Tyne Tees Northumberland

Although not everywhere will get one, heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to break out across central and northern England during Wednesday afternoon, easing from the south during the evening.

These thunderstorms bring the potential for lightning strikes and hail, with sudden downpours and gusty winds.

Newcastle United say the club is in a "healthy financial position" after making a profit of £18.6 million pounds in the year ending June 2018.

Accounts for the Magpies published on Thursday reveal that profit came after the club made a loss of more than £41 million pounds following relegation to the Championship in 2017.

In a statement, the club says owner Mike Ashley has been repaid £33 million pounds from a loan to the club a decade ago. Mr Ashley is still owed £111 million pounds - but that amount will only be repaid if Newcastle United is sold.

This Evening and Tonight:

Staying fine through this evening with some hazy sunshine.

Remaining dry overnight, with a few patches of mist, fog and low cloud forming.

Becoming chilly with a touch of grass frost possible in some rural areas by dawn. Minimum temperature 3 °C.

Good Friday:

Any mist and low cloud soon clearing, leaving a dry and bright day with sunny periods.

Feeling a little warmer than on Thursday inland, although still rather cool near coasts. Maximum temperature 20 °C.

Outlook for Saturday to Monday:

Dry and bright throughout the weekend and on Easter Monday with sunny periods at times.

Increasingly warm or very warm, although some coasts remaining cooler, while locally chilly inland overnight.

Police are appealing for information after a man sadly died following a collision on Trunk Road yesterday on Friday 12th April.

The incident happened at around 6:05 pm on the Trunk Road in Middlesbrough (near Cleveland Retail Park), when a motorbike collided with a lamppost.

The 48-year-old male motorcycle rider sadly suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers would like to appeal for anyone who may have dash cam footage of the motorbike prior to the collision to please come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Martin Tranmer from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 061013.

Tributes have been paid to former England, Newcastle United and Sunderland footballer Ivor Broadis, who has died.

He was 96-years-old.

Born in 1922, the forward played for Sunderland AFC between 1949 and 1951, before turning out for Newcastle United between 1953 and 1955.

Both clubs have paid tribute to their former player.

After playing, Broadis took up a career as a football journalist which lasted for 45 years.