Skip to content

Hexham hospital cat Yang awarded Freedom to Roam

A cat who had humble beginnings providing comfort to hospital staff and patients has been awarded by his hometown.

Yang Bell has made the five-minute journey from home to Hexham General Hospital (nearly) every day for years, becoming a star among the local community.

"Embodying the spirit of his caring town", has now been recognised by Hexham Town Council with the honour of Freedom to Roam.

He was presented with a certificate and a key at his workplace.

Video produced by Alex Challies and Kristie Kinghorn.

Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

19 May 2023

Explore More

BBC reporter, Megan Davies, is central looking at the camera. She in presenting the social video. On her left is are images of a dog and a traditonal fox hunting helmet. On her right is a fox. All three images have been photo edited into the shot rather than placed there. On the table is a coffee insulation cup

Are people still fox hunting?

Pregnant cat found hiding under van for over ten hours.

Abandoned cat found hiding under van for 10 hours

A dog and a cat

How to keep pets safe during fireworks season

gamer

Gamer role introduced in children's hospital

Glasgow & West Scotland

Bernard and Twinkle the vultures perched on a log, in a cage, looking towards each other

Arthritic vulture reunited with partner after jab

Two dairy cow calves, with black and white patterns, standing in on hay and in a pen.

Cow has four calves in 'one-in-11 million' birth

Two rhinos stand close together in their enclosure, one is an adult and the other is a calf

Rhino calf with feeding issue now stomping around

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Ambualnces in a hospital car park

Waiting eight hours in an ambulance in hospital car park

UK prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer walking with Laura Kuenssberg

Watch: PM Starmer on riots, fuel payments and Grenfell

Maddie with the two binmen

Meet the dog brightening up a weekly bin round

Northern Ireland

Gentoo penguin chick standing sideways and looking at the camera with ice and a wall behind it

Penguin chick takes its first swim at aquarium

Hull & East Yorkshire

Thousands of dead fish are seen on the salt marsh beach in Volos, Thessaly, Greece

Thousands of floating dead fish blanket Greek port

A gold and green leopard frog peers out of some leaves

Endangered leopard frogs released into the wild

A bear eats honey off a measuring stick

Watch: Bears tempted with honey into zoo weigh-in

Beds, Herts & Bucks

Two swimmers look at an oarfish on a paddle-board with one man atop the board

Rare ‘doomsday’ oarfish spotted off California coast

Tortoise on a railway track.

Watch: Tortoise spotted walking on railway tracks

Cow and man sitting together

What is it like to cuddle a cow?

Stella the cat meows at her front door

Is this London’s most adventurous cat?

A panda is seen on screen

San Diego debuts first giant pandas from China in decades

Dog looking at mattress on fire

Moment dog sparks house fire after chewing power bank

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.