Tyne Tees Film

Durham will host the world premiere of 'Harrigan' on September 16. It is a film written by former policeman Arthur McKenzie and it is based on his experiences.

The film stars Stephen Tompkinson and was shot in Newcastle and other parts of the region. Harrigan hits our cinema screens on September 20.

Based on the 1970s, Harrigan is set at a time when Britain was struggling with the three day week and the miners' strike. Harrigan is a police officer with a mission to clean up the streets of the gangs that are running riot and to bring back community spirit.

Director Tom Hooper said he was thrilled for both Jackman and Hathaway.

The North East playwright who wrote Billy Elliot launched a scathing attack on cuts in arts funding by Newcastle City Council as he received an honorary degree at Northumbria University.

Lee Hall used the occasion to again accuse the council of attacking art for ordinary people.

Council bosses say they are responding to budget cuts from the government.

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Newcastle City Council have responded to claims they have "attacked art" with cuts in the City.

The North East author that penned Billy Elliot has accused Newcastle City Council of attacking the arts for working class people.

Lee Hall spoke out about cutbacks to services including libraries and theatres when he was back in the region to receive an honorary degree from Northumbria University.

The author said that the cuts would affect ordinary people the most.

The local authority say that their actions are a necessary response to slashed government budgets.

The playwright Lee Hall, who wrote The Pitmen Painters and the screenplay for the film Billy Elliott will receive an honorary degree from Northumbria University.

He was born in Newcastle, and his work has been recognised internationally for his work on stage and screen. Much of his writing is rooted in the working class culture of the North East. A central theme in his work is the role of art in those communities.

He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters alongside students from the Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences at a ceremony today.

Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell, at the premiere of the new James Bond film 'Skyfall' at Boldon Cinema, said he would like to play the spy in the future.

The event took place to raise money and awareness for the SAFC Foudation