Walkers helping to improve some of Northumberland's most scenic rural locations have put themselves in the frame for a national photography competition.

The Haltwhistle Friends have done everything from footpath repair to tree planting as part of their regular rambles through the Bellister Estate over the past five years.

Haltwhistle Friends, (left to right) Ian Walton, Raymond Walton and Tony Miller taking pictures near Haltwhistle

By snapping themselves in action, they have become one of the first North East entries in a national campaign encouraging people to get out and about and enjoy the environment.

A new community park was unveiled yesterday, after Northumberland families raised the £135,000 needed to build it.

The Haltwhistle Community Park and Play Area opened yesterday afternoon, much to the delight of the local families who will now be able to enjoy the facilities.

Coun Vic Fleming of Haltwhistle Town Council was one of the driving forces behind the project.

A bypass built after 70 years of "desperate" pressure has been condemned by parish councillors.

The new £30m road, which takes the A69 Newcastle to Carlisle road around Haydon Bridge, in Northumberland, was supposed to help villagers escape the noise and danger that has blighted their lives for years.

John Oxnard is concerned about the safety of the Haydon Bridge bypass

But now residents and parish councillors claim the bypass is an accident waiting to happen, with motorists wanting to turn on to the A686 forced into the path of oncoming traffic going at 60mph

After a packed summer of family events around Northumberland, the final weekend of the summer holidays is beckoning, with another busy programme across the county.

The event likely to attract the biggest crowd is the Glendale Show (pictured), now in its 117th year, featuring a host of rural attractions and stalls. Spectacular carriage driving and falconry displays and a Ready Steady Cook style cooking competition are some of the highlights of the event on Bank Holiday Monday.

In the bottom corner of the county on the same day, Blanchland & Hunstanworth Show (see link below) will be taking place, and two days before on Saturday Bellingham will also be welcoming visitors to its Show to take part and watch various traditional competitions.

A new look for Northumberland online is being fronted by TV presenter Wendy Gibson.

The BBC personality features in a video on Northumberland Tourism's relaunched website, offering potential visitors to the region a virtual tour of some of its highlights.

Among the sites explored from spectacular aerial views are Hadrian's Wall, Bamburgh Castle, Berwick, and Lindisfarne.

A popular youth club has gone from enforced closure to turning people away after villagers took control.

The youth club at Greenhead in the Tyne Valley has now taken the decision to stop taking more children on to its books because they simply do not have the resources to cope with the demand.

Children from Greenhead youth club with leaders Karen Ballantyne and Graham Ferguson, and High Sheriff John Blackett-Ord

With many activities from badminton, football and table tennis to crafts and cooking, it proves popular with children from across the district including Haltwhistle.

A frail widow is facing the prospect of having to move out of the rural market town where she has lived for the whole of her life - at the age of 102.

Great grandmother Maude Thompson, who celebrated her 102nd birthday with her family earlier this month, is one of a dwindling band of elderly people still living in the county council-run Greenholme residential home in Haltwhistle.

Numbers are now down to six, and with several more expected to leave soon locals believe the closure of the home is inevitable.

Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton has been charged with a road traffic offence in Northumberland.

It follows an incident when his car was allegedly caught by a speed camera exceeding a 30mph limit on the A69 at Haydon Bridge in December last year.

Barton, 26, has been charged with failing to supply details of the identity of the driver of the vehicle to Northumbria Police.

A major review of local government boundaries in Northumberland is entering its second phase.

The Boundary Committee for England has started a second round of public consultation on future arrangements for the county's new unitary council.

The main purpose of the review is to ensure "electoral equality" following the restructuring of local government last year.

Tynedale could become a top filming venue for movie and TV crews in the future. This is part of the ambitious plan of a group that wants to promote the area and make the most of its burgeoning arts scene.

Members of Tynedale FM want to expand the currently closed district radio station and are looking into many possibilities to promote the area, including an arts magazine.

They have even discussed cutting-edge technology to keep locals engaged with what is going on in their part of Northumberland, including getting the radio through the mobile and having podcasts for people to download.