Thousands of teenagers in Northumberland are preparing to go to the ballot box in the run-up to an election.
Candidates for the Northumberland Youth Parliament are in their final days of canvassing for the election which is being supervised by the democratic services team at Northumberland County Council.
The results will be announced at County Hall, in Morpeth, on Thursday, and council chief executive Steve Stewart, will act as returning officer.
He said: "This is a great opportunity for young people to get a taste of local democracy and understand how the process works.
"I'd like to wish all the candidates the very best of luck and I look forward to congratulating the winners on the day of the count."
Emergency crews had a miracle escape when a car ploughed into their vehicles while they attended a road crash scene.
The driver of the car slammed into the back of an ambulance and then hit a fire station car, a police vehicle and a fire engine.
The multiple accident happened on the A1 near Clifton, Morpeth when emergency crews from all three services were attending a road accident involving three cars which had left the road. Paramedics had just placed a patient from the earlier accident into the back of their vehicle when the car slammed into them.
Cooks in the North East who want to make a meal of protecting the region's native crayfish were told yesterday to forget it.
They are being were urged to ignore celebrity chefs and keep the invasive American signal crayfish off the menu.
An American 'signal' crayfish, right, and a native British crayfish
The River Wansbeck in Northumberland is one of the last strongholds of native white-clawed crayfish in England.
Parking fees levied on drivers visiting Northumberland towns has emerged as the hottest topic in the initial stages of a major review aimed at developing a county-wide parking strategy.
A progress report on the review reveals hundreds of people have made their views known on whether parking fees should be imposed across the whole county - rather than just in selected towns.
More than 560 people have signed three separate petitions calling for an equal policy across the board, with charges being made in all principal towns.
A popular guide aimed at helping older people in Northumberland get the most out of life has been published for the fourth time.
Previous issues of the Golden Guide have gone down so well with the over-50s that there was a waiting list for the latest 5,000-copy print run.
The free booklet, which is produced by community information specialists Clever Clogs Publishing in partnership with Age Concern Northumberland, the county council and care trust, has also been given a new design.
A second trial starts tomorrow to decide whether shoppers in Morpeth should get another weekly market on a permanent basis.
An initial six-week pilot Friday market was held in Morpeth in October and November last year, prompting anger from councillors in neighbouring Blyth who claimed it would harm trade at that town's established market on the same day.
Now county council bosses are launching a second trial, which will be carefully monitored before a decision is made on whether Morpeth will have both a Wednesday and Friday market.
County Hall officials say a second trial is needed during the quieter months.
People and businesses across Northumberland are being invited to have their say on the development of a new strategy aimed at safeguarding the county's economy over the next five years.
The plan, which will set out to drive changes and secure growth in the local economy, is being drawn up by the county council and its partners.
The Northumberland Economic Strategy sets out current key economic factors and identifies various trends that will lead to changes in the economy.
A mining company's bid to extend the working life of a massive opencast site in Northumberland will be unveiled to local people next week.
The Banks Group wants to extract an additional two million tonnes of coal from the 750-acre Shotton mine west of Cramlington - which was given the green light by the Government despite strong local opposition.
The latest plans, which would extend the life of the site by two years, will go on display at three public exhibitions.
Age Concern Northumberland are holding a Recruitment Fair on Friday 12 February at The Round House, Lintonville Parkway, Ashington (oppostie Lidl's).
We are running two presentations at 11.30am and 1.30pm, followed by the opportunity to discuss, with our experienced staff, the job vacancies and career prospects in further detail.
For further information on our Recruitment Fair and our other opportunities available or for an application pack call the HR & Training Team on 0845 140 00 88.
Council leaders are being asked to approve a £1.5m transport scheme in Northumberland which could see improvements made to facilities at Morpeth Station.
The money from the Department for Transport has been proposed for upgrades at Belford, Morpeth, Cramlington and Alnmouth stations.
The proposals would create improved junction access at Morpeth railway station, allowing buses to stop and fully integrate with the rail interchange. Work could start as early as March 2010 if the scheme is approved.
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Journal Extra, Northumberland's free weekly, is inside copies of The Journal across the county every Thursday, and can also be picked up from these locations around Morpeth »
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