Can’t quite believe today was my first day as a reporter at BBC North East. It’s a dream come true!

🚨Personal news! Today was my last day at The Northern Echo after nearly two years. It’s been an incredible journey with some brilliant people but it is time for a new adventure. I will be joining the BBC North East team as a reporter at the end of the month!

Proud to be shortlisted for the Regional Press Awards Top Scoop for a second time running - a shame not to win! A wonderful day with amazing people.

Who are the most popular kings and queens since 1066? 1. Elizabeth II: +74 net score 2. Victoria: +50 3. George VI: +40 4. Elizabeth I: +36 5. George V: +30 6. Richard the Lionheart: +29 7. Charles III: +27 8. Edward VII: +14 Full list in chart 👇 yougov.co.uk/society/arti...

Latest ONS data on alcohol related deaths is grim reading for the North East. The death rate per 100,000 is more than double that of London. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2491256...

Latest ONS figures on alcohol-specific deaths are awful - numbers in the North East now way above everywhere else, with a rate now well over double that of London

NEW: Last year we reported 55 homeless children had died while living in temporary accommodation in 4 yrs. We reported that TA deaths were likely much higher because data collection was not routine. Now, new research shows between Oct 23-Sept 24, 80 children died in TA. www.itv.com/news/2024-03...

Delighted to start my fellowship with the @johnschofieldtrust.bsky.social this year. 🎉 I’m over the moon to have been paired with BBC Special Correspondent @judithmoritz.bsky.social

🚨Quick morning read here - Stanley residents were horrified to discover that convicts had been moved onto their street. There was no planning permission needed and nothing they could do to stop it. Local MP Luke Akehurst has said he is ‘very concerned’. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2485899...

I spoke to Paul Barron from Middlesbrough this afternoon about his experiences being evacuated from his home in Los Angeles. He described standing on the roof of his apartment block looking at fire and smoke obscuring the sky - like ‘the apocalypse’. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2484558...

EXC: The Government are ‘missing’ data on where nearly 15,000 households in need of emergency accommodation have been placed. The Ministry of Housing have confirmed that work is being done to ‘rectify’ the situation. (1/2) www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2480148...

EXC: The Government are ‘missing’ data on where nearly 15,000 households in need of emergency accommodation have been placed. The Ministry of Housing have confirmed that work is being done to ‘rectify’ the situation. (1/2) www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2480148...

Finally, massive shoutout to @tomburgess8.bsky.social who has done brilliant work on the ground in County Durham exposing this shocking practice, which even led to Angela Rayner intervening on the issue. (6/6)

EXC: Councils are paying millions to relocation firms to help them permanently move homeless families out of big cities. They are often moved to smaller, deprived towns in the Midlands and north of England. (1/6) www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Fantastic to see @theguardian.com reporting on the scandal of homeless families being moved around the country by local authorities. @sammygecsoyler.bsky.social has done a brilliant job revealing the scale of the problem - kind to link to my stories too! www.theguardian.com/society/2024...

Stunning mist at #Filey today - walking off the Christmas dinners!

🚨 Delighted to be shortlisted for Top Scoop at the Regional Press Awards for the second year running! Lovely to see Phoebe Abruzzese shortlisted with me for Young Journalist of the Year and the Cathryn Nicholl award! Read the scoop here: www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2456519...

Delighted to have been awarded a distinction for my NQJ portfolio and finally be a senior reporter today! In other welcome news I’ve been shortlisted for Top Scoop and Level 7 apprentice of the year in the @nctj.bsky.social awards!

EXC: Darlington family became trapped in damp and mouldy home while mother battled cancer and youngest child caught pneumonia. They described living in a ‘nightmare’ since May 2023. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2475744...

Tomorrow’s @thenorthernecho.bsky.social front page will be another horrifying housing story. A family became trapped in private rented accommodation with water pouring in through the windows and mould growing everywhere. The youngest child caught pneumonia and was hospitalised.

Are you living in poor North East temporary accommodation? Get in touch! www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2474953...

With the cold weather we have been having I wanted to ask if anyone in the North East is struggling with awful temporary housing - please get in touch. One man reached out to me today with a mouldy house so bad he has to keep his belongings in one room. My email is [email protected]

For anybody interested I created a timeline of my investigation into London councils moving families hundreds of miles up to the North East. It’s been horrifying talking to families in the worst situations who have been completely abandoned. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2473846...

🗞 Today's Northern Echo front - Deputy PM Angela Rayner issues a warning to 'law breaking' London councils for dumping homeless people in the North East and praises the @thenorthernecho.bsky.social 👏 Well done to @tomburgess8.bsky.social for continuing to shine a light on this important issue.

I was regularly writing about this issue - councils like Croydon relocating homeless families to areas of the North East - more than a decade ago, including this story from 2011. Depressing how little progress has been made in addressing the problem, or the underlying causes, since then

EXC: Angela Rayner warns councils to stop ‘illegally’ moving homeless families hundreds of miles up to the North East. MP Grahame Morris is calling on the government to go further and introduce sanctions. We have a national housing crisis, we need change. www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/2473487...

One of my favourite ever political quotes RIP John Prescott

Tomorrow's @thenorthernecho.bsky.social includes my story on the ongoing scandal of homeless families being moved hundreds of miles up to the North East. @angelaraynermp.bsky.social has intervened and made it clear to councils that the 'illegal' practice must stop.

Journalism up north is thriving as Robyn’s starter pack shows 👇

I've started a north of England journalists starter pack. Please do flag others for inclusion! go.bsky.app/EyHBenr

With a new platform I feel I should highlight the story which has taken over my last few months at The Northern Echo - homeless families being moved from London up to County Durham. It all started when I discovered there are 50,000 empty homes in the area.

It's a work in progress but here's a starter pack of regional journalists in the UK, including national reporters working outside of London... go.bsky.app/9BotfQs