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Newcastle University films grey seals clapping underwater

Researchers believe they are the first to film grey seals clapping their flippers underwater.

Dr Ben Burville from Newcastle University has spent 17 years trying to capture a seal producing the gunshot-like sound, which they make during the breeding season.

He recorded this footage off the Farne Islands, near Northumberland.

3 February 2020

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BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega at scene of destroyed building in Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut strike 'so powerful it was felt across the city'

BBC Scotland's Judith Ralston says snow will extend into northern Scotland over the next few hours.

Snow falls across central and southern Scotland

BBC News

One-minute World News

90s boy band Damage in a black and white promotional photo

Watch: Boy band Damage on their journey to stardom

Phone footage of a skate surfacing out of grey waves to a rigid inflatable boat.ttack the side of a inflatable

Watch the moment a skate attacks a fisherman's boat off Shetland

NE, Orkney & Shetland

People in high-vis jackets walk next to a car submerged in floods on the left of a split screen with a snowy road on the right

Atmospheric river dumps snow and record rain on California

Science & Environment

Smoke billows from house fire.

Video shows flames and thick smoke at house fire

A view from an EasyJet plane window as it flies above and to the side of an erupting volcano

Plane passengers film Iceland volcano lava from above

BBC News

East of England weather forecast

Composite image of Sir Keir Starmer and BBC Radio WM presenter Kath Stanczyszyn, who is pictured wearing headphones and speaking into a purple microphone

Will there be a Birmingham pub bombings inquiry?

Birmingham & Black Country

A huge Christmas tree on a flatbed lorry in font of the US Capitol building

US Capitol Christmas tree arrives in DC

Blurred still image from video clips shows people being taken out of a car

Migrants asked to rate trip in smuggler review videos

John Darvall sat on the left of a composite image, in a purple studio with a microphone in front of him. On the right is Keir Starmer with grey hair and brown glasses.

PM challenged on West's councils facing bankruptcy

BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline signed summary

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

Mural of The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke unveiled

Parts of West Burton A power station being demolished

Power station demolition captured by drone

Man clinging to a cliff being rescued

Moment person clinging to cliff is rescued by helicopter

A woman in a hospital gown grins on the left and a monitor lit up with lungs is on the right of a split screen.

Woman gets first double lung transplant done by robot

Ryan Borgwardt

US kayaker who faked own death thought to have fled to Europe

SAFC fans have spoken of their shock after the Black Cats manager was let go by the club.

Fans react after Sunderland sack Tony Mowbray

SAFC fans have spoken of their shock after the Black Cats manager was let go by the club.

Home in Washington covered in hundreds of Christmas lights

'It takes me about three weeks to set it all up'

A family from Washington covers their home in hundreds of Christmas lights for children's charity.

Tomara Thomas, Michael Marouli and Ginger Johnson of season five of Drag Race UK

'The UK will realise how great North East drag is'

The region's drag scene celebrates the success of three North East queens making the finale of Drag Race.

Nine year old Zeki on Northumberland Street

Nine-year-old uses pocket money to keep homeless warm

Zeki gives away parcels of hats and gloves to get ready for the forthcoming freezing conditions.

Wearside residents in Sunderland City Centre

'It shows you they trust this city'

We ask people their views on Nissan's announcement over three EV models at the Sunderland factory.

Ballet Lorent creative knitting group alongside their created props and costumes

Knitting group creates props and costumes for show

The North East knitters created the items for ballet Lorent's The Velveteen Rabbit production.

Barbie super fan Lee Eley

'Barbie helps me feel comfortable in myself'

For the first time in 20 years, Lee Eley opens up about his secret collection of Barbie memorabilia.

Benji's owner Rachel Doran said people were ringing her "20-30 times a day" thinking he was missing.

'Not lost' cat visits supermarket car park every day

Benji's owner Rachel Doran said people were ringing her "20-30 times a day" thinking he was missing.

On board the double-decker food bus

On board the double-decker food bus

"We realised that there's a lot of people out there that also need help, that aren't in abject poverty."

Maggie Martin

Meet the woman converting a hearse into a campervan

Meet Maggie... the Halloween lover converting a hearse into a campervan for one.

Nick Barnes

Commentator reaches 1,000th football match

BBC Newcastle's Nick Barnes will reach a milestone when he commentates on his 1,000th football game.

Demi Stokes speaking to pupils at Dame Dorothy School

Lioness Demi Stokes meets Sunderland pupils

The footballer returned to school to speak to students as part of Children in Need 2023.

Sycamore Gap tree near Hadrian's Wall, before it was felled

Watch: Sycamore Gap tree cut up and removed

A crane was brought in to take the trunk, which had to be cut into pieces as it weighed 3-4 tonnes.

a stray kitten who has been adopted meets its new owner

Volunteers rescuing and rehoming stray cats

Jen Robinson has located 33 cats and kittens with her team, all within one garden area.

Young Farmer of the Year 2023 finalist Luke Conway

Young farmer in running for prestigious award

Luke Conway, 24, runs Kinley Hill Farm in a partnership with his aunt and uncle.

Conservationists release oysters into the ocean

Thousands of oysters released on North Sea reef

Conservationists create a reef for wild oysters to help increase marine biodiversity.

Guinea pigs

'People just can't afford guinea pigs any more'

North Shields guinea pig rescue centre warns more people are giving up their pets than it can rehome.

Joe Avary, second mate on the Shields Ferry Crew

Cayman Islands weatherman gets new job on Tyne ferry

Joe Avary was a US broadcaster, a weatherman in the Cayman Islands and worked on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Joan Collins

Dame Joan on how performing at 90 'isn't gruelling'

We chat to Dame Joan Collins ahead of her UK tour of her one woman show - Behind The Shoulder Pads.

Newcastle United fans in Milan

Newcastle United fans take over Milan

Fans descend on the city ahead of the Magpies' first Champions League appearance for 20 years.