Families in Northumberland are being invited to have their say on policing in their area at a special meeting.

A Police and Community Together meeting will be held for people living in Ashington, Ellington, Linton, Lynemouth and Newbiggin.

The session is designed to give residents a chance to meet their Neighbourhood Policing Teams and discuss any problems they have in their area.

Independent rural petrol stations are facing an increasing battle just to survive, as they struggle to compete with their bigger rivals.

Many of the stations also act as convenience stores in their local communities, but dozens have closed over the last few years, in yet another blow to the rural economy.

Gordon Moore, pictured, who owns the Border Reiver Station in Knowesgate, Northumberland, said the margin on fuel from his station is tiny.

A fox cub found in a snare has been rescued after a walker alerted campaigners.

The National Anti-Snaring campaign were called after a walker found the cub in a wood near Widdrington.

Campaigners visited the site the following day and found a fox cub still struggling in a snare surrounded by illegally dumped lamb carcasses as well as decomposing birds.

The fox charity has reported the illegal carcasses dumping to Northumberland County Council.

Police are now investigating the illegal snare.

A Northumberland beauty spot became the scene of a massive beach party when it was invaded by more than 300 students.

The youngsters were celebrating the 50-year life of their school before it went out of existence.

And the sun helped everything go with a swing yesterday as Newbiggin Middle School was moved to Druridge Bay beach for the day.

More meetings are to be held in Northumberland to allow people to have their say on £200m proposals for new and improved hospitals in the county.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust has drawn up plans for a new specialist emergency care centre near Cramlington, plus improvements to Wansbeck General and the rebuilding of community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle.

But the changes would see the closure of emergency departments at Wansbeck and Hexham General, moves which have caused some concern with patients.

Druridge Bay Middle School prides itself on keeping its pupils busy with a fantastic range of activities designed to get the best out of school life.

The Druridge Bay 10k charity run was a huge event for the school, with student Holly Moscrop winning a competition to design the shirts given to the participants on the day and Year 8 pupil Brydie Smith winning the under-16s race.

Pupils remember their tragic young playmate Philippa Callaghan, who died from cancer last year, by holding a special day and spelling out PIP in the playground

Another important event for the school was the recent 'PIP day' (pictured), held in memory of former pupil Philippa Callaghan who died from cancer last year, which was organised by Pip's sister Zoë and her friends Chelsea, Katy and Frances.

Finance chiefs at Northumberland's cash-strapped super council are trying to recover almost £9m in unpaid council tax inherited from the county's former district authorities.

The huge debt has been revealed following the abolition of Berwick, Alnwick, Castle Morpeth, Tynedale, Wansbeck and Blyth Valley councils on April 1 - and their replacement by the all-purpose unitary council.

Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith last night expressed disappointment after failing to become Speaker of the Commons.

The Liberal Democrat MP pulled out of the election race at the second round as Tory contenders John Bercow and Sir George Young pulled ahead.

Sir Alan had won the support from dozens of MPs - including Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable, former ministers and Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy.

An urgent review has been launched into restraint techniques at a young offenders' institution after inspectors found inmates suffered an "unprecedented" number of serious injuries at the hands of staff.

Over a two-year period, 10 children and young adults were left with broken bones after being restrained by officers at Castington YOI in Northumberland.

One incident resulted in an inmate having both his wrists broken. Another inmate was left with a broken knee. The other incidents resulted in actual or suspected broken wrists.

Older people in Northumberland are threatening a revolt against new charges for day centre care which are being brought in by the county's cash-strapped super council.

Apart from meal and transport costs, attendance at day centres has been free for elderly and disabled people until now. But means-tested fees are being introduced to help County Hall bosses make savings on their adult care budget.

Day centre clients are being assessed and told how much they will have to contribute to their care each week, based on their income and savings.