Election 2015: Latest poll rating for each of the main parties ahead of General Election

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Want to know the latest polling for each of the main political parties ahead of this year's General Election?

This tool shows the 'poll of polls' ratings ahead of the General Election on May 7.

The tool draws on every opinion poll published by each of the main polling companies over the last 100 days.

It uses a rolling average of all polls, rating each party on its average poll performance over the previous five days.

That gives a more balanced overview and helps iron out the statistical limitations of any individual poll.

We are checking the output of all polling companies and mainstream media every day, as well as monitoring aggregating sites ukpollingreport to make sure we don't miss a single survey.

Poll of polls

Ensus shutdown: Bosses say it's 'high time' decision was made on green transport fuel

Ensus says it’s “high time” an EU decision was made to speed up the use of green transport fuel, following the shutdown of its Wilton bioethanol plant.

The £250m facility stopped production again last month due to “current difficulties in the market”, which the company says could continue throughout the first half of 2015.

Its 102 staff, based at Wilton and Yarm, have all been retained. It’s estimated the shutdown will impact around 2,000 supply chain jobs.

Ensus’ parent, Germany-based CropEnergies AG, has not given a date for reopening the plant, which uses wheat to make bioethanol to be blended with transport fuel.

And while it refuses to comment on “specifics of its operations”, bosses are waiting for a key announcement next month on changes to the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

The directive sets a binding EU-wide target of 20% final energy consumption from renewable sources by 2020. To achieve this, EU countries have committed to reaching their own national renewables targets ranging from 10% in Malta to 49% in Sweden. The UK’s target is 15%.

But a recent financial update by CropEnergies said a major price slump for bioethanol, caused by the “sluggish implementation of political objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and lowering oil consumption in the European transport sector”, was taking its toll.

The delay, it says, comes at a time “when European capacities for the production of high-quality renewable alternatives to fossil fuel have been expanded in reliance upon political priorities”.

A CropEnergies AG spokesperson said: “We expect a decision on amendments to the Renewable Energies Directive (RED).

“We hope that once a decision is made, the member states will start putting their biofuel plans (National Action Plans) into practice. “Amending the directive has been under discussion since September 2012, so it is high time a decision is made.

“Bioethanol is an important player in the decarbonization of the transport sector.

“The EU needs it to lower GHG emissions and to become more independent of oil (and protein animal feed) imports.

“We believe that bioethanol as a renewable fuel needs to be a part of the future of transportation because of its environmental and economic benefits.”

The company has seen a “significant” rise in its biofuel production since buying the five-year-old Ensus plant in 2013, claiming the increase is down to better utilisation of the Wilton asset.

Ensus also supplies dried animal feed and carbon dioxide for the drinks industry.

The shutdown is the fourth in the plant’s history. Odour problems from its giant stacks meant the facility had to come offline just weeks after opening in 2010, followed by a further 15-month shutdown in May 2011. The third, in April 2013, was also due to ‘adverse market conditions.’

Investigation into alleged shooting is closed as arrested men are released without charge

An investigation into an alleged shooting at a Dormanstown house has been closed.

Cleveland Police has confirmed it is no longer looking into a suspected firearm incident in which a shotgun had reportedly been fired at a door.

A spokeswoman for the force also confirmed that three men who were arrested in connection with the incident last year were released without charge.

The men, aged 23, 24, and 26, were all arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

No further arrests have been made.

“We are no longer investigating however if any further information does come to light then we will look into it,” said the spokeswoman.

Armed police officers swooped on Britannia Place at 4.50pm on Tuesday, November 11, amid unconfirmed reports a motorcyclist with a shotgun had opened fire at the door of a terraced house.

Britannia Place in Dormanstown

A resident living close to the address where the incident took place described what happened.

The local, who did not wish to be named, said at the time: “It started in the morning while the kids were going to school.

“There was a gang of them arguing on the front. One of them was in a truck and was driving around like a madman - he knocked over a fence at one point.

“Then later on, just before 5pm, someone turned up on a bike with a shotgun and shot at the door.

“I’m worried, it’s not safe for kids around here any more.”

House-to-house inquiries and other inquiries were carried out by Cleveland Police officer investigating the incident.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police had said: “Public safety is paramount and as is routine when weapons are mentioned by callers - even if not confirmed as seen or as authentic rather than imitation - response officers were joined by armed response colleagues and additionally air support.”

Mobile Mini UK: Storage firm's latest bid for growth in retail and education sectors

Mobile Mini UK has announced the acquisition of a Scottish container hire business, as it continues its growth plans.

The company, which employs 367 at its headquarters in Stockton, has bought the storage container hire firm from Glasgow-based Fraser Ltd.

THE UK arm of Arizona-based Mobile Mini recently said it had ambitious plans to grow in the UK retail and education sectors.

It reached a turnover of £52m last year, and wants to add to its established construction industry client base.

Mobile Mini supplies storage units and portable offices and also has 16 depots from Glasgow to Gravesend. Its other North-east sites include Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

The container hire business to be acquired operates a fleet of around 500 and will be merged with Mobile Mini’s existing Scottish business, also based in Glasgow.

It is the first acquisition for the company in the UK since its “transformational” acquisition of Ravenstock MSG in 2008.

Chris Morgan, Managing Director of Mobile Mini UK said: “Our acquisition is part of our growth strategy in the UK, which includes strengthening our container hire business and extending our reach into new market sectors such as retail and education.

“Frasers’ high quality, highly utilised, containers fit well with our own container fleet, and we expect a seamless transition for Frasers’ existing container hire customers.

“We’ve worked with Frasers for many years and both companies have a belief in providing high quality, personalised service.”

Mobile Mini has a UK fleet of more than 37,000 portable accommodation and storage units and a UK customer base of around 8,500 businesses.

2014 was a record year for Mobile Mini, with global sales up 9.6% in 2014 and total revenues up 10.0% year on year in the UK.

The firm has introduced an energy efficient range, which includes timed heaters and lights, double-glazed windows and water saving systems.

Mobile Mini Inc was first founded in the US in 1983, selling storage containers to construction companies and manufacturers.

Middlesbrough mum to take part in Comic Relief version of Strictly Come Dancing

A Middlesbrough mum and autism champion has tonight been unveiled as one of the competitors heading for the Strictly dancefloor.

Anna Kennedy OBE, a leading campaigner who set up the UK’s largest school for youngsters with autism, is to strut her stuff on TV screens for a special Comic Relief version of the hit show.

Tonight’s show saw the former Newlands School and Kirby College pupil who grew up in the Longlands area being told she had been chosen for the show in spectacular style.

