Blyth Valley Labour MP Ronnie Campbell (pictured) branded the summer event 'a weekend out for toffs'.

He strongly criticised Northumberland County Council - which is in the midst of making budget cuts totalling £40m over two years - for earmarking £80,000 to stage the high-profile equestrian event.

Dr Thomlinson Middle School, Rothbury First School and Thropton First School hope to meet the growing local demand for childcare before and after school, as well as during the holidays.

It is hoped arrangements will be in place by this year's school summer holidays. To take part in the study visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/78 or call Heather Cape on 01669 620287.

The petition is the largest ever collected by the RSPB.

According to the RSPB's most recent annual Birdcrime report, published last August, Northumberland is the third worst county in England for illegal persecution against birds of prey.

Previous issues of the Golden Guide have gone down so well with the over-50s that there was a waiting list for the latest 5,000-copy print run.

The free booklet, which is produced by community information specialists Clever Clogs Publishing in partnership with Age Concern Northumberland, the county council and care trust, has also been given a new design.

Fishing a black and white Devon - affectionately called the "Toon Army" - Brian landed a cock fish at 8.30am on Monday to lift the Coquet Trophy and three years' free permits.

Traditionally the fish would have been presented to the Duke of Northumberland but the Northumbrian Anglers' Federation now operates a catch and release policy until June 16.

Bicentennials are like buses: you wait an age for one and then two come along at once.

The Journal reported recently on the programme of events lined up to mark the 200th anniversary this year of the death of Admiral Lord Collingwood.

Now preparations are in full swing to celebrate a second 200th - the anniversary of the birth of another of the North East's greatest sons in Lord Armstrong.

A new set of culling projects were launched recently in the county, aiming to prevent competition and the spread of the deadly squirrel pox virus, a major cause of the reds' decline.

A recent study concluded that the number of grey sightings has risen despite widespread culling, though critics say the study was unable to give a true picture of grey populations. A second objection is that the practise is an unnecessarily cruel one.

There will be a number of activities taking place at the Rothbury property over half term, including family trails and walks.

The Liberal Democrat MP was revealed to have claimed expenses for cleaning his home, laundry, a new television and kitchen equipment when the furore over expenses broke.

He was also listed as claiming around £1,200 a month in rent on average.

The Great Northumberland Picnics project, to be launched in April through their Made in Northumberland scheme, is designed to act as the ultimate local resource on where to have a picnic and what to eat and drink when you get there.

The project is busy compiling suggestions with the help of people in the North East as to what makes their perfect picnic.

The Scamnesty 2010 campaign runs from February 1 to 26 and will involve people dropping mail scams they receive through their letterbox into designated Scamnesty boxes which will be placed across Northumberland.

Online scams can also be reported via the virtual Scamnesty bin at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.

John Kennair removed a hedge, filled in a roadside ditch and built the two metre-high, 90m-long timber fence along the verge of the main A697 road near the village of Longhorsley.

Mr Kennair - who failed to seek planning permission for the work from the county council - claimed it improves visibility for drivers on a dangerous stretch of road and reduces the impact of traffic noise on his home.

The auction by Christies of almost 300 lots from Newton Hall, near Alnwick, raised £876, 787, against a pre-sale estimate of £400,000.

The mansion, built in 1722, was the home of the influential land owning Widdrington family and also has links to the Cooks and the Herons.

More than 400 nest boxes have been put up for the birds in Northumberland in the last 10 years,

But the recent snow and ice has hit the birds hard, with 15 dead owls having been found so far.

Seven culling projects have received £24,000 and will soon begin in the North East - including several in strategic areas of Northumberland - in an attempt to save red squirrel populations from the grey onslaught.

The work will try to thin the number of greys so that the much-loved red squirrels have less competition and less of a chance of catching the dreaded squirrel pox virus.