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Striker Papiss Cissé has accepted an FA charge after allegedly spitting at Jonny Evans in Wednesday's Premier League match at St James' Park, Newcastle have announced.

Cissé has apologised for the incident. Credit: PA Wire

Managing Director Lee Charnley has now said:

"Both ourselves and Papiss agree that this kind of behaviour is not acceptable.

In life, when you do something wrong you have to front up, admit your mistakes and accept the punishment.

Papiss was proactive this morning in making a full and heartfelt apology, which he did in advance of any notification from the FA regarding this charge.

This was something he felt strongly about and we fully support him in quickly accepting the charge. Papiss is known to many of our region's schools, community groups and junior football teams for his involvement in the work of the Newcastle United Foundation.

He has this evening expressed to us his strong desire to engage in additional community activities during the period of his ban.

He is particularly keen to use his position as a role model to encourage young and influential fans to engage in sport and learn lessons about the importance of fair play and personal conduct."

– Papiss Cissé

Cissé has been Newcastle's most prolific goalscorer this season, scoring eleven goals:

Papiss Cissé - 11 goals
Pérez - 5 goals
Jack Colback - 3 goals
Moussa Sissoko - 3 goals
Rolando Aarons - 2 goals
Sammy Ameobi - 2 goals
Yoan Gouffran - 2 goals
Emmanuel Riviere - 2 goals

The Senegal forward could face a ban of up to seven matches.

The Magpies have only ten games left in the Premier League this season.

Papiss Cissé and Jonny Evans charged by FA after spitting incident

Paralympian gold medallist Stephen Miller with young sport enthusiasts Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

The North East is the proud home to several paralympian heroes, including the field athlete Stephen Miller, swimmer Josef Craig and wheelchair racer Jade Jones.

Today, all three gave their backing to a sports festival in Durham to encourage people with disabilites to become involved in sport and maybe even one day compete for their country.

Event provided an opportunity to give disability sport a go Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

A look ahead at the forecast for the Border region.

Read the full story ›

Government advice can be found here

HELPLINES:

Black Association of Women Step Out (BAWSO)

24-hour Helpline: 0800 731 8147 www.bawso.org.uk

ChildLine

24-hour Helpline for children: 0800 1111 www.childline.org.uk

National Domestic Violence Helpline

24-hour Helpline: 0808 2000 247 www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

Helpline Free phone 0808 800 5000 help@nspcc.org.uk

OTHER ORGANISATIONS:

Angelou Centre http://www.angelou-centre.org.uk 0191 226 0394

SHINE - Sexual Health in Newcastle

0191 277 2048

Teesside African Health Community

www.tahc.co.uk

FGM National Clinical Group

www.fgmnationalgroup.org/index.htm

Equality Now

www.equalitynow.org

Female Genital Mutilation victims urged to come forward

Referee Anthony Taylor separates Manchester United's Jonny Evans and Newcastle United's Papiss Demba Cissé Credit: Richard Sellers/PA Wire

Papiss Cissé and Jonny Evans have both been charged by the Football Association for allegedly spitting at each other.

The Newcastle striker and the Manchester United defender have been charged with a breach of FA Rule E1[a] following an incident in Wednesday night's Barclays Premier League clash between the clubs at St James' Park which was not seen by the match officials.

An FA statement read: "Newcastle United's Papiss Cissé and Manchester United's Jonny Evans have both been charged by the FA following their game yesterday [Wednesday 4 March 2015].

"The charges are in relation to an alleged breach of FA Rule E1[a] in that in or around the 38th minute of the game the two players spat at each other. The incidents were not seen by the match officials but caught on video."

Papiss Cissé and Jonny Evans charged by FA after spitting incident

Women in the North East, who've experienced female genital mutilation, are being urged to come forward and report their experiences.

No one in the UK has been convicted over the practice, which is illegal.

Now, the Crown Prosecution Service in our region says it wants victims to know they will be taken seriously.

Female Genital Mutilation victims urged to come forward

“Cleveland Fire Brigade were called to Melbray Chemical Company Wass Way Durham Lane Industrial Park Eaglescliffe at 1309hrs. The incident was a fire involving plastic storage containers containing small quantities of chemicals.

“There have been no casualties at the scene. We have had in attendance ten pumping appliances plus an Incident Command Unit and Supporting Appliance. Fire Brigade have used foam to bring the fire under control and to protect adjoining tanks.

"The advice to local residents is to stay indoors and close windows if affected by smoke.”

– Cleveland Fire Brigade Spokesperson

Fire at Teesside chemical site

Cleveland Police say that the emergency services, that have been attending a fire at a chemical site on teesside, are standing down.

The blaze at Melbray Chemicals on Durham Lane Industrial Estate near Stockton broke out earlier today (Thursday).

It has now been brought under control and roads are reopening.

There were concerns that the smoke could contain irritants and so people living near by were advised to stay indoors.

Officers say there are no reports of any injuries or casualties and that a lingering odour in the area should not cause any concern.

Police advised local residents to keep doors and windows shut Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

Emergency crews on site at Melbray Chemicals Credit: ITV Tyne Tees

Fire at Teesside chemical site

A report looking into the electrification of North East railway lines has been handed to the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin.

The Electrification Task Force was created in December 2013 to determine how electrification could deliver greater economic growth in the north of England.

32 routes were examined and prioritised according to their ability to contribute to local economic plans, how they fit with other schemes, and the number of diesel kilometres of running they would replace.

The Task Force said they put economic growth and connectivity at the heart of their considerations, as part of the Governments ‘Northern Powerhouse’ concept.

Andrew Jones MP, who Chaired the Task Force, said: "It is a comprehensive report detailing where we think the priorities lie for rail electrification in the north. We have placed economic growth at the heart of this project and been working on the premise that all the lines of the north would be electrified, it is only a question of when. This report details where it should start.

"The work has been a real team effort. The Taskforce has brought together different political parties, different regions of the north and different tiers of government. It is a report from the north for the north.

"The need for rail electrification is significant. It is part of the improvements in infrastructure that we need in the north. Indeed, this report is intended to look years ahead."