Woman freed after shop siege

A man was arrested after a woman was taken hostage during a four-hour siege in a newsagent's shop.

Police sealed off the area around Jackson Street, Gateshead, after a man entered the premises armed with a knife and grabbed the shop assistant.

Negotiators attended the scene and the hostage was released shortly before noon on Saturday.

The area between High Street and West Street was cordoned off during the siege and shops on Jackson Street were evacuated but shop staff and residents are now returning.