Welcome to your daily look at the news in the North East.
Each morning and lunchtime we'll bring you some of the latest news from the North East - from breaking news and top stories to NUFC updates and the cost of living latest.
We reported how two Gateshead leisure centres at risk of closure have been granted a three-month reprieve.
READ MORE: Vera's Brenda Blethyn praises County Durham actress who 'fooled' viewers in latest episode
Council chiefs have agreed to defer the shutting down of Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre until the summer, to allow for more time for rescue talks that could save some services. Both sites had been earmarked for closure at the end of March under budget cutting plans and dozens of campaigners gathered outside Gateshead Civic Centre on Tuesday morning, ahead of a tense council meeting where the decision was due to be signed off.
Thousands of people have expressed their horror at the proposals over recent months and have been joined by ChronicleLive in campaining for them to stay open, with major concerns about the impact the loss of beloved facilities will have in some of the North East’s most deprived communities. As tempers flared at the cabinet meeting, Labour council leader Martin Gannon instead proposed funding the centres to stay open for “at least” an extra three months, likely continuing until some point in June – though no specific date has been decided on.
Sunderland teen rapist forced woman to have sex to save life of man he attacked on their first date
A teenager raped a stranger after battering her friend unconscious on their first date in an "abominable" attack.
The man and woman were walking home from an enjoyable first night out together when their happiness turned to horror at the hands of vile Sean Robinson. The then-17-year-old savagely attacked the man in a relentless onslaught then told the woman he wouldn't kill him if she had sex with him.
Robinson then took the woman into some bushes in Sunderland and raped her, telling her to stop crying like a baby and warning if she stopped he would kill the man. Robinson, now 18, pleaded guilty to raping the woman and assaulting the man, who have both been left deeply traumatised by the ordeal.
The full story can be read here
Plus size woman from South Shields builds huge army of followers after encouraging body positivity
A plus size woman has become an internet sensation after encouraging people to be confident in their own body.
Laura Ferry initially set up a blog to help people in bigger bodies and now has 147,000 followers on her Instagram page 'WhatLauraLoves'. The 34-year-old, who wears a size 24-26, works with retailers such as Pretty Little Thing and River Island to show people what clothing looks like on her body.
Laura, who lives in South Shields, South Tyneside, has also opened up about her experience of having smear tests, flying on an aeroplane and getting beauty treatments as a plus size woman. She said she's had a positive reaction amongst followers with people telling her they have changed their lives for the better.
Laura, who also has 8,639 followers on TikTok, said: "My whole life I have felt feelings of shame and feelings of not being worthy. I have always felt I needed to lose weight, and change who I was, to become someone who was beautiful and worthy and to be able to live my life.
"My life began when I stopped caring about that people thought and started caring about what I thought. I'm not scared to wear a bikini because I deserve to feel the sun on my skin.
For the full inspiring story click here
Southampton 0-1 Newcastle United: Magpies a mere clean sheet away from a Wembley final
After defeating Southampton in the Carabao Cup semi final first leg, Eddie Howe's side have edged closer to the Magpies' first Wembley final in 24 years. But Howe knows there is plenty of room for improvement.
Chief NUFC writer Lee Ryder reports that for more than an hour, it looked like Newcastle players had "fluffed their lines" as they wasted chance after chance. Yet, this side was determined to get it right and after Joelinton's four-yard miss, he went on to redeem himself in the 73rd minute and left the field a hero.
With a number of injuries and Southampton's Armstrong seemingly equalising just minutes later, to be disallowed as a handball after overlooking VAR, the 3,200 travelling fans celebrated it like a second goal for their own team, and went home with their eyes firmly fixed on a Wembley final.
Read more about this story here and read further analysis from Ciaran Kelly here
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