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Platform 1 and East Bedington Community Centre bring you yet another night packed full of local talent in the form of 3 very different artists: PEESH - Frontman of local 'Psycho Radio' band LoGoZ takes to the stage to perform some of his original material. Peesh has previously played in the Buffet Car and went down a storm, so we can't wait to welcome him to the big stage - we know you'll enjoy it just as much as we will! RAY ROWLEY - North Tyneside songwriter Ray will entertain everyone, with songs such as 'Workie Ticket' and 'We're Geordies' - he'll have you singing along and getting involved. Not just a musician, Ray puts on a one man show which will put a smile on everyone's face. MUDDY LINE - Fiishing off the night we have a fantastic local band, bringing you a mixture of covers and originals, featuring more instruments than you can shake a stick at. Vocal harmonies, tambourines, electro-acoustic guitars, and even a mandolin - definitley an audio delight by anyone's standards! All of this packed in to one night, all for FREE! Bar will be open from 7pm, and live music will start around 8:30pm. Under 18's welcome when accompanied by adults (12+).

Northumberland County Council has secured £5m in national funding for major road improvements. The authority successfully bid for its share of £75 million from the government’s national Highway Maintenance Challenge Fund. Local authorities were challenged to put forward schemes which could make a real difference to road users. Glen Sanderson, the County Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Local Services: “This is absolutely fantastic news for the council,the people of Northumberland and all those who use our road network. “We’re delighted to have secured this level of funding which, combined with a further £1.5m input from ourselves, will see improvements to 24km of highway along three key routes in the more rural parts of the county. “These are crucial routes for the timber industry, quarrying and tourism and of course the residents who use these roads each day. The money, which will be spent this financial year, will fund a range of improvements, from strengthening the roads through to drainage work and resurfacing. “The bid had widespread support from a range of partners as well as local MPs and is a further demonstration of this administration’s commitment to making long term improvements and investment on our county’s roads. “We’re also pleased to be the only local authority in the region to have secured successive back to back awards from the national Highway Maintenance Challenge Fund. “It is also testament to all the hard work put in by our highways team to have submitted such a persuasive and comprehensive bid and I’m extremely proud of them.”

Northumberland County Council has been praised for its role as a landlord at a regional awards ceremony. At the Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards last week, the council picked up highly commended in the Landlord of the Year category and commended in the Small Project of the Year (Under £250k) award. The awards were in relation to a pilot project in Cramlington which has transformed a “Dorran” style property into a more energy efficient property. Dorran properties were a popular post-war style of construction, using concrete panels, and often have issues with insulation. The pilot scheme, at a property in Allerhope, saw the council team up with external wall specialists, Alumasc Facades and Westdale services. A steel structure was added to the concrete panels to strengthen the external wall and ensure it could withstand the weight of new insulation and render. It was then finished with a unique “brick” effect render to modernise the property. All the windows in the property have also been replaced. The scheme will now be rolled out across the estate with a further 82 properties set to receive the same work over the next two years. Coun John Riddle, Cabinet member for Planning, Housing and Resilience at the council, said: “This is fantastic recognition for an innovative pilot scheme, intended to not only improve the energy efficiency of the property, but also the appearance. “Our tenant is extremely happy with the work and has already noticed the benefits with the property feeling warmer and better insulated. “We will now be rolling the project out over the next two years, to include all other council-owned homes on the estate. We hope this will have a really positive impact on the quality of life for the tenants but also the community as a whole.” Ward councillor for the area, Mark Swinburn, said: “It’s great to see the success of this pilot scheme. I am really pleased to see that the scheme will be progressing across the estate for the benefit of all residents.” Tyrone Lawton, Area Technical Manager for Alumasc Facades, said: “The council has done a fantastic job in transforming a dated dorran property to a modern looking, energy efficient home. “The council has gone that extra mile by putting their tenants first: helping with energy efficiency, saving on utility bills but also dramatically improving the appearance of the property.”

Three students who all fell pregnant and gave birth while in the middle of the same degree at the University of Sunderland have graduated with honours together at the Stadium of Light.

Thousands of music lovers rocked out as The Commitments brought a touch of soul to the Northumberland Live festival. The “World’s Hardest Working Band” headlined the day-long event on Saturday, which drew in the crowds to Bedlington’s Gallagher Park. The eight-piece band - headed up by frontman Dave Finnegan who played bouncer and drummer Mickah Wallace in The Commitments film - played all the classics, including Mustang Sally and In the Midnight Hour. They were joined on the bill by The Sleeze Sisters, The Understudies, Just So and Unplugged. Festival-goers also enjoyed a range of food as well as a display by the Royal Logistics Corps’ parachute display team The Silver Stars. Northumberland Live organiser, Mel Jackson, said: “The day has been fantastic - it has been jumping.

