Welcome to The Chronicle’s live breaking news blog for Wednesday, June 15, 2016.
A car has ploughed through a fence and into a house following a two-car collision in Killingworth.
The collision happened on East Bailey in Killingworth, close to the junctions with Garth Twenty Five and Simonside Way.
In other news, a teenager has died after getting into difficulty swimming under High Force waterfall in County Durham.
It's Daniel Milligan here to take you through the morning and into the early afternoon to keep you updated on what’s going on across the region including the latest on the roads for the rush-hour and any breaking news incidents that occur as we move through the day.
You can contribute to the live blog by tweeting us at @EveningChron to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions. You can email Daniel on daniel.milligan@trinitymirror.com or tweet him @danielrmilligan too.
Key Events
Signing off
That’s it for tonight, back tomorrow at 6.30am for all your breaking news.
Five stuck in a lift in Kingston Park
Firefighters have rescued five people from a lift in Kingston Park
What's On most read stories
Unsurprisingly the news that Bryan Adams will be performing at Chester-le-Street’s Emirates Riverside in August is the most read story on our What’s On pages at the moment.
Here’s the top five stories from today;
1. Bryan Adams announces outdoor concert at Chester-le-Street’s Emirates Riverside
2. Newcastle nightlife: 77 photos of weekend fun and glamour at the city’s clubs and bars
3. The Hoppings: Parking and transport guide for visiting the Town Moor fair
4. 12 things you only know if you love - or hate - Newcastle’s Hoppings
5. Falafel flatbread and Teriyaki Chicken noodles added to Greggs menu
Most read stories
Here are the most read stories on our website at the moment;
2. Newcastle United 2016/17 fixtures: Premier League schedule suggests where Magpies’ opener will be
3. Newcastle to step-up centre-back search as Chancel Mbemba looks set to miss a month of 2016-17
4. Killingworth crash: Car ploughs through fence and into house, police say
5. Newcastle United transfers: Premier League club is ready to make a bid for Moussa Sissoko
How's the weather looking for the rest of the week?
The weather forecast for the rest of the week is for pretty much the same grey cloudy days we’ve seen so far this week. Tomorrow temperatures will reach highs of 15°C and the sunshine might manage to break through the cloud late afternoon. Rain showers will make Friday a fairly miserable day, with temperatures staying pretty chilly for June at around 11°C. The weekend forecast unfortunately isn’t much better, though Sunday could bring some sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Missing Washington woman found safe and well
A Washington pensioner who went missing from home has been found safe and well, police have said.
Police had been searching for Margaret Ross, 82, after she went missing from her home in Rickleton, Washington at around 10am on Wednesday.
Margaret’s family had been very concerned about the elderly woman.
Northumbria Police officers found Margaret safe and well on Wednesday evening.
Sunderland Police tweeted: “Missing Sunderland woman Margaret Ross has been found safe and well by officers. Thank you for all your shares - you’re always a great help!”
Dog bitten by poisonous snake on day out
A pet dog was bitten by a poisonous snake on a family day out.
Gentle giant Hooch, a dogue de Bordeaux, was bitten on the face while walking at Derwent Reservoir and had to be given a life-saving antidote and spend three days in the care of a vet.
Now there are concerns that other pets or even children could be attacked by poisonous adders.
Hooch was attacked while walking with his owners Karen Forster and Dean Lowden.
But it was only when they returned to their home in Blackhill, near Consett, that they realised he had been bitten after they noticed a swelling the size of a tennis ball on his face.
They took him to Value Vets in Consett, part of Westway Veterinary Group, before he was transferred to their main hospital at West Road in Newcastle, where staff were able to source life-saving anti-venom.
New names for the North East Walk of Fame
Four new names are to be added to the Walk of Fame along Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.
This spring, the public was invited to put forward suggestions and 453 nominations were received for the brass plaques.
Already commemorated are already 25 “local heroes “ from the worlds of entertainment, sport, science, medicine and industry.
Joey Barton to tell all on his time at Newcastle United in autobiography
Joey Barton will lift the lid on his controversial spell at Newcastle United in his new no-holds-barred autobiography – which will be published on September 22.
Barton has teamed up with award-winning writer Michael Calvin, who penned a superb book on football management ‘Living On the Volcano’ – which featured fascinating interviews with Alan Pardew and Steve McClaren, to write the book spanning his entire career.
