Tom Burgess

Teesside Hospice in Middlesbrough has been upgraded from good to outstanding by the Care Quality Commission after a June inspection. The hospice received the highest rating in four of five categories, with inspectors praising its kind and caring staff, leadership, community involvement and efforts to address discrimination and inequality in access to care. The 10-bed inpatient unit also provides wellbeing support, bereavement counselling and lymphoedema services.

The Darlington Toy Exchange is seeking a metal or plastic shed from local businesses so it can establish a toy donation point at the town tip before Christmas. Founded by Macauley Macdonald and his partner in November 2025, the exchange currently operates from Darlington Indoor Market and has collected hundreds of donations. Organizers hope the new site, planned for early September, will build a stockpile of good-quality gifts for families. Darlington Borough Council is supporting the initiative and says it will promote reuse, reduce waste and contribute to a more sustainable borough.

A large section of Hunt Cliff near Saltburn collapsed after weeks of high temperatures and little rain, with eyewitnesses reporting that the falling rocks sounded like thunder. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council leader Alec Brown urged visitors to avoid cliff edges and bases because rockfalls can occur without warning. The British Geological Survey said Saltburn’s sandstone cliffs naturally break into blocks and reported a summer spike in landslides and rockfalls, while geologist Claire Dashwood noted a possible but not yet fully understood link between rockfalls and high temperatures.

About 200 dormant orchids at Greenabella Marsh near the Tees estuary will be dug up by hand and relocated to RSPB Saltholme in Stockton-on-Tees and Seaton Common National Nature Reserve in Hartlepool. The move is necessary because the Environment Agency plans to convert the marsh into an intertidal habitat for flood alleviation. Conservationists will clean and replant the orchids’ underground tubers, collect seeds, and assess the results next summer, aiming to preserve the local population’s genetic diversity and enable future generations to enjoy the native plants.

Approximately 400 tonnes of industrial waste has been dumped at the former Dewhirst factory site in Peterlee. The Environment Agency is visiting the site daily to prevent further fly-tipping, working with the landowner after the site was secured, and investigating the incident with potential enforcement action. Durham County Council is supporting the response.

Sunderland City Council Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins has been charged under the Communications Act 2003 over a 2024 social media post referencing the Nigerian community. The 66-year-old was previously investigated by Reform UK and received a final written warning. Northumbria Police urged the public not to speculate, and Gibbins is due to appear at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court next month.

Two containers damaged in the 19 July collision between the Wind Orca and BG Orange at the Port of Tyne have been cleaned of plastic nurdles using an industrial vacuum. Nurdles continue to wash up along the North East coast, with Fidra estimating that about one billion pellets were released. Cleanup teams are clearing land-based wreckage and using a floating barrier to collect pellets, while officials warn that the pollution poses a low public-health risk but may harm wildlife. The Environment Agency is investigating and has said the responsible polluter may be liable for cleanup costs.

Two containers damaged when the Wind Orca collided with the berthed BG Orange at the Port of Tyne have been cleared of plastic nurdles using an industrial vacuum. An estimated one billion pellets have washed along beaches from South Shields and North Tyneside to Northumberland and Sunderland. Cleanup teams are also clearing wreckage and using a floating barrier to contain further spills. The Environment Agency says the public-health risk is low but warns the pellets may harm wildlife, while local officials urge beachgoers not to tread them into the sand. Authorities are investigating who may be liable for the cleanup costs and whether regulatory action is warranted.

Christoph Held, a 48-year-old German former assistant teacher in Newcastle, had his bicycle stolen from West Jesmond station days after completing a roughly 1,000-mile cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats. His route passed through Wales, northern England and Scotland, and included climbs of Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. After describing the friendliness of people who helped him during the journey, Held appealed for anyone who sees the bicycle to report it to police.

Four blacksmiths connected to Teesside and the National School of Blacksmithing are travelling to Aggersborg, Denmark, to make an approximately 10 kg, 70 cm Viking anchor using bloomery iron and historically authentic techniques. Led by bloomery-iron expert Jens Olesen, the experimental archaeology project aims to deepen understanding of Viking Age technology. The completed eighth-century-style anchor will be fitted to Huld, a reconstructed Viking vessel operating from Aggersborg.

St Mary's Church in Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria, has received £370,446 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to begin developing plans for major repairs. The Grade I listed, 900-year-old church is on the Heritage at Risk Register and could close if it fails to secure a proposed full grant of £4,629,508. Planned work includes repairing the tower, replacing the roof and adapting the interior for local community and visitor use.

A man in his 80s died and a woman in her 70s remains in critical condition after a white Hyundai i30 collided with a car transporter lorry while joining the A1 at Belford. Northumbria Police is appealing for witnesses, and the road has reopened after recovery and investigative work.

The Auxiliary Project in Middlesbrough will open its redeveloped £1.6m warehouse on 9 September after delays. The facility includes 27 artist studios, co-working space, a gallery, an experimental music venue and a community garden. Artistic director Liam Slevin said the permanent venue would help artists develop sustainable careers, take creative risks and connect with communities across Tees Valley. The project works with more than 100 artists each year and aims to showcase regional talent alongside internationally recognised artists.

