Spelling it out: five things we learned in Middlesbrough

1) The land of unexpected spellings. At least one in every three tweets and emails we have received from local residents to #c4newspopup has warned us not to fall foul. But we think we’ve cracked it now – Teeside and Middlesborough, right? (We’re joking – we knew all along).

2) The true meaning of the phrase “industrial beauty”. Don’t believe us? Check out our shots tonight from the magnificent Tees Transporter Bridge.

3) That there’s more than one meaning to that hoary old cliche, “green shoots of recovery”. On an alley in west Middlesbrough, it means a community taking it upon themselves to beautify their shared cobbled back yard. As Peter Nugent, one of the men behind “garden alley”, put it – no one else is going to do it. That’s his feeling, and the feelings of his neighbours, about the economy as well – you have to try your best in the north east, because no-one else – including the government down south – is going to help you. And sometimes that still isn’t enough: their response when asked if anything is getting better in the economy? A resounding “no”.

4) How to ride a motorbike. Yes, really. Watch here.

5) And North of England Correspondent Ciaran Jenkins has learned something else – the mystery of the blue balls on the beach. Find out more here.

What are the mystery blue balls polluting Saltburn’s beautiful beach? #c4newspopup is on the case.. pic.twitter.com/aPvydwhik8

— Ciaran Jenkins (@C4Ciaran) August 21, 2013