Tyneside and Northumberland stories from this week

5 October 2025

News image — Sam Fender will perform at this year's Mercury Prize ceremony

PA Media Sam Fender on stage. He is wearing a Newcastle United top which contains the club badge as well as the Newcastle Brown Ale star. A saxophone player in the background is wearing a Newcastle United shirt. — Sam Fender will perform at this year's Mercury Prize ceremony

Sam Fender will do a turn at this year's Mercury Prize ceremony, research looks into poor oral health of food bank users in Gateshead and £50m is pledged to fix some of Newcastle's rampant pothole problem.

Here are some stories from Tyneside and Northumberland you may have missed this week.

Poor oral health hitting food bank users

Martin Rickett/PA Wire Close up view of an open mouth with a dentist's pick and mirror. — Food bank users often suffer from poor oral health

Tackling the poor oral health of food bank users should be part of a council's anti-poverty strategy, a report has found.

Researchers reported "horror stories" of people in Gateshead performing their own dentistry, with one food bank client turning down a bag of apples due to having no teeth.

According to Gateshead Council figures, in 2024/25 local food banks have helped 7,891 people with emergency food parcels.

Reveal more about the research here

Sam Fender among Mercury Prize performers

Sam Fender performing on stage, holding a baby blue electric guitar. — Sam Fender is also nominated for the Mercury Prize

Sam Fender will be one of the performers at this year's Mercury Prize ceremony after also being shortlisted.

It is the first time the prestigious music industry awards, which are taking place at Newcastle's Utilita Arena on 16 October, will be held outside of London.

Fender, from North Shields, is one of 12 artists up for best British or Irish album of the past year who will play live on the night.

More Mercury news here

Two Reform councillors suspended in conduct probe

Northumberland County Council A composite image of Nicole Brooke and Patrick Lambert. In the left, Ms Brooke is smiling at the camera, She has blonde hair, which is tied back, and is wearing a black blazer over a red top. Mr Lambert is also smiling at the camera. He has short brown/grey hair and is wearing a dark green blazer, pink check shirt and blue spotted tie. — Councillors Nicole Brooke and Patrick Lambert were suspended by Reform UK

Two Reform UK councillors have been suspended from the party "pending an investigation into their conduct".

Northumberland County Councillors Nicole Brooke and Patrick Lambert had the "whip suspended pending investigation for breaching the Reform council group rules in a manner that could be detrimental to the party's interests", a statement read.

It follows the suspension of another Northumberland Reform UK councillor, John Allen, earlier this month.

Read more about the suspensions here

'He created spaces that are used every day'

Richard Gleed/ PA Media A composite of Sir Terry Farrell and the Life Science Centre. On the left, Sir Terry has short white hair and thick glasses. The Life Science Centre is a blue and glass building. The word "Life" is spelt out in multicolour. — Sir Terry Farrell designed the Centre for Life in Newcastle

He was the mind behind iconic sites in Newcastle such as the Centre for Life and led the regeneration of the Quayside.

While Sir Terry Farrell, who has died aged 87, designed buildings around the world, it is the city he grew up in where his legacy will continue.

Newcastle remembers here

Pothole repairs get £50m fund but much more needed

Newcastle City Council A worker in yellow hi-vis clothing is working on a pothole in the road, with a yellow machine and a watering can. Tall city buildings stand behind him. — Some pothole works would start immediately, Newcastle City Council said

In a bid to reverse its rampant pothole problem, Newcastle City Council has pledged £50m while acknowledging much more is needed.

It was previously estimated it would cost £251m to return the region's roads and pavements to an "acceptable standard".

Council leader, Labour's Karen Kilgour, admitted the new cash would not be enough on its own, but it would be used to tackle the most urgent repairs first including along Scotswood Road