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A small magnetic device invented by a Northumberland entrepreneur is set to make a big splash in the global oil, gas and power industries following financial backing. Jon Naylor has more than 30 years’ experience in senior positions within the industrial pipelines sector and he now acts as a top level consultant for clients around the world through his Bedlington firm , JNCS Business Services Ltd. Now Mr Naylor has invented the TorqTag, a magnetic piece of kit used on pipelines which is already winning orders around the world – and is poised to reach new heights after winning support from the new North East Small Loan Fund Supported By The European Regional Development Fund. The TorqTag was developed when Mr Naylor realised there was an industry need to improve processes around the closure of the dozens of flange pieces that join sections of pipeline to each other. This process is done by engineers in a precise order, to make sure connections are made as they should be, and the TorqTag temporarily attaches to each bolt, helping technicians keep track of their bolting sequence. Having already won orders from existing and new clients around the world, Mr Naylor has worked with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to secure a £10,000 Small Loan Fund investment that is helping improve the manufacturing processes around the TorqTag.

An entrepreneurial duo are hoping to be on the road to success after launching a new repair and upgrade centre.

Music fans braved an afternoon downpour to catch X Factor winner Matt Cardle live in Bedlington. The singer-songwriter headlined Northumberland Live in Bedlington on Saturday evening. Cardle took to the Gallagher Park stage at around 8pm, following rain in the late afternoon. Cardle, who won X Factor in 2010, was joined on the bill by Newcastle singer Channy, the Midnight Soul Sisters and pop punk group 5K. The future of the under threat festival had been in doubt, but went ahead following donations from councillors and East Bedlington and Choppington's parish councils. East Bedlington Parish Council chairman Keith Grimes said: "There was a real danger that the festival would not happen this year. We are well aware of how much this free event means to our community and we believed as a parish council that they deserved to have it."

A blast of thunder and lightning didn’t stop Bedlington having a party in the park yesterday (Saturday).

Parish councillors were determined to ensure that the third Northumberland Live at Bedlington festival would take place as scheduled on Saturday.

The number of magistrates in the Northumbria service, which covers courts in Bedlington and Berwick, has plummeted by more than a third in just three years – one of the steepest drops across the whole of England and Wales.

New speed signs are in place in Bedlington following a fatal road accident last year.

A “traffic stopping” event is being planned for Bedlington later this summer.

Forever haunted by the image of her daughter’s lifeless body in a crashed car, a mum is today begging other drivers to stop speeding. It has now been almost a year since Isabel Easson lost her precious girl Bethany Fisher when a car, driven by Jordan O’Donnell, smashed into parked cars and a wall outside her home in Bedlington. Today two new speed indicator display (SID) signs have been installed on the C405 by Northumberland County Council following campaigning by Bethany’s family and friends. And Isabel hopes the signs will make people think and help stop other parents going through what she has. The 48-year-old said: “I just don’t want this to happen to anyone else. I still can’t see past that image of her body. I’m struggling to get that image of her out my head. “That’s something no parent should ever see.

Fire crews were called to a blaze at a waste management site in Bedlington this morning.

Firefighters have battled a blaze which broke out at a Northumberland industrial estate. Crews were called to Barrington Industrial Estate in Bedlington on Saturday morning as huge clouds of smoke were billowing above. One fire engine remains on scene at midday as they continue to dampen down the fire. A spokesman for Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service said: “A crew is still in attendance. “We had two fire engines there and now one remains on scene. “They used two jets and one hose reel as well as a mechanical grabber to dismantle debris.

A Bedlington school is asking members of the public to vote for it in a national competition to win a recycled plastic playground.

Ten people have been arrested after drug raids across Northumberland. Police raided eight homes in Ashington, Bedlington and Widdrington in Northumberland and arrested eight men and two women on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. Detective chief inspector Jon Bensley, of Northumbria Police, said Thursday morning’s operation was part of a strategy to tackle a range of offences — including violent crime — which could be linked to the use and supply of Class A drugs. He said: “The warrants we have carried out today are prime examples of the robust response we will take to proactively target those believed to be involved in criminal behaviour. “A large part of our operation is responding to reports and intelligence that comes to us from the community. “There is no doubt of the harmful impact drugs and drug dealing has on these communities and we are absolutely committed to pursuing those who think they can get away with it.

