The information on this page is intended for journalists If you click NO you will come back to Mynewsdesk.com Go North East has launched its magical open-top Santa bus which will be touring the region right up until Christmas Eve The region’s largest bus operator is hoping to spread some Christmas cheer in a time where a lot of things are unable to go ahead and children will not be able to visit Santa as they usually would The bus has been decorated with Christmas lighting that has been kindly donated by Parkside Community Centre which will not stop at any of the locations but will be moving slow enough is already under way and will be covering as much of Go North East’s operating area as it can over the next week A timed schedule will not be published to avoid any crowding but a summary is available so people can keep their eyes peeled each evening as it passes through the region’s villages The company is also encouraging people to share their photos on social media using #GNESantaBus and will soon be launching a competition Please note that the schedule is subject to change – follow Go North East’s Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates Go North East’s managing director Martijn Gilbert said: “We’re delighted to be spreading some festive cheer this Christmas especially at a time when a lot of events can’t go ahead as they usually would “The Santa bus will be touring the region and although we can’t advertise exact times and attract crowds we’re asking you all to keep your eyes peeled as it passes through your area.” The company also published details of its Christmas and New Year buses earlier this month so whether you are commuting to and from work or visiting friends and family as part of your bubble Go North East has your festive travel needs wrapped up To find out more about Go North East, visit www.gonortheast.co.uk Around 175,000 journeys are made on Go North East bus services every day to travel around this wonderful region or to visit one of the region's many tourist and leisure attractions Go North East has connected the region's towns and villages with the cities of Newcastle Durham and Sunderland and currently operates across Northumberland with a fleet of almost 700 buses and coaches and an annual turnover of £100m the company is the regional subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group plc one of the UK's leading providers of passenger transport When you choose to create a user account and follow a newsroom your personal data will be used by us and the owner of the newsroom for you to receive news and updates according to your subscription settings To learn more about this, please read our Privacy Policy, which applies to our use of your personal data, and our Privacy Policy for Contacts which applies to the use of your personal data by the owner of the newsroom you follow Please note that our Terms of Use apply to all use of our services. You can withdraw your consent at any time by unsubscribing or deleting your account. Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayohits radionewcastlenewsPolice name man who died in fatal collision in Hetton-Le-HoleGraeme Berry died on Friday Police are now in a position to name the man who sadly died following a road traffic collision in Hetton-le-Hole Officers received a report shortly after 8.10pm on Friday of a collision involving a silver Yamaha motorbike in the South Hetton Road area of Easington Lane It was reported that the motorbike was travelling along South Hetton Road when – for reasons yet to be established – it has lost control and collided with a pedestrian island the rider of the motorbike was sadly pronounced deceased a short time later Graeme’s next of kin have been informed and continue to be supported by specialist Northumbria Police officers As part of their ongoing enquiries into the circumstances surrounding Graeme’s death officers have arrested the rider of a second vehicle on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving of Northumbria Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit our thoughts remain with Graeme’s family who have had to come to terms with the tragic loss of their loved one “We will continue to conduct a thorough investigation and find answers for the questions they will undoubtedly have.” Sgt Sanderson continued: “As part of that investigation we’re looking for the public’s help to establish what happened in the moments leading up to the collision “We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have any CCTV or dashcam footage of South Hetton Road around 8pm that evening or from anyone who was in the area at the time “Any information you can provide could help us – no matter how small.” Anyone with information should use the ‘Report’ page on the Northumbria Police website or call 101 First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) Aldi is to open 11 new stores across the UK between now and Christmas bringing its unbeatable prices to even more communities New stores in Sedgley in the West Midlands and Castle Douglas in Scotland are set to open this week while Horsham in West Sussex and Muswell Hill in London are also gearing up to welcome stores in November The expansion continues with stores in Totton in Hampshire Cribbs Causeway in Bristol and Pwllheli in Gwynedd also scheduled to open before Christmas more than 15 stores will undergo refurbishments between now and Christmas to enhance the customer experience and introduce even more sustainable features The latest openings form part of Aldi’s long-term target of 1,500 stores across the UK – with the supermarket set to invest £800 million in expanding its UK footprint this year alone “Our new store openings are a testament to our ongoing investment in the UK and we’re thrilled to bring Aldi’s unbeatable prices to even more communities ahead of the festive season.” Aldi Store Assistants receive starting pay of £12.40 per hour with those based in London earning £13.65 per hour Aldi remains the only supermarket to offer paid breaks which for the average store colleague is worth more than £900 a year For more information, please contact the Aldi Press Office on:T: 0161 235 0300 or aldi@citypress.co.uk Aldi is celebrating its 35th anniversary in the UK with a unique giveaway for shoppers who share the same birthday. Britain’s fourth-largest supermarket, which opened its first UK store on 5th April 1990, is inviting anyone born on 5th April, irrespective of the year, to claim an Aldi voucher – the perfect birthday treat! This Mother’s