Monday, November 3, 2014

Live: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside


The Evening Gazette's live breaking news blog brings you regular updates, pictures, video, tweets and comments covering the latest Teesside and North Yorkshire traffic, travel, weather, crime and council news for today, Tuesday 4th November, 2014.


You can contribute to the live blog by posting your comment below, and you can also tweet us @EveningGazette to share breaking news stories, pictures and opinions.


Our Teesside breaking news live blog begins at 07:00am every weekday and is updated throughout the day and into the evening.



Number of sex offenders on Teesside has risen - with certain areas recording some of the highest rates in the country


The number of sex offenders living in Teesside has risen - with certain areas recording some of the highest rates in the country.


Middlesbrough has 190 registered sex offenders living in the town, a rate of 157.8 per 100,000 people aged 10 and over - the fifth highest rate in the country.


In Redcar and Cleveland, there are 134.7 registered sex offenders per 100,000, while Stockton have 111.5, all well above the national average of 92.2 per 100,000 people.


In total, there were 539 registered sex offenders living in Teesside in 2014 - up 49 from the previous year.


The figures come from an Freedom of Information request to Cleveland Police asking for a further breakdown of the figures from the Teesside Multi-Agency Public Protection Agency (MAPPA) report.


Jenny Mooney, chair of the Teesside MAPPA Strategic Management Board and governor of Holme House Prison, said: “Whilst people will understandably be concerned about offenders living in communities, I want to reassure the public that we have the right measures in place and highly trained specialists working daily to prevent harm.”


The report reveals that one ‘serious further offence’ was committed by an individual monitored by Teesside’s MAPPA - and that four sex offenders were returned to custody for breaching their licence.


However, Teesside MAPPA’s monitoring of one Teesside sex offender has been held up nationally as an example of best practice.


The agency is made up of a number of local organisations such as police and the probation service, and is responsible for ensuring serious and violent offenders do not reoffend.


“We have strong partnership working across Teesside and there are strict measures in place to ensure the monitoring of Registered Sex Offenders and other high-level offenders,” continued Ms Mooney.


“The MAPPA arrangements that we have in place are seen as good practice, with one particular case shared nationally for multi-agency working in the MAPPA arena.


“The safety of the public is paramount and by sharing vital information between agencies, we can ensure communities are protected further by applying restrictions on offenders and monitoring their behaviour by using new technologies.”


The figures are correct as of March this year, and are subject to change as people move areas, die or are imprisoned.


Across England and Wales police and probation are currently monitoring 46,102 registered sex offenders, or 92.2 per 100,000 people.



Adam Reach: 'Signing new Boro deal is weight off my shoulders'


Flying winger Adam Reach admitted signing a new Boro contract is “a weight off his shoulders” on the eve of the Championship showdown with Norwich.


The 21-year-old wide man penned a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Riverside today which ties him down until the summer of 2019.


Reach has featured in every Championship game so far this season for Boro, and will be expected to start against the Canaries tomorrow evening in a tussle between two of the division’s promotion contenders.


After spending the bulk of last season on loan at Shrewsbury and Bradford, Reach has broke into the first-team in style this year - and admitted he is delighted to secure his long-term future at the club.


“I’m very pleased to have signed and got it over and done with,” Reach told the club’s official website.


“It means I’m going to be at this club now for at least another four years.


“It’s come in a nice week after the Rotherham game on Saturday, sandwiched between the Norwich game on Tuesday, so things are going well at the minute.


“It’s been a good season for me personally but for the team too which is good. I’ve been making a lot of appearances and starts.


“I’ve been putting in some good performances so it’s onwards and upwards, this contract is a bit of a weight off my shoulders but also a reward for doing well so hopefully I can kick on.


“I’m 21 now, turning 22, and those two loan spells were vital for me.


Adam Reach celebrates scoring at Anfield


“At Boro you could play a few games then get taken out so I think the loan moves were good just to get momentum and get used to playing week in week out and that’s suited me well this season.


“We’ve got a manager here who will play young players and it doesn’t matter if he’s signed players, if you’re doing well you’ll play.”


Reach admitted his time away from Teesside was a tough experience, but believes it was the best move for his career.


