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A burglar is behind bars for Christmas thanks to quick action by local residents in Newcastle. At around 11.45pm officers on the Newcastle North Neighbourhood Policing Team received a report that a man was attempting to break into vehicles and garages on the Great Park estate. Officers responded and a man was arrested nearby matching the description provided by the public. Karl Devlin, 27, of no fixed abode, was charged with burglary other than dwelling, two counts of interfering with a motor vehicle and two counts of possession of a class B drug. And at Bedlington Magistrates Court this morning (Tues) Devlin pleaded guilty to the charges against him and was sentenced to 17 weeks in prison. He is one of a number of burglars convicted as part of Operation Sleigh – Northumbria Police’s festive campaign to put burglars behind bars this Christmas. PC Gareth Welsh said: “We just want to say thank you to residents in Great Park who were vigilant and reported this incident to police. “We were able to respond quickly and identify a suspect in the area before anything of significant value was stolen. “As a result of their quick action a burglar is now behind bars for Christmas and he won’t be able to ruin this time of the year for any other members of our local communities. “It is always really positive when the public can work together with police to help us take opportunist thieves like Karl Devlin off the streets.”

Cadets and staff from Bedlington and Morpeth were among those honoured for their achievements over the past 12 months at the recent Durham and Northumberland Wing Presentation Night.

The 25th edition of the PDC World Championships rolls into town on Thursday, as darts fans are treated to 18 days of pure tungsten theatre. Michael van Gerwen became a two-time World Champion last year as he beat Gary Anderson in an exhilarating final, and he arrives at the Alexandra Palace in London, gunning for a third world title. Anderson, a two-time World Champion himself, and number two seed Peter Wright are likely to be riding on van Gerwen’s coat-tails as this year’ competition promises to be the most exciting yet. Retiring darts legend Phil Taylor looking forward to Newcastle swansong in the Premier League 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor will call time on his illustrious career after this year’s tournament and he will be keen to sign off with a 17th triumph on the world stage. However, we have a vested interest of our own in Taylor’s progress, as he takes on Bedlington star Chris Dobey in the first round.

We asked readers to share a photograph of their Christmas tree - and what a fabulous display there is to see! Over 800 readers showed off their Christmas pride and joy - and then voted for their favourite trees from those posted on the Newcastle Chronicle Facebook page. And here are are top 20. Thanks to all who shared some Christmas joy - from huge, blazing beauties to treasured family heirlooms. As you can see, there is a huge range of trees, with fibre-optics or handmade decorations and unusual colour schemes. And there are lots of ideas for dressing your own tree if yours has yet to go up. This article features the favourites from our Facebook page by 9am on Thursday - but we will feature more later this week in further galleries, so do look out for them! 1. Seb Howarth in Whitley Bay topped our poll with 262 reactions to his wonderful, traditional-style tree, glowing with hundreds of tiny lights and topped by a little Christmas fairy. He said: "This is our first Christmas in our new home." Congratulations on a marvellous tree! 2. Steph Craig's Newcastle tree was very popular too, with 206 reactions - a huge vote from those who love the stylish bright, white look at Christmastime. The big bows are a fashionable addition which those who haven't got their tree dressed yet might like to imitate.

A new micropub has opened its doors in Bedlington, with locally-brewed beers and traditional ciders on offer.

Northumberland County Council’s highways team has been shortlisted in the most improved performer category of the prestigious annual APSE performance networks awards These high-profile awards mark both the best performing authorities and the most improved for their achievements with categories being dedicated to each service area. APSE performance networks is the largest voluntary public sector benchmarking service across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Used by over 200 local authorities it leads the way in benchmarking local government services. Finalists are selected based on those authorities who have participated in performance networks and who have demonstrated continuous improvement in the services they provide. Northumberland’s highways team has been an active member of APSE for several years, and this year has been nominated for the 'Most Improved Council' in the highways category. Cllr Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for the environment and local services at the council said: “This is a really significant achievement for Northumberland at a national level. It recognises the hard work and dedication of our highways team and highlights the significant improvements that we are making to Northumberland’s roads.” APSE Chief Executive Paul O'Brien added: "We’re absolutely delighted with the calibre of finalists in this year’s APSE performance networks awards. As budgets continue to be squeezed, using data intelligently has now become vital to ensuring excellence in frontline service delivery. In today’s digital age information is power, and these awards highlight how invaluable high quality performance information is to strengthening local government’s frontline services." Winners will be announced at an awards event in Blackpool this week.

A car dealership has reinforced its support for the Bedlington Brass Band Initiative.

