Local News

An urgent review of dredging in the River Tees is needed following the mass deaths of shellfish, a cross-party parliamentary committee has said;

Cleveland Fire Brigade has urged the public to be cautious when answering their front doors after a string of fake fire safety inspectors saw a property burgled;

...and more Covid vaccination pop-up clinics are taking place in our area.

An urgent review of dredging in the River Tees is needed following the mass deaths of shellfish, a cross-party parliamentary committee has said.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee also called for more research into the die-offs in 2021.

The MPs want an expert panel to examine conflicting theories about the cause of the deaths and a fund set up to help fishers whose catches have reduced.

Government scientists say algae was to blame but fishers reject their claims.

Last week, the committee heard evidence of two theories for the cause of huge numbers of crustacean deaths in October 2021.

Defra has ruled the consequences of the breakdown of algal bloom is the most likely cause but some academics, commissioned by the North East Fishing Collective, believe a chemical called pyridine is responsible.

They argue pyridine could have been released by maintenance dredging of the Tees.

Cleveland Fire Brigade has urged the public to be cautious when answering their front doors after a string of fake fire safety inspectors saw a property burgled.

The warning follows a recent incident which saw two men call at a house, which was in multiple occupation with several tenants, in Middlesbrough at 8.00pm with claims that they were there to carry out a routine safety check. The landlady became suspicious and checked with the Brigade who confirmed they had not sent out any officers to the area, then just a few days later the home was burgled.

The public is asked to exert caution when answering their front doors and to report any suspicious behaviour to the proper authorities. Cleveland Fire Brigade carries out hundreds of fire safety inspections a year to make sure businesses are complying with legal requirements, as well as giving advice and support.

More Covid vaccination pop-up clinics are taking place in our area.

Today the pop-up clinic will be at the Redcar Civic Centre on Ridley Street. 

No appointments are needed, if you need your autumn booster, you can just turn up. 

The clinic is open today from 10am until 6pm.