Anna, 54, was in the audience of the Strictly Come Dancing main show when ‘It’s you Anna Kennedy’ was lit up in lights and a picture of her face was projected onto the dancefloor. Her stunned face was captured on screen.

She has been paired up with professional British dancer Robin Windsor and says she’s enjoying the challenge already.

BBC

Still of Anna Kennedy OBE taking part in The Peoples Strictly for Comic Relief on BBC TV

Anna was chosen as one of six “inspirational but everyday heroes”, from more than 11,000 nominees, to take part in BBC One’s The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief.

She will dance the Charleston with Robin, as well as taking part in a group dance number, and hopes people from her hometown will support her by watching and voting.

Anna, who has two sons, Patrick, 25, who has Asperger’s Syndrome and Angelo, 21, with autism, told EastEnders actor Jake Wood who will be her dancing mentor: “My son will be ecstatic as you’re his favourite character.”

The series, which began last Wednesday, consists of four pre-recorded programmes presented by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Next week’s episode will follow their training and episode four will see all six contestants compete for judges’ scores and the viewers’ deciding votes.

Rise in council tax by 1.85% voted for by Middlesbrough councillors

Families in Middlesbrough will pay up to an extra 50p a week in council tax from next month.

A 1.85% rise in council tax - equating to 31p a week extra in Band A properties and an extra 48p a week in Band B - has been agreed by Middlesbrough councillors tonight.

The council chamber voted 25 in favour of the budget and 15 against with Labour voting for the rise and Conservative and independent councillors voting against.

The elected mayor Ray Mallon - who steps down in May - announced his Budget in October of £14.1m cuts. Following consultation, he said that all his proposals would stand except an amendment relating to the camera enforcement initiative on the bus lane on Newport Road.

Mr Mallon said an acceptance of the Government’s Council Tax Freeze Grant would result in a further budget reduction of £400,000 for 2015/2016 and an overall additional financial shortfall of £17m over the next 10 years.

Cllr Chris Hobson, leader of Middlesbrough Conservative Party, said the council should accept the freeze grant. “Last year we had £3m in uncollected council tax and £4.5m this year,” she said. “Residents have been squeezed enough.”

But Independent Cllr Len Junier agreed with Mr Mallon that the freeze grant is a “con”.

He suggested an amendment to the budget to refuse the Government’s freeze grant but to freeze council tax for one year, which was seconded by Cllr Derek Loughborough. Councillors voted 11 for and 24 against the amendment.

Independent Cllr John McPartland suggested an “alternative budget” which would “save over £200,000” by slashing the new mayor’s salary by half and for all councillors to give up their Special Allowances for two years.

Mr Mallon gave the chamber short shrift in his closing speech calling Cllr Junier’s argument “incoherent” and said the Conservatives “would vote against anything”.

“If you vote against this budget you’re voting against looking after children and voting against looking after the elderly and voting against the Living Wage and all the things that are righteous,” he said.

It is about doing “what is right” for the town and its residents and not what is “popular”, he added.

Former Stockton Council leader Bob Gibson says farewell after 32 years in local politics

Tributes have been paid to former Stockton Council leader Bob Gibson who is quitting politics after 32 years in local government.

Cllr Gibson, who represents Stockton’s Newtown ward, has been a leading character in Teesside politics for decades.

He came into politics through the Stockton Trades Council, before being elected in Parkfield Division to Cleveland County Council almost 30 years ago.

But it was Stockton Council where his real passion lay, gaining a seat in 1983 in the Newtown Ward for Labour where he has remained ever since.

In 1990 Cllr Gibson took over as Stockton Council leader from Jim Cook. He personally helped win a £37.5m City Challenge bid for Central Stockton.

With the additional cash levered in it meant a £150m investment in the area over five years.

He played a key role in establishing Stockton Renaissance to help take forward the development of the borough.

He was also chairman of the Association of North East Councils and the North East Assembly and was awarded the OBE in 2006 for services to local government.

He told last night’s full meeting of Stockton Council: “I have been lucky over the years in local government to work with some brilliant people - politicians and officers.

“The biggest and the best thing that could happen to us was when we became a unitary authority.

“Quite quickly we became one of the best authorities in the country and we still are.

“It’s been very, very good for me. It broadened my mind and I did things I didn’t think I was capable of doing.

“It’s been a pleasure working with you.”

Fellow Newtown ward Labour councillor, Cllr Paul Baker, said Cllr Gibson had “been a council leader and on every committee known to man for 32 years - that’s remarkable by any stretch of the imagination.

“He has worked diligently and been hard working in the ward. Everybody I have talked to in the ward bar none is disappointed he is not standing again.

“It’s been a privilege and an honour.”

Norton Labour councillor Norma Wilburn, said: “Bob has been to me an inspiration and a source of good advice and the occasional ticking off.”

And Parkfield and Oxbridge councillor Mohammed Javed, Labour, said: “The Asian community said ‘Give a message to Bob Gibson, we will miss him’.

“He has done a lot for the Asian community.”

As reported, another former Stockton Council leader, Ken Lupton, Conservative, is also stepping down along with several other councillors in May.

Man found with 1,000 erectile dysfunction tablets says they were for his own use

A man with a restraining order told a judge his Christmas Eve emails to his ex were “the stupidest thing I’ve ever done”.

Louis O’Donaghue’s lovelorn messages led police to find 1,000 tablets used for erectile dysfunction in his home.

The 35-year-old was jailed for assaulting his former partner causing actual bodily harm and given a restraining order banning him from contacting her in July last year.

Four months after his release from prison, he sent her emails professing his love for her in the early hours of December 24.

Teesside Crown Court heard how O’Donaghue wrote: “I’ll never stop loving you. I miss you so much. I hope you’re happy.

“Please talk to me. Why do this to us? Come on. I know you’re not happy.”

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield said yesterday: “She says it’s an attempt by the defendant to rekindle the relationship.

“She’s quite plain she doesn’t want it rekindling, and doesn’t want Mr O’Donaghue to contact her.

“She wants nothing to do with the defendant anymore.”

Officers went to his home on January 22 and found four tablets in his pocket and another 1,000 in the front room.

They were identified as a prescription drug used for erectile dysfunction.

O’Donaghue said they were for his own use, he bought them from a shop in Manchester two years ago and did not know they needed a prescription.

Teesside Crown Court

O’Donaghue, of Evesham Road, Park End, Middlesbrough, admitted breaching the restraining order and possession of a medicinal product.

His 14 previous offences included wounding with intent and assault from the 1990s, with long gaps in his record.

