Sunderland Echo - North East Feed

Man charged over cannabis farm

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:01:49 GMT

A man from Tyne and Wear has been charged with producing cannabis and abstracting electricity following the discovery of a cannabis farm.

Projects receive lottery funding

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:24:16 GMT

More than £500,000 has been awarded to a charity that aims to prevent vulnerable children across Tyne and Wear falling prey to sexual exploitation.

Ex-police boss guilty over points

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:34:40 GMT

A former Cleveland Police Authority chairman has been convicted of persuading a friend to take three penalty points for him so he avoided a driving ban and furthered his career.

'Fake raid' case woman found dead

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:53:47 GMT

A landlady charged with staging a raid at her social club in South Tyneside using tips from the crime show CSI has been found dead in her car.

Council accused over plantpot ban

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:25:07 GMT

Gardeners in North Tyneside who won council awards for sprucing up their pedestrianised street said they have been asked to remove hundreds of pots because of health and safety concerns.

Police boss's phone thief jailed

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:25:06 GMT

A pickpocket who stole a police and crime commissioner's phone from his jacket in Middlesbrough has been jailed, the force said.

Railway station 'golfer' sought

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:53:17 GMT

Police have asked for help in finding a man who was caught on camera hitting golf balls at a railway station in Sunderland late at night.

Mr Bean actor 'surprised' at award

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:50:00 GMT

Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson, who grew up in the North East, has said he was surprised when he found out he was being made a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Youth club to help younger children

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:39:07 GMT

A County Durham charity which has been helping young people for more than 40 years is expanding its services after it was awarded a cash grant from a housing association.

Crime scene officer's work reviewed

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:59:25 GMT

More than 300 criminal cases in Staffordshire and Cleveland that were potentially botched by a scenes of crime officer accused of lying about his qualifications are being reviewed by the police watchdog.

Police appeal over farm thefts

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:25:17 GMT

Two farms have been targeted by thieves in the Morpeth area of Northumberland.

Watchdog urges gun owner disclosure

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:55:42 GMT

Gun owners should declare police cautions when applying for licences, a watchdog has said, in the wake of a case where a taxi driver with a history of violence killed three women with a legally owned weapon in County Durham.

Man admits body disposal attempt

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 08:03:40 GMT

One of the men accused of killing wealthy oil executive Carole Waugh, who was originally from Durham, has admitted attempting to dispose of her body.

Ex-police boss denies points claim

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:45:27 GMT

A former Cleveland police authority boss has denied persuading a "sitting duck" friend to take three penalty points for him so he would avoid a driving ban.

Diabetes 'triggered by infection'

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:45:27 GMT

Type 1 diabetes may be an infectious disease carried by animals, researchers from the University of Newcastle believe.

Slimming winner 'lost 16 stone'

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:01:28 GMT

An overweight mother from County Durham who refused to fly because she was scared of getting stuck in an aeroplane seat has won a slimming title after losing more than 16 stone.

Thieves take lead from church roof

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:40:47 GMT

Police have launched an appeal for information after lead was stolen from a church roof in Whitley Bay.

Bleach cocktail women gain payout

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:10:57 GMT

A group of women have won compensation from a South Tyneside bar after suffering "terrifying" burns when they drank pink kangaroo cocktails which contained bleach.

Unemployment increases by 4,000

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:50:09 GMT

Unemployment in the North East increased by 4,000 in the three months to April, official figures have revealed.

Plan to expand befriending scheme

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:06:10 GMT

A befriending project which provides support to isolated elderly people in County Durham will be expanded following its initial success.