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 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.
A 20-year-old died within weeks of a routine hernia operation. Charlie Lowden had a successful procedure in hospital but 10 days later he became seriously ill.
He went to Wansbeck General Hospital in severe pain and ended up being released. He later died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Bedlington.
His parents have launched legal proceedings over Charlie's post-operative care.
Police are appealing for information after a motorbike was stolen during a raid on a garage in Hastings Court, Bedlington Station between 5pm on Monday February 15 and Friday 19.
Anyone with information about the off road-style bike, an orange coloured KTM 250, is asked to contact police on 03456 043043 ext 69191, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Burglars smashed their way into a Bedlington house and grabbed expensive possessions including two laptops and jewellery.
Police are now appealing for information following the daytime crime, in which thieves also took cash, a digital camera, bracelets, rings, necklaces and a jewellery box.
Bedlington neighbourhood inspector Ross Davidson said: "This burglary has happened in broad daylight on a Sunday lunchtime. There would have been people around and I'd appeal for anyone who saw anyone behaving suspiciously in the area to contact police with information.
Bedlington Terriers could hardly have left it any later before securing victory over Tow Law Town in their Skilltrainingltd Northern League game. With the game seemingly heading for a goalless draw, Anthony Shandran and Stuart Elliott scored in stoppage time.
Meanwhile, fourth-top Ashington have now taken just one point from the last nine after they conceded an 88th-minute goal to John Ryan at Esh Winning, who improved their chances of avoiding relegation.
Whitley Bay kept alive their title chances despite being taken to the wire by bottom-of-the-table Morpeth Town, whom they beat 2-1.
A generous farm shop proved bacon and sausage butties are good for you - or rather, good for other people.
The Moorhouse Farm Shop near Stannington and the Blagdon Farm Shop raised ã628 for the DEC Haiti Appeal through selling delicious bacon and sausage butties and donating the Saturday morning proceeds from the sale to the cause. They want to thank all their customers for their generous support despite bad weather to make the event such a success.
From left, Simon Osborne and Angela Howard from Blagdon Farm Shop, and Victoria and Ian Byatt from Moorhouse Farm Shop
They also thanked their master bakers Wrights of Bedlington who provided all the bread rolls free of charge for this fundraising event.
A Northumberland band is hoping to hit the big time after securing a coveted gig at Newcastle's O2 Academy.
Stolen Tom will be performing at the venue next month and will be launching their new album at the same time.
The band comprises lead singer Jason Vare from Bedlington and drummer Adam Savage, guitarist Stephen Flint and bassist Darren Turner from Warkworth.
When a Tyneside company was tasked with providing the centrepiece for a national launch there was no hint of flap.
Because thanks to the work of an artist from Bedlington and a Gateshead printing firm, Tyneside is now home to the UK's leading source of giant bird images.
Staff at digital display imaging company Chromazone have told how they put together art work including a 13.5-metre peregrine falcon in 70 pieces.
Families who have suffered the loss of a baby have access to a new room at a hospital to help them cope with their bereavement.
The Willow Room, in the delivery suite of Wansbeck General Hospital, is a peaceful space for grieving relatives.
Sara Appleby of Bedlington at the Willow Room in Wansbeck General Hospital
It has been completed by the Teardrop Support Group in association with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital and others across Northumberland and North Tyneside.
Bedlington
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