Parents and governors have met to discuss the fight to save Durham Free School after the government said it would close at Easter. Several parents told ITV they would home-school their children rather than send them to any other school.
A dog breeder from County Durham has denied seven counts of being in charge of dogs which caused injury while being dangerously out of control.
Stephen Potts, 48, of Coronation Crescent in Low Pittington, appeared at Durham Crown Court. He was granted bail and will now face trial on 16th June.
It is alleged that his dogs were involved in a confrontation with a man walking his dog in Belmont in October 2013, leaving the man with serious injuries.
Jonas Gutierrez will be back in the Newcastle United squad this weekend for the first time since overcoming testicular cancer.
The Argentinean midfielder returned to action in an under-21 Premier League Cup win over West Ham in December. But he could finally make his first-team comeback when the Magpies welcome Aston Villa to St James' Park on Saturday.
Newcastle boss John Carver confirmed the 31-year-old could be on the bench for the Premier League clash.
Gateshead Council has confirmed a budget for the next year, which will include 193 job losses and an increase in council tax.
The authority said all libraries will stay open, although some may relocate to new buildings and have shorter opening hours.
Full council backed the proposals. The council has lost nearly half its central government funding over the last five years.
Sunderland boss Gus Poyet has defended Manchester United's recent performances, saying they 'are not as bad as people think'.
Louis Van Gaal's side came under criticism after last weekend's 2-1 defeat to Swansea. But speaking ahead of Sunderland's trip to Old Trafford on Saturday, Poyet backed Man United to recover from their recent dip in form.
He said:
Sunderland won 1-0 at Old Trafford at the end of last season as the Black Cats avoided relegation from the Premier League. But Poyet expects a different encounter this time around. He added:
A man has been sentenced to six years in prison after admitting manslaughter at a party in Newcastle.
Danyl Dryden, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Robert Littlefair, from Whitley Bay, was punched and later died in hospital after suffering bleeding to the brain. The attack had happened at a house on Plessey Terrace in Heaton last September.
The Dalton Park retail outlet in County Durham is to be expanded over the next year, creating 600 jobs.
Work will start in May 2015 and end on May Day 2016. A further 400 people will be employed in construction jobs while the work is carried out.
It will cost £45m and create a cinema with seven screens and a new Morrisons supermarket, as well as a hotel, a pub and several restaurants and fast-food outlets.
