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Families ahead of the meeting.

Families praised as public inquiry to probe years of 'negligence and failure' at TEWV

39-year-old Claire Laybourne from Hebburn, who died following a 'hit and run' on the A19

39-year-old Claire Laybourne from Hebburn, who died following a 'hit and run' on the A19

Bid to raise money for family of 'best mam' killed in A19 'hit and run'

Wes Streeting arriving at the Mercure Hotel in Darlington on Thursday (December 11) where he announced a full statutory public inquiry into TEWV.

Wes Streeting arriving at the Mercure Hotel in Darlington on Thursday (December 11) where he announced a full statutory public inquiry into TEWV.

Public inquiry into troubled TEWV NHS trust CONFIRMED after years of campaigning

Elm Street killers, from left, Kelvin Lawson, Sean Reay and Thomas Sterling

Elm Street killers, from left, Kelvin Lawson, Sean Reay and Thomas Sterling

Three men jailed for the murder of County Durham grandfather

The Young Futures Hub is set to open in County Durham by March 2026.

The Young Futures Hub is set to open in County Durham by March 2026.

Local government

County Durham selected for new youth hub to transform support for young people

Police believe the tree was cut down deliberately

Police believe the tree was cut down deliberately

'Disgusting act' - County Durham village's Christmas tree 'deliberately' cut down

The future Red Anchor pub is set to open in Stockton

The future Red Anchor pub is set to open in Stockton

Opening date for new Wetherspoon pub in former Brewers Fayre further pushed back

Darlington Arriva bus file image as services are disrupted this weekend

Darlington Arriva bus file image as services are disrupted this weekend

Major Darlington bus route disrupted this weekend due to sewer works

Land Off North Farm, Elwick, Hartlepool, Where Proposed Lovell Homes Development Could Be Built. Pic Via Google Maps.

Land Off North Farm, Elwick, Hartlepool, Where Proposed Lovell Homes Development Could Be Built. Pic Via Google Maps.

Hartlepool Borough Council

Plans for 43 new Hartlepool homes approved despite dozens of objections

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy has called for the introduction of an order to give police stronger powers to tackle escalating balaclava antisocial behaviour

Darlington MP Lola McEvoy has called for the introduction of an order to give police stronger powers to tackle escalating balaclava antisocial behaviour

Anti-social behaviour

MP wants to ban balaclavas linked to anti-social behaviour in Darlington

Staff on a NHS hospital ward

Staff on a NHS hospital ward

The University Hospital of North Tees

‘Tidal wave of flu’ – cases rise by more than 50% across County Durham and Darlington

Bedale JFC's Dobson's Field ground. Photo: Google.

Bedale JFC's Dobson's Field ground. Photo: Google.

North Yorkshire Council

Funding for new 3G pitch will be removed from list of amounts allocated by council

A road closed sign in floodwater

A road closed sign in floodwater

Three motorists and a dog rescued from vehicles after driving into floodwater

St Mary Magdalene Church has served the village of Medomsley in County Durham for over 700 years

St Mary Magdalene Church has served the village of Medomsley in County Durham for over 700 years

Medieval church in County Durham to receive £20,000 in urgent repair funding

Barry Dawson was in the wrong place at the wrong time, walking into his living room to investigate the commotion shortly before Sean Reay fired the fatal shot through the broken front window

Barry Dawson was in the wrong place at the wrong time, walking into his living room to investigate the commotion shortly before Sean Reay fired the fatal shot through the broken front window

Durham Constabulary

Massive trawl of CCTV and forensic evidence helped to nail killers of Barry Dawson

Ulnaby Village Farm Shop

Ulnaby Village Farm Shop

'Lovely' village farm shop cafe near Darlington to close its doors amid rising costs

The moment Sean Reay fires the fatal shot through a smashed window into the front room of Barry Dawson's home in Elm Street, South Moor,, on April 5 this year

The moment Sean Reay fires the fatal shot through a smashed window into the front room of Barry Dawson's home in Elm Street, South Moor,, on April 5 this year

Durham Constabulary

'Fuse' leading to fatal Stanley shooting was lit by earlier threats made to killer

The scene of the crash.

The scene of the crash.

Man arrested and two taken to hospital after car smashed into North East home

Picture of the exploded home on Kirkland Walk, Middlesbrough.

Picture of the exploded home on Kirkland Walk, Middlesbrough.