Representing himself in court, he said he contacted his ex about visiting his child, “hoping we could be realistic about it and sort something out”.

He told the judge: “I genuinely do respect the restraining order.

“I don’t want to cause her any pain or any trouble. The emails were non-threatening.

“It was Christmas Eve and it was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done. I did it out of emotional attachment to my son.

“I accept it was childish and foolish to send those emails and I respect the law.”

The floor layer, now training as a scaffolder, said he had job offers and wanted to better himself.

An ex-partner gave evidence for him, saying she was with him for nine years and he “never laid a finger on me”.

Judge Peter Bowers said: “The thing we see a lot of is people who try to make up relationships usually after midnight, usually when it’s the most inappropriate time and when it’s most unlikely to succeed.”

He told O’Donaghue: “I’m not going to send you to prison today. That would be silly.

“If you get in contact with her again, you’ll be in serious trouble. You’ll be in prison straight away.”

Still on licence for the assault, O’Donaghue was given a two-month jail term suspended for a year with supervision.

Bernie Slaven: Coventry are a good fit for Mogga - a big club, a real sleeping giant

I’m delighted that Tony Mowbray is back in the game at Coventry.

Mogga was supposed to meet me and Pally this week to go over and visit Gary Parkinson but obviously he couldn’t make it because he was tied up sealing the deal.

Parky was really pleased to hear that news and most Boro fans were too.

Mogga is still a legend for the club and despite one or two things going wrong at the end, he did a good job here in difficult financial circumstances.

He is great manger and a great guy.

He has a very good CV, he lives and breathes football and tries to play good, passing football and the supporters of the clubs where he has got it right - Hibs and West Brom for example - still love him for it. We need guys like him in the game.

Plus, he is a honest guy too, a man of integrity and principle - and football definitely needs more people like that.

I think Coventry could be a really good fit for him, although they’ve had a few problems of their own.

Coventry are a big club, a real sleeping giant.

They were in the top division for 30 years, they’ve won the cup, they’ve had some good players there over the years and they have a great new stadium.

It is too big a city not to have their club playing at a higher level.

They have the infrastructure and the fan-base to be in at least the Championship.

Tony Mowbray in the stands at Barnsley vs Coventry City

Plus, they are a footballing side and the squad there has been built to play a passing game so that should suit his style.

And by all accounts the fans there have been very positive about him.

They remember Mogga for the work he did at West Brom, getting them promoted with a young team playing great football and scoring a lot of goals.

He’s only got a deal initially until the end of the season but if Mogga can get it right, shore them up at the back and get them playing football then he will keep them up and earn a longer deal.

He has already said his ambition is to get them promoted and you wouldn’t bet against it.

But Mogga does need to make a success of it.

Tony Mowbray is unveiled as Coventry City manager

Boro ended badly for him and then he was off the merry-go-round for 18 months and this is a game where it is easy to slip off the radar very quickly.

If it doesn’t go well for him then his stock could fall very quickly because management is a cut-throat business and results are all that count.

I’m confident he will be a success now he’s back.

I know that initially after Boro he wanted to take time out, recharge his batteries and spend family time with his young kids.

And I know that ideally that he would have wanted to get back in at a higher level than League One - but you have to go where the jobs are and where you think you will fit well.

I think Coventry will suit him. I hope he makes a massive success of it.

Man on trial accused of robbing a Stockton restaurant of two bottles of beer at knifepoint

A thirsty thief has gone on trial accused of robbing a restaurant of two bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale at knifepoint.

Daniel Bryce, 29, admits stealing the beer bottles but denies robbery and having a kitchen knife at the Stockton restaurant.

Prosecutor Joseph Spencer said Bryce walked into the Taj Mahal on Yarm Lane, central Stockton with his hood up and used a kitchen knife to scare the lone worker.

The worker, whose family has owned the restaurant for more than 25 years, said: “I thought he was a customer at first.

“He just came up to me with a knife and said: ‘Don’t move.’

“I was frightened for my life,” he told a Teesside Crown Court jury from the witness box today.

“I put my hands up. I wanted him to take whatever he wanted and leave.”

He said the hooded man pointed the knife, “like a vegetable knife” with a blade about seven inches long, at him at about 8.10pm on November 29 last year.

The witness added: “He just went to the fridge and took two bottles of Newcastle Brown Ale. He ran out of the door.

“I followed him to see where he was going. I said: ‘I know who you are. I recognise you. I’m going to call the police.’

“He looked once behind and he just kept running.”

He saw the alleged robber cross Hartington Road and run into an alleyway.

He went back to the restaurant and called the police, telling the operator: “A guy came in with a knife. He threatened me. He nicked some bottles of lager.”

Bryson was seen walking back to the hostel where he was living. Police later found the two cold bottles of beer on his bed.

He initially claimed he had not been out of his room all night, but accepted he had stolen the beer after he was arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Bryson, of Hartington Road, denied using a knife or that he under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.

Mark Styles, defending, asked the shop worker whether there was any possibility of a mistake and whether he was adamant there was a knife.

The witness replied: “No mistake at all... Definitely there was a knife.

“I don’t know where it came from.”

Mr Styles said Bryson simply “chanced his luck”, went in and stole the beer when there was no one around.

Then he suggested the restaurant worker came down some stairs and saw Bryson as he was on his way out.

The worker responded: “There’s no stairs. It’s a single-storey building.”

On further questioning about stairs, he answered: “He can say whatever he likes. There’s no stairs.

“Nobody lives on the premises. It’s a single-storey building. There’s no stairs at all. Everything’s downstairs. There’s no upstairs.

“There’s no stairs.”

He added: “He can say whatever he likes, but the truth is the truth. You can come with me now to the restaurant and have a look at where everything is. You’ll find no stairs.”

Proceeding

Firefighters at scene of blaze on Eston hills

Firefighters are currently tackling a blaze on Eston hills.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said one fire engine is currently at the scene of the gorse fire, which spans 150 square metres.

This is the second time in just a few days that emergency services have been called out to reports of fire at Eston Hills.

Cleveland Fire Brigade and officers from Cleveland Police were called to the beauty spot on Saturday afternoon following reports of the blaze. At its height, five fire appliances attended.

And once the fire was out, Eston’s neighbourhood police team took to social media to appeal for information about how it started.

Urging people to share and retweet information about the blaze, the Facebook message read: “If you have any information on who may have started the fire which could put people’s lives, businesses in danger please let us know.”

Eston Hills is regularly targeted by arsonists, especially in the summer months and during school holidays.

