Welcome your evening look at the news across the North East.
Every evening we'll bring you some of the latest news from the region. This includes everything from breaking news, features and sport.
Below are some of the biggest stories on Wednesday evening:
Read more: North East Today: Calls to report hate crime and big birthday for Angel of the North
County Durham couple discover pregnancy on wedding day after seven-year struggle to conceive
Emma and Paul Johnson found out they were expecting their first child together on their wedding day. The couple, from Ferryhill, County Durham, had been trying to conceive for seven years.
Emma decided to take a pregnancy test, while getting ready at her parent's house, as she had noticed her wedding dress felt a little tight. As she travelled to Bradbury Glade to say her vows, she knew that "I do" wouldn't be the only special words she would be sharing with her husband that day.
The 33-year-old kept the surprise until they went off to do their wedding photos together. She then shared the news with her husband.
Emma said: "It was complete shock when I found out, I didn't believe it. Like every other month for the last seven years I didn't think it was going to happen. He was so happy when I told him.
"I had customised handkerchiefs for the two of us with pictures of the other babies on. It had the two ultrasounds and a picture of the embryo that had been transferred. I had that tucked into my dress and then I had the pregnancy test tucked into that. And when we went off to do the photos I told him then."
Newcastle United explain Carabao Cup final ticket process after some fans miss out on Wembley
Newcastle United have confirmed 97% of Carabao Cup final tickets were sold to season-ticket holders. Reaction was mixed on social media as fans taking part in the Wembley ballot discovered their fate.
The draw was made after supporters in higher priority slots, which took factors like loyalty points and a more extensive purchase history into consideration, had bought their tickets.
Overall, the EFL have allocated 32,761 seats for Newcastle supporters in the West End of Wembley Stadium. Despite the national ground holding 90,000 spectators, deductions were made to accommodate corporate seats and those reserved for sponsorship partners.
Club staff and family are also gifted tickets out of Newcastle’s total. This has left many Toon fans feeling disheartened after seeing their Wembley dream crushed.
Amid the backlash, the Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust (NUST) contacted the club for clarity regarding tickets. A lengthy statement confirmed that almost all of the Magpies’ end on February 26 will feature St James’ Park season-ticket holders.
"We appreciate that every Newcastle United supporter wants to be there to support the team at Wembley and we offer our sincere apologies to anyone who has been left disappointed," a club statement relayed by NUST read.
To read the full story click here.
Wanted man arrested after huge police presence descends on North Shields town centre
Police have arrested a wanted man after officers descended outside a North Shields shopping centre.
Northumbria Police was alerted to a sighting of a fugitive on Railway Terrace in the town at around 2.30pm on Wednesday.
Multiple units were dispatched to an office in an attempt to capture the man, who was wanted on prison recall.
Pictures from the scene show a large police presence near The Beacon and North Shields Library.
To read the full story click here.
Northumberland cocaine dealer who made almost £200,000 from selling drugs must pay back £2,500
A cocaine dealer who benefitted to the tune of almost £200,000 has been ordered to pay back just £2,500 of his ill-gotten gains.
Liam Friar's lucrative operation came crashing down when a fidgety woman in a car he was in raised police suspicions she was on drugs. Inquiries showed Friar had been dealing cocaine and he was jailed for 31 months last year.
Now his case has been brought back to Newcastle Crown Court under the Proceeds of Crime Act. The court heard he benefitted to the tune of £199,833 but his available assets amount to a car worth £2,500, which is the figure he must pay back within three months or face an extra two months in jail. If he were ever to come into money in the future, he would be made to pay more of the outstanding amount.
To read the full story click here.
Durham grandmother found dead at home had sustained 78 stab wounds
A jury has heard how an alleged murder victim sustained numerous stab wounds which ultimately led to her death.
Sally Turner, 50, was found dead after suffering numerous stab wounds at a home in Cuthbert Avenue, Durham on June 22 last year. Her husband, Harry Turner, 54, is currently facing a trial at Teesside Crown Court charged with her murder - which he denies. He has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of loss of control - which the Crown does not accept.
The jury has so far heard from witnesses, including a taxi driver Sally was having an affair with at the time of her death, and Royal Mail work colleagues of Turner - who described him as a "gentle giant". On Wednesday, the jury heard evidence from Dr Louise Mulcahy, a forensic pathologist, who discussed the injuries Sally sustained, as well as another Royal Mail colleague.
To read the full story click here.
How Newcastle plan to combat revival of new rivals amid Man Utd, Spurs and Liverpool takeover talk
Plans for a European Super League that would have destroyed football as we all know and love it may have been quashed in 2020 but the Premier League is quickly becoming an unstoppable force all on its own - with other leagues around the world now struggling to compete anywhere near a similar footing.
The president of La Liga recently described England's top flight as a "doped market” after a combined transfer spend of £815m in January 2023 alone. Compare that to £110m in Ligue 1, £60m in the Bundesliga and £25m in both La Liga and Serie A.
Newcastle United saw their £300m takeover given the green light 16 months ago and have already started to reap the rewards that accompany being stewarded by a group of people who care about the club's wellbeing. However, the success the Magpies have enjoyed this season may prove harder to come by in future as some of their closest rivals await potentially game-changing takeover bids of their own.
To read the full story click here.
Sunderland's momentum is building says two-goal hero Jack Clarke following Black Cats' win at QPR
Two-goal hero Jack Clarke says Sunderland are building momentum after their win at QPR lifted them into the Championship play-off places. The Black Cats won 3-0 at Loftus Road, with Luke O'Nien scoring the opening goal and Anthony Patterson saving a penalty from Ilias Chair to preserve that one-goal lead before Clarke's late strikes, to climb to fifth in the table.
It also completed back-to-back wins for the Wearsiders, following Saturday's home victory against Reading, and Tony Mowbray's men have now lost just one of their last nine league games as they prepare for this weekend's clash with Bristol City at the Stadium of Light.
"It feels like there is some momentum building but we are just taking each game as it comes at the moment, and try to pick up as many points as we can," said Clarke.
"We've got two wins in a row now and we'd like to keep pushing forward and take it into Saturday. They're all big games at the moment, especially as we try to achieve what we set out to achieve at the start of the season, and we need to keep on picking up as many points as possible.
"We know Bristol is not going to be an easy game but we'll recover, rest, and be ready to go again on Saturday."
To read the full story click here.
Read more:
Closure of Tyneside Coffee Rooms is 'end of an era' say shocked fans of the city institution
Darlington man who raped a woman in her own home after night out is jailed
Washington paedophile pleads guilty to 47 offences after historic child sex abuse
Sunderland arsonist caused £36,000 of damage by setting fire to his home in 'cry for help'
Newcastle transfers state of play: Maddison still on list as Magpies alerted to Napoli sensation
