Beleaguered council bosses in Northumberland have been left anxiously waiting for a key Government decision on whether they will have to find a further ã11m in "horrendous" budget cuts.
County council leaders expected to be told yesterday whether ministers will allow them to use a financial loophole to avoid having to make almost ã30m in savings this year.
But last night - as the authority revealed it has dropped plans to close a number of tourist information centres in Northumberland - there had still been no decision from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
A cut-price travel scheme for elderly and disabled people who are too frail to use buses looks set to become a victim of tough council budget cuts in Northumberland.
More than 800 vulnerable pensioners across the county use the scheme, which allows them concessionary travel in taxis because they are unable to use other forms of public transport.
They use council-issued vouchers, tokens or passes to pay for taxi trips to the shops, GP and hospital appointments or to visit relatives and friends.
A council facing serious financial problems is considering providing mortgages for people struggling to get a home loan because of the credit crunch.
Cash-strapped Northumberland County Council - which is having to make budget cuts of up to ã50m over two years - is thinking of using its capital resources to help would-be home buyers who are being frustrated by the continued squeeze on lending.
A report is being prepared for the Liberal Democrat executive in March on the possibility of the authority giving mortgages "in certain circumstances" to applicants unable to secure a loan from commercial lenders.
Supermarket firm Sainsbury's has stepped up its bid to develop a site in Morpeth.
The company has joined forces with CWP Property Development and Investment in a bid for the Dark Lane site in Low Stanners, Morpeth, to create 355 parking spaces.
The facility would also link to a park-and-ride service at its proposed Stobhill store.
But town centre developer Mark Dransfield, who created the ã35m Sanderson Arcade, has already pinpointed the site for a supermarket and car parking.
The bidding war for the 1.3 hectare plot between Sainsbury's and Dransfield will now be decided after Northumberland County Council has held interviews with interested parties on February 11.
Police in Morpeth are sending out text messages in a bid to fight crime.
Officers are using bluetooth technology to send reminders about local policing meetings and information about what officers are doing to tackle local concerns and how people can contact their local policing team.
Neighbourhood Sgt Dave Simpson said: "This Bluetooth messaging is just another way of letting everybody know what is happening in their area and informing the public about what is being done about their concerns.
Gardeners were able to get to the root of their problems as a famous radio show called in.
BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time recorded a session in Stannington as guests of the Hardy Plant Society's North East group.
Show chairman Eric Robson and panellists Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood and Matthew Biggs were able to solve a range of gardening queries, covering issues about plants, flowers and vegetables.
Anne Wood, of the Hardy Plant Society's North East group, invited the programme and was one of the 13-strong team to organise the event.
One of Britain's leading academics has appeared in court on a series of child pornography offences.
University professor Michael Kehoe was in the dock for the second time on the charges.
Kehoe, of Morpeth, is facing five charges of making indecent photographs, or pseudo-photographs of a child.
People in Morpeth who are struggling with debt problems are being offered help to get their finances in order.
Christians Against Poverty, the national debt-counselling charity, is running special courses in Morpeth throughout this year to help struggling families keep their heads above water.
Delivered through the town's Baptist Church, the sessions will teach good money management skills and give budgeting tips and overall advice on how to limit spending.
Gardening projects run by cash-strapped schools and community groups are set to benefit from a garden tools 'amnesty' in Northumberland.
Green-fingered enthusiasts are being asked to hand over their old and broken tools to staff at the Heighley Gate nursery and garden centre near Morpeth next month.
They are urged to take in their unwanted spades, trowels, forks, hoes, rakes and other non-powered equipment between Saturday, February 13 and Sunday 28.
Wallington finally staged their third-round game in the Northumberland FA Minor Cup, which has had progress badly affected by the weather.
However, Seaton Burn triumphed 4-1 at Morpeth. Dave Hewitt and Stu Taylor bagged a brace apiece for the Burn, with Ashley McAlpine replying for Wallington.
Morpeth Links
John Dawson - Local history tales
Wildlife - With Conservation Officer Kevin O'Hara
Ian Lavery - Updates from the MP for Wansbeck
Ray Purvis - Through the seasons at Wallington
DAWN Advice - Liz Chadwick from the advice charity
Robson and Prescott Vets - Pet advice
Morpeth Lions Club - By Lion Simon Pringle
Wendy Errington - Volunteering at Wallington
Andrew Gibson - Fishing and photography
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