Northumberland County Council is celebrating after the county picked up a prestigious award at the 2017 British Travel Awards. Northumberland received a Silver award for Best UK Holiday County/Region at the awards held in London on Wed (No 29). It’s the fourth year in a row the county has claimed the silver award, beating off stiff competition from tourist favourite the Lake District. Once again holiday hotspot Cornwall was crowned the category winner. The winners of the awards are chosen by a public vote, from consumers who have registered their interest to vote. Coun Cath Homer, cabinet member of culture, arts, leisure and tourism, said: “This is a huge accolade for Northumberland. The fact that it is decided on the back of a public vote shows the love people have for our stunning county. “To be up against, and beat, tourism stalwarts such as the Lake District shows just how far Northumberland has come as a tourist destination. As more people discover this once “hidden gem” the benefits to businesses and attractions in the county will continue to grow. “As the council, we want to congratulate everyone involved in making our county officially one of the best holiday destinations in the UK. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to encourage more people to choose Northumberland for their next short break or holiday.”

A charity calendar featuring dogs rescued in Northumberland is now for sale with all the proceeds going directly to four local animal charities. The calendar features twelve dogs that have been rescued by Northumberland County Council’s animal welfare team and partner charities. Each dog has their back story printed alongside their photograph. The printing of the calendar has been funded by the fines collected for dog fouling offences in Northumberland. All the proceeds will go to four local animal charities: S.H.A.K, Alexa’s Animals, B.A.R.K and The Dog’s Trust. One of the rescued dogs is Poppy who was found straying by a council Animal Welfare Officer. She was in a terrible condition; covered in fleas, very underweight and nearly blind. Since then she has received loving care and been found a new home where she now lives a full & healthy life. Northumberland County Council successfully prosecuted her owner for neglect. Another chosen dog Luna the lurcher was also found straying by a council Animal Welfare Officer. She was placed with the Charity S.H.A.K for much needed care and attention. Northumberland County Councillor Glen Sanderson, cabinet member for environment and local services said: " The council produces this calendar each year and it’s a great way for us and members of the public to support the local animal charities we work closely with and help them fund their fantastic work.” Stephen Wylie of the dog rescue charity S.H.A.K said: “We’ve had another successful year working alongside the council’s animal welfare team. Together we have helped dogs to be reunited with their owners, receive medical attention when needed and if necessary find new homes. The team has gone above and beyond on many occasions to help us with our work, and ultimately give the dogs the best future possible. " The calendars are available for a minimum donation of £3.99 from council information centres, through the Council website or by contacting the animal welfare team on 0345 600 6400.

What’s in a name? Apparently Forest, Hawk, Hunter, Fox, Storm, Hallie, Aurora, Skye, River, Rowan and Raven were just some of the unusual monikers given to babies born in the UK this year. The Chronicle revealed the findings of the website Babycentre earlier this week. It’s not only modern parents who gave their offspring left-of-centre names, however. A trawl through the census returns and birth, marriage and death records of the late 19th and early 20th centuries reveals some truly odd names (some of which are unprintable in a family publication). The following are all genuine names of people who lived in the North East.

If you fancy making an attractive and affordable Christmas wreath to adorn your front door this festive season, why not join one of the workshops at Hepscott Park Horticultural Skills Unit near Morpeth The sessions cost £12, will last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and will run on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd December. To book onto a workshop ring: 01670 623911.

A pub raider who stole thousands of pounds when he targeted five bars and social clubs across Tyneside and Northumberland is facing jail. Serial thief John Cook broke into the licensed premises between June and November and usually smashed up fruit machines to pocket the cash inside. A court was told the bungling 39-year-old was snared on each occasion by either leaving an item of clothing or blood at the scene or setting off an intruder alarm. On his final break-in, at the Lochside pub, in High Heaton, Newcastle, he made off when was confronted by the owners but later tracked down by a police dog. Now, Cook, who said he was of no fixed abode but is formerly from Coach Road, in Wallsend, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary and was found guilty after a trial in his absence of a fifth count. He also admitted a separate charge of theft during a hearing at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court.