Stepbrother charged with murder of 16-year-old Becky Watts

The stepbrother of 16-year-old Becky Watts has been charged with her murder, while his girlfriend has been charged with intending to pervert the course of justice.

Nathan Matthews, 28, and Shauna Hoare, 21, both of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, remain in police custody and will appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

Four men and one woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender also remain in custody at this time, a spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said.

Matthews and Hoare, who uses the surname Williams on her social media accounts, were arrested on suspicion of Becky's kidnap on Saturday.

They were later rearrested on suspicion of her murder and detectives had until this afternoon to charge or release them.

A force spokesman said: "Nathan Matthews, 28, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, has been charged with the murder of Rebecca Watts. He remains in custody and is due before Bristol Magistrates' Court tomorrow at 10am.

"Shauna Hoare, 21, of Cotton Mill Lane, Bristol, has been charged with intending to pervert the course of justice. She remains in custody and is due before Bristol Magistrates' Court tomorrow at 10am.

"The four men and one woman who were arrested on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender remain in police custody at this time. A warrant of further detention was granted for these suspects at hearing earlier today."

Hoare was last night rushed to hospital by officers after "feeling unwell" in custody but returned after being seen by a doctor, police previously said.

Becky, described as "wonderful" by her family, vanished from her home in Crown Hill, Bristol at 11.15am on February 19.

Avon and Somerset Police launched a huge search operation - involving six police teams each day - after she was reported missing the following afternoon.

On Monday night, detectives received information that Becky's body had been "cut up" and they attended a house in Barton Court, Barton Hill, Bristol.

Body parts were discovered at the address, which continues to be combed by forensics teams. A private ambulance was seen leaving the property yesterday afternoon.

Conservative candidate for Middlesbrough mayor announced

Lloyd Cole-Nolan has been announced as the Conservative mayoral candidate for Middlesbrough.

Mr Cole-Nolan stood against current elected mayor Ray Mallon in the 2011 elections.

Councillor Chris Hobson, leader of the Middlesbrough Conservative Party, said: “We would like to announce our mayoral candidate as Lloyd Cole-Nolan.

“We have every faith in him.“He did a fantastic job last time and we look forward to working with him again.”

Also in the running for the top job is Labour candidate Cllr Dave Budd, the town’s current deputy mayor; North Ormesby and Brambles Farm ward Councillor Len Junier; businessman Andy Preston; ex-Boro commentator Dave Roberts; and Green Party candidate David Masterman.

Stockton man facing prison after admitting false imprisonment, theft and criminal damage

A man could face a prison sentence after he admitted charges of false imprisonment, theft and criminal damage.

Matthew William Barton, 29, denied robbing a man of his mobile phone on September 17 last year.

But he pleaded guilty to theft, falsely imprisoning the man and damaging a door handle on the same date.

He entered his pleas as he faced trial at Teesside Crown Court today.

Barton, of Westbourne Street, Stockton, was bailed by Judge Peter Armstrong until sentencing on March 25.

Barker and Stonehouse: Million-pound stock clearance sees customers queu for a bargain

A million-pound stock clearance at Barker and Stonehouse in Middlesbrough has seen customers queuing up for a bargain.

Some products have been reduced by up to 80% to clear all showroom stock before the firm’s relocation to its new £4.5m store and head office at the entrance to Teesside Retail Park - even some fixtures and fittings are being priced to go.

James Barker said: “The first few days of our clearance sale have been hugely popular, with queues at the doors before opening and stock flying off the shelves.

“We expect the store to remain busy over the next few weeks.”

Bargain hunters will have until the end of March 22 to shop at the Middlesbrough Barker and Stonehouse.

The new Teesside Park store will open its doors to the public on Saturday, March 28.

Baking legend Mary Berry will attend to officially open the store, where customers will have the opportunity to attend Q&A sessions with the star and win prizes throughout the day.

The flagship building features an in-store café, two floors of retail space spread over 48,270sqft and a large car park for nearly 100 cars.

Northern League: Carl Jarrett says Marske can forget about winning title

Marske manager Carl Jarrett believes his side can forget about winning the Northern League title following last night’s 4-1 defeat at Durham City.

The setback leaves the Seasiders fifth in the table having played one more game than title favourites Shildon, who are third behind leaders Guisborough and second-placed West Auckland.

Former Billingham Town manager Jarrett said: “That’s us out of the title race now, I think, barring some drastic slip-up by Shildon, Guisborough and West.

“Now we’ve just got to concentrate on finishing higher than Marske ever have before.

“I still want a top five finish.”

Marske bossed the first half at Durham and took the lead through Danny Brunskill, but fell apart after the break as they suffered their third defeat in four successive away games.

“It’s hard to put a finger on it,” Jarrett said.

“The first 45 minutes was the best we have played for ages. We hit the crossbar a couple of times and had chances after chance.

“But as a team in the second half we couldn’t defend the wind and they brought on a couple of players who made a difference.

“Maybe it was down to confidence, but we don’t grind out 1-0 wins like sides like Dunston. We tend to keep on attacking.”

Guisborough suffered their first defeat of the year last night as they lost 1-0 at Ashington in the Northern League Cup quarter-finals.

Joe Moscrop scored the home side’s winner just before half-time.

Billingham Town to face Norton or Team Northumbria after win over Bedford Terrace

Billingham Town will play Norton or Team Northumbria in the final of Northern League second division competition the Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup.

Darren Trotter’s side dug in to beat South Shields 1-0 at Bedford Terrace last night, with a first half Louis Whensley goal sealing their place in the tournament showpiece.

Town will discover who they will play in the final next Wednesday night when Teesside rivals Norton entertain Team North in the second semi-final.

Whensley headed home a 37th minute winner from Mattie Dixon’s left-wing cross, his first goal since rejoining the club from Crook.

Town had further chances to increase the lead through Whensley, Drew Lambert and Josh Keogh, but it was a closely contested cup tie.

Home keeper Michael Thackeray showed a safe pair of hands when tested and Shields finished the game with 10 men after Stephen Ramsey was sent off for a second bookable offence.

“It’s fantastic for the lads and the club to get through to the final,” said Town manager Darren Trotter.

“It was an excellent performance against a good team, and it could have gone either way to be honest.

“But the lads were resilient and stuck to the gameplan, and everybody played their part.

“We haven’t won anything yet, but it’s great to be able to provide a bit of sunshine for the supporters and the committee who have stuck by us after the dark days of last season’s relegation.

“You can’t beat a derby, and we would love to play Norton in the final.”

Town will find out tomorrow night if they will be awarded with three points for last month’s game at Whickham, which was abandoned with four minutes to go while they were 2-0 up and the home side were down to six players.

