Latest news with #StocktonOnTees
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Jodey Whiting's mum joins London anti-welfare cuts rally
The mother of a woman who took her own life after her benefits were wrongly stopped has spoken out against planned welfare cuts at a protest rally in this month, a coroner ruled 42-year-old Jodey Whiting from Stockton-on-Tees died after she feared she would not be able to pay her bills or afford the ruling was only made after Ms Whiting's mother, Joy Dove, fought a long legal campaign, which reached the Court of Appeal, to secure a second inquest.A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson said a review of how Personal Independence Payments (PIP) were assessed was being carried out and disabled people were being consulted. In January 2017, Ms Whiting had her benefits stopped after missing a medical assessment, although she had been in hospital with pneumonia at the time and was later diagnosed with a cyst on the her daughter's story at a rally in Parliament Square organised by the group Disabled People Against Cuts on Monday, Ms Dove said she "spoke from the heart"."When the cuts were announced I had people on the Justice for Jodey site saying they'd considered taking their own lives," she said. "But then they'd seen her case and realised there is a way to carry on." Disabled People Against Cuts said it hoped the rally would influence politicians ahead of the vote over the Welfare Bill on group said the proposed cuts targeted some of the "most vulnerable people in society" and it would make a list of the MPs who vote in favour of the bill to "make sure they lose their seats at the next General Election".Ms Dove said after years of campaigning and against all the odds, she had managed to get justice for Jodey. She now wants to help other people in a similar position. "I've brought Jodey's picture and I think she's supporting me every step of the way," she said. A DWP spokesperson said: "We continue to offer our sincerest condolences to Jodey Whiting's family and will consider the coroner's full findings, using them to further improve our protection and support for vulnerable claimants."We're delivering one of the biggest and most ambitious packages of welfare reforms in a generation to put the system on a sustainable footing and ensure the safety net will always be there for those who need it."We are putting disabled people at the heart of a ministerial review of the PIP assessment to make sure it is fit for the future, and we will work with them and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this."The DWP said it had made changes to its assessment processes, which included taking into account a person's vulnerability before suspending payments and allowing assessors to use more information to make their decision. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- BBC News
River Tees body confirmed as 13-year-old Mylo Capilla
A body discovered in the River Tees has been confirmed as that of 13-year-old Mylo Capilla, police have body was found on Friday, a day after he went missing after going off with a friend in an area known as the Muddies in Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, and entering the water. His family thanked police and search and rescue teams who assisted in the search for wishing to pay their respects to Mylo is being asked to attend St Francis of Assisi Church in Ingleby Barwick. Mylo's family thanked the community for their "overwhelming support".In a statement, they said they would be "forever thankful" for the help offered after the "tragic loss of our beloved son". Flowers were being laid in Ramsey Gardens, next to the Muddies on Cleveland Police requested on behalf of the family that they instead be laid at St Francis of Assisi Church on Barwick teams, including police drones and dogs, searched throughout Thursday night and into Friday with support from Cleveland Fire Brigade, marine water and mountain Barwick locals said people wanted to help, but police asked the public to keep away from the search area by the have asked for the family's privacy to be respected at this time. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
29-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Stockton's Newport Bridge to be closed for second summer
A road bridge spanning the River Tees is to close for the second summer in a row for major maintenance Bridge, which opened in 1934, is thought to be the first vertical lift bridge in Britain and the largest and heaviest of its type in the on the Grade II listed structure is set to begin on 7 July, and last until late summer or early autumn.A stretch of the A1032 from Newport Roundabout to the Portrack Interchange will be closed to traffic, though there will be pedestrian and cyclist access. The maintenance will include bearing and top plates replacements and installation of Vehicle Restraint Systems (VRS) for safety and ballast Paul Rowling, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's cabinet member for resources and transport, said the age of the iconic structure meant it required regular maintenance."These are a continuation of activities that began in summer 2024," he said."We're sorry for any inconvenience the closure will cause for residents in our borough and in Middlesbrough." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Stockton girl, 6, returns to school after quadruple amputation
A six-year-old girl who underwent a quadruple amputation after contracting a rare form of meningitis has returned to from Stockton-on-Tees, was placed in an induced coma in January after the infection left her fighting for her life, and she had to have her forearms and lower legs mum, Sahdia, said she was initially told her daughter would not four months in hospital, Saffanah was finally able to return home - with her family saying, although her illness has had a huge impact on her life, it has not changed her. "I felt my world turn upside down," her mum, Sahdia, said, recalling her daughter's devastating illness."I felt like I couldn't breathe - if anything happens to her I don't think I will survive." Now, five months after becoming unwell, Saffanah has begun to gradually return to normal life, including attending primary Vollands-Ross, Saffanah's headteacher, said: "The children have been so excited - and Saffanah herself has been so excited. "She's like a personality - being greeted when she's coming in and everybody welcoming her."It's just her true personality coming out as she comes back to school again." Despite her trauma, Saffanah's family say, if anything, the six-year-old is even more sassy than before, adding, even during difficult days, she has remained as polite as ever."She's doing amazing now," her mum said. "Even when she doesn't like having her dressings changed."It has affected her... but it's not changed her at all." Sahdia's thoughts have now turned to her daughter's future, and how she might achieve her ambitions, despite her quadruple amputation."She just wants to climb, she loves climbing," Sahdia said."I wonder if she's going to climb a mountain. I believe in her, she can do it. "She's going to climb a mountain one day." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- The Sun
Huge search operation for schoolboy, 13, who disappeared near river as public urged ‘do not enter the water'
A MAJOR search has been launched for a missing 13-year-old who disappeared near a river. Mylo Capilla, 13, was last seen at around 9pm on Thursday, wearing a dark t-shirt and trousers. Mylo was last spotted near Ingleby Barwick, also known as The Muddies, close to Stockton-on-Tees. The public have been urged not to enter the water for their own safety. Police have launched an appeal for the publics help tracing the missing school boy. A major search operation has been launched with dozens of groups of residents out searching for the missing lad. Cleveland Police said: "While searches are ongoing, officers are reminding members of the public in the area to liaise with them directly and for their own safety not to enter any water. "If you have information that will assist officers please call 101 quoting reference number 117649." A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We are currently on-scene at an on-going incident in Ingleby Barwick in Stockton. "We received the call at 21:29 and currently have one ambulance crew, one duty officer and three crews from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) on scene and we are being supported by our colleagues at the police and fire services." A Tees River Rescue spokesperson said: "Our crews were called out at around 9:15pm on June 26 2025, to assist with searches along the river Tees. "We would like to reiterate to any public who may be assisting with the search do not enter the water and do not get too close to steep banks. "We deployed 2 boats and our welfare vehicle with 8 volunteers in total, we will continue to provide support as requested. We will provide no further details."