“You have to make the most of the loan spells because young players don’t always want to move away from home and their familiar surroundings,” he added.


“It’s hard to begin with, but six months down the line you look back and think you should’ve done it sooner.


“You get used to being in the changing room with other players, you come out of your shell a bit more to make friends with others and you’re playing week in week out, which is a lot more pressure than playing at U21 level.


“I enjoyed my time at Shrewsbury, it was a good set up and a friendly club.


“It was a tough move going away from home living by myself in a new place but it was a good experience.”



Alice Corfield still fighting for life after fatal Hemlington accident which killed her father


The daughter of a Hemlington father-of-three who tragically died last week - remains in a critical but stable condition at James Cook University Hospital.


Alice Corfield, 17, was a passenger in the Fiesta which was involved in a fatal collision that killed her father, 39-year-old Andrew Corfield.


Mr Corfield - who was well known in Hemlington as a charity fundraiser after his son died from cot death in 1995 - was pronounced dead at the scene.


The incident took place at around 7.30pm on Tuesday at the junction of Cass House Road and Fordyce Road.


Officers were called to the smash, involving a silver Ford Fiesta and a silver Hyundai Santa Fe, on Cass House Road near the junction with Fordyce Road at 7.40pm on Tuesday.


Both roads were closed until after 3am while police conducted investigations at the scene.


The ambulance service and one fire engine from Coulby Newham, one from Middlesbrough Fire Station as well as the emergency tender attended the scene.


Lisa Corfield and Andrew Corfield and their children Owen, Alice and Amy (left to right) VIEW GALLERY


Jake McCabe, 18, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Friday in connection with the fatal crash.


McCabe, of Cramlington Close, Hemlington, faces six charges including causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury through dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking.


He is also accused of driving without an appropriate licence, using a vehicle without insurance and failing to report an accident.


He is yet to enter a plea and was remanded in custody. He will appear at Teesside Crown Court on November 13



Cleveland Fire Brigade chief: 'We have adequately dealt with 65 calls since start of strike'


The head of Cleveland Fire Brigade says the brigade is coping with extended strike action - thanks to public volunteers.


Fire crews across Teesside began four days of industrial action 6pm on Friday and the brigade has now dealt with more than 60 calls since the action started - including a house fire and a road smash on the A19.


During the strike, 47 crew members will be available to cover those on the picket line.


Of these, 22 are professional firefighters who have chosen not to take strike action and 25 are auxiliary firefighters - volunteer members of the public who have been trained up by professionals.


But Cleveland chief fire officer Ian Hayton - who has been in the fire service for 39 years - said today that the force is coping with the calls despite the strike.


He said: “We have adequately dealt with 65 calls since the start of the strike.


“This is roughly one incident and hour, which is the normal rate of calls.


“Our responsibility is to provide the best cover we can in these situations and we have done just that.


“There has been an average of 13 appliances available across the Cleveland area who have dealt with a variety of incidents including house fires, road traffic collisions and small fires in the correct way.


“We will continue our preparations for any call outs we get from now until the end of the strike.


“This is a dispute between central government and the fire brigade over pension reforms and what I want is that nobody gets hurt.”


The long-running strike is over a national dispute surrounding pension arrangements between the Fire Brigade Union and the Government.


The union has accused ministers of refusing to bring any new offer to the table despite two months of talks.


Davy Howe, Cleveland Fire Brigade Union’s secretary, said: “This time of year is obviously busy.


“We did pull back from striking on November 5 but the timing is purely down to the Government’s decision to offer us no more.


“They knew if nothing was going to be put on the table that there would be further strike action.”


James Wharton, Conservative Stockton South MP, has criticised the timing of the action.


He said: “This just underlines why, as we head towards November 5, this is not an appropriate time to strike.


“I have the utmost respect for our firefighters but this strike is wrong, reform is needed to make terms and conditions sustainable and I hope that as many as possible will resist the call to join the picket lines and will go back to work providing this vital emergency service at such a key time.”


The strike ends at 6pm tomorrow - the evening before Bonfire Night.



