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Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A dad has told how he is still suffering from the effects of Covid nearly a year after contracting the virus. Dean Dobson, a health worker, did not even know he had the virus when he first started feeling unwell in February last year. He was sent home from work after becoming dizzy and struggling to breathe. At that time, he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. He continued to struggle with dizziness, breathlessness and exhaustion for months and was told by medics the problem could be vertigo, an ear infection or neurological problems. However in October Dean, from Bedlington, Northumberland, took a Covid-19 antibody test and it came back positive. Since then, health professionals have agreed Dean is suffering from long Covid - which is now recognised as the lingering fatigue and illness that plagues sufferers in the aftermath of coronavirus.

The Ashington to Newcastle passenger line is due to reopen in the next few years, our 10 images recall the line as it was in the 1950s

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A caring and much-loved great-great-grandmother has enjoyed birthday greetings from over 3,000 people as she turns 100. Former care assistant Rosie Cochrane entered her second century on January 21 this year. Although lockdown means the celebration, from her assisted living home in Bedlington, wasn't quite what she might have planned before the pandemic, granddaughter Christine Logan was determined to ensure 'Granny Rosie' was showered with love on her special day. Northumberland County Council fostering team manager Christine said: “Growing up I would watch her and my mam care for others, and just knew I wanted to do the same. "She has always put others first and cared for others where she can, be it family, friends or through her work. She is a real inspiration and it is because of her I chose my career path and have also fostered to help others in any way I can. "It has been a really difficult time not being able to see her. She loves to get her nails and hair done, go shopping and travel. But we know we must do all we can to keep her safe and ourselves right now.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A speeding danger driver who led police on a chase around residential streets has been jailed. Keith Wilson panicked when police tried to stop him because he knew he had no licence or insurance. For 20 minutes he sped around the streets of Bedlington, Northumberland, trying to outrun officers at up to twice the 30mph limit. Police deployed the force helicopter to keep track of him until he finally gave up, dropped the keys out of the window and stopped. Now the 23-year-old, of Hollymount Avenue, Bedlington, has been jailed for six months after admitting dangerous driving, failing to stop and having no insurance or licence. Newcastle Crown Court heard it was just after 7.30pm on Saturday, December 12 that Wilson was spotted by police driving fast in a silver Audi A4.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A major Northumberland road was closed due to a four-vehicle collision on Wednesday. Police closed the A189 southbound between Bedlington and Ashington while the vehicles involved were recovered. Emergency services were called at around 8am to reports of a multi-vehicle crash. Northumbria Police said no-one is believed to have been seriously injured but paramedics treated three people at the scene. A spokesperson for the force said: "Shortly before 8am today (Wednesday) we received a report of a four-vehicle collision on the A189 southbound near the Bedlington turn-off. “Emergency services are currently at the scene but thankfully nobody is believed to have been seriously injured. The road has been closed and a diversion in place as a clean-up operation continues.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A man has appeared in court accused of attempted murder after a council worked was allegedly attacked while mending a window. Bradley Fenwick was charged in connection with the incident, which happened in Alnwick on Boxing Day. The 27-year-old came before South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court last week. The case was sent to Newcastle Crown Court, where he will appear on January 25. Mr Fenwick, of Brook Court, in Bedlington, was remanded in custody until his next hearing. Northumbria Police appealed for witnesses after the incident, which happened on Cedar Grove, at around 10pm.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A man has appeared in court accused of breaking a New Year's Day reveller's jaw during a suspected attack. Lee Sweeney is alleged to have punched the male victim outside a pub in Bedlington, in Northumberland, and left him needing surgery. The 22-year-old was in the dock at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to face an allegation of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent on Steven Smith. Sweeney, of Station Road, in Bedlington, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address and to enter a not guilty plea during the short hearing. The court heard that the alleged assault happened outside a pub in Bedlington on New Year's Day 2020. Mr Smith was left with a cut on his head, which needed gluing, and required surgery to his broken jaw.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Repeated road menace David Morrison has been jailed after ramming police cars in a desperate bid to evade justice. The 32-year-old already had four previous convictions for driving while disqualified and five for drink driving and was banned from the roads. But after stealing petrol from a garage in South Gosforth, Newcastle, he sparked a police chase in the Longbenton area after refusing to pull over in a Saab 93. Newcastle Crown Court heard he had been banned at the end of July and a previous disqualification period had just ended. But on September 30, he spent almost £70 on petrol at the Shell garage before making off without payment. A member of the public followed him and flagged down police to alert them.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A dangerous driver who was already banned from the roads almost knocked over a pensioner during a police chase at more than twice the speed limit. Elias Gray should not have been behind the wheel at all but was spotted by police in Ashington, Northumberland driving too fast. Officers activated their blue lights and sirens to indicate for him to pull over but he accelerated away at speed. Matthew Collins, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He failed to stop and began driving and not only at speed but with considerable danger to both pedestrians and other road users. "He drove down the centre of North Seaton Road, forcing vehicles on both sides of the carriageway to take evasive action." The court heard Gray reached up to 70mph on North Seaton Road, which has a 30mph limit.