Live News: October 19, 2012 (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

5:56pm

5:28pm

MALIK ALAM, pictured, the consultant paediatrican criticised over his care of ten-year-old William Cressey, from Croft, near Darlington, who died of meningitis seven years ago, is fit to practise, a tribunal in Manchester has ruled this afternoon.

Full report and reaction in The Northern Echo tomorrow.

3:55pm

3:14pm

3:14pm

Interesting to hear that Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini and Tim Krul have all been deemed fit to play in Sunday's Wear-Tyne derby.

That means Newcastle can effectively play their strongest team if manager Alan Pardew thinks that's the way to go.

Sunderland are without Lee Cattermole, but expect to have Phil Bardsley available for the first time this season.

2:41pm

2:41pm

2:30pm

Military Cross hero Cpl Sarah Bushbye is at Croft Racing Circuit today taking part in a track day as she continues her battle with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Cpl Bushbye, 28, of Killingworth, Tyne and Wear, became only the third woman in history to be awarded a Military Cross after her heroic actions in Afghanistan in 2010

She ran 100-metres across open ground under a hail of bullets to treat four soldiers injured by a suicide bomb.

Since her return to England, Cpl Bushbye has been receiving treatment at Catterick for PTSD and has got involved with the Mission Motorsport racing team as part of her rehabilitation.

2:18pm

2:17pm

1:47pm

1:20pm

Sad news from the North York Moors where protected birds-of-prey are becoming victims of the unscrupulous.

Goshawks and sparrowhawks have been found poisoned or shot and in the latest incident a buzzard was found in an illegal trap. 

Sadly police believe the incidents they know about are just the tip of the iceberg.

12:48pm

Been to an archaeological dig near Chilton, County Durham, where experts and volunteers are unearthing evidence of an Iron Age settlement.

Durham University is running the project for Durham County Council and site manager Catrin Jenkins has shown us some interesting finds from what was probably a farmstead.

12:38pm

York College has announced today it won't reopen its nursery, following the tragic death of thee-year-old Lydia Bishop at the nursery on September 17.

The nursery has remained closed since the little girl died after becoming entangled in play equipment on her first day.

Investigations by police and the Health and Safety Executive are ongoing into the circumstances surrounding her death.  

12:30pm

THE fastest biker ever convicted in North Yorkshire has been banned from the roads.

Steven Graham Smith, 40, was caught by mobile police cameras while travelling at 139mph on the B1217 at Saxton, near Tadcaster – more than twice the 60mph speed limit.

Smith was banned from driving for six months and told he could not operate another motor vehicle after the ban until he had retaken and passed his driving test.

He was also fined £415 and ordered to pay court costs of £45 and a victim surcharge of £15.

12:19pm

Talking to Sunderland FA Cup winner Micky Horswill and former Newcastle player Alan Shoulder at charity golf day at Ramside in Durham. Both sitting on the fence and predicting a derby day draw

12:10pm

Newly appointed Bishop of Whitby chatted to us about moving from his former parish in St Pancras, London, to the North East.

The Reverend Philip North said he was excited to move to North Yorkshire to serve the Cleveland Archdeaconry and the Diocese of York.

He said: "I relish the opportunity to return to the North East and to the diversity of the area from inner city to rural life, from market towns to fishing villages - and as a keen walker and cyclist I am looking forward to being close to the North York Moors."

11:51am

The Chief Fire Officer of Cleveland, Ian Hayton, has released a strong statement on the Government's latest proposed cuts for the fire service on Teesside.

He said:  “If our capacity drops, the risk is more fires, fire deaths and injuries. We have spent the last ten years significantly reducing the risk to local people on Teesside and no way are we giving that up that success without a fight. We are doing everything we can to safeguard our public and our service.”

11:46am

Uh-oh. A lorry driver delivering to a store in York managed to jam his vehicle into one of the city's ancient gateways last night. Hope he wasn't following his sat-nav.

11:44am

DECISION DUE: A Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) fitness to practise panel is today due to deliver its verdict on the fitness to practise - or otherwise - of Dr Malik Alam, the consultant paediatrician criticised over the death of ten-year-old William Cressey, from Croft, near Darlington, in 2005.

William, pictured, was discharged from Darlington Memorial Hospital after doctors failed to spot that he was suffering from meningitis.

The MPTS is an operationally-separate part of the General Medical Council

11:44am

Richmondshire MP and Foreign Secretary William Hague will be talking to us today about the problems facing the Friarage  Hospital in Northallerton and North Yorkshire's health funding crisis. Should be very interesting...

11:42am

The Tees reporting team will be covering Cleveland Fire Authority this afternoon to follow up on the story about the authority having to find another £2.5m in cuts. That could lead to more than 70 job losses, some in the front line. Teesside is an area with a steel works, chemical plants and a nuclear power station. - Chris Webber.

11:39am

11:38am

I think I'm coming down with something, got a bit of a temperature and feeling generally unwell. It must be derby fever!

Scott Wilson's heading up to Newcastle now to speak with Alan Pardew, I have  got a big Saturday Spotlight with Steven Taylor going in tomorrow's Echo too.

On the Sunderland front we have got a little bit more of Carlos Cuellar, while Martin O'Neill talks about how he thinks Sunderland could have the edge ahead of the Magpies.

Work to be done, anyone got a tissue...

Chief football writer, Paul Fraser 

11:37am

The new Bishop of Whitby is being introduced to his flock today - at Thirsk Auction Mart of all places.

The Reverend Philip North is moving up from the south, where he used to be the team rector of the parish of Old St Pancras.

He's no stranger to the region though - and used to play cricket for the diocese of Durham.

11:33am

11:33am