Local News

A local MP has said that more support should be given to fishermen suffering on our area’s coast following the deaths of thousands of crustaceans;

It's been announced that the public toilets in central Redcar will be closed for a week from today;

...and detectives are appealing for witnesses and information after two men were reported to have threatened staff in a shop and made off with cash and cigarettes.

A local MP has said that more support should be given to fishermen suffering on our area’s coast following the deaths of thousands of crustaceans.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham was speaking after huge piles of dead and dying crabs and lobsters began to wash up along the coast at Seaton Carew, South Gare, Redcar, Marske and Saltburn last October.

Defra - the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs - published findings of a subsequent probe into the deaths last week which said an algal bloom in the North Sea was responsible for the worrying event.

But the results have been disputed by fishermen and an independent marine expert - who maintains a chemical called pyridine was present in high levels in the dead creatures.

It's been announced that the public toilets in central Redcar will be closed for a week from today.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council say that the public toilets on Moore Street in Redcar, behind the Redcar Lifeboat Station, will be closed from today until next Monday in order for internal and external decoration work to take place.

The nearest open toilets are located on the Coast Road opposite the Stray Cafe.  

The council have apologised for any inconvenience that the works may cause.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information after two men were reported to have threatened staff in a shop and made off with cash and cigarettes.

The incident occurred at Savers Stores, at the junction of Abingdon Road and Grange Road in Middlesbrough at around 7.20pm on Tuesday.

It was reported that two males, both described as white, thin and around 5 feet 10 inches tall, entered the store with a knife and a bottle of unknown liquid and threatened the staff with violence.

One of the males was reported to be wearing a black balaclava, black hooded jacket, black trousers and black gloves.

The other was reported to be wearing a camel-coloured hooded coat, black beanie hat, black trousers and black gloves.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information which may assist officers is asked to contact Middlesbrough CID on the non-emergency number 101.