A top headteacher has been appointed to take charge of a huge new school in Northumberland.

Phil Hearne, who will lead the joint primary and secondary school academy in Ashington, was the head of Edgware School in London when it became a city academy.

During his time there it was ranked "outstanding" by Ofsted.

A club has opened in Ashington to encourage people to conquer their fears of public speaking.

The Northumbria Speakers Club has held its first meeting at the start of April, following on from the success of similar clubs in Newcastle and North Tyneside.

Members are given the chance to stand up in front of their peers and talk about any topic, helping to get rid of butterflies and increase confidence.

Jazz enthusiasts have a chance to see some of the country's leading musicians playing in Ashington.

The Virtuoso Jazz Trio features George MacDonald, James Birkett and Peter Stuart, and has been invited to play at Ashington Jazz Club. George MacDonald spent his youth playing saxophone and clarinet in clubs with dance bands in his native Nova Scotia.

Studying at the Royal College of Music, he then joined the Northern Sinfonia as principal clarinet.

A school which is closing this summer as part of a £48m education shake-up in Northumberland is to be remembered by a special piece of artwork.

A commemorative sculpture is to be created as a permanent memorial for Seaton Hirst Middle School in Ashington, which will close in July under plans for an all-age academy in the town.

Headteacher Andy Oglethorpe, colleagues and governors wanted to celebrate the school's history with past and present pupils at a special event this summer.

At the bottom in the Re/Max Northern Alliance Premier Division, Ashington Colliers aren't out of trouble yet but Cramlington Town took a step towards safety with a win at fellow strugglers Newcastle University.

The Colliers had Gareth Bainbridge giving them a fifth minute lead but visitors Blyth Town hit back to win 3-1. Their scorers were Chris Taylor, Danny Beresford and Mark Waugh (penalty).

The top two teams - Walker Central and Gillford Park - were lying idle and third-placed Harraby Catholic continued to lose ground.

The Cumbrians could only draw 1-1 at Shankhouse with their opener by Jordan Coulthard cancelled out by Craig Johnson.

A crime-busting scheme is being expanded after proving a success.

The Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in Haydon Ward, Ashington, has one of the strongest memberships in the town.

Information gleaned from the community has already helped police identify youths responsible for disorderly behaviour in the area and over the past six months incidents of disorder have reduced.

A North East business has launched a competition for primary schoolchildren as part of its "match our million" campaign with Macmillan Cancer Support.

Card Factory, in Ashington has set children the task of creating a design for a coffee mug following the theme of My Family.

A panel will select their favourite design which Card Factory will then print on to a limited edition coffee mug.

A 14-year-old has been raped in Northumberland, police have said.

The schoolgirl was attacked on Saturday, between 8.30pm and 9.15pm, when she was walking in Myrtle Street, Ashington.

She was interviewed by specialist officers and was able to give a description of her attacker.

In pole position in the Northern Alliance, Walker Central are four points clear of Gillford Park with a game in hand

Gillford Park maintained their own unbeaten home record, beating Ashington Colliers 3-0, Tyran Taylor, Steve Skinner and Alistair Lang on target.

Bosses at Northumberland's new super council have been accused of failing to comply with an independent regulator's guidance by providing an 0845 number for people who need to contact the authority.

Bob Watson is unhappy that Northumberland County Council's new number is premium rate

Members of the public who telephone the all-purpose council - which came into being on April 1 following the switch to unitary local government - now have to use a single number, 0845 600 6400, to speak to call handlers.