When the sun is shining everyone loves a good barbecue and so it’s time to dust down the patio, fire up the BBQ and get ready for some gastro grilling. According to the people behind the National BBQ Week, which started back in 1997, the cry used to be ‘if it ain’t burnt, it ain’t barbi’, but our attitudes towards BBQ and summer eating have changed and the BBQ market has grown from just 9 million BBQ occasions back then to over 130 million last year. With this in mind we have come up with a list of local parks and beaches where you can definitely have a BBQ around Newcastle . And we have looked into the rules for outdoor grillers too! Bolam Lake Country Park, Belsay The park is situated in the heart of the Northumberland countryside, surrounded by historic landscapes and dramatic views. It has lakeside, woodland and open grassed areas for all to enjoy, with the attractive lakeside walk being accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs. You’ll find a number of picnic tables in the main picnic area. The best access to the Pheasant Field is from West Wood car park. BBQs are allowed but visitors must take them home and be careful not to scorch the grass or wooden surfaces.

Matthew Booth, of the 2522 Bedlington Air Cadet Squadron, enjoyed an unforgettable day earlier this month as he attended the Queen’s garden party at Buckingham Palace, hosted by ​the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.

The below trials are just a small few of those heard in the North East. To keep up with the latest court news from across the region, join the ChronicleLive’s North East Court News group on Facebook here. A dad accused of killing his baby son by vigorously shaking him told a court he loved him and “would never do anything to hurt my children”. Civil engineer Andrew Chiu denies the manslaughter of 15-week-old Nathan Chiu at their home in Kingston Park, Newcastle. Prosecutors say, in temper or frustration, he shook his son or caused him to impact against a surface or both, causing bleeding on the brain, leading to cardiac and respiratory arrest. He denies the allegations. The trial continues.

A middle school in Bedlington has come in for criticism over a year group trip that is scheduled to take place on July 3.

Two men have appeared in court following an alleged armed skirmish involving a golf club and a saw which left a man in hospital. Police were called to Bedlington in Northumberland on Saturday night following reports of a disturbance. Both Sean Thompson and Daniel Simmons were later charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon. Northumbria Police said a 48-year-old man suffered “serious but non-life threatening injuries”. A police spokesman said: “Two men have been charged with affray and possession of an offensive weapon following a report of a disturbance in Bedlington. “Sean Thompson, 48, of Half Moon Street, Stakeford and Daniel Simmons, 20, of Harrington Gardens, Stakeford have appeared before magistrates in Bedlington.

A former Northumberland garage owner is motoring in a completely new career, after swapping automotive engineering for watch making. Glen Anthony Jobling, from Bedlington , has more than 30 years experience in the vintage and modern motoring industry but he has now turned his interest in design watches into a new business. Mr Jobling was inspired to change his career as a successful garage owner in North Tyneside in 2015, after making a watch for a friend while mulling over his options for a career change. Glen Anthony Watches (GA) has now officially launched with a range of men’s and women’s watches, which are designed, manufactured and assembled at his workshop in Wansbeck Business Park in Northumberland . All the parts of the watch are handmade on site by Mr Jobling except the Swiss movement, which he has sourced to meet his specific requirements. The watches are influenced by his love of all things mechanical and automotive, with designs inspired by the craftsmanship of the vintage cars he used to restore, as well as high tech materials of the latest sports cars.

A Bedlington air cadet has been named one of the top in the country.

Whitley Memorial CE First School in Bedlington has received an award for its tree-mendous environmental efforts.

The Newcastle Chronicle has teamed up with The Halifax, Metro Radio and TFM Radio to explore what home means to the people of the city. We'll be celebrating the special places in people's lives and sharing those stories of home with #HalifaxLoveYourHome. Every week between now and Sunday 24 June 2018, one lucky person will be chosen by the judges to win £500 for sending in the best story. This week’s winner is former primary school teacher Joe Waddle. He says the peaceful Northumberland home he shares with wife Jude and daughter, Caitlin, provides the perfect inspiration for his writing, and his evocative poem really captures the meaning of home... I’m a creative person and I love writing - I’ve penned poems, songs and even self-published a novel - and home is where I get a lot of inspiration. I actually come from a very sporty family. My younger brother Chris was a professional footballer who played for Newcastle and England. I wasn’t a bad sportsman but not brilliant and packed football in when I was quite young. My wife Jude and I moved to Bedlington 14 years ago. It’s a former mining town but it’s so peaceful and quiet. We turned our spare bedroom into a study and it’s where I wrote my Kindle book On the Up, two years ago. It was something I always wanted to do. The study is not the only place I like to get a bit creative. At Christmas we like to decorate the house so we’ll usually have two Christmas trees – a big 6ft one in the living room and another 4ft one in the conservatory. And we also like to have parties every now and again. Of course, being from a football family we’ve had the odd World Cup celebration in the garden! Despite that, when it comes to day-to-day decoration, I’m an absolute minimalist. Our living room has a TV, two sofas, a coffee table and a few pictures hanging up.