"Keep us safe": emergency workers plea for residents to stay home this Bank Holiday weekend

As we approach the Bank Holiday weekend, there's an urgent plea from our region's emergency workers to abide by the lockdown rules.

Several forces have spoken out and urged residents to protect not only your own life - but their lives as well.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who was leading Thursday's government briefing on behalf of Boris Johnson,said the rules remain strictly in place this weekend. He confirmed the Prime Minister will be unveiling the road map to ease the lockdown restrictions "with sensible changes" on Sunday.

Our correspondent Rachel Bullock has been speaking to members of the Great North Air Ambulance and the RNLI.

• Read more: Disproportionate impact of coronavirus on areas like the North East 'extremely concerning'

Some of our region's police forces have been encouraging local residents to stay home this weekend, by posting on social media.

Several councils also shared ideas for residents to celebrate VE Day safely.