A former probation officer turned author has been putting her experience, adding to an already successful string of crime thrillers set in the region. Mari Hannah has been encouraging people to read local with her books set in the North East.
"I would personally like to thank the local community for their amazing donations of food, toiletries and clothing. "
Owners John and Irene Hays say there is ''light at the end of the tunnel'', after the pandemic forced them to close 650 UK stores.
There has been resistance to calls to dismantle memorials to the explorer.