Here's some ethical christmas present ideas for friends and teachers. View the gallery of gifts below and read on for more information about the presents.

WELL, I've finally made my decision.

Those of you who have been regular readers of this blog will know that ever since I won my bronze medal at the Olympics I've been considering whether or not to turn professional.

Here's some ethical christmas present ideas for your grandparents this year. View the gallery of gifts below and read on for more information about the presents.

Just spoken to Cleveland chief constable Sean Price over reports one of the Mumbai attackers was from the North East.

There is speculation that one was from Hartlepool, with two from Leeds and one from Bradford. One of my sources also said seven gunmen could be from Leeds, Bradford and Dewsbury in Yorkshire.

Mr Price said: "There is just nothing to link anybody with either Leeds, Bradford, Dewsbury or Hartlepool at the moment. There is nothing to link with the UK."

The Government has said there is still "no evidence" to suggest any of the terrorists were British.

But speculation remains in Whitehall whether ministers are "buying time" while investigations continue - although caution is suggested over any Hartlepool link.

From today's Journal:

FLAGSHIP plans to build hundreds of new rail carriages were last night branded a "joke" after it emerged the North East may get just four coaches.

Chancellor Alistair Darling proudly announced earlier this week that funding was being brought forward to introduce up to 200 new rail carriages on the train network faster than planned.

But long-suffering passengers will be shocked to learn that the Government is spending just £5m on buying new train coaches for use in the region.

New carriages are estimated to cost around £1m, but rail expert Phil Haigh warned the costs of maintenance and financing meant there might only be enough money to buy four coaches for the North East.

Ethical christmas presents for the true love of your life - your pet.
View the gallery of gifts below and read on for more information about the presents.

A political storm is whipping up in Westminster after police arrested Tory frontbencher Damian Green over leaked information from the Home Office.

Expect serious headlines in the morning, although Gordon Brown has insisted his administration knew nothing about it.

Tory leader David Cameron said ministers and police had serious questions to answer over the treatment of the shadow immigration minister.

North East Minister Nick Brown said: "The police should be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without political interference from any point of view. No minister knew anything about the police action before it took place."

MIDNIGHT UPDATE: Suggestions that seven Mumbai attackers were British with one from Hartlepool. Two claimed to be from Leeds and one from Bradford.

Could the terror outrages in Mumbai have a link with the North of England or not?

A Whitehall source tells me seven of the gunmen could be from Leeds, Bradford and Dewsbury in Yorkshire.

But there are conflicting reports coming out of Westminster tonight, so the picture is not at all clear whether this is true.

But Yorkshire is where the gang that carried out the July 7 suicide bombings in 2005 came from.

Dewsbury could be particularly interesting given that is where that group's suspected leader Mohammad Sidique Khan lived after moving from Leeds.

Having previously worked as a journalist on the aftermath of attacks and being told of terror links spanning the world, this could be a developing story.

Last night, Tory MP Patrick Mercer - an acknowledged security expert - said: "If this is accurate, this shows the extent of international terrorism.

"And if these boys from Yorkshire are content to die in Mumbai, this is no reason why men from Lahore should not choose to die in Leeds, Birmingham or Manchester."

I'm planning a big surprise for my fans on Saturday.

The cat seems to be out of the bag. Chancellor Alistair Darling wants £5bn of efficiency savings in the public sector to pay for his £20bn fiscal stimulus package.

Apparently ministers are looking at cutting back on energy costs, which vary widely across the public sector.

But worryingly for the many public sector workers in the North East, Treasury Minister Stephen Timms says it is not possible to "rule out" reductions in staff numbers.

I should be writing something for tomorrow's Journal on the issue.