Arsonist who started gas blast that destroyed home is sectioned by judge

News

Bells Fish & Chips, Durham

Bells Fish & Chips, Durham

Durham fish and chip shop worker looking to be named UK 'Employee of the Year'

Northallerton Store Opening

Northallerton Store Opening

Aldi opens new shop next to newly built housing development in North Yorkshire town

A Northern train

A Northern train

Northern Railway

New train service to be launched next week - and tickets are just £2

A parking pay machine

A parking pay machine

Warning over fake parking texts demanding cash from drivers in County Durham

Persistent Teesside criminal Lee Percival branded an ‘absolute pest’

Persistent Teesside criminal Lee Percival branded an ‘absolute pest’

Persistent Teesside criminal branded an 'absolute pest' following spate of offences

An A1(M) sign

An A1(M) sign

A1(M) County Durham road closures over Christmas and New Year as works continue

James Casey has been jailed for a campaign of terror against his partner

James Casey has been jailed for a campaign of terror against his partner

County Durham violent thug threatened to kill his girlfriend and rip her insides out

Edward Holder ahead of the reindeer run in aid of Butterwick Hospice

Edward Holder ahead of the reindeer run in aid of Butterwick Hospice

Stockton hospice founder’s great-grandson inspires school festive fundraising

The team at Specsavers Richmond

The team at Specsavers Richmond

Specsavers celebrates new-look store after £250k refurbishment

Young Gardeners Arran Burn (left) and Alfie Court (right). The group will have a new polytunnel to use next year thanks to Lovell sponsoring the Water Tower Light Installation at The Alnwick Garden’s Winter Lights trail

Young Gardeners Arran Burn (left) and Alfie Court (right). The group will have a new polytunnel to use next year thanks to Lovell sponsoring the Water Tower Light Installation at The Alnwick Garden’s Winter Lights trail

Alnwick Gardens

Developer helps light up garden's Winter Lights trail in North East

Teesside Hospice is bringing back its Tree Cycle scheme, offering residents an environmentally friendly way to recycle their Christmas trees in January

Teesside Hospice is bringing back its Tree Cycle scheme, offering residents an environmentally friendly way to recycle their Christmas trees in January

Tree-mendous scheme aims to collect 3,000 Christmas trees across Teesside

Businessman Robert Cairns plans to convert a former tiling unit on the North West Industrial Estate in Peterlee, County Durham, into a multi-purpose space featuring upcycled double-decker buses and creative hubs for community and business use

Businessman Robert Cairns plans to convert a former tiling unit on the North West Industrial Estate in Peterlee, County Durham, into a multi-purpose space featuring upcycled double-decker buses and creative hubs for community and business use

Revamped County Durham site could be home to upcycled buses for mobile venues

Grosvenor Casino Stockton in Teesside has unveiled a major upgrade with 40 new slot machines, increasing its total to 60 and introducing over 30 newly launched games

Grosvenor Casino Stockton in Teesside has unveiled a major upgrade with 40 new slot machines, increasing its total to 60 and introducing over 30 newly launched games

Casino ups the stakes with new investment aimed at gamblers in North East

Zac Cessford, 18, from Redcar and an apprentice with British Steel, took gold in Renewable Energy, impressively beating a strong field by 10 points

Zac Cessford, 18, from Redcar and an apprentice with British Steel, took gold in Renewable Energy, impressively beating a strong field by 10 points

North East college students impress in national skills competition

Future Care Competition winners Ryan Stobart-Brown and Scarlett Kehoe attend the event at the University of Sunderland’s Murray Health pictured with mentor Johanna Churchill, Lecturer in Contemporary Photography (center) along with Professor Helen

Future Care Competition winners Ryan Stobart-Brown and Scarlett Kehoe attend the event at the University of Sunderland’s Murray Health pictured with mentor Johanna Churchill, Lecturer in Contemporary Photography (center) along with Professor Helen

Portraits by North East students shine light on people behind nation's care

Area Care staff were joined by Neighbourhood Caretakers as they cleaned up and restored more than 40 bonfire sites across east Middlesbrough

Area Care staff were joined by Neighbourhood Caretakers as they cleaned up and restored more than 40 bonfire sites across east Middlesbrough

Work to restore North East parks after damage in bonfire celebrations

Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Micheal Mordey and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness

Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Micheal Mordey and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness

Local government

£600k funding boost to help city become creative capital of the North East

Stockton Council has reopened public consultation on proposed improvements to Yarm High Street.

Stockton Council has reopened public consultation on proposed improvements to Yarm High Street.