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.

A number of parks in South Northumberland have officially been named among the best in Britain.

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.

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

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.

Join Hello Dolly and Hel's Angels for an Afternoon Tea and Angel Tarot Card Reading. Get together with friends or indulge in some time just for you and enjoy an afternoon of relaxing with like minded people enjoying a delicious afternoon tea and Angel Tarot Card reading. Cost is just £20 per person. To find out more please call into Hello Dolly or message the page. If you have any food intolerances or allergies please speak to Hello Dolly, they will be delighted to accomadate you. Please note that places are limited and to secue your place you will need to pay in advance of the event. Thank you.

Tina Turner Rocks bring you a jam packed evening full of hits by the First Lady of Rock 'n' Roll, together with a second set of smash melodic rock hits that are guaranteed to get you up on the dance floor. Made up of world-class musicians, this is an act you really do not want to miss. Bar open from 7pm, band onstange approximately 9pm. Under 18's welcome but must be accompanied by an adult.

Join us once agan for Buskers and open mic night at Platform 1!! If you sing, play an instrument, or even just like to listen - we want YOU to come and support this brand new night in Bedlington Station. This month's event will be Sunday 6th August, with music kicking off at about 6pm. Pints for players - get up and give us a song, and we'll give you a drink in return! Under 18's are welcome but MUST be accompanied by an adult. We had a great turnout to our first event - help us grow and spread the word - great live music in a great new venue!

Reiki Share Bedlington is moving! Due to the continuing success and expansion of the group and several enquiries recently for disabled or limited mobility access I have decided to hire East Bedlington Community Centre, 16 & 17 Station Rd, Bedlington NE22 7JW for the next share on 27th August. It is a large, light and airy room with a beautiful feel. There is also a small room we can use if anyone wishes to have a more private treatment as well as a mezzanine area for watching/ chatting!. There is loads of parking and I am still able to offer tea/ coffee. The time is slightly different as the room is already booked in the morning so the new time is 1pm-4.30pm (drop in). The session will be £5 per person or £4 concessions, please note it will no longer be donations based, however once the expenses have been covered I will be donating the remaining of the funds to Water Aid. Many thanks Lindsey x

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

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.

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”

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’.

A man has been charged following a spate of thefts in the Blyth area. Since June 1 this year 40 thefts from vehicles have been reported in Blyth, mainly within the Crofton Grange and South Shore estates. The majority of the offending took place overnight during a weekend. A full investigation was launched by the Blyth Neighbourhood Police team and more than 20 hours of CCTV footage was reviewed by officers. Now police have charged Dylan Woods, 20, of Barnard Street Blyth with five counts of theft from a motor vehicle. Woods appeared before magistrates in Bedlington and is now remanded in custody until a further court hearing later this month. Another male, age 16, was arrested and released under investigation. Neighbourhood Sergeant for Blyth, Jonny Pallace, said: "We take burglary very seriously in Northumbria and we hope local people feel reassured by the swift response to the incidents reported to us recently. High visibility crime prevention patrols were put in place as soon as we saw the pattern of offending. "However, local residents can take preventative measures themselves. Of the 40 thefts from vehicle crimes reported to us, 35 were due to the vehicles being unlocked. Our advice is simple: lock your vehicles, look after your property and always report anyone suspicious you see hanging around streets and neighbourhoods. You could be helping stop thefts from happening and helping us keep our communities safe. We'd also encourage anyone who hasn't reported a crime of this nature in the area to come forward - we will follow up and take action." Anyone who has information about the incidents in Crofton Grange and South Shore estates should call officers on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Join me for a hour as I take you through this wonderful flowing form of gentle Yoga. Dru Yoga can help you to control stress, increase flexibility and build up core strength. The first class you attend is free, after that it is £5.00 per class. Please call me on 01670 222735 to find out more and book your place.

Join me for a hour as I take you through this wonderful flowing form of gentle Yoga. Dru Yoga can help you to control stress, increase flexibility and build up core strength. The first class you attend is free, after that it is £5.00 per class. Please call me on 01670 222735 to find out more and book your place.

Join me for a hour as I take you through this wonderful flowing form of gentle Yoga. Dru Yoga can help you to control stress, increase flexibility and build up core strength. The first class you attend is free, after that it is £5.00 per class. Please call me on 01670 222735 to find out more and book your place.