A former Northumberland coal mining stronghold will find out today if it has won the title of the UK's enterprise capital.
The Wansbeck area of Northumberland is one of 12 finalists in the prestigious Enterprising Britain competition.
Earlier this year it was chosen as the North East winner of the contest - and in the summer a team of judges visited the area and met some of the new businesses which have received help from the Go Wansbeck agency.
A South East Northumberland local history group have compiled footage that brings back to life the horror of what war in the North East was like.
From German aircraft landing on rooftops to the VE Day celebrations across the region, a new DVD has been produced to show how the area both suffered and survived the Second World War.
The rare archive footage showing places was brought together to remember how millions of men, women and children coped during one of the worst conflicts in history.
Hundreds of youngsters are being challenged to make money grow as part of a drive to foster a new spirit of enterprise.
About 1,500 school pupils in Wansbeck are joining forces with local companies of all sizes, who are investing thousands of pounds in the project.
Make £5 Grow is the brainchild of the Wansbeck Education Enterprise Network (WEEN).
Below is a sneak preview of how tourism bosses believe Northumberland's identity could be portrayed in the future.
It follows an announcement from Northumberland Tourism that it plans to "present a new face to the world" in 2010.
As part of a re-focussing of advertising and promotion the travel chiefs are aiming to lure more big-spending holidaymakers to the area.
Families can give the gift of a greener lifestyle this Christmas.
Northumberland Warm Zone is offering people the chance to buy loft or cavity wall insulation as a present for a family member or friend.
For the basic cost of £129 the Warm Zone team will arrange for a voucher and card to be sent to them.
A leaked report has laid bare the full extent of a £16m package of cuts being drawn up by council bosses in Northumberland.
Details of Northumberland County Council's draft budget for 2010/11 will go to the Liberal Democrat controlled authority's executive later this month, with the anticipated savings coming in at £15.772m.
The document proposes a series of cuts across all council departments, with areas worst affected set to include highways, adult care, youth services, libraries, leisure centres, public transport and refuse collection.
Around 600 more posts are set to be axed at Northumberland County Council as embattled town hall bosses seek a further round of budget cuts of up to £30m next year.
County leaders will meet later this month to examine a number of "financial scenarios" aimed at achieving the massive savings without having to slash front line services, bring in a big council tax hike or make large-scale compulsory redundancies.
Yesterday it emerged that the scale of the cuts required will mean between 400 and 600 posts being axed from the 8,500-strong workforce - on top of the 800 which were shed this year.
Biblical canvases, marine-inspired cer-amic boats and a clothesline with a red bra pegged to it are all part of an exhibition that documents the journeys of five Northumberland artists.
Artistic group KEAP Creative have unveiled "Journey" - their attempt to develop art in Newbiggin by the Sea.
Eva Hartley with her installation Art Is Art Is Not
It is part of an exhibition that will continue until January 10 next year at Woodhorn Museum in Ashington.
Action taken to reduce the impact of car parking charges on recession-hit town centres across England has been seized on by campaigners fighting to retain free parking in part of Northumberland.
Labour MPs Ronnie Campbell and Denis Murphy are battling to ensure a wide-ranging review of parking strategy by the county council does not result in the imposition of charges in towns such as Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington, Bedlington and Newbiggin.
Now Mr Campbell is holding up the actions of councils in other parts of the country as evidence that charging has a damaging effect on the local economy and traders.
Thousands of staff across Northumberland will find out on Friday what impact massive council cuts will have on their jobs.
County bosses looking to make savings worth more than £30m a year will order heads of department to call in staff on Friday and explain the difficult choices about to be made.
Thousands of staff will be emailed a request to consider taking voluntary redundancy as part of jobs cuts which are expected to see hundreds of staff leave.
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"Typical! If this were a private organisation, you'd just get the manufacturer, or another manufactur..."
"It's great that clive is able to raise so much money for children. Its a shame that he recks live in..."
"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 ..."