No garbage collection, no recycling, no organics collection and no street cleaning today. Residents who normally receive Wednesday trash, recycling or curbside compost collection may place their material out at curbside this evening for collection beginning tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 26, according to the city Sanitation Department website.

Walking groups are heading into the hills on Christmas Day, with organisers saying "nobody should be alone if they don't want to be". Newcastle Hiking has a walk planned in Northumberland, with a separate group meeting in Keswick,