Tyne Tees Sedgefield

Cherie Blair is in the crowd at Sedgefield as people wait for former Prime Minister Tony Blair to make a speech.

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A jockey has been airlifted to hospital with potentially serious head injuries after falling from a horse at speed at Sedgefield Racecourse.

The 46-year-old man was taken by the Great North Air Ambulance to the major trauma centre at James Cook University Hospital on Teesside.

The Government has said it was the responsibility of the North East local enterprise partnership to notify an MP of an official visit to his constituency.

Sedgefield MP Phil Wilson accused Stockton South's James Wharton of visiting Mr Wilson's constituency without informing him first. The Stockton South MP said he was only 'dropping off' Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis, and denies taking part in an official visit.

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities and Local Government said:

A family has paid tribute to a daughter, granddaughter and sister, from Sedgefield, who died when her car left the A177. Ashleigh Quinn, 26, died in the crash at 12:30am on Monday morning.

Ashleigh’s family said: “Ashleigh was a fun loving daughter, granddaughter and sister who will be sadly missed by her family, friends and everyone who knew her.”

Pupils from Sedgefield Primary School have dressed up as pirates as a way of promoting healthy lifestyles. They made their way to school singing “Pirate Y’arrrhh Without The Car” as a way of encouraging people to walk. It is part of the MEGA Motion campaign. Durham County Council backs the campaign.

Sedgefield boxer Bradley Saunders has the chance to move up a level when he challenges for the vacant WBO Intercontinental championship on June 7.

Victory over Ville Piispanen, of Finland, at the Metro Radio Arena will catapult the 28-year old Light-Welterweight fighter into the WBO’s top bracket.

Saunders is principal support as Darlington's Stuart Hall defends his IBF World Bantamweight title against Ellesmere Port’s Paul Butler.

Police have named a driver who died in a car crash in Sedgefield on Thursday.

Scott Ineson, 26, from Milton Avenue in Hebburn, died when his Ford Zetec collided with another car on the westbound carriageway of the A689 at around 12:30pm.

The driver of the other car, a 64-year-old woman from Durham, remains in the James Cook University Hospital with serious injuries.

Sedgefield boxer Bradley Saunders is hoping to put on a good show in front of a home crowd tonight.

The light-welterweight fighter, 27, is competing against Hungary's Gyorgy Mizsei at Gateshead Leisure Centre this evening.

As Saunders now lives and trains in Spain, this will be his first competitive match in the North East since turning professional in February 2012.