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 of Newcastle United's Joelinton holding his baby's gender reveal on St James' Park pitch. Joelinton and his partner Thays Gondim revealed the gender of their third child together - and St James' Park became was the perfect location for the special moment.
The family stood along the halfway line with a goal and the Newcastle United signage visible in the background. A huge pink and blue balloon arch and decorative lights were also set up on the pitch to provide the picture perfect setting.
Sticking with football news, a tribute to stabbed teen Gordon Gault as his face is to be shown around Wembley during NUFC's cup final. Images of Gordon be shown around Wembley as Newcastle United play in their first cup final in more than 20 years.
The 14-year-old died in hospital six days after he was allegedly attacked with a blade on the street, in November. Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with Gordon's death, but no one has yet been charged. Now in a bid to get justice, friends of his family plan to use Newcastle United's successful Carabao Cup run to raise awareness of his case.
This is your Monday morning briefing on all the latest from across the North East.
Newcastle United's Joelinton holds baby's gender reveal on St James' Park pitch
First we have the news that Joelinton and his partner Thays Gondim revealed the gender of their third child at St James' Park.
The couple were joined by their children on the pitch as they revealed the gender of the latest addition to their family. The family stood along the halfway line with a goal and the Newcastle United signage visible in the background.
A huge pink and blue balloon arch and decorative lights were also set up on the pitch to provide the picture perfect setting. As Joelinton kicked a ball into the air blue flares shot to the sky to signify that the couple were expecting a baby boy.
Face of stabbed teen Gordon Gault to be shown around Wembley as Newcastle United play in cup final
Next, ChronicleLive's crime reporter Sophie Doughty brought us the news that images of stabbed teenager Gordon Gault will be shown around Wembley as Newcastle United play in their first cup final in more than 20 years.
Stacey Wait, a friend of Gordon's family, has helped set-up 'Gordon's Massive Geordie Army', a group of fans who will take flags, posters and stickers bearing pictures of the teenager to London, on February 26. They are also trying to arrange for fans to clap for Gordon during the 14th minute of the game.
Stacey told Sophie: "An army will be flooding Wembley with flags, posters and stickers in an attempt to get Gordon justice. His killer is still at large in Newcastle and we are hoping by flooding 80,000 football fans we can raise awareness for more information no matter how big or small.
"We feel as though time is running out for the killer. We will also be flooding Newcastle with flyers to try and rejog people’s memories. We want Gordon’s face to be that well known that the killer can no longer hide."
Children in Northumberland missing school as parents can't afford to dry uniforms or pay for lunches
ChronicleLive's Local democracy reporter James Robinson revealed how Children in Northumberland missing school as parents can't afford to dry uniforms or pay for lunches. The message came from council officers at Thursday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's family and children's services overview and scrutiny committee.
Members were told that school attendance in Northumberland was improving, but was yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Economic deprivation was said to be "one of the main barriers" to education in the county.
Speaking at the meeting, senior manager in the children's services department Jane Walker said: "Cost of living is affecting families who didn't struggle to afford getting their children to school, but now are for the first time.
"Attendance raises concerns about safeguarding - we have to ask if they're not in school, where are they?"
Education welfare officer Sarah Wintringham added: "Parents can't afford to put the heating on to dry uniforms, they can't afford lunches if they don't get free school meals. It's cheaper to have them at home.
"We don't know what we don't know - sometimes families find it really difficult to share that information. There's a range of issues as to why families are struggling."
Read next:
- Northumberland County Council supporting staff and pupils after death of Holly Newton in Hexham
- Holly Newton 'stabbing': Boy injured in alleged attack in Hexham is discharged from hospital
- Then and Now: The Northumberland pub featured in a classic TV episode of the Likely Lads
- Police probe launched after man asks two children to get into his car in Ponteland
- Berwick town centre like 'ghost town' as big name retailer prepares to shut