“Hopefully common sense prevails and we are awarded the points,” said Town chairman Peter Martin.

“We lost two players to suspension for an extra game following an incident that was no fault of our own.”

Norton remain second in Northern League Division Two after battling back from 2-0 down at half-time to claim a point in a 2-2 draw at Chester-Le-Street.

Michael Jameson and Marcus Laing were the Norton scorers.

James Cook hospital superbug numbers 'of significant concern' says South Tees trust

The number of patients contracting a potentially life-threatening superbug at a Teesside hospital is “of significant concern”, a senior medic has warned.

South Tees NHS Trust, which runs James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, has breached its annual target for cases of clostridium difficile (C.Diff) by seven, with two months still to go.

South Tees was set a limit by health watchdog Monitor of no more than 49 cases for the year to April 2015.

But with six cases in January, the target has already been failed after the total hit 56.

Health watchdog Monitor raised concerns over the level of hospital infections at the trust in 2013, when it put the organisation under investigation.

A report by director of nursing Ruth Holt said the incidence of hospital-acquired infection at the trust, which also runs The Friarage, in Northallerton, is of “significant concern”.

There were 13 cases of C. Diff at James Cook Hospital in January, six of which were classed as “trust-apportioned”.

There was a cluster of three cases of infection on one ward in January.

The report added: “The current position in respect of C.Diff is the cause of considerable concern causing patient safety and reputational risk.

“The organisation was very busy in January 2015 with high levels of non-elective activity, resulting in higher than ideal levels of bed occupancy. We know that high bed occupancy is a risk factor in respect of HCAI(Healthcare-associated infections). The risk increases above 85% bed occupancy.”

It the second year the trust has missed its target, after recording 57 cases a year earlier - well above its target of 37.

The latest incidences are despite a number of further measures being put in place, including additional cleaning, a focus on hand hygiene and care around the prescribing of antibiotics.

C.Diff can cause diarrhoea, a high temperature and painful abdominal cramps but in serious cases can cause life-threatening complications such as severe swelling of the bowel.

Ms Holt said: “It is disappointing. The first thing to say is C. Diff is an organism that lives in the gut of about 3% of the population. It’s not uncommon. You or I could be walking around with it and not know it. It’s when you become unwell and your body is under stress that it becomes a problem.

“We can assure the public that we are taking action to reduce it and doing that as quickly as possible.

“I’d absolutely ideally like to reduce it to zero, but with people walking around with it, that’s realistically not going to happen, but we are doing everything possible to keep instances as close to zero as we can.

“Some antibiotics can cause it to grow and flourish, so work has been done around ensuring the right antibiotics are given.

“We would say to the public that they can help by making sure that they wash hands when they’re coming into our clinical areas, and if they have had diarrhoea in the previous 48 hours, not to visit.”

Leading Stockton councillor Ken Dixon recovering from heart attack during Caribbean cruise

A leading Stockton councillor has suffered a heart attack while on a cruise in the Caribbean.

Dad-of-four Ken Dixon, Cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, was enjoying a holiday with his wife Linda when he fell ill earlier this week.

The Ingleby Barwick Independent Society (IBIS) member is believed to have suffered a heart attack in his cabin following a visit to the gym on board the cruise liner.

His IBIS colleague and friend Councillor David Harrington, has spoken to Ken’s family and said he was recovering well in hospital in the Caribbean.

He said the heart attack was not thought to be serious.

“Ken was in training for the new leisure centre due to open in Ingleby Barwick in 2017 and wanted to lead by example,” he said. “But unfortunately he still thinks he’s a teenager.”

“He will be on a sabbatical over the next couple of weeks but will be back well ahead of the election and he will be standing again.”

Cllr Dixon, 67, a great granddad, who represents the Ingleby West ward, has worked with his IBIS colleagues in recent years in fighting for improvements to the estate, including to local roads and cycleways.

He has also campaigned against proposed new housing developments on green wedge land and been involved in securing a multi-million-pound pool and leisure facility for Ingleby Barwick to be built next to All Saints Academy and due to open by the summer of 2017.

In previous years Cllr Dixon, a retired police officer with 30 years service, was instrumental in bringing Romano Park to Ingleby Barwick, following long-standing calls for more activities for youngsters on the estate.

Along with his IBIS colleagues he spent four-and-a-half years fighting for approval and funding for the park off Lamb Lane and in July 2009 saw his hard work recognised with a nomination as a Gazette Community Champion.

British Pie Week 2015: Vote for your favourite place to pick up a pie in our area

It’s British Pie Week! To celebrate we’re looking to crown our reader’s favourite place to pick up a pie.

Your suggestions came in their hundreds - and so we took the top six suggestions to try and settle the debate.

Those that made our shortlist were those which drew the most recommendations from readers.

We’ll keep the poll open until noon on Friday.

So get voting - and get sharing!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Kenneth Omeruo must rediscover top form to reclaim Boro place - Karanka

Aitor Karanka says Kenneth Omeruo needs to rediscover his top form if he’s to reclaim his place in Boro’s starting line-up.

The Nigeria international has struggled to establish himself in the first team this season.

Ben Gibson and Dani Ayala were Karanka’s preferred pairing at the start of the year while Tomas Kalas got the nod on Tuesday night to partner Gibson against Millwall.

Omeruo has been involved, most recently at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, but it’s fair to say he hasn’t achieved the level of consistency he maintained during his first Boro loan spell last season.

Karanka, however, fully expects the Chelsea defender to come good and denies he’s suffering the after effects of his World Cup quest in Brazil.

Boro Head Coach Aitor Karanka

“Both Tomas and Ben are playing really well,” said the Boro boss. “I am very pleased with Ken because he is a special player for me because he came here last season and he improved a lot.

“This season he is not at the same level and when you are not at your best level there are other players ready to play.

“But we have two months in front of us and all of the players are going to be very important.

“I hope Dani Ayala is with us as soon as possible so we arrive at the key moment in the season with the whole squad ready to play.”

Asked if Omeruo was suffering from World Cup burn-out, Karanka added: “In the first game at home this season Ken came from the bench because Gibson got injured and he played without a warm-up and he was one of the best players so I don’t think that was the problem because he is strong.

“But he has to be at his best like the other players because if he is not at his best then I’ve got Tomas, who is now at his best, and Gibbo this season has been amazing, I am very pleased with him.”

Ayala is expected to return from his thigh strain in the next week or two.