Richard Kilty and Jade Jones among Teesside trio to receive British Athletics funding


THREE Teesside athletes have been rewarded for their exploits in 2014 by being included on British Athletics’ list for full funding for the new season.


Stockton sprinter Richard Kilty and Boro wheelchair racer Jade Jones are among those to be supported by the world class performance programme (WCPP) for 2014-15.


The WCPP, funded by the National Lottery through UK Sport, is split into two levels - "podium" being for athletes deemed to have the potential to medal at Rio 2016 and "podium potential" for athletes developing towards Tokyo 2020.


Kilty, who produced a stunning run to become World Indoor 60m champion in March, has been named as a "podium" athlete while 18-year-old Jones, who won bronze at the Commonwealth Games, is included in the "podium potential" list.


Action Images / Matthew Childs Jade Jones in action


Jade Jones in action

Teesside-based Sudanese sprinter Rabah Yousif also made the podium cut, but long-jumper Chris Tomlinson has dropped out completely.


British Athletics Performance Director Neil Black said: “Our World Class Performance Programme selections for 2014-15 once again reflect on the criteria of medal potential at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.


“Competition for places on the programme is extremely competitive and this year the selection panel faced tough performance decisions based on such stipulations in this funding cycle.


Chris Tomlinson Chris Tomlinson


“Next year we are looking to build on the foundations set in 2014 and I’m excited about how our athletes will fare on the global stage at the World Championships in Beijing and the IPC World Championships in Doha.


“The support enables our athletes to be the best prepared in their quest for success in 2016, at the home World Championships in 2017 and beyond.”



Stockton's run-down Victoria Estate could be replaced by exclusive retirement village


Victoria Estate demolition VIEW GALLERY


A former ‘sink estate’ in Stockton town centre could now be rebuilt as an exclusive “urban village” for retired residents.


More than 250 homes made up of maisonettes and flats are being demolished as part of the major regeneration of the 1960s Victoria Estate.


Stockton Council originally planned to clear the rundown estate of residents to make way for a range of 210 new homes for sale and rent.


But the authority now believes the supply of new family homes is being met in other developments close to Victoria.


This includes West End Gardens and North Shore, with the redevelopment of the Swainby Road site due to start soon.


The council is now exploring other potential development options for the Victoria site.


A report to Stockton’s cabinet says the site, behind Splash swimming pool, “may provide a unique opportunity to develop an urban village exclusively providing active ageing/retirement housing”.


The village could also help address “the lack of appropriate retirement housing options” in the borough.


The scheme could include a full range of 350 retirement homes, including bungalows, apartments and houses.


There would be a village green/park to take full advantage of the current site layout.


At the centre of the development would be a “neighbourhood hub”, providing communal leisure facilities.


This building would also provide the location of an extra care housing facility.


At the moment the urban village “is very much a concept”, says the report.


But cabinet are recommended to support a detailed appraisal to assess the viability of the proposal.


The report also reveals the pace of clearing the estate of residents has been quicker than initially anticipated.


At the end of October 2014, 112 of the 250 households have vacated the estate.


The first phase of demolition has recently finished and further phases are planned for spring 2015.


Initially it was anticipated that it would take up to five years for all households to move out - up to 2018.


But the report says the decanting timescale has “significantly quickened” due to the availability of alternative properties across the borough and households moving voluntarily.


The ambitious redevelopment is being carried out by Stockton Council in partnership with Tristar Homes, part of the Vela Group.



Final Little Horrors 2014 Part Five


VIEW GALLERY


Readers have sent in hundreds of spooky Halloween snaps of children around Teesside wearing their scariest costumes.


We've been putting the pictures into galleries and today present Little Horrors Part Four.


We hope to have details of a supplement to be printed in The Gazette very soon.



Little Horrors 2014 Part Four


VIEW GALLERY


Readers have sent in hundreds of spooky Halloween snaps of children around Teesside wearing their scariest costumes.


We've been putting the pictures into galleries and today present Little Horrors Part Four.


We hope to have details of a supplement to be printed in The Gazette very soon.



Marske and Guisborough hoping to avoid each other in FA Vase second round draw


Marske and Guisborough will be hoping to avoid each other in today’s FA Vase draw after reaching the second round with thumping home victories.