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news She had the world at her feet. But Marsha Heslop's family and friends are grieving after the "beautiful" hairdresser from Bedlington, Northumberland, died aged 27. What started as twitching in her right foot ended in seizures while on holiday with her partner. She spent four weeks in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) before she died on November 21. Her death has sent shockwaves through the community. A fun-loving and kind soul, those who knew her best say life will simply never be the same again.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Controlling Peter Adams splashed out beyond his means on himself while keeping a tight grip on what his wife was allowed to buy. Adams met his future wife through their Jehovah's Witness faith when she was 17 and he was 28 and they began dating when she turned 18, a court heard. But their marriage turned sour, with Adams exerting "complete control of the family finances" and his partner only allowed to use a card to do grocery shopping. Meanwhile "due to the excessive spending of the defendant on himself", debts of £10,000 were accrued in both of their names. Newcastle Crown Court heard he was out most evenings and would eat in restaurants without his wife and child. And after one argument he locked her in their home and when she tried to climb out of the bathroom window, he prevented her from doing so.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A man has been diagnosed with long Covid - despite not even knowing he had had the virus eight months ago. Dean Dobson first started feeling unwell in February, when the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK was still just in double figures. The 29-year-old was sent home from work after becoming dizzy and struggling to breathe - and while a doctor mentioned that “people were panicking about coronavirus,” he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. Dean, from Bedlington, Northumberland, continued to struggle with dizziness, breathlessness and exhaustion in the months that followed. While going between GPs, ENT consultants and a private neurologist, he was told the problem could be vertigo, an ear infection or neurological problems. Finally, in October Dean saw that as a health worker he was entitled to a Covid-19 antibody test.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A boy racer “came close to almost killing” a family of three after he shunted their car into a bush while speeding towards them “like a bullet,” a court heard. Stephen Hill drove on the wrong side of the road and narrowly missed hitting a police car as he hit estimated speeds of up to 80mph on busy Northumberland streets. The 20-year-old, who was 19 at the time, left a family with “whiplash type injuries” after crashing into them at speed in Bedlington. The victim, who had been out with his partner and 17-year-old stepdaughter, said they had been left “traumatised” by the collision and that was “still in pain” more than six months later. Now Hill has avoided being locked up after a judge was moved by the victim’s generous letter asking for him to be “rehabilitated”. Prosecutor Ellen Wright said Hill was spotted by two police officers on May 9 driving a white VW Golf “at a high speed” and crossing the road onto the wrong side.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A man has appeared in court over an alleged assault in Bedlington at the weekend. Police received a report of an assault at an address on Stakeford Lane at around 2.30pm on Saturday. Emergency services attended the scene and a 23-year-old man was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police have said that a 48-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were arrested in connection with the incident. However, the 48-year-old man was released with no further action. The 20-year-old man has been charged with a section 19 assault and appeared at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A serial shoplifter has been locked up after stealing hundreds of pounds worth of food from a shop he was already banned from. Curtis Telford, 21, was released from prison in October following a conviction for a knife point robbery at the Co-op Store, Guide Post, Choppington. Telford, previously of Ashington, was banned from entering the store again and warned he would wind up back behind bars should he breach the order. But he ignored the instructions, stealing nearly £400 worth of meat from the store as well as coffee and shampoo. He also targeted three other stores in the area. Officers reviewed CCTV from all the shops, quickly identifying Telford as the prime suspect.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A learner driver who was involved in an horrific motorbike crash just minutes into his first lesson died as a result of a tragic accident, an inquest heard. Darren Jobling, 50, was killed after being flung from his bike and crashing into a tree on Front Street West in Bedlington on July 29 last year. A hearing at Newcastle Civic Centre heard no reason could be found as to why he rapidly accelerated and lost control of his Yamaha 700cc bike, after being described as a "smooth and competent" driver. His bike was found 30 metres further down the street where it had ploughed into a parked white Kia Sportage. Emergency services, including the air ambulance, were called to the scene at about 12.15pm and he was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, where he died around four hours later. His family said he has been a "huge miss" and thanked emergency services who tried to save his life.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news As wedding preparations go, it doesn't get much more stressful than this. Yet not even a 400 mile dash to beat lockdown could ruin newlyweds Ami Glass and Kamron Arasteh's magical day. The couple were due to tie the knot on Saturday November 7 at Ellingham Hall. However those plans were thrown into disarray when, exactly a week before the ceremony, Boris Johnson called another lockdown. Unwilling to wait, the couple embarked on a mad scramble to move the wedding forward - staging it just hours before the lockdown was imposed on Thursday. Everybody from the venue to the make-up team moved mountains to make it happen, and after an eight-hour drive from Dorset the couple finally said 'I do' on Wednesday November 4.