Your School Harrow Gate Primary School Stockton

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School:  Harrow Gate Primary Academy

Address:  Piper Knowle Road, Hardwick, Stockton-on-Tees. TS19 8DE

Principal:  Mrs Jackie Warburton

What are your school aims/policies?  Our school motto is ”To Be the Best I Can be” and our key school policies can be accessed by our shiny new website which is developing every day at

http://bit.ly/1w3n8Rs

What were you rated in your last Ofsted?  Our academy has not been inspected since we opened as an new establishment when we became a convertor academy on September 1, 2014.

Do you have a school council? If so, what are they currently working on? Yes we do. Currently they are promoting our fundraising for Red Nose Day next month.

What after school clubs do you run?  Multi-skills, gymnastics, basketball, homework, maths booster, singing club, drawing club.

Tell us something we didn’t know about your school?  That you can follow us on Twitter to share all the amazing learning that happens in our classrooms! There is a live feed from our website too.

South Tees Youth Offending Service guiding Emmerdale on Belle Dingle storyline

Emmerdale has millions of fans glued to the screens every week - but there is one man keeping an extra close eye on the plot lines.

As assistant operations director for South Tees Youth Offending Service, Phil Hampton is keen to see how young offenders and the service are portrayed in television dramas.

However, on the storyline involving teenager Belle Dingle who killed her best friend Gemma, he has no need to be concerned as he has led the work on ensuring production staff know how it would work in “real life”.

He was surprised to get a call “out of the blue” from the ITV1 show’s production staff but was happy to work closely with the team to make sure Belle’s release from custody was “accurately portrayed” and in “the right sequences”.

“They contacted me in July last year,” said Phil, who has worked for the youth offending service since it was set up in 1998 and for Middlesbrough Council for 30 years.

“They have asked me about different scenarios, what would happen, how long they are supervised for, how much contact the service has with them.

“Someone like Belle would be under ISS - intensive supervision and support. Essentially they would be seen every day either by the case manager or support worker - 25 hours a week minimum. If they were in full-time education then that would be a large portion of the supervised hours.

“The production would ring to check and doublecheck.”

Phil Hampton, an assistant operations manager South Tees Youth Offending Service

He said some scenarios - which involved Belle reoffending - were discussed which have not been included in the programme.

“We have got to realise it’s a drama, a piece of fiction so you expect some artistic licence but I’ve been happy with how they have portrayed what would happen. The only difference is how quick things happen.”

He said the team has a forensics CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health service) nurse so if a mental health issue is highlighted - as in Belle’s case in Emmerdale - they work closely so the young person is helped quickly.

“Belle was self-harming and considering suicide,” he said. “So I referred them to our CAMHS nurse Michael Taylor so they could speak to him.”

South Tees Youth Offending Service believes in the Restorative Justice system which brings victims and perpetrators face to face.

“It’s a positive experience for both,” he said. “We would manage some kind of contact in a controlled environment which would be supervised. This is so the victim can say how it (the crime) affected them and their family and life and the young person can say ‘I’m sorry and I’ve learned’ and explain the situation which led to the crime.

“Some people think it’s a soft option but I think it’s a really difficult thing to do.

“For the young person it’s a very hard thing to do, to look at themselves and their victim. It has a strong effect on young people.”

He said he was happy with how Emmerdale has portrayed the youth offending service.

“It’s vital for TV programmes to get it right. If it’s not done properly it reinforces the perception that offenders are getting away with it and that’s not the case.”

Councillor Jean Sharrocks, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for children’s social care, said: “South Tees YOS engagement aims to ensure an accurate reflection of the criminal justice system for young people and promote the positive impacts of restorative working for both victim and perpetrator.”

Man thought to be among first arrested following new drug driving legislation is bailed

A Billingham man thought to be among the first in the country to have been arrested following the introduction of new drug driving legislation has been bailed by police.

The 21-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving a vehicle with a proportion of a specified controlled drug above the specified limit and was also arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug. He has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The man was arrested just before midnight on Monday after providing a positive roadside drug test.

He had been stopped on Marsh House Avenue on the same day new legislation came into force.

Section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 allows officers to test anyone suspected of driving under the influence of excess drugs with a roadside kit.

Boro's Under-21s could play a part in next season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy

Boro’s Under-21s could take part in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy from next season if League One and Two clubs back new proposals.

Clubs from the bottom two tiers of the Football League were firmly against the idea of Premier League B teams joining the Football League pyramid when it was suggested last year.

But the new proposals would see 16 Under-21 teams from clubs with category one academies - which Boro were awarded in 2012 - allowed to participate in a new-look Football League Trophy.

The proposal was discussed at a recent meeting at St George’s Park on the back of the FA Chairman’s England Commission.

If the plans got the green light, it would mean Paul Jenkins’ talented Under-21 side would take on League One and Two clubs in the competition, which would change its format and introduce a group stage.

Boro Under-21s boss Paul Jenkins.

A statement from the Football League says: “Clubs have been asked to consider the concept of permitting 16 U21 teams from clubs with category one academies to participate in The Football League Trophy.

“The competition would feature 16 groups of four teams with one U21 team in each group, before a knockout stage leading to a final at Wembley Stadium.”

Clubs have been debating the potential commercial, financial and player development benefits of allowing the Under-21 teams to take part in the competition, say the Football League.

The statement added: “No formal proposals were tabled and no formal vote taken.

“Instead, League One and Two clubs were asked to indicate whether they were content to see The Football League progress the matter, which would include discussions with the Premier League and Football Association, so that clubs can consider a full proposal at a future point.

“Therefore, as yet, no club has voted in favour or against the idea of having U21 teams in The Football League Trophy, they have only indicated whether they wish to consider the matter further.

“Ultimately any changes to this competition will only happen with the support of League One and Two clubs.”

Like the senior side, Boro’s young guns are enjoying a superb season and currently top the Barclays Under-21 Premier League Second Divison.

Jenkins’ side beat Wolves at Victoria Park on Monday and face a testing trip to third-placed West Brom early next week.

The Cracker: Plumes of thick smoke seen across Teesside as result of flaring

Plumes of thick smoke are visible across Teesside as a result of flaring at a Wilton chemical plant.

The huge flame and black smoke can be seen coming from SABIC UK’s Olefins 6 “Cracker”, near Redcar, following a power dip on site.

“There has been a power dip on the site which has caused a plant upset,” said a spokesman for Falck, the business which provides industrial fire-fighting and spill protection services for the site.

“Part of the safety measures in place is the use of flaring.”

“It could possibly go on for up to 24 hours but we are hoping to rectify that quicker,” he added.

“There is also a bit of noise because of the use of steam to reduce the smoke.”