Northumberland County Council has welcomed fresh government support to bring back rail passenger services throughout south east Northumberland. The new Council Leader, Coun Peter Jackson, has committed to reintroducing direct trains between south-east Northumberland and Newcastle Central - with thousands of residents a day being transported along the 20-mile route between Ashington and Newcastle city centre. The government has now reaffirmed the Department of Transport’s support for the scheme, as part of Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s new rail strategy that could see the reopening of some lines that were closed in the 1960s. This new Northumberland line is among those proposals across the country “currently being looked at and candidates for further consideration”. The next stage of the new Northumberland Line (GRIP 3) involves assessing and selecting the most appropriate options that deliver the council’s requirements and establishes the scheme can be delivered at the right cost. Work towards starting Grip 3 is being progressed and a report prepared for councillors to discuss in the coming weeks. Council leader Peter Jackson said: "We have always supported this ambitious proposal to help secure future jobs and growth across the whole county. "This is positive news from central government and reaffirms their support to work with us on this flagship project. “While there is still some way to go until passenger trains are running again, a great deal of work is happening behind the scenes which has our full support. It’s good to hear the government is backing our strategy. We have an ambitious and forward looking aspiration for our county and we will work with all partners and especially with the Government to deliver a prosperous future for everyone in Northumberland. ” Reintroducing passenger services to the current freight line could boost the local economy by up to £70m with more than 380,000 people using the line every year by 2034. Commuters and shoppers could speed between Ashington and the heart of Newcastle in as little as 38 minutes, with several new or rebuilt stations along the route linking towns to key areas of employment, training and leisure attractions as well as providing transport links across the wider region and the UK.

If you’re a landlord looking for a project then this two-bed flat in Bedlington could be for you. It’s going under the hammer next month with bidding set to start at £14,000. Situated in Liddle’s Street, the ground-flood flat is just yards away from the ‘Good’ Ofsted rated Bedlington Primary School. There are regular bus links to Newcastle, which is 25 minutes away by car, while Bedlington’s town centre is around half-an-hour’s walk away, or 10-15 minutes on a bus. There are local shops, including a Boots pharmacy and Premier convenience store on Ravensworth Street, which runs parallel to Liddle’s Street. But there is a reason the price starts so low: the property is in need of a “full refurbishment,” as the pictures show. Estate agent Rook Matthews Sayer says it is a “must view” for anybody interested, and it looks like taking a thorough look around is a good idea before putting in a bid at the auction house. In the estate agent’s words, “this ground floor flat would make a great purchase for those looking for a project”. Inside there’s an entrance hall, kitchen area, lounge, bathroom and two-bedrooms. There is a shared yard to the back and a garden in the front.

Children’s Minister Robert Goodwill has met members of the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership to hear about their experiences of delivering 30 hours of free childcare.

Police have released CCTV footage of two people they would like to speak to in connection with the use of a suspected stolen bank card. The bank card was used at The Premier shop in Blyth on Monday, October 16. It followed an overnight house burglary, Sunday into Monday, October 15-16, at Woburn Drive, Bedlington Station, where a bank card was reported stolen. Anyone who recognises either person is asked to ring 101, quoting reference 0185 of 16/10/17 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Newcastle firms JDDK Architects and Fairhurst Consulting Engineers have formed a new partnership that will design and build cutting edge cancer treatment centres across the country. The new partnership is called DFJ Designs and also includes Manchester building consultants Dresco. It will work exclusively on the development of three proton beam therapy centres, which are used to treat cancer, including one in Northumberland. The oncology centres are being brought to the UK by Proton Partners International, and will be built in Reading, Liverpool and at the Earth Balance centre near Bedlington, Northumberland. Each cancer centre will offer proton beam therapy as well as conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics, imaging, and wellbeing services. Kevin Turnbull, director of JDDK Architects, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed on a long-term strategic partnership contract for Proton Partners International and to have now been confirmed as the incumbent team to deliver all future centres for the company across the UK.” DFJ Designs was launched at JDDK’s 30th anniversary celebrations. The partnership has already collaborated on two of the projects at Northumberland and Reading, while the Liverpool project is set to start in January.

