Three-tier education could be retained in parts of Northumberland - three years after a huge petition to keep it.

A major review of education plans in the county could now ditch the controversial intention to scrap all 44 middle schools.

The original plan to convert the entire county to a system of primary and secondary education is likely to be scrapped as part of a revised Putting The Learner First (PLF) strategy.

A multimillion pound TV and radio studio could be built in Tynedale.

The £5m development would be part of a string of media centres nationwide.

Designs are being drawn up by Napper Architects, the firm behind The Alnwick Garden and the Law Courts on Newcastle Quayside.

Funding would come from a £55m pot from the Department for Children Schools and Families to create media centres nationwide.

Almost 50 vehicles were stopped as part of a police crackdown on red diesel in Northumberland.

Two teams of officers spent a day targeting Hexham, Corbridge, Haltwhistle and Allendale and two motorists were fined.

Sgt Nick Garrett said: "We also dealt with other road traffic offences and gathered some valuable intelligence."

Plans for an opencast mine in a hamlet near Haltwhistle are to be opposed by local Conservatives.

As previously reported by The Journal, HM Project Developments is seeking to excavate 140,000 tonnes of coal from Halton Lea Gate, near the Cumbrian border.

A planning application has already been submitted to Northumberland County Council for three and a half years' work at the 75-acre site.

A woman who was wrongly sacked from her job at an estate agent has been awarded more than £13,000 following an employment tribunal.

Dawn MacMillan, 45, of Featherstone, near Haltwhistle, Northumberland, took her employer Northumbrian Independent Estate Agents to a tribunal after being sacked in April from her position as a sales negotiator at the town office.

Tynedale rugby director John Shotton believes his club can field the best XV in National Two if they have everyone available.

Tynedale moved into fourth place in the division after their North East derby victory over Blaydon, leaving them 13 points clear of their regional rivals before the league's Christmas break.

It was another notable scalp for Tynedale in a season in which they have surprised many after promotion as champions last season - but rugby director Shotton always felt that they possessed strength-in-depth.

"With the reorganisation of the leagues it's very difficult to get promoted because just one team will be going up, but we've started to look towards that part of the table now," he said.

Budget proposals - including proposed efficiency savings and likely Council Tax levels - for Northumberland's new unitary council will be discussed at a series of area committee meetings in January, which are open to the public.

The Tynedale meeting will be held in Hexham's Beaumont Hotel at 6pm on the 20th.

There were few points but plenty of excitement as Blaydon wasted a wonderful opportunity to beat Tynedale in National League Two.

Tynedale somehow managed to edge the derby encounter 8-5, despite being put under severe pressure by the visitors, with some desperate last-ditch defending preserving their long unbeaten record at Corbridge.

The North couple injured in the terrorist attacks in India have returned to their home in the region.

Michael and Diane Murphy were released from hospital in London and are recuperating at their home in Ridley near Bardon Mill.

The couple were still too upset to talk to the press, but one of their sons, Graham, told The Journal: "I can confirm my parents are back at home and recovering."

Bumper pay rises of up to 40% for county councillors in Northumberland have been approved in principle - but will be subject to a public consultation exercise on whether they are acceptable and affordable.

Pay rates for the 67 members of the county's new unitary council have been recommended by an independent remuneration panel, and reflect the extra workload which they will face following introduction of the single, all-purpose authority in April.