert Askew broke in to the Archery Club, in Durham City, by smashing a window and forced open the vending machine.
He took £100 worth of food and coins during the break-in, which happened overnight on April 23.
Officers from Durham Constabulary’s Crime Scene Investigation attended the scene took a swab of blood found on the vending machine.
The DNA was analysed in a laboratory and came back as a match for 33-year-old Askew, of Wood View, Esh Winning.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary.
Askew appeared before magistrates at Newton Aycliffe yesterday morning where he was jailed for four weeks.
Newcastle’s vice life-president's takeover verdict
Newcastle United's vice life-president Malcolm Dix is praying that the club is on the brink of an exciting new era at St James' Park.
Dix was an influential member of Sir John Hall's Magpie Group back in the 1990s and helped transform the face of the club and pave the way for the Entertainers as one of the Tyneside entrepreneur's wing-men.
With a proposal from Amanda Staveley, the Reuben brothers and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund now in the hands of the Premier League, Dix - who is also president of Sport Newcastle - is eager for better times for United.
Sage reports strong results but warns of uncertainty ahead
Newcastle software giant Sage has reported strong half-year results but has warned that the economic outlook is uncertain as the coronavirus hits many of its SME customers.
The company reported growth in organic recurring revenue of 10.3% and said moves to transition customers to its Sage Business Cloud products were continuing well.
Sage has shut all of its offices during the coronavirus outbreak and chief executive Steve Hare paid tribute to staff at its Newcastle HQ and elsewhere for helping businesses around the world cope with the coronavirus lockdown.
Stack in Newcastle reopens for delivery and takeaway
A whole new range of worldwide cuisine is set to tempt jaded tastebuds as Stack in Newcastle announces the launch of a delivery and collection service.
The container village is the latest city centre venue to reopen to customers as the lockdown continues and customers who have missed its street food outlets will no doubt welcome them back with open arms.
Stack, which offers a wide collection of food venues under one roof, is now inviting fans to enjoy dishes - ranging from Thai to Texan - from the comfort of their living rooms.
Supermarket garage at Dalton Park could be set to open
Supermarket chain Morrisons is seeking a licence for a new petrol station at Dalton Park.
The retailer has applied for permission to sell alcohol and hot food from the planned store in Murton up to midnight seven days a week.
According to papers lodged with Durham County Council, if approved, the scheme would permit booze from 6am every day.
New speedy check-out at Morrisons
A fast check-in and check-out initiative is launching in Morrisons' stores, enabling customers who want only a small shop to bypass queues of trolleys.
The new 'Speedy Shopping' option gets under way in the supermarket chain from May 13 to cater for those needing only a basket-load of items and it means that these customers can use a separate 'lane' to avoid the trolley queues outside its stores and then a quicker check-out once they've got what they need inside.
The idea is to get them in and out of the stores far faster.
In explaining the new system, a spokesman said that the company has introduced a separate Speedy Shopping lane outside its stores and that from this lane three customers for every one trolley shopper will be invited inside.
Island crossing time
It is now safe to use the causeway crossing between Holy Island and the mainland.
It will stay safe to cross until 8pm.
Frosty morning but warmer weather on the way
The UK has woken up to freezing weather as sub-zero temperatures were recorded overnight.
The Met Office said Katesbridge in Northern Ireland had seen its lowest temperature ever recorded in May on Thursday morning at -6.1C..
Previously the area had recorded a record low for May of -5.2C in 1995.
Temperatures in Shap, Cumbria, dropped to -4.6C overnight and in North Yorkshire -4C was recorded.
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said temperatures would pick up through the day and warmer weather would be on the way for much of the country in time for the weekend.
She said: “We are slowly seeing day-on-day warming and we are seeing temperatures pick up, certainly by Sunday in London when we’ll see temperatures of 20 or 21C.”
What's On top news
Some of today's latest What's On news.
Newcastle to host Drive-In Cinema tour this summer - with freebie offers for NHS and care workers
Morrisons launches speedy queue and checkout system for basket shoppers
Great British Take Off invites us to get naked this weekend - fingers crossed for some sun!
Subway reopens more than 600 stores - including some in the North East
Coronavirus vaccine results could be ready next month
Results of a human trial of a coronavirus vaccine could be available by the middle of June, an expert has said.
Professor Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University, said “several hundred” people have been vaccinated and the challenge now is to be able to manufacture at scale once it is approved by the regulators.
At the end of April a team of researchers at Oxford started testing a Covid-19 vaccine in human volunteers.
Around 1,110 are expected to take part in the trial, half receiving the vaccine candidate and the other half (the control group) receiving a widely available meningitis vaccine.
Man who imported pepper spray claimed he was concerned about knife crime
A man whose excuse for arming himself with pepper spray was that he was concerned about knife crime has been spared prison.
Joseph Archer tried to import the prohibited weapon from China but his order was intercepted by Border Force officers.
Police were so concerned about his "demeanour" when he was interviewed about the offence, they went to search his home.
There, they found two more pepper sprays in a bag.
A&E attendances fall to lowest on record
A&E attendances and emergency admissions to hospitals in England have fallen to their lowest figure on record in the face of coronavirus.
Data published by NHS England shows 0.9 million A&E attendances were recorded in April 2020, down 57% from 2.1 million in April 2019.
The number is the lowest for any calendar month since current records began in August 2010.
NHS England, which published the figures, said the fall was “likely to be a result of the Covid-19 response” – an indication that people have been staying away from A&E departments because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Wickes to reopen DIY stores around the UK
DIY chain Wickes will reopen 220 stores around the UK.
Wickes has been closed since the coronavirus lockdown was implemented, although customers have been able to order online.
Following a trial which saw six stores resume trading, Wickes will reopen its remaining shops from this week.
Today, 106 Wickes branches will reopen, with a further 108 due to resume trading on May 19.