The Seasiders put five past Northern Counties East strugglers Winterton Rangers without reply as Guisborough came from behind to beat Billingham Synthonia 3-1.


Games between Guisborough and Marske are always spicy affairs.


And although Marske boss Carl Jarrett admits a Vase clash between the two old rivals would be mouthwatering, he would ideally like the lunchtime draw to throw up an away trip to face a non-Northern League side to give much-needed variety to the club’s players and fans.


Marske were far too strong for Winterton with Sam Garvie scoring twice in the second half to add to strikes before the break from Jamie Owens, Craig Gott and Liam O’Sullivan, who was later sent off.


Jarrett said: “If we did get Guisborough it would be massive, but if we got them or another Northern League team in the draw both sides would know each other and it would be like a league game.


“An away trip to a team from a different league would be brilliant for the players and the fans, because it’s always a great day out and it unites the club.


“But you get who you get,” he added. “The main thing is we are in the next round, and it was a very professional performance. It could’ve been double figures.”


Guisborough gained revenge for their dismal 1-0 derby defeat to Synners at the same stage of the Vase last season as they came from a Kris Hughes goal down to win with plenty to spare at the KGV.


The Priorymen bossed proceedings in the first half but trailed at the end of it as Hughes got the benefit of a fortunate ricochet to wriggle through and fire low into the bottom corner.


Two goals in quick succession - a Leon Carling header and long range Curtis Round strike - turned the game on its head and Danny Earl added a gift-wrapped third against his former club following a blunder from Synners keeper Jonny Ball, who went on to save Luke Bythway’s 85th minute penalty.


Guisborough boss Chris Hardy said: “It was very pleasing to see an end product after seeing recent results pass us by despite controlling games.


“We were always in control apart from their goal and the last 10 minutes of the second half.”


Synners chairman Stuart Coleby - who managed the side for 17 years - is back on the club’s management team at the moment following the resignation of boss Lee Tucker last month.


Norton failed to score for the first time in 15 matches as they shared a goal-less draw at Station Road against Northallerton in the Northern League second division, although both sides came close to a winner.


Norton substitute Nicky Martin had an effort cleared off the line after Northallerton saw Aaron Ramsbottom’s header hit the crossbar.


The Ancients are now three points behind Team Northumbria in second.


Thornaby kept their unbeaten home record and moved up a place to ninth as replacement Danny Lofts got a late goal in their 1-1 draw with Tow Law.


The teams observed a minute’s silence before kick-off in memory of Andrew Corfield, who was well known on the Teesside non-league circuit and died last week.


Callum Brown was at the double as Billingham Town came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at basement side Brandon but under-strength Stokesley had a post-Halloween horrow show, losing 4-0 at Whickham.



Wearside League Cup: Stockton Town hit 12 without reply at Seaton Carew


Stockton Town put the boot into Seaton Carew in a painfully one-sided Wearside League Cup first round clash, running out 12-0 away winners.


Seaton have lost a manager, coaches and five players and had to make six new signings just to get a team out.


But they were hit by injuries which left them with only two players on the bench and Wearside League-leading Stockton ran amok.


Matty Garbutt, Kallum Hannah and Adam Nicholson scored hat-tricks and James Ward, Joe Hinchley and Tony Johnson all got in on the act.


Stockton are still waiting to discover who they will play in the next round as the League Cup tie between Cleator Moor Celtic and Horden was abandoned due to a player injury.


Their next game is tomorrow night at Sunderland RCA in a rearranged Durham Challenge Cup first round fixture.


Central defender John McLone enjoyed a sensational game as stand-in keeper as he saved three penalties in Wolviston’s League Cup preliminary round trip to Annfield Plain.


Wolviston led 2-0 through Christian Selby’s penalty and a Chris Burton chip, but the tie went to spot kicks after Annfield got back on level terms and extra time failed to separate the sides.


The Villagers won the shootout 3-1 with McLone proving the hero and Selby, James Rowe and debutant Craig Mountain scoring from the spot.


Redcar Athletic dumped Boldon out of a cup tie for the second time in a fortnight, winning 2-0 at home in the second round of the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup, thanks to two second half James Swann goals from Jordan Kirk assists.



