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Resting in her bed, Holly Oakley often wonders what life lies ahead for her.
The 16-year-old claims she has been left a “prisoner in her own home” after taking the controversial HPV vaccine.
Holly says she has been left virtually housebound by the human papilloma virus injections, which help prevent cervical cancer.
Once part of Newcastle United’s academy, the teenager now suffers from severe fatigue and is often too exhausted to get out of bed.
Mum Vicky, 46, is certain her daughter’s health problems are linked to the Gardasil vaccine, which is routinely offered to 12 and 13-year-old girls to protect them against cancer.
She said: “Holly was energetic and full of life. After the vaccines her life would never be the same again. There needs to be more information about the risks.
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A pensioner is in a critical condition after she was hit by a van while crossing a road in Bedlington on Friday morning.
The 78-year-old woman was crossing Hartford Road in the Northumberland town just before 10am when she was hit by a Ford transit tipper van, which was also towing a trailer.
The woman suffered serious head and leg injuries and she has been taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where her condition is described as being “critical, but stable”.
The air ambulance was called to the scene, but paramedics opted to drive the elderly woman to hospital instead.
Police closed the road for two hours while the woman received medical treatment and was driven to hospital, but it has since re-opened.
Officers investigating the crash are now appealing for witnesses and a Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: “A Ford transit tipper van towing a trailer was travelling south on Hartford Road when it collided with a 78-year-old woman who was crossing the road.
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Police are appealing for witnesses following  a collision Hartford Road, Bedlington in Northumberland at 10.07am, on Friday, July 28, when an elderly woman pedestrian was injured.
A Ford transit tipper van towing a trailer was travelling south on Hartford Road when it collided with a 78-year-old woman who was crossing the road.
The woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to the RVI for treatment.  Her condition is described being critical but stable with suspected serious head and leg injuries.
The road was closed for two hours to allow for the casualty to be dealt with and the scene to be investigated.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting reference 270 of 28/07/17
 
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A trusted care home manager pocketed nearly £7,000 from a vulnerable resident by secretly using her bank card.
Greedy Shirley Ward was in charge of withdrawing cash for the victim’s day-to-day living expenses while she was staying at Melrose House Care Home, in Cullercoats, North Tyneside.
But, the 58-year-old soon started helping herself to the money, taking almost £7,000 over a 12-month period and hiding bank statements so her deceit wasn’t detected, a court heard.
The fraud was only uncovered when the bank account of the victim, who suffered from emphysema and asthma and needed a constant oxygen supply, was completely drained of funds and struggled to pay for her place in the home.
And it was only after Ward was dismissed for an unrelated matter that her scam came to light and the police found the hidden bank statements and three of the victim’s bank cards, Newcastle Crown Court was told.
Now, Ward, of Hartford Crescent, Bedlington, has avoided being immediately sent to prison after she pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position and was given a suspended sentence.
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With less than 50 days to go until the Tour of Britain races through Northumberland,  businesses, community groups and local residents are being called upon to help decorate the route and help turn the county red and yellow - the colours of the Northumberland flag.

The people of Northumberland are being asked to take part in the colourful project painting and displaying their old or unwanted bicycles to celebrate the Northumberland stage of the race which takes place on Monday September 4.

Businesses can also get involved by dressing their streets and shop windows with red and yellow bunting, flags, flowers or cycling displays.

The Northumberland stage of the race is due to start  in Kielder Water & Forest Park  and finish in Blyth, passing  through  28  communities along its 211 km route.

In 2015 The Tour of Britain swept through the county creating a wave of excitement as some of the world’s top cyclists, including Sir Bradley Wiggins cycled through our communities.

Residents and businesses dressed the route in the distinctive red and yellow colours of the Northumberland flag and thousands of spectators lined the route to cheer on the cyclists and give them a fantastic welcome.  It is hoped that this year  local communities will be just as involved.

Northumberland County Councillor, Cath Homer, cabinet member with responsibility for culture, arts and leisure  said:

“ The  Tour of Britain is the UK’s largest professional cycle race and is broadcast all around the world so it is a great chance to showcase the county as a fabulous place to visit and cycle in.


“We want to  add a real splash of the Northumberland  red and yellow  colours to the race route and would really like local residents to help us by getting creative and getting involved.  We’ve spoken to  the parish councils along the route  and would really like local people to support them in decorating  their communities.”


