Kushi, a contemporary Indian restaurant in Shotley Bridge, County Durham, opened on March 30 and is already off to a strong start.

Housed on Front Street in a fully refurbished former restaurant, the business is owned by Abdul Salam, 44, whose family has deep roots in the North East’s restaurant scene.

The team at Kushi said: “Shotley Bridge, thank you.

“It’s been an incredible first two days here at Kushi and we would like to thank you all for your support!

Mr Salam’s father worked at Newcastle’s first Indian restaurant, while his uncle ran the first in Morpeth.

See inside the new restaurant here:

(Image: KUSHI)

(Image: KUSHI)

(Image: KUSHI)

(Image: KUSHI)

(Image: KUSHI)

(Image: KUSHI)

(Image: KUSHI)

Jakob Cross, 24, from Kushi, previously said: “We have fully refurbished and gutted the place.

“It is a new area for us.

“We are quite excited and looking forward to meeting everyone.”

Takeaway orders are now available for collection only, with pre-ordering advised to secure a time slot.

The meetings will take place in the assembly hall of Armadale Academy on Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 15, from 7pm.

Two public meetings have been organised to keep residents informed on the council’s proposals for the former Armadale swimming pool site.

The meetings will take place in the assembly hall of Armadale Academy on Tuesday, April 14, and Wednesday, April 15, from 7pm.

Armadale residents and other interested members of the public are invited to attend either of those two meetings, to find out more about what is being put forward and to gather the community’s views on these proposals.

The site is a “common good” property, and this means that we have a legal duty to undertake a statutory community consultation to help us understand what the community thinks about that proposal.

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At these meetings, council officers will explain what common good is; the status of the property; what the council’s proposal for the building are, and; why those proposals are being put forward.

A council spokesperson said: “The common good consultation is running until May 22, with the outcome of this consultation will be presented to Council Executive in June 2026.

“It aims to hear views on the proposed sale or lease of the North Street site, and the potential demolition of the building in the event of no viable interests being received.

“The pool has been closed since September 2023, after West Lothian Leisure informed the council that they could no longer afford to operate it.

“There are no plans to re-open the pool, but the site is still available for community use or community asset transfer if any viable requests come forward at this time.”

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Last month, a petition opposing the pool’s ‘sale, lease or demolition’ gained thousands of signatures.

Over 150 locals gathered at a meeting on Thursday, March 12, to voice their concerns over the potential loss of the pool.

Armadale residents argue future generations could be robbed of a well loved community asset.

Prior to the pool closing in September 2023, the council sought expressions of interest both from commercial and community groups who might be interested in operating the site.

Jillian Dunnigan, who started the petition to save the swimming pool has been joined by neighbours en masse to demand the pool be saved.

The petition argues the loss of the pool will have a significant impact on the community. It adds residents have faced travel barriers, increased costs, and reduced access to physical activity since its closure in 2023.

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The potential for the permanent closure of the swimming pool is at odds with a council ‘Locality Plan’ which set out to improve ‘health and wellbeing’ outcomes in the former mining town.

The council previously engaged with Armadale Thistle Football Club on community-led proposals for the property, however the club was not able to take those proposals forward.

Since 2023, the pool has not been drained. This was aimed at minimising potential costs if anyone wished in future to re-open the pool.

The council say while the operating and security costs of maintaining the pool building have been minimised, they have been incurring these costs for over two and a half years and it is not sustainable to meet these indefinitely.

Any net proceeds from the sale or lease of the property would go directly to the Armadale Common Good Fund, with community groups able to make bids into that fund through the Armadale and Blackridge Local Area Committee.

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Shaun McCarthy, 54, from Stockton, was working at a furniture supplier in Thornaby when the incident happened in May last year.

The forklift hit him, leaving him with leg fractures and severe skin injuries, leaving doctors having to amputate his right leg above the knee.

Mr McCarthy said: “The day of the incident turned my life upside down.

“I went to work as normal and everything changed in a heartbeat.”

Shaun McCarthy with his Middlesbrough-themed prosthetic leg. (Image: SHAUN MCCARTHY)

The father of five and grandad of nine was taken to James Cook University Hospital and spent more than four weeks there recovering.

