Thousands of people who put their names to petitions opposing the potential closure of day care centres in Northumberland have been sent official council letters - questioning whether they had the right information when they signed.

The letters - signed by a senior member of the Liberal Democrat administration at County Hall - have gone out to almost 2,500 people who signed petitions calling for the seven county council-run centres for the elderly and disabled to remain open.

Yesterday they were branded insulting, unnecessary and a waste of taxpayers' money by some of those who have received them.

Plans have been entered for a lasting tribute to late rugby player Ali Johnson.

Ali, who lived at Coanwood, in Northumberland, was left paralysed after being injured in a collapsed scrum while playing for Tynedale Rugby Club in 2004.

A specially-adapted bungalow was being built for Ali on his family's farm at near Haltwhistle, but he died aged 28 before work was completed.

In the South Tyne Valley, Greenhead held its village duck day for the 11th year running. It continues to grow and organisers were heartened by the number of helpers who came to set up in the morning.

Several hundred people came along and in past years the event has raised £1,000 for the village hall. There were also craft and produce stalls, a barbecue, a children's music competition and the Fire Brigade came along for the day.

Committee member Barbara Marshall said: "We sold 800 ducks - for a little village, that's gone really well. We've also sold 300 raffle tickets and local businesses have been fantastic in supporting us with prizes."

The Gilsland Agricultural Society's Annual Show will take place this weekend.

Held at Triermain Farm on Sunday, the show features animals, children's races, dry stone-walling, Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, a beer tent and much more.

Show secretary, Michael Cowell, has already received nearly 800 entries for stock and produce classes - and there is still time to enter the canine and children's classes at the showfield on the day.

Residents, businesses and organisations across Northumberland are being asked to have their say on a major review which will shape future car parking policy in the county.

County council bosses are undertaking the review in a bid to devise suitable management arrangements for all of the car parks that it owns or manages.

The exercise will also help county councillors decide whether to leave car parking free in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck, or introduce charges similar to those currently facing motorists in towns such as Berwick, Alnwick, Hexham and Morpeth.

History and heritage in the North East are attracting more visitors than last year as families choose to holiday at home.

Figures released this week show that English Heritage is bucking economic downturn trends with a great start to the first quarter of the tourism season.

Visitor numbers to key sites such as Belsay Hall and Housesteads Roman Fort (pictured) are up 25% on the same period last year, while English Heritage membership is up by 50%.

Hospitals in Northumberland have been given top marks by a national body set up to improve patient care.

All 10 hospitals run by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust were rated as "excellent" by the National Patient Safety Agency.

Pictured from top left: Alnwick Infirmary, Berwick Infirmary, Hexham General Hospital, Morpeth Cottage Hospital, Haltwhistle War Memorial Hospital and Wansbeck General Hospital

It is one of only 32 trusts in England to achieve the highest rating in all categories for each of its hospital sites in the agency's annual Patient Environment Action Team assessments.

A Labour MP has accused council bosses of using the excuse of following Government policy in planning to close seven Northumberland day care centres for elderly and vulnerable people.

The Liberal Democrat-led county council is consulting on plans to give elderly people personal budgets to spend on social activities - which could lead to the closure of the traditional council-run day centres in Amble, Bedlington, Blyth, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Prudhoe and Ponteland.

A couple from Northumberland yesterday spoke of how their dream holiday was more "like being in Durham prison".

Geoff and Liz Mills were passengers on the Marco Polo which was hit by a mass outbreak of the vomiting bug norovirus.

The Bardon Mill couple were confined to their cabin for almost a week as the virus swept the ship. Geoff said: "The cabins on board are great under normal circumstances but when you're sat in them for 24 hours, it's like being in Durham prison."

Public meetings have been taking place across Northumberland and North Tyneside asking people for their views on the £200m package of proposals for hospital services.

The scheme involves a new specialist emergency care hospital off the A19 near Cramlington, improvements to Wansbeck and North Tyneside general hospitals and rebuilding community hospitals in Berwick and Haltwhistle.

In response to concerns about emergency care, a spokesman for the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: "We're disappointed that a small number of councillors have expressed these concerns.