Tyne Tees News

North Yorkshire Police released this picture of a car balancing on a roadside safety barrier after crashing at a roundabout at junction 44 of the A1(M).

Below the wooden fence is a steep drop onto the motorway below.

The Roads Policing Unit also released a second picture of the scene showing how the car had come off the road.

The driver has been arrested after allegedly failing a roadside breath test, according to police.

A 19-year-old man has life-threatening injuries after being hit by a car, early on Sunday morning, in Jesmond, Newcastle.

It happened just before 1:30am on the Great North Road, about 400m from the junction with Clayton Road.

Police said that "for reasons yet to be established", the pedestrian "collided in the carriageway" with a VW Passat car travelling south towards the city centre.

He is now being treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, and his condition is critical but stable. Police are appealing for witnesses to what happened.

The East Coast rail line becomes privately run from today after more than five years in the public sector.

The route which links London with Edinburgh has been operated by the Department for Transport since 2009. But it has now been jointly taken over by Virgin and Stagecoach.

Protests were held yesterday by the RMT union, which has described the handover as an "act of gross national betrayal of the British people".

A Department for Transport spokesman said they were confident that the new East Coast franchise gave the best deal for passengers - providing more seats, more services, new trains and over £140 million of investment along the route.

Shadow Transport Secretary Michael Dugher said the ending of the state-run East Coast company was "a hammer blow for passengers, taxpayers and employees alike".

ITV Tyne Tees has been named Best News Programme by the North East Royal Television Society.

Tyne Tees picked up the award, at the regional RTS ceremony last night, for its Tour de France Special programme.

Presenter Pam Royle was also named Presenter of the Year Award for the second year in a row.

Trains on the East Coast Main Line are back in private control today, as services are taken over by a consortium involving Virgin Trains and Stagecoach.

The line, which links the North East with London and Edinburgh, was brought into public hands in November 2009. It has since been run by a company under the control of the Government.

From this morning, trains will operate under the name Virgin Trains East Coast. Services carrying the new livery will be unveiled tomorrow, Monday 2nd March.

The decision to re-privatise East Coast has been criticised by the rail union, the RMT, and some North East Labour MPs, who said the arrangement had been working well for passengers and taxpayers.

The eight year deal includes a promise of new trains, more services and extra seats.

A chilly morning with gales and frequent showers over the Pennines.

Fewer showers further east with more in the way of brighter intervals.

Winds easing slightly by dusk, but dragging in colder air.

Afternoon highs 5-7°C