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Sembcorp and Sabic have said flaring is a controlled process and an essential part of the plant’s safety systems.

But in recent times there have been similar problems of smokey, noisy flaring - with people living nearby calling it a “problem”.

“I’ve just walked the dog in Guisborough and it can be seen from here too,” said one person today on Facebook.

Two others also reported seeing the smoke from Grove Hill and Billingham.

In pictures: Flaring at the 'Cracker' plant at Wilton

Pregnant Grangetown fraudster tried to spend £7k after stealing chequebook from dementia sufferer

A fraudster stole a chequebook from a vulnerable elderly woman living nearby to pay for thousands of pounds of goods.

Heavily pregnant Laurieann Curry forged her victim’s signature on 10 separate cheques and attempted to fraudulently buy £7,052 of items.

But she was caught out when one retailer became suspicious and alerted police.

Curry yesterday appeared before Teesside magistrates for sentencing after previously admitting two counts of fraud and one count of theft.

The mum-of-two was told that she had come close to being locked up.

But the 30-year-old walked free after being given two six month jail terms, suspended for 24 months.

The earlier hearing was told Curry, of Richmond Court, Grangetown, stole a chequebook from the home of the 77-year-old neighbour dementia sufferer.

The victim received help from social services and was considered vulnerable.

Richmond Court in Grangetown

Sarah Traynor, prosecuting, told the court that Curry had visited the victim at his home on a weekly basis.

One day last year she spotted a chequebook on a table and took it before using the cheques to buy goods from the various online retailers.

The court heard that although many of the cheques had bounced, Curry had still racked up £2,248 worth of purchases in the victim’s name.

It was on November 28 last year that police were first alerted to possible fraud by online retailer Shop Direct after the company received an order in the victim’s name that did not appear to be genuine.

Among the items ordered were an Xbox and a PlayStation Vita games console, various video games including Grand Theft Auto and a quantity of children’s clothing.

Curry was arrested at her partner’s address and the victim’s chequebook was recovered.

She fully admitted her guilt at the first opportunity and said that she had used the money mainly to provide clothing for her five-year-old daughter.

Richmond Court in Grangetown

Mrs Traynor told the court that Curry, who had described her vulnerable neighbour as “lovely” during a police interview, had “showed little remorse towards her victim” and that she had admitted to being selfish in her crimes.

Defending Curry, Larry Regan said: “I’ve read the report from the CPS. It is accepted except for the comment about the remorse.

“She has admitted to being selfish in her actions and she has expressed remorse to the victim.”

Mitigating, Mr Regan added: “She has a five-year-old child who lives with her and is due to give birth to her third child.

“This was very much out of character. She felt disgusted with herself.

“She has made a grave error.”

Laurieann Curry

Chairman of the bench, Michael Poole, sentenced Curry to a separate six-month sentence for each of the charges against her.

The sentences were set to run concurrently and were suspended for 24 months.

No victim surcharge was added and because the money had already been refunded to the victim by his bank, Curry was ordered to pay back £2,248 to the bank at £5 per week from her benefits.

Turning to Curry, chairman of the bench Michael Poole said: “Do you understand what has happened here today?

"You’ve come very close to coming into custody this afternoon.

“It’s only because of your circumstances that you have avoided prison.”

Curry nodded and replied: “I’m deeply sorry as well.”

The FA confirms investigation into allegations that Jose Semedo spat at Grant Leadbitter

The FA has confirmed it is looking into allegations that Jose Semedo spat at Grant Leadbitter during Boro’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Boro’s skipper reacted angrily to an incident 20 minutes into the second half before furiously complaining at referee Stephen Martin.

Both managers said they hadn’t seen the clash when quizzed in their post-match interviews but Aitor Karanka confirmed earlier this week that Boro were considering taking action over the alleged incident.

Wednesday boss Stuart Gray said Martin hadn’t included the incident in his match report but the FA has confirmed to the Gazette it’s aware of the complaint and will continue to look into it before making a decision on any potential action.

When asked about the issue in his press conference earlier this week, Karanka said: “We are going to work (on it) but I prefer not to say anything because I don’t know what the steps are here and can’t say one thing because maybe I make a mistake.

Aitor Karanka during Boro's defeat to Sheffield Wednesday

“Grant and the club are working and let’s see but I prefer not to say anything.”

Although Karanka refused to comment on the incident directly on Saturday, he did say that Leadbitter’s complaints couldn’t have stemmed from nothing.

“Grant, I know him, he is a very good lad, a very good player, a very good character and if he did say something like that it is because something has happened but I can’t say what happened because I don’t know,” said the Boro boss.

Semedo did receive a yellow card during Wednesday’s victory over Boro for a separate incident in which Lee Tomlin was also booked.

Pictures: Youngsters dress the part to celebrate World Book Day

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It's been the one day in the school year when Mischief was allowed in the classroom.

Little Miss Mischief was one of the many Mr Men and Little Miss characters inside nursery and infants classrooms at Red House School today.

The Norton independent school, along with many others across the country, was celebrating World Book Day, and children were invited to dress up as characters from the series of books by Robert Hargreaves.

Each infant class chose their favourite as a group, while nursery children individually picked their own character.

Youngsters took part in a number of activities throughout the day with an aim of capturing imaginations and bringing a love of reading and learning to life.

Children were also given the opportunity to make a donation towards the World Book Day charity, Book Aid International, which sends books to children in Africa.

Sarah Tomlinson, head of marketing at the school said: “It’s a bit of fun, coming in and getting dressed up, but it’s also about inspiring the children.

“World Book Day is about encouraging them to develop a love of reading, and maybe becoming the writers of the future too.

“We’ve incorporated it into each class - in maths, they corrected sums Mr Wrong had got wrong, and in literacy they looked at the work of Robert Hargreaves and created their own stories.”

The youngsters were also taking part in a “create a Mr Red House” competition, with a prize for the winner in each class.

Woman was under threat when she took tablets into Holme House Prison

A woman was under threat when she took drugs into prison in a visit to her ex-boyfriend, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Suspicions arose as Katie Louise Helliwell spent an unusually long time in the toilet at Holme House Prison.

The CCTV operator then concentrated on her in the Stockton jail’s visiting room as she was seen hiding a package in her left hand.

She was caught with a condom carrying seven diazepam tablets, worth a total of £420 to £560 in prison, on the afternoon of November 6 last year.

She said threats had been made to her and she took the drugs on a visit to her former partner.

She was threatened by two men, one of whom called her while a probation officer was with her, said prosecutor Harry Hadfield yesterday.