Search for relatives of Middlesbrough WW2 bomb aimer ahead of Remembrance Sunday


The search is on for relatives of a Teesside World War Two RAF Lancaster crew member ahead of Remembrance Sunday next weekend.


Middlesbrough-born bomb aimer, John Joseph Knowles was killed on board an Avro Lancaster aircraft which was heading to Germany on March 5 1944.


This was flight engineer, Ronald Hoole’s first mission which was heading to Stuttgart.


Unfortunately, the crew, who were flying as part of 49 Squadron based at Fiskerton in Lincolnshire, were killed when they were shot down by a German night fighter.


Just over 70 years on, Ronald’s niece, Louise Dexter, 50, from Hook in Hampshire, is now trying to track down the family members of the rest of the seven crew members, having already made contact with the families of five of them.


John Joseph Knowles was born in Allen Street in Middlesbrough in February 1921. John was the only child of John Joseph, an army solider and decorator and Mary Minnie Knowles nee Blakeburn.


John Joseph married Toriye Kusumoto in Willesden in London in July 1943 but sadly John was killed eight months later when the bomber was shot down.


Next weekend, on Remembrance Sunday, Louise will be meeting with all of the relatives of the crew members.


She is hoping that The Gazette’s readers may be able to help her track down the family of John Joseph Knowles ahead of the remembrance ceremony.


The families of the brave airmen have planned to meet at the Bomber Command Memorial in London’s Green Park to lay wreaths for the crew as well as for the other 55,573 aircrew who were killed flying with Bomber Command during the Second World War.


Louise said: “I would like to inform John’s relatives about the memorial that has been erected for him and his crew.


“We really want John’s relatives to know that he is being remembered by the other families of the crew. It means a great deal to us for them to know that he has not been forgotten. John is being remembered for his bravery and sacrifice.


“The seven men never got a medal and so as a family group we will make sure that those seven men are remembered.”


Anyone with information about John Joseph Knowles can contact Louise on 07717536611 or email Louise@RoseCottage2008.co.uk.



Morning news headlines: Hong Kong murder man charged; Virgin defends safety record; tax statements sent out


A British man has appeared in court in connection with the gruesome murders of two women - one of whom died six days before her body was discovered in a suitcase - in Hong Kong.


Rurik George Caton Jutting, named in a court document, had been arrested after the bodies of the women - reportedly sex workers from Indonesia - were found at his flat in the Wan Chai district of the former British colony in the early hours of Saturday.


The 29-year-old has been identified as a Cambridge-educated banker. Bank of America Merrill Lynch spokesman Paul Scanlon said a person with that name had worked at the bank until recently.


May to reveal abuse probe details


Home Secretary Theresa May will today attempt to get the inquiry into historical child sexual abuse back on track after the loss of its second chairman in less than four months.


Mrs May is due to make a statement to the Commons explaining how she intends to proceed following the dramatic resignation on Friday of Fiona Woolf.


Mrs Woolf, the Lord Mayor of London, admitted she had lost the confidence of abuse victims following disclosures about her links to former home secretary Lord Brittan.


MP's expenses records destroyed


MPs accused of abusing their parliamentary expenses under the old, unreformed system may escape investigation after Commons officials destroyed records relating to their claims, it has been reported.


The Daily Telegraph reported that Commons Speaker John Bercow has been accused of presiding over a new cover-up following the destruction of paperwork relating to claims made before 2010 when a new system was introduced in the wake of the expenses scandal.


The move came to light after members of the public wrote to parliamentary standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson asking her to investigate claims made by their MP dating back to 2004.


New tax statements to be sent out


Millions of people will this week begin receiving their first annual tax statements setting out exactly how much they pay in to the Exchequer and how their money is spent.


Chancellor George Osborne - who first announced the scheme in his 2012 Budget - said that it was designed to make the tax system more transparent and easier to understand.


The 16 million Paye taxpayers will receive their personalised summaries in the post over the course of the next seven weeks, while the eight million who complete self-assessment returns will be able to access their statement online.


E-cigarettes linked to 100 fires


Electronic cigarettes have been linked to more than 100 fires, new figures reveal.


