A draft plan outlining the future of Northumberland National Park has been unveiled.

This is the first new management plan in six years and it forms the basis of how the countryside around the Cheviots and Hadrian's Wall can be protected for the next 20 years.

The plan also includes ways to address the impact of climate change, efforts to balance ecology with the local economy and increasing the number of people visiting the park.

Tynedale host Westcombe Park looking to erase the memory of the defeat at Blackheath last weekend.

From one London club to another, Tynedale rugby chairman John Shotton hopes his men will never make the same mistakes again.

With three potential opensides out injured, coach Tom Borthwick will delay his selection as long as possible. Shotton said: "Last week was the worst we have played in Tom's four years as coach."

Northumberland's new super council is to retain the existing county council's official logo when it takes over following local government reorganisation in April.

A working group has concluded there is merit in reviewing the 35-year-old logo to ensure it reflects the new unitary council's vision and values.

However, the need to prioritise effective service delivery from April 1 means it will be retained for the time being.

Tomorrow will see the launch of a new free newspaper for Journal readers in Northumberland.

Journal Extra will come free with The Journal every Thursday with 36 pages of news and sport from around the county in addition to The Journal's normal service.

Regular features in Journal Extra will include a nostalgia page, readers' pictures of Northumberland and a weekly focus on one of the county's schools. There will also be weekly promotions and competitions exclusively for our Northumberland readers.

A bird food supplier from Haltwhistle joined up with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust to help wildlife at one of the trust's nature reserves.

Poltross Enterprises has donated almost a quarter of a tonne of seed, grain and nuts to feed the birds at the trust's busy Big Waters feeding station, near Hazelrigg.

The species of birds which will benefit from the generosity of Poltross include trees sparrows, reed buntings, yellow hammer, blue tits, great tits, robins, goldfinches and chaffinches.

A driver escaped unhurt after his vehicle was in collision with a JCB bucket on a Northumberland road.

The accident happened around 5.30pm yesterday on the Military Road, Housesteads, near Haydon Bridge.

The driver of the car did not suffer any injuries following the collision although firefighters were called to the scene.

Businesses working with tourists in the area around Hadrian's Wall are being urged to brush up on their local knowledge to help bring more money into the local economy.

Hadrian's Wall Heritage Ltd has launched a series of events covering the local countryside, area and history aimed at people running businesses such as hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation.

John Shotton hopes Tynedale's Blackheath humbling will serve as a wake-up call.

The Corbridge men were outgunned 28-3 in East London, punished for sloppy fringe defence.

Rugby chairman Shotton said his side's set-piece work went well, but other than that, he rued slim pickings.

Talks are continuing in a bid to resolve a long-running dispute over the fees paid to the owners of independent care homes for the elderly in Northumberland.

Officials from the county council and Care Trust have been in negotiations with dozens of private sector operators for 18 months over how much they should be paid for providing residential care for elderly and disabled people.

Post office users in five Northumberland villages have been given a boost with 'improved' services. But some say the only improvement they would like is a fully reinstated branch.

Belsay, Gilsland, Netherton, Stannington and Rochester have all secured improvements in their proposed postal services, as part of an ongoing review of Post Office Ltd's decisions to scale back services sparked by pressure from communities working with Northumberland County Council.