Ann Higgins, Chairman of Eston Residents' Association, has been explaining to ITV News the damage caused to the Northumbria in Bloom town, and the effect that it is having upon the local community.
Ann Higgins is the Chairman of Eston Residents' Association, which maintains the town's flower displays. Their work has been the subject of vandalism five times in five weeks.
The most recent came just two weeks before the judging of Northumbria in Bloom, which the group have previously won.
– Ann Higgins, Chairman of Eston Residents' Association"I don't know why it's happening. I don't know what pleasure they get out of it, or whether it is just society today. But we won't give up.
"We will keep on doing it, because first of all we do it for the people and the community. The competition is the icing on the cake."
The community noticeboard has been smashed for the second time this year, not far from where flowers were ripped up from a Northumbria in Bloom display maintained by volunteers in Eston, Teesside.
The hard work of volunteers in Eston, on Teesside, has been disrupted not once, but five times in the last five weeks.
The Residents' Association maintains plant pots and flower displays all over the town, which cost thousands of pounds a year.
They have previously won five golds at Northumbria in Bloom. This year, flowers on Old Row have been ripped up twice - the latest just two weeks before judging day.
Officers at Northumbria say they are backing European Safer Internet Day, which aims to promote safer use of technology.
The day takes place on February 5 and aims to promote a safer way of using technology.
– Detective Chief Inspector Mark Black, Northumbria Police"The internet has become an invaluable resource for people of all ages.
"However, it is open to abuse because sometimes there is little accountability and regulation. Therefore, it is important that we are aware of the potential dangers so we can all use the internet safely and responsibly.
"Events such as Safer Internet Day provide education about the internet for parents and grandparents and, at the same time, help them to ensure their children use it safely."
A website with hints and tips about using new technology safely has also been set up for the internet safety day.
Northumbria University have released a statement with regard to the news that hundreds of members of its staff will be offered voluntary redundancy in an effort to make itself "moreefficient and effective" in the future.
– Spokesperson for Northumbria University“Higher education is undergoing massive change at the moment.
We are now operating in an increasingly challenging environment.
To ensure our continued success, we are looking at ways of better supporting the University’s business to put us in a strong position to meet our students’ needs.
While some roles may be reshaped, new opportunities will also become available to others.
Support staff will continue to provide roles which are critical to our success and we are committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies.
A discretionary voluntary severance scheme is available to staff in some areas.”
Northumbria University has offered 700 of its staff the chance to apply for voluntary redundancy.
The university has said that it does not expect all 700 to take redundancy but that it is trying to make itself more efficient.
You can watch the lunchtime update from our Education Correspondent Dan Ashby below.
Northumbria University has offered 700 members of its staff the chance to apply for voluntary redundancy in an effort to make itself "more efficient and effective" in the future.
A spokesperson told ITV News that it was not expecting all 700 to take redundancy, but is offering the option to many people whose job has changed.
Academic support, communication, admin and IT staff are all part of the consultation.
A court heard how a gang was so successful at committing frauds against an auction house in Northumbria that it turned its attention to a New York sale held by the auction house.
Auctioneers across the country were targeted by fraudsters using false identities to register as telephone bidders.
Stolen credit card details were also used to obtain watches and expensive jewellery.
In October 2010, the jury heard, Railton's Auction House, in Alnwick, Northumbria, was contacted by an Alistair Goldsmith - one false name used - where a successful bid was made for jewellery worth £20,000.
When he said he wanted to have the items collected the following day, the company became suspicious.
Suspicions were further raised after a passport and a driving licence details were supplied by "Mr Goldsmith", Mr Shellard said and, fortunately, the auction house did not fall victim to the fraud.
The newly elected Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria says the Government is to blame for the low turnout at the polls.
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