Fire services in the UK are now attending at least one blaze involving the devices each week, statistics obtained by the Press Association suggest.


They have attended dozens of incidents suspected to have been sparked by e-cigarettes or related equipment including chargers in less than three years.


Branson firm defends safety record


Sir Richard Branson's spaceflight company has denied reports that it ignored safety warnings ahead of a test flight crash in which one pilot died and another was seriously injured.


It had been claimed concerns were raised about the safety of their project which aims to send tourists to space.


SpaceShipTwo co-pilot Michael Alsbury died when the aircraft crashed in the Mojave Desert in California on Friday.


Living wage to rise by 20p hour


The Living Wage is to increase by 20p to £7.85 an hour, boosting the pay of 35,000 workers, it has been announced.


The new figure was revealed as a new study showed that 5.2 million people, or 22% of the workforce, are paid less than the Living Wage - an increase of 1% over the past year.


A higher hourly rate will be announced by London Mayor Boris Johnson for the capital later, to replace the current £8.80.


Police probe rugby website hacking


Counter-terrorism police are investigating the hacking of a rugby league team website which has been replaced with a page featuring the message: "I love you Isis".


Keighley Cougars website currently shows a black screen with the words "Hacked By Team System DZ" at the top.


A message posted on the club's twitter feed said: "Apologies, the website has been hacked. The developers are working on it. Will let you know when it's back up and running."


Plight of Ebola orphans revealed


Children are being orphaned, stigmatised and discriminated against because of the deadly Ebola virus, experts have said.


At least 3,700 children in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have lost one or both parents to the disease, according to Unicef.


Many have nowhere to go as extended families are refusing to care for them, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) said.


Daredevil tightrope towers crossing


Daredevil Nik Wallenda has wowed Chicago and the world with two skyscraper crossings on a tightrope without a safety net or a harness.


Thousands of cheering fans packed the streets around the city's Marina City towers to watch the 35-year-old, heir to the Flying Wallendas' family business, complete the back-to-back walks, including one wearing a blindfold.


As he stepped from the wire after completing the second leg, he tore off his blindfold and waved to the crowd, who erupted in cheers.



Closure-threatened Stockton Health Centre thrown a lifeline following public consultation


A Stockton GP surgery threatened with closure under an NHS service review has been thrown a lifeline.


More than 1,800 patients were initially told they might have to find a new GP if the controversial plans to close the Stockton Health Centre in Hardwick were approved.


While there are no other practices in the ward, NHS England said there was a choice of 11 alternative primary care providers within a 1.6 mile radius, and had warned “doing nothing is not an option”.


But the plans were met with concern from patients and local councillors, who say the area already suffers from health inequalities and the closure could exacerbate this further.


Other concerns raised included elderly and disabled patients having to travel further afield to see a GP.


But following a public consultation launched by NHS England’s Durham, Darlington & Tees Area, NHS England is now proposing extending the current contract of the practice until March 31, 2016.


From the consultation NHS England was told the practice “serves a population with a high degree of need”.


Issues were also raised relating to the access to primary care services across Stockton “which people feel may be detrimentally affected significant changes to the provision at Stockton Health Centre”.


If the current provider does not wish to extend the contract, then the NHS Area Team said it “will need to consider the risk this presents to patients registered at these practices and look to take steps to ensure care services”.


As of last month 1,859 patients were registered at the practice at Tithebarn House, High Newham Road - higher than the anticipated registered list size of 1,500.


Around 74% of the registered population live in Hardwick ward and a further 18% live in the neighbouring Roseworth.


Local councillors Jim Beall and Barbara Inman, for Roseworth, and Norma Stephenson and Nigel Cooke for Hardwick, had lobbied against the closure plans.


Cllr Beall described the stay of execution for the clinic as “a partial result”.


He said it gave he and his local colleagues the opportunity to advocate “that there is still a need for a service of some kind of description in Hardwick”.


“This part of Stockton is a growing area and at the end of the day all those people still need GPs,” he said.


“What we’re saying is just have an ordinary GP service.”


NHS England’s Durham, Darlington & Tees area team is reviewing some GP practices across Teesside “to evaluate quality, demand, value for money and need”.


