Tyne Tees Lindisfarne Gospels

Stockton South MP James Wharton says critics of his EU Referendum Bill are wrong to claim that he should have used the chance of a Private Member's Bill to back a local issue.

The EU Referendum Bill would set a timeline for a vote on whether Britain should stay in the European Union.

Speaking on Around The House, the Conservative MP said he was surprised to have come first in the ballot to be allowed to put forward a Bill of his choice, but insisted that a local issue would never get through Parliament.

Watch the interview here:

The new Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress in the North has said her priority is to secure the Living Wage - £7.45 per hour, compared with the current Minimum Wage of £6.19 per hour - for workers at as many companies as possible.

Beth Farhat discussed the challenges of her role as the new face of the Northern TUC with Helen Ford, on our political programme Around The House.

You can watch the full interview here:

On tonight's political programme Around The House, Helen Ford discusses the row over party funding and the political significance of the Lindisfarne Gospels with a panel of guests, including Durham Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods.

Also in the programme, Stockton Conservative James Wharton reflects on introducing the controversial EU Referendum Bill.

Helen Ford also talks to Beth Farhat about her new role as General Secretary of the Northern TUC.

Around The House is at 11.35pm tonight (Thursday 11th July) on ITV.

On tonight's political programme, Helen Ford talks to the region's new General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress.

Beth Farhat explains that her priority is to campaign for higher wages, to improve people's health and reduce their risk of falling into debt:

You can see the full interview on Around The House tonight (Thursday 11th July) at 11.35pm.

Helen Ford presents our political programme from Westminster.

Among tonight's guests are the new Regional Secretary of the Northern TUC, Beth Farhat and Stockton Conservative MP James Wharton, who discusses the controversial EU Referendum Bill that has thrust him into the political spotlight.

Also in the programme, a panel including Durham Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods considers the current row over party funding and whether an icon of early Christianity - the Lindisfarne Gospels - has also become a political symbol.

Around The House is at 11.35pm tonight (Thursday 11th July) on ITV.

Last month one of the world's most precious books was brought back to the region, and a project in Gateshead has found an unusual way to celebrate.

It is all about Street art - and graffiti - based on the Lindisfarne gospels - on the walls of a church.

Watch the full report from Katie Oakes below.

Four street artists from Gateshead are working on a 'Graffiti Gospels' project to celebrate the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the region.

Based at St Edmund's Chapel, the four artists will work for two hours each day as artists-in-resident - working directly onto the gallery wall on artwork inspired by the four gospels.

The public will be able to see the art taking shape over the month of July, as well as when it goes on display as a finished piece in August.

The artists will also be running street art workshops with children from the region's primary schools and giving them lessons in street art calligraphy.

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Reverend Martin Wharton, has told ITV News that he think it is "very appropriate" that East Coast have named a train after Durham Cathedral - and particularly during a summer when it will be on show to thousands of visitors.