Updated 2:41pm 21 May 2013

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Court for Bedlington man who crashed into East Sleekburn house

THIS is the man accused of driving offences after a car crashed into a house where a couple and their newborn baby were sleeping.Read

Modern acts added to Wansbeck Music Festival

BUDDING rock and stage stars are being invited to show off their talents to competition judges as a long-established North East music festival attempts to keep moving with the times.Read

St Mary’s Church at Woodhorn to host a record attempt

AN ancient church will open its doors to a special congregation next month as part of an attempt to set a new world record for carol singing.Read

Alnwick Garden: Poetry competition to switch on light display

A STUNNING new lighting scheme, which will set Alnwick Garden ablaze with colour for night-time visitors, is to be officially launched next month.Read

Bedlington church and school opposed bus move

A TRANSPORT shake-up which has sparked a row over pupil “segregation” at a Catholic high school was strongly opposed by the headteacher and church officials, it was revealed yesterday. Read

Flood insurance may be solved as Morpeth plan endorsed

CAMPAIGNERS in a market town devastated by flooding say they have played a significant role in suggesting a solution to the national problem of future insurance cover for families in flood-risk areas.Read

Moves to replace governors at Blyth Community College

EDUCATION chiefs are seeking Government approval to dismiss and replace governors at a North East school found to be failing its students.Read

Otterburn traders fight for compensation after road closure

TRADERS are set to be given a face-to-face meeting with an energy giant as they continue their fight for compensation after the road to their remote village was closed for five days.Read

Northumberland care cost move dropped

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to bring in unlimited care charges for hundreds of elderly and disabled people in Northumberland was dropped yesterday following protests from opposition councillors and service users.Read

Two men charged with Blyth murder

TWO men have appeared in court today charged with murdering a man at his Northumberland home.Kyle Gordon, 23, and Stephen Tiffin, 28, appeared separately before magistrates in Bedlington after being charged with the murder of Jason Lockwood, 40, in Blyth earlier this week.Mr Lockwood was pronounced dead after being dragged by firefighters from his flat at Nordale House in Cowpen on Tuesday morning.Police later revealed he had died following a brutal attack in the flat, where he lived alone.Northumbria Police announced today that Gordon, of Plover Close on Blyth's South Beach Estate, and Tiffin, of Ingoe Close, Blyth, had been charged with his murder.They both made brief appearances at South East Northumberland law courts and were remanded in custody to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on Tuesday.Fire crews, police and paramedics attended Mr Lockwood’s home in Cowpen Hall Road on Tuesday morning after a call from a neighbour in the flats, who reported hearing the smoke alarm going off and seeing smoke.He was pronounced dead at the scene and police launched a murder inquiry after a post mortem had been carried out. Detectives later revealed that he died following an attack in which he suffered multiple injuries.Police are trying to piece together Mr Lockwood’s last movements and are still keen to hear from anyone who has information. They should ring 101 ext 69191 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.Read

Morpeth flood scheme gets final approval

WORK on Morpeth's £21m flood alleviation scheme is set to start in about a year's time after it was given final approval yesterday. Read

Northumberland Council legal action threat over Lindisfarne Middle School right of way

A RETIRED local government officer is considering launching legal action over a potential delay in restoring a right of way which he lost following the erection of a school security fence.Read

Duchess gives Alnwick Garden a magical glow

WINTER evenings at a leading North East tourist attraction have been given a magical glow with the launch of a spectacular lighting display aimed at showcasing its nocturnal charms. Read

Fears persist for future of 500 jobs at Alcan aluminium smelter in Lynemouth

ECONOMIC rescue plans are being drawn up amid continuing fears that Northumberland’s biggest private sector employer could go under with the loss of more than 500 jobs.Read

Northumberland College celebrate successful Himalayan charity trek

ELATED students and staff from a North East college enjoyed a head-in-the-clouds celebration after completing a gruelling expedition to the summit of a Himalayan mountain.Read

Richard Major

Volunteers needed to keep up Morpeth bell-ringing tradition

FOR hundreds of years the bells have chimed to tell residents to deaden their fires and retire for the evening in readiness for work the next morning.Read

Flood-hit Morpeth residents share their memories

FLOOD campaigners were able to share experiences with people from other affected communities at a get-together over the weekend.Read

Police prepared for far-right protesters in Berwick

EXTRA police resources will be diverted to a Northumberland town this weekend when a far-right protest group stages a demonstration.Read

Butcher Chris Green, owner of R Green and Son in Longframlington.

Northumberland butcher's plan gets the chop

A VILLAGE butcher has claimed that a council planning wrangle forced him to abandon a proposed expansion of his rural business.Read

Adam Nichol

Teen fights to save Ashington sports centre

A SPORTS-MAD schoolboy’s campaign to safeguard cherished leisure facilities in his home town looks set to end in success. Read