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Inspirational marathon man Mark Allison has been inspiring schoolchildren before he sets off on one of his most difficult challenges yet. Mark is known as “Run Geordie Run” for the incredible feats of fundraising which have seen him pledge to run all the way round the world. The runner, 46 from Bedlington, is just under a month away from picking up where he left off, in Belgrade. He aims to complete a gruelling 2,900 miles on this fifth leg of his challenge - passing through Serbia, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and finishing in Astana, Kazakhstan. To reach Astana, Mark will be running 31 miles per day, which will allow him just seven rest days during the 100 day run, and pulling a fully laden buggy weighing 110kg (17.3 stone). For the first time, he won’t have a support team helping out, and will have to pull everything he needs on specially designed buggy called ‘Chappie,’ which he will tow behind him as he runs. The buggy, provided by sponsors Chapman Ventilation, will be used for cooking and storage in the day, and a bed at night.

A multi-million pound plan to “reinvigorate” a “forgotten” town centre is moving forward as cash is released. Northumberland County Council has announced that just under £6.5m had been released for a planned redevelopment of the former Tesco site in Bedlington . Though the businesses set to join the town have not yet been announced, the council says a “well-known food retailer”, more shops, apartments and car parks are on their way. The plans, estimated to cost £10m overall, were released in 2016 by the council’s redevelopment company, Arch. The scheme is set to bring up to 200 jobs to Bedlington. It was initially hoped construction would start in “late 2017”, but the start date is now estimated to be late this summer, subject to contracts being agreed.

Shoppers in Newcastle could not fail to spot early morning queues forming in Grainger Street on Saturday morning. Lines of people were spotted waiting patiently for a certain shop to open - and for comic book fans it would be clearly worth the wait. Saturday is Free Comic Book Day and to mark the annual event the popular Forbidden Planet store had plenty giveaways ready for its 9.30am opening. Prior to that, the Travelling Man shop just a couple of doors down the street had opened especially early for the same purpose. It meant several of the queue could stock up on freebies there, when it opened its doors at 8am, and then take a place outside Forbidden Planet, which specialises in science fiction fantasy. Among them was 28-year-old Ben Leslie from Bedlington, Northumberland, who had already picked up two free comics in Travelling Man, having arrived at the shop at 6am.

It’s that time of year. There’s been a flicker of sunshine so disposable barbecues and bags of charcoal are piled up outside petrol stations as the North East gets its grill on. The scent of charred food and smoke is as much a part of summer as beer gardens and brief interests in tennis. With a plethora of scenic parks and breathtaking beaches, it’s no surprise many of us opt to pick up a throwaway barbecue, gather our pals and head to the nearest beauty spot. But there are rules about where you can and can’t light up the BBQ. The council discourages BBQs in public spaces, but has issued guidelines for anyone who uses one.

Plans to rejuvenate Bedlington town centre are moving to the next stage after funds were released by the board of Northumberland County Council’s regeneration company for a multi-million pound re-development.

Police are searching for a teenage boy who has gone missing from his Northumberland home. Liam Soloman, 14, has been missing since earlier this month when he left his address on Barrington Road in Bedlington. Officers believe he could be in the Sunderland area and are continuing their investigation to find him. They are now appealing for help from the public to track him down. A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: “Police are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare and now police are asking for help from the public to locate him. “He is described as white, 5ft4in tall, of slim build and with short, fair hair.

Rock legend Mark Knopfler honoured fallen war heroes as he performed a moving guitar version of the Last Post. Mark, who grew up on Tyneside, dedicated his performance to the 17,000 Northumberland Fusiliers killed in the First World War. The rendition was part of a centenary music project organised by community group Superact, which will see events held between November 4 to 18 to mark 100 years since the start of the Great War. Mark said: “The First World War left its mark on families throughout the UK, and throughout the world. “It is important to remember the sacrifices made, and to think about why wars happen.” Having gone to school in Blyth, Mark dedicated the Last Post performance to the Northumberland regiment, which suffered more casualties in the war then any other.

