Families in Belford have joined together to do their bit to save the planet.

Belford Energy Saving Together (Best) was set up by local people to push messages about how we can all do our bit to go green.

Working in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, the group hopes to work with householders and businesses to cut energy use and bills, reducing the amount of harmful carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change, that they release into the atmosphere.

Independent rural petrol stations are facing an increasing battle just to survive, as they struggle to compete with their bigger rivals.

Many of the stations also act as convenience stores in their local communities, but dozens have closed over the last few years, in yet another blow to the rural economy.

Gordon Moore, pictured, who owns the Border Reiver Station in Knowesgate, Northumberland, said the margin on fuel from his station is tiny.

A hen with a liking for horse-riding is back in the saddle after a brush with a fox.

Peggy lives at a free range unit at Seahouses having been rescued from life in a cage by owner Marian Nicol. The hen developed a taste for landing on the backs of horses and going for rides at Marian's Slate Hall Riding Centre after laying eggs.

But around 10 weeks ago, Peggy was attacked by a fox. Marian, 52, was told by a vet Peggy would die but managed to nurse her back to health.

A man who committed 67 distraction burglary and fraud offences against elderly victims up and down the country has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Mark Rhodes, 25, of no fixed abode, was arrested in Ipswich on May 1 after his photo appeared in the Most Wanted section of the BBC's Crimewatch UK programme. His offending took place nationwide, including the North East, and Northumbria Police's Operation Bombay team worked on the case with 18 other affected force areas.

Rhodes was arrested and when he appeared at Stroud Magistrates Court in Gloucestershire on June 3 he pleaded guilty to a total of 16 offences - eight distraction burglaries, and eight frauds.

More meetings are to be held in Northumberland to allow people to have their say on £200m proposals for new and improved hospitals in the county.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust has drawn up plans for a new specialist emergency care centre near Cramlington, plus improvements to Wansbeck General and the rebuilding of community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle.

But the changes would see the closure of emergency departments at Wansbeck and Hexham General, moves which have caused some concern with patients.

A popular seaside pub is celebrating after pulling a prestigious award for the quality of its beer.

Sean Donkin, who runs the Bamburgh Castle Inn at Seahouses, has been awarded Cask Marque accreditation for serving the perfect pint of cask conditioned ale.

Tourist Hugh Barker from Somerset with a pint of Farne Island ale

The pub, which sits in a prime location above the seaside village's old lime kilns on the quayside and commands panoramic views along the north Northumberland coast, serves a number of real ales, including Farne Island from Border Brewery.

Finance chiefs at Northumberland's cash-strapped super council are trying to recover almost £9m in unpaid council tax inherited from the county's former district authorities.

The huge debt has been revealed following the abolition of Berwick, Alnwick, Castle Morpeth, Tynedale, Wansbeck and Blyth Valley councils on April 1 - and their replacement by the all-purpose unitary council.

Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith last night expressed disappointment after failing to become Speaker of the Commons.

The Liberal Democrat MP pulled out of the election race at the second round as Tory contenders John Bercow and Sir George Young pulled ahead.

Sir Alan had won the support from dozens of MPs - including Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable, former ministers and Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy.

Older people in Northumberland are threatening a revolt against new charges for day centre care which are being brought in by the county's cash-strapped super council.

Apart from meal and transport costs, attendance at day centres has been free for elderly and disabled people until now. But means-tested fees are being introduced to help County Hall bosses make savings on their adult care budget.

Day centre clients are being assessed and told how much they will have to contribute to their care each week, based on their income and savings.

Anger has erupted after people in Northumberland were sent warning letters and court summonses by their new super council wrongly stating they had not paid their council tax.

The 'intimidating' letters have been sent out to some householders who had already paid their monthly council tax bills because of problems which have been affecting the unitary authority's revenues and benefits section since April 1.