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Police investigating an incident where a cyclist suffered serious head injuries have said they no longer believe it to be suspicious. Officers were called to Bedlington shortly before 11.30am on Saturday, November 7, after a lone female cyclist was found lying in the middle of the road on Attlee Bank. The 46-year-old had suffered serious injuries to her head and was taken to hospital by paramedics where she currently remains. Police launched an investigation into the circumstances and appealed for information from the public. However, they now say they are no longer looking for any suspects in relation to the incident. A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "Over the weekend, officers launched an appeal for information in a bid to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and ascertain if any criminal offences had been committed.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A vile thug has been jailed after racially abusing and spitting at police officers while claiming to have coronavirus and tried to bite nurses trying to treat him in hospital. Mark White subjected emergency workers to a tirade of physical and verbal abuse after being arrested in Northumberland. The 36-year-old called officers horrific racist names, headbutted one of them and spat at two insisting he had Covid-19. He was also disgusting with nurses who were attempting to treat him after he sustained an injury while being restrained by officers. White, of Briarwood Cottages, Annitsford, North Tyneside, called one at the police station a "fat s**g" then when taken to hospital he tried to bite nurses' hands and threatened to headbutt one if they tried to help him. Newcastle Crown Court heard how White, who has 106 previous convictions, has an "appalling" record for attacking police officers.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Vile thug Conor Parker said he hated the police after spitting at officers and trying to land headbutts. Parker displayed shocking aggressive behaviour at Bedlington police station after being taken there in August. A court heard he seemed "almost delirious" as he grabbed an officer's neck, tried to headbutt a PC twice and spat directly at two officers. A judge at Newcastle Crown Court said the attacks left the police officers frightened. Judge Christopher Prince told Parker: "Any offences that are committed against public workers, such as police officers, will always be treated seriously by the courts. "These are the people who protect the public and indeed protect you, as a member of the public.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Obsessed stalker Robert Edington threatened to rape his former partner after bombarding her with calls and repeatedly turning up at her workplace and her friend's house. The TV aerial engineer could not cope with the end of his two-and-a-half year relationship and tried to use threats to himself and her to force her to change her mind. A court heard he made up to 100 unwanted calls to her a day and even followed her into the female toilets of a pub, peering over the cubicle. He also had to be spoken to by her boss after going to her place of work five or six times a day, three times a week. Newcastle Crown Court heard Edington left her and her friend, who he also harassed, living in fear. Clare Anderson, prosecuting, said the relationship had ended in June amid issues of drug misuse which she had asked him to get treatment for. She added there had been allegations of domestic violence.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Twisted Mark White racially abused and spat at police officers while claiming to have coronavirus and tried to bite nurses who were treating him in hospital. In a sickening display of vile behaviour to emergency workers, White lashed out physically and verbally after being arrested and taken into custody. He called officers disgusting racist names, headbutted one of them and spat at two while claiming he had covid - causing great concern and worry. The 36-year-old lowlife, of Briarwood Cottages, Annitsford, North Tyneside, was even abusive to nurses who were trying to treat him after he was injured while being restrained. He called one at a police station a "fat s**g" then when taken to hospital he tried to bite nurses' hands and threatened to assault them. Newcastle Crown Court he has previous convictions for attacking police officers and his victims described him as "vile" and "pathetic".

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news He was the true 'gentle giant' who made friends with everyone he met. Tributes are today pouring in for tragic dad Tony Houghton, who lost his life on a notorious Northumberland road. The 33-year-old, who was known to his friends a 'the Tank', was pronounced dead at the scene after he was hit by a car on the A189 near Bedlington Station. A 30-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following the collision, which happened at around 8pm on Saturday. Today as investigations continue Tony's heartbroken friends have been paying tribute to their pal. And doorman Scott Hunter, who worked with Tony, has told of the security worker's sense of humour and dedication to his young daughter.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news A pedestrian who died after a collision in Northumberland has been named by police. Anthony James Houghton, who lived in Blyth, died after reportedly being hit by a car on the A189 southbound between Bedlington Station and Bebside at around 8pm on Saturday. Emergency services were called to the incident but the 33-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Following the collision, officers arrested a 30-year-old woman on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, who has since been released under investigation. Enquiries into the collision are ongoing with officers appealing for any witnesses, especially those with dashcam footage, to come forward. Sergeant Ray Lowery, from the police's motor patrols department, said: “Our officers are supporting Anthony’s family at this difficult time and we ask their privacy is respected.

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Northumberland news Struggling families across Northumberland are set to benefit from new coronavirus funding which will help put food on the table. Northumberland county councillors will be able to provide Covid-19 -related support into their communities through a number of grants worth up to £2,000. Families in need will be able to access vital help such as food parcels or vouchers through recipient organisations such as town and parish councils and community groups. Leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson said: "We recognise and understand the real difficulties and hardship that Covid is causing for some of our residents, and we are doing all we can to help them, and we will continue to do so. "From the very start of the pandemic, through our Northumberland Communities Together initiative, we have been connecting with residents in need, seven days a week to ensure they receive help and support to keep them safe and well. "In addition to this, we have just expanded the scope of our Members Small Grant Scheme to reflect the challenges local communities and groups are facing around the current pandemic."