If you have seen Lee Hall’s play The Pitmen Painters, you will be familiar with The Bedlington Terrier, one of the paintings that plays a prominent part in one funny and touching scene. The picture of the little white dog – an example of the native Northumberland breed – is attributed to Jimmy Floyd in the play. But it was actually the work of William Scott, another member of the so-called Ashington Group, those now famous amateur painters who gathered in a hut after work – often shifts at the pit – to paint pictures. Scott was one of the older members of the Ashintgon Group and The Bedlington Terrier, done when he was about 70, is the only known example of his work. You might imagine that such a well-known painting resides at Woodhorn Museum, near Ashington, home of the permanent collection chosen by the pitmen painters themselves to represent their best work. But in fact The Bedlington Terrier has been in private hands since it was bought for £2 at the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, before the Second World War.

There’s still a few months until it takes place but this year’s Northumberland Live in Bedlington will most definitely have The X Factor thanks to its headline act. Rounding things off on what will hopefully be a sun drenched day of fun on Saturday, July 28 will be Matt Cardle, who triumphed on the famous ITV show in 2010, seeing off Cher Lloyd, One Direction and Rebecca Ferguson in that year’s final. Matt’s first solo single, When We Collide went straight to number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and became the second biggest-selling single of 2010 with 815,000 copies sold within two weeks. By the following June it had sold one million copies. The singer/songwriter is now gearing up to release his fourth album Time To Be Alive which will come out on April 27. This year will be the third that Northumberland Live at Bedlington has taken place. Last year, The Commitments entertained thousands of people at the free spectacle and two years ago, the first concert saw Johnny Hates Jazz headline. Once again, the Northumberland Live Festival looks set to appeal to all ages and members of the family. Also announced on the bill is Midnight Soul Sisters who will perform classics songs by The Supremes, Tina Turner, Amy Winehouse, Chic and Beyonce. Other bands will be announced in due course. The event is being funded by East Bedlington Parish Council with contributions from Ward Councillors funds and personal contributions from Keith Grimes and John Batey.

A million selling, number one chart topping artist is set to headline Northumberland Live at Bedlington this July.

The Pedalling for a Purpose event that recently took place at Paramount Health and Fitness in Bedlington raised a big total.

A man has appeared in court after being charged following a spate of robberies in Newcastle. Andrew Robinson, 38, from Newlands in Gosforth, Newcastle has been charged with three counts of robbery, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon and one count of imitation firearm. One incident occurred at around 2.30pm, on March 15, at Nisa Local, St James Street in Gosforth, where the offender used a hammer to threaten staff into handing over money. The other two took place on March 23, the first at around 6.15am at the Shell Garage in Gosforth where the offender used an imitation firearm to steal a quantity of cash. The second robbery that day was at around 5.30pm, at Omers Convenience Store, Addycombe Terrace in Heaton, where the offender again used a hammer to threaten staff into handing over money. Robinson appeared at Bedlington Magistrates Court on March 26 and will next appear at Newcastle Crown Court on April 23.

A swathe of brightly coloured bluebells is truly a thing of beauty and here are some of the best places to enjoy them in the North East. Do let us know if there is anywhere we’ve missed and we will add it to the list - just email community@ncjmedia.co.uk with all the details. The bluebells are usually in flower from mid April until late May. The Woodland Trust said: “This early flowering makes the most of the sunlight that reaches the woodland floor before the full woodland canopy casts its shade. Millions of bulbs may grow closely together in one wood, creating one of nature’s most stunning displays. Half of the world’s population of bluebells are here in the UK. You’ll find them in broadleaved woodland, along hedgerows and in fields.” The Woodland Trust say the hybrid or Spanish bluebell is overtaking the traditional, sweet-scented native plants. Here is how to tell the difference: Native plants are deep violet-blue though a genetic mutation occasionally causes white flowers, the flower stem droops or nods distinctly to one side, almost all flowers are on one side of the stem, hanging down to one side. The flowers are a narrow, straight-sided bell with parallel sides, petal tips curl back and the flowers have a strong, sweet scent. The Spanish bluebells are pale to mid-blue, and often also white or pink. The flower stem is stiff and upright, with flowers sticking out all the way round the stem. Flowers are a wide open, almost cone-shaped bell and the petal tips flare slightly outwards. They have little or no scent at all.

