Labour Party members have chosen the national leader of Britain's pitmen as their candidate to fight a traditionally safe seat in a former North East coal mining stronghold.
Ian Lavery - president of the National Union of Mineworkers - emerged as the winner from a shortlist of four drawn up to choose the General Election candidate for the Wansbeck constituency.
Yesterday his selection to defend the seat held by retiring MP Denis Murphy was described as 'a backward step' by his Liberal Democrat election rival, Simon Reed.
A talented young boxer who is bidding for a place in Britain's 2012 Olympics squad has been given a helping hand by her local council.
Carly Wealleans, 18, is currently training five nights a week at the Newbiggin Amateur Boxing Club in Northumberland in her quest to make the team for the London games.
Now she has been given a ã50 grant by county council chairman David Woodard to help with her demanding training schedule.
A last minute promise of extra cash for Northumberland's crumbling roads and a climbdown on spending cuts in care of the elderly was enough to avoid a potential council budget crisis last night.
The 11th-hour package of concessions by County Hall leaders enabled the unitary authority to finally agree its 2010/11 budget plans, with just four days to spare.
The agreement averted the risk of the council failing to set a legal budget in the required timescale, and the threat of Government-appointed commissioners being sent in to do the job.
Action has been taken to crack down on the anti-social and dangerous activities of illegal motorbike riders in a seaside town.
Northumbria Police issued a warning last week that nuisance bikers had better beware following concerns from local residents in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland.
Now neighbourhood officers have acted on the threat by carrying out an operation to put a stop to the problems.
Wansbeck-based community transport charity & social enterprise WATBus are pleased to announce that they will be running a series of organised cycle trips along the Northumberland Coast.
WATBike was launched in February and is aimed at opening up Northumberland for cyclists. By linking up a minibus with a bicycle trailer, WATBike will provide easier and affordable access to the National Park and Northumberland's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Newbiggin police are targeting motorbike and quad bike owners who are riding illegally in the town.
Police are warning riders after they received reports of the bikes being driven illegally on dunes and the areas surrounding Newbiggin Golf Club.
Local officers are carrying out an operation to identify riders and if caught they face prosecution and having their bikes confiscated.
A Northumberland bakery is showing the world that it really has scone mad.
Nevin's Nibbles has become known for offering a huge variety of scone flavours - more than 110 at the last count.
Colin and Jackie Nevin with their scones and Guinness World Records adjudicators John Campbell, a GP of Ashington, and Peter Millican, a solicitor fom Morpeth
Now owners Jackie and Colin Nevin have taken part in a world record attempt to officially prove that they offer the widest range of flavours.
Newbiggin pizza-delivery man David Pescod has been spared jail after becoming one of the first drivers in the country to be convicted of the new charge of causing death by driving without insurance.
But as Pescod walked out of Newcastle Crown Court to get on with the rest of his life, the heartbroken mum of the 18-year-old cyclist he killed spoke of her disappointment that a judge missed this opportunity to set a legal precedent that could have made the region's roads safer.
Pescod, 23, of North View, Newbiggin, was yesterday handed a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, after admitting causing the death of Michael Turner while driving uninsured.
Local people in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck will get the chance to ask questions of councillors and officers at a meeting of Northumberland County Council's south east area committee to be held at 6pm next Wednesday in the Lynemouth Resource Centre, Bridge Road.
Alternatively, they can forward questions to Mike Bird, Democratic Services, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF, or email mike.bird@northumberland.gov.uk and they will be raised at the meeting.
A study is being launched in Northumberland to find out what residents think about the county's green spaces and recreational areas.
Officials at the county council are working with consultants Strategic Leisure on the research, which is in response to Government guidance that local authorities should assess facilities and identify clear standards of provision for all recreational spaces.
It will involve a programme of consultation with partners and organisations such as Natural England, Sport England, sports development teams, grounds maintenance teams, schools and sports clubs.
Newbiggin
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"Melissa, on your way to the top please do never forget the roots you have. Good luck and more succes..."
"As a responsble dog owner and a person who visits the area three times a year a ban would ruin my ho..."
"The beach is for all including dogs. They should be allowed, especially during winter months. The lo..."
"If dogs are going to be banned then so should horse riders, they should also carry POO BAGS, as hors..."
"better than the original choice at least..."
"we all need to exercise our dogs and it is hard lines on the ones who do pick up after their animals..."
"This sounds crazy!. I mean after a ã10 million revamp of Newbiggin Bay, the dogs ban on the beach..."
"Its a very welcome idea as I live next to this area. I would hope they could also incorporate a moun..."
"well done lads it gave me great pleasure to watch you all achieve your 84miles under 24hours were pr..."
"lets hope that for once money is used for the good of the community instead of some harebrain scheme..."