The funeral is taking place today of a long-serving priest who baptised all four of Tony Blair's children. Father John Caden, who was known as Father Jack, died last month at the age of 90. He had been a Priest for 65 years.
Father Caden counted many stars among his friends even buying President George Bush a drink when he visited Sedgefield in 2003.
The A177 Stockton Road is closed in both directions due to flooding at A689.
Affecting traffic from Sedgefield to Stockton.
Tony Blair's father Leo has died today, at the age of 89 - he was taken seriously ill yesterday, November 15.
Tony Blair, the former MP for Sedgefield, cancelled his engagements in Newcastle today, to be at his side.
The former Prime Minister has praised his father's extraordinary spirit and says he was privileged to have him as a Dad.
The father of former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has died. Leo Blair died today, November 16, aged 89.
A spokesman for Tony Blair said he was with his father when he died.
Find out more here.
Although their patron cannot be in the North East today, an event held by the Tony Blair Sports Foundation to celebrate its fifth anniversary and the success of the 2012 games will still go ahead as planned.
The event at Copthorne Hotel will be hosted by partners and members of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation - including board member Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and former Olympian Steve Cram.
The Foundation's 'Pass It On' campaign will officially be launched today to carry on the olympic legacy in the region.
The other events that Mr Blair had been planning to attend at Walker Technology College, Newcastle Cricket Centre and Rutherford Football Club have been cancelled.
The Tony Blair Sports Foundation is celebrating its fifth anniversary and its patron, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, has had to cancel his proposed visit to the region after his father fell ill last night.
As part of the anniversary celebrations Mr Blair was planning to launch the Foundation's Pass It On campaign, which will continue building on the post-Olympics legacy in the North East. It is hoped that this will continue to inspire people to take part in sport and keep active.
Tony Blair had also been set to be officially launch the partnership between his foundation and Walker Technology College in Newcastle. Through the partnership, the foundation will help provide tennis coaching for primary school pupils, including for the visually impaired.
A 19-year-old man, who died in a car crash this morning (Wednesday) in Sedgefield, has been named as Dominic James Osbourne Scarre from Finchale, Durham.
The 27-year-old driver of a Ford Transit was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and has released on bail.
The A689 re-opened in both directions - recovery work completed and traffic easing after an accident this morning between the A177 Stockton Road and Sands Hall Roundabout.
A 19-year-old man from the Stockton area has died after an accident involving a lorry on the A689 this morning.
It happened at 7:50am between the A177 Stockton Road and Sands Hall Roundabout.
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information on a broken down Peugeot 406 seen on the same stretch of road before the accident.
Anyone with information can contact Durham Police by phoning 101.
The road is closed in both directions and is affecting traffic from the A1(M) at Bradbury and through Sedgefield.
The A689 is closed in both directions - slow traffic due to accident involving a lorry and a car between the A177 Stockton Road and Sands Hall Roundabout.
Emergency Services are now on the scene dealing with the incident near to Sedgefield Cricket Club.
It's affecting traffic from the A1(M) at Bradbury and through Sedgefield. Air ambulance making its way to the scene.
