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.

Football-mad youngsters in Northumberland will be able to try out their skills at a series of free football coaching taster sessions.

Children will benefit from professional coaching at the sessions, courtesy of the Northumberland Football Partnership (NFP).

The NFP will hold sessions, led by the NFP's qualified coaches, in Prudhoe and Hexham, where children from five to 14 can take part.

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.

Northumbrian leisure centre staff will be competing alongside 5,000 swimmers at the British Gas Great North Swim.

Staff from North Country Leisure's head office, Wentworth Leisure Centre and Prudhoe Waterworld will all be putting on their swimming outfits for the popular event.

After a hugely successful launch last year, the Great North Swim will take place over two days, September 12 and 13 to accommodate the large numbers.

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.

Free check-ups for electric blankets are on offer to pensioners in Northumberland.

The checks will be carried out in Ponteland, Prudhoe, Heddon-on-the-Wall, Hexham, Allendale, Haydon Bridge, Bellingham and Otterburn during the week beginning September 14.

Testing will be by appointment only, which can be made by telephoning (01670) 534570 from September 1. Early booking is advisable.

Grey squirrels will be extinct in Northumberland by the end of next year, campaigners say.

A week of action by the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership invited people all over the county to report their sightings of greys.

The RSPP has trapped and shot more than 23,000 grey squirrels in the last two-and-a-half years, as part of a drive to protect native red squirrels.

The controversial cull has divided opinion, but those behind it say if it had not taken place the native red squirrel would already have died out.

A pilot who cheated death in three flying accidents has been told by doctors he will never fly again.

Jim Martin, who has flown for the Great North Air Ambulance and the police, was at the controls of his microlight aircraft when the tail fell off after a bolt snapped.

The aircraft plunged 1,000ft to the ground near Burgham Park Golf Course, north of Morpeth, in December 2007.

A survey has been launched in Prudhoe to find out the types of communications people use to learn about local events and services.

The Prudhoe survey will be distributed to around 7,000 homes in the town, as well as given out to people in its Front Street during August and September.

A number of shops in the town are also making survey forms available, while it is online at www.prudhoesurvey.co.uk