Young mothers in Northumberland have been learning how to tighten their belts and boost their family finances at money management workshops run by a children's charity.
Parents have been offered tips including how to cope with the cost of Christmas at Action for Children's Financial Futures workshops at children's centres in Ashington and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
The workshops, run by Action for Children staff and volunteers from Barclays Bank, are part of a £1.8 million national partnership between the bank and the charity aimed at improving financial literacy and helping people to avoid debt.
Young people are being targeting in a hard-hitting campaign to reduce the number of bonfire and firework-related injuries across Northumberland.
Fireworks injure almost 1000 children in the North of England every year, often resulting in permanent scarring or disfiguration. Now Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service is warning pupils in secondary schools about the dangers in a programme of educational visits.
Landmark locations will be seen in a new light this winter with the return of a hugely popular winter festival. Northumberland Lights - and the award-winning team behind it - are back with more bright ideas for outdoor illuminations.
From November 2 to 30, the winter festival will bathe some of the most beautiful and remote spots from Blyth to the Borders in an array of colour, in celebration of the county's contrasting architectural and natural environment.
FREE bus transport for older students is set to leave Northumberland County Council with a £500,000 bill. But councillors last night hailed the scheme to provide passes for A-level and college students as a massive success - and said it was likely to cost much less than feared.
The free pass has seen the number of teenagers using buses more than double, from 800 in July to 1,850 now. The county council took the decision to scrap fares after they rose to £360 a year under the previous Labour administration.
A café owner is helping to put Newbiggin on the map by offering 63 varieties of scones to customers.
Jackie Nevin racked up the mammoth selection in just 18 months since opening Nibbles Cafe on the town's seafront.
And after featuring in The Journal in August, Jackie increased her selection from 42 varieties and now scone fans are now flocking from as far away as London to sample varieties including chilli, Turkish delight and ginger and pineapple.
A MAJOR £40m road scheme - which aims to cut traffic congestion and boost economic development in Northumberland - looks set to be submitted for Government funding approval.
If built, the proposed Morpeth northern bypass would complete a £50m investment in creating a new transport link between the A1 trunk road and the former mining communities of south east Northumberland.
WORK has been completed on the 200th house to be modernised in the six months since social landlord Wansbeck Homes took over the management of 5,000 former council properties in the district.
It is one of 137 properties on the Moor Estate in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea being given new kitchens and bathrooms, renewed central heating systems, replacement windows and doors, rewiring and loft insulation.
CONCERNS over Northumberland County Council's finances have deepened because it has £230m of debts after taking out £100m in loans.
North East Minister Nick Brown, pictured, said he would be urgently seeking advice over the situation, which comes after it emerged the council has £23m stuck in failed Icelandic banks.
A SCHEME which seeks to protect stocks of lobster off the North East coast will continue next year, thanks to a new funding stream.
Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee has been running its lobster V-notching scheme for the past nine years, where it marks females carrying eggs to ensure they are returned to the water by fishermen.
The scheme was funded by European Union grants which have now stopped, meaning the committee has to find the money itself.red sandy beach.
A MASSIVE maritime engineering project which transformed the face of a Northumberland seaside town has won a top award in what are recognised as the 'Oscars' of the UK building industry.
Last year the Government invested £11m in giving Newbiggin-by-the-Sea a 200m-long sea defence breakwater and a new, 300m-long stretch of sandy beach - topped off by the installation of Britain's first permanent offshore sculpture, called Couple.
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Journal Extra, Northumberland's free weekly, is inside copies of The Journal across the county every Thursday, and can also be picked up from these locations around Newbiggin »
"As a resident of Newbiggin I am a bit perplexed at all the fuss over this stretch of beach. I am a d..."
"The beach is there for everyone to enjoy, and as such dogs and their owners should be able to do so..."
"15/08/09 3.00pm Lanercost Priory area. Grey crossing road in front of car...."
"It is interesting to note that no mention here of Mr Hearne's lack of professionalism when he 'chang..."
" I WAS TOLD BY CANVASSING LIBERALS THAT CAR PARKING CHARGES FOR WANSBECK AND BLYTH WAS NOT O..."
"I would suggest either prawn or shrimp flavour for the scones, being next to the sea..."
"Madras curry flavour..."
"I have a question to ask does the dog ban still stand that Wansbeck Council enforced or can we take ..."
"jackie milburn went to work played football at the weekend never moaned just got on with it what a m..."
"I think Robson Green is a catch. Have you seen him on the advert where he is wearing nothing but a f..."