The review is examining Alternative Provider Medical Services (APMS) contracts that were initially set up by the scrapped Primary Care Trusts and are due to expire by the end of March 2015.


The NHS England area team are now reviewing the results of the consultation and expect the new arrangements to be in place from April 1 2015.



Four vehicle pile up causes gridlock on the A19 as police close off northbound carriageway


Live: Breaking news, traffic and travel across Teesside


A four vehicle pile up caused problems on the A19 this morning as police closed off the northbound carriageway.


Drivers were forced to take a diversion using the A66 as police attempted to recover the vehicles.


The incident happened at around 7.15am and police were on the scene about 7.30am.


Lane three of the Tees Flyover was blocked off initially but then a decision was made to close the A19 causing significant delays as traffic came to a standstill.


All lanes were re-opened at around 8.20am.



Yanic Wildschut: 'I did not realise how fantastic the Boro supporters would be in every game'


Flying Dutchman Yanic Wildschut is delighted with his first real taste of first-team action - and now he’s hungry for more.


After a couple of brief cameos from the bench he got his first start at Rotherham and made an explosive impact.


On his 23rd birthday he had a blinder with some urging runs, superb crosses and a goal in a man-of-the-match display in Boro’s polished 3-0 win.


“It was a very memorable game for me and a good birthday present also,” he said.


“When I first came here I didn’t play a lot so I was very happy to get my first start and to get a goal was also nice.


“It was a good game for me. I was involved in a lot of actions, got in some good crosses and so I think I did well for the team and we got three points which is the most important thing.”


VIEW GALLERY


Wildschut has had to bide his time since arriving from Dutch side Heerenveen on deadline day back in August.


After a month of training to get up to speed he made his debut at Liverpool, coming on after 76 minutes to battle through extra-time and hammer home a penalty after the 2-2 Anfield epic defeat.


He then got the last three minutes at the 0-0 draw at Charlton and the last 15 minutes in the 2-0 defeat away at Wolves last week.


“I’ve had to wait a while for my chance but that is because we have had (Adam) Reachy and Albert (Adomah) doing really well on the outside.


“But it was good also I did not start too early because I needed time to get used to the style and speed of the game in England and that has been difficult.


“We played at Sunderland a few weeks ago and after 20 minuets I was blown up and searching for breath. It’s tough.


“Now I feel I can take 90 minutes and I think I have shown the manager I can last a whole game if he needs me.”


The win at Rotherham has really given the jet-heeled winger a taste for first team action.


And he said he relished the intense and hostile atmosphere at the New York Stadium.


“It was a very big atmosphere and I enjoyed that,” he said.


“It was an intense and difficult also because they got a red card and everyone of their supporters was against us and against the referee.


“It was very loud from them but our supporters were very loud also and that made a good atmosphere to play in.


“When I came here I knew Middlesbrough was a big club who had an ambition to go up but it also that it was a very difficult league and that every game would be big.


“But I did not realise how fantastic the Boro supporters would be in every game.


“When I was standing there before the first whistle and saw the whole end stand was full of Boro fans I was very excited.


“Every game is like that here and it is good for us because it pushes us to work harder.


“I was looking around and the Boro fans were already singing even before kick-off and I was thinking: ‘Wow, this is what I want every week.’


“I just want to play more and more games now. I hope I have convinced the manager that when he needs me then I am always ready to play.”


Wildschut has yet to play at the Riverside but with games this week against Norwich and Bournemouth he hopes his time will come.


“I haven’t played at home so far and I hope that can come soon,” he said.


“Of course, I want to play now against Norwich as it is a very important game - but everyone in the squad wants to play in every game also. We have to see what the manager decides.”



Watch Boro's goals from the 3-0 win against Rotherham at the New York Stadium


Middlesbrough put in a polished display to take the three points at Rotherham on Saturday.


Goals from Patrick Bamford, Yanic Wildshut and Lee Tomlin secured the win in a 3-0 victory at the New York Stadium, as seen on Boro's YouTube channel.


You can read three things we learnt from the match here and view a match report here .


We'll also have a gallery of fan pictures from the Boro end online later this morning.