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Work to reopen the former Northumberland Line could start "in a matter of months", regional leaders have said.
Plans are currently being worked on to resume passenger services between Newcastle and Ashington, with the project expected to cost about £162m.
And although transport bosses are still waiting for a decision on more Government funding for the scheme, it is hoped construction could begin soon.
“Now is an opportunity for us as a region to actually make this ripe for significant investment,” said Peter Jackson, the leader of Northumberland County Council.
“The Northumberland Line would be transformative to the whole area and our county, but it’s also a regional project and I’m very proud it’s actually getting nearer and nearer to being a reality.
“We could have spades in the ground in a matter of months on that one.
The crumbling, overgrown stations that could become a lifeline for Northumberland
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news in the county by visiting our new Northumberland Live homepage.
Facebook: Here's our main Northumberland page.
Twitter: You can follow the Northumberland Live page here.
Derek King

Thank you care committee

By Derek King, in News,

I want to thank the care committee and drivers for taking me to the doctor's after my heart attack and valve replacement operation. Thank you each and every one of you. You looked after me so well. Also thankyou to Mr Windsor for your help with my passport I couldn't have done it without you. When things are settled down  I will give a donation.
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A family is "worried sick" after a 28-year-old went missing after a night out.
Samantha Donkin, known as Sammie, who also uses the surname Smith, is described as being "vulnerable" and was having a difficult time when she went to meet a friend in Gateshead on Friday, June 19.
Her sister, Natalie Stokoe, told Chronicle Live: "She was fine on Friday, she said she was going to see her friend in Gateshead.
"I messaged her about 1.30am saying 'are you coming home?' and she said she was staying out, and she didn't come home the next day.
"Her friend said she got into a taxi at 11.30pm, which went to Morpeth. My sister doesn't know anyone in Morpeth as far as we know, so it doesn't add up.
"We've been ringing and messaging and she hasn't answered, so after 24 hours I reported her missing to the police, who are looking for her.
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An off-duty police officer has been praised after spotting a man swinging an axe during a heated exchange.
At about 9.45pm on Thursday June 18 a PC from Northumbria Police witnessed an exchange between two men on North Ridge in Bedlington.
After noticing one of the men was armed with an axe and appeared to be threatening the other, he raised the alarm.
Officers from the Firearms Support Unit swooped in but those involved had already fled the scene.
After a short search of the area, an axe, which had been discarded over a garden fence, was found by officers.
Two men, aged 42 and 41, were subsequently found and arrested on suspicion of affray.
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Early plans to get Northumberland's biggest towns ready for when shops reopen have been revealed.
Since the start of lockdown, in March, many town centres have lain quiet, with only essential shops allowed to operate.
But, as other retailers prepare to open on June 15, provision must be made to ensure a safe two-metre social distance can be maintained both inside shops and on the streets.
In Newcastle, a one-way walking route is planned on Northumberland Street while "social distancing circles" have appeared in Old Eldon Square.
Now, Northumberland County Council has shared its plans for the 12 key towns of Alnwick, Amble, Ashington, Berwick, Bedlington, Blyth, Cramlington, Haltwhistle, Hexham, Morpeth, Ponteland and Prudhoe.
Councillor Glen Sanderson, the county council’s cabinet member for environment and local services, said: “In Northumberland, the layout of shopping streets, particularly in some of the older towns, does not make social distancing easy, with narrow pavements and limited queueing space.
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More than 500 jobs are set to be axed at Monsoon Accessorize after the retailer announced 35 stores closures – but the majority of the region's stores will hopefully remain open.
The high street fashion retailer collapsed into administration after the hit from coronavirus scuppered its turnaround plan.
The firm said it expects to make 545 staff redundant through 35 store closures – but stores in Bedlington, Newcastle’s Eldon Square, Newcastle Airport, Gateshead Metrocentre, The Bridges Sunderland and Durham are not part of the store closure list.
The store in Middlesbrough, however, is earmarked for closure.
The business expects to make the closures despite Monsoon’s founder Peter Simon buying the business out of administration almost immediately in a pre-pack deal, overseen by advisors at FRP.
The deal will transfer around 450 jobs to Adena Brands, owned by Mr Simon, which will inject £15m into the business to allow the remaining stores to stay open.
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Boy racers are using a cemetery as a 'racetrack' amid claims parents are letting them run wild during lockdown.
Complaints have been made to Northumbria Police about youths riding motorbikes in the West Lea area of Bedlington, Northumberland.
Isabel Easson, whose daughter Bethany Fisher died in a car crash, claims a handful of teenagers are terrorising residents.
"There are two of three teenagers on motorbikes racing past the park where the children are, then going through a gap to get into the cemetery . They are using it as a racetrack," she said.
Bethany, 19, died when Jordan O'Donnell's Ford Mondeo ploughed into parked vehicles in Bedlington.
She had been out celebrating her birthday when O'Donnell lost control of the car.
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Tributes have flooded in for a 'kind' and 'caring' woman known as the Mary Poppins of the Hoppings.
Millie Barrass, 64, passed away at her Bedlington home on Sunday, May 10, following a short illness.
The Hoppings community has been left devastated at the loss of a figurehead who was loved by all those who knew her.
She also played an integral role of the successful campaign group 'Save Our Hoppings', which was launched after the popular Town Moor event was cancelled in 2013.
Close friend David Richards, 29, said: "Millie was a kind, sweet person who would do anything for anyone.
"Come hail, rain or shine you would see Millie pushing a silver cross pram followed by plenty of children.
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More than 60 vehicles were taken off the roads during an operation to stop suspected drug dealers in their tracks.
Officers aimed to disrupt organised criminal groups in Ashington and Bedlington and used intelligence to target suspected offenders.
As part of the operation, drivers were pulled over and tested for cocaine and cannabis use at the roadside.
Those who tested positive were arrested and had further drugs testing. Their vehicles were also seized.
Last month, 64 vehicles were uplifted – bringing the total number this year to just over 200 – half of which have been impounded and crushed.
A total of 30 suspected drug-drivers have been arrested - 25 are believed to have had links to organised crime.
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Everyone who enters a Northumberland cancer hospital will be tested to see if they've had coronavirus.
And the data collected through the tests could help the rest of the UK to get access to more reliable testing.
Rutherford Health plc, which runs the private Rutherford Cancer Centre in Bedlington, on Wednesday announced it was rolling out antibody testing for all patients and staff.
Just a few weeks ago, NHS bosses were suggesting antibody tests would soon be on sale through Amazon and Boots. It was said the simple tests could be taken at home and could help people get back to work by confirming they already had the virus and were likely to be immune.
The tests check blood for two types of antibodies, which the body uses to fight infection. If these antibodies are present, the person should have the ability to fight off the infection in future.
But of the 3.5million tests purchased by the UK government, none which have been so far tested meet the standards agreed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
At ChronicleLive, we’re proud to be part of the NHS Heroes campaign, which aims to make sure all the amazing people of this wonderful organisation know exactly how much they mean to the nation.
We’re asking you to show them love by helping us create a living map of gratitude from every corner of Britain.
By dropping a heart on the map, you’re saying you appreciate the efforts undertaken daily in the NHS.
To pledge your support, just go to www.thanksamillionnhs.co.uk 


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