Local News

Business Minister Andrew Griffiths MP has committed that a "priority" decision will be made by next Monday on whether remaining funds from the SSI Taskforce can be repurposed to support workers who lose their jobs at Cleveland Potash;

A Middlesbrough man who went on a burgling spree and stole money from a tips tin and a charity box soon after being released from prison has avoided jail;

...and police have revealed that the death of a woman in Middlesbrough is not believed to be suspicious.

Business Minister Andrew Griffiths MP has committed that a "priority" decision will be made by next Monday on whether remaining funds from the SSI Taskforce can be repurposed to support workers who lose their jobs at Cleveland Potash.

His announcement followed urgent talks yesterday evening with Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Simon Clarke at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Mr Clarke was accompanied by the Chief Executive of the SSI Taskforce, Amanda Skelton, and together they presented the formal request issued by the Taskforce on Friday.  This has two key elements.  The first ask is to allow workers at Boulby to benefit from the remaining £1.4 million in the Taskforce's "flexible fund". 

At the moment both are restricted to the former SSI and supply chain workforce.

The second ask is to ensure that the flexibilities that have been available to DWP and local colleges for training purposes are also available for Boulby workers.

A Middlesbrough man who went on a burgling spree and stole money from a tips tin and a charity box soon after being released from prison has avoided jail.

Teesside Magistrate's court hear how 46 year old Anthony Mark Wilks stole £300 from a tips tin at Sticky Fingers Rock Bar in Middlesbrough as well as five bottles of spirits from Teesside Golf Club, all within a week.

Wilks also stole a Macmillan charity box containing £167.94 from the club and then went on to steal a poppy appeal box from Guisborough Post office.

Wilks pleaded guilty to two burglaries and a theft the morning he was due to face a trial.

He was given a 34 week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was also given a 12 month drug rehabilitation requirement and will have to undertake 20 rehabilitation activity days, and pay back £435 compensation.

Police have revealed that the death of a woman in Middlesbrough is not believed to be suspicious.

Officers were called by ambulance service colleagues after the discovery of the body of a woman believed to be aged in her fifties on Bewley Grove in Middlesbrough on Friday afternoon.

A post mortem held on Friday evening was inconclusive and the death is not currently being treated as suspicious. 

A file will now be prepared for the Coroner.