People who live or work in a cluster of Northumberland communities are being urged to get involved in a new grass-roots organisation which will help shape the area's future.

A community forum for Widdrington and its surrounding villages will meet next week to start identifying and tackling local problems and concerns.

The meeting - at 6pm on February 12 in Hadston community centre - will take the form of an information and discussion session.

People in the former Wansbeck area and Ellington, Linton and Lynemouth (ELL) are being invited to have their say on how their communities can be developed or improved.

Local community forums are about to start a six-month programme of public engagement, including public meetings, to help draw up community plans, which will influence future decisions and changes.

Meetings will take place in the Choppington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Ellington, Linton and Lynemouth areas.

For further information, contact Lynda Fakir, Locality Development Officer for South East Northumberland on 0845 600 6400, email Lynda.Fakir@northumberland.gov.uk or visit northumberland.gov.uk.

Looking for a new sport to try in 2010? Then why not try a triathlon!

British Triathlon is launching the Tri A Triathlon campaign across Northumberland next month with the aim of encouraging more people to take up the sport, which consists of cycling, swimming and running.

Taster sessions will be staged at Ashington Leisure Centre on February 27 and March 20, Druridge Bay Country Park on April 17 and the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Woodhorn, on May 15 (all starting at midday).

People in three Northumberland villages are to be offered the chance of having twice-yearly meetings with their local police officer.

Parish councillors representing Widdrington Station and Stobswood have agreed to hold the sessions with local community beat manager PC Paul Dent at the community centre in Grange Road, Widdrington. PC Dent also wants meetings in Hadston.

Despite heavy snowfalls throughout Saturday, many people braved the conditions to attend the annual Christmas Ball at Dansers above the Co-op in Widdrington Station. Attendance was somewhat lower than usual as people who lived further away opted to stay at home in warm but a convivial spirit enlivened the evening for those who were able to attend.

A panto tradition in a former North East pit village is being revived after a gap of many years to help raise funds for the upkeep of the local community centre.

Linton Pantomime Players was set up earlier this year with the specific aim of producing a fundraising panto for the village hall, which is at the heart of the close-knit community near Morpeth.

Volunteers who run the drama group have raised about £1,600 to replace the hall's stage and curtains, which were removed some years ago, and allow the production of old favourite Cinderella to go ahead later this month.

On Sunday 22 November, Amble's Christmas lights switch-on was marked by the annual Lantern Parade.

Artists in Northumberland are welcoming visitors for this year's Christmas Art Tour.

The festive tour is organised by Network Artists and takes place in twenty different venues in or near Northumberland, running on weekends until Christmas.

Art lovers will have the chance to look around at artists' work, often in beautiful surroundings, while enjoying a friendly seasonal welcome from the artists themselves.

In Ulgham, artist Jane Murray is welcoming visitors to her studio, with work by Janet Dickson and Kath Maley also on display. There will be seasonal refreshments for guests while they browse a range of paintings, original prints, textiles, cards and gifts. The Ulgham Grange studio is open from 10am- 4pm during the 4-6 December.

View the Christmas Art Tour leaflet at www.networkartists.org.uk for full details about the tour.

Step aside Live Aid - Northumberland's Derek Allan is taking on his own musical marathon for charity by playing an 84-hour gig.

Derek, 34, from Red Row, is getting ready for a mammoth fundraising effort where he will play seven consecutive 12-hour gigs in seven Northumberland pubs.

Primarily a singer, he has no backing group and is frantically learning the guitar before the gig, which starts today.

After a packed summer of family events around Northumberland, the final weekend of the summer holidays is beckoning, with another busy programme across the county.

The event likely to attract the biggest crowd is the Glendale Show (pictured), now in its 117th year, featuring a host of rural attractions and stalls. Spectacular carriage driving and falconry displays and a Ready Steady Cook style cooking competition are some of the highlights of the event on Bank Holiday Monday.

In the bottom corner of the county on the same day, Blanchland & Hunstanworth Show (see link below) will be taking place, and two days before on Saturday Bellingham will also be welcoming visitors to its Show to take part and watch various traditional competitions.