The helicopter landing pad at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. (Image: NQ)

He can’t work, uses a wheelchair and has been sleeping in his living room.

Support charity Day One Trauma Support introduced Mr McCarthy to law firm Irwin Mitchell, who secured interim payments to fund specialist rehabilitation and support while his legal claim continues.

Alan Ball, a workplace accident lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Shaun suffered catastrophic injuries in the collision that will affect him and his family for the rest of their lives.

“Understandably, the last 10 months and trying to come to terms with the physical and emotional impact of what happened has been incredibly difficult for him.”

He has been going to rehabilitation in Sheffield since October 2025.

He has also been given a custom prosthetic leg and rehab equipment to help him recover and stay independent.

Shaun McCarthy with his Middlesbrough-themed prosthetic leg. (Image: SHAUN MCCARTHY)

He said: “My life has massively changed.

“I try not to dwell on things, and I want to stay positive for my children and grandchildren, but some days are hard.

“I know I still have a long way to go but I’m determined to regain more of my independence.”

Sue Hodgson, head of hospital services at Day One Trauma Support, said: “Shaun’s story highlights just how suddenly a serious injury can change lives, and the long, often complicated road to recovery that so many people face.”

This month he is sharing his story for Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month to highlight support for others with life-changing injuries.

The Ambassador Hotel’s carefully preserved historic architecture is matched by elegant interiors that feel as intimate as a private residence, with just fourteen individually designed rooms and suites, many overlooking the River Ness. Inspired by 19th-century travel and the drama of the Highland landscape, each room offers a characterful yet contemporary stay in Scotland’s cultural capital of the north.

At the heart of the experience is Talk of the Town, the hotel’s destination restaurant where Scottish ingredients meet Indian influence under the guidance of a chef with Michelin-starred experience, creating refined, globally inspired plates. The winner and their guest will enjoy a three-course dinner for two here, sampling dishes that showcase seasonal produce and inventive flavour pairings.

The prize includes a two-night stay for two in one of the hotel’s individually designed rooms, with breakfast served each morning to start the day in relaxed style. During their break, the winner will also enjoy a cocktail each in the Library Bar, an intimate space known for its curated drinks list and classic and signature serves.

This competition is being run in partnership with The Ambassadors Hotel. With its boutique design, destination dining and stylish bar, The Ambassador Hotel is a luxurious base for exploring some of Scotland’s most striking landscapes, from Loch Ness to the wider Highlands. Whether you choose to wander along the River Ness, discover nearby castles or venture into the hills, this is a Highland escape that blends adventure with indulgence

This competition is open exclusively to subscribers. To enter, simply visit the competition page between 1 April and 10 May 2026 for your chance to win a two-night boutique stay for two and explore the Highlands in style.

In his Truth Social post, Mr Trump said: “Iran’s New Regime President, much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors, has just asked the United States of America for a CEASEFIRE! We will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!! President DJT”.

A murder investigation was launched on Tuesday (March 31) after a man was found dead inside a home on Church Road shortly before 7am. 

A 57-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into custody to be questioned, Cleveland Police confirmed yesterday. 

Officers remained at the scene throughout Tuesday, where a large blue forensic tent had been erected on the pavement while white-suited investigators probed the flat. 

Now, the force has confirmed that the woman remains in custody – with a spokesperson adding that the victim was a 74-year-old man.

A murder investigation on Church Road in Stockton (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The man’s family has been contacted and are being supported by special trained officers.

A cordon was erected at the scene outside Trio Hair Lounge on Tuesday after paramedics found the man dead inside the home. 

A large police van was parked directly outside the scene beside a smaller crime scene investigation van, with white-suited investigators seen going in and out of the home. 

Residents and nearby businesses recalled waking up to see the 999 activity outside, with Kevin Bowler, from Roundabout Kitchen, describing it as a shock.

The 69-year-old said: “They were here at 7.50am when I got here but people had thought it was before 7am this morning. They didn’t cordon it off like it is now until about 9am. 

A murder investigation on Church Road in Stockton (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“The tent didn’t go up outside until after 12pm. The ambulance was there when I got here this morning, it was parked on the pavement. 

