Hundreds of elderly and disabled people who use seven council-run day centres in Northumberland face a three-month wait to find out whether they can be saved from closure.

A series of public meetings on the future of the threatened centres in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Hexham, Haltwhistle, Ponteland and Prudhoe - which are used by 370 people a week - has now been completed, and final decisions will be taken in September.

Further private meetings will be held with individual centre users and their families, and feedback from the public consultation analysed, before reports setting out the various options are presented to county councillors.

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.

Fears were voiced last night over the potential impact on the health of elderly and vulnerable people if care chiefs press ahead with controversial plans to close seven day centres in Northumberland.

Relatives of elderly dementia suffers who use the council-run Lyndon Walk day centre in Blyth said they are worried that their conditions will get even worse if they have to uproot themselves and move elsewhere.

Two women told a public meeting in the town that their mothers don't cope well with change, and questioned whether adequate alternative provision will be available if the centre closes.

A white mountain of unwanted household appliances is being whittled down to size to help make Northumberland one of the greenest counties.

Hundreds of discarded electrical goods from freezers, fridges and cookers to toasters and hair driers are being collected and recycled.

Last year 1,600 tonnes of appliances were dealt with by Haltwhistle-based Cooler Recycling Solutions (CRS), helping Northumberland to a waste recycling rate of almost 39%.

Amateur photographer Harry Bleech added this photo of a lone Roman Soldier patrolling the heights of Hadrian's Wall to the Your Place Northumberland Flickr group.

The North East's only Conservative MP has returned more than £100 in "gardening" expense claims.

Hexham's Peter Atkinson last month told The Journal his claims were reasonable for his second home in London.

But he declared being ready to repay money if ordered to do so by an internal party panel examining Tory MPs' expense claims.

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 Northumberland school is set to be transformed into a bed of creativity after a huge cash windfall.

The British Arts Council has donated £45,000 through its Creative Partnership Scheme to help Haydon Bridge Community High School enhance and develop creativity among teachers and pupils over a three-year period.

The project started yesterday [COR] with a host of experts offering activities from sculpture to food design, animation, rap and street dance.

People in a rural Northumberland town have delivered a clear message to council chiefs they will fight controversial plans to close their local day care centre for elderly and vulnerable people.

Almost 400 people in Haltwhistle have signed a petition opposing the closure of the Greenholme centre, one of seven which the county council and Care Trust are proposing to close to help save £1.28m.

It was handed over at a public meeting attended by about 150 people in the town's methodist church, part of the consultation process on the planned changes to day care services.

An aspiring athlete is cycling her way to success with the help of a Northumberland hotel.

Professional downhill mountain biker Sarah Newman came even closer to fulfilling her dream of becoming the world champion in the adrenaline-fuelled sport after bosses at Matfen Hall Leisure Club decided to step in and lend a hand.

The hotel has given 23-year-old Sarah, from Haydon Bridge, complimentary use of their state-of-the-art gym, meaning her gruelling training schedule is easier to achieve.