And Newcastle features prominently in the tome, with sources claiming it offers “real insight” into a spell that including time under Sam Allardyce, a stint in prison and his rehabilitation in the Premier League under Chris Hughton and Pardew.
Durham Police set to start using drones to track criminals and missing people
Police in Durham are to start using drones after a hobby flyer suggested the idea to force bosses.
A police officer who had flown drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, as a hobby mooted the idea two and a half years ago.
Now the force is awaiting permissions from Civil Aviation Authority to use the two drones they have bought in police operations.
Insp Mick Button, who has led the drones project, said the force will be able to use drones to track criminals and hunt for missing people.
Neighbours have told of their shock after car crashed into Killingworth house.
A car ploughed through a fence and into a house following a rush-hour crash.
The two-vehicle collision, involving a Mitsubishi Colt and Nissan Juke, took place on East Bailey, in Killingworth, North Tyneside, at 8.40am on Wednesday, near the junctions of Garth Twenty Five and Simonside Way.
The Nissan Juke then went through a section of fencing bordering a row of houses and crashed into one of the properties, causing damage to its brickwork, while the driver of the Mitsubishi had to be cut free.
Alison Collins, who lives nearby, said a similar incident happened around 10 years ago outside her home.
Marseille violence worst Northumbria Police cop has ever seen
The country’s top football policing officer has today told how the violence he witnessed in Marseille was the worst he has seen in his career.
Chief Supt Steve Neill, of Northumbria Police, was selected to head up a delegation of English officers charged with looking after England fans travelling to France for this summer’s European Championships.
So far the tournament has been overshadowed by ugly scenes of violence as Russian and English fans clashed in Marseille, resulting in a number of supporters ending up seriously injured.
Chief Supt Neill was picked for the job after a decade of successfully managing the usually tense derbies between Newcastle United and Sunderland.
But he today told the Chronicle that the violence he witnessed in Marseille was more fierce than anything he’s witnessed before.
Commuter chaos on A19 and Metro
Commuters are facing delays on the A19 and the Metro system this evening.
One lane of the A19 is blocked near Seaton Burn due to a HGV with a tyre blown out. Traffic is tailed back to Killingworth.
There are delays on the Metro between East Boldon and Newcastle Airport due a train failure.
Fancy a post work pint? It is National Beer Day after all.
Kitchen fire in Gateshead
Fire crews have been called out to a kitchen fire in Gateshead
Motorcyclist injured after taxi collision
A motorcyclist was left with minor injuries after a collision with a taxi in Gateshead. At around 6.10pm on Tuesday, June 14, police received a report of a collision between a taxi and a motorcyclist at the junction of Bensham Road and Saltwell Road. Police have said the taxi was stationary but when their passenger exited the vehicle it collided with the motorcyclist who suffered minor injuries when he fell from his bike. Both the passenger and the driver stopped to check on the motorcyclist but then left the area without leaving any details. Officers are carrying out enquiries into the incident and are keen to speak to the taxi driver involved or to the passenger of the vehicle to help establish the circumstances. Those involved, or anyone who witnessed the collision, should call police on 101 quoting reference 969 14/06/16.
82-year-old woman missing
Police are searching for an 82-year-old woman who has gone missing from her home in Washington.
Margaret Ross left her home in Rickleton in Washington around 10am on June 15 and has not been seen since.
Her family have said they are worried about the elderly woman and police are trying carrying out searches to try and find Margaret.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “Police and her family are concerned for her welfare and are carrying out enquiries to find her.”
She is described as white, around 5ft tall, wearing a short white coat, dark trousers and carrying a beige coloured large handbag.
Anyone who has seen Margaret or has information about where she may be is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting reference 529 150616.
Huge tailback on A19 in North Tyneside
There is a four mile queue on the A19 southbound between Moor Farm and Seaton Burn according to these reports.
In case you missed it: Battle of the Thames
Today saw a naval battle between Bob Geldof and Nigel Farage in London.
The UKIP leader headed up a flotilla of fisherman from the Leave campaign who sailed up the Thames.
But a vessel carrying Geldof pulled alongside Mr Farage’s boat and the Boomtown Rats singer unleashed a verbal broadside, calling the Brexit campaigner a “fraud” and criticised Farage’s lack of attendance at EU fisheries committee meetings. The MEP has only attended one out of 43 meetings.
'Some humans are just sick' - your reaction to news that a dog was stabbed
Readers have been left stunned after a shocking suspected stab attack on a Tyneside.