“Thankfully we don’t normally get any activity [like this] around here. It was a shock.”

Detective Chief Inspector Daryll Tomlinson, from the force’s homicide and major enquiry team yesterday appealed to anyone with information to get in touch.

He said: “This also applies to anyone who may have dash cam or doorbell footage that could aid the investigation.

“There will be a visible policing presence in the area, and I’d encourage anyone who is concerned or holds information to please speak to them.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or visit the website quoting reference number 059410.

Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800555111.

As a researcher in autism and education and a former secondary school teacher, it took me a while to realise that autistic school staff were rarely included in conversations about inclusion and diversity in schools.

With colleagues, I started the Autistic School Staff Project in 2019, focusing on the experiences, needs and aptitudes of autistic teachers and other education staff.

Our findings show that autistic school staff can experience significant sensory issues in school. These can be from bright, flickering lights, odours from the canteen, and crowding in corridors or during meetings. The greatest impact of all comes from noise: shouting from children and staff during break times, the clang of the school bell and the roar of traffic when windows are open in the summer.

Interestingly, it’s not only a question of volume levels. Whispering from children and humming from technology can also be highly distracting and contribute to feelings of fatigue and overload.

Autistic teachers also told us that the ways neurotypical colleagues communicated and interacted with them could be disorientating and exclusionary. Staff meetings that seemed to lack focus, chit-chats in the school corridor, gossip and school politics could be experienced as confusing and irrelevant.

At the same time, autistic teachers felt their own communication style of being direct and to the point could be misunderstood as rudeness. Similarly, staff social events were often not enjoyed by autistic teachers, even though neurotypical colleagues seemed to really rate them. Changes announced at the last minute by the school leadership team, with instructions that did not seem to make sense, could be highly stressful for autistic teachers. Covering for absent teachers was also found to be very unsettling.

Most tellingly, a number of participants felt they could not be open about being autistic. A key reason for this concerned negative and stigmatising attitudes towards autism that they had to face in school. The teachers also said that autistic children could be poorly treated. Autistic teachers sometimes had to sit through autism training, conducted on the assumption that no-one present was autistic, where the same negative attitudes were evident.

As a result, autistic school staff could be extremely wary about sharing with anyone that they were autistic. They worried that this information would have a negative impact on their careers. Suppressing an autistic identity, known as masking, has been linked with mental health issues.

While some of our participants had been able to disclose being autistic in school, and had even had a good experience of this, others said that it had made life even harder. This was because attitudes would change towards them in a negative way, or they might not even be believed.

Passion and support

Fortunately, a number of positives also came out of our study. Monotropism – a key autistic trait that denotes a tendency to have very intense interests – can mean that autistic teachers develop strong subject expertise and teach with passion. Even the job itself links with monotropic tendencies, as autistic teachers told us that they loved their work and were highly motivated by it. In addition, autistic teachers felt that they were very thorough and organised.

Above all, autistic teachers felt they were making a significant contribution to supporting inclusion in school. They were sensitive to the needs of neurodivergent children and others at risk of marginalisation, and were willing to try alternative approaches with children who were struggling. One teacher said:

I never gave up on a child because I think probably too many people gave up on me. I could see myself in a lot of the children.

In addition, some of those who had been open about being autistic were valued by colleagues because of their insights in relation to neurodiversity. Autistic teachers also felt that they could be a role model for autistic children and their parents.

Autistic teachers are a valuable part of the school workforce and are already making an important contribution to inclusion. However, it’s important to remove the barriers they can face across their careers.

This includes providing more flexibility and support for autistic student teachers. Making recruitment practices inclusive and accessible – such as by providing questions in advance, and offering in-person and remote options for interviews – would also benefit autistic teachers, as would developing neurodiversity-inclusive school communities.

Participants were clear that autism training should be run by autistic people, and that withdrawing to a quiet space should not be misinterpreted by colleagues as being anti-social. Addressing the sensory impacts of schools would benefit both children and staff. Providing staff with agency in decision-making can be empowering. We also need to reconsider the conventional role of the teacher, and question if the current format of standard duties, such as parents’ evenings and covering for absent colleagues, should be re-evaluated through a neurodiversity-inclusive lens.