Chronicle Live’s breaking news service including today’s traffic, travel, weather, sport and more covering Newcastle and the North East
Hello and welcome to The Chronicle’s live breaking news blog.
We will be bringing you regular updates throughout the day of all the breaking news and sport.
It's Zac Sherratt here and I'll keep you up to date with what's going on in the North East, including the latest on the roads.
If you would like to contact us today about the latest news, here are my details:
Email: zac.sherratt@reachplc.com
Twitter: @sherattzac
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Traffic is easing after the earlier incident on the A1 northbound
National Highways have issued an update
Further along the A1 we are seeing delays of around 30 minutes in the southbound direction from the Metro Centre to Angel of the North.
The A1 Seaton Burn crash is now causing delays of around 50 minutes on journeys between junction 79 and 80, northbound.
The wait times are increasing and National Highways expects disruption until around 7.30pm.
A crash on the A19 near Castle Eden is causing delays of around one hour.
Those travelling to the area should expect delays.
A two-vehicle crash on the A1 at Seaton Burn is causing queues of four miles for northbound traffic.
Delays are expected to last for more than half an hour.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said:
“At 3.20pm today (Thursday) we received a report of a two-vehicle collision on the A1 northbound close to junction 80.
“Emergency services attended and one lane was closed to allow for the vehicles involved to be recovered.”
“No-one is believed to have been seriously injured.”
There has been a crash on the A1 near Seaton Burn.
It is affecting northbound traffic with one lane closed. There are delays of 30 minutes.
We are awaiting further information from Northumbria Police and North East Ambulance Service.
We understand there are delays to northbound traffic on the A1 near Seaton Burn of around half an hour.
The crash is on the A1 near Seaton Burn.
One lane closed and traffic is queueing due to a crash on the A1, northbound, between junction 79 (Gosforth Park) and junction 80 (Seaton Burn).
Heavy traffic on A19 Southbound at the Tyne Tunnel.
Fire crews continue to work at the scene of an overnight blaze in Haltwhistle.
The inferno has destroyed the Working Men's Club in the town – and fire fighters are still damping it down.
For the latest photos and comments from the scene, follow our live blog here.
Weather in Newcastle from the Met Office:
Friday:
Generally cloudy, but mist and fog slowly lifting through the morning. Turning drier by the afternoon with patchy rain and drizzle easing. Colder but clearer overnight. Maximum temperature 6C.
Outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Cold start Saturday, then cloudy with showers developing. Cloudy and turning colder Sunday and Monday with strengthening easterly winds and occasional showers, perhaps wintry on higher hills.
A spokeswoman for Durham Constabulary said:
"We received a report of a two-vehicle road traffic collision in Ouston Lane, Pelton, just after 2.15pm today (December 1).
"No one is believed to have been injured."
Covered with 10,000 LED lights, this elaborately decorated home is bringing smiles and festive cheer to the local community.
Andrew Walters has been decorating the outside of his home in Stillington, on the border of County Durham and Stockton, for over five years to 'bring back the magic' of Christmas. And this year he has covered his house top to bottom with over 10,000 LED lights to help raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust after his neighbour's teenage daughter was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
The 32-year-old has raised hundreds of pounds for vital charities over the years, including Cash for Kids. But while people may be considering toning down elaborate decorations this year due to the impact on energy bills, Andrew has revealed the thousands of lights outside his home will only cost £4.50 a night thanks to the energy-saving bulbs.
Read the full story here.
Very slow traffic on St Michael's Way between Livingstone Road roundabout and Durham Road Roundabout.
Traffic is very slow on Askew Road, eastbound, at the Tyne Bridge Approach this afternoon.
Traffic is very slow on the A167, northbound, at Southfield Way (Hospital roundabout).
Travel time is four minutes.
Traffic is getting heavier on the A1, southbound, from the Metro Centre down to the Angel of the North.
Travel time is upwards of 17 minutes.
A cyclist was thrown from his bike in a suspected hit and run at a beauty spot.
The victim was cycling on Beal level crossing, which leads to the Holy Island Causeway, Lindisfarne, at around 3.30pm on November 5 when he was hit by a car – believed to be a white Vaxuhall family car.
He was thrown from his bike by the impact.
Read the full story here.
Reports of slow traffic due to a crash on Ouston Lane, southbound, near A693 (Pelton roundabout).
We're seeing slow traffic this afternoon on Leam Lane in both directions at Newcastle Road (White Mare Pool Roundabout).
Officers have made half a dozen arrests after they intercepted a group allegedly carrying cash, mobile phones, and dozens of wraps full of cocaine.
Northumbria Police pulled over a “suspicious looking” vehicle on Hexham Road, Gateshead, last Friday (November 25) and found 36 wraps of cocaine. Three people were arrested.
Two men, aged 21 and 22, were charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs and appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Monday (November 28). The pair were remanded in custody until their next appearance. A third man also, 21, was released under investigation.
Read the full story here.
The Tyne Tunnel., southbound, is seeing some congestion this afternoon.
A son lost all of his possessions including his dad's ashes when his flat was cleared out by mistake.
Warren Dodds returned from a short break away to find that his property in Benwell in Newcastle had been stripped bare. The 31-year-old said all his belongings, including his flooring, had been removed.
Warren, who lost his dad Peter Dodds, 43, nine years ago, said that his most sentimental items had also disappeared. They included his father's ashes, which were in a pendant, as well as his watch and photographs of them together.
Read the full story here.