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.
Today, we bring you news that three people have been taken to hospital following a fire at a private property on Vicarage Street, off Waterville Road, in North Shields this morning (January 16).
Our reporter Sam Volpe attended the scene alongside our photographer Iain Buist after reports that fire crews has been called to Vicarage Street in North Shields at around 3.30am on Monday (January 16) after a blaze broke out at a terraced property.
Personnel from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue arrived at Vicarage Street, off Waterville Road, at the scene 3.29am.
Firefighters have been joined at the scene by crews from Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service. Waterville Road has been closed in both directions between Cardonnel Street and Prudhoe Street as well as Vicarage Road.
A cordon has been put in place with fire crews still remaining at the scene to tackle the blaze at the time of writing. Police cars and an ambulance service response van was also reported to still be present.
Read more about this story here
Online predator posed as a woman to try to prey on children
We also brought you the news that online predator David Hart was caught trying to prey on children while posing as a woman.
Our court reporter Rob Kennedy wrote that a devious pervert created a fake Facebook profile in the name of Sarah Hart to target youngsters and also used another bogus profile of Sarah's supposed dad, Carl. Fortunately the girls he communicated with, aged between 12 and 14, were decoy profiles set up by paedophile hunting groups.
Now loner Hart, 33, of Warwick Court, Gateshead, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court after admitting eleven offences.
The first "girl", Alana, 14, was contacted by Hart, using the fake Sarah Hart profile, and he told her "she" had been raped when she was 13 and was having sex with her dad. Hart then purported to introduce the dad, Carl Hart, to Alana and suggested she join him in bed.
Posing as Carl, he offered sex education, sent a picture of his penis and discussed sex before suggesting they meet in Gateshead. He also asked about her 12-year-old cousin, added her fake account on Facebook and said she was hot, saying she wasn't too young and they could "make it a game for her". He then arranged to meet both girls in Saltwell Park the following day.
Read more about this story here
Survey finds Newcastle children are lonelier and subject to more online abuse
We also brought you the quite harrowing news that Children in Newcastle are feeling lonelier, more anxious and are facing more online abuse, a study has found.
Our Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Holland said that the worrying findings emerged from a survey of more than 7,000 children from 71 schools across the city that was conducted last year. A questionnaire completed by students aged between eight and 15 found that the number of secondary pupils who feel lonely at school has jumped from six per cent in 2011 to 19% in 2022.
More than 30% of Newcastle secondary school students say they have had hurtful or nasty messages sent to them on the internet – a figure that increases dramatically to 62% for girls. An increasing number of children also reported having been threatened or pressured to send a picture or video of themselves online.
However, the survey also showed a number of positives for young people’s health – with fewer children smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs. Lorna Smith, the city’s interim director of public health, told a meeting of Newcastle City Council’s health scrutiny committee on Thursday that the responses from the 7,396 children raised concerns about their mental health.
Read more about this story here
Magpies tipped for Nicolo Zaniolo chase
And now for some transfer rumours! Today, Oliver Jones reported that Newcastle United are reportedly scheming up a move for Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo this summer after he was linked to both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this month.
According to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera, the Magpies have been asking for information on the 23-year-old winger in recent weeks as Eddie Howe tries to line up another new St. James' Park arrival.
With the rumours constantly circulating in the Italian press and after refusing to sign a new contract with the Serie A outfit, Zaniolo was booed off by Roma fans following their 1-0 win over Genoa on Thursday, making his exit seem even more likely.
The 23-year-old has been one of Italy's most exciting talents over the last few years but back-to-back long-term injuries has left him on the sidelines for a majority of the last two seasons.
Read more about this story here
That's all from us for now, but check back at 5am tomorrow for your next North East Today update.
In the meantime, keep up-to-date with all the latest and sign up to our newsletters here.
Read next:
Documentary film charting impact of the historic Shields Ferry gets £50,000 go ahead
TUI customers' food poisoning 'hell' on New Year holiday at four-star Lanzarote hotel
The most unusual animal rescues by the RSPCA, including some from the North East
Stunning new images show how Newcastle's historic Pattern Shop will look
Bursaries launched to help get North East young people into archaeology on Hadrian's Wall
