Local News

Two potential victims of modern slavery have been safeguarded as cannabis farms believed to be worth over £360,000 were seized by police in Middlesbrough;

An inquest into the death of a man who died after a 4x4 was swept down the River Esk has been opened;

...and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are continuing to ask residents for their views on proposed changes to library services in the Borough.

Two potential victims of modern slavery have been safeguarded as cannabis farms believed to be worth over £360,000 were seized by police in Middlesbrough.

Officers from the Proactive Team and Neighbourhood Team acted after reports of a suspicious smell and police were able to identify the location of one farm in an industrial unit on Lorne Street.

A male aged in his thirties, who is being treated as a victim of modern slavery, was located inside the premises and was safeguarded and taken to hospital to be checked over.

212 cannabis plants were located in the property, with an estimated value of £178,000.

A second cannabis farm was shortly afterwards located at another industrial unit on Greta Street, where officers forced entry and found a second male inside, aged in his forties, who is again being treated as a victim and is being safeguarded and supported by officers.

225 plants were located within the unit, with an estimated value of £189,000.

The immediate modern day slavery safeguarding and ongoing investigation to establish the circumstances and identify those responsible is being carried out by specialist officers in the Complex Exploitation Team at Cleveland Police.

An inquest into the death of a man who died after a 4x4 was swept down the River Esk has been opened.

28-year-old Scott Thomas Daddy was one of three men who lost their lives when the vehicle was washed down the river on December 28th near Glaisdale.

The inquest into Scott's death was opened and adjourned yesterday.

Scott was in the vehicle at the time of the tragic incident with two other men, 70-year-old Leslie Forbes, from the East Yorkshire area and 59-year-old Kenneth Patrick Hibbins from York, when they attempted to cross a ford along the River Esk.

A huge emergency response, including police, firefighters, ambulance and air ambulance crews, attended the scene.

The vehicle was recovered from the river just after 3pm, but sadly all three men had died.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are continuing to ask residents for their views on proposed changes to library services in the Borough.

As part of the Councils' ongoing libraries consultations, further drop-in sessions are being held in libraries across Redcar and Cleveland.

Sessions will take place this month at libraries throughout the borough.

In the coming weeks sessions will be held in Marske, Loftus, Ormesby, Skelton and Loftus.

Residents will have the chance to ask questions about the consultation which will be answered by a member of the council's staff.