The eight-stage race runs from 3- 10 September with the Northumberland stage taking place on Monday 4 September –  full Northumberland route details can be found at www.nlandtob.com  
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Summer means festivals and, while that can also mean muddy mayhem, it mainly means marvellous music - and lots of it.
It's certainly not all about Glastonbury or other biggies such as Reading or Leeds. Newcastle and the wider North East has plenty of its own to be proud of and there’s no need to spend hundreds of pounds on a ticket - not to mention travelling costs - when there are music festivals galore on your doorstep.
As festival season gets underway, here is a round-up of where and when you can enjoy live music this summer, whether you like to dip your toes somewhere new, such as Q Festival, or whether you're a regular at South Tyneside Festival.
Our guide - and we'll be adding to it - covers the region.
In Northumberland, we've already enjoyed Northumberland Live at Blyth Beach as well as Corbridge Festival and have just danced along to SummerTyne Americana Festival on Gateshead Quayside - but there are lots more festivals to come, ranging from Live From Times Square in Newcastle, which is up next, to Harwick Live in County Durham.
So get planning to get out there in the fresh air - even if it turns out a bit too fresh on occasion - and prepare to soak up enough festival experience to generate musical memories for years to come.
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The likes of Mustang Sally and In the Midnight Hour are set to rock Bedlington on Saturday when the day-long Northumberland Live gets underway.
The Commitments will be topping the bill at the music festival which is set to draw crowds to the town’s Gallagher Park.
The eight-piece headliners - headed up by frontman Dave Finnegan who played bouncer and drummer Mickah Wallace in The Commitments film - will be setting the tone on the day with their instantly-recognisable soul classics - which also include Destination Anywhere - and all the hits from the famous movie.
After last weekend’s wet weather put a dampener on Sunderland Airshow and Pride festival, it’s fingers crossed for the free family-friendly event.
But optimistic promoters reckon that it will be a case of temperatures “in the 70s and music in the 80s” on Saturday as the play-list gets underway.
Also on the programme will be the likes of the West End 80’s Mania show, featuring songs and dance from the age of synthesizers and leggings, plus UB40 tribute band Ultimate 40.
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Northern Pride has been growing in strength since it began 10 years ago. Northumberland County Council is proud to be part of the movement, helping to break down barriers and creating a more open dialogue with members of the LGBT community.    Northern Pride took place on Newcastle Town Moor from 21st to 23rd July and Northumberland County Council was there to show support for the LGBT community. Along with flying the rainbow flag at County Hall, members of the County Council took part in the Pride parade and also held a joint stall during the weekend’s event along with colleagues from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.    Northumberland County Council is committed to building relationships with the LGBT community. Working in partnership with local and national groups, a ‘toolkit’ has been developed to help the growing number of schools who are supporting young people who question their assigned gender identity.    Northumberland County Councillor Veronica Jones, cabinet member for Adult Wellbeing and Health, said: “Northumberland County Council is a keen supporter of Northern Pride and undertakes a range of activities to support and work with the LGBT community. Through Northern Pride we can engage directly with members of the LGBT community and showcase our services.    “Our work to increase engagement and support for the LGBT community builds upon our involvement with Northern Pride and includes: our work with schools, creating a safe working environment and supporting our LGBT staff, engaging with young people and the wider LGBT community. We also aim to increase the diversity of our workforce by providing information on our apprenticeship opportunities,  jobs and careers  at our Pride stall”
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The launch of new identity cards for people with brain injuries comes as welcome relief for survivors in the North East.
His Royal Highness Prince Harry has launched the new initiative by Headway, a charity that supports people affected by brain injury.
The card is part of the charity’s Justice Project, which aims to raise awareness of brain injury within the criminal justice system, and ensure survivors are identified at the earliest possible opportunity to ensure they receive appropriate support.
The ID card has the additional benefit of breaking down social exclusion, with holders having renewed confidence in the knowledge they can easily explain their support needs should they require assistance in everyday situations.
Charles Southam, 28, from Bedlington, who receives support from local group Headway Tyneside, is grateful for the idea.
He said: “Brain injury is often a hidden disability and people struggle to understand that service users have anything wrong with them because they look so ‘normal’.


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