A competition has been launched to put together a calendar of Prudhoe for 2010.

The competition has been launched by the Stationery Shop on Prudhoe's Front Street.

Organisers have asked people to send interesting pictures of the area which can be on either email or a CD.

Bosses at Northumberland's new super council have been accused of failing to comply with an independent regulator's guidance by providing an 0845 number for people who need to contact the authority.

Bob Watson is unhappy that Northumberland County Council's new number is premium rate

Members of the public who telephone the all-purpose council - which came into being on April 1 following the switch to unitary local government - now have to use a single number, 0845 600 6400, to speak to call handlers.

Tynedale Rugby Club will have the name of local telecom firm BNS on their shirts next season.

BNS chief executive, Garry Moat said: "Our HQ is in Prudhoe and many of our employees live in the area. As a business, it is important for us to actively engage with the local community. Tynedale Rugby Club runs a number of senior, youth and junior teams and therefore is involved in grass roots development of the sport."

A worker was injured by machinery in an accident at a factory in Prudhoe today.

The man was left with a piece of metal equipment piercing the flesh between his thumb and index finger after slipping at work early this morning.

Firefighters today described him as "hard as nails" after the 33-year-old refused all pain relief while they cut him free from the machine.

People with any concerns or problems following recent changes in home to school transport arrangements in the west of Northumberland are being urged to seek help and advice from the county council.

Parents or schools with worries should contact the transport unit on (01670) 533644 or 533673.

On a good weekend for the North East sides, Blaydon secured their National Two future with an 83-33 mauling of Waterloo, Percy Park won promotion to North Two East, seeing off Bridlington 36-3 in the play-offs, and Tynedale accounted for Mounts Bay 32-14 in Cornwall to finish fourth.

Tynedale closed out their season at Mounts Bay with their third straight away win in National Two.

A Jack Harrison hat-trick did the job in the South West, while cruel luck befell Ross Samson, who tore a hamstring after 15 minutes of his last Tynedale match.

People in Northumberland suffering from the effects of the economic recession are being urged to seek help and advice from Northumberland Warm Zone's benefits officer Lisa Oxley.

Lisa, who has helped hundreds of local residents claim the state benefits they are entitled to, can be contacted on (01670) 256624.

Young swimmers Prudhoe Dolphins played host to some of their French counterparts in an international swimming event.

Children from Prudhoe's twin town Mitry Mory visited Prudhoe for a mini swimming gala at Prudhoe Waterworld. Aged between eleven and sixteen, the young swimmers stayed with local families in the town for their two night stay.

Six swimmers from Mitry Mory and twelve from Prudhoe Dolphins made up three teams of six with two French children in each for some friendly team competitions followed by a group meal at The Falcon Pub in Prudhoe.

A road was closed for four hours after a car careered out of control and went up an embankment today.

The 22-year-old driver, from Cramlington, suffered cuts and bruises and was taken to Newcastle General Hospital.

The accident happened at 1.40am on the A69 road, approximately 300 metres before the Wylam turn off.

A flower named in honour of rugby superstar Jonny Wilkinson is being used to cultivate the gardening skills of green-fingered youngsters.

The Newcastle Falcons and England World Cup-winning hero is one of a number of celebrities, including Felicity Kendal, David Jason and Richard Attenborough, to have the new variety of fuchsia named after them.

Wylam County First School recieve Fuschias courtesy of Tom Martin of Wylam Nurseries. Pupils from left: Pheobe Cummins, Ewan Davies, Katie Oliver and Joseph Helm.

Now the Jonny Wilkinson fuchsia is being used in a horticultural competition involving 150 pupils at three schools in the Tyne Valley.