A memorial celebrating the history of the region's last deep pit will be unveiled to local people next weekend.

The bronze statue of a miner and accompanying pit wheel will be unveiled at the former Ellington Colliery in Northumberland in a special ceremony and open day on Saturday November 7.

The sculpture - which commemorates the men who worked and died at the huge Ellington Combine - will take pride of place at the redundant site, which is now the subject of plans for housing, employment and leisure development.

Health care chiefs have given the go ahead for a £200m investment in services in Northumberland, including a new emergency care hospital on the outskirts of Cramlington.

Wansbeck and North Tyneside hospitals will see significant investment while community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle will be rebuilt.

The package of measures was approved yesterday at a meeting of the NHS North of Tyne Trust.

Stobswood Welfare carried their impressive Northern Alliance league form into the cup arena when they visited Swalwell and triumphed 6-0.

In Division Two of the North Northumberland League, Lynemouth netted seven times in a victory over Springhill, Darren Burn celebrating a hat-trick. Rothbury continue to head the Division One table thanks to a fine win a Acklington.

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A campaign by people in a Northumberland village to secure special protection for an area of open land at the heart of their community has ended in success.

Residents and parish councillors in Widdrington Station near Morpeth sought to have the land in Grange Road officially designated as a village green, to safeguard it against any future threat of housing development.

They took up the cudgels last year when the land - used by local children as a play area - was threatened with a bid to build seven bungalows on it.

Two rare birds that have turned up in Northumberland are attracting busloads of admirers.

A glossy ibis and a Raddes warbler have taken up residence at Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Druridge Pools nature reserve.

The ibis usually migrates for the winter from Mediterranean countries to Africa, while the warbler makes the journey from Siberia to South East Asia.

Northumberland's council has been chosen as one of nine in the country to take part in a pilot scheme on local authority performance.

Northumberland County Council has been awarded £100,000 to help it take part in the project, which aims to help authorities tailor their services to meet customers' needs.

Over the coming months the council will be speaking to its staff, customers and partners to find out how it is performing, particularly in the areas of planning, neighbourhood services and children's services.

Derek Allan is a true guitar hero after managing to complete an 84-hour charity gig across Northumberland - with a little help from his friends.

Last week, The Journal reported how Derek was aiming to raise a minimum of £700 for his chosen charity during the ambitious and unusual gig.

The singer-songwriter was not sure whether he would have the energy to complete the seven consecutive 12-hour sets unless other people came forward to play a set and help him out.

In the Northern Alliance Division Two, third-placed North Shields Athletic were beaten 5-2 by their in-form hosts Stobswood Welfare.

The Welfare clocked up their sixth successive league win, with goals by Steve Gibbard (2), Matt Graham, Josh Hay and Mike Hogg. James Baker and Bryan Murray replied.

Meanwhile, in Division Two of the North Northumberland League, Lynemouth Institute were too strong for Craster Reserves as Lenny Lansbury helped himself to five goals.

Work has started on producing a major new planning blueprint which will shape the future development of minerals and waste sites in Northumberland.

A six-week consultation exercise began yesterday in which experts as well as members of the public and local organisations are being asked for their views on the way forward.

The county council's core strategy document will eventually guide future minerals and waste planning, and set out where new quarries, landfill and waste recycling sites are needed.

Water sports facilities at three key locations in Northumberland could be significantly improved under a £1.1m scheme to get more people involved in sailing.

New teaching facilities, better boats and equipment and improved access for disabled people would all be provided as part of a drive to boost the numbers taking part in water sports in the county.

The project focuses on lake-based activities at Druridge Bay, Kielder Water and Derwent Reservoir (pictured), which are already popular locations for water sports enthusiasts.