Children’s Minister Robert Goodwill met with members of the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership in Northumberland on Friday (November 17) to hear from them about their experience of delivering 30 hours free childcare. The Minister visited Bedlington West End First School, one of the five providers who launched the Partnership, to meet with council, school and nursery staff involved in the government’s early delivery scheme which offered 30 hours to local families from September 2016. The minister also confirmed that councils will be able to bid for additional funding to support projects that will directly benefit their delivery of 30 hours. The Delivery Support Fund, worth over £8.5 million, will help councils work with childcare providers to deliver 30 hours to all parents who want a place, as demand continues to increase into the summer term. Children and Families Minister Robert Goodwill said: "I have heard excellent things about the delivery of 30 hours in Northumberland so I am delighted to have seen for myself how it’s working and to speak to providers involved with the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership. “I commend the way Northumberland has worked closely with providers to address the unique challenges it faces from being a rural area. Parents who previously may not have felt able to go back to work or increase their hours, are now getting the benefits of 30 hours of free childcare.” Northumberland is also taking the lead in sharing their learning from delivering 30 hours through the Department for Education’s ‘buddying’ scheme for councils. The scheme will partner high-performing councils, including more of the 12 early delivery areas, with those who are still in the early stages of delivering 30 hours. Councillor Wayne Daley, Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, and cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “I know how important childcare is and this fantastic scheme allows us to make sure we give children the best start in life and support parents to work. “This visit was a great opportunity for Minister Goodwill to see an example of how this scheme is implemented and discuss the benefits and challenges we have faced along the way.” The Delivery Support Fund, which opened to council bids on Friday 17 November, will be available for a range of projects to help with delivery of the 30 hours scheme. These projects might include better business support for providers, developing effective networks locally like the West Bedlington Early Years Partnership, increased support for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) taking up 30 hours, or enhanced IT systems to allow for automated payments to providers. The fund could also be used to hold events or workshops for councils to share best practice. The West Bedlington Early Years Partnership was established with the support of the Early Years team at Northumberland County Council. It is made up of Bedlington West End First School, West End Preschool, Trinity Preschool, Trinity Out Of School Club and St Bedes RC Voluntary Aided Primary School. The Minister’s visit ended with a tour of the First School’s site, which is currently being redeveloped to expand its 30 hour provision, thanks to a successful capital bid from the Department. This build will rehouse West End Preschool and Trinity Out Of School Club, increasing the number of 30 hours places available. Staff spoke to the Minister about how the providers are working together to support accommodation needs, making sure parents can access the childcare they need while building work is underway. The 30 hours offer, which launched nationally in September for working parents of three and four-year-olds in England, can save families around £5,000 per year on the cost of childcare, helping them to balance their jobs and family lives. Thousands of families are already taking up the offer this term, and those who are eligible for places from January 1 are being encouraged to apply now and by November 30 to secure a place in good time.

Calls have been made for the introduction of mandatory sprinkler systems in all schools across the country following a major fire in Bedlington.

Fresh concerns have been raised over the future of a key structure at Humford Country Park in Bedlington following a site visit.

This round-up of events is written by readers. To get your charity event or story included, simply fill out the form at www.chroniclelive.co.uk/charitynews New resource funded by £25k from Morrisons Foundation A brand new technology training room for foster carers and adopters to learn the skills they need to safeguard the children in their care has been opened by leading UK children’s charity Barnardo’s. The room is based in the North East Fostering and Adoption office, in Lumley Court in Chester-le-Street . The equipment and training will allow foster carers and adopters to work with confidence around social media applications and websites, such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. It will help Barnardo’s staff demonstrate the risks and issues around the internet effectively and get the safeguarding message across to some of the most vulnerable young people in the North East. Alison Rowland, Assistant Head of Business Family Placement East, said: “It is great to have this resource available to spread this vital message. All children can be at risk of sexual exploitation when going online and interacting with strangers, even if they have a supportive home environment. What can start as an innocent and harmless chat with a ‘friend’, can very quickly develop into a dangerous relationship with devastating consequences. “That’s why it’s crucial carers can make the children they foster or adopt aware of the dangers online and explain how to keep themselves safe. I’d like to thank the Morrisons Foundation for supporting us to help us keep some very vulnerable young people safe online.”

An MP is calling on the Government to fit all new and refurbished schools with sprinklers after four classrooms were destroyed in a suspected arson attack. A fire broke out at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy in Bedlington, Northumberland, on October 26, causing “substantial damage” to one classroom. Teachers said the blaze spread and damaged three other classrooms at the school, which is not fitted with sprinklers. Northumbria Police has launched an investigation into the incident and believe the fire may have been started deliberately. Now, Wansbeck MP Ian Lavery has written to Amber Rudd MP, Justine Greening MP and Alok Sharma MP demanding sprinklers are installed in all schools. In the letter, Mr Lavery said: “Many local people have been in touch regarding the provision of sprinkler systems, appalled that their presence is not mandatory either in new build or existing schools.

Drivers are being advised ahead of a series of road closures throughout the North East on Remembrance Sunday. Thousands throughout the region will join together at a host of events to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers. ChronicleLive is compiling a gallery of photographs to show services and remembrance events across the North East, so please send a photograph to yourpictures@chroniclelive.co.uk telling us when and where you were. And if you’re planning on travelling by car on the morning of Remembrance Sunday, here is a list of the road closures that will temporarily be in place: Alnwick 3.15pm to 4pm - Percy Street, Green Batt, Hotspur Street. Bondgate Without, Bondgate Within, Fenkle Street

Housebuilder Miller Homes transformed its Broadoaks development in Bedlington this Hallowe’en with the help of children from the nearby West End First School.

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.