Day (Sunday 30th March), Aldi is giving one lucky winner the chance to celebrate their mum or motherly figure with a year’s supply of flowers. In partnership with JZ Flowers, a family-run British business based in Newport, and one of Aldi’s longest-standing partners since 1990, the winner will receive a seasonal bouquet of flowers every month for a year. A recently opened branch of AldiAldi is set to open the doors to four new stores today as it continues its rapid expansion drive across the UK. The stores will be located at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, Hetton-le-Hole in Tyne and Wear, Ashton-in-Makerfield in Greater Manchester, and Macduff in Banffshire, creating more than 100 new jobs overall. This follows a series of store openings in recent weeks for the UK’s fourth largest supermarket, including new locations in Sedgley in the West Midlands, Horsham in West Sussex and Muswell Hill in London. The latest openings form part of Aldi's commitment to even more UK shoppers with a long-term target of 1,500 stores across the UK – with the supermarket investing £800 million in expanding its UK footprint this year alone. Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Our new store openings are a testament to our ongoing investment in the UK, and we’re thrilled to bring Aldi’s unbeatable prices to even more communities just in time for Christmas. To be opening four new stores in one day is an outstanding effort from the team and shows just how serious we are about bringing more stores to communities up and down the country.” Aldi Store Assistants receive starting pay of £12.40 an hour, with those based in London earning £13.65 an hour. Additionally, Aldi remains the only supermarket to offer paid breaks, which for the average store colleague is worth more than £900 a year. Aldi invites customers to join the celebrations on Thursday as the new stores open their doors. Each store will host a Team GB Olympic medallist to cut the all-important red ribbon, alongside pupils from local schools. The athletes will also give out bags of Aldi’s famous Super 6 range to the first 30 customers in the queue, before delivering an inspirational assembly for pupils at local primary schools as part of the supermarket’s healthy eating initiative, Get Set to Eat Fresh. The Aldi stores opening on Thursday 5 December are: Officers received a report shortly after 8.10pm on Friday 19 April of a collision involving a silver Yamaha motorbike in the South Hetton Road area of Easington Lane. It was reported that the motorbike was travelling along South Hetton Road and collided with a pedestrian island. Emergency services attended the scene and, despite the efforts of paramedics, the rider of the motorbike, a man in his 30s, was pronounced dead a short time later. The man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist Northumbria Police officers. Officers have launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision. Sergeant John Sanderson, of Northumbria Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the loved ones of the man who has sadly died. “We will of course continue offer them any support we can at this extremely difficult time.” Sgt Sanderson added: “We would ask that anyone with information regarding the collision or those who saw what happened in the moments leading up to it contact us. “We are particularly keen to hear from those who may have been driving along South Hetton Road at the time, or witnessed a silver Yamaha motorbike, who may have dashcam footage or CCTV which could assist our investigation.” Anyone with information is being asked to contact Northumbria Police. Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know... Credit: ITV Tyne TeesPolice have named a motorcyclist who died following a crash in Sunderland was riding a silver Yamaha motorbike which reportedly lost control and collided with a pedestrian island in Hetton-le-Hole Officers received a report of the collision in the South Hetton Road area of Easington Lane shortly after 8.10pm on Friday 19 April The Sunderland man's next of kin have been informed and continue to be supported by specialist Northumbria Police officers As part of the investigation into the collision “We will continue to conduct a thorough investigation and find answers for the questions they will undoubtedly have.” The force is appealing to the public for information “Any information you can provide could help us – no matter how small.” Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. West Ham United U21s will travel to Sunderland in the Premier League 2 Play-Off quarter-finals on Monday 13 May The fixture will be played at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground in Hetton-le-Hole five miles south west of Sunderland city centre Having reached the last 16 with just four defeats from 20 games to finish second in the regular season table Steve Potts' young Hammers progressed to the last eight with a 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers last Friday evening finished seventh in the table and beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 at Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground on Bank Holiday Monday to set up the tie with the Irons West Ham and Sunderland met in the second match of the regular season at Rush Green Stadium back in August 2023 when goals from Callum Marshall and Luizão secured a dominant 2-0 victory for the hosts Site designed & built by Other Media, powered by Clubcast Do you have a story you think would be interesting to our readers whose grandfather Jim Loban has lived at the care home since April decided to walk a 20-mile route from Hetton-le-Hole to Peterlee and gained sponsorship to raise funds for The Laurels new sensory garden Residents and team members at The Laurels Care Home in Hetton-le-Hole are thrilled after being presented with a cheque for £810 by one of their residents’ granddaughters “We are all so thankful to Becky whose fundraising will help enhance our new sensory garden We’ve created a comfortable outdoor lounge area so our residents can enjoy the fresh air and sunshine as much as possible this summer – when summer finally arrives Becky’s money will go towards scented plants and herbs windmills and more outdoor games to keep everyone entertained.” The Laurels Care Home is part of Four Seasons Health Care Group and provides residential The home is rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and website in this browser for the next time I comment Tell Your Story Advertise