Helliwell, of Mellor Street, Stockton, admitted conveying drugs into prison.

Andrew White, defending, said: “She was under extreme pressure in this instance.

“She has a lot of support now. There is family with her.”

Judge Peter Bowers told Helliwell he could tell she knew she faced prison, as she brought two full bags into court with her.

He added: “Very often that’s what happened to anyone who tries to take drugs into prison.

“It’s quite clear you were put under pressure. That’s been confirmed by the independent evidence of the probation officer and I accept that.

“You’ve got some serious ongoing medical problems. You’ve had surgery and quite frankly you need all the help you can get as far as that’s concerned.

“The probation officer speaks very well of you, and asks me to suspend the sentence.”

He gave her a six-month prison term suspended for a year with supervision.

Seal pup recovering well after being rescued from Saltburn beach

A seal pup is being given loving care and attention in his new surroundings after being rescued from Saltburn beach.

The grey pup was found stranded on the beach by a member of the public on Monday. It was underweight and concerns were raised for its welfare.

As a result, the three-week-old seal was rescued by a volunteer from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR).

It has since been taken to Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary in Lincolnshire where experts will care for the pup until he is well enough to be released back into the wild.

The seal is now at Mablethorpe Seal Sanctuary

A spokeswoman for the sanctuary said that the young seal is settling in well and is currently being kept in isolation until he is ready to be introduced to others of the same age, given access to a warm pool and encouraged to eat.

“He is being fed three times a day at the moment and when he put on more wight he will go into a pool with other seals.

“When he gets heavier again and finishes his medication he will go into another pool not in the hospital, before being put into a deeper pool.

“We will then release him back into the wild. This will be in a bout six to nine months.”

The seal weighed 13.5 kilograms when he was found - “far too thin and underweight for his age”.

Seal pup found on Saltburn beach

Seal pups stay with their mothers until they are weaned at about three weeks old.

After that they are left alone to take care of themselves. While most are fine, some struggle and once they become dehydrated they end up on beaches and are in danger from dogs and people.

If you wish to report an marine animal that you are concerned about or have a general enquiry about the BDMLR, call 01825 765546.

Paedophile caught with thousands of sickening child abuse images is jailed for five years

A paedophile caught with a catalogue of sickening images of child abuse, some against babies and toddlers, was jailed for five years today.

Police uncovered Richard Adam Neal’s horrifying library of pictures on his phone and memory card just two months after he was released from prison.

A Teesside Crown Court judge said the child pornography addict’s case was “as serious as I’ve encountered during my time”.

Officers found the the pervert’s depraved gallery - thousands of vile photographs and films - on a memory card in his wallet and a phone in his pocket.

On the card alone, police found 150 images of children of the most severe type, nearly all of different child victims.

They showed children of an average age of five - but some babies and toddlers - being subjected to sexual abuse by adults, said prosecutor Christine Egerton.

She said children were shown bound and in visible pain and distress in the still and moving pictures.

There were thousands more pictures, either in less serious categories or “indicative of a sexual interest in children”, among more than 30,000 pictures on the card.

More than 3,500 indecent and prohibited images of children were found on his phone, including 776 at the most serious level.

The pictures were discovered in a routine police visit to Neal’s home at the South Bank bail hostel on October 28 last year, two months after his release on licence from prison.

Neal, 30, insisted he had nothing he should not have, but he was sweating, fidgeting and nervous.

Now of no fixed address, he admitted making and possessing indecent photos of children, possessing prohibited images of children and breach of a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO).

This was the third time he was in court for having child abuse images which he had downloaded from the internet.

He was convicted of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child in August 2009, jailed for two-and-a-half years and given the 10-year SOPO, which banned him from having any pictures of children.

He was given another three-and-a-half-year extended sentence in September 2013 for possessing more indecent images and breaching the SOPO.

He has now been recalled to complete that sentence, which ends in February 2017.

Neal explained his behaviour by saying the weight of the restrictions on him led him to seek solace in alcohol and amphetamine.

And through his lawyer, he complained that he committed the new crimes because he was not given help on a programme in prison and found himself without benefits and “at a very low ebb”.

Graham Brown, defending, said Neal was a solitary and isolated character who was “very distressed and alarmed” by his own actions.

He said: “The defendant doesn’t want to be in this position.

“He is concerned - that’s an understatement - at the situation and the predilection which these offences have shown.

“He has never proceeded to a direct personal contact offence.”

He added that Neal did not generate any of the images himself and did not pose a “significant risk of serious harm” to the public requiring another extended sentence.

Sentencing, Judge Tony Briggs described the images as hideous, disturbing, disgusting, ghastly and vile, involving sexual abuse on young and very young children.

He told Neal: “It is clear from the information that I have on you that you are in the grip of a powerful addiction to material of this nature.

“You freely accept that you’re sexually attracted to young children.”

He said Neal committed the crimes within a very short time after his prison release, knowing they would likely land him inside again.

He jailed Neal for five years, but by law the sentence had to be concurrent and could not be added to the term Neal is currently serving.

Neal was given a second indefinite SOPO, will be on the sex offenders’ register for life and is likely to be barred from working with children.

Blind mum setting aside own disability to help others become more independent

A blind mum-of-two is setting aside her own disability to help others become more independent.

Despite being visually impaired from birth and now completely blind, Louise Clarke Sutherland from Saltburn works hard to raise funds for charity and is a seasoned supporter of Marske Hall care home.

Last year she zipwired from the Baltic Arts Centre across the Tyne alongside her daughters Charlotte and Francesca and raised more than £1,000 for the cause

And she is now finalising plans for a spring ball at the Spa Hotel in Saltburn to help raise more funds for the charity.

Run by Leonard Cheshire Disability, Marske Hall supports up to 30 residents to be more independent and do things that are important to them.

Money raised at the event will be used to purchase specialist equipment to enable service users at Marske Hall to access activities to enrich their quality of life. Cash raised from past events has funded holidays and visits from outside companies such as Zoolab.

Louise, 48, who lives with her husband Ian and their daughters in Saltburn, has been involved with Marske Hall since 1995, including 10 years as a member of the management committee.

She said: “I moved on from the committee as I had other commitments but I still want to help out where I can.

“I am really excited about the spring ball and incredibly grateful for the help and support from the Spa Hotel.

“The evening promises to be a fun way to get together with friends, enjoy a meal and entertainment and help raise money for a fantastic local cause.”

The charity spring ball will take place on Friday, March 13, at 7pm.

Tickets are £30 each and include a three-course meal, music and entertainment. Call Louise direct on 07775 610745 for tickets or to donate raffle prizes.