Lloyd Watson
BBC News

That's all from BBC Local Live today. We'll be back from 08:00 on Friday. If you're affected by snow overnight, don't forget to send us your stories and pictures.

You can send your pictures by email to [email protected] or tweet @BBCNewsNE, external and we may feature them on BBC Local Live tomorrow.

Peter Harris
Look North

It's one of the key dates in the Christian calendar. And now one of our region's football clubs is being accused of breaking a taboo by kicking off at 15:00 on a Good Friday.

That's traditionally the time when services are held to mark the death of Christ. But Middlesbrough have moved their game with Wigan forward - leaving church-going fans with a dilemma. I'll have more on this story on BBC Look North at 18:30 on BBC One.

Paul Mooney
BBC Weather presenter

Further wintry showers are expected this evening, but these will tend to ease through the night. Frost in places will give icy stretches.

Minimum temperature: 0C (32F). Check the forecast near you.

A 76-year-old man is among a number of people that have been arrested during early morning raids in Durham, external.

The pensioner was arrested on suspicion of the cultivation of cannabis during the raids in West Rainton.

Image source, Durham Constabulary

A man, 43, from a separate address in West Rainton was arrested for the same offence. A man, 34, was arrested in Langley Moor in connection with a burglary.

Plans to cut Sure Start children's services in Newcastle have been approved.

Newcastle City Council says it needs to cut its budget for the centres and concentrate them in the most deprived parts of the city.

The council says it is the fairest solution, but critics believe it could have long-term detrimental effects. Sure Start was set up by the Labour government to give parents of under-fives parenting and health advice.

Tynemouth RNLI was the busiest lifeboat station in the north-east of England last year.

In 2014, the 29 volunteers at the station, which has been running for 153 years, responded to 65 call outs and rescued 64 people.

Sunderland RNLI was involved in 54 launches, rescuing 67 people. Tynemouth operations manager David Stenhouse said the figures "hammered it home" that the station is "very much needed".

The number of state secondaries in England said to be underperforming has more than doubled amid exam changes.

Three areas of the North East are five to 10 points below the national average of 56.6% of pupils achieving five good GCSEs in state schools. These are Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Sunderland.

Put your post code in here to find out how your area is doing.

The case of a food bank in Newcastle, reported to be the "busiest" in the country, has been raised in the Commons.

The Benwell food bank feeds thousands of people every month. The Labour MP for Newcastle Central, Chi Onwurah, blamed "cruel" and "unfair" government policies.

Food Minister George Eustice said: "We have reduced taxes for 25 million people, we've taken three million of the lowest earners out of tax altogether, and in the last year food prices have fallen by 1.7% - the first time since 2002."

The top local headlines at 17:00 include:

• BBC Tees: A plan to build a designer outlet shopping centre near Scotch Corner is expected to win approval later.

• BBC Newcastle: Jon Harle and Anne Leuchars have a round-up of the day's news.

Damian O'Neil
BBC Look North

Here's the bleak magnificence of Shaun the cameraman, and you can see his beautiful shots of snow and much more on BBC Look North at 18:30 on BBC One.

Jon Harle
BBC Newcastle

Coming up from on the show - Tyneside musician Trev Gibb tells us how he's supporting Kaiser Chiefs at the Arena next week. Listen live here.

The A68 High Street remains closed between the B6297 Wolsingham Road junction in Tow Law and the A692 Consett Road junction in Consett because of snow.

And the A68 in Corbridge is closed to high-sided vehicles in both directions at Stagshaw Roundabout because of snow. More on BBC Travel News for Teesside and Tyne and Wear.

Northern Echo

A man who drowned and dismembered a pet dog told police it died after becoming possessed by an evil spirit, external.

The top local headlines at 16:00 include:

• BBC Tees: Three men have been arrested in the Durham area following early morning raids targeting suspected drug dealers and burglars.

• BBC Newcastle: Jon Harle and Anne Leuchars have a round-up of the day's news.

We were sent this photo with the message, external - Not a bad view from the office at @ManorHouse1707, external in Sedgefield this morning!

Image source, @RightLinesComms

The Gazette

The boss of a car repair business who was caught with stolen BMWs in his yard has been ordered to do a year's unpaid work for the community, external.

The BBC's head of football, Mark Cole, thinks the fact Sunderland have been last on Match of the Day most this season could bode well for the Wearsiders.

He said: "It's not personal. We've got a couple of Sunderland fans in the office and the chap who does all our stats is a Sunderland fan so he's keeping a particular eye on it.

"If they're on last by the end of the season the most, then it means they'll still be in the Premier League, because they won't be drawn into those big relegation battles that feature highly in the programme."

Sunderland and Newcastle fans (and hopefully soon, Boro fans) might like to know that Premier League highlights will continue to be on Match of the Day through to the 2018-19 season after the BBC agreed a new three-year deal, which was announced today.

The agreement covers the weekend programming of Match of the Day, its Sunday morning repeat, MOTD2, Football Focus, plus a new midweek magazine show to air at 22:00 Wednesday nights on BBC Two and BBC Two HD.

Image source, Getty Images

The top local headlines at 15:00 include:

• BBC Newcastle: A disabled pensioner who was attacked outside his home in Gateshead says he can't go back there because he doesn't feel safe.

• BBC Tees: Three men have been arrested in the Durham area following early morning raids targeting suspected drug dealers and burglars.

Matthew Raisbeck
BBC Newcastle

Alan Pardew's Crystal Palace have completed the signing of former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi.

Ameobi was a free agent after leaving Turkish side Gaziantep in December and has signed a short-term deal until the end of the season. QPR midfielder Jordon Mutch has also joined the Eagles.