Local government

Have your say on plans to transform this North East town's high street

St Mary Magdalene Church has served the village of Medomsley in County Durham for over 700 years

Medieval church in County Durham to receive £20,000 in urgent repair funding

Emma would record sessions or concerts by her favourite bands from the radio, such as this one by U2

The humble and handy cassette tape that's seeing a 'notable resurgence'

The team at Specsavers Richmond

Specsavers celebrates new-look store after £250k refurbishment

Our Journalists

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Town's Aldi supermarket to be extended as plans approved

Kayleigh Fraser

Man arrested and two taken to hospital after car smashed into North East home

Yoane Wissa illness & full Newcastle United injury update ahead of Sunderland

Families praised as public inquiry to probe years of 'negligence and failure' at TEWV

County Durham selected for new youth hub to transform support for young people

Man taken to hospital in 'serious condition' after crash as air ambulance attend

Sport

Sunderland and Newcastle head coaches Regis Le Bris and Eddie Howe

Newcastle United FC

This is how and where Sunderland vs Newcastle will be won and lost

Newcastle's Yoane Wissa

Newcastle's Yoane Wissa

Newcastle United FC

Yoane Wissa illness & full Newcastle United injury update ahead of Sunderland

Newcastle United players salute the away fans in Leverkusen

Newcastle United players salute the away fans in Leverkusen

Newcastle United FC

What Eddie Howe dismissed as 'irrelevant' after Newcastle's draw with Leverkusen

Middlesbrough's Riley McGree

Middlesbrough's Riley McGree

Middlesbrough FC

What Kim Hellberg has done to get the best out of 'great Middlesbrough group'

Andy and his daughter Grace

Andy and his daughter Grace

Darlington dad opens North East’s only paintball airfield for daughter

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Business

The team at Specsavers Richmond

The team at Specsavers Richmond

Specsavers celebrates new-look store after £250k refurbishment

Young Gardeners Arran Burn (left) and Alfie Court (right). The group will have a new polytunnel to use next year thanks to Lovell sponsoring the Water Tower Light Installation at The Alnwick Garden’s Winter Lights trail

Young Gardeners Arran Burn (left) and Alfie Court (right). The group will have a new polytunnel to use next year thanks to Lovell sponsoring the Water Tower Light Installation at The Alnwick Garden’s Winter Lights trail

Alnwick Gardens

Developer helps light up garden's Winter Lights trail in North East

Businessman Robert Cairns plans to convert a former tiling unit on the North West Industrial Estate in Peterlee, County Durham, into a multi-purpose space featuring upcycled double-decker buses and creative hubs for community and business use

Businessman Robert Cairns plans to convert a former tiling unit on the North West Industrial Estate in Peterlee, County Durham, into a multi-purpose space featuring upcycled double-decker buses and creative hubs for community and business use

Revamped County Durham site could be home to upcycled buses for mobile venues

Grosvenor Casino Stockton in Teesside has unveiled a major upgrade with 40 new slot machines, increasing its total to 60 and introducing over 30 newly launched games

Grosvenor Casino Stockton in Teesside has unveiled a major upgrade with 40 new slot machines, increasing its total to 60 and introducing over 30 newly launched games

Casino ups the stakes with new investment aimed at gamblers in North East

From left: Claire Adams, Prof. David Hughes, Dr Sina Rezaei Gomari, David Neal, Dr Ahlim Hashm, Phil Ridley, Ashfaque Ahmed, Liam Neal and Dr Imros Muhit

From left: Claire Adams, Prof. David Hughes, Dr Sina Rezaei Gomari, David Neal, Dr Ahlim Hashm, Phil Ridley, Ashfaque Ahmed, Liam Neal and Dr Imros Muhit

Teesside University enters research partnership with resource management firm

The North East recorded one of the lowest levels of new business start-ups in November 2025, with R3 attributing the decline to economic uncertainty and the effects of the autumn Budget

The North East recorded one of the lowest levels of new business start-ups in November 2025, with R3 attributing the decline to economic uncertainty and the effects of the autumn Budget

North East sees low level of new business start-ups in November

Darlington-based Railway Housing Association has signed the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, reinforcing its commitment to promoting inclusion, equity, and visibility for LGBTQ+ residents within social housing

Darlington-based Railway Housing Association has signed the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, reinforcing its commitment to promoting inclusion, equity, and visibility for LGBTQ+ residents within social housing

Darlington housing association takes action to support LGBTQ+ inclusion

Echo Memories

St Mary Magdalene Church has served the village of Medomsley in County Durham for over 700 years

St Mary Magdalene Church has served the village of Medomsley in County Durham for over 700 years

Medieval church in County Durham to receive £20,000 in urgent repair funding

Dr Gillian Taylor, associate professor in the School of Health and Life Sciences at Teesside University, who is leading the research

Dr Gillian Taylor, associate professor in the School of Health and Life Sciences at Teesside University, who is leading the research

North East experts launch pioneering study into Roman Empire leather economy

Emma would record sessions or concerts by her favourite bands from the radio, such as this one by U2

Emma would record sessions or concerts by her favourite bands from the radio, such as this one by U2

The humble and handy cassette tape that's seeing a 'notable resurgence'

