Northumbrians are urged to cast their votes to save an important wildlife reserve in the county.

Druridge Pools reserve could benefit from an immediate injection of £20,000 but only if people in the county register their vote for it.

The money is being offered by the Bovril Great Outdoors Revival Campaign, which is giving five lots of £20,000 to restore community projects that have fallen into disrepair and are in need of upgrading to make the experience pleasant for visitors.

Youngsters in Northumberland villages are set to benefit from a new group.

The working group will help support, co-ordinate and develop youth work and activities that are already underway in Widdrington, Hadston, Cresswell and Ulgham.

It comes after a number of issues were highlighted in a series of meetings between community organisations.

Two North karate clubs put on a spectacular floor show at the Seahouses Junior Competition.

Ashington and Linton students competed superbly in team and Individual kata and kumite events, as entrants of all ages gained recognition for their achievements.

Linton's Jake Wilkinson, Kieran Constantino and Philip Campbell claimed top spot in the Team Kata event.

A new scheme aiming to help people in Northumberland detect cancer early urgently needs volunteers.

The community-based initiative, the Healthy Communities Collaborative (HCC), has been set up to help people living mainly in the Blyth, Wansbeck and Morpeth areas.

It aims to raise awareness of the disease so people can spot the early signs of breast, bowel and lung cancer.

Frustrated gardeners are set to be given the green light to start cultivating their plots again - more than three years after they were closed down because of a pollution scare.

The six newly-created allotments in Widdrington Station were declared off-limits and the tenants locked out in September 2006, after traces of white asbestos were found in the soil.

Initially the move was described by council chiefs as a precautionary measure while further tests were carried out. However, the plots have remained sealed off ever since - and it was suggested they would be turned into a car park.

Voluntary and community groups in Northumberland have been warned they are facing a reduction in funding for their work - because of the recession and tough budget savings required by the county council.

However, County Hall bosses have reassured the sector that a funding package of £1.3m will still be available next year. Budget proposals recommend more money for charities directly supporting those people worst affected by the recession.

These will include services such as credit unions and the Citizens' Advice Bureau.

A scouts group got in touch with nature, thanks to a local wildlife charity.

The First Ashington Scouts camped overnight at East Chevington nature reserve to work with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

Sam, Ethan, Rachel, Daniel, Jessica and Seth from Ashington Scouts at work

They then spent a whole day working on the reserve, doing vital conservation tasks.

A scheme which helps disadvantaged families, charities and voluntary organisations to redecorate their homes or premises has been given a £750 boost by a key local employer.

Aluminium firm Rio Tinto Alcan, based in Lynemouth, has made the donation to the Castle Morpeth Disability Association's Community Re>Paint project.

The scheme, which collects left-over paint and distributes it to those who need it, last year handed out more than 480 pots.

A lack of professional youth workers in East Northumberland means young people in the area are missing out on opportunities.

Youth workers based in Amble say they are currently unable to take advantage of the pots of money available to them as they simply do not have the manpower required.

Coquet Youth Team staff Angela Manktelow, Lisa Waugh and Helen Wright

The Coquet Youth Team, based at Coquet High School, has three workers, along with two 17-year-old volunteers. They do a lot of extremely good work with young people in the area, including the Area Training and Activity Centre (ATAC) in Widdrington Station.

A vital youth and social service that closed at the start of the year could be revived to give children from South East Northumberland somewhere to go in the evenings.

The Area Training and Activity Centre (ATAC) in Widdrington Station used to give young people in the area something to do in their spare time, as well as provide youth workers who helped with many aspects of their lives.

Young people at ATAC enjoy the youth centre's revival along with volunteers Laura Park (far right), Kev Godding and Laura Agnew (far left)

It closed at the end of last year due to a lack of funding, but since the beginning of the summer holidays Coquet Youth Team have been running a youth service one day a week.