Northumberland residents are reminded that all bin collections across the county will be one day late during the week of the Easter Monday bank holiday. Monday collections will take place on the Tuesday, Tuesday on the Wednesday, Wednesday on the Thursday and Thursday on Friday.All collections this week, beginning 26 March, are as normal.The day changes affect all collections, including recycling, general rubbish and garden waste.For more information about waste and recycling in Northumberland, including checking your collection days, visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/waste

A state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre is set to create 50 jobs when it opens in Northumberland this summer. The Rutherford Cancer Centre, in Bedlington, is due to open later this year, creating a large number of jobs in clinical and administrative roles. The centre is one of five being developed by Proton Partners International across the UK, after the company raised £200m to develop the facilities. Part of the funding came from The Journal’s Let’s Grow programme. Chris Land, centre manager at the Rurtherford Cancer Centre, said: “This centre is the result of substantial research and investment into the best way to treat specific types of cancer. We are going to provide proton therapy which has a number of advantages over more traditional treatments like radiotherapy as it targets the cancer specifically without damaging healthy tissue near it. “As well as the healthcare benefits, our £38m North East centre will create up to 50 jobs with both clinical and administrative posts, and the construction project also created jobs for local workers.

At Alcyone Healthcare’s Baedling Manor care home in Bedlington, the team in all job roles are progressing through a variety of apprenticeship sector for occupations in social care and associated support service qualifications.

A former Bedlington teacher’s RAF service has been honoured with an acclamation received by no other non-aircrew personnel.

The latest results from Mid and South-east Northumberland Magistrates’ Court, in Bedlington.

Plans for a major housing scheme between Cramlington and Bedlington are to be discussed at a council meeting.

Newcastle has been named and shamed as one of the North East’s most popular areas for having an affair. The city has 19,254 people who are cheating on their partners, claims the website Illicit Encounters. It has compiled the Infidelity Index 2018, which lists the UK’s most adulterous towns and cities. It says 6.52 percent of Newcastle’s population is carrying on behind their partner’s backs. And it’s even worse in Durham where just 5,152 people are having an affair - but it’s more than 8 per-cent of the population. The statistics place Newcastle as the 10th most cheating city in the whole country on the site’s infidelity index.

Bedlington darts ace Chris Dobey admits he is full of confidence at the moment after reaching his second ever PDC Pro Tour final at the weekend. The 27-year-old battled through a field of 128 players to reach the Players Championship 5 final, only to run into world No 1 Michael van Gerwen. The two-time world champion was in imperious form, running out a 6-2 victor in Milton Keynes - despite Dobey posting a staggering 109.6 average. ‘Mighty Mike’ raced into a 4-0 lead, firing in a 12-darter and capitalising on six missed darts from Dobey to break twice. Dobey hit bag with a stunning 10-dart leg before breaking throw to reduce the arrears to 4-2. But Van Gerwen produced a moment of brilliance in the seventh leg, landing a 160 checkout with Dobey sitting on tops to move to within a leg of victory before closing out the win in leg eight.

Sainsbury’s has committed to paying staff well above both the national living wage and voluntary “real” living wage by raising the basic rate by £1.20 an hour. From September, staff in the North East will get paid at least £9.20 an hour, which means Sainsbury’s employees will have the highest basic pay of supermarket employees. Currently, Aldi is the top payer with a basic rate of £8.85. Hopefully, other supermarkets will soon follow their lead. We’ve had a browse of which jobs are on offer at major supermarkets in our region. They include some roles at Sainsbury’s in Northumberland.

An event in Bedlington next week is giving people the opportunity to push themselves physically and raise money for Age UK Northumberland at the same time.