From left to right PC Claire Starkey with TPD Ronnie, PC Marc Richardson, PC Martin Gayles, PC Scott Gatman, Sergeant Gareth Gummerson, Alan Smith, Alan’s son Nigel Smith

From left to right PC Claire Starkey with TPD Ronnie, PC Marc Richardson, PC Martin Gayles, PC Scott Gatman, Sergeant Gareth Gummerson, Alan Smith, Alan’s son Nigel Smith

Former North Yorkshire officer visits police dog unit to celebrate its creation

Rail industry staff, some of the Railway 200 team and Derby College staff with the time capsule

Rail industry staff, some of the Railway 200 team and Derby College staff with the time capsule

Northern Echo added to time capsule in Derby to mark 200 years of railways

The statue in St Cuthbert's Churchyard was erected as a memorial to those from Darlington who served in the South African War, better known as the Boer War, fought between 1899 and 1902

The statue in St Cuthbert's Churchyard was erected as a memorial to those from Darlington who served in the South African War, better known as the Boer War, fought between 1899 and 1902

OBJECT OF THE WEEK

What’s the story behind Darlington’s Boer War statue and the man who unveiled it?

Culture & Lifestyle

Bells Fish & Chips, Durham

Bells Fish & Chips, Durham

Durham fish and chip shop worker looking to be named UK 'Employee of the Year'

Northallerton Store Opening

Northallerton Store Opening

Aldi opens new shop next to newly built housing development in North Yorkshire town

The future Red Anchor pub is set to open in Stockton

The future Red Anchor pub is set to open in Stockton

Opening date for new Wetherspoon pub in former Brewers Fayre further pushed back

Young Gardeners Arran Burn (left) and Alfie Court (right). The group will have a new polytunnel to use next year thanks to Lovell sponsoring the Water Tower Light Installation at The Alnwick Garden’s Winter Lights trail

Young Gardeners Arran Burn (left) and Alfie Court (right). The group will have a new polytunnel to use next year thanks to Lovell sponsoring the Water Tower Light Installation at The Alnwick Garden’s Winter Lights trail

Alnwick Gardens

Developer helps light up garden's Winter Lights trail in North East

Grosvenor Casino Stockton in Teesside has unveiled a major upgrade with 40 new slot machines, increasing its total to 60 and introducing over 30 newly launched games

Grosvenor Casino Stockton in Teesside has unveiled a major upgrade with 40 new slot machines, increasing its total to 60 and introducing over 30 newly launched games

Casino ups the stakes with new investment aimed at gamblers in North East

Billingham Forum gym has received a £1 million investment, resulting in a major transformation.

Billingham Forum gym has received a £1 million investment, resulting in a major transformation.

Inside the popular North East gym given major facelift after £1m investment

Neville Atkinson with examples of his dad’s work

Neville Atkinson with examples of his dad’s work

Tribute planned for artist whose work captured the spirit of the North East

National News

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions is executive producing a documentary for the Sundance Film Festival (Aaron Chown/PA)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions is executive producing a documentary for the Sundance Film Festival (Aaron Chown/PA)

Harry and Meghan executive producing Sundance festival girl scouts documentary

Adam Henry died on Tuesday after being stabbed near Westbourne Road, Islington, north London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Adam Henry died on Tuesday after being stabbed near Westbourne Road, Islington, north London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Boy, 15, killed in stabbing is named as family pay tribute to ‘beautiful’ son

Father Christmas joined the Queen, Samuel (left) and Myla (right) on the State Sleigh in the gardens of Clarence House (Aaron Chown/PA)

Father Christmas joined the Queen, Samuel (left) and Myla (right) on the State Sleigh in the gardens of Clarence House (Aaron Chown/PA)

Camilla joins youngsters in Queen Victoria’s former sled at Clarence House party

Yodelling has been added to a Unesco list of unique cultural traditions (Michael Probst/AP)

Yodelling has been added to a Unesco list of unique cultural traditions (Michael Probst/AP)

Yodelling added to Unesco list of the world’s unique cultural heritage

Mitch Winehouse (David Parry/PA)

Mitch Winehouse (David Parry/PA)

Mitch Winehouse ‘a bully’ who knew about ownership of auction items, court told

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has warned MPs of the threat of cyber attacks (House of Commons/PA)

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has warned MPs of the threat of cyber attacks (House of Commons/PA)

Speaker warns MPs of rising number of Russian-linked attacks via messaging apps

Sir Keir Starmer said ‘we need to make progress’ at a critical juncture in Ukraine peace efforts (PA)

Sir Keir Starmer said ‘we need to make progress’ at a critical juncture in Ukraine peace efforts (PA)

Trump and Europe want ‘same thing’ for Ukraine, Starmer says

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