The female black and white shih tzu was injured on Sunday night and the RSPCA said the animal had injuries “consistent with having been stabbed”.
Writing on Facebook, Lilian Jamieson said: “Poor little girl! This world is just full of evil and hate now!
“I hope she get a home where she is spoils and loved. Some humans are just sick.”
A selection of Chron readers’ comments are here.
Watch NUFC fan's footage of Russian hooligans
A Newcastle fan from Consett filmed the moment Russian yobs appeared in Marseille.
Adam, who has followed the Magpies abroad in the past when they were in Europe, recalled the terrifying moment the Russian holligans turned up.
He said: “In a split second the police charged down a side street, with another group of officers coming from the opposite side, forcing us into a corner.
“At this point people began to throw bottles at the police, which I could partly understand since they were being provoked. We were causing no trouble.
“I then stood back a little bit and the police started firing tear gas into the crowds making fans scatter and run up different streets.
“Then around 1 to 20 Russians came from in behind the two lines of officers.
“At this point I realised, how crazy this place actually was. I was being pushed from one side by tear gas and then confronted by a group of Russians on the other side. It was absolutely insane.”
Russia lost to Slovakia today. What a shame....
Read Adam’s full account and watch his video here.
Money well spent?
Newcastle City Council to appoint £95,000-a-year education chief to improve schools’ standards.
The city council is set to bring in a new lead assistant director with the brief of working more closely with schools and helping young people struggling to get on the career ladder.
The move follows two reports earlier this year, one of which claimed that young people in the city had a “disturbing” lack of career advice in schools.
The other revealed that a third of young people not in employment, education or training had been excluded as a pupil.
Delays on southbound A19 near Cramlington
If you’re taking the A19 south from Northumberland then maybe think of another route. An overturned car has led to delays between Cramlington and Holystone
Brendan Healy to get plaque on North East Walk of Fame
Four new names are to be added to the Walk of Fame along Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.
This spring, the public was invited to put forward suggestions and 453 nominations were received for the brass plaques.
Much-loved and missed comedian, Brendan Healy, is among those being honoured.
He joins hero Lance Corporal Ken Rowe, from Gosforth in Newcastle , and his search dog, Sasha - who were both killed in combat in 2008.
Politician Mo Mowlam and People’s Kitchen founder Alison Kay are also getting plaques.
Read Tony Henderson’s full story here.
Watching France play tonight? Read about the time they called Haydon Bridge High School home
France kick off their second Euro 2016 Group Stage match at 8pm tonight. They’re playing Albania in Marseille, the home city of Le Blues legend Zinedine Zidane. World Cup winner Zidane was part of a France squad whose Euro 2016 training camp was at a Northumberland high school.
Read about the Tynedale tale here.
Fast bowler warned over speeding
Durham and England cricketer Ben Stokes has been warned he could face prison if he is caught driving in the next six months after admitting to speeding.
Stokes was banned from driving until December after pleading guilty to speeding at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
If you need a proxy vote HURRY
If you are planning on getting someone to vote on your behalf in June 23rd’s EU Ref then hurry. The forms must be emailed to your local registration office by 5pm TODAY. Visit aboutmyvote.co.uk to download the forms and find out where your nearest office is.
Unemployment hits record low
More people are in work after unemployment in the North East has hit a record low.
Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions have revealed the region has an employment rate of 70.5% as the figures hit an eight year low across the country.
This means 7,000 fewer people are out of work.
The jobless total was cut by 20,000 in the quarter to April to 1.67 million, the lowest since the spring of 2008.
But the number of women out of work was 12,000 higher at 779,000, the Office for National Statistics reported.
Family pay tribute to waterfall tragedy teen
The brother of a teenager who died after getting into difficulties while swimming under a waterfall has paid tribute to the youngster saying: “He will always be in our hearts”.
Curtis Atherton, 16, was with a group in the water beneath High Force in Middleton-in-Teesdale when friends spotted he was in trouble.
His brother Daniel described Curtis as a “well-liked lad who will be missed”.
He said: “He will always be in our hearts. I love him all the world, we all do.
“We would like to thank the rescue team and the police for everything they did.
“I’m just really upset. It’s not the same without him – I wish there was more I could have done but I hope he’s resting peacefully now.
“He was an amazing lad and will be missed by lots.”
His stepdad Paul Coulson, who raised the 16-year-old as his own, said he was “devastated” about the “tragic swimming accident”. He added: “I wish I could take your place.”