The £1.6m Auxiliary Project creative studio in Middlesbrough will open on 9 September after delays. The redeveloped warehouse includes 27 artist studios, co-working space, a gallery, an experimental music venue and a community garden. Director Liam Slevin said the permanent venue would help artists develop sustainable careers, take creative risks and connect with Tees Valley communities. The project works with more than 100 artists each year.

A steel train planter called the Train of Values has been installed at Flimby train station after being designed by pupils at Flimby Primary School and built by apprentices from Sellafield and Mitie. The project, supported by Community Rail, Gen2 and Northern, displays the school’s values and builds on the school’s earlier work at the station. School and railway representatives praised it as an example of collaboration between education, businesses and the local community.

New murals created by Navigator North now cover the A66 underpass near Middlesbrough railway station and extend along Wilson Street. Based on heritage research at Teesside Archives, the artwork is intended to make the area more welcoming, support local businesses and encourage civic pride. The project forms part of Creative Places, led by Middlesbrough Council and funded through the government’s Pride in Place fund, as the town prepares its UK City of Culture 2029 bid and 200th anniversary in 2030.

A cast-bronze statue of Berwick legend Jimmy Strength has been unveiled on the town’s high street. Strength was reputed to have carried his pony across Berwick Bridge to avoid paying the mounted-rider toll and was also known as a travelling violinist. The statue was commissioned by the Berwick Rotary Club, Berwick Town Team and Freeman of Berwick, and sculpted by Sebastien Boyesen. It currently has temporary planning permission for 28 days, while an application seeks to make it a permanent fixture and potentially establish walking routes linking it to locations associated with Strength.

Rebecca Hackett, 41, from Stockton, appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court charged with murdering 77-year-old Harry Heslop at Cedar House supported living retirement home in Stockton. She also faces a charge of possessing a bladed article. Heslop died at about 02:45 BST on Tuesday. Hackett is due to appear at Teesside Crown Court for a preliminary hearing, while a second woman, aged 54, remains on bail as police inquiries continue.

A suspension notice has been issued to the operator of the Seaton Meadows landfill in Seaton Carew after an Environment Agency survey found excessive waste levels. The operator must comply with permitted tipping limits and may appeal within two months, though all suspension requirements remain in effect during any appeal. The agency stated it would take further action if needed to ensure the site is completed safely. Residents may still see material being moved as compliance work continues, but no additional waste is allowed onto the site.

A woman who lost her childhood friend to a drowning at Seaton Carew beach expressed heartbreak after two men died there while rescuing children. She has long campaigned for full-season lifeguard coverage and renewed her call as her petition surpasses 2,600 signatures. Local authorities have ordered a review of water safety arrangements, while emergency services confirmed the children involved are safe.

Northumberland National Park received £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund to expand its volunteer programme, supporting travel costs, equipment and recruitment from diverse backgrounds. Volunteers will contribute to habitat restoration, woodland and peatland management, access improvements and wildlife monitoring. Chief executive David Renwick said the funding will help reduce participation barriers and provide opportunities for skill development and wellbeing.

A six-vehicle collision on the A66 near the Brigham turnoff left a coach driver seriously injured and airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital. The crash involved two coaches, a van and three cars, prompting closure of the road between the A595 and A5086 while investigators examined the scene. Police requested witnesses or anyone with footage to come forward.

Horticulturalists from Middlesbrough Environment City uncovered three rare medlar trees on the overgrown former Nature's World site in Acklam. Once popular in medieval Europe and known for fruiting late in autumn, medlars declined in use after the 1950s. Project leader Matt Wilson aims to take cuttings and raise awareness of the hardy species, describing its bletted fruit as tasting like dates or spiced pear. The team hopes the discovery will encourage more people to grow diverse food plants in their gardens as they work to restore the site.

A planned birds-of-prey flying display at Hopetown Darlington was cancelled after vegan and animal rights groups urged the museum to avoid events involving live animals. Campaigners argued the display promoted exploitation by encouraging unnatural animal behaviour. The museum said welfare and safety standards were in place but chose to respond to local concerns, apologising to families who had booked. The event would have included educational talks and interactions with expert handlers.

An environmental group warns seal pups on the Teesside coast face imminent danger due to the lack of an operational local rehabilitation facility. Tara Seal Research, whose monitored pups all died last year, failed to secure funding from Northumbrian Water, which cited another planned centre as the reason for rejection despite its continued delays. Calls from researchers and MPs urge local organisations to collaborate and establish temporary care provision as stranded pups are expected within weeks, highlighting ongoing ecosystem concerns and the need for immediate action.

A man from Norton was found guilty of the manslaughter of 31-year-old Aiden Matthews, who died days after a New Year’s Eve assault. Two other men had previously admitted the same charge. Cleveland Police described the case as a complex investigation, noting the victim was initially unaware of the fatal extent of his injuries. Sentencing will occur at a later date.

Long‑time residents Kathleen and Tom Wilson continue to seek action over a neighbouring house in Wingate that has been abandoned since 1982 and is now severely deteriorated. Durham County Council says legal proceedings must conclude before the property can be sold at auction, but the couple say they have seen no progress despite years of assurances. The house has repeatedly changed owners and fallen into the Crown Estate after a previous owner dissolved, leaving it overgrown, structurally uncertain and without basic amenities. The council maintains it is working to secure the property's long‑term future.