Smaller communities should be thinking ahead to the day when they can generate all their own power, energy expert Dr Barbara Sexon believes.

Dr Sexon runs the Thropton Energy consultancy in the Northumberland village of the same name, near Rothbury.

She studied for a PhD 25 years ago on the potential of small scale wind turbines in the days before wind farms of considerably larger machines became the hot potato they are today.

A presentation on plans to revamp the region's hospitals takes place in Northumberland next week.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is proposing a new specialist emergency care hospital near Cramlington for people living in Northumberland and North Tyneside, improvements to Wansbeck and North Tyneside general hospitals and rebuilding community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle.

A presentation on the plans takes place at a meeting of Warkworth Parish Council on Thursday, June 4 at 6.30pm in the Memorial Hall on Castle Street.

Whatever Pete Doherty's image, the secretary-manager of Bamburgh Castle Golf Club Mike Robinson, a former Ryder Cup referee, has good reason to think highly of him.

Doherty, the Hexham-born musician, artist and poet, was the subject of much speculation in the tabloid press, focusing on his lifestyle and relationship with supermodel Kate Moss.

Robinson's grandson Dan Squires, pictured, a promising footballer, died of cancer aged 15 last year after initially losing a leg to the disease. The final stages of Dan's life were brightened by his fondness for Babyshambles front man Doherty's music.

An honest schoolboy kept his promise of scaling new heights as a tribute to Sir Bobby Robson.

Gareth Davies was given a signed copy of the Newcastle United legend's autobiography as a present.

The 12-year-old had earlier told family that if it was signed he would climb Ben Nevis and raise cash for his cancer charity, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Plans to transform a Northumberland caravan park into a eco-site are lying in tatters, after an appeal was lost.

Owners of the Budle Bay caravan park and campsite at Waren Mill have had an appeal to a government planning inspector over a proposed £3m redevelopment of the site thrown out.

Peter Horne, director of Red Ridge Residential Ltd and Ingoe Mill Ltd, was seeking planning permission for static vans, with grass roofs, areas for wildlife and planting and the on-site recycling of waste water.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of Class A drugs were seized in a year-long crackdown by police vying to rid rural Northumberland communities of drug barons.

The Journal can today reveal the scale of the drug problem that plagues the county's isolated countryside, with a massive haul of drugs confiscated by police specialists.

Earlier this year a top judge said drug dealing gangs were targeting rural villages in sophisticated cannabis production operations.

Bosses at Northumberland's new super council are being recommended to stick with its controversial 0845 single telephone number.

County hall chiefs have been urged by campaigners both locally and nationally to change the 0845 6006400 number, which has been provided since April 1 for all people who need to contact the unitary authority.

Drunken Michael Taylder stabbed his brother - because he told him to.

Taylder and his younger brother Cameron had both downed more than 10 pints during a night out in their home village.

When they staggered home together they continued the drinking session in Taylder's bedroom.

Rubbish police could confiscate bins if householders fill them with the wrong items.

Northumberland County Council hopes to crack down on contamination in recycling wheelie bins using hard-line tactics.

Householders who repeatedly ignore warnings to stop throwing waste food, nappies or dirty items into the bin which is supposed to be for dry, clean, recyclable materials, will have their bin confiscated.

The water off the coast at Beadnell, Seahouses and Bamburgh (pictured) has been given the stamp of approval by the Good Beach Guide, despite a general drop in water quality off the North East's beaches.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) will today announce the results of water tests across the region in its annual guide, with a 16.5% drop in the number of UK bathing beaches recommended for excellent water quality and a 23% decline in the North East area, which stretches down to the Humber.